People ex rel. Rice v. Board of Trade

Citations

• 80 Ill. 134

Syllabus

<p>1. Mandamus—not awm-ded to control the action of rolunta/ry associations for religious or moral purposes only. Courts never interfere to control the enforcement of the by-laws of merely voluntary associations, created for the advancement of religious, moial or social principles, or merely for amusement. Such organizations must be left to enforce their rules and regulations by such means as they may adopt for their government.</p> <p>2. The board of trade of Chicago, though incorporated under an act of the General Assembly, is merely a voluntary organization, which is fully empowered by its charter to govern in such mode as it may deem most advisable and proper, and when it has adopted by-laws and a forum for their enforcement, the courts will not interfere to control their action.</p> <p>3. So, where a member of the board of trade was, under and in pursuance of the by-laws thereof, expelled, the court properly refused to award a writ of mandamus to compel the board to admit him to membership in the organization.</p>