ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 1211

branch of which each applicant is a member, amount of bene-
fits to be granted, rate of stated periodical contributions which
shall be sufficient to provide for meeting the mortuary obliga-
tion, contracted, when value for death benefits, upon the basis
of the National Fraternal Congress Table of Mortality, as
adopted by the National Fraternal Congress August 23, 1899,
or any higher standard at the option of the association and
for disability benefits by tables based upon reliable experience
and for combined death and permanent total disability benefits
by tables based upon reliable experience, with an interest as-
sumption not higher than four per cent, per annum, nor until
it shall be shown to the insurance commissioner by the sworn
statement of the treasurer or corresponding officer of such
association that at least five hundred applicants have each paid
in cash at least one regular monthly payment as herein pro-
vided per one thousand dollars of indemnity to be effected,
which payments in the aggregate shall amount to at least
twenty-five hundred dollars, all of which shall be credited to
the mortuary or disability fund on account of such applicants,
and no part of which may be used for expenses.

Said advanced payments shall, during the periot of or-
ganization, be held, in trust and, if the organization is not
completed within one year, as hereinafter provided, returned
to said applicants. The insurance commissioner may make
such examination and require such further information as he
deems advisable, and upon presentation of satisfactory evidence
that the association has complied with all the provisions of law
he shall issue to such association a certificate to that effect.
Such certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the existence
of such association at the date of such certificate. The insur-
ance commissioner shall cause a record of such certificate to be
made and a certified copy of such record may be given in evi-
dence with like effect as the original certificate. No prelimi-
nary certificate granted under the provisions of this section
shall be valid after one year from this date, or after such fur-
ther period, not exceeding one year, as may be authorized by
the insurance commissioner upon cause shown, unless the five
hundred applicants herein required have been secured and the
organization has been completed as herein provided, and the
articles of incorporation and all proceedings thereunder shall
become null and void in one year from the date of said pre-
liminary certificate, or at the expiration of said extended period,
unless such association shall have completed its organization
and commenced business as herein provided. When any