CHAPTER 2. LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS FOR BENEVOLENT PURPOSES
IC 23-10-2
Chapter 2. Land Acquisition and Construction of Buildings for
Benevolent Purposes
IC 23-10-2-1
Acquisition of land; purposes
Sec. 1. Any persons, congregation, society, church or any grand
or subordinate lodge of Free Masons, or Odd Fellows, or Knights of
Pythias, or any grand or subordinate chapter, council or encampment
of Free Masons, or Odd fellows, or Knights of Pythias, or any temple
or division of the Sons or Daughters of Temperance, and any
voluntary association for religious, educational, scientific or
benevolent purposes may take by purchase, grant or devise lots or
tracts of land not exceeding one hundred sixty (160) acres, upon
which to erect buildings for religious worship or for such other
purposes as will best attain the objects of said several organizations,
and, for that purpose, may elect not less than three (3) nor more than
nine (9) trustees, who shall possess the power and perform the duties
herein named.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.1; Acts 1895, c.10, s.1.)
IC 23-10-2-2
Society; definition
Sec. 2. The word "society" in this chapter shall be deemed to
include churches, associations, congregations, grand and subordinate
lodges, chapters, councils, encampments, divisions, and all other
orders enumerated in section 1 of this chapter.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.2; Acts 1895, c.10, s.2.) As
amended by P.L.34-1987, SEC.337.
IC 23-10-2-3
Election of trustees; notice
Sec. 3. Notice of the first election of trustees shall be given at
least ten (10) days previous thereto by publication in a newspaper of
the county, if any be published therein, otherwise by posting such
notices in three (3) public places in the township where such election
is to take place, one (1) of which notices shall be posted at the place
where the proposed election is to be held. Such notice shall state the
time, place and object of such election; and the same shall be held at
the usual place of worship or meeting of such society, if any there be:
Provided, That at any subsequent election of such trustees, no such
notice shall be necessary where such lodge or society shall, in its
rules, by-laws or constitution, provide and fix the time and place for
the election of its trustees.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.3; Acts 1895, c.10, s.3.)
IC 23-10-2-4
Election certificate; recording; duties of clerk
Sec. 4. Such society, at the first and every subsequent election,
shall appoint a clerk thereof, who shall take, count and make a
poll-list of the votes given for trustees; and, within ten (10) days
thereafter, shall deposit in the recorder's office of the county where
the real estate granted is situate, a certificate setting forth the notice
of such election, the time and place where the same was held, the
name of the society and persons elected as trustees thereof; and the
recorder of such county shall record the same among the records of
deeds in his office.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.4.)
IC 23-10-2-5
Certificate; conclusive and presumptive evidence
Sec. 5. As between such society, the trustees thereof, and all other
persons claiming under them, and any person granting real estate
thereto, and all persons claiming under him, such certificate shall be
conclusive evidence of the matters and things therein recited; and as
between such society, the trustees thereof, and all persons claiming
under them, and all other persons, it shall be presumptive evidence
of such matters.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.5.)
IC 23-10-2-6
Succession of trustees
Sec. 6. Such trustees shall severally hold their offices until their
successors are duly chosen according to the rules of such society;
and any society, by a majority vote, at a meeting of one-third (1/3) of
the resident members thereof notice being given as aforesaid, may
remove such trustees, and elect others in their stead.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.6.)
IC 23-10-2-7
By-laws
Sec. 7. Such society, or the trustees thereof, when organized for
that purpose, may establish all necessary by-laws to carry out the
objects of its organization.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.7.)
IC 23-10-2-8
Selection of appointment of trustees according to custom
Sec. 8. Any society may select or appoint trustees according to its
common usage or custom, if they desire it; but a certificate of such
selection or appointment, and the record of the same, as in case of
their election, shall not be dispensed with.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.8.)
IC 23-10-2-9
Powers of trustees
Sec. 9. Such trustees shall be deemed a body politic and
corporate, under such name and style as the society may elect; and,
by that name, shall have power to contract, sue, be contracted with
and sued with like effect as other persons or corporations.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.9.)
IC 23-10-2-10
Change of corporate name
Sec. 10. Such society may, at any meeting, by giving ten (10)
days' notice of the time and purpose thereof, change their corporate
name; but the name chosen by such society shall not be assumed
until a record has first been made of the fact in the recorder's office
of the proper county. Such change shall not affect the rights or
liabilities of the society or of other persons or parties.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.10.)
IC 23-10-2-11
Receiving and holding conveyances of land
Sec. 11. The trustees chosen as herein provided, after record of
their election or appointment is made in the recorder's office of the
proper county, shall have power and authority, as such trustees, to
receive conveyances of lands, whether the same be by purchase, gift
or otherwise, and to hold the same to their successors, as such
trustees, in perpetuity, for the sole and exclusive benefit of such
society and for the uses declared in such conveyance or grant.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.11.)
