TIT. 13. privileges, which, by the act of the general assembly aforesaid, are granted to and vested in them conjointly; and that the said vestry and church wardens of the Episcopal church of A. A. 1791. the parish of St. Philip, in Charleston, and their successors in 1 Faust 182. office for ever hereafter, shall be, and they are hereby declar- Protestant ed to be incorporated as a body politic and corporate, in deed church of the Episcopal and in law, by the name of "The Protestant Episcopal parish of St. Church of the parish of St. Philip, in Charleston, in the state Michael, in of South-Carolina:" and that the said vestry and church Charleston in wardens of the Episcopal church of the parish of St. Michael, the state in Charleston, and their successors in office for ever hereCarolina, inafter, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be incor- corporated. porated as a body politic and corporate, in deed and in law, by the name of The Protestant Episcopal Church of the pa rish of St. Michael, in Charleston, in the state of SouthCarolina." tive corpora tions. 41. And be it further enacted, That the said two churches, Powers and by their respective names before mentioned, shall severally, capacities of from time to time, and at all times hereafter, have perpetual the respecsuccession, and a common seal, and be capable in law to have, hold, take, receive, possess and enjoy all the lands, tenements and hereditaments, and the rents and income thereof, which now are or hereafter shall be vested in them respectively, by gift, devise or purchase, to them and their respective successors in office for ever, not exceeding the annual income of one thousand pounds each; and that the said two churches, by their said respective names, shall and may severally sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, in any court of judicature in this state, in all actions or suits of what nature or kind soever, which to them shall in any wise belong or appertain in or about the premises. 42. And be it further enacted, That the said corporations, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, by their respective names above mentioned, either at law or in equity, to sue for, recover and receive, all and every such sum and sums of money, goods, chattels, houses, lands, real estate, or other property, as now is or are, or hereafter may be due to, or kept and detained from them or either of them, by any one or more of their or either of their own body, sect, fraternity or society, or any other person or persons whom soever, any law, usage or custom to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. 43. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall neglect or refuse to pay the sum or sums of money at which his, her or their pew or pews, in either of the said two churches, is or are already rated or assessed, according to the directions of the act of the general assembly herein before mentioned, within six months after the passing of this act, or in case any person or persons shall neglect or refuse * See A. A. 1785. TIT. 13. A. A. 1791. to pay the sum or sums of money at which his, her or their pew, or pews, in either of the said two churches, shall at any time hereafter be rated or assessed, according to the directions of the said act of the general assembly, within six 1 Faust 184. months after such assessment as aforesaid, then, and in either of the said two cases, it shall and may be lawful for the vestries and church wardens, or a majority of them, of the said churches respectively, to let out and hire the said pew or pews, to any person or persons, who may be willing to rent or hire the same, for such term or length of time as may be necessary to make up such sum or sums of money as may be due or owing on account of assessments as aforesaid, or otherwise, by the owner or owners thereof, to the church in which such pew or pews is or are situated. Agreement concerning glebe lands, confirmed. Former incorporating laws repealed, pro tanto. Ibid. 44. And be it further enacted, That the agreement made and entered into by the vestries and church wardens of the said two churches, relative to the glebe lands, and all and every act, matter, transaction, thing and deed, done or executed, by virtue or in consequence of any agreement made by or between them, relative to the said glebe land, or any joint property belonging to them, shall be, and the same is and are hereby declared to be valid, firm and effectual, any law, usage or custom to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. 45. And be it further enacted, That so much of the law or act for incorporating the said churches, passed on the twentyfourth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, as is repugnant to this act, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed. 46. Whereas, Brigadier-general Mordecai Gist, Grand 1 Faust 188. Master, and others the officers and members of eighteen lodges of Ancient York Masons, represented in Grand Lodge, in the city of Charleston, have petitioned the legislature, "to be incorporated a body politic, by the name and style of the Grand Lodge of the State of South-Carolina, Ancient York Masons, and its masonic jurisdiction:" And whereas, it is expedient to grant the prayer of said petition: Grand Lodge South-Carolina, Ancient York Masons, and its masonic jurisdic tion, incorporated. 