ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN

Act 83 of 1887

AN ACT to provide for incorporation of lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and to impose certain duties on the department of commerce.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


457.501 Lodges of Ancient Order of United Workmen; incorporation.

Sec. 1.

     That grand lodges and subordinate lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of the state of Michigan may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577x ;-- CL 1897, 8047 ;-- CL 1915, 10520 ;-- CL 1929, 10725 ;-- CL 1948, 457.501





457.502 Grand lodge; incorporators; articles of association, contents.

Sec. 2.

     Any 10 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of a grand lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of the state of Michigan, that has been duly chartered by the supreme lodge of the said order, and including in their number the grand master workman, the grand recorder and the grand receiver of said grand lodge, desiring to become incorporated, may make and sign articles of association, setting forth their names, official titles, and place of residence, the corporate name by which the association shall be known in the law, the place of its business office, the period for which it is incorporated, not exceeding 30 years, and the purposes of the association, which shall be to promote the general welfare of the fraternity known as the Ancient Order of United Workmen, to improve the mental, moral and social condition of the members of said fraternity, and to provide for the relief of the families and heirs of deceased members of the said fraternity.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577y ;-- CL 1897, 8048 ;-- CL 1915, 10520 ;-- CL 1929, 10726 ;-- CL 1948, 457.502





457.503 Articles of association; acknowledgment; filing copy of articles with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; powers.

Sec. 3.

     Such articles of association shall be acknowledged before a notary public, and a copy thereof 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 sue and be sued, to have a common seal, which may be altered or changed at their pleasure, to receive, hold and enjoy, for themselves and their successors, estates, real and personal, and to give, grant, sell, lease, demise and dispose of such estates: Provided, That such real estate, and the proceeds, rents and incomes thereof shall be devoted exclusively to the charitable and benevolent purposes of the fraternity known as the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Said corporation shall have full power to make and establish rules, regulations and bylaws not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state, of the supreme lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to designate, elect or appoint from its members, such officers, under such name and style as shall be in accordance with the constitution and laws of said supreme lodge. And said corporation shall have power to create, hold, and disburse beneficiary, relief, guaranty, general, or other funds for the benefit of sick or disabled members or of members of the families of deceased members of subordinate lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, or of persons related to such members by blood, or who shall be dependent upon such members; to enter into arrangements or agreements with the supreme lodge or with the supreme lodge relief board, whereby, in the event of an unusual number of deaths occurring in any 1 year among the members of the lodges subordinate to the jurisdiction of said grand lodge, or of any other grand lodge, or of the supreme lodge of the said order, said grand lodge may afford aid from its guaranty fund, or may itself receive aid, as the case may require; and to levy assessments upon members of subordinate lodges for the purpose of raising the beneficiary, relief, guaranty, general or other funds, and of carrying out such arrangements with the supreme lodge or with the supreme lodge relief board: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed as giving to a grand lodge power to make assessments for the purpose of paying sick benefits.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z ;-- CL 1897, 8049 ;-- Am. 1901, Act 192, Eff. Sept. 5, 1901 ;-- CL 1915, 10522 ;-- CL 1929, 10727 ;-- CL 1948, 457.503 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.504 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: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-1 ;-- CL 1897, 8050 ;-- CL 1915, 10523 ;-- CL 1929, 10728 ;-- CL 1948, 457.504 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.505 Subordinate lodges; chartering; existing lodges; regulation.

Sec. 5.

     Such corporation when formed shall have power to institute and charter subordinate lodges 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 lodges, not repugnant to law or to the constitution and regulations of the grand lodge or of the supreme lodge, as shall seem to it necessary and proper, and in case of non-compliance with such general laws, by-laws, ordinances, and regulations, to revoke and annul the charter granted to any such subordinate lodge: Provided, however, That the existing subordinate lodges heretofore duly chartered by the grand lodge of Michigan, or the supreme lodge, shall be subject to the control of the said grand lodge as heretofore, and in the same manner and to the same extent as those which may hereafter be chartered under this act.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-2 ;-- CL 1897, 8051 ;-- CL 1915, 10524 ;-- CL 1929, 10729 ;-- CL 1948, 457.505





457.506 Subordinate lodges; incorporation.

Sec. 6.

