Chapter 57. To incorporate the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington
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CHAP. 57.— An Act To incorporate the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington.March 16, 1896. Whereas itPreamble. has been represented to the Congress of the United States by a committee, appointed by the primary convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington, whereof the Reverend John H. Elliott, Doctor of Divinity, was president, and Reverend Arthur S. Johns was secretary, convened in the city of Washington on the fourth day of December, anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety-five, which diocese comprises the District of Columbia, together with the counties of Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, and Saint Mary’s, in the State of Maryland, and the convention whereof is composed of clergymen of said church canonically resident within said diocese and entitled to seats in said convention, and laymen duly chosen to represent the parishes and congregations in said diocese, and, asFIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 57. 1896.59 such committee, charged with the duty and authority, for and on behalf of said convention and diocese, to present and procure the passage by Congress of an Act incorporating the said convention, with provisions and powers suitable and proper to the religious, missionary, charitable, and educational objects of the church and the organizations aforesaid; and Whereas it is further represented that members of the church aforesaid have subscribed for and have raised funds especially for the permanent support of the episcopate of said church in said diocese, as well as to defray the necessary expenses of the said convention from year to year, and to carry on religious, missionary, charitable, and educational work in said diocese, and to aid in the support of its disabled, aged, or superannuated clergy; but that the convention of said church in said diocese though in trusted and charged with the administration of its affairs, has no legal capacity to receive, invest, manage, or dispose of said fund or any proceeds of property resultant therefrom; and Whereas it is also represented that the convention of the diocese of Maryland has resolved to transfer to said diocese of Washington its agreed portion of the funds of the former so soon as said new diocese has legal capacity to receive the same:
Now, therefore, *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,*The Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Washington incorporated. That the aforesaid Reverend John H. Elliott, Doctor of Divinity, and Reverend Arthur S. Johns and their associate members of said primary convention and their successors, who may hereafter constitute the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington, be declared, and they hereby are, incorporated and made a body corporate and politic by the name and style of The Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Washington, and by that name they, and their successors hereafter to be elected, appointed, made, and qualified according to the form and effect of the constitution of the said church for the time being, shall have perpetual succession, and by such name be capable of suing and being sued in any court of law or equity, and shall have and use a common or corporate seal, and the same break, alter, and renew at pleasure, and shall have and exercise all such other powers as shall or may be necessary or proper to carry into effect the objects of such incorporation.
Sec. 2. That the said corporation shall have full power and authorityPowers and authority. to take and hold subscriptions, contributions, donations, grants, devises, or bequests, in money or otherwise for the purpose of creating a permanent fund or endowment for the support of the episcopate in said diocese, which heretofore have been made, or which may be made for such purpose, or to or in behalf of the various associations and societies for religious, missionary, charitable, or educational purposes, now existing or hereafter to exist, under the jurisdiction, control, or sanction of said convention within the limits of said diocese, annual income from which shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, and the same to invest and the proceeds thereof to apply for the purposes aforesaid as may from time to time be deemed most expedient, and to appoint, in its discretion. an executive committee or other trustees, boards, or agencies, by whatever name or names they may be designated, to administer such funds or property in such manner and form and with such authority as the said corporation shall from time to time prescribe: *Provided, however, and always,**Proviso.*Administration of funds.
That in such administration the respective funds shall be kept distinct and separate; that each fund shall be held liable only for obligations that may have been incurred in its own proper behoof: and that the principal sum or amount of such subscriptions, contributions, donations, grants, devises, and bequests for permanent endowment of the episcopate shall be at all times invested in some safe and profitable stocks, mortgages, deeds of trust, or other securities and the expenses of administering the same, the salary of the bishop, and other charges shall be payable and paid only out of the annual interest, dividends, or profits thereof. 60FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Chs. 57–59. 1896. Sec. 3. ThatRules and regulations. the convention of said diocese may by resolution thereof adopt such rules and regulations in regard to such funds and their administration and the same thereafter after, amend, or abrogate as to the said convention may seem expedient. Sec. 4. ThatPresent powers not affected. nothing herein contained shall enlarge, restrict, or in any manner affect the power or authority which said convention now has, or may exercise or claim over said church in said diocese, or the members thereof; but all such powers and authorities which are or may be claimed or exercised shall remain in like condition, and none other, as if this Act had not been passed.
Sec. 5. ThatAcceptance by convention. unless this Act shall be accepted by resolution of the conventionRecord. of said diocese at its next annual meeting and a copy of such resolution of acceptance certified by the secretary of the convention, be filed for record with the recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia within sixty days thereafter, the same shall thereupon become void and of no effect. Sec. 6. ThatAmendment, etc. Congress reserves the right to modify, amend, or repeal this Act.
Approved, March 16, 1896. Chapter 58: To reorganize the customs collection district of Alaska. 29 Stat. 60 1896-03-16 Chapter 58 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2025-10-30 54 2 public
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Chapter 57
To incorporate the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington
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