The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 18 (3rd Rochelle) · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Orders about Teſtamentary Legacies.
1. ALthough we would not preſcribe them any Laws who deſire to relieve the Church of God in its neceſſities, and that they be at their own liberty to diſpoſe of their Charities, whether by Stock, Rent or Moneys, and to aſſign it to any certain Church, Colledge or Hoſpital, under ſuch Aſſurances and Conditions as in their wiſdoms they ſhall judge beſt conſiſting with their Affairs: Yet this Synod doth judge it needful to adviſe the Saints to exerciſe their pious Liberalities according to the Word of God, and the example of the Primitive Church. And that ſuch Charities of theirs may be well ſecured, and faithfully diſpenſed according to the Intention of the Donors.
2, Therefore the ſaid Donors ſhall be adviſed to ſettle their Legacys or Gifts upon ſome certain Churches, for the maintainance of their poor, or of the Sacred Miniſtry therein, with this clauſe, that in caſe of Interruption by war, or any other publick calamity, that ſuch rent ſhall be imployed by the next adjoyning Church, or otherwiſe to be diſpoſed of as ſhall be judged moſt fitting by the Conſiſtory, Colloquy, Provincial or National Synods.
3. Such as dwell in places of greateſt ſecurity ſhall beſtow their Gifts in ready moneys, if poſſibly they can, rather than in ſtock, That ſo the ſaid Moneys may be laid out in purchaſe of ſome yearly rent, ariſing from the Chambers or the neareſt Guilds to the Chambers oft the City of Rochell, Montauban, Montpellier, Niſmes, or other houſes, whoſe principal Inhabitants, or thoſe who manage the affairs of the ſaid Cities, do Profeſs the Reformed Religion, who ſhall be intreated by the Provincial Synods to do the Church this right as to aſſign the Rents out of the cleareſt Common Income, and this by good Contracts paſſed between them and the Deputy of that Church (to which the ſaid Legacies had been bequeathed,) and the Mayors, Sheriffs, Conſuls, and principal Burgeſſes of the ſaid Cities, and other perſons of note reſiding in them: And the Conſiſtories of thoſe places ſhall be preſent at thoſe Contracts, to ſee that no Article or condition which may contribute to the Ratification and ſecurity of the premiſſes be omitted, and the Conſiſtory of that Church to whom the Legacy is bequeathed, or its Deputies ſhall be vigilant and carefull that the payment of thoſe Rents be well made, and conſtant and that it be given in either by Bills of Exchange, or any other ways, with the leaſt charges that may be in the Provinces, and that the dividend be made in ſuch a proportion unto every Church, as of right belongeth to them. And Provincial Synods are injoyned to look to it, that the Intentions of the Donors be not diverted, but punctually and moſt exactly obſerved and followed. To this purpoſe there ſhall be annually tendred by every Church unto their Colloquy, and by the Colloquies, unto their Provincial Synod a juſt and true Account of what has been given, by whom, and to what uſes, with an Exhibition of the Contracts, that they may be regiſtred. And in caſe there be any conſiderable ſum of Moneys in Stock, they ſhall be carried unto ſome one of the aforeſaid Cities, as ſhall be thought moſt adviſable, there to be laid up in Bank for the benefit of the Churches, to which the ſaid Moneys were bequeathed.
4. And foraſmuch as we who live in France are under divers Laws and Cuſtoms, and that the ſtyle and form of contract is very different in ſeveral Provinces: It's therefore decreed that in every Province there ſhall be one and the ſame form uſed for Legacies and Gifts, which ſhall be tranſmitted unto all the Conſiſtories, and by them communicated unto the Notaries profeſſing Reformed Religion, and unto ſuch others as may be thought expedient.
The form ſhall be conceived in theſe inſuing words excepting always a power of changing it in caſe of neceſſity.
I give and bequeath to the maintenance of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel in the Church of N. … the ſum of N. … which my will is that it be laid out in purchaſing of a ſettled Rent, or Eſtate in Land in the Cities of Rochel, Montauban, or Monpelier, &c. and this by the advice of the Conſiſtory of the ſaid Cities, which Rent or Revenue ſhall be annually paid in and delivered unto the Conſiſtory of the ſaid place for the better maintenance of the ſacred Miniſtry without ever being diverted to any other uſe, And in caſe it ſhould ſo fall out, which God of his great mercy prevent, that the Miniſtry of the word there in that Church ſhould be ſuppreſſed, either by war, or any other publicly calamity, it is my will, that during the ſaid Intermiſſion, and until the re-eſtabliſhing of the ſaid exerciſe of the Miniſtry, that the ſaid Rent be imployed towards the maintenance of the neareſt Church unto that ſaid place, or otherwiſe, as ſhall be judged moſt fitting by the Conſiſtory, Colloquy, Provincial or National Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom. And I humbly and earneſtly intreat the ſaid Synods to have a ſtrict and watchful eye, that this Moneys be not diverted unto any other uſage, than what is now deſigned and intended by me.