Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 176P, § 9

The society shall file a certificate of organization, with the certificate endorsed by the commissioner, and if on the lodge plan, also the certificate required by the preceding section, with the state secretary, who, upon the receipt of $5, shall issue a certificate in a form approved by the state secretary.

The state secretary shall sign the name and cause the seal of the commonwealth to be affixed thereto, and the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of the corporation at the date of the certificate. He shall also cause a record of the certificate to be made, and a certified copy of the record may be given in evidence with like effect as the original.