Grand Grove of United Ancient Order of Druids v. Garibaldi Grove, No. 71, of the United Ancient Order of Druids

Harrison, J. The plaintiff is the supreme tribunal of Druidism in California, and the defendant, Garibaldi Grove, No. 71, is a subordinate grove of Druids, of which the appellant, Duchein, is the treasurer. The relation between the plaintiff and the subordinate grove is established by the constitution and by-laws of the order, by virtue of which the grand grove is given “ sole right and full power to grant charters to subordinate groves, to receive appeals and redress grievances, and, in its discretion, for good cause shown, to suspend groves, arrest charters,” etc. By section 15 it is provided that when any subordinate grove shall violate the terms of its charter or refuse or neglect to obey the direction and laws of the grand grove, or the general laws of the order, charges thereof may be preferred in writing to the grand grove, and a copy thereof shall be furnished to the grove complained of and notice when and where to appear for trial. The grand grove holds an annual session on the third Tuesday of June in each year, and it is provided in section 9 of article XX that, “ during the recess of the grand grove the noble grand arch may, whenever he shall deem it necessary, suspend a delinquent or offending grove, such suspension to hold good until annulled by the grand grove.” On the 5th of September, 1892, the noble grand arch of the plaintiff suspended Garibaldi Grove, No. 71, for the reason that he considered it was an “ offending grove.” and issued a proclamation of this fact to the other subordinate groves within the state. Article XIX of the rules of the order provides that the trustees shall be the custodians of the property of the grand grove, and that “ it shall be their duty to execute all orders of the noble grand arch, to receive by legal process or otherwise all moneys, papers, and other property of dissolved or suspended groves in this jurisdiction,” etc. In December, 1892, the noble grand arch reported this suspension to the trustees of the plaintiff, and directed them to commence the present action for the possession of the books and records of the sus [224] pended grove, and for the moneys belonging to it. The court found that the appellant, Duchein, as treasurer of Garibaldi Grove, had in his possession nine hundred and fifty-four dollars and fifteen cents, moneys belonging to said grove, which he refused to deliver upon the demand of the trustees therefor, and rendered judgment directing him to pay the said money to the plaintiff herein, or to its trustees. From this judgment and an order denying a new trial Duchein has appealed. The articles of association, or the constitution and by-laws of a benevolent or social organization, are in the nature of the terms of contract which the members thereof have entered into, and for the violation of any of these terms the articles themselves ordinarily provide a penalty and the mode of its enforcement, as well as a tribunal which shall determine whether the penalty has been incurred. But, as the payment of money or the delivery of property cannot be enforced by the machinery of these organizations, the aid of the judicial tribunals of the state is required. In order, however, to invoke this aid it is incumbent upon the plaintiff to show a right in itself to the money or property sought, and that the defendant is under an obligation to comply with its demand therefor. The appellant, as the treasurer of Garibaldi Grove, No. 71, came lawfully into the custody of the money sued for, and as against the plaintiff is entitled to retain such custody, unless it can be shown that by reason of some provision in the rules of the order he is under an obligation to deliver it to the plaintiff. The only provision of these rules by which it is claimed that such obligation has been shown is the authority given to the noble grand arch to suspend the grove, and the proceedings taken by him under the authority so conferred. It is a principle of natural justice that no one shall be condemned without an opportunity to be heard in his defense. Whoever would claim the right to deprive another of property or privilege, without giving him an opportunity to defend the same, must show some con- [225] sent on his part to such action. It is well settled that a member of a benevolent association cannot be expelled without being given a hearing, and that a by-law which authorizes such a course is unreasonable and without effect (Fritz v. Muck, 62 How. Pr. 69; Wachtel v. Noah Widows’ etc. Sociey, 84 N. Y. 28; 38 Am. Rep. 478; People v. Musical etc. Union, 118 N. Y. 108; Bacon’s Benefit Societies, sec. 101); and the same rules are applicable whether the action of the body is an absolute severing of the relations or a suspension by which the rights of the suspended party are destroyed or impaired. There is no distinction in principle between expelling a member from a subordinate grove and revoking the charter of the grove itself or suspending its charter. It appears from the record herein that the suspension of Garibaldi Grove was made without any written charges having been preferred against it, and that there was given to it no notice of any complaint, or any opportunity to be heard thereon. The noble grand arch testified at the trial that “from reports conveyed to him by individual members of the order he considered it an offending grove, and accordingly suspended it; he did not serve, or cause to be served, any notice upon it; nor was there any notice of any kind given of his intention to suspend the grove; neither was there any trial had; he simply issued the proclamation based upon what he had heard about the grove.” It is claimed by the respondent that section 9, aforesaid, of article XX, gave this officer authority in his discretion to suspend an offending grove during the recess of the grand grove, without giving any notice of his purpose. We are of the opinion, however, that the rules of the plaintiff do not authorize an arbitrary suspension of a subordinate grove by him; but that, whenever he proposes to take such action, the grove which is charged with an offense for which he is authorized to suspend it has the right to be informed of such charge, and to be heard in its defense before he can act under this section. The limitation upon the power of the grand grove to itself suspend a subordinate [226] grove “ for good cause shown” implies that formal charges must be presented and sustained; and the provision in section 15, that when charges are made against a subordinate grove a copy of the charges shall be furnished to it and an opportunity given to be heard, show that the general principles under which a suspension may be had require such notice and hearing. The power of suspension which is conferred upon the noble grand arch is to be exercised by him only during the recess of the grand grove, and, in the absence of express terms, ought not to be construed as greater than that of the grand grove itself, or to be exercised in any other mode than that provided for the grand grove. The authority given to this officer is not limited to a suspension until the next session of the grand grove, but holds good “ until annulled ” by the grand grove. This provision indicates that it is to have, the same effect as if the suspension had been made by the grand grove, since, unless some action in the nature of an appeal is taken from the act of the noble grand arch, the grand grove is never required to exercise its will upon the subject. The finding of the court that Garibaldi Grove was in reality an offending grove, and that there was sufficient ground for its suspension, does not remedy the defect. The jurisdiction to determine this fact was, by the rules of the order, conferred upon the noble grand arch, and, as his determination of that fact under those rules could not be reviewed by the court, neither could his suspension of a grove in violation of the rules be validated by any judgment of the court. We hold, therefore, that the action of the noble grand arch in suspending Garibaldi Grove, No. 71, was not in accordance with the rules of the order, and, consequently, as the grove was not properly suspended, there was no obligation upon Duchein to pay to the plaintiff the money which he had in his hands as treasurer of the subordinate grove. At the trial the court was asked to permit a complaint in intervention to be filed on behalf of certain members of the Garibaldi Grove. Objection being made thereto [227] the court sustained the objection, to which Duchein excepte'd. No exception appears to have been taken by the intervenors, and, as they have not appealed, the correctness of the ruling is not open to review. The judgment and order are reversed. Van Fleet, J. and Garoutte, J., concurred.