78 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 60

who either (1) is a member of the armed forces of the United
States, or (2) is serving as a merchant seaman outside the
limits of the United States included within the 48 states and
the District of Columbia; or (3) is outside said limits by per-
mission, assignment or direction of any department or official
of the United States Government, in connection with any
activity pertaining to the prosecution of any war in which the
United States is then engaged.

(b) Such acknowledgment of instruments, attestation of
documents, administration of oaths and affirmations, execution
of depositions and affidavits, and performance of other notarial
acts, heretofore or hereafter made or taken, are hereby de-
clared legal, valid and binding, and instruments and docu-
ments so acknowledged, authenticated, or sworn to shall be
admissible in evidence and eligible to record in this State
under the same circumstances, and with the same force and
effect as if such acknowledgment, attestation, oath, affirmation,
deposition, affidavit, or other notarial act, had been made or
taken within this State before or by a duly qualified officer or
official as otherwise provided by law.

(c) In the taking of acknowledgments and the performing
of other notarial acts requiring certification, a certificate en-
dorsed upon or attached to the instrument or document, which
shows the date of the notarial act and which states, in sub-
stance, that the person appearing before the officer acknowl-
edged the instrument as his act or made or signed the instru-
ment or document under oath, shall be sufficient for all intents
and purposes. The instrument or document shall not be
rendered invalid by the failure to state the place of execution
or acknowledgment.

(d) If the signature, rank, and branch of service or sub-
division thereof, of any such commissioned officer appear upon
such instrument or document or certificate, no further proof
of the authority of such officer so to act shall be required and
such action by such commissioned officer shall be prima facie
evidence that the person making such oath or acknowledgment
is within the purview of this section.

SEC. 2. And, be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the
preservation of the public health and safety, and having been
passed by a yea and nay vote, supported by three-fifths of all
of the members elected to each of the two houses of the General
Assembly, the same shall take effect from the date of its
passage.

Approved February 26, 1947.