May accept gifts, etc.

Board of directors.

Powers.

Diplomas,

etc., privi

of the faculties to be established; and if a denominational religious school or college, the name of such denomination and the body supporting or controlling the same; and such articles shall in other respects comply with the requirements of this act. Any such corporation may, by increasing its capital to a higher class and amending its articles, assume the powers and privileges of such higher classification as it may thereby be entitled to as defined in this chapter.

SEC. 5. The directors or trustees of any such corporation may accept gifts, devises, legacies or bequests, of personal or real property, or the principal or interest of any money or other fund, in trust for the benefit of such institution or particular faculties, departments or other special purposes thereof; and such trustees or directors shall hold and dispose of such trust funds in accordance with the directions and wishes of any of the donors in each case; and shall account for all such funds and property in such manner and at such times as may be appointed in the instrument, deed or will accompanying the donation or as provided by law or the arti cles or by-laws of such corporation, made pursuant thereto. Where no other provision is made with respect thereto, the directors or trustees of every such corporation shall be governed as to their duties, powers and responsibilities, by the general provisions of this act respecting such boards; and as to their trusteeship of property they shall be governed by the provisions of this act governing trustee corporations.

SEC. 6. The control of the business and secular affairs of every such corporation shall be vested in a board of directors or trustees. Such board shall also have exclusive control over the educational affairs and policy of such institution, and as such may:

First, Appoint, employ and pay the salary of a president, or principal, and such professors, tutors, assistants, and employes, as the board shall determine necessary;

Second, Direct and prescribe the course or courses of study and the rules of discipline for such institution, and enforce the same; and prescribe the tuition and other fees to be paid by students attending such institution;

Third, Grant such diplomas, certificates of graduation, or honors and degrees, as the nature of the institution may warrant, or as contemplated in the articles;

Fourth, Delegate to the president or principal, and the various professors and tutors, such authority over the educational affairs of the institution as the board may deem advisable;

Fifth, Co-operate with other schools, colleges and educational institutions within this country in promoting the best interests of education.

SEC. 7. Every diploma, certificate of graduation, or other leges, etc., of evidence of attendance at such institution, shall entitle the lawful recipient thereof to all the privileges and immunities which by custom or usage are allowed to holders of simi

holders of.

lar diplomas or certificates granted by similar institutions
in this country: Provided, That as to any occupation or Proviso.
profession regulated by statute as to the requirements and
qualifications necessary to the practice thereof, no such di-
ploma or certificate of graduation shall entitle the recipient
to any such privilege or immunity where such statutory re-
quirements or qualifications have not been complied with.

instruction

SEC. 8. Every such corporation shall be subject to the Supt. of public visitation and inspection of the Superintendent of Public may inspect. Instruction, in person or through visitors or inspectors appointed by him, at such times as he may fix. Said superintendent shall be empowered to ascertain and publish information upon all matters pertaining to the condition, management, instruction and practices of the corporation; and upon evidence that the property is at any time less than is required by law, or that the corporation is not otherwise complying with the provisions of this act, he shall serve notice on the corporation to remedy the defects within a reasonable time to be fixed in such notice, and in case the deficiency is not corrected within the time fixed by him, he may institute proceedings at law for the dissolution of the corporation. Such trustees shall be required, on or before Annual report. the first day of December, annually, to report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a statement of the name of each trustee, officer, teacher and the number of students of t such institution, with a statement of its property, the amount of stock subscribed, donated and bequeathed, and the amount actually paid in, and such other information as will tend to exhibit its condition and operations.

CHAPTER 3.

Ecclesiastical Corporations.

Subdivision 1.-General Provisions.

SECTION 1. (a) The provisions of this chapter shall apply Ecclesiastical to churches and societies founded upon new doctrines and be. corporations. liefs as well as to those already established and practiced. The term "church" or "church corporation" as used in this chapter shall be construed to include any church, denominational unit, or church society, as the term is commonly used and understood, but shall not apply to such organizations as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues, Young People's Unions, Bible classes, and similar societies, organized as subordinate to and affiliated with the parent churches;

(b) Whenever any number of churches or other corporations organized for religious purposes desire to unite in a central organization for the accomplishment of any common purpose they may incorporate such organization by severally adopting, at meetings specially called for the purpose, resolu

Articles of incorporation.

Form.

How executed,

etc.

tions expressing their desire to become members of such corporation; and by filing duly attested copies of such resolutions together with a copy of the articles of such corporation, as in other cases of non-profit corporations.

SEC. 2. The articles of incorporation of any such ecclesiastical corporation shall be executed by the incorporators or persons duly designated thereunto and shall follow the form prescribed in this section, and contain such further statements as may be appropriate to each such corporation, as the law may direct or as the incorporators may deem necessary or advisable. Such form shall run as follows:

"We, the undersigned, desiring to become incorporated under the provisions of Act No. .... of the Public Acts

of nineteen hundred twenty-one (namely, this act) do hereby make, execute and adopt the following articles of association, to-wit:

First, The name assumed by this corporation and by which it shall be known in law, is "The .

church" (or other name which clearly indicates a religious society or association;)

Second, The location of said church or society shall be in the ..

of.....

and state of Michigan;

county of

Third, The time for which said corporation shall be created shall be

....

.;

Fourth, The members of said church or society shall worship and labor together according to the discipline, rules and usages of the ... .. church in the United States of America (or other jurisdiction as the case may be,) as from time to time authorized and declared by the (here insert the name of the higher ecclesiastical body or bodies, if any, authorized to determine such question;)

Fifth, And succeeding articles, if any, (containing in brief and concise language, such other and further declarations or statements pertaining to such corporation, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the incorporators, or as may be hereinafter prescribed.)

In witness whereof, we, the parties hereby associating for the purpose of giving legal effect to these articles, hereunto sign our names and places of residence.

Done at the ...... of .. and state of Michigan, this

(Signatures)

(Acknowledgments.)

(Consent if any required.)

(Certificates, if any.)

county of
day of
(Residences)

19...

SEC. 3. Excepting as herein otherwise provided, such articles shall be executed, acknowledged, filed and disposed of in the same manner and with like effect as is prescribed in this act for corporations generally. Such articles may contain, among other things, specified in section two of this chap

ter, any provisions the incorporators may determine upon respecting the church polity or government, and the blank spaces provided for shall be filled in by words appropriate to the particular denomination or corporation being so incorporated.

SEC. 4. Such church corporations shall have authority to By-laws, etc. adopt by-laws prescribing the qualifications of members; the manner in which they shall be admitted, suspended or expelled; the number and official titles of the person or persons who control the temporal affairs of the corporation; their terms of office; the manner of their selection and removal from office; their respective official duties; the time and manner of calling and holding church business meetings and the number of members constituting a quorum; how far the corporation shall be subject to the approval or control of any other corporation or higher church body which corporation or body shall be named; the manner and condition under which property, both real and personal, may be acquired, held and disposed of; and such other by-laws as may be deemed necessary for the management of the affairs of such corporation. The by-laws may also prescribe how the same may be altered, amended or repealed.

articles.

SEC. 5. The articles of any such corporation may be May amend amended at any meeting of the members of the corporation called for that purpose pursuant to the by-laws, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members entitled to vote thereon present at such meeting, unless a different majority is required by the rules of discipline or by the church policy in any particular case, and it shall be the duty of the person or persons controlling the temporal affairs of the corporation to make, sign and acknowledge in the same manner that the original articles were made, signed and acknowledged, triplicate copies of a certificate, containing the name of the corporation, a copy of the call for the meeting at which the amendment was made, the number of members present at such meeting, the number of members voting in favor of the amendment and a copy of the amendment; and such certificate of amendment shall be filed in the same manner that the original articles were filed, and upon such filing the amendment shall be effective: Provided, That where the system of Proviso. discipline or polity in any particular denomination or church. requires the action, consent or vote of a conference, conclave or synod, presbytery or other body, or the approval of certain officers of such conference or other body or of a bishop or other hierarchical officer, to such amendments, then all such amendments shall be made in conformity to such practice and requirements and shall in all other respects conform to the customs, usages, beliefs, and discipline of the particular church body concerned.

SEC. 6. In the case of incorporating a Sunday school so- Sunday school ciety, or other special religious society or union, not being

a church, but having for its object the teaching of religious

societies.

Powers, etc.

May hold,

principles, or the associating together for religious work, the incorporators shall subscribe articles similar to those prescribed for non-profit corporations generally, which articles shall also contain any special conditions or distinguishing principles upon which such corporation is founded, and, if connected with some organized church, the name of the church and a statement of the extent to which such church may exercise superintendence over the affairs of or discipline of the members of such Sunday school or other corporation. The corporations referred to in this section as Sunday schools or special religious societies, shall have all the rights, privileges, immunities and powers granted by this act to nonprofit corporations generally in their secular affairs; and in their religious affairs they shall be governed solely by their articles and by-laws, and the system of discipline therein adopted.

SEC. 7. Where no other special provision inconsistent etc., property. herewith is made in this chapter, every such church corporation shall have power to acquire, hold, sell and convey property, both real and personal for the general purposes of such corporation and it may recover and hold the debts, demands, rights, privileges and all property, whether real or personal, of whatever sort it may be, belonging or appertaining to said church, in whatever manner the same may have been acquired, and in whose hands soever the same may be held, the same as if the right and title had originally been vested in said corporation. The board of trustees may authorize certain of the officers of said board to affix the corporate name and the seal of the corporation, and to execute and attest conveyances, notes, obligations, acquittances and all other necessary legal documents. It may sell, mortgage and dispose of its personal property; and may mortgage and incumber its real estate. It may acquire real estate by gift, purchase or devise for the purpose of having and holding land and buildings for its own use and occupancy, including a pastor's residence, a church cemetery, church and Sunday school buildings and grounds and church society buildings and grounds, and may sell or mortgage such real estate; shall have and enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities, so far as any church cemetery owned by it is concerned, which corporations organized to establish rural cemeteries have and enjoy under the laws of this state: Provided, That the right to sell, convey or mortgage such real property shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be prescribed by the rules of discipline, articles or by-laws pertaining to each such corporation: And provided further, That every such church corporation in so far as it holds any property in trust for religious, charitable, benevolent, educational or social purposes, shall be deemed to be a trustee corporation within the meaning of this act and governed by the provisions of chapter one of this part, excepting as herein otherwise provided.

Proviso.

Further proviso.