THOMAS W. VEAZEY, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR,

1830.

CHAPTER 29&.

An act Incorporating the Evangelical Lutheran Congre-
gation, in Hagerstown, and its vicinity.

CHAP. 290.

Passed Mar. 81.
1837.

WHEREAS, application has been made to this Gen-
eral Assembly, for an act of incorporation in behalf of
the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. Johns
Church, in Hagerstown, which may enable them to
manage with convenience their temporal concerns: —
Therefor,

Preamble

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland. That the present members of the Church
Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of
St John's Church, in Hagerstown, in Washington
county, and their successors, shall be, and hereby are
created and declared to be, a body corporate, by the
name, style and title of the Church Council of the
Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, of Hagerstown,
and by the same name, shall have perpetual succession,
and shall be able and capable in law, to sue and be
sued, plead and bo impleaded, in any courts of law or
equity, in this State or elsewhere, and to make and
have a common seal, and the same to break, alter or
renew at their pleasure, and also to ordain and estab-
lish, such by-laws and ordinances, as shall be neces-
sary and proper for regulating the temporal concerns
of said church for promoting religion in it; provided
they be nut repugnant to this act, nor to the laws of
this State.

Corporate pow-

ers granted

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the said church
council, shall consist of the Pastor to the said congre-
gation for the time being, together with eight elders
and five deacons, the said eiders and deacons to be elec-
ted by the members in regular standing in the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Congregation of St John's Church,
in Hagerstown and its vicinity, at such times and
places, and in such manner, as the said congregation
by its rules, regulations, and by-laws may direct, each
of the elders to continue in office for six years, and

Pastor, elders
and deacons

each of the deacons to continue in office for three years.
SEC. 3. And be if enacted, That the said church
council may annually elect a president, secretary and

41

President, &c