First Methodist Episcopal Church v. Donnell
Supreme Court of Iowa
Appeal from Lee District Court. — IIon, Henry Bank, Jr., Judge. - Action on a subscription to pay the indebtedness of plaintiff incurred in the erection of a church. From judgment on a verdict against the defendant, she appeals.—
1Opinion of the CourtLadd, J.
1 The object of the subscription wasnot worldly gain, but the advancement of Christianity and the betterment of morals in a particular locality. Indeed, the sole purpose of the plaintiff’s statutory existence as a corporate body was to do good. If so, contributions for its support must be classed as charity. “Charity,” says Judge Cooley in Allen v. Duffy, 43 Mich. 1, 38 Am. Rep. 159 (4 N.W.Rep. 427), “is active;goodness. It is doing good to our fellow men. It is fostering those institutions that *6are established to relieve pain, to prevent suffering, and to do-good to mankind in general or any…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Allen v. DuffieMichigan Supreme Court · 1880
- Doyle v. Lynn & Boston RailroadMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1875
- United Presbyterian Church v. BairdSupreme Court of Iowa · 1882
3Cited by7 opinions
- State ex rel. Linde v. PackardNorth Dakota Supreme Court · 1916
- South Iowa Methodist Homes, Inc. v. Board of ReviewSupreme Court of Iowa · 1970
- Brokaw v. McElroySupreme Court of Iowa · 1913
- Board of Trustees v. NoyesSupreme Court of Iowa · 1914
- King v. CarrollSupreme Court of Iowa · 1906
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