And be it further enacted that the . . . register books . . . shall be
kept by and remain in the power and custody of the Rector, Curate, or
other officiating Minister of each respective parish or chapelry as
aforesaid, and shall be by him safely and securely kept in a dry, well
painted iron chest, to be provided and repaired, as occasion may require,
at the expense of the parish or chapelry, and which said chest,
containing the said books, shall be constantly kept locked in some dry,
safe, and secure place within the usual place of residence of such
Rector, Vicar, Curate, or other officiating minister, if resident within
the parish or chapelry, or in the parish church or chapel; and the said
books shall not, nor shall any of them, be taken or removed from or out
of the said chest, at any time or for any cause whatever, except for the
purpose of making such entries therein as aforesaid, or for the
inspection of persons desirous to make search therein, or to obtain
copies from or out of the same, or to be produced as evidence in some
court of law or equity, or to be inspected as to the state and condition
thereof, or for some other purposes of this Act; and that immediately
after making such inspection, entries, or producing the said books
respectively for the purposes aforesaid, the said books shall forthwith
again be safely and securely deposited in the said chest.