Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That John L. Slaymaker, S. W. Schwatka, Matthew Fawcett, James Sparr, J. P. Stevins, James Connally, M. Gorman, G. H. Mars, H. H. Houghton, P. H. Schermer, G. Sparr, J. W. Moss, Thomas Spriggins, Henry Yeates, S. B. Sparr, Robert Kirkpatrick, Timothy Falvey, A. Blaylor, John Jones, James Willson, S. E. Smith, S. B. Heron, Matthias Shears, D. K. Hinkle, J. P. Dezega, P. S. Dunbar, John Dowling, S. H. Haynes, S. P. Blood, David Smith, John Strong, Ephraim Getty, Richard Gear, Zephaniah Bell, James Johnson, and G. W. Brownwell, and their associates and successors, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body politic and corporate, under the name and style of “The Mechanic Association and Galena Beneficial Society,” for the purpose of producing harmony and good fellowship, promoting their common interest, disseminating useful knowledge, and to relieve and give succor to the afflicted and distressed of their own members, and for no other purpose whatever.

Sec. 2. The said corporation, by the name of “The Mechanic Association and Galena Beneficial Society,” is declared and hereby made capable, in law, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, to have a common seal, the same to alter or renew at pleasure; to make and adopt a constitution and by-laws for the government of said corporation, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of this State, or of the laws or constitution of the United States, and the same to alter and amend whenever it may be deemed necessary: Provided, That the said corporation shall not hold more than one acre of ground, with the improvements thereon, except such as shall be donated to, and for the sole use and behoof of, said corporation.

Sec. 3. The officers of this corporation shall consist of a president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, an executive committee of five members, librarian, and messenger, who shall continue in office for the term of one year, and until their successors are elected, together with such other officers as may be provided for by the constitution and by-laws of the corporation; the duties, rights, privileges, and liabilities of the said officers to be defined by the constitution and by-laws of said corporation.

Sec. 4. All fines and forfeitures imposed by the by-laws and constitution of said corporation, not exceeding twenty dollars, shall be recovered by action of debt, before any magistrate of the proper county, by the said company in their corporate capacity, which shall be for the use of said company.

Sec. 5. This corporation shall not be dissolved nor a dividend made of its funds or effects while there are seven resident members in favor of its continuance.

Sec. 6. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, January 12, 1839.