Hospitals

Hospitals, Sisters, Appropriation

From the book The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law, about Hospitals, Sisters, Appropriation (1): In 1864, Providence Hospital, of Washington, was incorporated by an act of Congress, for general hospital purposes. In 1897, $30,000 was appropriated for the District of Columbia to put up two isolation buildings in connection with two hospitals in that city, to be operated as a part of such hospitals. Providence Hospital was selected as one, and because it was in charge of Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, the right of Congress to make the appropriation was disputed. Among other things, Judge Peackham says: “Whether the individuals who compose the corporation under its charter happen to be all Roman Catholics, or all Methodists, or all Presbyterians, or Unitarians, or members of any other religious organization, or of no organization at all, is of not the slightest consequence with reference to the law of its corporation, nor can the individual beliefs upon religious matters of the various incorporators be inquired into.” The appropriation was “for two hospital buildings to be constructed in the discretion of the commissioners of the District of Columbia on the grounds of two hospitals and to be operated as a part of such hospitals.” See: Bradford v. Roberts, 175 U. S., 291; 44 L. Ed., 168; 20 Sup. Ct. R., 121; Municipality of Ponce v. The Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, 28 Sup. Ct. R., 737 (1908)

Resources

Notes and References

1. Charles M. Scanlan, The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law. The Law of Church and Grave (1909), Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

See Also

• Religion
• Church