Chap. 97.—An ACT to authorize the Trustees of the Property in the
City of Petersburg, known as Masonic Hall, to Borrow Money on
the same for the purpose of its Improvement.

Approved February 26, 1876.

Whereas, it appears by a decree of the circuit court of the
city of Petersburg, rendered at its November term, eighteen
hundred and fifty-three, in the chancery cause then pending
therein, styled Turnbull and others against May, that a cer-
tain lot of land on Tabb street, in said city, with the build-
ing thereon, used and occupied and designated as Masonic
Hall, was vested in William Turnbull, master; James A.
Dunn, senior warden; J.C. Branch, junior warden; R. T.
Stone, senior deacon; Benjamin Harrison, junior deacon;
James Davidson, secretary; William B. Davidson, tiler;
John D. Townes, treasurer; and Minton Shrift, chaplain of
Blanford lodge, number three, of free masons, and their suc-
cessors in office, as trustees, to hold the legal title to said
property forever, for the benefit of said lodge; and whereas,
it appears that said Blanford lodge, number three, ut a stated
communication, held on the eleventh day of February, eigh-
teen hundred and seventy-three, entered of-record, that said
lodge was entitled to only ten undivided sixteenths of said
property, and that of the remaining six undivided sixteenths,

nion Royal Arch Chapter, number seven of Virginia, was
entitled to five-sixteenths, and Appomattox Commandery,
number six, Knights Templar, was entitled to one-sixteenth ;
and whereas, it is the desire of the institutions in interest in
said property, to enlarge or otherwise improve the building
thereon, and for-that purpose to borrow money, and have
executed a good and sufficient deed of trust to secure the
same; therefore,

1. Be it enggted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
for the purpose of enlarging or otherwise improving the said
building, the trustees of said property may borrow thereon
a sum of money not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, at a
rate of interest not exceeding eight per centum per annum,
the principal and interest to be payable at such periods as
said trustees may prescribe.

2. That said trustees shall have the pewer to execute in
their character as trustees, any necessary bond or bonds for
the money borrowed by them in pursuance of this act, and
to execute the necessary deed of trust to secure the same;
said deed to contain such conditions and stipulations as may
be adjudged requisite, but said trustees shall not be personal-
ly liable for the payment of any such bond or bonds.

3. That before said trustees shall borrow any money under
this act, or in any manner proceed to enlarge or otherwise
improve the building aforesaid, they shall be so directed by
resolution properly adopted by each of said institutions—ruch
direction to be evidenced by the signing of the deed of trust
herein authorized, by the secretary of each institution, under
the seal. thereof.

4, This act shall be in force from its passage.