776 ARTICLE 23.

have full power to frame such rules and ordinances for conducting their
concerns as may be necessary and convenient for accomplishing the end of
their institution.

Cited but not construed in Jackson v. Hopkins, 113 Md. 562.
See sec. 278, and notes to sec. 274.

An. Code, sec. 349. 1904, sec. 311. 1888, sec. 215. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 167.

284. When any number of persons belonging to any church or con-
gregation, sufficient to build a church or house of worship, and to maintain
a minister, shall choose to separate from the church or congregation 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 to do so; and
they shall by their respective name or style be entitled to all the benefits of
this article relating to their incorporation; provided only, that all arrear-
ages, debts and engagements contracted, due or becoming due, while mem-
bers of the former society, shall be discharged.
See notes to sec. 274.

An. Code, sec. 350. 1904, sec. 312. 1888, sec. 216. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 168.

285. The person or persons holding lands or goods and chattels in trust
for any particular church or society shall convey the same to the corpora-
tion of such particular church or society, as soon as the same shall be formed
under this article.

This section enforced. Reed v. Stouffer, 56 Md. 254.
See notes to sec. 274.

An. Code, sec. 351. 1904, sec. 313. 1892, ch. 614, sec. 217A.

286. In every congregation of the denomination of Christians known
as the " Roman Catholic Church," the ordinary of the diocese and the
pastor of the said congregation for the time being, according to the prac-
tice and discipline of the said church, the other persons to be annually desig-
nated by said ordinary, and two other persons to be annually elected by the
male pewholders of the said congregation from among their number (said
annual election and appointment to be made on the Sunday next succeeding
the first day of January in each and every year, and the incumbents to
hold office until their respective successors shall be so as aforesaid elected
or appointed, as the case may be), shall be constituted a body politic and
corporate, under such title as may be assumed by the said corporation, and
recorded in a certificate under the hands and seals of the corporators first
chosen or otherwise entitled to office under the terms of this section, the
said certificate to be acknowledged before a justice of the peace of the county,
or city of Baltimore, as the case may be, where the said congregation shall
have or possess a place of worship, and recorded among the corporation
record of the said county or city.
See notes to sec. 274.

An. Code, sec. 352. 1904, sec. 314. 1892, ch. 614, sec. 217B. 1908, ch. 240, sec. 314.

287. Every such corporation shall have, in addition to the powers con-
ferred by section 9 of this article, in so far as the said powers may be con-
sistent with its general character, the further power to appoint the hour