An act to Incorporate East Newmarket Female Seminary. Passed March 9, 1850.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That James Thompson, John T. Houston, John Webster, Henry W. Houston, William V. M. Edmondson, Thomas I. Saxton, James N. Sherman, Kendall M. Jacobs, James Davis, and Turpin Wright, be and they are hereby appointed trustees of the East Newmarket Female Seminary, in Dorchester county, and they are hereby declared to be one community, corporation, and body politic, with succession in deed and in law, to all intents and purposes connected with the institution, by the name and style of the East Newmarket Female Seminary, by which name and title, they and their successors shall be competent and capable in law and in equity, to take and to hold to themselves and their successors, for the use of the said seminary, any estate in lands and tenements, annuities, goods, chattels, monies or effects, by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, conveyance, devise or bequest of any person or persons whatsoever; provided, the same do not exceed the annual value of five hundred dollars, and the same lands and tenements, and other estate, real or personal, to farm out or put to interest for the use of said semi- nary, in such manner as to them or a majority of them shall seem most beneficial to the said institution, and to receive the rents, issues and profits thereof, and apply the same to the proper use and advancement of the said seminary.
SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That at all times here after when any vacancy or vacancies shall happen in said community of trustees, by the death, resignation or refusal to act by any one or more of them, or the wilful neglect to attend the meetings of the board of trustees for the spare of one year, the remaining trustees or a majority of them, shall at their next meeting thereafter, proceed to elect other sensible and discreet person or persons of the said county, to fill such vacancy or vacancies, and in like manner shall all future vacancies be supplied by said trustees and their successors or a majority of them, so as to perpetuate the number of ten persons as trustees of the said seminary forever.
SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the said trustees and their successors, by the name and style aforesaid, shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any court or courts, and before any judge, justice or justices, within this State and elsewhere, in all and any manner of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands of whatsoever kind, nature or form they may be, and all and every other matter or thing to do therein, in as full and effectual manner as any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, with- in this State, in like cases, may or Can do or perform, and the said trustees or their successors, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to have, make and use one common seal, with such device and inscription as they shall think proper, and therewith to , pass and authenticate the certificates, acts and orders of the said corporation, and the same seal at their pleasure, to break, alter, and renew.
SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the said trustees and their successors, or a majority of them, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, shall have full power and authority to constitute and appoint professors, teachers and assistants, for instructing the students and scholars of the said seminary in such sciences and branches of education, as they shall think proper and suitable to be taught therein, and make ordinances and regulations for the good government of the said seminary, and the instruction of the youth aforesaid, and to appoint such number of their own body, not less that five, as the may think proper to be a quorum or committee for transacting all general and necessary business of the said seminary, and making temporary rules for the management thereof, and also to delegate to the said professors and teachers, such powers and authorities as they shall think expedient, for the government and discipline of the said seminary, and the execution of the regulation thereof, and also to make such regulations for the direction, visitation, and examination of the said seminary and the students and scholars therein, as shall best promote the important objects of the institution; provided always, that the said ordinances be. not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State.
SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the said trustees and their successors, or a majority of them, shall meet at least twice in every year, in stated semi-annual meetings, to be appointed by their own ordinances, and at, such other times as by their said ordinances or by their own adjournments they may direct, and when so assembled they shall have power from time to time to appoint a president, treasurer and secretary, to make, contracts with the professors or teachers, relative to the instruction of the scholars to be placed under their care, and for the payment, of their salaries, to examine the progress of the students and scholars, to hear and determine on all complaints and appeals, and upon all matters touching the discipline and government of the said seminary, and the execution of their ordinances, and generally to manage the state and concerns of the said seminary, in such manner as they shall deem best for the advantage of the institution.