SONS OF ST. GEORGE
Act 173 of 1891
AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of orders of the Sons of St. George; and to impose certain duties upon the department of commerce.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 118, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

457.11 Sons of St. George; incorporators.

Sec. 1.

That any number of persons of English birth, who may now or hereafter be residents of this state, or the descendants of such persons in the first or second degree, may be incorporated in pursuance of the provisions of this act.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7795 ;-- CL 1915, 10231 ;-- CL 1929, 10528 ;-- CL 1948, 457.11

457.12 Articles of association; execution, contents.

Sec. 2.

Any 10 or more residents of this state, being of English birth, or their descendants as aforesaid, desiring to become 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 this state having authority to take acknowledgments of deeds, and shall set forth:

First, The names of citizens associating, and their place of residence;

Second, The location of the association of which they are members;

Third, The corporate name by which such association shall be known in the law: Provided, That each association incorporated under this act shall be known as "Order Sons of St. George" of the name of the city or township where such association is located, and if more than 1 [such] association is located in the same city or township, the same shall be designated by number;

Fourth, The object and purpose of such association, which shall be to provide for the relief of distressed members and their families, provided such distress is not occasioned by drunkenness or crime, the visitation of the sick, the burial of the dead, and to aid and assist the widows and orphans of deceased members, and in the discretion of the lodge to relieve and advise distressed immigrants and others from that part of Great Britain south of the Tweed, and the isles adjacent thereto, and their sons and grandsons. The period for which such association shall be incorporated shall not exceed 30 years.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7796 ;-- CL 1915, 10232 ;-- CL 1929, 10529 ;-- CL 1948, 457.12

457.13 Filing copy of 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. 3.

A copy of said articles of association shall be filed 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 citizens in the law capable of suing and being sued, and they and their successors may have a common seal, and the same, may change and alter 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 in this state, of the existence and due incorporation of such corporation.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7797 ;-- CL 1915, 10233 ;-- CL 1929, 10530 ;-- CL 1948, 457.13 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 118, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982

457.14 Property; holding, disposition.

Sec. 4.

Every corporation formed in pursuance of this act shall be capable, in its corporate name, of purchasing, taking, receiving, holding and enjoying to itself estates both real and personal: Provided, That the value of such real and personal estate shall not exceed the sum of 100,000 dollars, and that they and their successors shall have full authority and power to give, grant, sell, mortgage, lease, devise, and dispose of said real and personal estate, or part thereof, and other estates, real and personal, may acquire instead thereof at their will and pleasure; and the proceeds shall be devoted exclusively to charitable and benevolent purposes, set forth in section 2.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7798 ;-- CL 1915, 10234 ;-- CL 1929, 10531 ;-- CL 1948, 457.14

457.15 By-laws and rules; officers, powers.

Sec. 5.

Said corporation [corporations] shall have full power and authority to make and establish rules, regulations, and by-laws for regulating and governing all the affairs and business of said corporation, not contrary to the laws of this state or the United States, and to designate, elect, or appoint, from among their number, such officers, under such name and style as shall be in accordance with the constitution or charter of said lodge, who shall have the supervision, control and management of the affairs of said corporations.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7799 ;-- CL 1915, 10235 ;-- CL 1929, 10532 ;-- CL 1948, 457.15

457.16 Erection of buildings; capital stock, creation, shares.

Sec. 6.

Any corporation formed in pursuance of this act may erect and own such suitable edifices, buildings or halls as such corporation shall deem necessary, with convenient rooms for the meeting of said lodge, and for that purpose may create a capital stock of not more than 60,000 dollars, to be divided into shares of not more than 25 dollars each.

History: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7800 ;-- CL 1915, 10236 ;-- CL 1929, 10533 ;-- CL 1948, 457.16

457.17 Governing law; amendment of act.

Sec. 7.

All corporations formed under the provisions of this act shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 73 of the Compiled Laws of this state, the same being chapter 191 of Howell's statutes, 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: 1891, Act 173, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1891 ;-- CL 1897, 7801 ;-- CL 1915, 10237 ;-- CL 1929, 10534 ;-- CL 1948, 457.17
Compiler's Notes: For provisions of chapter 73, referred to in this section, which have not been repealed or reenacted, see MCL 450.504 et seq.

457.18 Grand lodge; incorporation, purpose.

Sec. 8.

Any 10 or more members of the body known as the Grand Lodge of the state of Michigan of the Order Sons of St. George, which number shall include the executive board of said grand lodge, may, under the provisions of this act, make and execute articles of association under their hands and seals, to be acknowledged before some officer of this state having authority to take acknowledgment of deeds, which articles shall set forth the same facts provided for in section 2 of this act, except that the location may be set forth as in the state of Michigan merely, and the corporate name shall be the "Grand Lodge of the State of Michigan of the Order Sons of St. George," and the object and purpose of the association shall be, and shall be set forth as, to exercise such jurisdiction, power and authority over subordinate lodges of said order in this state as are now, or may be given it by virtue of the articles and regulations of such grand lodge as they now, or as they may from time to time exist, not inconsistent with the laws and constitution of this state and of the United States.

History: Add. 1895, Act 60, Imd. Eff. Apr. 4, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 7802 ;-- CL 1915, 10238 ;-- CL 1929, 10535 ;-- CL 1948, 457.18

457.19 Filing articles of association with department of commerce; signers of articles, associates, and successors as body corporate; powers and duties.

Sec. 9.

Such articles of association shall be filed in the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce, and thereupon the persons who have signed the same, their associates and successors, shall be a body corporate with all the powers and privileges as to property conferred by this act upon local lodges of said order, together with the jurisdiction, power and authority over local or subordinate lodges of said order in this state, mentioned in the preceding section, and shall be subject to all the provisions of law and reservations of power described in section 7 of this act.

History: Add. 1895, Act 60, Imd. Eff. Apr. 4, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 7803 ;-- CL 1915, 10239 ;-- CL 1929, 10536 ;-- CL 1948, 457.19 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 118, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982

Rendered 8/15/2025 9:22 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov