Male Free School
WHEREAS institutions for the education of youth in the principles of virtue, knowledge and useful literature, (especially charitable institutions, that paternally lead the children of poverty from their obscure abode, furnishing gratuitously with education, to preparethem for useful stations in society,) are of the first importance: And whereas the methodist episcopal church in the city of Baltimore, early in the year eighteen hundred and two, did establish a charity school, for the education of male children; and it appearing to this general assembly, by the petition of the trustees of the Male Free School of Baltimore, that a number of youths have gratuitously received, and are now receiving, useful learning in this institution, and general assembly, taking into consideration the petition of Owen Dorsey, John Brevitt, Abner Neale, William Hawkins, Thomas E. Bond, Moses Hand, William Browne, George Roberts and Joseph Jamison, praying that they may be incorporated, for the purpose of perpetuating the benevolent design of the promoters of this excellent charity school; therefore,
2. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That Owen Dorsey, John Brevitt, Abner Neal, William Hawkins,Thomas E. Bond, Moses hand, William Browne, George Roberts and Joseph Jamison, and their successors in office, who shall be duly elected in the manner herein after described and directed, are hereby declared to be one community, corporation and body politic, for ever hereafter, by the name and style of The Trustees of the Male Free School of Baltimore, and by that name they shall be and are hereby made able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy and retain, to them, and to their successors as aforesaid, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, pensions, and other hereditaments, in fee-simple, or for a term of years, life, lives or otherwise, and also goods, chattels or effects, of whatever nature, quality or kind soever, by the gift, bargain, sale or devise, of any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable to make the same, or the same to grant, demise, alien or dispose of, in such manner as they may judge most conducive to the benevolent and charitable use of the said male free school of Baltimore; Provided always, that the said trustees shall not possess, at any one time, property, real, personal or mixed, exceeding in net yearly value the sum of ten thousand dollars.
3. AND BE IT ENACTED, That in case of the death, resignation, disability, or ceasing to be a member of the methodist Episcopal church, by expulsion or otherwise, of one or more of the trustees, at any time, the remaining trustees shall forthwith meet and proceed to elect, by ballot, a trustee or trustees, who shall be a member or members of the methodist episcopal church in the city of Baltimore, of at least twenty-five years of age, and of three years standing as a member, to fill all such vacancy or vacancies, so that the number of nine trustees shall be kept up and continued for ever; and all cases of disability shall be determined by a majority of two thirds of the whole number of trustees.
4. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the trustees shall appoint a president, treasurer and secretary, define their duties, and allow them salaries, if need be, and in case of the absence of the president, the trustees shall appoint a president pro tempore, and that five trustees shall form a quorum.
5. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the trustees shall admit and expel scholars, employ a teacher or teachers, fix his or their salary or salaries, provide books and all necessary articles for the scholars, and use of the school, make and ordain by-laws and rules for the regulation of the school, and do all matters and things to promote the design and interest of this institution.
6. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the trustees shall notify all vacancies in the school, and in admitting scholars, give the preference in all applications to those children they shall conceive to be the greatest objects of charity, having no respect to the religious profession of the parent or guardian; and all children place under the care of this institution, shall be subject, in all respects, to the mode of education and government adopted from time to time by the trustees.
7. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the trustees shall have power, whenever the funds of the institution shall admit, to provide with food and cloathing such scholar or scholars as they may conceive the greatest objects of charity; and the trustees may, in their discretion, bind out a part or the whole number of such scholars, thus provided for, to such trades or occupations as they may conceive most beneficial.
8. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the trustees shall annually publish a statement of the school, including the design and the objects embraced by the institution.
9. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the aforesaid trustees, and their successors, by the name aforesaid, shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and be defended, in all or any courts of justice whatsoever, and also to make, have and use, a common seal, and the same to break, alter or renew, at pleasure.
10. AND BE IT ENACTED, That this charter and act of incorporation, and every part thereof, shall be good and available in all things in law, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, and shall be construed, reputed and adjudged, in all cases most favourable on behalf of the said institution, so as most effectually to answer the valuable ends intended to be answered thereby.