1839.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 247.

Legal capacity.

May bold pro-
perty.

Limit of pro-
perty.

corporation and body politic, to have continuance for thir-
ty years, by which name they shall be able to sue and be
sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts of law and
equity, and in all actions whatsoever, and also to have a
common seal, and the same to change, break, alter and
renew at pleasure; and they shall have power to establish
by-laws and orders for the regulation of their institution,
and the preservation and application of the funds thereof;
provided, the same be not repugnant to the constitution or
laws of this State; and they shall have power to take,
hold and possess any estate, real, personal or mixed, by
subscription, gift, grant, purchase, devise or otherwise,
and the same to improve, lease, exchange or sell and con-
vey at pleasure; provided, that the value of real estate
held at any time by the said corporation, shall not exceed
fifty thousand dollars.

Individuals ma-
king donation
to become mem-
bers, &c.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That any person who shall
make a donation, at any one time, of a sum not less than
fifty dollars, to the funds of the said corporation,
shall be a member of said corporation for life; and any
person who shall subscribe and pay to said funds a sum
not less than five dollars annually, by such subscription
and payment shall become a member, so long as he con-
tinues to pay the same.

Annual meet-
ing.

Election of offi-

cers.

In case vacan-
cies occur.

Special meet-

ings may be held.

Notice to be

given.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That there shall be a meeting
of the members of the said corporation in the city of
Baltimore, on the first Monday of March annually, after
the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-one, for
the purpose of electing by ballot from their number, a
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and nine
Directors, who collectively, shall be called the board of
directors; which officers shall hold their respective offices
for one year, and until others shall be elected to succeed
them, except in case of vacancy, by death or resignation,
in which case it shall be the duty of the board of directors
to fill the vacancy by an election from the members afore-
said so soon as conveniently may be; special meetings of
the corporation may be called whenever a majority of the
board of directors shall deem it expedient, or upon the
application of fifty members to the secretary, in writing,
stating the object of such meeting; and it shall be the duty
of the secretary to give notice that such meeting will be
held in the city of Baltimore, at a time by him to be ap-
pointed, which time shall not be more than ten days from
the time of the application aforesaid; and all notices of the
meetings of the said corporation shall be given by the se-