1802.

NOVEMBER. LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP.
CXI.

were produced in court; and if any future change or alteration shall be made in the original plan
by authority of the congregation as aforesaid, such change or alteration shall in the same manner
be made known and recorded; and the said cterk shall be entitled to such fees for his services as are
allowed by law for services of the like nature in matters belonging to his office.

Every corpora-
tion to hold and
use a seal, &c.

VI. AND BE IT ENACTED, That every corporation or body politic aforesaid respectively, and
their successors, or the majority of them, by their name of incorporation aforesaid, shall have full
power and authority to hold and use one common seal, to appoint the times and places of their meet-
ings, and the number necessary to constitute a quorum, and shall moreover provide and keep a good
and sufficient record book, and cause to be therein registered a fair account of all their proeeectings,
subject at all times to the inspection of the several members of the church, society or congregation,
in whose behalf the same are respectively entered, and the same shall be laid before a public meet-
ing, when thereunto required by any five or more of the same; and the said trustees, or a majority
of them, shall have full power and authority to frame such rules and ordinances for conducting their
concerns as may be necessary and convenient for accomplishing the end of their institution; pro-
vided always, that nothing therein contained shall be repugnant to, but perfectly consistent with,
the constitution and laws of this estate. ,

Vested with an
state in lands,
&c.

II. AND BE IT ENACTE'D, That all and every of the said corporations or trustees, and their
successors, by their respective names or titles, shall be vested with an estate in fee-simple in any
land or parcel of ground not exceeding two acres, and also in every chapel, meeting-house, or other
house of worship belonging to, or in the use of, the particular church, society or congregation, for
which they are respectively chosen as a body politic or corporate, and shall also, by their respective
names or titles, have absolute property in all books, plate or other ornaments, and all goods and chat-
tels, belonging to the said church, society or congregation, whether the same have been given,
granted or devised, directly to the said church, society or congregation, or to any person in trust
for them; provided, that the person or persons holding lands, or goods and chattels, in trust for any
particular church or society as aforesaid, shall voluntarily make over, by indenture proper for that
purpose, to the trustees or body corporate of such particular church or society, such lands or chat-
tels, for the use and benefit of such church, society or congregation.

They may pur-
chase &c.

VIII. AND BE IT ENACTED, That all and every the said corporation or trustees, established of
to be established in virtue of this act, and their successors, shall be capable in law to purchase and
hold, in fee-simple, a quantity of land, not exceeding two acres for the use of any one church, society
or congregation, by gift or grant of any person or persons, or bodies politic, capable in law to make
the same, provided such gift or grant be made by indenture, duly executed and recorded agreeably
to law, and in no other manner whatever; and also that every the said body corporate, and their
successors, or a majority of them, severally, by their respective name, may take and receive any
sum or sums of money, any kind, manner or portion, of goods and chattels, that shall be sold or
given to them as aforesaid by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable in law to
make a gift or sale thereof, and employ the same for the benefit and use of the particular church,
society or congregation, whereunto they respectively belong, as a body politic or corporate; pro-
vided, that all and every gift, grant, bargain, sale, or deed of transfer, made by any person or per-
sons, and not intended to take effect and vest in any religious body or corporation during the life of
the giver, grantor or seller, but to become their right and property after his, her or their decease,
shall be utterly null, void, and of no effect; and provided also, that the ctear yearly value of the
estates, rents, annuities, or other hereditaments, of any church, society or congregation, thus in-
corporated, shall not amount to more than the ctear yearly value of two thousand dollars, and all
gifts, grants, sales and transfers, to any the said corporations, or their successors, after the ctear
yearly value of their estate shall amount to two thousand dollars, and all bargains and purchases to
be made by any of them, which may increase the yearly value of the said estates above and beyond
the standard here fixed, shall be utterly null, void, and of so effect.

Limitations
not to affect the
estate, &c.

IX. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the limitations in point of annual value aforesaid shall not be
understood to affect the estate, property, interest or inheritance, or the income arising therefrom,
which any Christian church, congregation or society, may be in possession of at the time of passing
this act

X. AND Whereas it is necessary for the greater effect of the preaching of the Gospel, that men
should be permitted to employ and sit under the teaching of those whom they find or esteem most ca-
pable of instructing them, and enforcing the precepts of religious truth, in whose character and
faithfulness