Chap. 235.—An ACT to incorporate the Grand United Order of Van-
guard of Freedom and Temperance.

Approved March 29, 1876.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Thomas R. Johnson, Robert H. Brown, Jobn Terrill, John
Archer and Charles Marks, and all others who now are or
may hereafter become members of the association, be and
they. are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by
the name and style of The Grand United Order of the Van-
guard of Freedom and Temperance, and by this name they
shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, may sue
and be sued, plead and be impleaded. They may frame such
constitution and by-laws and regulations for the government
of their society as they may think proper, not inconsistent
with the laws of this state or of the United States.

2. They shall have power to purchase, receive and hold, to
them and their successors forever, any lot or lots of land in the
state of Virginia, upon which to erect suitable buildings in
which to hold their meetings, provided they shall not hold
over one acre of ground in any one county or city of the
state. The principal office of said corporation shall be located
in Richmond, Virginia. The officers for the first year shall
be as follows: Thomas JR. Johnson, Richmond, Virginia,
grand worthy chief; William H. Wise, Richmond, Virginia,
deputy grand worthy chief; Thomas Davis, Portsmouth,
Virginia, grand senior chief; E. W. Williams, Norfolk, Vir-
ginia, grand junior chief; William L. Johnson, Richmond,
Virginia, grand treasurer; Paul Carr, Richmond, Virginia,
grand recording secretary.

3. The objects of said corporation are to promote tempe-
rance and virtue, to aid the sick and bury the dead among
its membership, and to care for the widows and orphans of
deceased members. ~

4. The said corporation is hereby empowered, in such
manner and under such restrictions as its constitution and
by-laws may prescribe, to have branches or subordinate
lodges in any county or city of the.state, with such officers
as said grand division may see fit to designate to carry out
the designs and purposes of said charter as agents of said
corporation. But said subordinate lodges shall be accounta-
ble to said society as its agents, and may be created or
abolished under rules and regulatians prescribed by the con-
stitution and by-laws of said society.

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