Beneficial Associations

Voluntary associations for mutual assistance in need and sickness, and for the care of families of deceased members. Niblack, Ben. Soc. and Accid. Ins. These associations form in substance a very effect!1 tern of co-operative life insurance. The payment to the beneficiary is not a gift, but a right arising from the contract of membership, and when the conditions of membership have been fulfilled may be enforced at law; id. ch. xxvi. The suspension of a subordinate lodge will not defeat a recovery unless legally done; Young v. Grand Lodge of Sons of Progress, 173 Pa. 302, 33 Atl. 1038. In a suit for sick benefits the constitution and by-laws of the society constitute the contract between the parties, and the mode which they provide to ascertain the right to benefits must be pursued in order to recover; Delaware Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. F., v. Allmon, 1 Pennewill (Del.) 100. 00 Atl. When after a certificate had been i under the law as it then stood payable at death to a creditor (named), a subsequent law prohibiting payment to other than relatives or dependents of the insured could have no retroactive effect nor compel him to designate a new beneficiary; Emrnons v. Supreme Conclave, I. O. II., 6 Pennewill (Del.) 115, 63 Atl. S71; Peterson v. Gibson, 191 111. 365,