2013 New York Consolidated Laws
BVO - Benevolent Orders
Article 2 - (2 - 14) General Provisions
2 - Organization.

 
    § 2. Organization. Either of the following orders:
    1. A lodge of Free and Accepted Masons duly chartered by and installed
  according  to  the  general  rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of
  Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York;
    2. A chapter of Royal Arch Masons  duly  chartered  by  and  installed
  according  to  the general rules and regulations of the Grand Chapter of
  Royal Arch Masons of the state of New York;
    3. A council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masons  duly  chartered  by  and
  installed  according  to  the general rules and regulations of the Grand
  Council of Royal and Select Masters of the state of New York;
    4. A commandery of Knights Templar duly chartered  by  and  instituted
  according  to  the general rules and regulations of the Grand Commandery
  of the state of New York;
    5. A consistory, chapter, council  or  lodge  duly  chartered  by  and
  instituted according to the general rules and regulations of the Supreme
  Council  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish Rite for the Northern
  jurisdiction of the United States;
    6. A lodge of Odd Fellows, duly chartered by and  installed  according
  to  the  general  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of the
  Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of New York;
    7. A Temple of Nobles of the  Mystic  Shrine  duly  chartered  by  and
  instituted  according  to  the  general  rules  and  regulations  of the
  Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic
  Shrine for North America;
    8. A lodge of the Knights of Pythias, duly chartered by and  installed
  according to the general rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of the
  Knights of Pythias of the state of New York;
    9.  A  post of the Grand Army of the Republic, chartered and installed
  according to the regulations of that organization;
    10. Any lodge of the Benevolent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  duly
  chartered  by  and  installed  according  to  the  regulations  of  that
  organization;
    11. Any subordinate lodge, tribe or other body of  any  benevolent  or
  fraternal  order  or society incorporated under and pursuant to the laws
  of this state;
    12. A council of the Knights of Columbus chartered and  instituted  by
  the  National  Council  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  pursuant to the
  constitution and laws of said order;
    13. Any high court, subordinate  court,  or  companion  court  of  the
  Independent  Order  of Foresters chartered and instituted by the Supreme
  Court of the Independent Order of Foresters pursuant to the constitution
  and laws of said order;
    14. A tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, duly  chartered  by  and
  instituted  according  to the general rules and regulations of the Great
  Council of the Improved Order of Red Men of the state of New York;
    15. The Supreme Council of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of  the
  Enchanted   Realm,  or  a  subordinate  grotto  duly  chartered  by  and
  instituted according to  the  general  rules  and  regulations  of  said
  supreme council;
    16.  Any  subordinate  lodge  of  the  Order of American True Ivorites
  chartered and instituted in accordance with the regulations of the Grand
  lodge of the Order of American True Ivorites;
    17. Any subordinate aerie of the Fraternal Order of  Eagles  chartered
  and  instituted in accordance with the regulations of the grand aerie of
  the Fraternal Order of Eagles;
    18. Any subordinate council of the Junior  Order  of  United  American
  Mechanics under the jurisdiction of the national council of such order.

    19.  Any  local  camp  of  the Modern Woodmen of America chartered and
  instituted in accordance with the regulations of the head  camp  of  the
  Modern Woodmen of America.
    20.  The  Supreme  or  Cosmopolitan  Council of the Brotherhood of the
  Commonwealth.
    21. A tent of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  of  the  World,  duly
  chartered  and instituted according to the general rules and regulations
  of the supreme tent of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World:
    22. Any subordinate lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, duly  chartered
  and  instituted  in  accordance  with  the  constitution and laws of the
  supreme lodge of the world, Loyal Order of Moose.
    23. The Catholic  Daughters  of  America,  or  any  subordinate  court
  thereof,  which  is duly chartered and instituted in accordance with the
  constitution and laws of said Catholic Daughters of America.
    24. The Home Nest or any subordinate nest of the Order  of  Owls  duly
  chartered   by  and  instituted  according  to  the  general  rules  and
  regulations of the Home Nest of the Order of Owls;
    25. An encampment of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  duly
  chartered   by   and  installed  according  to  the  general  rules  and
  regulations of the grand encampment of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd
  Fellows;
    26.  A  canton of patriarchs militant, duly chartered by and installed
  according to the general rules and regulations of  the  sovereign  grand
  lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows;
    27.  A commandery of the Knights of Malta, chartered by and instituted
  according to the general rules and  regulations  of  the  Supreme  Grand
  Commandery of the Ancient and Illustrious Order of Knights of Malta;
    28.  A  sisterhood of the Dames of Malta, Ladies of the Order of Saint
  John, Ancient and Illustrious Order,  Knights  of  Malta,  Continent  of
  America,  chartered by and instituted according to the general rules and
  regulations of the Zenodacia of the Dames of Malta;
    29. A council of the Degree of Pocahontas of the Improved Order of Red
  Men, duly chartered by and instituted according to the general rules and
  regulations of The Great Council of New York State, Degree of Pocahontas
  of the Improved Order of Red Men.
    30. A chapter of American Legion, chartered and installed according to
  the regulations of that  organization.  A  post,  county  committee,  or
  department organization of the American Legion, duly chartered according
  to the regulations of that organization.
    30-a.  A  unit,  county  committee  or  department organization of the
  American Legion Auxiliary, duly chartered according to  the  regulations
  of that organization.
    30-b.  A  county  or  department  organization of Le Boutique des Huit
  Chapeaux et Quarante Femmes, duly chartered according to the regulations
  of that organization.
    31. The State Camp of New York of the Patriotic Order Sons of America,
  or any  subordinate  camp  thereof  duly  chartered  by  and  instituted
  according to the rules and regulations of such State Camp.
    32.  A  chapter of the order of the Eastern Star duly chartered by and
  instituted according to the general rules and regulations of  the  Grand
  Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of New York.
    33.  Any  subordinate  lodge of the Independent Order Brith Abraham of
  the United States of America, chartered by and  installed  according  to
  the  general  rules  and  regulations  of the United States Grand Lodge,
  Independent Order Brith Abraham.
    34. A department or county La Societe  des  Quarante  Hommes  et  Huit
  Chevaux,  chartered  and  installed  according to the regulations of the
  American Legion.

    35. A court of the  order  of  the  Amaranth  duly  chartered  by  and
  instituted  according  to the general rules and regulations of the Grand
  Court of the Order of the Amaranth of the State of New York.
    36. Order of the Alhambra.
    37. A post or detachment of the marine corps league.
    37. Ancient Order of Hibernians.
    38. A post of Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Inc.
    38-a. A post of Catholic War Veterans, Inc.
    38-b.  A  post  or counties council of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
  the United States, Incorporated.
    39. A chapter of the Army and Navy  Union  of  the  United  States  of
  America,  chartered  and  installed according to the regulations of that
  organization; a garrison,  county  or  district  council  or  department
  organization of the Army and Navy Union of the United States of America,
  duly chartered according to the regulations of that organization.
    40.  A  post,  county,  committee  or  department  organization of the
  Regular Veterans' Association, duly chartered and installed according to
  the regulations of that organization.
    41. A chapter, county, committee or  department  organization  of  the
  Disabled  American  Veterans,  duly chartered and installed according to
  the regulations of that organization.
    42. Veterans of National Guard and Naval Militia, or  any  subordinate
  post or council, which is duly chartered and instituted according to the
  general  rules  and  regulations  of  the Veterans of National Guard and
  Naval Militia.
    43. A post, county, district or departmental  organization  of  AMVETS
  (American  Veterans  of  World  War  II),  duly  chartered and installed
  according to the regulations of that organization.
    44. A post, county district or  department  organization  of  the  Air
  Force  Association,  duly  chartered  and  installed,  according  to the
  regulations of that organization.
    45. A post, county, district or departmental organization  of  Italian
  American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated, duly chartered
  and installed according to the regulations of that organization.
    45-a. A post, county, district or departmental organization of Ladies'
  Auxiliary,   Italian   American  War  Veterans  of  the  United  States,
  Incorporated, duly chartered and installed according to the  regulations
  of that organization.
    46. A lodge of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of
  the  World  duly chartered by and installed according to the regulations
  of that organization.
    47. The Masonic War Veterans of the State of New  York,  Incorporated,
  or  any  subordinate  post thereof which is duly chartered and installed
  according to the general rules and regulations of that organization.
    48. A lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  duly  chartered  by  and
  installed  according  to the general rules and regulations of the Prince
  Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York.
    49. A temple of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine,  duly  chartered  by  and
  installed according to the general rules and regulations of the Imperial
  Council  of  the  Ancient  Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of
  North and South America and its Jurisdictions, Inc.
    50. A Forest duly chartered by and installed according to the  general
  rules  and regulations of the Supreme Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, of
  the United States of America.
    51. Grand Lodge of the State of New  York,  Order  Sons  of  Italy  in
  America,  Incorporated,  and any subordinate lodge of the Grand Lodge of
  the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in America, duly chartered by
  and installed according to the general  rules  and  regulations  of  the

