The Clergyman's Hand-book of Law: The Law of Church and GraveScanlan, Charles Martin
Religion
The Clergyman's Hand-book of Law: The Law of Church and Grave
Scanlan, Charles Martin
Burial laws -- United States; Ecclesiastical law -- United States
*426.* _Maryland, Two Acres._—Although the declaration of rights of the
State of Maryland restricted the sale of lands for a cemetery for a church
to two acres, the Legislature has power to grant leave to a cemetery
association to take title to more land. And where the trustees bought
twelve acres of land for a burial ground and a subsequent act of the
Legislature authorized the enlargement of the cemetery not to exceed
twenty-five acres, the title to the excess of the valid purchase was
ratified and the title vested in the trustees.(759)
*427.* _Consent, Application._—Where a statute provides that no cemetery
shall be laid out without first obtaining the consent of the municipal
authorities thereto, a written communication signed by the officers of an
incorporated society is sufficient application; and a motion granting
consent adopted by the city council is sufficient action on its part to
comply with the statute.(760)
*428.* _Charter, Ground, Members._—An application for a charter to
incorporate a cemetery need not specifically locate the ground.(761) The
charter or the articles of incorporation, or by-laws made under them,
generally determines who shall be members of the corporation. And where
every owner of a lot signing the constitution and by-laws becomes a
member, the trustees can not vote on the unsold lots.(762)
*429.* _Police Power, Trespass, Burial._—Under our laws the State, by
reason of its police power, has control over the cemeteries within it.
However, that power has generally been very favorably exercised. Laws both
civil and criminal have been enacted to protect cemeteries from invasion
and trespass and to protect tombstones from injury.(763) When authorized
by the Legislature a city may make a by-law prohibiting burial within its
limits, notwithstanding that the cemetery has been constantly used for
over one hundred years.(764) Also, the city has authority to protect and
regulate the use of a cemetery.(765)
*430.* _Dwelling, Limits._—Most of the States provide that no cemetery
shall be laid out within a certain limit of a dwelling. But after the
cemetery is established a man can not have it moved when he puts up a
dwelling within the limits or where he consented to the cemetery at the
time it was established.(766)
*431.* _Well, Pollution._—And where a man had built a dwelling near a
cemetery, it was not good ground for him to prevent the enlargement of the
cemetery by showing that it might destroy his well. The court questions
whether there is any legal ground for complaint for the pollution of
subterranean waters when caused by the proper use without negligence of
the adjacent premises.(767) Additional lands may be obtained under the law
of eminent domain by condemnation.(768)
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