INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS

MCL ch. 457, subtit. Act 90 of 1905

in effect

MCL 457.321 Lodges of Independent Order of Odd Fellows; incorporation.

457.321. Lodges of Independent Order of Odd Fellows; incorporation. Sec. 1. The grand and subordinate lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of Michigan, may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10450; CL 1929, 10653; CL 1948, 457.321 [FormerLaw] See Act 199 of 1865, being CL 1897, §§ 7990 to 7999; and Act 47 of 1869, being CL 1897, § 8000.

MCL 457.322 Grand lodge; articles of association, execution, contents.

457.322. Grand lodge; articles of association, execution, contents. Sec. 2. Any 5 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of any grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the state of Michigan, desirous to become incorporated, may make and execute articles of association, under their hands and seal, 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 name of 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 order or fraternity, known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to perform the functions ordinarily and properly to be performed by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of Michigan as the governing body of the Odd Fellow lodges in Michigan, to make laws for the government of such lodges, to acquire, own and convey real and personal property of any kind, in its own right for its own use or in trust for the benefit of Odd Fellow lodges in the state of Michigan, or for any other purposes compatible with the purposes of the corporation, to own and operate a home or homes for the members of Odd Fellow lodges in the state of Michigan or the female members of Rebekah lodges in Michigan, and to own and operate a camp or camps for the members of such lodges and the children or orphans of such members, or other children, to create corporations not for profit for such purposes, to provide and maintain an endowment fund for the benefit of any activity of the corporation or any corporation created by this corporation, and to do every other lawful thing that shall be for the welfare and benefit of the Odd Fellow lodges in Michigan, or the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Michigan, a Michigan corporation, and to join with others in any of the above enumerated activities. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10451; CL 1929, 10654; CL 1948, 457.322; Am. 1961, Act 79, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961

MCL 457.323 Grand lodge; articles, charter, constitution, filing; body corporate, powers.

457.323. Grand lodge; articles, charter, constitution, filing; body corporate, powers. Sec. 3. A copy of said articles of association, together with a copy of the charter and constitution of said grand lodge, shall be filed with the secretary of state, 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 they and their successors may have a common seal, which may be changed and altered at their pleasure. The value of such real and personal estate shall not exceed the sum of $1,000,000.00, and 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 incomes shall be devoted exclusively to charitable and benevolent purposes of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Said corporation shall have full power and authority to make and establish rules, regulations and bylaws, for regulating and governing all the affairs and business of said corporation according to the laws of the state, and 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 grand lodge. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10452; CL 1929, 10655; CL 1948, 457.323; Am. 1961, Act 79, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961

MCL 457.324 Grand lodge; certified copy of articles as evidence.

457.324. Grand lodge; certified copy of articles as evidence. Sec. 4. A copy of the record of such articles of association, under the seal of the state, 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. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10453; CL 1929, 10656; CL 1948, 457.324

MCL 457.325 Subordinate lodges; chartering; existing lodges; regulation.

457.325. Subordinate lodges; chartering; existing lodges; regulation. Sec. 5. Such corporation, when duly 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 constitution, general laws and by-laws, ordinances and regulations, as the grand lodge shall judge proper for the regulation and government of such subordinate lodges, not repugnant to the laws of this state: Provided, That the existing subordinate lodges heretofore duly chartered by the grand lodge, shall be subject to the control of the grand lodge, under this act, as heretofore, and in the same manner and to the same extent, as those that may be hereafter instituted and chartered under this act: Provided further, That in case the corporators, or persons associating in the first instance, shall by death, resignation, or for other cause, under the rules of the grand lodge, become ineligible to act in such capacity, their successors may, from time to time, be appointed by the grand lodge. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10454; CL 1929, 10657; CL 1948, 457.325

MCL 457.326 Subordinate lodges; incorporation; body corporate, powers; certified copy of articles as evidence.

457.326. Subordinate lodges; incorporation; body corporate, powers; certified copy of articles as evidence. Sec. 6. Any 5 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of a subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been duly chartered by the grand lodge, 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 clerk of the county in which such corporation shall be formed, which shall be recorded by such clerk in a book to be kept in his office for that purpose; 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 county where the said record is kept, shall be received as prima facie evidence in all courts of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such corporation: Provided, Said corporation shall be limited to the powers and provisions of sections 3 and 11 of this act, regarding real and personal estate, and the proceeds thereof, under the rules and regulations of the grand lodge, and may elect or appoint from among its members such officers, under such name and style, as shall be in accordance with its constitution. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10455; CL 1929, 10658; CL 1948, 457.326

MCL 457.327 Erection of building; capital stock, creation, shares; cemetery.

457.327. 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 fraternity of Odd Fellows; 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 25 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. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10456; CL 1929, 10659; CL 1948, 457.327

MCL 457.328 Encampment or canton; incorporation.

457.328. Encampment or canton; incorporation. Sec. 8. Any grand encampment or grand canton of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of Michigan, and any subordinate encampment or canton thereof, having been duly chartered, may be incorporated in like manner as grand and subordinate lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and enjoy the same powers, privileges and benefits under the provisions of this act. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10457; CL 1929, 10660; CL 1948, 457.328

MCL 457.329 Governing law; amendment of act.

457.329. Governing law; amendment of act. Sec. 9. All corporations, formed under this act, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 230 of the Compiled Laws of 1897 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. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10458; CL 1929, 10661; CL 1948, 457.329 [Compiler] For provisions of chapter 230, referred to in this section, which have not been repealed or reenacted, see MCL 450.504 et seq. and 450.631 et seq.

MCL 457.330 Business office; change of location.

457.330. Business office; change of location. Sec. 10. The location of the business offices of the grand lodge and grand encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, or either of them, may be changed at any time, upon filing a written notice of such change in the office of the secretary of state, within 20 days from the time of the change of such location. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10459; CL 1929, 10662; CL 1948, 457.330

MCL 457.331 Property; holding, disposition; erection of buildings; subscription to stock.

457.331. Property; holding, disposition; erection of buildings; subscription to stock. Sec. 11. Any lodge or encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, or any association thereof, incorporated under the provisions of this act, may receive, purchase and hold in its corporate capacity, real and personal estate, and the same or any part thereof, demise, convey, mortgage, use and dispose of at pleasure to the amount of 200,000 dollars; and may subscribe to the stock of any incorporated company, for the purpose of erecting a suitable edifice, building or hall, with convenient rooms for the meetings and use of the fraternity of Odd Fellows. 1905, Act 90, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1905; CL 1915, 10460; Am. 1917, Act 335, Eff. Aug. 10, 1917; CL 1929, 10663; CL 1948, 457.331 [FormerLaw] See Act 47 of 1869, being CL 1897, § 8000.

MCL 457.332 Two or more subordinate lodges or encampments; incorporation.

457.332. Two or more subordinate lodges or encampments; incorporation. Sec. 12. Any 5 or more persons, residents of this state, being members of a subordinate lodge or encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and having been designated or elected as representatives or delegates of 2 or more subordinate lodges or encampments of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, desirous of becoming incorporated, may make and execute articles of association in like manner as is provided in this act for the incorporation of separate subordinate lodges and encampments, and such corporation shall be governed by, and shall have the benefit of, all the provisions of this act: Provided, That said association shall in all respects be subject to the laws of the grand lodge. Add. 1917, Act 335, Eff. Aug. 10, 1917; CL 1929, 10664; CL 1948, 457.332

Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/Chapter%20457.xmlFetched: 10/20/2026