JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

297

of said church over twenty-one years and attending shall be
entitled to vote upon all questions arising at any and all con-
gregational meetings. The pastor for the time being shall
preside ac all such meetings, and in his absence the meeting
shall elect its president.

CHAP. 192.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the annual meeting of the
members of sai.d church for nominating to the board of
trustees members eligible to be elected to said hoard shall take
place in the month of January in each year, and the annual
meeting of the board of trustees for electing trustees shall be
held during the first week of February in each year.
Vacancies in the board of trustees from whatever cause shall
always be promptly filled by the holding members of the
board from a list of eligibles containing double the number of
vacancies to be nominated by a meeting of the members of
the congregation, which shall always be promptly called as
aforesaid. In case of failure of the members to hold a con-
gregational meeting, or of the board of trustees to elect for
any reason, then notices of other meetings for said purpose
shall be promptly given, and the said meetings shall be
promptly held.

Annual
meeting for
election to be
held in
January and
February.

SEC. 4:. And be it enacted, That the said church shall hold
all its property in trust for the use and benefit of the ministry
and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the
United States of America, subject to the discipline, usage and
ministerial appointments of said church as from time to time
authorized and declared, and if sold the proceeds shall be
disposed of and used in accordance with the provisions of said
discipline.

Property
held in trust.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the powers and authority
hereby given or intended to be given to the trustees aforesaid
or their successors, shall not be understood, taken or construed
in anywise to prohibit, prevent or take from the minister or
ministers in charge for the time being, duly authorized and
appointed agreeably to the discipline of said church as afore-
said, the use and enjoyment of the church, but that the same
shall be had and enjoyed by them and by other ministers and
preachers duly authorized by the discipline of said church as
aforesaid, with the consent of the minister who shall have the
pastoral charge aforesaid for the time being and by no other
person or persons whatsoever, unless by particular license and
consent of a majority of the board of trustees obtained at a
meeting called by the preacher in charge, or in his absence by
the secretary or treasurer of the board.
SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That within one month after
the passage of this Act, a meeting of the members of said

How power
and
authority
given to the
trustees
shall
be construed.