Chap. 0038 An Act respecting the support of Public Worship in the town of Pittsfield.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all laws heretofore made: and passed, by force of which the Union Parish, in the town of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire, was erected and does now exist as a distinct body politic, be, and the same are hereby repealed : Provided nevertheless, that said Union Parish, and also the First Parish, so called, in said town, shall still continue to exist so far as to enable either of them to carry any legal contract by either of them respectively, heretofore made with their Ministers, or any other persons, into execution; and to sue for and recover any debts due to them, and that they severally shall remain liable to be sued for any debts due from them, in the same manner as if this act had not been made.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That for the future, the inhabitants of said Union Parish and said First Parish, so called, therein shall and may unite, and shall have power, and be held as a town or parish to choose settle, and make provision for the support of a public teacher, or teachers of piety, religion, and morality, and of the public worship of God in said town, in the same way and manner as other towns are authorized and held by law to do, and as the said town of Pitts-field was authorized and held to do previous to its division into parishes, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the articles of agreement entered into by said parishes, as the foundation of their union, be, and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed, and declared to be binding upon said town : Provided however, that the said articles of agreement are not contrary to the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.

[Approved by the Governor, June 16,1817.]