A society may sell, from time to time, the whole or any part of its real estate, when authorized by the society, at an annual meeting thereof, or at a special meeting thereof, called for that purpose, by a vote of a majority of the members of such society present at such meeting, and notice of the intention to vote on the question of the sale having been published in some newspaper published in the county, if there be 1 published, and if not, then in some newspaper published in an adjoining county, once a week for 3 succeeding weeks next preceding such annual or special meeting.