FRANCIS THOMAS, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1841.

the same, or such regulations as may hereafter be made and
adopted by the said society, shall be, and they and their
successors are hereby declared to be one community, cor-
poration and body politic, by the name and style of the

CHAP. 184.

Armistead Beneficial Society of Baltimore, and by that
name they shall be and are hereby made able and capable
in law, to have, purchase, receive, hold, possess, enjoy and

Name and
style.

retain, to them and their successors, in fee or leased estate
or estates, any lands, grounds, tenements, rents, or annuities,
whether the same be acquired by gift, purchase, or devise, or
from any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capa-
ble to make the same, and the same property to alienate, sell,
or transfer, in such manner as they may judge most condu-

General pow-
ers.

cive to the benevolent uses of the society; provided never-
theless, that the said corporation or body politic, shall not
at any one time, hold or possess property, real, personal, or
mixed, exceeding in total value the sum of eight thousand
dollars.

Proviso.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the members of the said
society may, and they are hereby authorized to provide by
by-laws or otherwise, for the meetings of the society, the
election of officers, and all other matters essential and ne-
cessary to carry out the design of this act.

To make by-
laws

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be law-
ful for said corporation and their successors, to have a
common seal for their use, and the same at the will and
pleasure of them, and their successors, to change, alter,
break, and make anew from time to time, as they shall think
best, and shall in general have and exercise all such rights,
franchises, privileges, immunities, as by law are incident

Corporate
powers.

and necessary to corporations of this kind, and that the said
corporation and their successors, shall be able and capable
in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer
and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all or
any courts of justice, and before all or any judges, officers
or persons whatever, in all actions, matters, demands, and
things whatever.

Legal powers

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That nothing herein contain-
ed, shall be so construed as to authorize or empower this
corporation to issue any note, certificate, device, or other
evidence of debt, to be used as currency.

Banking for-
bid.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall endure for
twenty years from its passage, and that the legislature re-
serves to itself the right to alter or annul this act of incor-
poration at pleasure.
13*

In force

Rights reser-
ved