Chap. 43.—An ACT to incorporate the Galilean Fishermen relief
association of the commonwealth of Virginia.

Approved January 30, 1888.

Whereas there exists in this commonwealth and under the |
laws thereof, a benevolent order, known as the Grand United
Order of the Galilean Fishermen; and whereas the said order
has a very large membership, and during its existence has
accumulated considerable property; and whereas in further-
ance of the benevolent purposes for which the said order
was organized, it is now the wish and desire of the said asso-
ciation to have an insurance department within its said
order, and to be legally authorized to issue policies of life
insurance with a view to the further protection of its mem-
bers and their widows and orphans, and to further promote
the objects and purposes for which said association was
intended: therefore,

1, Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Royall Racks, Giles B. Jackson, John H. Smith, William Cos-
talo, E. J. Simms, David Peterson, John Pryor, George Pres-
ton, Charles Long, William Mason, Isham Green, Osborne
Holmes, of the city of Richmond; John H. Robinson and
Reverend Thomas H. Shorts, of the town of Hampton; John
H. Moody, of the city of Petersburg; C. W. Harris, of the city
of Manchester; George W. Winston, of the county of Henrico,
and their associates, Be and they are hereby incorporated and
created a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succes-
sion, under the name and style of the Galilean Fishermen
Relief Association of the commonwealth of Virginia; and
by that name are hereby made capable in law and in equity
to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, contract and
be contracted with, to make, have and use a common seal,
and to alter and renew the same at pleasure, and shall have
the right to take and hold by purchase, gift or otherwise,
real and personal estate not exceeding in value one hundred
thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary to
carry out the object of the association, and dispose of and
convey the same at pleasure.

2. The object of the said association shall be to establish
in the commonwealth of Virginia, with chief office at Rich-
mond, Virginia, a Galilean Fishermen relief association of
the commonwealth of Virginia, to the extent of providing
and maintaining a fund for the relief of widows, orphans, or
beneficiaries of deceased members of the said association or
of such other persons as may insure therein. The said asso-
ciation shall be and is hereby authorized to establish such
branch office or offices in this state as to them shall seem
proper, and are further authorized and empowered to estab-
ish such office or offices, and to conduct their said business in
any other state of the United States, subject to the laws of
the state or states respectively in which they so do business,
and the said association shall be and is hereby authorized to
issue such policies, certificates of membership or other
writing showing and setting forth the said membership and
the benefits to be received therefrom, and to receive such
premiums, and in such amounts, and at such times, either
weekly, monthly, yearly, or otherwise, as to them shall seem
proper.

3. Any person in good standing in any tabernacle of the
Grand United Order of the Galilean Fishermen of the United
States, in any portion of the United States, can become a
member of this association, as well as such other person or
persons as the board of directors of the said association may
admit.

4. The board of directors for the first twelve months, shall
be Royall Racks, Giles B. Jackson, E. J. Simms, David Peter-
son, William Mason, William Costalo, George W. Winston,
John Prior and Charles Long; and there shall be a meeting
of the association called within six months after the passage
of this act, for the purpose of electing a board of directors,
to consist of nine members, and whose term of office shall be
one year—such term under the first election to commence at
the expiration of the terms of those herein appointed, and
annually hereafter such directors shall be elected at a regular
meeting to be called for the purpose. The said board of
directors shall in all cases officiate until their successors are
duly elected and qualified, and the said board of directors
shall once in two years elect one of their own body as presi-
dent and vice-president.

5. Officers of the said association for the first two years
shall be as follows: president, Royall Racks; vice-president,
Jobn H. Smith; secretary, Giles B. Jackson; treasurer, Wil-

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liam Custalo. And the board of directors shall once in every
two years elect from the members of the association a secre-
tary and treasurer, and appoint all other subordinate officers
and agents necessary to conduct the affairs of the association,
prescribe their duties, and fix such compensation for their
services as it may deem proper; but the terms of the officers
first chosen hereunder, shall commence at the expiration of
the terms of office of those hereby appointed.

6. The board of directors shall adopt such by-laws and
regulations as may be necessary for the government of the
association, fill all vacancies in their own body and of the
officers and agents that may occur by death, resignation, or
otherwise, and five of them shall constitute a quorum to do
business.

7. A misnomer of the corporation in any deed, gift, grant
or devise, or any instrument or contract, shall not vitiate the
the same, if the corporation shall be sufficiently described
therein to ascertain the intention of the parties.

8. This act shall be in force from its passage. —