ACT OF INCORPORATION.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE VERMONT BAR

ASSOCIATION.

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

SEC. 1. The members of the voluntary association which was formed at Montpelier, October 22 and 23, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, under the name of the Vermont Bar Association, of which association Edward J. Phelps, of Burlington, is president, George W. Harman, of Bennington, Roswell Farnham, of Bradford, and John L. Edwards, of Newport, are vice presidents, and of which the said Edward J. Phelps, ex officio, Wheelock G. Veazey, of Rutland, William E. Johnson, of Woodstock, Guy C. Noble, of St. Albans, and William P. Dillingham, of Waterbury, are managers, and Hiram F. Stevens, of St. Albans, is secretary, and William G. Shaw, of Burlington, is treasurer, and the judges of the United States courts in this state and the justices of the supreme court of this state are honorary members; and all persons who are, or shall hereafter, be associated with them in said association, are hereby created a body corporate under the name of the "Vermont Bar Association," and the said association is formed to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; to promote reform in the law; to facilitate the administration of justice; to elevate the standard of the legal profession; to cherish a fraternal spirit among its members, and to perpetuate their memory.

SEC. 2. Said corporation shall have power to acquire, by lease or purchase, suitable buildings, library and furniture for the use of the corporation; to borrow money for such purposes and issue bonds therefor, and to secure the same by mortgage; and generally to acquire and take by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, subject to the provisions of law relating to devises and bequests by last will and testament, and to hold, transfer, and convey all or any such real and personal property as may be necessary for attaining the objects and carrying into effect the purposes of such corporation.

SEC. 3. The constitution originally adopted by said voluntary association shall be the constitution of the corporation hereby created, which shall have power from time to time to alter, modify and change the same; and the several officers, managers and committees of said association shall be the officers, managers and committees of the corporation hereby created, with the powers and duties prescribed by said constitution, until their successors shall be duly elected or appointed, as provided therein.

SEC. 4. All property, rights and interests of the said association now held by any or either of the officers thereof, or by any person or persons for its use and benefit, shall, by virtue of this act, vest in and become the property of the corporation hereby created, subject to the payment of the debts of said association, if any; all interests of any member of said association, and of the corporation hereby created, in such property shall terminate and vest in the corporation upon his ceasing to be a member thereof.

SEC. 5. This corporation may by such name sue and be sued, have a common seal and alter the same at pleasure, and shall have all the powers incident to corporations, subject to the laws of this state.

SEC. 6. This act shall be under the control of the legis

lature, to alter, repeal, or amend, as the public good may require.

SEC. 7. This act shall take effect from its passage.

Approved November 14, 1878.

STATE OF VERMONT,

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original act, as appears from the files and records of this office.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of this office, at Montpelier, this 15th day of November,

(L. S.)

D. 1878.

GEORGE NICHOLS,

Secretary of State.

A.

CONSTITUTION.

I

NAME AND OBJECT.

This association shall be called "The Vermont Bar Association." Its object is to cultivate the science of jurisprudence ; to promote reform in the law; to facilitate the admininistration of justice; to elevate the standard of the legal profession; to cherish a fraternal spirit among its members, and to perpetuate their memory.

II

MEMBERS.

All members of the bar of this state who have received the circular of invitation to this meeting, and have attended the meeting, may become members of the association by signature of the roll and payment of the admission fee.

Any member of the bar of the supreme court of this state, in good standing, may become a member of this association, if nominated by the committee on admissions, and elected by the association at any regular or adjourned meeting; such election shall be by ballot, and ten negative ballots, [or one-fourth the whole number cast] shall be sufficient to defeat an election, provided that such election shall not have effect until the person elected shall sign the roll and pay to the treasurer his admission fee, as provided in the constitution.

Judges of the United States courts in this state and the justices of the supreme court shall be honorary members of the association, and other persons may be elected honorary members.*

*The words enclosed in brackets were inserted by amendment made November 14, 1878. See proposed amendment in summary of proceedings.