R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-25-1

Any incorporated society, order, or supreme lodge, without capital stock, including one exempted under the provisions of § 27-25-38(a)(2), whether incorporated or not, conducted solely for the benefit of its members and their beneficiaries and not for profit, operated on a lodge system with ritualistic form of work, having a representative form of government, and which provides benefits in accordance with this chapter, is declared to be a fraternal benefit society.