paper having been filled in about one week to the required amount, a certificate was given to each subscriber, entitling, according to the sum advanced," to receive a dividend "as often as rents of the building shall be received by the Company's treasurer."

The fee of admission was raised in 1769 to four pounds. This caused the formation of "The Friendship Carpenters' Company," whose admission fee was "five shillings." It was not long before overtures were made to "their elder brethren" on the "different methods used in measuring and valuing carpenter work." To this it was replied, that the mode of measuring and valuing carpenter work pursued by their elder brethren was "more equitable, expressive, and satisfactory than any method practiced in the city before, and was not inferior to the best method practiced in any city in the King's dominions."

The plan of building being adopted, it was commenced on the "5th day of the second month, 1770." The duties assigned the building committee were "discharged with fidelity," and the building "so far completed that the annual meeting in 1771" was held therein, and during that year the Library Company of Philadelphia rented and removed "their library to the second story of the new building," where it continued until 1782. Though the amount subscribed was more than that proposed, yet it fell short of finishing the Hall; hence the "outside finish of the doors and windows was deferred until the sums advanced by the several members were fully paid."

In 1775 the efforts of the Friendship Carpenters' Company to effect a union were renewed, and a committee of conference appointed; but it was not accomplished until 1785, when the members thereof, on "the payment of four pounds each to the treasurer, and signing the articles of association," were admitted into membership.

The Hall was freely used at the beginning of the Revolution. The committee appointed "at a general meeting of the inhabitants of the city and county" met therein on the second day of the sixth month, 1774, and “as Governor Penn had declined to convene the Assembly," they ap

pointed three of their number to wait upon the speaker, and request "a positive answer whether he would call the Assembly together or not." They had the use of the Hall during their appointment.

On the 15th following, the "different county committees" met therein to consult the Philadelphia committee on "what was best to propose" to the General Assembly, which was to meet on the 18th inst. Their resolves "declatory of the sense of the province," and the necessity for a general congress of delegates from all the colonies," are matters of historical record. The regular quarterly meeting of the Company was not held, in order that these deliberations might not be interfered with.

AN ACT

TO INCORPORATE THE

CARPENTERS' COMPANY

OF THE

CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA.

WHEREAS, it appears to this Assembly that, in the Preamble. year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-four, a number of the House Carpenters of the City and County of Philadelphia formed themselves into a Company, for the purpose of obtaining instruction in the science of architecture, and assisting such of their members as should by accident be in need of support, or the widows and minor children of members; and for the furtherance of the said charitable and useful designs, did for many years pay into the hands of the masters of the said Company considerable sums of money; a great part whereof was expended in the relief of their unfortunate members, and the remainder was appropriated, in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine, to the obtaining a large lot of ground, on which were several buildings and other improvements, and towards the erecting of the house known by the name of the CARPENTERS' HALL in the said city: And whereas, the members of the said Carpenters' Company have prayed that they may be incorporated in such manner as to secure the said estate to them and to their successors, in order to further the useful and charitable design of the institution; And whereas, this

ters' Com

pany.

Assembly is disposed to exercise the power vested in the legislature of the commonwealth for the encouragement of useful and charitable purposes: Be it therefore 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, for the purpose of promoting the useful and Members of charitable objects before mentioned, the present memthe Carpen-bers of the Carpenters' Company; that is to say, Isaac Zane, John Mifflin, Joseph Thornhill, Benjamin Loxley, James Worrell, Gunning Bedford, Thomas Nevell, James Armitage, Samuel Griscom, James Pearson,. William Roberts, Richard Armitt, James Potter, George Wood, Joseph Rakestraw, Silas Engles, William Lownes, Samuel Powell, William Robinson, James Bringhurst, James Graisbury, Thomas Shoemaker, David Evans, William Colliday, William Ashton, Samuel Jervis, Samuel Wallis, Matthew McGlathery, Thomas Proctor, Adam Zantzinger, John Keen, John Lort, Joseph Govett, Joseph Ogelby, William Williams, Robert Allison, George Forepaugh, John Smith, Mathias Sadler, James Gibson, George Ingles, Frazer Kinsley, James Corking, Joseph Rakestraw, Junr., Joseph Thornhill, Junr., John King, Andrew Boyd, Conrad Bartling, William Garrigues, John Rugan, Mark Rhodes, Robert Evans, Joseph Wetherel, Hugh Roberts, Isaac Jones, Samuel Pancoast, Mathias Val Keen, Wm. Stevenson, Robert Morrel, Richard Mosley, John Reinhard, Samuel Pastorius, Josiah Matlack, John Piles, Joseph Clark, William Zane, Benjamin Mitchell, Thomas Savery, Nathan Allen Smith, Samuel Jones, John Hall, Joseph Howell, Junr., Israel Hallowell, John Harrison, Ebenezer Ferguson, John Cooper, William Linnard, Jonathan Evans, Joseph Worrell, James Boyer, be, and the same persons are hereby created a body corporate and politic in deed and in name, by the name and style of "The Carpenters' porate and Company of the City and County 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 receive any sum or sums of money,

Created a

body cor

poiitic.

or to receive, purchase, have, hold and enjoy any goods, chattels, lands, tenements, rents, hereditaments, gifts, devices and bequests, of what nature soever; either in fee simple, or any less estate or estates, or otherwise; and also to grant, alien, assign or let the same lands, tenements, rents, hereditaments, and premises, according to the tenures of the respective grants and bequests made to the said corporation, and of the estate of the corporation therein: Provided, That the clear yearly value of such real estate exceed not the value of one thousand pounds lawful money of this commonwealth.

SECT. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority Their pow aforesaid, That the said corporation, by the name, style ers, &c. and title aforesaid, be and shall be for ever 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 any court or courts, or other places, and before any judge or judges, justice or justices, or other persons whatsoever, within this commonwealth or elsewhere, in all and all manner of suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands of whatsoever kind or nature they may be, in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic and corporate, may or can do.

seal.

SECT. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority Empowered aforesaid, That the said corporation shall have full to make a power and authority to make, have and use one common seal, with such device and inscription as they shall judge proper, and the same to break, renew at their pleasure.

alter or

when to be

SECT. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority General aforesaid, That, for the well ordering of the affairs of meetings, the said corporation, there shall be a general meeting held. held of the members, on the third Monday or second day of the week in January, in every year hereafter, at the CARPENTERS' HALL, or such other place as they may direct, when a majority of those convened shall choose by ballot a president, a treasurer, and such and so many assistants, and such other officers or committees as they may judge necessary or useful; and shall have full power and authority to order quarterly