2006 New York Code - (enacted Without Section Heading).

 
    § 3-a. (enacted   without   section  heading).  A  subordinate  lodge,
  chapter, post, council, commandery, temple, court or other  organization
  entitled to file a certificate of election of trustees under section two
  of  the  benevolent  orders  law shall, while the warrant or charter for
  said lodge, chapter, post, council, commandery, temple, court  or  other
  organization,  is  in  force  so  as  to  entitle  it  to  operate  as a
  subordinate body of the grand lodge or  other  grand  body  under  whose
  jurisdiction  it  operates,  be  deemed to be a corporate entity for the
  purpose  of  making  contracts,  incurring  liabilities,  and  acquiring
  rights,  and  of suing and being sued in the courts of this state in its
  own name, but may not take, hold, lease, mortgage, convey  or  otherwise
  dispose  of  real  property  unless  it shall have filed the certificate
  required by section two of the benevolent orders law. In the absence  of
  fraud  or  bad  faith,  the  members,  officers and trustees of a lodge,
  chapter, post, council, commandery, temple, court or other organization,
  enumerated in section two of the benevolent orders  law,  shall  not  be
  personally liable for its debts, obligations or liabilities.