Chap. 75.—An ACT to incorporate the Rappahannock Home Mutual
Fire Insurance Company.

Approved February 20, 1878.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Gideon H. Brown, William F. Anderson, Cornelius Smith,
John S. Browning, Lewis Botts, Robert KH. Miller, Middleton
Miller, and all those who may hereafter be associated with
them in the manner hereinafter provided, and their success-
ors; be and they are hereby declared to be a body politic and
corporate, by the name and style of Rappahannock Home
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and by that name may sue.
and be sued, plead and be impleaded, within all the courts of
law and equity in this commonwealth or elsewhere, and have
perpetual succession ; to have, make, and use a common seal,
and the same to break, alter, or renew at pleasure; to ordain
and publish such constitution, by-laws, ordinances, and regu-
lations as they think proper and wise; and generally to do
every act and thing neccessary to carry into effect this act,
or to promote the objects and designs of this corporation:
provided that such constitution, by-laws, ordinances, regula.
tions, or acts, be not inconsistent with the laws of this state
or of the United States. ,

2. To make insurance upon dwelling-houses, stores, and all
other buildings, in town or country, and upon household fur-
niture, merchandise, and other property, against loss or dam.
age by fire.

3. That Gideon H. Brown, William F. Anderson, Cornelius
Smith, John 8. Browning, Lewis Botts, Robert E. Miller, and
Middleton Miller shall be the directors of said company until
otherwise appointed by the stockholders, of whom G. H.
Brown shal! be president and William F. Anderson secretary
and treasurer; and the said president, secretary, and direc-
tors shall continue in office until their successors are elected.
In case of a vacancy in the office of president, secretary, or
director, from any cause, the remaining directors may elect
others to fill their places, and a meeting of the stockholders
shall be held; five of said directors shall constitute a quorum
for any, and all business purposes of said company.

4 There shall be an annual meeting of the company for
the election of officers and directors, at such time and place
as the stockholders, in general meeting, may appoint; the
president and secretary elected by the stockholders at their
annual meeting, shall be president and secretary of the board
of directors, and the said president, secretary, and directors
sball continue in office until their successors are similarly
elected. At any meeting of said company, twenty-five mem-
bers, represented in person or by proxy, sball constitute a
quorum for business: provided that at the annual meeting of
said company for the election of officers, a majority of the
members thereof, in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum for such mecting. In all meetings of
said company, each member shall be entitled to one vote for
the first one thousand dollars, or fractional part thereof, of
the amount in which the property of such member is insured,
and one vote for every additional one thousand dollars of
such amount: provided that no membcr shall be allowed a
vote for any fractional part above the first one thousand
dollars.

5. All persons subscribing to this charter of incorporation,
and pledging themselves to be governed by any constitution,
by-laws, regulations, or requirements adopted by said com-
pany in pursuance thereof, their executors, administrators,
and assigns and vendees, continuing to be insured therewith,
shall thereby become members of said company during the
time they shall remain insured thercin, or until they shall
withdraw trom the company in accordance with its pre-
scribed regulations: provided that the subscription of any
person subscribing to this charter shall act as a lien on his
realty, to secure the payment of any asscssment that may
be made upon him, whilst a member of the company, and in
case of a prior lien, the owner, trustee, and beneficiary sign-
ing the charter, and so forth, the company’s lien shall take
precedence.

6. The members of the company shall not be liable for any
loss, damage, or responsibility, other than that each member
shall be bound to contribute to the necessary expenses of the
company in proportion to the amount for which his property
is insured, and shall be bound to pay in the same proportion
to the proper officer of the company the losses sustained by
fire by any fellow-member of the company. |

7. Whenever a loss by fire is sustained by a member, the
president shall immediately convene the board of directors,
and upon proper and full proof of such loss, shall thereupon
assess such pro rata sums upon all the members of said com-
pany as are necessary to pay all such loss, and collect from
each member, at such time or times and in such proportions
as may be called for by said president and directors; and if
any member shall fail to pay the same so called for, it may
be recovered upon motion, after twenty days’ notice in writ-
ing, in any court of record.

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