When any 5 or a majority of the proprietors of lands or wharves held in common desire a meeting of the proprietors for the purpose of forming a corporation or for any other purpose, they may make written application signed by them or their agents to a justice of the peace residing in the county in which the lands or wharves are situated. The justice of the peace shall issue a warrant calling a meeting at the time and place and for the purposes distinctly stated in the application, directed to one of the proprietors, requiring the proprietor to give notice of the meeting.