IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN

Act 16 of 1875

AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of tribes and councils of the Improved Order of Red Men, and to repeal chapter 122 of the Compiled Laws, being an act to provide for the incorporation of societies of Pocahontas tribes of Improved Order of Red Men; and to impose certain duties upon the department of commerce.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 90, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


457.481 Improved Order of Red Men; incorporation.

Sec. 1.

     That the great council and subordinate tribes of the Improved Order of Red Men of the state of Michigan may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4542 ;-- CL 1897, 8039 ;-- CL 1915, 10511 ;-- CL 1929, 10716 ;-- CL 1948, 457.481
Former Law: See Act 102 of 1869, being CL 1871, ยงยง 3253 to 3256.





457.482 Great council; incorporators; articles of association, execution, contents.

Sec. 2.

     Any 10 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of any great council of the Improved Order of Red Men 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 acknowledgment 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 name 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 "Improved Order of Red Men," and the period for which it is incorporated, not exceeding 30 years.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4543 ;-- CL 1897, 8040 ;-- CL 1915, 10512 ;-- CL 1929, 10717 ;-- CL 1948, 457.482





457.483 Great council; 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 great council, 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 Improved Order of Red Men. Said corporation shall have full power to make and establish rules, regulations, and bylaws 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 of the great council of the United States.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4544 ;-- CL 1897, 8041 ;-- CL 1915, 10513 ;-- CL 1929, 10718 ;-- CL 1948, 457.483 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 90, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.484 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: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4545 ;-- CL 1897, 8042 ;-- CL 1915, 10514 ;-- CL 1929, 10719 ;-- CL 1948, 457.484 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 90, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.485 Subordinate tribes; chartering; existing subordinate tribes; regulation.

Sec. 5.

     Such corporation, when duly formed, shall have power to institute and charter subordinate tribes 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 tribes not repugnant to law or to the constitution or regulations of the great council of the Improved Order of Red Men of the United States, 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 tribes: Provided, That the existing subordinate tribes heretofore duly chartered by the great council of Michigan or of the United States shall be subject to the control of the said great council under this act as heretofore, and in the same manner and to the same extent as those that may hereafter be instituted and chartered under this act.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4546 ;-- CL 1897, 8043 ;-- CL 1915, 10515 ;-- CL 1929, 10720 ;-- CL 1948, 457.485





457.486 Incorporation of tribe of Improved Order of Red Men; making and executing articles of incorporation; filing copy of articles 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 tribe of Improved Order of Red Men, having been duly chartered by the great council of the Improved Order of Red Men of this state, desirous to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association under their hands and seals, 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 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 have succession, and shall be persons in the 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 corporation: 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 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 income shall be devoted exclusively to the charitable and benevolent purposes of the Improved Order of Red Men.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4547 ;-- CL 1897, 8044 ;-- CL 1915, 10516 ;-- CL 1929, 10721 ;-- CL 1948, 457.486 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 90, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.487 Erection of building; capital stock, creation, shares; cemetery.

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 tribes or councils of the Improved Order of Red Men; 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; and any such corporation may take, purchase, hold and own such suitable lot or parcel of ground as may be convenient for the purpose of a cemetery, and may make all lawful rules and regulations for the disposition of lots and the burial of the dead therein as to such corporation may seem proper.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4548 ;-- CL 1897, 8045 ;-- CL 1915, 10517 ;-- CL 1929, 10722 ;-- CL 1948, 457.487





457.488 Governing law; amendment of act.

Sec. 8.

     All corporations formed under this act shall be subject 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 or amend this act at any time.


History: 1875, Act 16, Eff. Aug. 3, 1875 ;-- How. 4549 ;-- CL 1897, 8046 ;-- CL 1915, 10518 ;-- CL 1929, 10723 ;-- CL 1948, 457.488
Compiler's Notes: For provisions of chapter 130 of the Compiled Laws of 1871, referred to in this section, see MCL 450.504 to 450.525.



Rendered 8/18/2025 6:42 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov