The 5 principal officers, or in lieu thereof any 5 or more persons, residents of this state being members of a district or subordinate lodge of the Loyal Orange Institution, having been duly chartered by the supreme grand lodge of the United States and approved by the grand lodge of this state, 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 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 the 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 a 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 of this state of the existence and due incorporation of such corporation: Provided, Said corporation shall be limited to the powers and provisions of section 3 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.
MCL 457.55