47. Be it therefore enacted, That the said society aboveof the state of mentioned, and the subordinate lodges aforesaid composing the same, and the several persons who now are or shall hereafter be members respectively, and their successors, members and officers thereof respectively, shall be and are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, in name and in deed, by the name and style of the "Grand Lodge of the State of South Carolina, Ancient York Masons, and its masonic jurisdiction," and by the same name shall have perpetual succession of officers and members, and a common seal, with power to change, alter and make new the same, as often as the said corporation shall judge expedient. Corporate powers and capacities. 48. Be it also enacted, That the said society, and the lodges constituting the same, shall be able and capable in law, to purchase, have, hold, receive, enjoy, possess and retain to itself or each or any of them in perpetuity or for any term of years, any lands, tenements or hereditaments, of what kind TIT. 13. 1 Fault 186. or nature soever, not exceeding the value of five thousand pounds, and to sell, alien, exchange, or demise or lease the same or any part thereof, as the said corporation shall think A. A. 1791. proper, and by the same name to sue and be sued, implead Dec. Sess. and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, in any court of law or equity in this state; and to make such rules, orders and by-laws (not repugnant to the laws of this state,) as may be necessary for the order, rule, good government and management thereof; and it shall and may be lawful to and for the said society to constitute subordinate lodges, and to do all other things concerning the government, estate, monies and revenues of said Grand Lodge and subordinate lodges. 49. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said corporation to take and hold for ever any charitable donations or devises and bequests of land, not exceeding the value of five hundred pounds sterling per annum, and to appropriate the same for the benefit of the said corporation in such manner as may be determined by the same. 50. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall be capable in law to have, hold and receive, enjoy and !possess all such estates, real or personal, money, goods, chattels and effects, which they now possess or are entitled unto, or which have been already given, devised or bequeathed thereto, by whatever name such gift, devise or bequest may have been made, and to receive subscriptions and other contributions. 51. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be deem- This act to ed and taken as a public act, and notice thereof shall be taken be deemed a in all the courts of justice and elsewhere in this state, and public act. shall be given in evidence on any trial of any issue or cause, without special pleading. 52. Whereas, John Faucheraud Grimké, esq. grand master, Ibid. and other officers of the Grand Lodge of the society of free 1 Faust 190. and accepted masons, constituted in this state, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, as well for themselves as for and in name and behalf of all and singular the masters, wardens, other officers and members of the several lodges throughout the state, holding of and under, and acknowledging the jurisdiction of the said Grand Lodge, by their petition to the general assembly, have set forth, That they had, from time to time, since their being constituted, held frequent meetings within this state, at their usual and stated times and places of forming, and have ever conducted themselves with respect and obedience to the laws of the land, and kindness and good will, not only towards their brethren, but also towards their fellow citizens, and had distributed, from time to time, to all, without distinction, who had the single claim of wretchedness, sums to a great amount, by voluntary contributions among themselves; that several lodges throughout the state, besides their charitable donations towards the relief and support of the widows, orphans and children of their deceased brethren, had accumulated and were possessed of several sums of money, and also real estate, and were willing and desirous to be incorporated, the TIT. 13. A. A. 1791. 1 Faust 191-2. better to enable them to answer the humane ends of their institution;" and therefore most humbly prayed, "that a law might be passed for incorporating them as a society, by the name and style of the Grand Lodge of the Society of free and accepted Masons for this state:"" 53. Be it therefore enacted, That the society above menLodge of the tioned, and the persons who now are or shall hereafter be Society of free members thereof, and their successors, officers and members and accepted `of it, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be a body corMasons. porate, in deed and in law, by the name of the Grand Lodge Of whom the corporation shall consist Corporate powers and capacities. of the Society of free and accepted Masons; and that the said society shall consist of a grand master, and such officers, and with such style or title of office, as the said Grand Lodge may, by virtue of any resolutions or by-laws, direct and appoint; and the masters and wardens of the several subor. dinate lodges, who, together may compose the said Grand Lodge; and, by the said name, shall have perpetual succession of officers and members, and a common seal, with