1849.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 302.

aforesaid Methodist Episcopal church, and furthermore,
as often as the necessity of me church, or the public good
may require, the aforesaid trustees of the Methodist Epis-
copal church of Patapsco circuit, may purchase, or acquire
by gift or otherwise, any additional lots or pieces of land,
to put up any other place, church or chapel for public
worship, and to hold the same as aforesaid, for public

Proviso.

worship, and also for burying; grounds; provided, nothing
herein contained shall authorise the aforesaid trustees
to interfere with the Patapsco circuit parsonage.

Corporate
powers.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be
lawful for the 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 ex
ercise all such rights, franchises, privileges, and immu-
nities, as by law are incident and necessary to corpora-
tions of this kind, and that the said corporation and
their successors, shall be able and capable in law, to sue
and be sued, to 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 whatsoever, in all actions, matters, demands,
and things whatsoever.

Vacancies—
how filled.

SEC 3. And be it enacted, That as often as any
one or more of the trustees hereinbefore mentioned, or
their successors, shall die or cease to be a member or
members of the said church, according to the rules and
discipline of the church aforesaid, or shall move beyond
the limits of said Patapsco circuit, then and in such case
such individuals so removing, shall cease to be trustees,
they being hereby declared incompetent to hold such
trusteeship, and in such case it shall be the duty of the
minister, who shall have the pastoral charge of the afore-
said Patapsco circuit for the time being, to call a meet-
ing of the remaining trustees, as soon as conveniently
may be thereafter, and when so met the said minister or
preacher, shall proceed to nominate one or more person
or persons to fill the place or places of him, or them
whose office or offices has or have been vacated as afore-

Proviso.

said; provided, the person or persons shall have been
one year a member or members of the said church, im-
mediately preceding such nomination, and at least twen-
ty-one years of age, and the said trustees so assembled
shall proceed to elect, and by a majority of votes appoint
the person or persons so nominated to fill such vacancies,
in order to keep up the number of twenty-eight trustees
forever, including said minister having the pastoral