Section. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that David Webb, Theodore Baker, Timothy Baker, Moses Kimball, Paul G. Smith and their associates, together with such other persons as may be hereafter associated with them, be and they are hereby created a body corporate and politic by the name of the First Baptist Church and Society of Norwalk, Huron County, and as such shall remain and have perpetual succession and by their corporate name may contract and be contracted with, may sue and be sued, answer and be answered, pleaded and be impleaded, defend and be defended in any court of competent jurisdiction in all manner whatever and may have a common seal which they may change or alter at pleasure.
Section. 2. That said corporation shall be capable in law and equity, in their corporate name aforesaid of having, receiving, acquiring and holding by purchase, grant, devise or legacy any estate, real, personal or mixed, for the use of said corporation; provided that the annual income of all such property shall not exceed the sum of Two Thousand Dollars and that all the property of whatever kind shall be considered as held in trust, under the management and at the disposal of said corporation for the purpose of promoting the interest of said Church and Society, defraying the expenses incident to their mode of worship and maintaining any institutions of charity or education that may be therewith connected; and, provided also, that when money or other property shall be given, granted or bequeathed for any particular use or purpose, it shall be faithfully applied to such use or purpose.
Section. 3. That for the better management of the affairs of said Society and promoting the interests thereof, there shall be elected on the first Monday of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Five, and on the third Monday of March in each succeeding year thereafter, five Trustees and such officers as the organization may deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors shall be elected. Provided that if for any cause an election of officers should not be made on the day appointed for the annual election the society may elect their officers at any meeting of the corporation duly assembled.
Section. 4. That David Webb, Theodore Baker, Timothy Baker, Moses Kimball, and Paul G. Smith, named in the first Section of this act be and they are hereby appointed Trustees until the first annual election and until others are elected in their place.
Section. 5. That all elections of the corporation shall be by ballot and the person or persons having a majority of the votes given for any office shall be considered duly elected, each member shall have one vote and all matters of the corporation shall be determined by a majority of members present at any meeting of the society duly assembled.
Section. 6. That the Trustees, a majority of whom shall be a quorum for the transaction of business, shall under the direction of the society, have the management and control of the property and other concerns of the corporation, and they or a majority of them shall also have power to call a meeting of the church and society, either
for the election of officers or for the transaction for any other business of the church or society by giving to said church and society immediately after public worship at least ten days previous notice of said meetings or causing notifications thereof to be put up in three or more public places within the limits of said church and society one of which shall be at the usual place of holding public worship, at least fifteen days previous to such meeting.
Section. 7. That any meeting of the Church and Society duly assembled, may adopt and establish such by-laws and ordinances as may be deemed proper and necessary for the good government of said corporation. Provided that such by-laws and ordinance shall be compatible with the constitution and laws of the United States and this State.
Section. 8. That original process against the corporation shall be served by leaving an attested copy with one or more of the Trustees at least ten days before the return day, and such service shall be deemed sufficient to bind the corporation.
Section. 9. That any further Legislature shall have power to modify or repeal this act. Provided, that such modification or repeal shall not affect the title to any estate real or personal acquired or conveyed under its provisions.
March 7, 1835. JOHN M. CREED, Speaker of the House of Representatives C. ANTHONY Speaker of the Senate