     Any 10 or more persons, residents of this state, being members in good standing of any subordinate lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and including in their number the master workman, the recorder and the receiver of such lodge, duly chartered by a grand lodge of this state or by the supreme lodge, desiring to become incorporated, may make and sign articles of association, specifying as provided in the second section of this act.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-3 ;-- CL 1897, 8052 ;-- CL 1915, 10525 ;-- CL 1929, 10730 ;-- CL 1948, 457.506





457.507 Acknowledgment of articles; filing copy of articles with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body politic and corporate; powers.

Sec. 7.

     Such articles shall be acknowledged before a notary public, and a copy thereof 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 sue and be sued, to have a common seal which may be altered or changed at their pleasure, to purchase, take, receive, hold and enjoy, for themselves and their successors, estates, real and personal, and to give, grant, sell, lease, demise, and dispose of such estates: Provided, That the value of such real estate, exclusive of the building authorized by section 9 of this act, shall not exceed the sum of $5,000.00, and that the proceeds, rents, and incomes thereof shall be devoted exclusively to the charitable and benevolent purposes of the fraternity known as the Ancient Order of United Workmen.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-4 ;-- CL 1897, 8053 ;-- CL 1915, 10526 ;-- CL 1929, 10731 ;-- CL 1948, 457.507 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.508 Evidence of existence and incorporation.

Sec. 8.

     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 in this state of the existence and due incorporation of such corporation.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-5 ;-- CL 1897, 8054 ;-- CL 1915, 10527 ;-- CL 1929, 10732 ;-- CL 1948, 457.508 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.509 Subordinate lodges; erection of building; capital stock, creation, shares.

Sec. 9.

     Any corporation other than a grand lodge formed in pursuance of this act, may erect and own such edifice, building or hall, as it shall deem proper, with convenient rooms for the meetings of lodges of the order, and for that purpose may create a capital stock of not more than 50,000 dollars, to be divided into shares of not more than 100 dollars each.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-6 ;-- CL 1897, 8055 ;-- CL 1915, 10528 ;-- CL 1929, 10733 ;-- CL 1948, 457.509





457.510 Incorporated grand or subordinate lodge; surrendering corporate rights, powers, and liabilities; filing certificate with department of commerce; re-incorporation.

Sec. 10.

     Any grand or subordinate lodge which shall have been incorporated before this act takes effect as a law, under the provisions of former Act No. 104 of 1869, may by a vote of the members of such lodge at any regular meeting thereof, surrender its corporate rights, powers and liabilities, but such surrender shall not in any manner affect any suits which may be pending, or any rights which any person may have acquired by virtue of such incorporation; but before such surrender shall be valid, a certificate of the proper officers, under the seal of such lodge, shall be filed with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, certifying that such lodge has voted to surrender its corporate rights; and any such lodge having so surrendered its corporate rights may be again incorporated, in conformity with the provisions of this act: Provided, That all members of the corporate body that has surrendered its corporate rights shall, by virtue of such re-incorporation, and the payment of the first beneficiary assessment made by the re-incorporated body be entitled to all the rights and benefits flowing therefrom, and the beneficiary certificates held by them shall be treated and considered by the re-incorporated body as of its own issuance, and shall be, so far as the member is concerned, of the same force and effect as if issued by the re-incorporated body.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-7 ;-- CL 1897, 8056 ;-- CL 1915, 10529 ;-- CL 1929, 10734 ;-- CL 1948, 457.510 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





457.511 Insurance business.

Sec. 11.

     Corporations formed in pursuance of this act shall not be considered as engaged in the business of life insurance, nor shall they be subject to the provision of the statutes relating to life insurance or mutual benefit companies, associations or corporations.


History: 1887, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 1887 ;-- How. 4577z-8 ;-- CL 1897, 8057 ;-- CL 1915, 10530 ;-- CL 1929, 10735 ;-- CL 1948, 457.511





457.512 Money or benefit to be paid; exemptions.

Sec. 12.

     The money or other benefit, relief, aid or sick benefit fund to be paid, provided or rendered by any corporation formed in pursuance of this act, shall not be liable to attachment, garnishment or other process and shall not be seized, taken, appropriated or applied by any legal or equitable process or by operation of law, to pay any debt or liability of the deceased member, or of any certificate holder, or of any beneficiary named in any certificate, or of any person who may have any rights thereunder.


History: Add. 1899, Act 130, Imd. Eff. June 15, 1899 ;-- CL 1915, 10531 ;-- CL 1929, 10736 ;-- CL 1948, 457.512



Rendered 8/18/2025 3:04 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov