# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/9th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 16

Chap. XVI.—An Act to incorporate the trustees of the Presbyterian congregation of Georgetown.
Stephen B. Balch, &c. made a corporation of body politic. Their style and title.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Stephen B. Balch, William Whann, James Melvin, John Maffit, John Peter, Joshua Dawson, James Calder, George Thompson, Richard Elliott, David Wiley, and Andrew Ross, and their successors, duly elected, or appointed, in manner herein after directed, be, and they are hereby made, declared, and constituted a corporation, and body politic in law, and in fact, to have continuance forever, by the name, style, and title of “The Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation, in Georgetown.”
Corporation made capable of holding and alienating property, &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all and singular, the lands, tenements, rents, annuities, rights, privileges, goods, and chattels, heretofore given, granted, devised, or bequeathed to the said congregation, or to any person or persons, for the use thereof, or that have been purchased for, or on account of the same, be, and are hereby vested in and confirmed to the said corporation: And further, that the said corporation may purchase, take, receive, and enjoy, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, rights or privileges, or any goods, chattels or other effects, of what kind or nature soever, which shall or may hereafter be given, granted, sold, bequeathed or devised, unto them by any person or persons, bodies politic, or corporate, capable of making such gift, grant, sale, or bequest; and the said property, real and personal, to rent, sell, convey and confirm, or otherwise dispose of, as fully and effectually as any person or persons, bodies politic, or corporate, may or can do: Provided,Proviso. that the clear annual income of all such property may not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars; that no part of the ground now appropriated, and inclosed for a graveyard, be disposed of for any other purpose; and that the aforesaid property, real and personal, be considered as held in the trust, under the management, and at the disposal of said corporation, for the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to their mode of religious worship; of enclosing and keeping in decent repair, their graveyards, and other lots, with the buildings thereon; and of affording such relief to the poor, as their funds may from time to time allow, and for no other purpose.
Made capable of suing or being sued, &c.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation, by the name, style, and title aforesaid, be, and shall be hereafter, forever, able and capable in law, to sue, and to be sued, plead, and be pleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend, and be defended, in any court, or courts, or other places, and before any judge, or judges, justice of justices, or other person whatsoever, within the district of Columbia, or elsewhere, in all, and all manner of suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands, of whatsoever kind or nature they may be, in as full and effectual a manner, as any other person, or persons, bodies politic, or corporate, may or can do.
Have authority to use a common seal, &c.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall have full power and authority, to make, have, and use a common seal, with such device and inscription, as they shall think proper, and the same to break, alter, and renew, at their pleasure; to appoint a treasurer, secretary, and such other officers, as they may deem necessary and proper; to assign them their duties, and fix their compensation, and to remove any, or all of them from office; appoint another, or others, in their place, as often as they shall think fit; to make, ordain, establish, and execute, such by-laws, and ordinances, of a secular nature, as may be deemed useful, for their own government, and the same to alter, amend, or abrogate, at pleasure; to fill up vacancies that may happen in their number, between two annual elections; and to determine upon, do and transact all business, and matters appertaining to the said ​corporation, and to the secular affairs of said congregation, agreeable to the rules, ordinances and by-laws thereof, during their continuance in office:Proviso. Provided, that not less than five trustees to be a quorum to do business; that no by-law, rule or ordinance shall be made, repugnant to the laws of this district.
Annual meetings of the members of the congregation for the choice of trustees, &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That there shall be an annual meeting of the members belonging to said congregation, held on the first Tuesday of April, in every year hereafter, at the church or usual place of public worship, at which time and place the said members, or such of them as may be present, shall elect, and choose, by ballot, from their own number, nine trustees, to serve for the year ensuing their election, and until others shall be elected or appointed to serve in their place.
Suitable books to be kept by the trustees.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, in suitable books for the purpose, just and proper entries of all the proceedings and accounts of said congregation and corporation, and have them laid before the members, at every annual meeting, previous to taking the votes, and shall always deliver the said books, together with all the property of said congregation and corporation, in good order to their successors in office, whenever required.
Approved, March 28, 1806.