The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-30
CoNMoNwrA1TH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Inc foiloWlng Report is accepteO anu otoeteu 10
be published in the newspapers which publish
the laws OF the Commonwealth.
Attest: P. w. WARREN, Clerk.
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts,, June, 1928.
The Committee of both Houses on Parishes
to whom was referred the petition Of, William
Goddard and others, praying that they and their
associates may be Incorporated a Religious
ss7ai4sy by the name of the Charles-S Street
7 Society in the CITY of Boston,
- the petition of Benjamin Perkins and
praving to be incorporated Religious
~oclefy, by the name of" The Evangelical Con-
.Trssationat Society Ia LeOminster."
Also, the petition of Arson Bates and others,
praving to be incorporated into Religious
-'ociety 5y the name of g The ErangeiicaL
Congregational Society in the toson Of Barre"
Also, the petition of Ansah Weeks and others,
praying to be incorporated into a Religious
Society. By the name of g The First UniUerSal-
Isl Society IN Rochester"
Also, the petition of Thomas Coffin and 9TH
ers, praying to be incorporated into Religious
Society, by the name of the 90 The First BaP-
tsst Society in EdgdrtOacn"
Also, the petition of Lemuel Southwick and
others, praying TO be incorporated into Re-
l.giOus Society, by the name of" The First
Episcopal Methodist Society in adams"
Also, the petition of Alfred Whitman and
others, PRAYING to be incorporated into Re-
stSipEa 0RSGStJ. ny t4lO lioHS Va 4htS O'tS0't
Society IN East Bridgelcater."
Also, the petition ofAbner Tilden anG others,
members Of the Baptist Church. in Canton, pray
ing for an act Incorporating certain persons
as Trustees Of Ministerial Fund and other
property belonging TO said Church;
Also, the petition of Solomon Munger, Jr.
and others. praying to be incorporated into
Religious Society, By the name of g The First
Uaiesrsatist Society IN Wales"
Also the petition of Abraham Patch and 9th
ers, praying TO be Incorporated into Parish, by
the name Of" The First Congregational Parish
in Hamilton"
Also, the petition of Joel Lyon and others,
PRAYING foy leave to change the name of the
Religious Society to which they belong from
that Of TIE FIRST Independent Congregational
Seoiety in Gill" to that of'' The First UnitGri-
an Society IN the toion Of Gill;
Have considered the same, and ask leave to
report
That the further consideration thereof be re-
ferred TO the next session ofthe present General
Court.
In making this report, the committee feel it
due to the petitioners, and to themselves to as
sign their reasons.
By an act passed Feb goth, 1856, entitled
Gan act for the better securing and rendering
more effectual grants and donations to pious and
charitable uses" it is provided 'That the
Deacons of all the several Protestant Churches
are, and shall be deemed, so far bodies corpo-
rate, as to take in succession, in all grants and
donations, whether real or personal, made, eth
er to their several Churches, the poor of their
Churches, or to them and their successors and
to sue in all actions touching the same: saving
that no alienation of any lands belonging to
Churches hereafter made by the Deacons, with
out the consent of the Church, or committee
of the Church for that purpose appointed, shall
be sufficient to pass the same. &c And the sew
eral Churches in this Commonwealth are here
by empowered to choose a committee to call the
Deacons or other Church officers to an account
and, if need be, to commence and prosecute any
suits touching the same and also to advise anC
assist such Deacons in the administration of the
affairs aforesaid. The increase ofthe grants
made or to be made, to any such body polite, fol
pious and charitable uses, not to exceed the sum
of e300 per annum.'
This act seems to embrace all the provision:
ceived why its provisions are not applicable tc
all cases, when donations are made to Church
in its collected capacity.
By the act of June 18th, 1911, entitled Z" Ar
act respecting public worship and religious free
dom" more numerous class of cases is at least
partially provided for, viz that of Parishes anC
Religious Societies The construction giver
TO this act has embraced all associations for re
ligious purposes, whose object is the public
worship of God. Whether the provisions o.
this act might not with propriety be more def
mite, and giving certain additional powers, that
of taxation among others, deserves consider
alton.
In the same act last mentioned, it is also pro-
vided, "That in case any donation, gift OF
grant shall hereafter be made to any unincor-
porate Religious Society, such Society shall
have full power 10 manage, improve and use the
same, according to the terms and conditions on
arhtch the same may be made to elect suitable
trustees, agents or officers therefor; and to
prosecute and sue for, any right which may ex.
list in such Society, in consequence of such do
nations, gift or grant"
This latter provision includes large class
Of cases, whence applications have heretofore
been made to the Legislature for incorporation
of Trustees to secure and manage Ministerial
Funds, and may, with other additional sanitary
provisions, be made applicable to all, or nearly
all cases of that description, which may here
utter occur.
1t would seem to the committee desirable
that all the operations in society, SO far as
ticable, should be regulated by standing and
Uniform laws; and, if in any of the above cases
special provisions are deemed Necessary, it would
also seem desirable that such provisions be
made by general and uniform law. And, with
view to this object, the Committee are Undue
ed 10 recommend the acceptance of the above
report
All which is respectfully submitted
SAMUEL F. DICKINSON, Chairman.
In Senate, june 10, 1923. Read and accept
Cyl sent down tqqr 4te39nfuFTepJGiee. ,,,s,o
House of Representatives. June 10, 1923
Concurred 2. w. WARREN, Clerk.
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