*52.* _Riot, Damages._—Under a statute providing that a person whose property is destroyed by riot may bring suit against the county for damages, a corporation for religious purposes, as well as an individual, has a right of action.(89)
*53.* _Use, Change, Parsonage, Discipline, Doctrine, Curate._—When a fee simple is acquired by a religious corporation, without restriction as to quantity, but limiting the purpose of its use, a subsequent Legislature, with the consent of the corporation, has power to change or abrogate altogether the restrictions as to the use of the land.(90) And the Legislature may empower the church corporation to convey a house devised to it for a parsonage with a condition that it be kept in repair, and invest the proceeds in other property to be held for the same purpose.(91) A State legislature can not interfere in church discipline and doctrine, as by legislating what shall constitute a curate in the Catholic Church.(92)
CHAPTER V. UNINCORPORATED CHURCH SOCIETIES
*54.* _Partners, Debt, Liability._—Where several go into an undertaking without first being incorporated they are usually liable as partners, each one being responsible for the whole debt. In some States the same liability exists where an attempt has been made to incorporate, but there was a failure to comply fully with the law.(93) There is some authority freeing the individual members of a religious society from liability for the debts of such society,(94) and holding that an agent of such society could not bind the society in their associated capacity by a promissory note,(95) but the rule is that the members of an unincorporated society who actively incur lawful debts or ratify them after their creation are personally liable. There are exceptions to this rule by statute or decisions in a few States.(96) Also, the law of personal liability is settled in England.(97)
*55.* _Pastor, Salary._—In a late case in Wisconsin where a pastor had a contract with his congregation as to his salary, after the clergyman’s death his heirs recovered the unpaid part of his salary in an action against a few of the individual members of the congregation.(98)
*56.* _Building, Materials._—The members of the building committee of an unincorporated church are liable for materials purchased by them for the church, notwithstanding that the seller charged the materials in the name of the church, and that at the time that the purchase was made, he was told that the money for payment was to be raised by subscription among the congregation.(99)