*257.* _Adverse Possession, Color of Title._—A religious corporation may obtain title to land by adverse possession. The length of such possession is determined by the laws of the State, the usual period being twenty years.(465) Unless the laws of the State require it, color of title at the time of asserting adverse possession need not be shown.(466) *258.* _Sale, Restrictions._—In some States when not restricted by the laws of the organization the parish corporation may sell the premises in order to pay the church debts. However, it is not a common law right.(467) *259.* _Deed._—A deed to “The Evangelical Order of Christians” was sufficiently definite for a valid conveyance.(468) *260.* _Error._—A clerical error in the name of the grantee will not make a deed void. However, when such error has been discovered, it should be corrected.(469) *261.* _Mortgage, Bishop, Debts._—The archbishop of a church to which property is bequeathed, can not mortgage it without authority from the church or under the law.(470) Also, the bishop of a diocese to whom land had been conveyed in trust for a particular congregation, could not execute a valid mortgage thereon to secure his own indebtedness.(471) But a religious society in the absence of prohibitionary legislation, has power to mortgage its property to secure its debts.(472) *262.* _Deed, Trust, Fee._—A deed of land to a Catholic bishop and his heirs and assigns forever in trust for a Catholic parish for the purpose of a free burial ground, gave the bishop an estate in fee.(473) *263.* _Debts, Creditors._—A committee of a religious society authorized to sell lands to raise money to pay its general debts, is not authorized to execute a mortgage for the purpose of securing various creditors holding claims; and the defect in such mortgage is not cured by a vote at a subsequent meeting to which the committee made a report of its action.(474) *264.* _Mortgage or Sale, Notice, Consent._—Whenever there is to be a mortgage or sale of the church property, if it is to be done by the corporation, it must be done strictly in accordance with the charter and laws of the corporation, and if those do not provide therefor, every member should receive a reasonable notice to attend a meeting of the congregation and the question should be submitted to such meeting and a vote taken thereon. If all the proceedings are regular and the proper officers (president and secretary) of the corporation be authorized to make a conveyance, it is good in law.(475) However, if the irregular acts of officers or members of a congregation are subsequently ratified in a lawful manner, they become binding.(476) When consent of the court is required, it must be obtained.(477)