Articles of incorporation, amendment, consolidation, merger or conversion, as the case may be, when executed and acknowledged and accompanied by such affidavits as may be required by applicable provisions of this act,¹ shall be presented to the Secretary of State for filing in the records of his office. If the Secretary of State shall find that the articles presented conform to the requirements of this act, he shall, upon the payment of the fees as in this act provided, file the articles so presented in the records of his office and shall issue over the Great Seal of the State an appropriate certificate of incorporation, amendment, consolidation, merger or conversion, as the case may be, and thereupon the incorporation, amendment, consolidation, merger or conversion provided for therein shall be in effect.