Andre v. Modern Woodmen of America

• Decision Date: 09 November 1903
• Parties: CARRIE ANDRE, Respondent, v. MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA, Appellant
• Court: Kansas Court of Appeals

76 S.W. 710

102 Mo.App. 377

CARRIE ANDRE, Respondent, v. MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA, Appellant

Court of Appeals of Missouri, Kansas City

November 9, 1903

Appeal from Daviess Circuit Court.--Hon. J. W. Alexander, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Cause affirmed.

W. D Hamilton, Boyd Dudley and J. G. Johnson for appellant.

(1) The court erred in overruling defendant's demurrer offered at the close of the whole case, for the reasons: (a) That R. G Griffith, clerk of Melbourn Camp No. 7090, had no power to waive any of the provisions of the by-laws, and especially that he had no power or authority to waive any provisions relating to the substance of the contract, embodied in the application and benefit certificate and the question of waiver, should not have been submitted to the jury. (2) Neither is the power of waiver in relation to the substance of the contract as a general rule permitted by law. May on Insurance, sec. 146, 147; Priest v. Ins. Co., 85 Mass. 604; Sweet v. Relief Society, 78 Me. 545; McCoy v. Ins. Co., 157 Mass. 272; Troehley v Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 472. (3) The camp clerk had absolutely no right or power under this by-law, which is a part of the contract, to do anything further than to receive money when it was brought and tendered to him. There must be something more than the act of a representative with such limited authority to constitute a waiver on the part of defendant. Bank v. Luvit, 114 Mo. 579; Laundry v. Ins Co., 66 Mo.App. 204; Burnham v. Ins. Co., 63 Mo.App. 85; Jenkins v. Ins. Co., 58 Mo.App. 212; Wood v. Rayburn, 18 Oregon 3; Trentor v. Pathen, 46 Minn. 248; McDermott v. Railroad, 73 Mo. 516; Curtin v. Grand Lodge, 65 Mo.App. 297; Borgraefe v. Supreme Lodge, 22 Mo.App. 142; Harvey v. Grand Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 472; Jenkins v. Ins. Co., 58 Mo.App. 112; Hayward v. Ins. Co., 52 Mo. 191; Johnson v. Building Co., 23 Mo.App. 552; Anderson v. Valliner, 83 Mo. 406. Clearly he is invested with no such extraordinary power. Hale v. Ins. Co., 6 Gray 169, 66 Am. Dec. 410; Priest v. Ins. Co., 3 Allen 604; Behler v. Ins. Co., 68 Ind. 354; Ins. Co. v. Earle, 33 Mich. 150; Mallory v. Ins. Co., 4 Allen 116; Harvey v. Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 477. (4) The members of a fraternal beneficiary association are conclusively presumed to know its laws. Coleman v. Knights of Honor, 18 Mo.App. 189; Grand Lodge v. Elsner, 26 Mo.App. 108; Bacon on Ben. Soc., sec. 81; Harvey v. Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 477. (5) Griffith was a special agent (if he had any agency) with no authority but to receive money. His authority is known to the members dealing with him. He has no authority to waive any of the laws of the society which relate to the substance of the contract between an individual member and his associates in their associate capacity. Lyon v. Supreme Assembly, 26 N. E. (Mass.) 236; Brotherhood's Case, 31 Bear 365; Burbank v. Association, 144 Mass. 437, 11 N.E. 591; McCoy v. Church, 152 Allen 294; Evans v. Ins. Co., 9 Allen 329; Hale v. Ins. Co., 6 Gray 169, 66 Am. Dec. 410; Brewer v. Chelsea, 14 Gray 203; Mulray v. Ins. Co., 2 Allen 116; Sweet v. Society, 78 Me. 541, 7 A. 394; Harvey v. Grand Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 478; Chadwick v. Order of Trip., 56 Mo.App. 473; Curtin v. Grand Lodge, 65 Mo.App. 297. (5) The officers and the members of an inferior lodge have no power to waive any requirements of such laws in so far as they effect the rights of a parent corporation. Borgraefe v. Knights of Honor, 22 Mo.App. 127; Harvey v. Grand Lodge, 50 Mo.App. 477; Chadwick v. Order T. A., 56 Mo.App. 472; Curtin v. Grand Lodge, 65 Mo.App. 297; Boyce v. Royal Circle, 73 S.W. 300. (6) Andre having been suspended by failure to pay dues maturing on the 1st day of July, 1900, within the time prescribed by the by-laws, could not have been reinstated except as provided by the by-laws; and without such reinstatement no recovery can be had. Yoe v. Masonic M. B. Assn., 63 Md. 86; Hawkshaw v. Supreme Lodge, 29 F. 770; Klein v. Ins. Co., 104 U.S. 85; Curtin v. Grand Lodge, 65 Mo.App. 300; Masons Bs. Society v. Baldwin, 86 Ill. 479; Borgraefe v. Knights of Honor, 22 Mo.App. 143.

J. T. DeVorss and Harber & Knight for respondent.

(1) Appellant complains of the court having declared that witness Griffith was the agent of the defendant, its by-laws to the contrary notwithstanding. This has been so often declared by courts of last resort it would seem the citing of authorities in support thereof is unnecessary. McMahon v. Maccabees, 151 Mo. 542; Cauveren v. Ancient Order of Pyramids, 72 S.W. 141; Knights of Pythias v. Withers, 177 U.S. 260. (2) Appellant also insists that Griffith had no authority to waive provisions of its by-laws and accept payment after member had been suspended for non-payment of dues without health certificate accompanying such payment. This question has also been frequently passed upon by courts of this State, and the holding diametrically opposite the contention of appellant. Cases supra; James v. Ins. Co., 148 Mo. 1. (3) But aside from this, this identical question, which we again repeat was decisive in this case, was submitted to the jury under instructions given at the instance of appellant and it can not now be heard to say there was no evidence upon which to submit same, or that it was wrongfully submitted or improperly determined, by the jury.

OPINION

BROADDUS, J.

On the 21st day of October, 1899, the defendant issued to Charles Andre, plaintiff's husband, a certain benefit certificate, by the terms of which it agreed, in case of the death of said Andre while a beneficiary member of its organization in good standing, to pay plaintiff, his wife, one thousand dollars. By the terms of said certificate the by-laws of the association became a part thereof. They provide that each member shall pay certain dues to be assessed by the board of directors of the association, of which the member shall have notice, after which if he fails on or before the first day of the month next thereafter to pay said assessment, he stands ipso facto suspended and his said benefit certificate "shall be absolutely null and void." The dates fixed for the payment of said dues are the first days of April, July, October and January of each year. It is further provided that any member so suspended may be reinstated by the payment, within sixty days from date of suspension, of all such dues, "provided, however, that he be in good health at the time of reinstatement and furnish to the clerk of the local camp of which he is a member a written warranty to such effect, which shall be transmitted by said clerk to the head clerk of the association, which consists of many local camps all under the general jurisdiction of said head camp." The by-laws also make it the duty of said local clerk, when he receives the dues of members, to transmit those that belong to the general organization to the said clerk thereof, and to report all arrearages of members in paying their dues; and it is further provided that no officer of the society is authorized or permitted to waive any of the laws or by-laws of the association. And said by-laws further provide that the clerk of the local camp was made the agent of such camp and not the agent of the head camp, "and no act or omission on his part shall have the effect of creating a liability on the part of this society, or of waiving any right or immunity belonging to it."

It was shown on the trial that deceased had been clerk of the local camp of which he was a member, but had ceased to act as such prior to the first day of July, 1900, and was succeeded in the office by R. G. Griffith; that said deceased was delinquent in the payment of his dues on the said first day of July, of which he had due notice. There was evidence that he was then sick; that he told certain persons that he did not intend to pay certain dues; and that he was indebted to the association for money received by him while he was clerk which he had failed to account for to the association. Plaintiff admitted the sickness of said Andre, but denied that he was so indebted.

On July 26th, the local clerk reported to the head clerk the failure of the deceased to pay his said dues. On July 23d, Dr. T. V. Williams, for deceased, paid to said Griffith, as local clerk, the sum of $ 5.15, which he credited to said alleged indebtedness of deceased. The plaintiff introduced evidence tending to show that the money was paid and received on said dues and not on said alleged indebtedness. There was evidence pro and con on the issue, as to whether the payment was on account of said dues or of the alleged indebtedness. The jury found for the plaintiff which finding is conclusive on the defendant and obviates the necessity on the...