1288 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 462

Churches, without the consent of a majority at least of the
entire membership of the Vestry (of which majority the
Rector shall always be one), and in case there be no Rector
in the Parish, then in addition to the said consent of the
Vestry it shall be necessary to obtain the consent of the
Bishop of the Diocese or in his absence, that of the Ecclesi-
astical Authority of the Diocese for the time being, previ-
ous to any sale, mortgage or other alienation.

Upon the obtaining of the above mentioned consents, the
Rector (as President of the Vestry), or if there be no Rec-
tor in the Parish, the Registrar and the Treasurer of the
Parish or any members of the Vestry authorized by resolu-
tion of the Vestry shall have full power and authority to
execute on behalf of the Vestry, a deed or other convey-
ance for the estates or property to be sold, aliened, mort-
gaged or transferred, and the corporate seal of the Vestry
may be affixed to such deed or other conveyance by the
Registrar or the Treasurer of the Vestry, or by any other
members of the Vestry authorized by a resolution of the
Vestry to affix such corporate seal to such deed or other
conveyance.

291S. Nothing hereinbefore contained shall be con-
strued to prevent the Vestry of any Parish from buying
at any time a lot of land for a burial ground or a site for a
Church or rectory, or from selling or renting pews of their
Churches or Chapels, provided in so doing the said Vestry
shall not interfere with any existing right of title to any
person to any pew or pews.

291T. The Vestry of every Parish, and their successors
(by the name aforesaid) shall be forever hereafter 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 other persons whatsoever; in all and singular
actions, matters and demands whatsoever; and that it shall
and may be lawful for them, and their successors, forever
hereafter, to have a common seal for their use, and the
same, at the will and pleasure of them, and their succes-
sors, to change, alter, break or make anew, from time to
time, as they shall think best.

291U. It shall be lawful for the Convention of the Prot-
estant Episcopal Church in this State to divide or unite
Parishes, as occasion may require, and to alter their
bounds, and to constitute new Parishes; and Vestrymen
and Churchwardens of such new Parishes shall be chosen
as hereinbefore provided, and shall have perpetual succes-