LEGAL PHASES OF COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS. 57 
missible, and his estate receives nothing therefrom on his death T2 in 
the absence of a contractual or statutory provision to the contrary. 
WHO CONTROL AN ASSOCIATION. 
In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, within the scope 
of the objects for which an association was formed, whether such 
objects are mentioned in the constitution or other paper defining the 
objects of the association or necessarily implied therefrom, a ma- 
jority of the members possess authority to control the action of the 
association. 73 The majority controls only while it is doing those 
things for which the association was organized. If it is desired to 
have the association do something different from that for which it 
was formed, unanimous consent is necessary. 74 
NOTICE OF MEETINGS. 
Where the constitution or by-laws provide how members shall be 
notified of meetings, they must be followed. 75 In general, all mem- 
bers are entitled to notice of all meetings and of the matters to be 
considered at such meetings. TVliere matters of an unusual character 
are to be considered at a meeting, it is particularly important that 
the nature of the business be brought to the attention of each 
member. 76 
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS AND THIRD PERSONS. 
The liability of the members of an association which is not organ- 
ized or conducted for profit has been said to rest upon the prin- 
ciples of agency. 77 An illustration will make this clearer. In a 
Massachusetts case 7S the constitution stated that the association was 
formed to stimulate interest in the breeding of pigeons and bantams. 
It gave the board of directors charge of all public exhibitions of the 
society and required each member to pay an initiation fee and an 
annual assessment. An exhibition was held, and premiums were 
offered. The expenses thereof were greater than the receipts. Cer- 
tain of the members paid the bills. They then brought suit against 
other members of the association to compel them to contribute their 
respective proportions of the loss sustained. The court said : 
Mere membership would not bind anybody for any further payment than 
the initiation fee and annual assessment ; but such members as participated in 
a vote to incur further expenses for an exhibition with premiums, or as assented 
to be bound by such a vote, would be bound thereby. 
"'- Sommers v. Reynolds, 103 Mich. 307, 01 N. W. 501 ; also Mason r. Atlanta Fire 
Co., 70 Ga. 604, 4S Am. R. 585. 
73 4 Cyc. 310; Goller v. Stubenhaus, 134 N. Y. S. 1034. 
74 Abels v. McKeen, 18 N. J. Eq. 462. 
^Kuhl v. Meyer, 42 Mo. App. 474. 
70 State v. Seattle Baseball Assoc., 61 Wash., TO. Ill Pac. 1055. 
77 5 C. J. 1363. 
75 Ray v. Powers, 134 Mass. 22, 
