Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-20
Approved, Nov. II, 1856.

No. IS An Act in relation to conycyances
and Devises Of Personal and Real Estate for
Religious purposes.
IL is hereby enacted, etc.
SEC. l. No grant, conveyance, devise or
lease OF personal or real estate to, nur any trust
OF such personal or real estate for, the benef,
oi any person and his successor or successors
in any ecclesiastical office, shall vest any es-
tate or interest 10 such person OF in his success
sor, and no such grant, conveyance, devise or
lease to or for any such person, by the desie-
nation uf any such Office, shall vest any estate
or interest in any successor of such person.
but this section shall not be deemed 10 admit
the validity of any such grant, conveyance, de-
wise or lease heretofore made.
Sac. ,. No future grant, conveyance. de.
wise or lease OF any real estate consecrated.
dedicated or appropriated, or intended 10 be con-
secTaled, dedicated or appropriated TO the pur-
poses OF religious worship for the use Of any
congregation or society, shall vest any rirh,.
''lle or interest in any person or persons, to
whom such grant, conyeyarce, devise or lease
may be made, unless the same shall be made 10
. corporation organized for the support of the
gospel and the maintenance of public worsbip
or to procure. hold and keep in repair house
OF public worship according 10 the provisions
oi The hrst section Of chapter eighty-fye Of the
compiled statutes. But nothing herein con-
tained shall prevent any such corporation from
conveying such property on bona fide sale
thereof under the direction of a court Of COM
peient Jurisdiction to confer such authority ac-
cording TO the laws of this state.
SEC. 3. Any real estate OF the description
named in section second of this act, and which
has been heretofore granted, devised or de-
missed, 10 any person or persons in any ecclesi-
aslieal Office or orders by the designation of
such Office or orders, or otherwise, shall be
deemed to be held in trust for the benefit of the
congregation or society using the same, and
SHALL unless previously conveyed to a corpora-
ton, as provided in the last preceding section.
upon the death Of the person or persons in
whom the legal title shall be vested al the time
Of the passage Of this act, vest in the religious
corporation formed by the congregation or re.
ilgIous society occupying or enjoying such real
estate aforesaid, provided such corporation
organized according to the laws of this state
- - ~SN~"~S ~ thc tiile OF tne QeceaSe /
OF the person or persons holding the title there |
TO.
oEc' a. In the event such congregation or
society shall not be incorporated as aforesaid,
then and in that case the title of such real es-
tate shall vest in the people of the state of Yer
mont.
SIC. o. Whenever title 10 any real estate
shall vest in the people of the stale of Yer
mont, under and by virtue of the last preceding
section, IT shall be under the charge of The
governor of this state, and it shall be his duiy.
and he is hereby authorized, upon his being sat
lshed that the congregation or society which
had used, occupied or enjoyed such real estate
for purposes of religious worship, prior to the
death Of the person or persons, on whose de.
cease the title thereto vested in this state. has
duly become corporation under aud according
TO the proyisluns OF the aforesaid section of the
e'gh'y-hl'h chapter of the compiled statutes a.
ioresald, and upon the production 10 him of a
true copy of tho articles Of association and by
laws, II any there be of said corporation, GER
hhed aud sworn to by the presiding and record
ing officer Of said corporation, to grant and con-
vey such real estate, and all the rights, title
and interest Of the people of the state of Yer
mont therein and thereto to said corporation,