664 CORPORATIONS. [ART. 23

more than five hundred dollars for each offense, one-half of
said fine to go to the informer.

Religious Corporations.

1888, art. 23, sec. 205. 1868, ch. 471, sec., 156.

301. In every church, religious society or congregation, of
whatever sect, order or denomination, or which shall at any
time hereafter be known and acknowledged in the State, and
protected in the free and full exercise of its religion by the
constitution and the laws thereof, there shall be sufficient
power and authority in all persons above twenty-one years of
age belonging to any such church, society or congregation, to
elect, at their discretion, certain sober and discreet persons,
not less than four, nor more than twelve, which persons so
elected, upon being registered, as hereinafter directed, shall be
constituted a body politic or corporate to act as trustees in the
name and behalf of the particular church, society or congrega-
tion for which they are respectively chosen, and to manage the
estate, property, interest and inheritance of the same.

Bethel Church v. Carmack, 2 Md. Ch. 144. Neale v. Vestry of St. Paul's
Church, 8 Gill, 116. Tartar v. Gibbs, 24 Md. 323. Erhard v. Balto Monthly
Meeting, 93 Md. 681.

Ibid. sec. 206. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 157.

302. The trustees so elected shall have perpetual succession
by their name of incorporation, and shall be capable in law to
purchase, take and hold to them and their successors in fee, or
for a less estate, any lands, tenements or hereditaments, rents
or annuities, goods or chattels within this State, by the gift,
bargain, sale or devise of any person, body politic or corporate,
capable of making the same, and to use or lease, mortgage or
sell and convey the same in such manner as they may judge
most conducive to the interest of their respective churches,
societies or congregations; provided, that nothing herein shall
authorize any sale, mortgage or other disposition of any prop-
erty held by such corporation under any instrument prohibiting
such sale; and provided, the clear yearly income from the
estate of any church, society or congregation, exclusive of the
rents of pews, collections in churches, funeral charges and the
like shall not exceed the sum of twenty thousand dollars.
Erhardt v Balto. Monthly Meeting, 93 Md 681.

Ibid. sec. 207. 1868, ch. 471, sec. 158.

303. Every such body politic shall be chosen and the suc-
cession kept up at such times and places as are ordinarily used