1820.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 40.

purpose of affording relief to each other, and their respective fa-
milies, in the event of sickness, distress and death, and have pray-
ed an art of incorporation, that they may the better execute their
intentions; and the legislature being desirous of promoting such
useful institutions; Therefore,

Members incorpo-
rated.

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
David Harryman, John C. Petherbridge, William W. Waite,
James B. Bosley, William Meeteer, Henry Myers, and others
that now are or may hereafter become members of the said cor-
poration herein erected, or may be admitted into the said corpo-
ration agreeably to the constitution, rules and by-laws of the same,
and their successors, are hereby declared to be one community,
corporation and body politic, forever by the name, style and title,

Proviso.

of The Equitable Beneficial Society of Maryland; Provided ne-
vertheless, that the said corporation may be dissolved at any time
by the consent of its members as is hereinafter provided

Affairs to be man-
aged by a presi-
dent, &c.

2. And be it enacted, That the affairs of the said society shall
be managed and conducted by a President, Vice President, Trea-
surer, Secretary, and five Stewards, to be elected annually on the
last Thursday in November in each and every year, in such man-
ner as the said society shall think proper to appoint.

May take & hold
property.

Proviso.

3. And be it enacted, That the present members of the said so-
ciety, and their successors, by their corporate name, shall and
may have perpetual succession, and shall and may be at all times
hereafter persons able and capable in law to purchase, take, have
and enjoy, to them and their successors, in fee or less estate or
estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, chattels, United
States stock, bank stock, registered debt, or other public securi-
ties within this state, by gift, purchase or devise, of of from any
person or persons, body politic or corporate, to make the
same, and the same at their pleasure to alien, sell, transfer or
lease, in such manner as they may judge most conducive to the
charitable uses of said society; Provided nevertheless, that the
said corporation shall not at any one time hold or possess proper-
ty, real, personal or mixed, exceeding in total value the sum of
fifty thousand dollars.

Time of meeting.

4. And be it enacted, That the members of the said corporation
and their successors, may meet together on the last Thursday in
November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and twenty-one, at some convenient place in the city of Balti-
more, and on the same day annually for ever thereafter, and then
and there elect the officers of the said society, form such rules and
regulations, and enact such by-laws, as may be necessary, for as-
suring and carrying into effect the benevolent purposes of this act,
provided such rules, regulations and by-laws, be not repugnant to
the constitution and laws of the United States, of the State of
Maryland, and of the corporation of the city of Baltimore.

Appointments
heretofore made
continued.

5. And be it enacted, That all appointments of officers for the
said society, heretofore made by the members thereof in their
private capacities, shall respectively continue and be in full force
until the time specified by this act for the first election of officers
for the said corporation.

Rights and privi-
leges.

6. And be it enacted, That the said corporation, and their suc-
cessors, by the name aforesaid, shall be for ever hereafter able