Every religious or religious educational and charitable society organized or attempted to be organized under ch. 47, Revised Statutes of 1849, or ch. 66, Revised Statutes of 1858, or ch. 91, Revised Statutes of 1878, and the acts amendatory thereof, by filing or recording a certificate of the election of trustees or a certificate of organization designating the name of the church or society with the register of deeds of the proper county, and which, since such filing or recording, has acted as a religious or a religious educational and charitable corporation in pursuance thereof, shall be deemed to be legally incorporated and shall have all the powers and be subject to all the liabilities of religious corporations under the provisions of this chapter. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect any action or proceeding pending by or against any such corporation on April 19, 1895.