The Law Dictionary

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ELEEMOSYNARY AND CIVIL Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

Lay corporations are classified as “eleemosynary” and “civil;” the former being such as are created for the distribution of alms or for the administration of charities or for purposes falling under the description of “charitable” in its widest sense, including hospitals, asylums, and colleges; the latter being organized for the facilitating of business transactions and the profit or advantage of the members. 1 Bl. Comm. 471; Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 4 Wheat. 660, 4 L. Ed. 029. In the law of Louisiana, the term “civil” as applied to corporations, is used in a different sense, being contrasted with “religious.” Civil corporations are those which relate to temporal police; such are the corporations of the cities, the companies for the advancement of commerce and agriculture, literary societies, colleges or universities founded for the instruction of youth, and the like. Religious corporations are those whose establishment relates only to religion; such are the congregations of the different religious persuasions. Civ. Code La. art. 431

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