892

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

ernment, and such constitution, laws, rules and regulations

made in accordance with the provisions and objects of this Act,

shall be legal and binding until altered, amended or repealed.

The Supreme Council, when in regular or special session, shall

The law-mak-

be the lawmaking body, but the directors, mentioned in the

ing body.

original charter, are hereby authorized to organize this corpor-

ation and take subscriptions for certificates of memberships,

and when they have secured at least one hundred subscribers

they may call a meeting to elect, or by written direction of a

majority of said subscribers the directors may appoint such

supreme officers as they may deem necessary for the govern-

ment and management of the corporation, including five direc-

tors, to hold office until the time fixed by the constitution and

laws of the order for the first meeting of the Supreme Council

in regular session, at which time and by which body it may be

determined whether the Supreme Council shall meet there-

Directors.

after in regular annual or biennial session. The directors

mentioned in the original charter may adopt such rules and reg-

ulations as may be necessary to carry out the work of organiza-

tion imposed on them, and when their successors have been

elected or appointed as above provided, their term of office

shall cease. The supreme officers and directors selected, as

prescribed in this section, and the incorporators under the

original charter and such other members or subscribers as

may be designated or provided for by the rules and regulations

passed by the directors for the organization of the order, shall

constitute the supreme body of the order until the first meeting

of the Supreme Council in regular session, and as such su-

preme body in special session called for that purpose, shall

To adopt con-

adopt a constitution and enact such laws as they may deem

stitution and
by-laws.

necessary and proper for the government of the corporation,

as the Supreme Council and all grand or subordinate councils

or branches of the same. They may also adopt a ritual, but

it shall not be obligatory upon the order to use the same until

after the meeting of the first Supreme Council in regular ses-

sion. The supreme officers and directors, selected as aforesaid,

shall manage the affairs of the corporation until their suc-

cessors are elected by the Supreme Council at its first regular

session. The fact of not using the ritual or fully organizing

grand or subordinate councils prior to the first meeting of the

Supreme Council in regular session shall not be construed by

the Insurance Commissioner of this State as being an obstacle

to granting license to do business in this State, under the law

relating to fraternal and beneficial orders or associations, but

the Insurance Commissioner is authorized to grant such li-