General Corporation Law. CHAPTER I.—OF THE NATURE OF CORPORA TIONS. Definition. Definition. C. C.. P. Sec. 17. Words used in this code in the present tense include the future as well as the present; words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular; the word "person" includes a corporation as well as a natural person; * * * * * * Const. Art. XII, Sec. 4. The term "corporations," as used in this article, shall be construed to include all associations and joint-stock companies having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships; and all corporations shall have the right to sue and shall be subject to be sued, in all courts, in like cases as natural persons. C. C. Sec. 283. A corporation is a creature of the law, having certain powers and duties of a natural person. Being created by the law, it may continue for any length of time which the law prescribes. Classification. C. C. Sec. 284. Corporations are either public or private. Public corporations are formed or organized for the government of a portion of the state; all other corporations are private. C. C. Sec. 286. Private corporations may be formed for any purpose for which indivaduals may lawfully associate themselves. Corporations Sole. C.C. Sec. 602. Whenever the rules, regulations, or discipline of any religious denomination, society, or church so require, for the administration of the temporalities thereof, and the management of the estate and property thereof, it shall be lawful for the bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder of such religious denomination, society, or church to become a sole corporation, in the manner prescribed in this title, [C. C.. Sec. 593-604] as nearly as may be, and with all the powers and duties, and for the uses and purposes in this title provided for religious incorporations, and subject to all the conditions, limitations and provisions in said title prescribed. Every corporation sole shall, however, for the purposes of the trust, have power to contract in the same manner and to the same extent as a natural person, and may sue and be sued, and may defend, in all courts and places, in all matters and proceedings whatever, and shall have authority to borrow money and give promissory notes therefor, and to secure the payment thereof by mortgage or other lien upon property, real or personal; to buy, sell, lease, mortgage, and in every way deal in real and personal property in the same manner that a natural person may, and without the order of any court; to receive bequests and devises for its own use or upon trusts to the same extent as natural persons may; and to appoint attorneys in fact. The articles of incorporation to be filed shall set forth the facts authorizing such incorporation, and declare the manner in which any vacancy occurring in the incumbency of such bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder is required by the rules, regulations, or discipline of such denomination, society, or church to be filled, which statement shall be verified by affidavit, and for proof of the appointment or election of such bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder, or of any succeeding incumbent of such corporation, it shall be sufficient to record with the clerk of the county in which such bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder resides, the original or a copy of his commission, or certificates, or letters of election or appointment, duly attested; provided, all property held by such bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder shall be in trust for the use, purpose and behoof of his religious denomination, society, or church. The limitation in section five hundred and ninety-five shall not apply to corporations formed under this section, when the land is held or used for churches, hospitals, schools, colleges, orphan asylums, parsonages, or cemetery purposes. Any judge of the superior court in the county in which any corporation is formed under this chapter shall at all times have access to the books of such incorporation. Any corporation sole heretofore organized and existing under the laws of this state may elect to continue its existence under this title by filing a certificate to that effect, under its corporate seal and the hand of its incumbent, or amended articles of incorporation, in the form required by this title, and as prescribed by section two hundred and eightyseven of this code; and from and after the filing of such certificate or amended articles, such corporation shall be entitled to the privileges and subject to the duties, liabilities and provisions in this title expressed. CHAPTER II.—ATTRIBUTES OF CORPORATIONS. Name. Change of Name. The Right to Sue Qualified. Place of Suit. Practice and Procedure. Name. C. C. 296. Upon filing the articles of incorporation in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the principal business of the company is |