| 1784.
CHAP.
LXXVIII. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
assistance of the widows and fatherless, and especially those of the
respectable
and useful body of clergy of all denominations, who are often obliged,
through
the uncertainty and scantiness of their support in many places, to leave
their
families in very necessitous circumstances: Therefore, |
Clergy incorporated,
&c. |
II. Be it enacted,
by the general assembly of Maryland, That the said protestant
episcopal clergy, namely, William Smith, John Gordon, John McPherson,
William Thomson, Samuel Keene, William West, Walter Magowan, John
Andrews, Thomas John Clagett, George Goldie, Edward Gantt, Francis Lauder,
Joseph Messenger, John Bowie, Walter Harrison, Thomas Gates, James
Wilmer, Hamilton Bell, Francis Walker, John Stewart, Samuel Tingly, Leonard
Gutting, Ralph Higinbothom, Mason Weems, and Edward Gantt, junior,
and such other clergymen in the orders and communion of the said church
as
may hereafter become residents of this state, and shall be contributors
to the said
funds of the corporation herein erected, and as may be admitted into the
said
corporation by a majority of the members thereof for the time being, shall
be,
and they and their successors are hereby declared to be, one community,
corporation,
and body politic, for ever, by the name of The Corporation for the relief
of the widows and children of the clergy of the protestant episcopal church
in Maryland; and by the same name they and their successors shall and may
have
perpetual succession, and shall and may, at all times hereafter, be persons
able
and capable in law to purchase, take, have and enjoy, to them and their
successors
in fee, or for any less estate or estates, any lands, tenements, rents,
annuities,
pensions, and other hereditaments, within this state, by the gift, bargain,
sale or devise, of any person or persons, bodies politic and corporate,
capable to
make the same; and such lands, tenements, rents annuities, pensions, and
other hereditaments, or any less estates, rights or interests, of or in
the same, at
their pleasure to alien, sell, transfer of lease, in such manner as they
may judge
most conducive for furthering the pious designs of this charitable
incorporation,
and according to the nature of such estate as they may have in the same;
and
also that they, and their successors, may take and receive any sum
or sums of
money, and any kind, manner or portion, of goods and chattels, that may
or
shall be given, sold or bequeathed, unto them, by any person or persons,
bodies
politic or corporate, capable to make a gift, sale, or bequest thereof,
and to employ
the same, either in the immediate payment of annuities to the widows aforesaid,
and other declared purposes of this incorporation, or in providing a fund
or
capital sufficient to produce an yearly interest, revenue or income, for
answering
the good purposes of the same; provided, that the clear yearly value of
the said
capital, fund, stock, and other hereditaments and real estate of the said
corporation,
do not exceed fifteen thousand Spanish milled dollars of the present current
weight, namely, seventeen pennyweight and six grains each dollar, above
all taxes and assessments. |
May meet
annually, &c. |
III. And be
it enacted, That the members of the said corporation, and their
successors, may meet together on the fourth Tuesday in May every year,
and at
such other time or times, and at such place or places within this state,
and upon
such public notice given, as may be fixed, and agree upon, for the
purposes of
forming such rules and regulations as may be necessary for answering and
carrying
into effect the pious purposes of this act, provided such rules and regulations
be not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state. |
| May sue, &c. |
IV. And be it
enacted, That the said corporation, and their successors, by
the name aforesaid, shall be for ever hereafter able and capable in law
to sue and
be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend
and be
defended, in all or any courts of justice, and before all or any judges,
officers, or
other persons whatever, in all and singular actions, matters and demands
whatsoever,
and that it shall and may be lawful for them, and their successors, forever
hereafter, to have a common seal for their use, and in their affairs and
business,
and the same, at the will and pleasure of them, and their successors, to
change, alter, break and make anew, from time to time as they shall think
best,
and shall in general have and exercise all such rights, franchises, privileges
and |
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