LAWS OF MARYLAND.

39

a society for the laudable purpose of affording relief to each other
and their respective families, in the event of sickness, distress and
death, and have prayed an act of incorporation, that they may better
execute their intentions, and the legislature being desirous of pro-
moting such institutions: Therefore,

Dec. Ses. 1823

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
John Robb, William Houlton, Thomas L. Murphey, Robert Dutton,
Peter Fay and others, that now are, or may Hereafter become mem-
bers of the said corporation herein erected, or may be admitted into
the said corporation, agreeably to the constitution, rules and bye-
laws of the same, and their successors are hereby declared to be one
community, corporation and body politic forever, by the name, style

Incorporation.

and title of the Fell's Point Washington Beneficial Society; Provided
nevertheless, that the said corporation may be dissolved 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 chosen annually on the second Mon-
day in October, in each and every succeeding year, in such manner
as the said society shall think proper to appoint.

Officers..

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 at all times hereafter,
be 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 securities within this state,
and the same at pleasure to alien, sell, transfer, or lease in such man-
ner as they may judge most conducive to the charitable uses of the
said society; Provided nevertheless, that the said corporation or body
politic, shall not at any one time, hold or possess property, real, per-
sonal or mixed, exceeding in total value the sum of twenty thousand
dollars.

Privileges
granted.

4. And be it enacted, That the members of the said corporation
and their successors may meet together on the second Monday in
October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-four, 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 bye-laws as may be necessary for assuring and carrying
into effect the benevolent purposes of this act; Provided such rules,
regulations and bye-laws be not repugnant to the constitution and
laws of the United States, of the State of Maryland, or of the cor-
poration of the city of Baltimore.

Meetings—
bye-laws.

5. And be it enacted, That all appointment 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 cor-
poration.

Present offi-
cers.

6. And be it enacted, That the said corporation and their succes-
sors, by the name aforesaid, shall be forever hereafter able and ca-
pable 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
justice, 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 hereafter be instituted by the said

Legal capa-
city.