requested to measure, and also suitable seals, and shall impress thereon his name, and the name of the place for which he is a measurer, at full length, and also the measure thereof in square feet, as low as a quarter. Ib. § 3.

4. If any person shall counterfeit, wilfully alter or deface such marks, on any side of upper leather so measured, he shall, for each offence, forfeit the sum of twenty-five dollars, one half to the use of complainant, and one half to the use of the town where such offence shall have been committed. Ib. $ 4.

5. Every measurer shall be paid for measuring and sealing each side of upper leather, the sum of one cent, which shall be paid by the person who shall have requested him to measure and seal the same. Ib. § 5.

1. The selectmen of every town, where beef cattle are sold for the purpose of market, or barrelling, shall appoint one or more persons, who shall be conveniently situated in such town, and not dealers in cattle, to be weighers of beef; who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of their office, and shall receive such fees as are hereinafter prescribed. R. S. ch. 28, § 36.

2. All beef, sold as aforesaid, shall be weighed by the said sworn weighers; and certificates of the weight of all the beef, hide and tallow of each of the cattle, in the form following, shall be signed by the said weighers and be delivered to the sellers thereof, to wit:

by

FORM OF CERTIFICATE.

This certifies that I have duly weighed the cattle, bought

of this

from

day of

18

of

Tallow,

Total,

Ib. § 37.

Sworn Weigher.

3. The fees for weighing shall be as follows; for weighing any number of cattle, not exceeding five, twenty cents each; for all above five and not exceeding ten, fifteen cents each; for all above ten, and not exceeding twenty, ten cents each; for all above twenty, five cents each, after the first twenty; and twelve and a half cents for each certificate, which shall contain the several weights of all the cattle offered for weight by any one person, unless otherwise regulated by the seller thereof; and said fees shall be paid by the seller. Ib. § 38.

4. Any butcher or purchaser of beef cattle, intended for market or barrelling, who shall purchase any such beef cattle, contrary to the several provisions of this chapter, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding thirty dollars for each offence. lb. 39.

PARISHES.

1. General powers of parishes. 2. Parishes &c, declared corporations by Revised Statutes.

3. Rights heretofore existing continued.

4. Any corporation established for religions purposes may assess the pews in their meeting-liouse.

5. Churches to have accustomed privileges.

6. Membership of religious socie ty voluntary.

7. What is necessary to constitute a person a member of a parish.

8. Parishes may regulate admission of members by by-laws.

9. Members alone may vote. 10. Objection to an election where illegal votes are received not valid if such votes do not change the majority.

11. Annual meetings for the choice of officers.

12. Meetings, how warned.

29. Parishes may abate taxes for prompt payment.

30. Parish taxes must be assessessed according to the valuation of parish assessors.

31. Unincorporated societies may hold and manage donations.

32. Unincorporated societies may

13. Meetings at which money is organize themselves, &c. raised, how warned.

33. First meeting to be called by

14. Officers of parish, how cho-justice's warrant.

sen.

34. Contents of warrant and pro

15. Clerk to preside at choice of ceedings thereon. moderator.

16. Officers, how sworn. 17. Moderator's powers and duties.

18. No lists of voters required. 19. Meetings to be called on application of five or more voters :contents of warrant.

20. Justices of the peace may call meetings, if assessors refuse, &c.

21. Persons chosen collectors, shall, if present, forthwith accept or refuse. Vacancies in offices how filled.

22. What to be deemed a refusal.

23. Prudential affairs of parishes, how managed.

24. Objects for which a parish may raise money.

25. Provisions not to affect existing rights.

26. Taxes how assessed. 27. Members not taxable for property held by them as guardians or trustees.

28. Parishes may appoint the

treasurer or collector.

35. Application of the three preceding sections.

36. Powers of societies so organized.

37. Proprietors of churches, &c., may raise money for alterations, repairs, &c,

38. Assessment and collection of such money.

39. Notice of sale of pews by the treasurer

40. Affidavits of notice of sale made evidence.

41. How proprietor's meetings may be called.

42. The last five sections not obligatory on parishes, except &c.

43. Proprietors may take down pews to alter churches.

44. Parishes and societies to have the like power in such cases. 45. No compensation to pew owners, when church is unfit for use.

46. When a pew is removed, proprietors of the meeting-house may tender the owner of the pew

its value.

1. The several religious societies of this Commonwealth, whether corporate or unincorporate, at any meeting legally warned and holden for that purpose, shall ever have the right to elect their pastors or religious teachers, to contract with them for their support, to raise money for erecting and repairing houses for public worship, for the maintenance of religious instruction, and for the payment of necessary expenses. Amendments of Constitution,

Art. 11.

2. By the revised statutes, all parishes or religious soci

eties then established, were declared corporations with the powers given to corporations by the forty-fourth chapter of said statutes. R. S. ch. 20, $ 1.

3. All parishes or religious societies, whether corporate or unincorporate, shall continue to have and enjoy their existing rights, privileges and immunities, except so far as the same may be limited or modified by the elev enth article of the amendments of the constitution, and the provisions hereinafter expressed. Ib. § 2.

4. Any corporation for religious purposes may assess, tipon the pews in any meeting-house which they may hereafter erect, or procure for public worship, according to a valuation of said pews, which shall be first agreed upon and recorded by the clerk, any sum or sums of money, for the support of public worship, and other parochial charges, and for the repairs of their meeting-house; and all such assessments may be collected in the manner provided in the thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth sections of this title. Stat. 1845, c. 213. Rev. Stat. c. 20, § 32. 33, 34.

5. The respective churches, connected and associated in public worship, with such parishes and religious societies, shall continue to have, exercise and enjoy all their accustomed privileges and liberties respecting divine worship, church order and discipline, and shall be encouraged in the peaceable and regular enjoyment and practice thereof. Ib. § 3.

6. All persons belonging to any religious society, shall be taken and held to be members, until they shall file, with the clerk of such society, a written notice, declaring the dissolution of their membership, and thenceforth shall not be liable for any grant or contract, which may be thereafter made or entered into by such society; and no person shall hereafter be made a member of any parish, or religious society, without his consent in writing. Ib. § 4.

7. No person can become a member of a parish without its consent. 21 Pick. 148.

The parish by a direct vote or by the act of an authorized agent, must accede to the application, in order to constitute a person applying, a member. Ib.

8. Every parish and religious society may make bylaws, prescribing the manner in which persons may be come members thereof; provided such by-laws be not repugnant to the laws of the Commonwealth. Ib. § 5.

9. No person shall have a right to vote in the affairs of any parish or religious society, unless he is a member thereof. Ib. § 6.

10. It is not a valid objection to an election, that illegal votes were received, if they did not change the majority. 21 Pick. 148.

Several illegal voters having been permitted to vote at a parish meeting, in the election of officers, many of the legal voters protested against the proceeding and withdrew without voting; but the persons declared to be elected having received the votes of a majority of the legal voters who remained and voted, it was held that they were duly elected. Ib.

11. The qualified voters of every parish and incorporated religious society, and of every religious society organ ized according to the provisions of this chapter, shall meet in the month of March or April annually, at such time and place as shall be appointed by their assessors or standing committee, and shall choose a clerk and two or more assessors, treasurer, collector, who shall be sworn, and such other officers as they shall think necessary; all of whom shall continue in office one year, and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead. Ib. § 7.

12. All meetings shall be warned in such manner as the parish or society shall, by any by-law or vote, provide; and when they shall make no such order, the meeting shall