Chap. 0024 AN ACT FOR INCORPORATING CERTAIN PERSONS THEREIN MENTIONED, INTO A BODY POLITIC, BY THE NAME OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CHARITABLE SOCIETY.
Whereas a considerable number of persons have for several years pa .-if associated themselves in the town of Hoston for the purpose of mutual aid to themselves and families, who may be distressed by poverty and the adverse accidents of life, and for the comforting and
Pertain persona incorporated into a body politic by the name of the Massachusetts Charitable Society.
Empowered to make bylaws, etc.
Said society empowered to appoint a common hcuI, and made liable to lie sued:
- and are empowered te make purchases, etc.
Investing said society with certain powers.
relieving of the widows and orphans of their deceased members ; and have for that end raised a common stock, out of which they have from time to time, contributed to the purposes aforesaid; and the said persons, so associated, finding themselves under difficulties aud discouragements which can only be removed by an incorporation, and having by their committee petitioned this court to be incorporated for the purposes aforesaid ; and their intentions appearing to this court laudable, and deserving encouragement, -
B"- it therefore enacted by the Coun ;il a <d House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
[Sect. 1.] That William Burbeck, ' Richard Crauch, Habijah Savage, Samuel Barret[t], William Hoskins, John Simpkins, William Bell. Benjamin Edes, William Hickliu[fl] and Ephraim Copeland, be, and they hereby are, incorporated and made a body politic for the afovesaid purposes, by the name of the Massachusetts Charitable Society ; and that they, their associates aud successors, have perpetual succession by said name, and have power to make by-laws, for the preservation and advancement of said body, which shall not be repugnant to the laws of this state, with penalties -either of disfranchisement from said society, or of a mulct not exceeding sixty shillings - or without penalties, as shall seem most meet.
And be it further enacted.
[Sect. 2.] That the said Massachusetts Charitable Society be, and they hereby are, authorised and [i] [ejmpowered to make and appoint a common seal, and are hereby made liable to be sued, and enabled to sue in their said corporate capacity, iu auy of the courts of law in this state ; and are hereby licen[s] [cjed and [i] ["]mpowered to make purchases and receive donations of real aud personal estates for the purposes aforesaid: provided, the same shall not exceed the sum of five thousand pounds per annum ; and to manage and dispose of such estates as to them shall appear most fit.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, [Sect. 3.] That the said society be, aud they hereby are, invested with full power and authority to assemble ou the first Monday of September next, for the purpose of appointing a president, secretary and treasurer, together with such other officers as to them shall seem most suitable, and to appoint their common seal, and to make by-laws within the restrictions aforesaid ; and said officers, so appointed, shall continue uutil[l] the first Monday of September next, on which day the said Massachusetts Charitable Society shall meet, and annually, afterwards, on said first Monday of September, at Boston, convene, to chuse a president, secretary, treasurer, and such other officers, as they shall think proper; and to make, altd' or annul their by-laws: and if, by reason of auy emergency, the business of this annual assembly cannot hi compleated on said day, they may adjourn, once, to a short clay, to finish it, and no more ; and said society may assemble on the first Mouday of every mouth for all other business. And whenever any of the officers of said society shall die, or be disabled, or remove out of this state, the members of said society are hereby authorised and [i] [ejmpowered, at their next meeting, to elect and appoint others in the room of the officers so removed. Aud all instruments which said society shall lawfully make, shall, when in the name of said society, and pursuant to the rules thereof, being signed aud delivered by the president, secretary, treasurer, or other officer or person, as the said society shall appoint, and sealed with their co'rnmou seal, bind said society, and be valid in law.
Provided, always, - And it is further enacted,
[Sect. 4.] That the members of the said society shall at no time exceed the number of one hundred. And the major part of the council of the state are hereby authorized and [i][e]inpowcred to give a charter of incorporation, under the seal of the state, to the aforementioned persons and their associates, accordingly,   [Passed December 16.