260

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

of conveyance or transfer of or from legal capability

to make such transfer or conveyance, and the same to

improve with such churches, parsonages and buildings

for the use of the congregations for public or other

worship, and for residences for the pastors of said con-

gregations not inconsistent with the discipline of the

Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States;

and to sell, rent, mortgage and convey all or any part of

any property belonging to or that may thereafter be-

long to the said corporation, according to the rules of

discipline of the said Methodist Episcopal Church in

the United States.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That all lands and tene-

ments, with the appurtenances now belonging to or

held in the name of the incorporation herein named,

for the use and benefit of said church, and all per-

sonal property, fixtures and furniture now held by

them, shall, from and after the passage of this act, be

Vested in body
corporate.

vested in the said body corporate hereby created, and

their successors, forever, for the use and benefit of the

congregation, according to the rules and regulations of

the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church in

the United States, and to be governed by said rules of

said discipline in all their proceedings except as stated

otherwise in this act.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the board of trus-

tees named in section two of this act shall, as soon

after the passage of this act as convenient, meet to-

gether, and by lot divide themselves into three equal

classes, the first class to hold their office until the

fourth quarterly conference of the said church next

held after the passage of this act, under the rules and

regulations of the said discipline; the second class

Divide into

to hold their office for two years, and the third class to

hold their office for three years; each class to be in-

eligible for re-election for one year after retiring from

said office, and such vacancies shall be filled at the

said quarterly conference, as now provided or may

hereafter be provided by the rules of the said disci-

pline, so that three new trustees shall be appointed

and elected annually; in case of other vacancies they

shall be filled as pro vided by the rules of said dicipline.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That this act shall take

Effective.

effect from and after the date of its passage.

Approved April 8, 1884.