Court Opinion

ID: 9602445
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:55:06.085443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:47:23.582787
License: Public Domain

Grice, Justice,
dissenting. I respectfully dissent because I feel that the proposed changes sanctioned by the majority violate the basic purpose of this institution as provided by its charter.
Its provisions, insofar as material here and with my italics, follow.
1. “[Petitioners] desire . . . to be incorporated . . . under the name and style of GEORGIA MILITARY ACADEMY. . .
3. “The purpose of said corporation is . . . conducting a charitable and educational institution as hereinafter set out.
4. “Petitioners desire the right and power to conduct a preparatory school for the education of boys and young men and in *726connection therewith . . . the right to do all acts necessary and proper to the operation of a Military Academy and preparatory school engaged in educating boys for entrance to colleges, universities, medical, engineering, scientific, and commercial institutions, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the Army and Navy of the United States, and for intelligent and loyal citizenship.
5. “Petitioners desire the right to . . . own, sell and deal in . . . property . . . for the purpose of using any profits derived . . . for the education of worthy, poor and indigent youths who might not otherwise receive an education. . .
6. “Petitioners desire the right to . . . have the powers generally enjoyed by commercial organizations . . . except that the profits derived . . . shall be used as above provided, namely, for the education of worthy, poor and indigent boys and young men.
7. “Petitioners desire the right and power to receive gifts, property ... to hold, invest, and to use such funds . . . for the operation, maintenance and expansion of said Academy for the purpose of educating poor and worthy boys and young men who might not otherwise receive an education and training for service to their country.
8. “Tire corporation shall have no capital stock and all the property owned by [it] shall be held and used solely for educational purposes, as above provided.
9. “The management of said corporation shall be vested in a Governing Board. . .
10. “Petitioners further desire the right and power to amend its charter . . . either in form or substance. . .
11. “WHEREFORE, petitioners pray that they ... be incorporated . . . under the name and style of GEORGIA MILITARY ACADEMY for all the purposes and objects and with all the rights, powers and privileges hereinbefore set out. . .”
The foregoing, to me, clearly and unequivocally shows that the basic purpose was the operation of Georgia Military Academy, a charitable and educational institution which enrolls boys and young men only and which provides military training to those students. This purpose is not the conduct of any type of *727“charitable and educational institution,” but such “as hereinafter set out.” (Par. 3.) This reference incorporates into the purpose the language in subsequent paragraphs, just quoted, which manifests the requirement- for military training and the restriction to boys and young men, under the name “Georgia Military Academy.”
A different result in construction is not warranted because, as the majority states, the charter recites that the petitioners “desire the right and power” to conduct the school instead of stating that the petitioners must conduct a military academy and must not admit girls and young women. This is not of significance because nowhere in the charter is there language which expressly requires that petitioners do anything. Each act sought to be authorized is phrased in the language “Petitioners desire the right and power to. . .”
Nor is it of decisive consequence that the charter authorizes amendment “either in form or substance.” This language was routine to charter applications and did not militate against the basic purpose gathered from the charter as a whole.
I take no issue with the statement of principles relating to charitable gifts or trusts, conditions subsequent, and construction against forfeiture of estates wherever possible. But none of those principles, as I view them in the light of the facts here, are applicable.
Colonel Woodward had the foresight to take deliberate action and to provide against just what is involved in the changes sought. He provided in the deed in question that “This conveyance is made with the further condition subsequent that if ever the aforementioned properties herein conveyed cease to be used for the purposes set forth in the Charter of the Grantee corporation herein named, then said properties shall revert to the Grantor, J. C. Woodward, his heirs, administrators, executors and assigns.” (Emphasis mine.)
My view is that to sanction the changes here is to thwart the beneficent purpose of Colonel Woodward to continue the “Georgia Military Academy” in the manner that its charter provided. If, as the plaintiffs desire, these changes are effectuated, then and in that event, there is a clear and unequivocal violation of the *728condition in his deed, and the property should revert to his family.
I would reverse the judgment. I am authorized to state that Chief Justice Duckworth concurs in this dissent.