Chap. 106.—An ACT to incorporate the Virginia conference orphanage of the
Methodist Episcopal church, south.

Approved January 22, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That A. Coke
Smith, W. J. Young, John P. Branch, W. B. Beauchamp, J. W. Bledsoe,
J. W. Bradbury, J. T. Mastin, J. P. Pettyjohn, P. T. Barrow, F. M.
Edwards. EK. W. Rawlings, C. W. Hardwicke, 8S. S. Lambeth, junior,
Thomas F. Goode, J. W. Shackford, W. H. Vincent, C. E. Vawter, L.
B. Betty, and their associates and successors duly appointed as herein-
after provided, be, and they are herehy, appointed and constituted a
body politic and corporate, under the name and style of “ the trustees of
the Virginia conference orphanage of the Methodist Episcopal church,
south,” for the purpose of maintaining and educating white orphan chil-
dren of Methodist parentage. and such other children as may be selected
by the trustees; and by the aforesaid corporate name it shall have per-
petual succession and a common seal, which it may alter or renew at
pleasure; and may contract and ke contracted with, sue and be sued,
implead and be impleaded; may take and enjoy by purchase, grant, gift,
devise, or bequest estates, both real and personal: provided, the same
shall not exceed in value the sum of five hundred thousand dollars; and
may sell, convey, mortgage, or otherwise encumber the property held by
it both real and personal, and have the general management, supervision,
and control of the same, subject to the provisions of this charter.

2. The aforesaid board of trustees and their successors shall have
authority to elect additional members of the said board of trustees to
serve for such terms as may be determined upon: provided, that the num-
ber of trustees shall at no time exceed twenty-five; and the said trustees
and their successors shall have power to fill any and all vacancies that
may from time to time occur in their body, and may remove said trus-
tees, or any of them for cause, subject to confirmation by the Virginia
annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, south: provided,
only that no person shall be eligible to election as a trustee unless he be
a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal church, south,
within the bounds of the Virginia conference; and the severance or
withdrawal of the membership of any trustee from the Methodist Epis-
copal church, south, shall ipso facto vacate the office of such person as
trustee.

3. The board of trustees shall meet at such times and places as it may
determine upon, and seven trustees shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business: provided, that three-fourths of all the trustees
shall be necessary to order the sale or encumbrance of any real estate
belonging to the said orphanage.

4. The board of trustees shall be empowered to select from its mem-
bers an executive committee, and such other officers as it may deem
necessary: provided, that said officers other than the executive com-
mittee need not be members of the board of trustees. The said board
of trustees shall further have authority to fix the salaries of the various
officers; to assign such powers to the executive committee, including the
power to fix salaries. as it may deem expedient, and to do any and all
acts whatsoever for the establishment and management of the orphanage
not contrary to law or to the provisions of this act.

5. The members of the executive committee shall hold office for one
vear, or until their successors are duly appointed. The said committce
shall be composed of not less than five members, and its powers shall
be prescribed by the board of trustees and subject to said board.

6. The object of the said corporation shall be to establish and main-
tain at some place or places within the limits of this state an asylum
or asylums for the support, education, industrial training, and control
of poor or orphan children of both sexes. And it shall have authority
to take legal custody and control of such children for such time as may
be agreed upon in writing, duly signed. and acknowledged by the per-
son or persons having authority so to do, and when such children are
received as aforesaid, they and each of them shall be subject to the
authority of the said corporation, free from the control of any person
Wwhomsoever; and the said corporation shall have the same authority to
act as statutory and testamentary guardian, without compensation, that
Individuals now have under the laws of this state.

7. The said corporation shall have all the rights and powers of a
parent or natural enardian over the persons of the inmates of the
orphanage, and it shi all have authority by and through its duly authorized
agent to secure a home for any child under its control, or to apprentice
or find emplovinent for such child, upen such terms and conditions as
it may deem hest for the interests of said child; and upon a breach of
the agreement so made or of any material part thereof by the party
receiving said child, the said cornoration may compel the said party in
default to deliver back the said child into its custedy,

8. A misnomer of the corporation in anv deed, gift. grant. bequest.
or devise, or in any instrument or contract shall not invalidate the
same if the said corporation be sufliciently described therein to show the
intention of the party.

All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby re-
peated.

10. This act shall he in force from and after the date of the first
meeting of the board of trustees after its passage.