CHAP. XLIV.

An ACT to incorporate a society for the maintenance and education
  of poor female children, by the name of The Benevolent Society
of the City and County of Baltimore.    Lib. JG. No. 3. fol. 282.

WHEREAS the reverence Joseph G. J. Bend, and the reverend John Ireland, associate rectors
of Saint-Paul's parish, in the city and county of Baltimore, and sundry other persons of the
city and county of Baltimore, ahve associated themselves for the truly benevolent purpose of esta-
blishing an institution for the maintenance and education o fpoor female children, and by their peti-
tion to this general assembly represented, that their endeavours would be followed by more beneficial
consequences if the society was invested with corporate powers:  And whereas this general assembly
is desirous to give proper assistance to humane and benevolent instiutions, more especially to those
having for their object the instruction of youth, on which the virtue and happiness of society so much
depend; therefore,

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the said reverend Joseph G. J.
Bend, and the reverend John ierland, associate rectors of Saint-Paul's parish aforesaid, and their
and each of their successors, George Grundy, Nicholas Rogers, Henry Nichols, John Merryman and
Hezekiah Clagett, and such other male persons as may from time to time hereafter unite with them
in their benevolent design, and become contributors and subscribers to the said society, shall be, and
they are hereby declared to be, one community, corporation and body politic, for ever hereafter, by
the name and style of The Benevolent Society of the City and County of Baltimore, and by that
name they shall be and are hereby made able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, possess,
enjoy and retain, to them and their successors, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, pensions, and
other hereditaments, in fee-simple, or for a term of years, life, lives or otherwise, and also goods,
chattels and effects, of thwat nature, kind or quality soever, by the gift, bargain, sale or devise, of
any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable to make the same, and the same to grant,
demise, alien or dispose of, in such manner as they may judge most conducive to the benevolent and
charitable uses of said society; provided nevertheless, that the said corporation or body politic shall
not, at any one time, hold or possess property, real, personal or mixed, exceeding in total value the
sum of fifteen thousand dollars.

III. AND BE IT ENACTED, That when any parents or guardians, or any orphans court, shall have
placed any female child or children in the before-mentioned institution, they shall thenceforth be un-
der the control and management of such persons as the society may have appointed to manage their
concerns, until they shall think fit to bind them out, which they are hereby empowered to do for any
term, not exceeding the period at which such females shall have completed their sixteenth year, any
thing in any law of thie state to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, that nothing herein con-
tained be construed to abridge the security afforded to such persons by the law concerning appren-
tices.

IV. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the said society, and their successors, by the aforesaid name, shall
be, for ever hereafter, able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer
and be answered, defend and be defended, in all or any courts of justice whatsoever, and also to
make, have and use, a common seal, and the same to break, alter and renew, at pleasure, and also
to assemble and meet at such times and places as they may agree upon, and by a majority of the
voices of those attending to ordain, establish, and put in execution, such by-laws, ordinances and 
regulations, as to them shall seem conducive to the interests of their institution, and necessary to the
good government and orderly management thereof, the same not being contrary to the laws of this
state, or of the United States, and generally to do and execute all such acts, matters and things, as
to them shall or may appertain to do.

V. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the members of said corporation, and their successors, may meet
together on the first Monday of January next, at the city of Baltimore, and on the same day annual-
ly for ever thereafter, or as soon after as may be, and then and there elect the officers of said society,
and form such rules and regulations, (not contrary to the laws and constitution of this state, or the
United States, as aforesaid,) as may be necessary for carrying into effect the benevolent purposes of
this act.

                                                                                                                                CHAP.

Passed 3d of
Jan. 1800.
 

Preamble.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Persons incor-
porated, &c.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Children to be
under their con-
trol, &c.
 
 
 
 
 

They may sue,
&c.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

And meet in
January, &c.