New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-31
nlNGERnIS PRECEDENT.

, oues;ion of grave import. both Ia those "ho
Ieave bcauests for public purposes ana 10 'he
peoplc benefited thereby. has come before INV
MARYLAND Legislature. The principle ihVoNe"
* thc right and power of a Legislature no,
only 10 change the name Of an institution. bur
the character of the trust upon when COT
roration receives Request or gift.
The facts in the case, az given III il ie''e'
elsewhere. are briefly these: Enoch Pratt OF
Baltimore. in his will lef; large sum OF none!
,o who, is known as the Sheppard Asylum
ian institution endowed nearly half century
ago hv Moses Sheppard. provided the name Of
the ASYLUM should BE- changed 10 the sheppard
and Enoch Pratt Hospital" and that certain
changes should also he made in the general
character Of the institution.
Tcmpted by the additional bequesi. all but
one of the trustees of the Sheppard As!'"'"
seem to have agreed 10 the proposed changes
and 10 bring them about have prohio'eu anu
bassed through the Maryland Senate ''Ii
which practically obliicrates the name oi nc
original founder.
II il becomes n law this may prove pr'ce-
lent for similar disturbing and dangerous iegis-
Iation Public policy would seem Ia demand
that the integrity Of the liberal brlu"s's oi
public spirited citizens be vigorously main
tanned Statistics show that In the hi''u
States Of late years these public 2iiiS nave
averaged over S350o0oOo per year Mess we
desire 10 chill the spirit Of generosity u! ho'
Lecping the wishes Of the donors invioldte, such
contributions 10 the general welfare OF common
humanity Will he needlessly discouraged
The history Of bcquesiS III England presents
striking evidence of the faithful administration
of such trusts even though many OF ~" pro
visions after the lapse of centuries appear an
surd and in such ease as that al lhr biuc
Coat School. in London. even ridiculous. IL
would seem to he a reasonable request ana
one that should be- sacrcdly regarded lhal me
founder OF AN institution should if he 80 de
sired have his own name pcrpetuaied. ana ilni
future benefactors should have no power To
alter il.
In this particular case The change is from
81 cJpard Asylum 10 the Sheppard ana Enoch
Pratt Hospital. and as Sheppard is shown TO
no , Christian name common in the Pratt fam
ily II practically obliterates the Sheppard Asy-
ism.
Il i not however with this Spe, nc case. but
with the principle underlying such possibilities
that the charilably inclined public are con
cerncd If the State Legislature of Maryland
can thus change the name OF lis lnstitu'lohS'
the State Of New-Nork may some day nave I"
face proposition 10 change the name or Cor-
nell University TO Cornell and Ebenezer Jones
College: or Massachusetts 10 change Har-
vard 10 the Harvard and j. Flantagenet
Brown School of Modern Thought. II would
seem that no possible extension or the useful
ness Of an institution warrants such frand
~ on its dead founder. Enoch Pratt coIld
Lave left his requests 10 the asylum direct or
established a branch or in other ways aid"d
the institution without demanding that the IN
dividuality of the founder be wiped out. iDe
Interference of n State Legislature in such mat
tiers may lead 10 serious complications. ana II
must deter many whose generosity is not dis
connected with the altogether human ana
Liaiseworthy desire 10 porpctuate their names.