Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 31.djvu/1365

 FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 854. 1901. 1313 Sec. 755. Cnirriricarn or ORGANIZATION; ·rnUsr1·:1—:s.—Any nine or zaQ$g}}“°¤*€ °f°’g¤’“· more persons, at least one-third of whom shall be residents of the Dis- ` trict of Columbia, being desirous of forming a fraternal beneficial association for the purposes set forth in section seven hundred and forty-nine of this subchapter, may associate themselves together and effect such organization as hereinafter rescribed, and not otherwise. Such persons shall make, sign, and aciinowledge before any officer authorized to take the acknowledgment of deeds in this District and iile in the office of the recorder of deeds of said District a certificate or declaration in writing, to be recorded in a book kept for that purpose —c¤¤w¤¤S Of. srcand open to public inspection, in which shall be stated the name or title by which said association shall be known to law; the mode and manner in which the corporate powers ranted by this subchapter are to be exercised; the name or official title of the officers, trustees, representatives, or other persons by whatever name or title designated, who are to have and exercise the general control and management of its affairs; the place of doing business defined; the limit as to age of applicants for beneficial membership, which shall not exceed fifty-five years, and that medical examinations are required of applicants for life benefits, together with the sworn statement by three of said corporators that at least one hundred persons eligible under the proposed laws of such association to membership therein have in good faith made application in writing for membership. - The recorder of deeds, upon the filing of said declaration, shall deliver to such association a certified copy of the papers so filed and recorded in his office, together with a certificate to such association, stating that the provisions of this subchapter relative to incorporation have been complied with and that said association becomes thereby authorized to carry on the work of a fraternal beneficial association. Upon filing the certificate or declaration as aforesaid, the tigwes °f ”S°°i°· persons who shall have signed and acknowledged the same, and their ` successors and associates, shall, by the provisions of this subchapter, be a body politic and corporate by the name and style stated in the s certificate, and by that name and style shall have perpetual succession, and by said name may sue and be sued, and may have and use a common seal, and the same may alter and change at leasure, and may make and alter, at times or from time to time, such laws, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States or the laws in force in said District, as they may deem necessary for the rroverninent of said association. And they and their successors, by tiieir corporate name, shall in law be capable of creating, maintaining, and disbursing a reserve or emergency fund in accordance with its laws and the provisions of this subchapter, and of taking, receiving, purchasing, and holding real and personal estate necessary for the purpose of such association, and may let, place out at interest, or sell and convey the same as may seem most beneficial for said association. The association shall E*°°“°“ °f °m°m· elect from its members trustees, directors, or managers, by whatever title known in its laws, at such time and place and in such manner as may be specified in its laws, who shall have the control and management of the affairs and funds of said association, a majority of whom shall be a quorum for the transaction of business; and whenever any vacancy shall happen among such trustees, directors, or managers, by death, resignation, or otherwise, such vacancy shall be filled in such manner as shall be provided by the laws of said association., Sec. 756. Rn1NconroRAr1oN.—The officers, trustees, directors, or R€i“°°'P°”°i°”- governing body of any existing fraternal beneficial association may, by conforming to the requirements of the several rovisions of this subchapter, reincorporate themselves or continue their existing corporate powers under this subchapter, or change their name, stating in their certificate the original name of such corporation as well as their von xxx1———83 °