eleemosynary corporation

plural eleemosynary corporations

1. A corporation dedicated to charity, particularly one established for the perpetual distribution of the alms or bounty of the founder.

   In the case of eleemosynary corporations, the founder may appoint a visitor. If none is appointed, the founder (or his heirs) is the visitor by operation of law.

   2012, Jill E. Martin, Modern Equity, nineteenth edition, London: Sweet & Maxwell, →ISBN, page 496

   3 more examples

   As to eleemoſynary corporations, by the dotation the founder and his heirs are of common right the legal viſitors, to ſee that that property is rightly employed, which would otherwiſe have deſcended to the viſitor himſelf: […]

   1765, William Blackstone, “Of Corporations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 469

   An eleemosynary corporation is one that is constituted for the perpetual distribution of the free alms or bounty of the founder, to such persons as he has directed: as hospitals for the maintenance of the poor, sick and impotent.

   1822 September, United States Law Journal, volume I, number 2, New Haven, C.T.: Gray & Hewit, →OCLC, page 298

   The longest drawn out, and one of the most interesting litigations arising in this county, was a suit involving the right of an eleemosynary corporation to rent for profit the corporate property, after the corporation had ceased to do business under its charter.

   1911, Lottie E. Jones, History of Vermilion County, Illinois: A Tale of Its Evolution, Settlement, and Progress for Nearly a Century, volume I, Chicago, I.L.: Pioneer Publishing Company, page 318