LAWS OF MARYLAND.

79

may hereafter become members of the said corporation herein erect-
ed, or may be admitted into the stud corporation, 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 of the Maryland Beneficial So-

Dec. Ses. 1822

ciety; Provided nevertheless, that the said corporation may be dis-
solved at any time by the consent of its members as is hereinafter
provided.

Proviso.

2. And be it enacted, That the affairs of the said society, shall be
managed and conducted by a president, vice-president, treasurer, se-
cretary and five stewards, to be elected annually on the second
Thursday in October, in each and every year, in such manner as the
said society shall think proper to appoint.

Officers.

3. And be it enacted, That the president of the said society and
their successors by their corporate name, shall and may have perpetu-
al 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, tene-
ments, rents, annuities, chattels, United States stock, bank stock, re-
gistered debt, or other public securities within this suite, by gift, pur-
chase or devise of or from any person or persons, body politic or
corporate, capable to make the same, and the same at their pleasure,
to alien, sell, transfer, or lease in such manner as they may judge

Powers, &c.

most conducive to the charitable use of said society; Provided never-
theless, that the said corporation shall not at any one time hold or
possess property, real, personal or mixed, exceeding in total value
the sum of ten thousand dollars

Proviso.

4. And be it enacted, 1 hat the members of the said corporation
and their successors, may meet together, on the second Thursday in
October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty three, at some convenient place in the city of Baltimore, and
on the same day annually forever 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 assuring and carrying

Annual elec-
tions, &c.

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 cor-
poration of the city of Baltimore.

Proviso

5. And be it enacted, That all appointments of officers for the said
society, heretofore made by the members thereof in their private ca-
pacities, 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.

Present offi-
cers.

6. And be it enacted. That the said corporation and their success-
ors, by the name aforesaid, shall be forever hereafter, able and capa-
ble 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 jus-
tice, and before all or any judges, officers or persons whatsoever
in all and singular actions, matters and demands whatsoever, and that
all legal process that may be hereafter instituted by the said corpora-
tion shall be in the name of the president and stewards of the Ma-
ryland Beneficial Society, and that all process, that may be hereafter
instituted against the said society shall be served on the president on
behalf of the same.

Legally capa-
ble.

7. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said
corporation and their successors forever hereafter, to have a com-

Privileges,