364.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1798.

men of the parish ; and it shall also be the duty of the said
register, in the entry of baptisms, to insert the Christian names
of the persons baptized, the Christian and surnames of the
parents, with the dates of the baptisms and births of the per-
sons baptized, and in the entry of marriages and burials to
insert the times of the celebration, and the Christian and sur-
names of the persons married, and the persons buried ; and it
shall be the duty of the minister or ministers of every parish,
to take care that the said register be made acquainted with all
the baptisms, marriages and burials, celebrated by him or them
in the parish.

Baptisms,
&c. to be
communi-
cated, &c.

SEC. 20. And be it enacted. That if any minister of the
Protestant Episcopal church shall celebrate any baptism, mar-
riage or burial, in any parish in which he may not be a settled
minister, he is hereby required to communicate it to the rector,
or some one of the vestry, of the parish, who shall communi-
cate it to the register of said parish.

Penalty on
the minister
&c.

SEC. 21. And be it enacted, That if any minister or vestry-
man shall fail in the duties herein respectively assigned them,
or if any register shall refuse or neglect to enter any baptism,
marriage or burial, so made known to him, the person offending
shall forfeit eight dollars for every such offence.

Register to
have custo-
dy of all
baptisms,
&c.

SEC. 22. And be it enacted, That the register of every parish
shall have the custody of all registers of baptisms, marriages
and burials, belonging to his parish, and he is hereby obliged to
shew any person or persons reasonably desiring it any such
register, or give a certificate of the entry of any birth, marriage
or burial, entered therein, which may be desired of him, and
such certificate under the hand of such register, and with the
common seal of such vestry annexed thereto, shall be received
in evidence in all courts of justice within this state; and for
every search which may be required, he shall be entitled to
twenty-five cents, and for every certificate as aforesaid, he shall
ba entitled to twenty-five cents, nor shall he be obliged to make
a search, or give a certificate, until he shall have been paid the
reward before allowed.

Penalty on
vestry for
neglect, &c.

SEC. 23. And be it enacted, That if any vestry shall neglect
or refuse to appoint a register for their parish, or to provide him
with such good and substantial books as the execution of the
duties herein committed to him may require, the individual
vestrymen who shall vote against going into the appointment of
a person to fill the office of a register, or who shall refuse to
vote on the question of said appointment, or against the provi-
sion of good substantial books as aforesaid, shall forfeit and
pay the sum of five dollars each for every time he shall offend,
or vote as aforesaid, the said fine to be recovered before a single
magistrate ; provided always, that the vestrymen, so offending,