And be it further enacted by the authority This act aforesaid, That this act shall be deemed and declareda taken as a public act, and notice thereof shall public act. be taken in all the courts of justice and elsewhere in this state, and shall be given in evidence on any trial of any issue or cause, without special pleading. In the Senate House, the twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and in the sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America. DAVID RAMSAY, President of the Senate. JACOB READ, Speaker of the House of Representatives. An ACT for incorporating the society of free and accepted Masons in this state. WHE HEREAS, John Faucheraud Grimke, esquire, grand master, and other officers of the Grand Lodge of the society of free and accepted masons, constituted in this state, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, as well for themselves as for and in name and behalf of all and singular the masters, wardens, other officers and members of the several lodges throughout the state, holding of and under, and acknowledging the jurisdiction of the said Grand Lodge, by their petition to the general assembly, have set forth, "That they had, from time to time, since their being constituted, held frequent meetings within this state, at their usual and stated times and places of forming, and have ever conducted themselves with respect and obedience to the laws of the land, and kindness and good will, not only towards their brethren, but also towards their fellow-citizens, and had distributed, from time to time, to all, without distinction, who had the single claim of wretchedness, sums to a great amount, by voluntary contributions among themselves; that several lodges throughout the state, besides their charitable donations towards the relief and support of the widows, orphans and children of their deceased brethren, had accumulated and were possessed of several sums of money, and also real estate, and were willing and desirous to be incorporated, the better to enable them to answer the humane ends of their institution;" and therefore most humbly prayed, "that a law might be passed for incorporating them as a society, by the name and style of the Grand Lodge of the society of free and accepted masons for this state:" rated. Be it therefore enacted by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in general assembly, and by the authority of the same, That the society above The sociementioned, and the persons who now are or ty incorposhall hereafter be members thereof, and their successors, officers and members of it, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be a body corporate, in deed and in law, by the name of the Grand Lodge of the society of free and accepted masons; and that the said society shall consist of whom of a grand master, and such officers, and with it shall such style or title of office, as the said Grand Lodge may, by virtue of any resolutions or bye-laws, direct and appoint; and the mas- Shall have ters and wardens of the several subordinate a common lodges, who, together may compose the said Grand Lodge; and, by the said name, shall have perpetual succession of officers and members, and a common seal, with powers to change, al consist. seal. the value annum. May hold ter, break and make new the same: and the said property to Grand Lodge shall be able and capable in law, to of 5001. per purchase, have, take, hold, receive, enjoy, possess and retain to itself and its successors, in perpetuity, any charitable donations and personal estates, and for any term of years or life, any estate or estates, lands, tenements or hereditaments, of what kind or nature soever, not exceeding the annual income of five hundred pounds; and to sell, alien, exchange, demise or lease the same, or any part thereof, as it shall be thought proper; and by the said name to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, in any court of law or equity in this state; and to make such rules and bye-laws, not repugnant and contrary to the laws of the land, for the benefit and advantage of the said Grand Lodge, and for the order, rule, good government and management of the same, and for the promotion of the prosperity, interest, benefit and advantage of the craft in general. May sue and be su ed, and make rules and bye laws. Grand master may issue warrants ges. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the said grand mister or his deputy, his or their successor or successors, for the time being, to for consti- issue warrants for the constituting of subordituting lodnate lodges; and the said lodges, warranted as aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be legal and regular: Provided public notice thereof be given once every year; and that it shall and may be lawful for the said grand lodge, and subordinate lodges, already constituted, and hereafter to be constituted, to have and to hold meetings of themselves, for the better management of their respective and several charitable funds, and the application of them to proper purposes; and the transactions of all other business relating to the said grand lodge and other Lodges may hold meetings for transacting bu siness. subordinate lodges, when, and as often as it may be necessary, at any time and place whatsoever, and wheresoever it may be deemed expedient to associate, assemble and meet together. And the said grand master, or his deputy grand master, and other members, constituting the said grand lodge, for the time being, and the officers of the said subordinate and interior lodges already constituted, or hereafter to be constituted as aforesaid, shall and may, from time to time assemble and meet together, as the grand master or deputy grand master, (by the grand master's authority,) shall appoint, by summons or other notice, which he is hereby empowered timely to issue for that purpose to all the said members; and that they, being so met, shall have Subordinfull power to m..ke, constitute and ordain such ate lodges rules and bye-laws as shall appear to them to be rules and good, necessary and expedient for the govern- bye-laws. ment, order and regulation of the said grand lodge, and subordinate and inferior lodges, and every member thereof; which rules and byelaws, not being repugnant to the laws of the land, shall and may be effectually observed and kept; and to do all other things concerning the government, estate and revenues of the said grand lodge, and subordinate and inferior lodges. may make And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful, from The societime to time, and at all times hereafter, for the ty to meet officers for the time being, and for their succes- to their agreeably sors, and the members of the aforesaid society, constituto assemble and meet together at such stated tions. times and places of forming, as in and by the constitutions of said society are appointed and declared concerning the same. And be it further enacted by the authority This act aforesaid, That this act shall be deemed and tak. declared a public act. en as a public act, and notice shall be taken thereof in all courts of justice and elsewhere within this state, and shall be given in evidence on the trial of any cause, without specially pleading the same. In the Senate House, the twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and in the sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America. DAVID RAMSAY, President of the Senate. JACOB READ, Speaker of the House of Representatives. An ACT to repeal such parts of an act of the general assembly, passed the nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, entitled, "an act for erecting and establishing a college in the village of Winnsborough, in the district af Camden; a college in or near the city of Charleston; and a college at Ninety-six, in the district of Ninety-six, in the state of South-Carolina," as relate to the college established in Charleston, and for continuing the said college in Charleston under other regula tions. WHE HEREAS it appears to the legislature, that many inconveniences have arisen in carrying into execution the act, entitled, "an act for erecting and establishing a college in the village of Winnsborough, in the district of Camden; a college in or near the city of Charleston; and a college at Ninety-six, in the district of Ninety-six, in the state of South-Carolina,' passed the nineteenth day of March, in the year |