tions to such property respectively, or in accordance with a new plan of union agreed on by them. Such redistribution shall be made by the trustees of said union church or society on written notice to the societies which it is alleged have ceased to exist; but no such society shall be deemed to have ceased to exist unless it has failed or neglected for a period of five consecutive years next preceding such request for redistribution, to hold meetings and have a clerk or secretary, and keep a list or registry of its members, or to have preaching, prayer or conference meetings, or other religious services in keeping with the usages of the denomination to which it belongs. Any one of the societies composing a union church or society, which shall have built a church edifice in the same village or neighborhood in which it holds its religious services, shall not thereby lose or forfeit in any way any of its rights or privileges in such union society, and the maintaining of divine worship, or contributing to its support in its own building, shall be regarded the same as if it held its meetings in the church building of such union societies. Any notice for the election of trustees of the union society or for any other purpose which the law requires to be read or given at the time of divine service, may be read or given in the church edifice so built by any one of such societies, if at the time religious services are not held in the church edifice of such union society. But such notice must be posted on the outer door of such union church edifice at least fifteen days before the meeting. If any society composing any such church union or society has a greater interest in the occupancy of the church building than others, unless the several churches composing the union church or society have agreed otherwise, the number of trustees shall be odd, and the trustees shall be elected from such societies in proportion to their respective interests in the union, church or society, as nearly as may be. Any society composing such union church or society, which has built for itself a church edifice and become incorporated, may sell its interest and right of occupancy in such union society, and convey the same, when authorized so to do by a two-thirds vote of the voters thereof qualified to vote for union trustees, at a special meeting called for that purpose. The proceeds of such sale shall be used for the benefit of its church property. Laws Repealed; When to Take Effect. 10x297X ARTICLE IX. LAWS REPEALED; WHEN TO TAKE EFFECT. SECTION 110. Laws repealed. 111. When to take effect. SS 110-111 § 110. Laws repealed.-Of the laws enumerated in the schedule hereto annexed, that portion specified in the last column is repealed. 8 III. When to take effect.--This chapter shall take effect October 1, 1895. SCHEDULE OF LAWS REPEALED. Revised laws of 1813, ch. 60, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation of religious societies." All. ARTICLE CHAPTER XLIII OF THE GENERAL LAWS. [CHAP. 559 OF 1895.] THE MEMBERSHIP CORPORATIONS LAW. I. General provisions relating to membership corporations II. Corporations for purposes not elsewhere authorized III. Cemetery corporations (§§ 40-61). IV. Fire corporations (§§ 65-66). V. Corporations for the prevention of cruelty (§§ 70-72). VII. Christian associations (§§ 90-92). VIII. Bar associations (§ 100). IX. Veteran soldiers and sailors' associations (§§ 110-112). XI. Boards of trade (§§ 130-131). XII. Agricultural and horticultural corporations (§§ 140–148). ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Definitions. 3. Relation of article one to the other articles of this chapter. 6. Re-incorporation of membership corporations. 7. Consolidation. 8. By-laws. 9. Members. 10. Directors and trustees. 11. Powers, duties and liabilities of directors. 12. Prohibitions on officers. 13. Purchase, sale, mortgage and lease of real property. 14. Changing number of directors. 15. Changing time of annual meetings. 16. Visitation of supreme court. 17. Reports to comptroller by corporations receiving state moneys. |