17-1701.   Incorporation; powers and duties.Any religious society, military or fire company, literary, charitable orbenevolent association, other than colleges, universities, academies orseminaries, or any grand or subordinate lodge of Free and AcceptedMasons, or of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias,Knights of Honor, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Independent Order ofMutual Aid, Good Templars, or any other secret benevolent association ororganization, may by the consent of a majority of its members becomebodies corporate under this act, by filing the charter required by thisact, electing directors or trustees, and performing the things as aredirected in the case of other corporations; and when so organized shallhave all the powers and privileges and be subject to all therestrictions in this act contained, for the objects named in thecharter, and shall have the same power to make bylaws for the regulationof their affairs as other corporations, and shall have the power toadopt a bylaw to reduce the number of its directors or trustees to notless than three, and to incorporate with that number, and to prescribetheir term of office, and to do and perform all other acts in accordancewith the objects of the said lodges respectively. Such directors ortrustees shall not usurp or exercise the functions of the officers incharge of the spiritual affairs of any society.

      History:   L. 1879, ch. 89, § 1; March 13; R.S. 1923, 17-1701.