Any 10 or more persons, residents of this state being members of the grand or any subordinate division of the Uniform Rank of the Knights of the Maccabees of the state of Michigan, desirous to become incorporated may make and execute articles of association, under their hands and seals, which articles of association shall be acknowledged before some officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds and shall set forth:

Third, The object and purpose of such association, which shall be to promote the general welfare of the fraternity known as the grand division of the Uniform Rank Knights of the Maccabees, and the period for which it is incorporated, not exceeding 30 years.

A copy of said articles of association together with a copy of the laws of said grand division, shall be filed with the secretary of the state, 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 dollars, said corporation shall have full power to make and establish rules, regulations and laws for regulating and governing all the affairs and business of said corporation not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state or 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 its laws.