Chap. 533.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 300 of the Code of Virginia,
as amended and re-enacted by an act approved March 7, 1900, in relation to the
active or volunteer militia.

Approved December 31, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
three hundred of the Code of Virginia, as amended and re-enacted by an
act approved March seventh, nineteen hundred, in relation to the activ2
or volunteer militia, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 300. Militia and reserve; active composed of volunteers.—First, the
militia of this State shall consist of all able-bodied male persons between
the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such persons as may be
exempted by the laws of the United States or of this State; but those
who belong to religious societies whose tenets forbid the carrying of arms
shall not be compelled to do so: provided, they pay am equivalent for
personal service. -

Second, the militia shall be classified as active militia and reserve
militia. The active militia shall be composed of those militiamen who
volunteer to be enrolled on the active list and are accepted and enrolled
accordingly by the governor and commander-in-chief. They shall be
styled Virginia volunteers, and shall be enlisted under oath in addition
to the oath prescribed by section three hundred and ten of the Code of
Virginia, faithfully to serve the State in case of war, invasion, the pre-
vention or suppression of invasion, the prevention or suppression of riots,
and in aid of the civil officers in the maintenance and’ execution of the
laws of the Commonwealth; in all of which cases they shall first be or-
dered into the service of the State. All other militia shall be classified
as reserve militia, and shall not be required to muster in time of peace.

2. This act shall take effect ninety days after the adjournment of the

general assembly.