94

SAMUEL STEVENS, JR. ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

Dec Ses. 1822

Isaac Hull, John M. Gamble, William B. Shubrick, Francis Malin-
by, F. Buchanan, Samuel R. Trevitt, jun. R. C. Ludlow, Cherver
Felch, Francis H. Gregory and Frederick P. Markham, their associ-
ates and successors, shall be, and they are hereby created a corpora-
tion and body politic, within this state, by the name and style of the
United States' Naval Fraternal Association, for the relief of the fa-
milies of deceased officers, and by that name shall be, and they hereby
are made capable in law to hold, purchase, receive, possess and en-
joy, to them and their successors, goods, chatties, effects and every
kind of personal estate and real estate, within this state, not exceed-
ing five hundred thousand dollars in value, and the same to sell,
grant and dispose of; also to sue and be sued, plead and be implead-
ed, defend and be defended, in any courts of this state having com-
petent jurisdiction.

Powers.

2. And be it enacted. That the said corporation shall have power to
make and use a common seal, and the same to break and alter; to
ordain and establish such by-laws and regulations as they shall deem
proper for the management and direction of the affairs of said corpo-
ration and the government thereof, not bring contrary to this act, or
to the constitution and laws of the United States, or of this state;
and generally to do and perform all acts, matters and things, which
pertain to the character of a corporation aggregate, subject as afore-

Members.

said.
3. And be it enacted, That the said corporation shall be composed
of such commissioned officers in the navy and marine corps, and of
such sailing masters and midshipmen, not less than eighteen years
of age, as may from time to time agree to become members, by sub-
scribing the constitution of the said corporation, made in pursuance
of the authority hereby granted, and shall pay the fees and assess-

Officers, e-
lections, &c.

ments therein prescribed.
4. And be it enacted, That the government and direction of the
concerns of said corporation shall be vested in a president, vice-pre-
sident, board of directors, treasurer, secretary and such other officers
as may be deemed necessary. The board of directors shall consist
of one member from each grade of officers in the navy, entitled to
admission into the corporation, and of one from the marine corps,
and shall be chosen annually on the first Monday in October, by the
members of the corporation, at such place on each naval station, and
at such time on said day, as the senior naval officer, being a member
there resident, shall appoint, of which he shall give public notice at
least ten flays previously; at which meeting the officers of each class
or grade shall vote for one director of their own class or grade re-
spectively, and the votes being taken and counted by the presiding
officer and secretary chosen by said meeting, and by one officer from
each grade designated by the meeting for that purpose, if an such are -
present, shall be certified by the presiding officer and secretary afore-
said, and transmitted to the secretary of the board of directors,
within ten days thereafter; the votes aforesaid may be given in person,
or by proxy of the same grade; the secretary of the board and the
treasurer shall count the votes given by the classes or grades respec-
tively, which shall have been returned within sixty days after the elec-
tion, and the officer having the greatest number of votes of each class
shall he duly elected, and the secretary shall make a record thereof
accordingly, and shall forthwith notify each director, so chosen, of
his election. All vacancies in any board of directors shall be filled
by the remaining members, and in case any two or more officers have