1208 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 402

or, if a voluntary association, the articles of association, the
constitution and laws of the association and the application
for membership and medical examination, signed by the appli-
cant, and all amendments to each thereof, shall constitute the
agreement between the association and the member and the
copies of the same certified by the secretary of the association
or corresponding officer, shall be received in evidence of the
terms and conditions thereof, and any changes, additions or
amendments to said charter or articles of incorporation or
articles of association, if a voluntary association, constitution or
laws duly made or enacted subsequent to the issuance of the bene-
fit certificate shall bind the member and his beneficiaries, and
shall govern and control the agreement in all respects the
same as though such changes, additions or amendments had
been made prior to and were in force at the time of the appli-
cation for membership.

SEC. 151. Funds. Any association may create, maintain,
invest, disburse and apply an emergency, surplus or other
similar funds in accordance with its laws. Uuless otherwise
provided in the contract, such funds shall be held, invested
and disbursed for the use and benefit of the association, and
no member or beneficiary shall have or acquire individual rights
therein or become entitled to any apportionment or the sur
render of any part thereof, except as provided in section 147
of this article. The funds from which benefit shall be paid
and the funds from which the expenses of the association shall
be defrayed, shall be derived from periodical payments by the
members of the association, and accretions of said funds; pro-
vided, that no association, domestic or foreign, shall hereafter
be incorporated or admitted to transact business in this state,
which does not provide for stated periodical contributions suffi-
cient to provide for meeting the mortuary obligations contracted,
when valued upon the basis of the National Fraternal Congress
Table of Mortality as adopted by the National Fraternal Con-
gress August 23, 1899, or any higher standard, with interest
assumption not more than four per cent, per annum, nor write
or accept members for temporary or permanent disability bene-
fits except upon tables based upon reliable experience, with
an interest assumption not higher than four per cent, per
annum.

SEC. 152. Deferred Payments. Deferred payments or in-
stallments of claims shall be considered as fix-ed liabilties on the
happening of the contingency upon which such payments or