CHARTER.

AN ACT FOR THE INCORPORATION OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF PHILADELPHIA,

1. Whereas, the Physicians of Philadelphia, influenced by a conviction of the many advantages which have arisen from literary institutions, have associated themselves under the name and title of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia:

2. And whereas, the objects of this College are to advance the science of medicine, and thereby to lessen human misery, by investigating the diseases and remedies which are peculiar to this country; by observing the effect of different seasons, climates, and situations upon the human body; by recording the changes which are produced in disease by the progress of agriculture, arts, population, and manners; by searching for medicines in the American woods, waters, and in the bowels of the earth; by enlarging the avenues to knowledge from the discoveries and publications of foreign countries; and by cultivating order and uniformity in the practice of physic:

3. And whereas, the said College of Physicians have prayed us, the Representatives of the Freemen

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, that they may be created a body politic and corporate, forever, with such powers, privileges, and immunities as may best answer the laudable purposes which the members thereof have in view; wherefore to assist and encourage the said College of Physicians, in the prosecution and advancement of useful knowledge for the benefit of their country, and of mankind,

4. Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That the members of the said College of Physicians, that is to say, John Redman, John Jones, William Shippen, Jun., Adam Kuhn, John Morgan, Benjamin Rush, Samuel Duffield, Gerardus Clarkson, George Glentworth, Thomas Parke, James Hutchinson, Robert Harris, John Carson, Benjamin Duffield, William W. Smith, John Foulke, Samuel Powell Griffitts, William Clarkson, William Currie, Benjamin Say, Andrew Ross, John Morris, Nathan Dorsey, James Cunningham, Caspar Wistar, Jun., Michael Leib, and John H. Gibbons, be, and the same persons are, and shall be, a body corporate and politic in deed and in name, by the name and style of "THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF PHILADELPHIA," and, by the same name, they and their successors are hereby constituted and confirmed one body corporate and politic in law, to have perpetual succession, and to be able and capable to have, hold and enjoy any goods and chattels, lands, tenements, rents, hereditaments, gifts, and bequests,

of what nature soever, in fee simple, or for term of years, life or lives, or otherwise; and also to grant, sell, alien, assign, or let the same lands, tenements, and premises, according to the nature of the respective grants and bequests made to the said corporation, and of the estate of the said corporation therein; provided, that the amount of the clear yearly value of such real estate exceed not the sum of five hundred pounds, lawful money of this commonwealth.

5. The said corporation be, and shall be forever hereafter, able and capable in law, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all or any courts of justice and other places, in all manner of suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes, and matters of what nature or kind soever; and that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said corporation, forever hereafter, to have and use a common seal, and the same seal, at the will and pleasure of the said corporation, to break, change, alter, and renew.

6. For the well ordering of the said corporation and its affairs, there shall be, at all times hereafter, the following officers of the same; that is to say, one President, one Vice-President, four Censors, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen, annually, from amongst the Fellows of the said College of Physicians, on the first Tuesday in the month of July, forever hereafter,* or within one calendar month after

* By a decree of the Court of Common Pleas, Dec. 3d, 1855, the clause in Italics was altered to read as follows: Wednesday in the month of January next, and annually thereafter.

the same day, in any year; and that John Redman be the present President of the said College; John Jones, the present Vice-President; William Shippen, Jun., Adam Kuhn, Benjamin Rush, and Samuel Duffield, the present Censors; Samuel Powell Griffitts, the present Secretary; and Gerardus Clarkson, the present Treasurer of the said College; and shall be and remain the President, Vice-President, Censors, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively of the said College, until they be superseded by a new election to be made by the Fellows of the said College as aforesaid; and all vacancies by death, resignation, or otherwise, which shall at any time hereafter happen in any of the said offices, may be filled by a special election, to be holden so often as occasion shall require.

7. The authorities and duties of the officers of the said corporation who are herein before mentioned, and of any others which the said corporation shall see fit to appoint, the times of meeting of the said corporation, the admission of members, and the other concerns of the said corporation, shall be regulated by the by-laws and ordinances of the said corporation, heretofore made or to be made, touching the premises.

8. Provided always, That no by-laws nor ordinances of the said corporation, hereafter made, shall be binding upon the officers or members thereof, unless the same shall be proposed at one regular meeting of the said corporation, and enacted and received at another, after the intervention of at least