Page:1862 Territory of Dakota Session Laws.pdf/431

414 matters and things which such trustees are authorized to do and perform.

. 12. The said trustees shall hold their offices for three years; and immediately after their first election, as hereinbefore provided, the said trustees shall be divided by lot into three classes, numbered one, two, and three; and the seats of the first class shall be vacated at the end of the first year, of the second class at the end of the second year, and of the third class at the end of the third year, to the end that, as near as may be, one third part of the whole number of trustees may be annually chosen.

. 13. It shall be the duty of the clerk of said trust at least one month before the expiration of the office of any of the said trustees, to notify the same in writing to the minister, or, in case of his death or absence, to the elders or church-wardens; and, if there be no elders or church-wardens, then to the deacons or vestrymen of any such church, congregation, or society, specifying in such notice the names of the trustees whose office will expire, and the minister or other officer receiving such notice shall, in the manner aforesaid, notify the members of such church, congregation, or society, of such vacancies, and appoint the time and place for the election to supply the same.

. 14. Such elections shall be held at least six days before vacancies shall happen as aforesaid, and all subsequent elections shall be held and conducted in the same manner as hereinbefore provided for the first election; and, in case a vacancy shall happen by the death of a trustee, his refusal to act or removal from the society, before his term of office expires, or otherwise, notice thereof shall be given as aforesaid; and an election shall be held and another trustee chosen in his stead for the remainder of such term.

. 15. No person belonging to any such church, congregation, or society, incorporated under the provisions of this act, shall be entitled to vote at any election after the first, until he shall have been an attendant on public worship in such church, congregation, or society, at least six months before such election, and shall have contributed to the support of such church, congregation, or society, according to the customs and usages thereof.

. 16. The clerk of the trustees shall keep a register of