Chamberlain v. Stearns

Gbay, J.

The question presented by this case is, whether a devise in trust, to be applied “ solely for benevolent purposes ” in the discretion of the trustees, creates a public charity. And we are all of opinion that it does not.

The word “benevolent,” of itself, without anything in the context to qualify or restrict its ordinary meaning, clearly includes not only purposes which are deemed charitable by a court of equity; but also any acts dictated by kindness, good "will or a disposition to do good, the objects of which have no relation to the promotion of education, learning or religion, the relief of the needy, the sick or the afflicted, the support of public works or the relief of public burdens, and cannot be deemed charitable in the technical and legal sense.

The only difference of opinion in the adjudged cases on this subject has been upon the question how far the word “ benevolent,” when used to describe the purposes of a trust, could be deemed to be limited in its meaning by being associated with other words more clearly pointing to a strictly charitable disposition of the fund. In one case in the English chancery, and another in New Jersey, it has been held that even a bequest to trustees to be applied in their discretion for “ benevolent, charitable and religious purposes,” was too uncertain to be supported. Williams v. Kershaw, 5 Law J. (N. S.) Ch. 84; S. C. 5 Cl. & F. 111. Norris v. Thomson, 4 C. E. Green, 307, and 5 C. E. Green, 489. On the other hand, it.has been held by this court, and by the House of Lords, that “benevolent,” when coupled with “ charitable ” or any equivalent word, or used in such connection, or applied to such public institutions or corporations, as to manifest an intent to make it synonymous with “ charitable,” might have effect according to that intent. Saltonstall v. Sanders, 11 Allen, 446 . Rotch v. Emerson, 105 Mass. 431, 434 . Hill v. Burns, 2 Wils. & Shaw, 80. Crichton v. Grierson. 3 Bligh N. R. 424; S. C. 3 Wils. & Shaw, 329, 341. Ewen v. Bannerman, 2 Dow & Cl. 74, 101; S. C. 4 Wils. & Shaw, 346 859. Miller v. Rowan, 5 Cl. & F. 99; S. C. 2 Shaw & Mac. 866.

*269 In the case before us, the devise contains no qualifying or explanatory words, and falls precisely within the case of James v. Allen, 3 Meriv. 17, and the reasons there given. A bequest to executors, “ in trust to be by them applied and disposed of for and to such benevolent purposes as they in their integrity and discretion may unanimously agree on,” was there held to be void for uncertainty, and distributable among the next of kin; and Sir William Grant said: “ Although many charitable institutions are very properly called ‘ benevolent,’ it is impossible to say that every object of a man’s benevolence is also an object of his charity.” “ What authority would this court have to say that the property must not be applied to purposes however so benevolent, unless they also come within the technical denomination of charitable purposes ? If it might, consistently with the will, be applied to other than strictly charitable purposes, the trust is too indefinite for the court to execute.” That decision has never been doubted, and is strongly supported by the arguments of Sir Samuel Romilly and the judgments of Sir William Grant and Lord Eldon in Morice v. Bishop of Durham, 9 Ves. 399, and 10 Ves. 521, and by the opinions of Lord Brougham in Attorney General v. Haberdashers’ Co. 1 Myl. & K. 420, 428, and Lord Langdale in Nash v. Morley, 5 Beav. 177, 183.

As the duration of the trust now in question is unlimited, and the trust property might, in full accordance with the terms of the devise, be wholly applied by the trustees in their discretion to uses and purposes which are not regarded by the law as charitable, the trust is wholly void, and the property must go to the heir at law and residuary devisee. Decree accordingly.