Sec[Section] 1. be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois Represented in the General Assembly that A. W. Newcomb[,] S. S. Brooks[,] B. R. Houghton[,] R. T McNeely[,] A. W. Norris[,] William Davis[,] John Henry[,] James G. Edwards[,] C. Leedlum and James Johnson and their associates and Successors be, and they are hereby constituted a body politic and incorporate, under the name of the Jacksonville Mechanicks Union for the purpose of affording relief to the sick, and disabled, members thereof, and to the widows and Orphans of deceased Members, and for the promotion of literature, Science, and the Mechanick Arts, and for no other purpose whatever.

Sec 2. The said Corporation, by the name of the Jacksonville Mechanicks Union, is declared & hereby made capable in law to sue, and be sued; plead and be impleaded; to have a common seal and the same to alter or renew at pleasure, to make and adopt a Constitution and bye laws, for the Government of the Corporation not inconsistent with the laws of this State or the Constitution of the United States, and the same to alter or amend whenever it may be deemed necessary Provided that the said Corporation shall not hold more than five acres of land with the improvements thereon for a longer term than one year, except such as may be donated to, and for the sole use and behoof of the Corporation

Sec. 3^rd, The officers of this Corporation shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Board of seven Directors, who shall continue in Office for the term of one year and untill their Successors are Elected, together with such other Officers as may be provided for by the Constitution, and bye-Laws of the Corporation; the duties, rights, privileges, and liabilities, of the aforesaid Officers to be defined by the Constitution and bye-Laws of said Corporation

Sec. 4. For the purpose of increasing its usefulness, this corporation may loan its funds or so much thereof as may not be required for its immediate use at an rate of interest allowed by the laws of this State Provided the Members shall have a preference whenever they may require it. Provided also that not more than three hundred Dollars shall be loaned to any one individual at the same time.

Sec 5. All fines and forfeitures of for non-attendance or delinquency imposed by the Constitution and bye Laws provided for in the second section of this act not exceeding twenty five dollars shall be recoverable by action of Debt, before any Justice of the peace of the proper County by the said Company in their corporate capacity which shall be for

---

the use of the Corporation

Sec. 6. This Corporation shall not be dissolved nor a dividend made of its funds, while there are Seven resident Members in favor of its continuance

Sec. 7. The Legislature hereby Reserve the right to Amend or Repeal this act whenever in their Opinion the publick good may require it.

Sec. 8. This act to be in force from and after its passage