The taking, holding, assigning, conveying, leasing, mortgaging, transferring or otherwise dealing with the monies, properties, whether real, personal or mixed, or rights in action equitably belonging to any society, union or association which was done before the effective date of this chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or bylaws of the society, union or association at the time of the doing of the same is hereby declared to be a lawful act of such society, union or association.