IC 23-10-2-12
Acquiring and possessing of personal property
Sec. 12. Such trustees and their successors in office may also
acquire and possess personal property for the use of any such society,
and may appropriate the same, and the income or interest thereof,
and all other funds and incomes in their hands as such trustees, for
the purposes designated by such society, not inconsistent with the
trust.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.12; Acts 1925, c.68, s.1.)
IC 23-10-2-13
Sale or other disposition of corporate property
Sec. 13. Such trustees, to more effectually carry out the objects of
their trust, may sell, loan or otherwise dispose of their corporate
property; and any conveyance thereof by such trustees, or a majority
of them, in behalf of such society, shall vest in the purchaser of the
same, all the right, title and interest thereto; but the provisions of this
section shall not be construed to affect any gift, bequest or devise to
such society, or to trustees for its use, nor to defeat the intentions of
the grantor, donor or testator.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.13.)
IC 23-10-2-14
Revival of dissolved corporation
Sec. 14. When any society within the meaning of this chapter
shall have been dissolved from any cause, a majority of the persons
interested therein may revive the same, within five (5) years after
such dissolution, by electing a new board of trustees, and making
record of such election in the recorder's office of the proper county,
as provided in this chapter. And whenever, from any cause, any
church or religious society holding and possessing property within
the meaning of this chapter shall have been dissolved, the annual or
quarterly conference, or other ecclesiastical body to which such
church or religious society is directly subordinate, shall have power
to appoint trustees, in accordance with the customs and usages of
said church, to take charge and control of the property of said church
or society until it shall be revived as contemplated by this chapter.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.14; Acts 1855, c.107, s.1.) As
amended by P.L.34-1987, SEC.338.
IC 23-10-2-15
Applicability of chapter to prior acquisitions
Sec. 15. The provisions of this chapter shall extend to every
society, educational or religious, which, previous to May 6, 1853,
had acquired land for the purpose of erecting a house of worship, or
other appropriate building, not exceeding five (5) acres, upon
condition that the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the persons
interested in the land is first obtained, the trustees are elected and
certified, and other proceedings had as directed in this chapter for the
election of trustees.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.15.) As amended by
P.L.34-1987, SEC.339; P.L.1-1991, SEC.161.
IC 23-10-2-16
Performance of trustees' duties by officers
Sec. 16. The officers of any society, by whatever name such
officers may be designated, elected in the manner prescribed by this
chapter, or according to the rules of any such church, society, or
order, may, whenever the laws or usages of the same require it,
perform the duties of trustees, and, in their proper name and title,
shall possess all the powers and be subject to the same liabilities as
trustees; and the certificate of the election of such officers shall be
recorded in the recorder's office of the proper county as in the case
of trustees.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.16.) As amended by
P.L.34-1987, SEC.340.
IC 23-10-2-17
Applicability of chapter to cemetery associations
Sec. 17. All the provisions of this chapter are hereby extended, so
far as the same may be applicable, to any individuals who may unite
themselves together for the purpose of receiving donations of lands
or purchasing the same for cemeteries.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.17.) As amended by
P.L.34-1987, SEC.341.
IC 23-10-2-18
Donations and purchases; rights and privileges
Sec. 18. When such donations or purchases shall be made to or by
any such individuals, and a certificate thereof or conveyance
therefor, together with the articles of association by which such
individuals have become united for such purpose, shall be filed in the
office of the recorder of the proper county, and by him recorded,
such individuals shall enjoy all the privileges necessary for the
preservation and protection of such cemetery, in the same manner as
if such individuals were regularly incorporated by law, and such
cemetery shall forever remain a burial place for the dead.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.18.)
IC 23-10-2-19
Conveyance for cemetery purposes; holding in trust
Sec. 19. Lands conveyed to the board of county commissioners,
by deed duly recorded, for the purpose of a public or private
cemetery, shall be held by such board forever in trust for such
purpose.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.19.)
IC 23-10-2-20
Designated burial lots
Sec. 20. In all cases where the donors or donees of any public
burying ground shall lay the same off into lots, plainly designated by
corner stones or posts, and record a plat thereof in the recorder's
office, then persons interring in said burying place shall bury within
the lots so designated, and not out of them.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.20.)
IC 23-10-2-21
Donor of private burying ground; exclusive right of admitting
Sec. 21. The donor of a private burying ground, his heirs and
assigns forever, shall have the exclusive right of admitting corpses
for interment, and shall direct where the same shall be buried; and
may grant any right of burial in such ground as shall not interfere
with the graves already there or the rights of persons who have
buried their dead in such ground.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.21.)
IC 23-10-2-22
Subsequent disposition by donor; applicability of chapter
Sec. 22. No burying ground specified in this chapter shall pass or
be held contrary to the intent or meaning of this chapter by virtue of
any subsequent devise, purchase, descent, or conveyance of the
donor.
(Formerly: Acts 1852, 1RS, c.101, s.22.) As amended by
P.L.34-1987, SEC.342.