powers to change, alter, break and make new the same: and the said Grand Lodge shall be able and capable in law, to purchase, have, take, hold, receive, enjoy, possess and retain to itself and its successors, in perpetuity, any charitable donations and personal estates, and for any term of years or life, any estate or estates, lands, tenements or hereditaments, of what kind or nature soever, not exceeding the annual income of five hundred pounds; and to sell, alien, exchange, demise or lease the same, or any part thereof, as it shall be thought proper; and by the said name to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, in any court of law or equity in this state; and to make such rules and by-laws, not repugnant and contrary to the laws of the land, for the benefit and advantage of the said Grand Lodge, and for the order, rule, good government and management of the same, and for the promotion of the prosperity, interest, benefit and advantage of the craft in general. 54. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said grand master or his deputy, his or their successor or successors, for the time being, to issue warrants for the constituting of subordinate lodges; and the said lodges, warranted as aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be legal and regular: Provided public notice thereof be given once every year; and that it shall and may be lawful for the said Grand Lodge, and subordinate lodges, already constituted, and hereafter to be constituted, to have and to hold meetings of themselves, for the better management of their respective and several charitable funds, and the application of them to proper purposes; and the transactions of all other business relating to the said Grand Lodge and other subordinate lodges, when, and as often as it may be necessary, at any time and place whatsoever, and wheresoever it may deemed expedient to associate, assemble and meet together. And the said grand master, or his deputy grand master, and other members, constituting the said Grand Lodge, for the time being, and the officers of the said subordinate and inferior be Subordinate lodges already constituted, or hereafter to be constituted as TIT. 13. aforesaid, shall and may, from time to time assemble and meet together, as the grand master or deputy grand master, (by the A. A. 1791. grand master's authority,) shall appoint, by summons or other Dec. Sess. notice, which he is hereby empowered timely to issue for that 1 Faust 192. purpose to all the said members; and that they, being so lodges may met, shall have full power to make, constitute and ordain make rules such rules and by-laws as shall appear to them to be good, and by-laws. necessary and expedient for the government, order and regu- [See A. A. lation of the said Grand Lodge, and subordinate and inferior Dec. 1794 lodges, and every member thereof; which rules and by-laws, by which the not being repugnant to the laws of the land, shall and may be several suboreffectually observed and kept; and to do all other things con- dinate lodges cerning the government, estate and revenues of the said Grand are separately Lodge, and subordinate and inferior lodges. incorporat 1 Faust 371. 55. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be ed.] lawful, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, for the officers for the time being, and for their successors, and the members of the aforesaid society, to assemble and meet together at such stated times and places of forming, as in and by the constitutions of said society are appointed and declared concerning the same. 56. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be deemed and taken as a public act, and notice shall be taken thereof in all courts of justice and elsewhere within this state, and shall be given in evidence on the trial of any cause, without specially pleading the same. Ibid. 57. Whereas sundry persons, citizens of this state, have petitioned the legislature to be admitted a body corporate and 1 Faust 202. politic, in name and in deed, by the name and style of the German Friendly Society: And whereas, from the object and nature of the institution, it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition: Be it therefore enacted, That the said society above mentioned, and the several persons who now are or shall hereafter be members thereof, and their successors, members and officers thereof, shall be and are hereby declared to be a body corporate and politic, in deed and in name, by the name and style of the "German Friendly Society;" and by the said German name shall have perpetual succession of officers and members, Friendly Soand a common seal, with power to change, alter and make ciety incorponew the same as often as the said corporation shall judge ne cessary. rated. 58. Be it also enacted, That the said corporation shall be Corporate able and capable in law to purchase, have, hold, receive, en- powers and joy and retain to itself, in perpetuity or for any term of years, capacities. any lands, tenements or hereditaments, of what kind or nature soever, not exceeding the annual income of five hundred pounds, and to sell, alien or lease the same, as they shall think proper; and by its said name to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto in any court of law or equity in this state, and to make such rules and bylaws, not repugnant and contrary to the laws of the land, as |