LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1798.

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they have voted out, all or any of whom they may re-elect; and
such persons so chosen, with the remaining vestrymen and the
rector, shall be the vestry for the ensuing year.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the vestrymen of each pa-
rish, or a majority of those who shall attend, shall judge of the
election of vestrymen, and of the qualification of voters, and of
the qualification of the parishioners proposed to be elected as
vestrymen.

Vestrymen
to judge of
elections.
&c.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted. That every person chosen a ves-
tryman shall, before he acts as such, take and subscribe the
oath of support and fidelity required by the constitution and
form of government, unless such person hath before taken such
oath, and also make and subscribe a declaration of his belief in
the Christian religion, and he shall also take and subscribe the
following oath of office, to wit : 'I, A. B., do solemnly swear,
that I will faithfully execute the office of a vestryman of ——
parish, in ——— county, without prejudice, favour or affection,
according to the best of my skill and knowledge ;' which oaths
and declarations any justice of the peace, or any vestryman
present, may administer and take.

Oaths to be
taken.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That the first Monday in February,
May, August and November, in each year, shall be the days on
which a vestry shall be held in every parish, at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, at the place at which vestry elections are
directed by this act to be held, without any notice given thereof,
and every vestry may also hold adjourned or special meetings
at such times and places as they may agree upon ; at any which
time or place, any four vestrymen, together with the rector, if
he shall attend, if not, any four without him, shall be a suffi-
cient quorum for the transaction of any business whatever,
which they are authorized to do by this act, and whatsoever
shall be thus done by a majority of such quorum, or of the
members attending, if more than above directed, shall be valid
and obligatory as if done by the whole vestry ; provided always,
that due notice of all adjourned and special meetings shall be
given to all the members of the vestry.

Days on
which ves-
tries are to
be held.

SEC. S. And be it enacted, That the rector of each parish for
the time being shall preside in the vestry, collect the votes, and
shall, upon an equal division of those present, have a vote,
except in cases in which he is in any manner particularly in-
terested, and he shall have, except he may otherwise contract
with the vestry, the possession, occupation and free use of all
the glebe-lands, houses, ground-rents, books and other property,
belonging to his parish, and be entitled to the benefit thereof
during the time he shall officiate therein as rector.
SEC 9. And be it enacted, That the vestry of each parish
for the time being, as trustees of the parish, shall have an estate
46

Rector to
preside, &c.