1845.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 249.

perty of the company; and generally, to transact and per-
form all such business as may appertain to Mutual Fire
Insurance Companies, not contrary to this act, or the
constitution and laws of this State, or the United States.

Conducted by
nine managers.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the affairs of this
corporation shall be conducted by and under the control
of a board, Consisting of nine managers, to be elected at
the annual meetings of the members, as hereinafter di-
rected; and to continue in office for one year, or until
their successors are chosen; the said managers shall have
power to perform such duties as are hereinafter speci-
fied and provided, or as may be directed by the by-laws
which the said corporation may order for its future go-

Elect a presi-

dent, &c.

vernment, not inconsistent herewith; they, the said man-
agers, shall elect a president from their own body, and
shall likewise appoint a secretary, who shall ex-officio, be

the treasurer of the corporation, and as such, give bond
with security, to be approved by the board and ap-
praisers, surveyors, and such other agents as may be
found necessary for the proper management of the bene-
fits of said company.

Members to
convene.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That on the first Satur-
day of August next, and on the same Saturday, in said
month in every year thereafter, the members of the said
company shall convene at some convenient plant, to be
provided by the board of managers, for the purpose of
electing the aforesaid managers, and the transaction of
any other business that may be found necessary; of
which meetings, notice shall be given by the board of

Give 20 days
notice.

managers in writing, for at least twenty days previous,
in one or more newspapers published in said county;
and until such first election shall be held, Francis A.
Ellis, John Partridge, Henry S. Stiles, Henry C. Mak-
all, Benedict Jones, Joseph Haines, Alien Anderson,
John M. Miller and Benjamin B. Chambers, shall be the
managers of said corporation, with power to perform all
the duties of the board contemplated by this act; elec-
tions for managers, shall be by ballot, among the mem-

Proviso.

bers, and by a plurality of the members present; provided,
that female members only, may vote by proxy, such proxy
being executed in writing, before one witness at least,
and filed with the judges of election, before the balloting
commences, the. election to be conducted by three judg-
es, chosen from the members, not managers; the judges
shall certify, under their hands and seals, the result of
such election, to be filed with the secretary among, the
papers of the corporation; special meetings of the said