THOMAS G. PRATT, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR

1945.

CHAPTER 94.

An act entitled a supplement to an act relating to free
Negroes and Slaves, passed at December session, eigh-
teen hundred and thirty-one.

CHAP. 94.

Passed Feb.
18, 1846.

WHEREAS, by the seventh section of the act of eigh-
teen hundred and thirty-one, chapter three hundred and
twenty-three, it is made lawful for any free negro or ne-
groes, slave or slaves, to assemble or attend any meetings
for religious purposes, upon condition that the said meet-
ings be conducted by a white licensed or ordained preach-
or, or by some respectable white person or persons of
the neighborhood, as may be duly authorised by such
licensed or ordained preacher, during the continuance of
such meeting; and whereas, the said seventh section of
the act aforesaid, is construed to authorise the meetings
of colored persons in this State, usually denominated
camp-meetings; and whereas, such meetings are believed
to be nuisances to the respective neighborhoods in which
they may be held, therefore,

Preamble.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the said seventh section of the act of
eighteen hundred and thirty-one, chapter three hundred
and twenty-three, or so much thereof as is construed to
authorise the holding of negro camp meetings, as well as
all other out-door protracted negro meetings, be and the
same is hereby repealed; and that all such meetings shall
hereafter be considered as unlawful and tumultuous meet-
ings, under the penalties and provisions in the said sec-
tion contained for the suppression thereof.

Repealed.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That all meetings of ne-
groes for religious purposes, except such as may and
shall be held at regular and appointed houses of worship
and under the regulations and provisions in the said
seventh section contained, are hereby declared to be un-
lawful and tumultuous meetings, to be dispersed as pro-
vided for in the said seventh section of the act of eigh-
teen hundred and thirty-one.

Unlawful.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That nothing in this act
contained, shall be taken or construed to prevent either
free negroes or slaves from attending any regular camp
meeting which may be held by the white portion of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Maryland, or any other
religious sect.

Not to prevent
free negroes or
slaves from at-
tending under
white portion
of the church.