Chap. 629.—An ACT to incorporate the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Associa-
tion.

Approved April 2, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That B. R. Jones,
Frank Richardson, A. J. Newton, J. W. Cherry, W. E. Hermance, and
all others who are now or who may hereafter be associated with them, are
hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the name of the “Nor-
folk Mutual Fire Insurance Association,” and by such name ghall have
perpetual succession. It may sue and be sued and have a common seal.

2. That the said corporation shall have the power to make and adopt
a constitution and by-laws, rules, and regulations for the admission and
expulsion of its members and their government, election of officers, de-
fining their duties, protection of its property and funds, and so forth:
provided, the same be not inconsistent with the constitution or laws of
the United States or the State of Virginia. It shall also have the right
to prescribe the terms and conditions of the contract of insurance with
its members, the mode and manner and time of collection and payment
of losses, and any other powers necessary and incident to the proper
carrying into effect the business to be carried on by it.

3. The purposes for which this association is formed are to insure on
a purely mutual basis the property of its members against loss by fire or
lightning. The property, such as dwellings, barns, and outbuildings,
churches, halls, stores, or buildings of any destription, personal prop-
erty consisting of household goods, farming implements, merchandise,
or stock, and stores of any kind, also live stock of any description, may le
classified according to liability of risk.

4. That the losses and expenses of this association shall be met by pro
rata assessments on its members; that every member of said association
shall be bound to pay his, her, or their portion of all losses and necessary
expenses accruing to said association, and all buildings or other property
insured by and with said association, together with the right, title, and
interest of assured to the lands on which such buildings or other property
may stand, shall be pledged to the said association, and the said associa-
tion shall have a lien thereon against the assured, his or her heirs, rep-
resentatives, and assigns during the continuance of their insurance as to
all debts or liabilities contracted or incurred by said association subse-
quent to the granting of this charter; that all property insured: with and
by said association shall be liable as herein provided until all outstanding
losses shall have been paid, and until the owner thereof shall have with-
drawn his insurance in the manner prescribed by the by-laws of this asso-
ciation: provided, however, that any transfers of such property shall
operate as a release of the assured and to the property as to all subsequent
liabilities unless the purchaser or purchasers thereof make application
for and receive a transfer of policy; in which event, such purchaser or
purchasers shall be substituted to all the rights of the vendor as set forth
in this charter, and the said property shall be held liable as herein pro-
vided. ‘The provisions of this section shall apply as well to personal rep-
resentatives, trustees, and guardians as to owners of such property. That
after thirty days from date of issue of notice of amount due this associa-
tion the obligation of this association shall cease until such amount has
been paid, and any amount due by any members after the expiration of
the thirtieth day may be recoverable by due process of law in any county,
corporate, or magisterial court of the county, city, or town wherein such
members or his, her, or their representative resides; that an application
for membership, assigning and describing the property to be insured,
when approved by the proper director, together with the payment of the
membership fee, shall constitute a person a valid member of this associa-
tion.

5. The office of this association shall be located in Norfolk, Virginia,
but it may have members in any city or town er county in this State or
any other State.

6. The officers for the first year shall be such as may be elected at a
subsequent meeeting.

%. This act shall be in force from its passage.