CHAPTER MCCCXXXI.

AN ACT FOR VESTING THE PUBLIC STORE HOUSE AND TWO LOTS OF GROUND IN THE BOROUGH AND COUNTY OF LANCASTER IN THE TRUSTEES OF FRANKLIN COLLEGE FOR THE USE OF THE SAID INSTITUTION.

(Section I, P. L.) Whereas from a full conviction of the utility of establishing seminaries of learning in this commonwealth an act of assembly was passed the tenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven to incorporate a college and charity school in the borough and county of Lancaster under the title of Franklin College:

And whereas it hath since been represented to this house by the petition of the trustees of the said college that their funds, notwithstanding the former bounty of the legislature, are inadequate to the good purposes intended, wherefore they have prayed this house to convey to the said college two certain lots or pieces of ground on Queen Street in the said borough with the public store house thereon being:

And whereas it appears reasonable and proper that the said petition should be granted:

[Section I.] (Section II, P. L.) Be it therefore enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met and by the authority of the same, That the said two lots of ground as they are situated on the west side of Queen street in the said borough with their appurtenances and all the estate, right, title, interest, property claim and demand of the state of Pennsylvania in and to the same shall be and they are hereby granted and vested in the trustees of Franklin college in the borough and county of Lancaster and their successors forever to and for the use of the said institution.

Passed February 27, 1788. Recorded L. B. No. 3, p. 337.

CHAPTER MCCCXXXII.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL AMONG THE HEATHEN FORMED BY MEMBERS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN OR UNITAS FRATRUM.

(Section I, P. L.) Whereas it has been represented to this house by the Reverend John Ettwein, one of the bishops of the church called Unitas Fratrum or the United Brethren, and the Reverend John Meder, pastor in ordinary of the said church in the city of Philadelphia, that since the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty when the said church began to make settlements in America the principal aim of their members coming over from Europe was to carry the glorious truths of the Gospel to the Indians here, that they have without intermission continued their labors among the Indians and notwithstanding the increase of expenses and other difficulties are resolved to pursue and support this commendable work and for this purpose have formed a society for propagating the Gospel among the heathen and entered into certain rules of association (a copy whereof they have subjoined to their petition) and prayed to incorporate the said society:

And whereas the propagation of the Gospel among the Indians of America is of great importance to the citizens of this and other the United States and may by the blessing of God be conducive to the peace and security of the inhabitants and settlers of our frontiers, and by living examples of the missionaries and the converts the savages may be induced to turn their minds to the Christian religion, industry and social life with the citizens of the United States:

And whereas this house is disposed to exercise the powers vested in the legislature of the commonwealth for the encouragement of all pious and charitable purposes:

[Section I.] (Section II, P. L.) Be it therefore enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met and by the authority of the same, That the Reverend John Ettwein, bishop, Frederick William Von Marshall, gentleman, the Reverend Andrew Hubner and Paul Munster, Hans Christian Von Schweinitz, gentleman, the Reverend David Zeisberger, junior, John August Klingsohr, Jeremiah Dencke, Charles Gotthold Reichel, Daniel Koehler, Christian Benzein and Godfrey Praezel, the present directors, the Reverend Bernhard Adam Grube, Frederick Peter senior and Jacob Van Vleck, the present assistant directors of the said society, the Reverend John Herbst, John Medar, Francis Boahler, James Birkby, Lewis Boehler, and Abraham Reinecke and others, the ministers in the different brethrens congregations and their successors and all other members of said society who have and hereafter shall subscribe the rules of the said society be and they are hereby made, declared and constituted to be a corporation and body politic and corporate in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style, and title of "The society of the United Brethren for propagating the Gospel among the heathen.”

[Section II.] (Section III, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said corporation and their successors by the name, style and title aforesaid, shall forever hereafter be persons able and capable in law to purchase, have, receive, take, hold and enjoy in fee simple or of less estate or estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, franchises and other hereditaments, by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, confirmation or devise of any person or persons bodies politic and corporate, capable and able to make the same and further that the said corporation and their successors may take and receive any sum or sums of money and portion of goods and chattels that have been or hereafter shall be given or bequeathed to them or the said society by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, able and capable to make a bequest or gift thereof. Provided, That no misnomer of the said corporation and their successors shall defeat or annul any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the said corporation if the intent of the donor shall suffi ciently appear upon the face of the gift, testament or other

writing whereby any estate or interest was intended to pass to the said corporation; nor shall any non-user of the rights, liberties, privileges and authorities, or any of them, hereby granted to the said corporation, create or cause a forfeiture thereof.

[Section III.] (Section IV, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all donations and contributions, rents interests and profits arising from the real and personal estate of the aforesaid corporation shall by the said directors and their successors from time to time be applied and laid out for the maintenance and support of [their] missionaries and their assistants, for building and supporting places of public worship and schools, providing books for the better educating, instructing and civilizing the children of the converts and others among the nations who shall be desirous to commit their youths to the care and instructions of the said missionaries and for such other pious and charitable uses as are conformable to the true design and intent of the said society.

[Section IV.] (Section V, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said corporation and their successors, shall not by deed or otherwise, grant, alien, convey or otherwise dispose of any part or parcel of the real estate in the said corporation vested or to be vested or charge or encumber the same to any person or persons whatsoever except by and with the consent of a majority of the regular contributing members of the said society convened for that purpose.

[Section V.] (Section VI, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said directors and assistant directors and their successors or a majority of them shall and may from time to time convene the members of the said society to make rules, by-laws and ordinances and to transact everything requisite for the good government and support of the affairs of the said society agreeable to their stated rules. Provided always, That the said rules, by-laws and ordinances or any of them be not repugnant to the laws and statutes in force within this commonwealth.

[Section VI.] (Section VII, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said society and their suc

cessors shall have full power and authority to make, have and use one common seal with such device and inscription as they shall think proper and the same to break, alter and renew at their pleasure.

[Section VII.] (Section VIII, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said corporation and their successors by the name, style and title aforesaid shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any court or courts, before any judge or judges, justice or justices in all and all manner of suits, complaints, causes, matters and demands of whatsoever kind, nature or form they may be and all and every other matter and thing therein to do in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate in this commonwealth in the like cases may or can do.

[Section VIII.] (Section IX, P. L.) Provided also and it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the clear yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands, tenements, rents, annuities or other hereditaments and real estate of the said corporation shall not exceed the sum of two thousand pounds lawful money of the state of Pennsylvania, to be taken and esteemed exclusive of the moneys arising from the contributions of the actual members and donations of the honorary members or other friends to the said institution. Passed February 27, 1788. Recorded L. B. No. 3, p. 358.

CHAPTER MCCCXXXIII.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF THE BIG SPRING IN NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

(Section I, P. L.) Whereas the members of the first Presbyterian Church of Big Spring in the county of Cumberland now under the pastoral care of the Reverend Samuel Wilson have in a petition to this house prayed that their said church may