  Grand  Lodge  of  the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in America,
  Incorporated.
    51-a. A post, county, district or departmental organization of Ladies'
  Lodges,  Grand  Lodge  of  the State of New York, Order Sons of Italy in
  America, Incorporated, duly chartered and  installed  according  to  the
  regulations of that organization.
    52.  A  chapter  of  the  order  of  the American Hellenic Educational
  Progressive Association,  Incorporated,  duly  chartered  and  installed
  according  to  the  constitution  and  laws of the supreme lodge of said
  order.
    53. The Department of New York, Polish Legion of American Veterans, or
  any subordinate post thereof, which is duly chartered and instituted  in
  accordance  with  the  constitution  and by-laws of the Polish Legion of
  American Veterans, U. S. A. , and the Ladies  Auxiliary,  Department  of
  New  York, Polish Legion of American Veterans or any subordinate chapter
  thereof,  which  is  duly  chartered  and  installed  according  to  the
  regulations of the Polish Legion of American Veterans.
    54. Blinded Veterans Association New York, Inc.
    55.  A  clan  of  the United Scottish Clans of New York and New Jersey
  duly chartered and  installed  according  to  the  regulations  of  that
  organization.
    56. A subordinate of the King of Tyre Affiliation A.F. and A.M. of the
  State of New York.
    57. The International Veterans Boxers Association.
    58.  St.  Paul's Conclave No. 12, Red Cross of Constantine of New York
  city.
    May elect at any regular  communication,  convocation,  encampment  or
  other   regular  meeting  thereof,  by  whatever  name  known,  held  in
  accordance with the constitution and general rules  and  regulations  of
  such  grand  lodge,  chapter,  commandery or council, or other governing
  body to which it  belongs,  or  with  which  it  is  connected,  and  in
  conformity  to  its  own by-laws, if it has any, not less than three nor
  more than five trustees or an executive committee of not more than  five
  members  for  such  lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  consistory,  council,
  temple, post, court, tribe, grotto, aerie, camp, tent, nest,  encampment
  or canton, or Degree of Pocahontas council, who shall be members thereof
  in  full  membership  and  in good and regular standing therein; and may
  file in the office of the secretary of  state,  a  certificate  of  such
  election,  signed  and acknowledged by the first three elective officers
  of such lodge, chapter, commandery, consistory, council,  temple,  post,
  court,  tribe, grotto, aerie, camp, tent, nest, encampment or canton, or
  Degree of Pocahontas  council,  stating  the  time  and  place  of  such
  election  and  that  same  was  regular,  the  names of such trustees or
  executive committee, and the term, severally, for which they are elected
  to serve, and the name of the lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  consistory,
  council,  temple,  post,  court, tribe, grotto, aerie, camp, tent, nest,
  encampment or canton, or Degree of Pocahontas council,  for  which  they
  are elected.
    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions  of this section, any such
  order  may  determine,  at  any  regular   communication,   convocation,
  encampment  or  other  regular  meeting thereof, by whatever name known,
  held in accordance with the constitution and general regulations of  the
  grand  lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  council or other governing body to
  which it belongs or with which it is connected,  and  is  in  conformity
  with  its  own  by-laws,  if  there  be any, to increase or decrease the
  number of trustees or executive  committee  members  elected  under  the
  provisions  of  this section; provided, that the number of such trustees
  or members shall in no event be less than three; and provided, that  the

  foregoing   provisions   of  this  section  shall,  to  the  extent  not
  inconsistent with this paragraph, be applicable to any order making  the
  determination authorized by this paragraph.