LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1802.

481

and such lands to rent or lease ; also to take and receive any money, goods
or chattels, given, sold or bequeathed to them, and to apply the same to the
use of their churches as effectually as the same could have been applied by
the vestry of the Protestant Episcopal Church to theft respective parishes ;
provided the clear yearly value of the estate, (exclusive of the rents of pews,
&c.) does not exceed that allowed to any vestry.

SEC. 9. And be it enacted, That the limitations in point of
annual value aforesaid shall not be understood to affect the
estate, property, interest or inheritance, or the income arising
therefrom, which any Christian church, congregation or society,
may be in possession of at the time of passing this act.
By 1814, ch. 58, the Baltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church to have all the benefits arising from all gifts or grants of pro-
perty, &c.

Limitations
of annual
value not to
affect the
estate of
any church.

SEC. 10. And, whereas it necessary for the greater effect of
the preaching of the Gospel, that men should be permitted to
employ and sit under the teaching of those whom they find or
esteem most capable of instructing them, and enforcing the pre-
cepts of religious truth, in whose character and faithfulness they
have most confidence ; therefore, Be it enacted, that where any
number of persons belonging to any church or congregation
sufficient to build a ch'urch or house of worship, and to main-
tain a minister, shall choose to separate from the church or con-
gregation of which they have hitherto been a part, and to erect
a house of worship, and employ a minister for themselves, it
shall be lawful for them so to do, and they shall, by their
respective name or style, be entitled to all the benefits of this
act as aforesaid, any thing in the act for the establishment of
vestries for each parish in this state to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, provided only, that all arrears, debts and engagements, con-
tracted, due, or becoming due, while members of the former
society, shall be punctually and faithfully discharged.

Persons
may sepa-
rate from a
church,
erect a
house of
worship,
and employ
a minister.

SEC. 11. And be it enacted, That so much of the act* for the
establishment of vestries for each parish in this state as confers
the powers of civil officers of the peace upon churchwardens,
be and the same are hereby declared null and void.

Part of an
act declared
void.
*1798, ch.
24.

SEC. 12. And be it enacted, That this act shall not repeal any
part of the act for the establishment of vestries for each parish
in this state, except so far as the same is inconsistent with the
tenth and eleventh sections of this act.

Not to
repeal a
former act,
&c.

SEC. 13. And be it enacted, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed, adjudged or taken, to abridge or affect the
rights of conscience or private judgment, or in the least to alter
or change the religious constitution or government of any
church, congregation or society, so far as respects, or in any
wise concerns, doctrine, discipline or worship.

61

Nor to
affect the
rights of
conscience.