Charity in United States

Charity Definition

The word “charity” in its widest sense, denotes all the good affection which men ought to bear towards each other, and in this sense it embraces all that is usually understood by the word benevolence, philanthropy and good will. In its more restricted sense it means merely relief or alms to the poor. In neither of these senses is it employed by the courts when used as descriptive of those uses and trusts which will be upheld as charitable. The words charity and charitable uses, at least in a state, where the statute of 43 Elizabeth, chap. 4, commonly known as the Statute of Charitable Uses, is held to be in force, must be determined with reference to the provisions of that statute. Among the results accomplished by the statute of Elizabeth was the establishment of an enumeration or kind of definition, standard or test, to which all gifts and grants in trust could be brought in order to determine whether they were charitable.’ Accordingly, since the statute, no bequests are deemed within the authority of chancery and capable of being established and regulated thereby, except bequests for those purposes which the statute enumerates as charitable, or which, by analogy, are deemed to be witjiin its spirit or intendment. Perry on Trusts, pars. 696, 697; 2 Story’s Eq. Juris, par. 1155. It is true many purposes not enumerated in the statute have been held to be charitable on the ground that though not within its letter, they are within its spirit, intention and principle. On the other hand, many objects of a general nature, though laudable and beneficent in their character, and of general utility, are held not to be included within the legal definition of charity. See 2 111. App. 377. Whatever is given f

See Also

Charitable Organization in this Legal Encyclopedia
Charitable Organization definition in the Law Dictionary