Ladies' Library Ass'n v. Ladies' Library Ass'n
Ladies' Library Ass'n v. Ladies' Library Ass'n
Opinion of the Court
Complainant, an unincorporated voluntary association, was organized in the year 1868 for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a permanent library for the use of its members and others, under certain rules and restrictions, and such association continued uninterruptedly to carry out such ^purpose until 1907. It had for several years prior to 1907 been furnished gratuitously a library room suitably heated and lighted, in the city hall of Greenville, by the municipal authorities. Its library had increased to 4,000 volumes, and, besides, it owned certain library furniture and a piano; all its said property amounting in value to the sum of about $4,000. The constitution of complainant association provided that it should remain a permanent library association, and that its property and funds should not be sold or used for any other purpose. Only women were eligible to membership, and there was no requirement of an election to membership. Any lady might become a member on the payment of a membership fee of $1 and pledging the payment of 25 cents as quarterly dues. The by-laws also provided that any person (male or female) might become a subscriber by paying 50 cents quarterly, and men were entitled to the use of the library, under the same rules and restrictions as members, upon the payment of $1, and 25 cents as quarterly dues. On June 15, 1907, differences which must have theretofore existed for some time between some of the officers and members of complainant association culminated in the organization of defendant
This corporation adopted the name of complainant. In the article of incorporation then executed, three of the four trustees required to be named therein for the first year were the president and two other officers of complainant association, then and for along time theretofore so acting. It appears, also, that the president of complainant was elected president of the corporation, which corporation and its officers immediately entered upon the duties of their respective offices, and assumed to be entitled to the possession, ownership, and control of the library and all the property of complainant, to the exclusion of all members of the old association who were not included in the corporation organized. The material differences between the constitutions of the old and new associations are that in the new one applications for membership must be made to the secretary accompanied with a fee of $10, and the applicant must be elected by a majority vote of members present, and the provision that “ the association remain a permanent library association, the property of which cannot be sold nor its funds appropriated for any other purpose,” is omitted. The annual meeting of the new organization was fixed for the same date as the old. The original bill of complaint was filed about September 1, 1907, against defendant corporation and Amelia Lester. It set out, among other things, the facts herein stated, and prayed that said defendants be required to yield and deliver up possession and control of complainant’s property; that the officers who had .joined defendant corporation, which assumed to be complainant’s successor, be declared to have forfeited their trust and all right and title to such offices, and for general relief. On September 3d, on motion of complainant, an order was granted against defendants to show cause why an injunction should not issue, which
We will avoid, as far as may be, any discussion of the disputes in the case. The record admits the fact that a corporation was organized as charged, and that the president and other officers of complain ant became president and
No other questions need be discussed. The order is in all respects affirmed, and the case will be remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings. Complainant will recover costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LADIES' LIBRARY ASS'N OF GREENVILLE, UNINCORPORATED v. LADIES' LIBRARY ASS'N OF GREENVILLE, INCORPORATED
- Status
- Published