Chap. 123.— An ACT to incorporate the Farmers Mutual Fire Protec-
tion Association.

Approved February 27, 1878.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
Stapleton Coates, Chastain White, II. W. Latane, W. S. Leake,
John O. Cosby, John W. Turner, William J. Wash, and those
who may hereafter be associated with them in the manner here-
inafter provided, and their successors, be and they are hereby
declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name and
style of The Farmers Mutual Fire Protection Association; and
by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded
with, in 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 regulations as they think proper and wise, and
genérally to do every act and thing necessary to carry into
effect this act, or to promote the object and design of this cor-
poration: provided, that such constitution, by-laws, ordinances,
regulations or acts be not inconsistent with the constitution or
Jaws 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 furni-
ture, merchandise, and other property, against loss or damage
by fire.

3. That Stapleton Coates, Chastain White, W. W. Latane,
W.S. Leake, John O. Cosby, John W. Turner, and William J.
Wash shali be directors of said company until others are
appointed by the stockholders. In case of a vacancy in any
office of the association, the directors may elect others to fill
sith vacancies until 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 annnal meeting of the association, for
the election of officers and directors, at such time and place as
the stockholders, in general meeting, may appoint. ‘The presi-
dent and secretary elected by the stockholders at their annual
meeting, shall be president and secretary of the board of direc-
tors; and the president, secretary, and directors shall continue
in office until their successors are elected. At any meeting of
the said association, twenty members, in person or represented
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for business: provided,
that at the annual meeting of said association, for the electicn
of officers, a majority of members thereof, in person or repre-
sented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for such meeting.
In all meetings of said association, each member shall be enti-
tled to one vote for the fraction of the first thousand dollars’
worth of property insured, and one for each additional 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 the said asso-
ciation in pursuance thereof, their executors, administrators,
assignees, and vendees, continuing to be insured therewith, shall
thereby become members of said association during the time
they shall remain insured therein, or until they shall withdraw
from the association in accordance with its prescribed regula-
tions.

6. The members of the association 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
association, in proportion to the amount for which his property
is insured, and shall be bound to pay, in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution hereafter to be adopted, to the
proper officer of the association, the losses ‘sustained by fire
by any fellow-member of the association.
7. Whenever a loss by fire is sustained by a member, the
president shall immediately convene the board of directors,
and, upon proper proof of such loss, shall thereupon assess,
according to the provisions of such constitution as may here-
after be adopted, such sums upon the members of said asso-
ciation.as are necessary to pay such loss, and collect from each
member at such time or times and in such proportion as it may
be called for by said president end directors; and if any mem-
ber shall fail to pay the same so called for, 1t may be recovered
upon motion, after twenty days’ notice in writing, in any court
of record.

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