LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1802.

479

trustees, or a majority of them, that the proceedings have been
legally and duly conducted ; and the said plan or agreement, so
acknowledged and certified, shall be filed by the said trustees
with the clerk of the county court where the said church,
society or congregation, or the greater part of them, shall reside,
within six months after such acknowledgment shall be made,
and the same shall be recorded in a book to be provided for
these special purposes, at the expense of the several corpora-
tions in that county whose proceedings shall be so recorded,
and a copy of the said proceedings from the records thereof,
under the hand of the clerk, and the public seal of his office,
shall be of the same force and effect, in every court of law and
equity within this state, as the original proceedings would be if
the same were produced in court ; and if any future change or
alteration shall be made in the original plan, by authority of
the congregation as aforesaid, such change or alteration shall
in the same manner be made known and recorded ; and the
said clerk shall be entitled to such fees for his services as are
allowed by law for services of the like nature in matters be-
longing to his office.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That every corporation or body
politic aforesaid respectively, and their successors, or the majo-
rity of them, by their name of incorporation aforesaid, shall
have full power and authority to hold and use one common
seal, to appoint the times and places of their meetings, and the
number necessary to constitute a quorum, and shall moreover
provide and keep a good and sufficient record book, and cause
to be therein registered a fair account of all their proceedings,
subject at all times to the inspection of the several members of
the church, society or congregation, in whose behalf the same
are respectively entered, and the same shall be laid before a
public meeting, when thereunto required by any five or more
of the same ; and the said trustees, or a majority of them, shall
have full power and authority to frame such rules and ordi-
nances for conducting their concerns as may be necessary and

Every cor-
poration to
hold and
use a seal.

convenient for accomplishing the end of their institution ; Pro-
vided always, that nothing therein contained shall be repugnant
to, but perfectly consistent with, the constitution and laws of
this state.

Proviso.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted. That all and every of the said
corporations or trustees, and their successors, by their respective
names or titles, shall be vested with an estate in fee simple in
any land or parcel of ground not exceeding two acres, and also
in every chapel, meeting-house, or other house of worship
belonging to, or in the use of, the particular church, society or
congregation, for which they are respectively chosen as a body

Vested with
an estate in
fee simple.