The Law
A charity, in the legal sense, may be more fully defined as a gift, to be applied consistently with existing laws, for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons.
Abstract
The best definition of a legal charity would seem to be that given by Gray, J., in Jackson v. Phillips : I " A charity, in the legal sense, may be more fully defined as a gift, to be applied consistently with existing laws, for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons, either by bringing their minds or hearts under the influence of education or religion, by relieving their bodies from disease, suffering, or constraint, by assisting them to establish themselves in life, or by erecting or maintaining public buildings or works, or otherwise lessening the burdens of government. It is immateal whether the purpose is called charitable in the gift itself, if it is so described as to show that it is charitable in its nature." Horace Binney, in Vidal v. Girard's Executors,2 defined