The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-03-22

age upwards. drsrous OF incorporating them
selves into Parish or religious Society. may APP
ply 70 any Justice Of the Peace IN the County
where the majority Of such applicants reside, who
shall issue his warrant TO Of such applicants,
directing him 10 notify them 70 meet az some suit
able place. ia manner by this act provided for tie
purpose Of incorporating themselves uio parish
or religious society. And such person 80 Assem-
BLEED, may choose q Clark, and such other parish
Off ers, they may think praper; and thsreuPon
shall be, and hereby are DECLARED 70 be ahody
polite to he known By such name and sly IL, az
they moy tic 20 adopt aud shall have az The
powers aud privileges incident by law to parishes
and religious societies.
SRCr. ?. BE IL further enacted, That every par
sh or religious society shall have power 10 take
by gift grant purchase any estate real or person
al, until the clear annual income Of such parish
society arising from such estate, shall amount 10
three thousand dollars and TO give and grant or
bargain and sell the same and shall have power
20 order aud establish such regulations and bye
laws for the management Of their affairs they
may see 81 Provided the same be not contrary to
the laws OF this State.
SECT. 3. Be a. further enacted, That the in
habitants Of each parish religious society may
meet annually aud atsuch other times as they may
deem proper, in the town where the religious
meetings Of such parish or society are usually held
at such time sad place they shall be notified 10
such parish society, or by such other person
may have the warrant Of such assessors COM
mIttee therefor, such meetings 10 be notified seven
days at least before the holding Of the same, by
written advertisements posted up at the principal
outer door of the meeting house place Of wor-
ship Of such parish or society, or ia such other
mode as any parish society may agree upon at
any legal meeting of the same and being as
sembled may, by written ballot or otherwise, elect
HI "A
faithful discharge Of bis Office, two more Asses
scrs, Collector, Treasurer, and standing Conn
nlittee, such other officers as may be deemed
proper for the convenient management Of their
concerns. And the assessors Of such parish or
ciety shall have power to manage the prudential
affairs thereof, when no other persons appoint
ed for that purpose.
SECT. A. BE II further enacted, That The mod
orator Of any meeting Of any parish or religious
ciety. shall have power 20 regulate and manage the
business Of suoh meeting. 20 preserve due order
and oecoTum therein, 60 remove thereirom every
person gritty of irregular aud discrd.Tly conduct
and TO administer the oath Of Office to the clerk.
Ard when ans vote declared by the moderator,
shall immediately be- questioned BIZ ans person
present the moderator, shall make the
tam m such manner a majority Of the members
present may de sire.
SECT. 5. Be ii further enacted, That when any
bve members OF any parish or religious society shall
signif, writing their desire to have any article
inserted III the warrant notification for calling
The next ting thereof il shall be the duty Of
the assessors "a insert the same accordingly. And
II such nnreasonaby refuse to call meet
ing, any parish religious society be destitute of
assessors, or other officers empowered 10 notify |
meeting Of the same, any Justice Of the Peace |
within the county upon application in writing Of
five members Of such parish or society, may issue |
hii warrant 10 any suitable person therein who
may notify meeting thereof accordingly and
where any parish or religious society shall not es
tablish the method Of calling meetings Of the same,
such meetings may be notified and called IN the
manner herein before provided Tor the calling Of
annual ceilings.
SECT. 6. BE IL further enacted, That every par
Ish and religious society may at any legal meeting
thereof, grant and vote such mohies as they may
Judge necessary for the support Of the public min
isty Of religion, for the building repairing enlarging
or removing Of houses Of public worship and for all
other, necessary parish charges and may assess
the the polls and estates of The several
members thereof, and cause the TO be collect
ed conforming 10 the laws providing for the assess
ment and collection Of State taxes and where any
house Of public worship belongs 10 the members of
parish or religious society it shall be lawful for
such parish society IL they 10 any
monies voted as aforesaid either wholly or in part
upon the pews and seats Of all individual proprie-
tors therein PTortdrd That such individual pro-
prietors Of ptws aud seats whether members of
such society or not may be present and vote in
granting al sums 10 be assessed on such seats and
pews in manner aforesaid. And if the taxes or
any of them so assessed on said pews and seats
shall remain unpaid for the space Of six months
after the assessment thereof the Treasurer Of such
parish or religious society shall sell such pews and
seats at public sendue TO the highest bidder; first
posting up a notification Of such intended sale at
the principal outer door Of such house Of public
worship, al least three weeks before the time Of
sale. therein setting forth the number of the
pews or seats il any and the amount Of taxes
due thereon and shall make, execute and deliver
to the purchaser sufficient deeds ofconveyance Of
the same, aud The monies arising from such sale
over and above the taxes and incidental reasonable
charges, said Treasurer shall pay TO the form
er owners Of tie pews and seats sold, respective
Iy, or their assigns on demand.
SEcT. BE 4; further enacted, That all monies
paid by any person for The support of public wor-
ship, Il public teachers Of religion by tax on
any pew seat shall IL such person require II be
paid over 10 such teacher Of his o~ religious sect
as he may designate, he leaving written notice
Of such designation with the Clerk ar such society
on or before their annual meetings. unless such
owner shall such seat or pew by attending
public worship himself, his family or other person
occupying The under him; and il shall be
sufficient that such teacher he ordained aud qualf-
ID sgrteab'y to the ssages Of his particular sect or
communion.