The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1897-07-24
CHARTER.
State of Louisiana. Parish of st. Martin.


BY this act of Incorporation, Be it Known,
hat on this fifteenth day of July eighteen hun
dred and ninety seven.
Before me Omer Martin, duly qualified No
tary public. in and for the Parish of st. Martin
and in presence of undersigned witnesses;
Personally appeared the persons whose names
are herein set forth. to wit. Richard Kane, Nu-
ma Payne. Albert Smith. Frank Wheelright, Ro-
by Wheelright. Pinky Wheelright. Allen Single
ton, Henry Thomas, Elisa Smith, Belle Smith,
Calvin Smith Anna Smith, Alice Thomas, Nelly
Thomas. Victorine Thomas, Victoria Thomas.
Fanny Savoy. Thomas Sicily. Alice Martinez,
Joseph wilkins, Steven Taylor, Percy Jackson,
Rosalie Thomas, Jane Smith, Clintonia Payne,
| Landonia Jenkins. Joseph Thomas. Alice
Wheelright. Estelle Thomas, Alfred Thomas,
Miles Wheelright, Louisa Williams, Noe Jack
son. Sara Sam. Ella Taylor. Ashman Taylor.
| Ago Netty. Emma Gillams, Mary Kane, Leila
Kane, Willie Ward. Ella Ward. Washington
| Oghman. Josephine Whitened. Sally Thorn.
| Mary Smith, Webster Alex. May Enar. Lizzie Il.
Enar. Edgar Enar, Leon Enar and such others
as may hereafter become associated with them,
all of this parish and state. who say and declare
granted by the statutes Of this State. it is their
wish. intent and disire, that they and others
who are now. or who may hereafter become
members of this congregation, be and are here
| by constituted body Corporate and Religious,
under the name and title of the ''BETHLE-
HEME BAPTIST CHURCH No 4" of the Fifth
Ward of the Parish of St Martin.
LIST. That under said title. said bod -corpo-
rate shall have, by their corporate name and
| style. succession of officers. associates and
members, for ever. shall be capable in law to
possess convey and enjoy all species of proper
| ty, movable and immovsble, besides the lot of
of land donated to them by Messrs. Walker and
McVey whereon they are now constructing their
| church. to make any contracts, to received any
donations, to sue and be sued. and generally
shall have all powers incident to or necessary
/ for it's good administration, although not herein
expressly mentioned.
End. That the objects and purposes of this
corporation is and shall ever be true worship of
the ALMIGHTY GOD, and it's principles are
and shall be the teachings Of religion, Morality
spd Charity.
Srd. The domicile of this corporation shall
he in the parish of st. Martin. Louisiana.
tered by a board of Nine Trustees, who shall be
members of this congregation. and who shall be
elected for the term of one year, until elected
the following members of this corporation shall
composed said board, viz; Richard Kane. John
Wheelright. Albert Smith, Frank Smith. Wash
ington Oghman, Allen Singleton, Calvin Smith
Steven Taylor. That an election for trustees
shall be held as soon as practible notice of said
election to be given fifteen days previous there
of by posting notice at the church's door.
5th That all the members Of this corpora.
ton. male or woman, who shall profess to wor.
ship under the rules and by laws of this corpo
ration shall be qualified voters at any election
provided they are over ten years of age. Ths
trustees shall be elected by the plurality of thu
votes cast and said trustees shall elect amongs
themselves president, a secretary and treasu
rer. who shall hold Office mt the pleasure of the
board. Said treasurer to furnish bond as ma.
be fixed from time to time by said board. Tha
said board of trustees shall adopt bylaws ant
rules and regulations for the good administers
ton of said corporation. That said TREASURED
shall not disburse any money of the corpora
ton except upon the written authoriz alton Of
the President.
9Th. That the funds of this corporation shall
never be applied to any other but Religious
Charitable or Educational purposes. The pro
perry of the association shall never be alienatet
except by q two thirds vote of the regular mem
bers of this corporation and no person shall b
a member of this corporation unless his nam
shall be subscribed either to this charter or :,
the record book to he kept of the minutes of tn
association and board of trustees.
7th. That by two thirds vote of all tn
members of this corporation this charter ma
be amended; provided that notice thereof b
posted in church for at least thirty days befor
the taking Of said vote. That said board shall
elect their own ministers and remove or sus
pend them at will.
Thus done aud passed at ST. Martin parish
Louisiana on the date aforesaid. in presence o
4 Messrs. w. +. Walker and d. w. Upton. compe
tent witnesses of lawful age, who have signe'
these presents with appesrers and me notary
after due reading thereof.
Some of the persons who have made their OF
binary mark having declared that they don
know how to sign their names.
Ella Ward Washington K Oehman
victorine Thomas Nelly K Thomas
Alice Thomas Fanny Savoie
Percy Jackson Rosalie Thomas
Contonia Payne Sara Sam
Lizzie Enar Edgard Enar
Ashman Taylor Thomas Sicily
Richard Kane Frank Smith
Numa Payne Albert Smith
Mary Kane Emma Chinderson
4. Chanisson John Wheelrisht
Mary Wheelright Robbie Willry
Willie H. Ward Pinky Willry
w. Singleton Henry Thomas