KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS ASSOCIATIONS
Act 85 of 1905
AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of Knights of Pythias associations; and to impose certain duties upon the department of commerce.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 92, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

457.361 Knights of Pythias associations; incorporation.

Sec. 1.

That Knights of Pythias associations may be incorporated under the provisions of this act.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10471 ;-- CL 1929, 10674 ;-- CL 1948, 457.361

457.362 Articles of association; execution, contents.

Sec. 2.

Any 7 or more residents of this state, who are members of any chartered body, or of different chartered bodies of the order of Knights of Pythias may make and execute articles of association under their hands and seals, which said articles of association shall be acknowledged before some officer of this state having authority to take acknowledgments of deeds, and shall set forth:

First. The names of the persons associating in the first instance, their places of residence and the name and location of the Pythian body or bodies to which they severally belong;

Second. The corporate name by which such association shall be known in law;

Third. The purpose of the association, which shall be to provide a building or buildings to be used in whole or in part for Pythian purposes, and the period for which such association is incorporated not exceeding 30 years;

Fourth. The principal office or place of business.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10472 ;-- CL 1929, 10675 ;-- CL 1948, 457.362

457.363 Filing copy of articles of association with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body corporate; evidence of existence and incorporation.

Sec. 3.

A copy of said articles of association shall be filed with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon the persons who shall have signed said articles of association, their associates and successors, shall be a body corporate by the name expressed in such articles of association. A copy 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 of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such association.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10473 ;-- CL 1929, 10676 ;-- CL 1948, 457.363 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 92, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982

457.364 Powers of corporation; property, holding, disposition.

Sec. 4.

Every corporation organized under the provisions of this act may take, receive, purchase and hold in its corporate capacity and for its corporate purposes, real and personal property, and the same or any part thereof demise, sell, convey, lease, use and dispose of at pleasure; and may erect and own, enlarge, alter and repair suitable building or buildings and may purchase, lease, own and maintain furnishings and fixtures therein to be used in whole or in part for meetings of Pythian bodies and may lease said building or buildings for business purposes in whole or in part and may borrow money therefor and for that purpose may issue its bonds and mortgage its property to secure the payment of such bonds.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10474 ;-- CL 1929, 10677 ;-- CL 1948, 457.364

457.365 Shares of stock; ownership.

Sec. 5.

Shares of stock and certificates of such corporation may be held and owned by chartered or incorporated bodies of Knights of Pythias.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10475 ;-- CL 1929, 10678 ;-- CL 1948, 457.365

457.366 Shares of stock; by-laws.

Sec. 6.

Every such corporation shall have full power and authority to provide by its by-laws for the issuing of its certificates and shares of stock and for the manner in which said shares of stock shall be held and represented.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10476 ;-- CL 1929, 10679 ;-- CL 1948, 457.366

457.367 Membership; trustees, election, term, qualification.

Sec. 7.

Every such corporation shall have power to provide by its by-laws for succession to its original membership and for new membership; and shall also have power to provide by its by-laws for the election from its stockholders of a board of trustees, and to fix the number and term of office of such trustees. But such board of trustees shall not be less than 5 and such term of office shall not exceed 3 years. Such board of trustees shall consist of an equal number from each subordinate chartered lodge of Knights of Pythias owning and holding shares of stock in said corporation as a lodge and situated in the town or city where the property of said corporation is located.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10477 ;-- CL 1929, 10680 ;-- CL 1948, 457.367

457.368 Powers of trustees; appointment of officers; by-laws and rules.

Sec. 8.

The management and control of the business, affairs and property of such corporation shall be vested in said board of trustees and said board of trustees shall have power to borrow any money, and cause to be made and issue the bonds and mortgages authorized by section 4 of this act. Said trustees shall appoint from their own number a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, who shall perform the duties of their respective offices in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the board of trustees. The first board of trustees provided for in this act shall have power to adopt by-laws and rules of procedure, and such by-laws and rules shall be binding upon all stockholders until the same are repealed.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10478 ;-- CL 1929, 10681 ;-- CL 1948, 457.368

457.369 First board of trustees; trustee eligibility.

Sec. 9.

The first board of trustees of such corporation shall be elected by ballot from the original incorporators and their number determined upon by the incorporating stockholders. But such first board of trustees shall consist of an equal number from each subordinate lodge of Knights of Pythias represented by such incorporating stockholders. And such incorporating stockholder at such election shall have 1 vote and no more. Such board of trustees shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. But no person shall be entitled to election or to hold the office of trustee unless he be in good standing in his subordinate lodge of Knights of Pythias, and when he ceases to be in such good standing his office as a member of said board of trustees shall be deemed vacant and shall be vacated without further proceedings.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10479 ;-- CL 1929, 10682 ;-- CL 1948, 457.369

457.370 Gifts; entertainments.

Sec. 10.

The said corporation shall have the further power to receive and own contributions and gifts and to use the same for its corporate purposes. It shall have the further power to hold and give entertainments for profit and to use the funds so realized for its corporate purposes.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10480 ;-- CL 1929, 10683 ;-- CL 1948, 457.370

457.371 Subscriptions; calling in; sale, procedure; proceeds; recovery of balance; rights of purchaser.

Sec. 11.

The said board of trustees may call in the subscriptions to the capital stock of such corporation by installments, in such proportions and at such times and places as they shall think proper by giving notice thereof as the by-laws shall prescribe, and in case any stockholder shall neglect or refuse payment of any such installment for the space of 30 days after the same shall become due and payable, said corporation may recover the amount of said installment from such delinquent stockholder in any proper action for that purpose, or, so much of the stock of such delinquent stockholder as may be necessary to pay such installment so due, may be sold by the trustees at public auction at the office of the secretary of the corporation, giving at least 10 days' notice of said sale personally, in writing or by mail, to such delinquent stockholder at his last known address, or by publishing the same 3 weeks in succession in some newspaper published in the city or town where said office is located, and in case of the sale of said stock the proceeds thereof shall be first applied to the payment of the installment called for and the expenses of the sale, and the residue, if any, shall be paid over to the delinquent stockholder. In case the proceeds of such sale shall be insufficient to pay such installment such corporation may recover the balance from such delinquent stockholder. Such sale shall entitle the purchaser to all the rights of such delinquent stockholder to the extent of the shares so purchased.

History: 1905, Act 85, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905 ;-- CL 1915, 10481 ;-- CL 1929, 10684 ;-- CL 1948, 457.371

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