The title to land authorized to be purchased as aforesaid, and to the buildings and improvements thereon, becomes vested in the said trustees by their assumed name, and their successors, forever; and the same must be held for the uses and purposes in this chapter named, and no other; and such trustees are made capable in law to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all courts of law or equity whatsoever, in and by the name and style assumed as aforesaid; and they have power, under the direction of the society or congregation, to execute deeds and conveyances of and concerning the estate and property authorized to be held by such society or congregation, and such deeds or conveyances will have the same effect as like deeds or conveyances made by natural persons. No deed or conveyance, however, can be made of any estate held as aforesaid, so as to defeat or destroy the interest or effect of any grant, donation or bequest which may be made to any such society or congregation. All grants, donations and bequests to such society or congregation, must be appropriated and used as directed by the person or persons making the same. (Ib., Sub. 3.)

§ 756. Every society or congregation formed as in this chapter provided, has power to provide for filling vacancies which may happen in the office of trustee, warden, vestryman or other office of like nature; and also to remove such persons from office, and to adopt such rules and regulations in relation to the duties of trustees, and the management of its estate as to the members may seem proper, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State or of the United States. (Ib., Sub. 4.)

§ 757. Upon the dissolution of any society or congrega tion, formed under the provisions of this chapter, the estate and property of such society or congregation will revert

back to the persons, their heirs and assigns, who may have given or contributed to the purchase of or payment for the same, according to their respective rights. A failure to elect or appoint trustees or other officers, at any time when by the provisions in this chapter specified such election or appointment should be made, will not work a dissolution of the society or congregation; but the trustees, wardens or vestrymen last elected or appointed will be considered as in office until another election or appointment shall take place. (Ib., Sub. 5.)

CHAPTER LIV.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN ALABAMA HOW INCORPORATED POWERS OF SUCH CORPORATIONS-SUITS AGAINST, HOW COMMENCED.

§ 758. In the State of Alabama the provisions of the statute in relation to religious societies are exceedingly simple and brief. The members of any church or religious society, wishing to become incorporated, must elect trustees not less than three or more than nine. Such trustees must, within thirty days after their election, file in the office of the judge of probate of the county a certificate, stating the corporate name selected, the names of the trustees, the length of time for which they were elected; which certificate must be subscribed by them and recorded in the office of such judge of probate; whereupon the members of such church or society, their associates and successors, become incorporated by the name specified in such certificate. (Code of Alabama, 1852, Title XIV, Ch. 11, Secs. 1257, 1258 and 1259.)

§ 759. All certificates filed under the provisions in the last [Tr.]

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preceding section specified, must be recorded in the office of the judge of probate, and a copy thereof, duly certified by such judge, stating the time when the same was filed, is made evidence of the existence of such corporation from that time. The judge of probate is entitled to a fee of two dol lars for filing and recording each certificate. (Ib., Secs. 1261 and 1264.)

§ 760. Corporations created as aforesaid may hold real and personal property, not exceeding in value fifty thousand dollars. They may also receive property by gift, will or devise, holding the same in conformity with all lawful conditions imposed by the donor, and may exercise such other powers as are incident to private corporations. (Ib., Sec. 1262.)

§ 761. In all suits or legal proceedings the service of a summons or notice on any trustee of a religious corporation created as aforesaid, is made valid for the purpose of bring ing such religious corporation into court, or for the objects of such notice. (Ib., Sec. 1263.)

§ 762. All of the proceedings under the statute in this chapter referred to, are so very simple that no forms are thought necessary to be given. It will be sufficient to consult the law as it is laid down, and the forms will be readily suggested.

CHAPTER LV.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN KENTUCKY HOW INCORPORATED PROPERTY HELD BY-POWERS OF THE CORPORATION--CHURCH PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION.

§ 763. Any three or more persons in the State of Kentucky may voluntarily associate themselves together for the purpose of erecting and maintaining churches and places for public religious meetings. Every such association must be formed by written articles, specifying the name of the corporation, the objects of the same, and the condition of membership, and must be signed by each member thereof, and will be obligatory on them, their associates, successors and assigns. (2 R. S. 553 and 554, Secs. 1 and 2.)

§ 764. The members of the society must file their articles of association with the clerk of the county in which their operations are to be carried on, who must record the same, whereupon the society will be a body politic and corporate, by the name stated in the articles of association; will have succession; may have and use a common seal, and be capable of suing and being sued, and of purchasing, taking and holding such property, and of doing such acts, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary and proper for carrying out the objects authorized. The stock and corporate property of the corporation may be divided into shares, as the members may determine, and the manner of holding and disposing of the same must be regulated by their articles of association. (Ib., Secs. 3 and 4.)

§ 765. The clerk or secretary of the society is required to keep a fair record of the proceedings of such society, in

a book to be kept for that purpose; and such records, or copies thereof, duly attested by the clerk or secretary of the society, and copies of the articles of association, certified by the clerk of the court wherein the same shall have been recorded as directed, may be read as evidence when the interests of the society are concerned. (Ib., Sec. 5.)

§766. The society can exercise no powers except such as are necessary and proper for carrying out the objects of the society as hereinbefore specified, and particularly is disqualified from discounting or purchasing promissory notes or bills of exchange. The manner of dissolving the corporation may be provided for in the articles of association; but upon the dissolution, all the corporate property and funds must be applied to the payment of any debts or liabilities of the society; and for a failure so to apply them, the members of the society, at the time of such dissolution, are made individually liable for such debts or liabilities. (Ib. 555, Sec. 788.)

§ 767. Any person guilty of any injury to or intrusion on the building of a religious society, or the grounds and property attached thereto, is liable to be prosecuted therefor, and fined, at the discretion of a jury, in addition to the civil remedy which the society may have therefor, and the net proceeds of the recovery in any such procedure, civil or penal, are required to be paid over to the trustees of the society. And a civil action for such injuries will not be impeded by the death, resignation or removal of one or more trustees, but the same will proceed as if he or they were still acting. (Ib. 223, Arts. IV and V.)

§ 768. Houses of public worship, and lands held under the laws of the State by any denomination of Christians or professors of religion, for devotional purposes, to the extent