FORESTERS OF AMERICA

Act 1 of 1897

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


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


457.551 Foresters of America; incorporation.

Sec. 1.

     That the grand and subordinate courts of the Foresters of America of the state of Michigan may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8070 ;-- CL 1915, 10544 ;-- CL 1929, 10749 ;-- CL 1948, 457.551





457.552 Grand court; incorporators; articles of association, execution, contents.

Sec. 2.

     Any 7 or more persons, resident of this state, being members of the grand court of the "Foresters of America," of the state of Michigan, desirous of being incorporated, may make and execute articles of association, under their hands and seals, which said articles of association shall be acknowledged before some officer of the state having authority to take acknowledgment of deeds, and shall set forth:
     First, The names of persons associating in the first place and their place of residence.
     Second, The corporate name by which such association shall be known in law, and the place of its business office.
     Third, The object and purpose of such association shall be to promote the general welfare of the fraternity, known as the "Foresters of America," and the period for which it is incorporated not exceeding 30 years.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8071 ;-- CL 1915, 10545 ;-- CL 1929, 10750 ;-- CL 1948, 457.552





457.553 Grand court; filing copy of articles of association, charter, and constitution with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; name; evidence of existence and incorporation.

Sec. 3.

     A copy of said articles of association, together with a copy of the charter and constitution of said grand 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 law capable of suing and being sued and they and their successors may have a common seal, which may be changed and altered at their pleasure and a copy of said articles of association, under seal of the department of commerce duly certified to according to law shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts of the state of the existence and due incorporation of such grand court.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8072 ;-- CL 1915, 10546 ;-- CL 1929, 10751 ;-- CL 1948, 457.553 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.554 Grand court; property, holding, disposition.

Sec. 4.

     Such grand court when incorporated pursuant to the provisions of this act may take and hold personal and real property, so far as may be necessary for the proper purposes of the organization, not exceeding 50,000 dollars in amount and convey, dispose of, and deal with the same as it may from time to time determine by a majority vote of members present and voting thereon.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8073 ;-- CL 1915, 10547 ;-- CL 1929, 10752 ;-- CL 1948, 457.554





457.555 Subordinate courts; chartering; existing courts; regulation.

Sec. 5.

     Such grand court when properly incorporated shall have power to institute and charter subordinate courts within this state and from time to time make, alter or rescind such constitution, general laws or by-laws as the grand court shall judge proper for the government of such subordinate courts, not repugnant to the laws of the state: Provided, That the existing subordinate courts heretofore duly chartered by the grand court shall be subject to the grand court under this act, as heretofore, in the same manner and to the same extent: Provided further, That in case the incorporators shall by death, resignation or for other cause under the rules of the grand court, become ineligible to act in such capacity, their successors may from time to time be elected by the grand court.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8074 ;-- CL 1915, 10548 ;-- CL 1929, 10753 ;-- CL 1948, 457.555





457.556 Subordinate court; incorporation; making, executing, and filing articles of association with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; powers; evidence of existence and incorporation.

Sec. 6.

     Any 7 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of a subordinate court of the "Foresters of America" having been duly chartered by the grand court, desirous to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association, specifying as provided in section 2 of this act, and file a copy of the same 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 politic and corporate, by the name expressed in such articles of association and by that name they and their successors, shall be persons in law capable to purchase, hold, 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 of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such subordinate courts. Provided: Said corporation shall be limited to the powers and provisions of section 4 of this act, regarding real and personal estate, and the proceeds thereof under the laws of the grand court and may elect from its members such officers, under such name and style as shall be in accordance with its constitution.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8075 ;-- CL 1915, 10549 ;-- CL 1929, 10754 ;-- CL 1948, 457.556 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.557 Governing law; amendment of act.

Sec. 7.

     All corporations formed under this act shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 150 of the Compiled Laws of this state, so far as the same shall be applicable to corporations formed under this act; and the legislature may alter or amend this act at any time.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8076 ;-- CL 1915, 10550 ;-- CL 1929, 10755 ;-- CL 1948, 457.557
Compiler's Notes: The reference in this section to chapter 150 evidently was intended to be to chapter 130 of the Compiled Laws of 1871. See MCL 450.504 to 450.525.





457.558 Business office; location; notice of change.

Sec. 8.

     The location of the business office of the grand court "Foresters of America" may be changed at any time upon filing a written notice of such change in the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce within 20 days from the time of the change of such location.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8077 ;-- CL 1915, 10551 ;-- CL 1929, 10756 ;-- CL 1948, 457.558 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 106, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





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

Sec. 9.

     Any corporation formed under this act may erect and own such suitable edifice, building and hall as to such corporation shall seem proper with convenient rooms for the meeting of the courts of the "Foresters of America" and for that purpose may create a capital stock of not more than 25,000 dollars to be divided into shares of not more than 25 dollars each.


History: 1897, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Jan. 21, 1897 ;-- CL 1897, 8078 ;-- CL 1915, 10552 ;-- CL 1929, 10757 ;-- CL 1948, 457.559



Rendered 8/18/2025 1:32 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov