INSURANCE 2165

scribed by its constitution and laws; provided, that the elective members
shall constitute a majority in number and not have less than two-thirds of
the votes, nor less than the votes required to amend its constitution and
laws; and provided further, that the meetings of the supreme or govern-
ing body, and the election of officers, representatives or delegates shall be
held as often as once in four years. The members, officers, representatives
or delegates of a fraternal beneficiary association shall not vote by proxy.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 149. 1922, ch. 492, sec. 146.

183. (Exemptions.) Except as herein provided, such association shall
be governed by this article and shall be exempt from all provisions of the
insurance laws of this state, not only in its governmental relations with the
state, but for every other purpose, and no law hereafter enacted shall apply
to them unless they be expressly designated therein.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 150. 1922, ch. 492, sec. 147.

184. (Benefits.) Every association transacting business under this
article shall provide for the payment of death benefits, and may provide for
the payments of benefits in case of temporary or permanent physical dis-
ability, either as a result of disease, accident or old age; provided, the period
of life at which the payment of benefits for disability on account of old age
shall commence, shall not be more than seventy years; and may provide
for monuments or tombstones to the memory of its deceased members and
for the payment of funeral benefits. Such association shall have the power
to give a member, when permanently disabled or on attaining the age of
seventy, all or such portion of the face value of his certificate, as the laws

The association has no power upon the death of the insured to pay a benefit to a
creditor, although it has been assigned by the insured during his lifetime to such creditor.
Dale v. Brumbly, 96 Md. 678; Meinhardt v. Meinhardt, 117 Md. 433 (decided prior to
the act of 1912, ch. 824).

Under this and the following sections and sec. 415 of the Code of 1904, a beneficiary
can sue a lodge or unincorporated association, in the name by which it is commonly
known, without suing the individual members. Littleton v. Wells, etc., Council, 98
Md. 456.

A corporation held to be within the terms of the act of 1894, ch. 295—see notes to
sec. 239 (this foot-note). Barton v. International Fraternal Alliance, 85 Md. 31; Supreme
Lodge v. Simering, 88 Md. 288.

For a case dealing with the act of 1896, ch. 331, which enacted a section to come in
after sec. 229 (art. 23, An. Code, 1912), but which was repealed by the act of 1902, ch.
338, see Supreme Lodge v. Simering, 88 Md. 276.

Art. 23, secs. 229 to 244, inclusive, An. Code, 1912, referred to in construing sec. 234
thereof—see notes thereto (this foot-note). Hunt v. Winkleman, 136 Md. 252.

Cited but not construed in Himmel v. Eichengreen, 107 Md. 612.

See notes to sec. 234 (this foot-note).

As to workmen's compensation insurance, see art. 101.

230. Cited but not construed in Himmel v. Eichengreen, 107 Md. 612; Supreme Lodge
v. Simering, 88 Md. 284; International Fraternal Alliance v. State, 86 Md. 552; Barton v.
International Fraternal Alliance, 85 Md. 31.

See notes to sec. 229 (this foot-note).

231. Cited but not construed in Himmel v. Eichengreen, 107 Md. 612; Supreme
Lodge v. Simering, 88 Md. 284; International Fraternal Alliance v. State, 86 Md. 552;
Barton v. International Fraternal Alliance, 85 Md. 31.

See notes to sec. 229 (this foot-note).

232. Cited but not construed in Himmel v. Eichengreen, 107 Md. 612; Supreme
Lodge v. Simering, 88 Md. 284; International Fraternal Alliance v. State, 86 Md. 552;
Barton v. International Fraternal Alliance, 85 Md. 31.

See notes to sec. 229 (this foot-note).

233. Cited but not construed in Himmel v. Eichengreen, 107 Md. 612; Supreme
Lodge v. Simering, 88 Md. 284; International Fraternal Alliance v. State, 86 Md. 552;
Barton v. International Fraternal Alliance, 85 Md. 31.

See notes to sec. 229 (this foot-note).