INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS

Act 136 of 1891

AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of the high and subordinate courts of the Independent Order of Foresters for the state of Michigan; and to impose certain duties upon the department of commerce.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


457.531 Independent Order of Foresters; incorporation.

Sec. 1.

     That the high and subordinate courts of the Independent Order of Foresters of the state of Michigan may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8058 ;-- CL 1915, 10532 ;-- CL 1929, 10737 ;-- CL 1948, 457.531





457.532 High court; incorporators; articles of association, execution, contents.

Sec. 2.

     Any 10 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of the high and subordinate courts of the Independent Order of Foresters, of the state of Michigan, desirous to [be] become incorporated, may make and execute articles of incorporation under their hands and seal, which articles of association shall be acknowledged before some officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, and shall set forth,
     First, The names of the persons associating in the first instance, and their places of residence;
     Second, The corporate names by which such association shall be known in the law, and the place of its business office;
     Third, The object and purpose of such association, which shall be to promote the general welfare of the fraternity known as the high court of the Independent Order of Foresters and the period for which it is incorporated, not exceeding 30 years.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8059 ;-- CL 1915, 10533 ;-- CL 1929, 10738 ;-- CL 1948, 457.532





457.533 High court; filing copy of articles, charter, and constitution with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; powers.

Sec. 3.

     A copy of said articles of association, together with a copy of the charter and constitution of said high court, shall be filed with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon the persons who shall have signed such articles of association, their associates and successors, shall be a body politic and corporate by the name expressed in such articles of association, and by that name they and their successors, shall have succession, and shall be persons in the law capable to purchase, take, receive, hold, and enjoy to them and their successors, estates, real and personal, of suing and being sued, and to have a common seal, which may be altered or changed at their pleasure: Provided, That the value of such real and personal estate shall not exceed the sum of $10,000.00, and that they and their successors shall have power to give, grant, sell, lease, demise and dispose of said real and personal estate, or part thereof, at their will and pleasure, and the proceeds, rents, and incomes shall be devoted exclusively to the charitable and benevolent purposes of the high court of the Independent Order of Foresters. Said corporation to have full power to make and establish rules, regulations, and by-laws for regulating and governing all the affairs and business of said corporation not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state or of the United States, and to designate, elect, or appoint, from its members, such officers, under such name and style as shall be in accordance with the constitution or the laws of the supreme court of the Independent Order of Foresters.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8060 ;-- CL 1915, 10534 ;-- CL 1929, 10739 ;-- CL 1948, 457.533 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.534 Evidence of existence and incorporation.

Sec. 4.

     A copy of the record of such articles of association, under the seal of the Department of Commerce, duly certified, according to law, shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such corporation.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8061 ;-- CL 1915, 10535 ;-- CL 1929, 10740 ;-- CL 1948, 457.534 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.535 Subordinate courts; chartering; existing courts, regulation.

Sec. 5.

     Such corporation, when duly formed, shall have power to institute and charter subordinate courts of said order within this state, and from time to time to make, ordain, constitute and establish such general laws and by-laws, ordinances and regulations for the government of such subordinate courts not repugnant to the law or to the constitution or regulations of the high court and the supreme court of the Independent Order of Foresters as to them shall seem proper and necessary; and in case of violation or non-compliance with such ordinances, by-laws and regulations, to revoke and annul the charter granted to such subordinate courts: Provided, That the existing subordinate courts heretofore duly chartered by the high court of Michigan or the supreme court, shall be subject to the control of the said high court under this act as heretofore, and in the same manner and to the same extent as those that may be hereafter instituted and chartered under this act.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8062 ;-- CL 1915, 10536 ;-- CL 1929, 10741 ;-- CL 1948, 457.535





457.536 Subordinate courts; incorporation; making and executing articles of association; filing articles with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; powers.

Sec. 6.

     Any 9 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of any subordinate court, having been duly chartered by the high court of this state, desirous to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association under their hands and seal, specifying as provided in article 2 of this act, and file a copy of such articles with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon the persons who shall have signed such articles of association, their associates and successors, shall be a body politic and corporate by the name expressed in such articles of incorporation, and by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall be persons in the law capable to purchase, hold, and enjoy, grant, sell, give, lease, and demise real and personal estate, of suing and being sued, and may have a common seal and change and alter the same at pleasure, and a certified copy of the record of such articles of association, under the seal of the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts in this state of the existence and due incorporation of such incorporation: Provided, That the value of such real and personal estate shall not exceed the sum of $2,000.00, and that they and their successors shall have authority and power to give, grant, sell, lease, demise, and dispose of said real and personal estate, or part thereof at their will and pleasure, and the proceeds, rents, and incomes shall be devoted exclusively to the charitable and benevolent purposes of the Independent Order of Foresters.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8063 ;-- CL 1915, 10537 ;-- CL 1929, 10742 ;-- CL 1948, 457.536 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.537 Erection of building; capital stock, creation, shares.

Sec. 7.

     Any corporation formed in pursuance of this act may erect and own such suitable edifice, building or hall as to such corporation shall seem proper, with convenient rooms for the meetings of the courts of the Independent Order of Foresters, and for that purpose may create a capital stock of not more than 10,000 dollars to be divided into shares of not more than 10 dollars each.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8064 ;-- CL 1915, 10538 ;-- CL 1929, 10743 ;-- CL 1948, 457.537





457.538 Governing law; amendment of act.

Sec. 8.

     All corporations formed under this act shall be [subject] subjected to the provisions of chapter 130 of the Compiled Laws of this state, so far as the same may be applicable to corporations formed under this act, and the legislature may alter and amend this act at any time.


History: 1891, Act 136, Eff. Oct. 2, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 8065 ;-- CL 1915, 10539 ;-- CL 1929, 10744 ;-- CL 1948, 457.538
Compiler's Notes: For the provisions of chapter 130 of the Compiled Laws of 1871, referred to in this section, see MCL 450.504 to 450.525.



Rendered 8/21/2025 6:09 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov