MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

209

The vestry of each parish of the Diocese of Easton,
not separately incorporated under the provisions of the
law regulating the formation of religious corporations
generally, having been incorporated by operation of law
pursuant to the provisions of the Vestry Act of 1798,
Chapter 24, Section XXVIII, are now, and shall forever be
a body corporate, by the name of the vestry of the parish
of which the vestry is the governing body, and by that
name it, and its successors, shall and may have perpetual
succession.

(b)   Corporate powers of old vestries.

Each old vestry, so incorporated as aforesaid, shall
and may, at all times hereafter, be an entity able and
capable in law to purchase, take and hold, to it and its
successors, in fee, or for a lesser estate, any lands,
tenements or hereditaments, rents and annuities, within
this State, by the gift, bargain, sale or devise of any
person, or bodies politic or corporate, capable of making
the same.

And such lands, tenements and hereditaments, to rent
or lease, in such manner as it may deem most conducive to
the best interests of its respective parish.

And also to take and receive any sum of money, and
any kind of goods and chattels, which may or shall be
given, sold, or bequeathed unto it by any person or
bodies politic or corporate, capable to make a gift, sale
or bequest thereof, and to apply the same for the use of
its respective parish;

Subject, however, with respect to all property so to
be received, to the operation of the general laws of this
State with respect thereto.

(c)   Application to new vestries; powers.

Whenever a parish of the diocese shall be divided or
united with another parish, the new parish constituted by
the convention of the diocese, pursuant to the provisions
of the charter of the diocese, originally granted by the
Act of 1870, Chapter 23, and any amendment thereof, in
praesenti or in futuro, shall have perpetual succession,
and shall be incorporated, by the name of the vestry of
such new parish in the same manner, and to the same
extent as an old vestry became incorporated;

And with the same powers as an old vestry which
became incorporated by virtue of the provisions of the
Vestry Act of 1798, Chapter 24, Section XXVIII, now
amended by this section;

Unless the vestry of said new parish shall elect to
incorporate as a separate congregation under the
provisions of the law regulating the formation of a
religious corporation generally;