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PROCEEDINGS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF
Memorial Hall
AND THE TTNVEILING OF VALENTINE'S BRONZE
Bust of William_Enston
AT THE "HOME," ON THE L'lin FEBRUARY, , 1889.
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343066
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No.
One Hundred Copies Privately Printed and Bound for Mr. Wm. a. Courtenay, by the Walker, Evans & Cogswell Co.
Copy for
Charleston, S. C, 30TH April, 1S89.
INDEX
Extract from Ok. Bhackett's Sermox— Page "And liave not charity, F am nothing." 5
Municipal Honors—
'2-2d February, 188!», Mayor (r. D. Hryan, presiding !>
The Invitation to (Tiiests lo
The Prayer of Dr. Braekett 10
The Bust unveiled by Misses Cameron and Butler .. 12
Memorial Ode—
By G. Herbert Sass, Esq 1-5
^[emorial Oration —
I?y J. P. Kennedy Bryan, Esq l<t-8»>
Appendix —
A brief resume of the condition of "the Enston Es- tate" in 1882; the settlement with Mrs. Enston;
the administration of the trust 1882-87 8M
Mrs, Enston a cheerful co-operator in the work 4()
The Estate represented in real and personal property
in several States 40
By negotiation, it is brought to a satisfactory settle- ment in June, 1882 40
Schedule of the estate received by the f'ity 41
Names of Trustees for the " Annuitant's Fund " 41
Names of the Committee who negotiated the settle- ment 42
The City Council elect the tirst Board of Trustees,
August sth, 1882 42
The General Assembly incorporate the Institution... 42 The Storen Farm— Ward 10— selected as the site;
public s])irited ciMiduct of Mr. M. Storen 42
The Trustees buy about tiuee acres additional land
oil the South — making a site of 11 acres 4;;
The complex nature of the Trust in projecting plans
and shaping finances..- 4;^
Preparing the rough grounds for a modern village.... 44
The avenues and courts laid out and named 44
Streets paved with granite blocks 4-5
Index. Appendix— Page.
Each Cottage on a separate lot 45
Description of the Cottages 45
The sewerage plans by Mr. Herring, of Philadelphia 46
Doomsday Insurance effected on Bnildings 4()
Ground broken for the first Cottage in the presence of the Mayor, Aldermen and 'trustees, March 9th,
1888 4(5
Death of Mrs. Hannah Enston, 26th Oct. 1886 ; the memorial inscribed to her memory by the Trus- tees 47
Tlie first half of the village ready for occupation at
the end of 1888.... 48
The City Council honors the memory of William Enston, by erecting a Memorial Hall and a
bronze bust, l)y Valentine 48
The Inscription at entrance of Hall 49
The Inscription on the pedestal supporting the
bronze bust ,50
The Financial exhibit for seven years 52
The Account current 52
The Builders of the Home 53
The Trustees of the Home 54
Chronological list of members and mortuary 54
EXTRACT.S FR03I CiTY YEAR BoOK, 1882—
Settlement of the Enston Estate 57
Extract from Oration T. M. Hanckel 58
Shirras, Roper, Baynard ,59
Letter of Mrs. Hannah Enston 61
Alderman Thayer's Resolution 61
Alderman Sweegan's Resolution 62
Alderman Eckel's Resolution 62
Alderman Aichel's Resolution 62
Ordinance Confirming Settlement 63
Report of Committee on Memorial 6()
Act of General Assembly Incorporating Trustees 67
Nev/s and Courier Editorial, August 9th 69
Names of Committee making settlement 71
The sums of Money received 72
The Storen farm purchased 73
Editorial Charleston Courier 24th March, 1860, an- nouncing Mr. Enston's death 75
His funeral ceremonies. 75
Remains forwarded to Philadelphia 76
Communication in Courier 26th March, 1860 77
■ 1
EXTRACT FROM A SERMON
DELIVERED BY
Rev. G. R. Brackett, D D.,
IN THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ON SUNDAY
MORNING, 24th FEBRUARY, issn,
FROM THE TEXT :
1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse S : " And have not char it i/, J am nothing.'' In the introduction it was shown that charity is not to be confounded with ahns-giving, or mere benevo- lence. It is that love which is the " fulfilling of the law." The Apostle, however, describes this love only in its human aspects; that unselfish love to man which springs from supreme love to God, as manifested in the sacrifice of Christ. Without this love, all natural and supernatural gifts, and all works of righteousness, are notliing. The sermon was concluded as follows :
When two days ago we sat in yonder Memorial Hall, and
6 " The High Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth."
contemplated, on the one hand, the unveiled bust of a Christian philanthropist, whose physical features had been faithfully fashioned by a distinguished artist, and, on the other hand, the equally faithful portraiture of his moral and religious character by the brilliant orator, our heart was thrilled with strange emotions. As we thought of the Master, looking down from the Throne of Heaven upon all the grand works of man, his arts and inventions, whereby he penetrates the depths of the earth, holds in his embrace the oceans and the continents, scales the heights of the heavens, and unlocks the mysteries of nature that had been hid for the ages ; we seemed to hear Him say : " All these splendid results of your boasted civilization without charit}^, are nothing, and will profit 3'ou nothing ;" and then, as He turned to compare these achievements with the works of Christian philanthropy, the Hospital, the Asylum, the Orphanage, the School for the Poor, the House of Rest, which have risen under the inspiration of His love, we seemed to hear Him say again : " The greatest of these is charity." Then, we saw, as in a vision, the " heav- ens and tlie earth pass away with all the brilliant con- stellations and galaxies that had dazzled the eyes of men, and all the libraries of splendid history, biography, and eulogy, and all the monuments of stone and brass, and marble, that had been erected to perpetuate their memory — all swept into the gulf of oblivion ; all blotted from the memory of saints and angels ; while every humblest disci- ple of charity, and every lowliest deed of charity, we saw " shining as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever."
Conspicuous among the stars of the upper firmament will be seen those whose great gifts and great wealth were consecrated to the cause of Christian charity. God give us more William Enstons to teach us how to transmute '"' such corruptible things as silver and gold " into the incorruptible and imperishable coin of heaven, bearing on one side the " image and superscription " of the King, and on the other, '' Charity."
THE MEMORIAL HALL -WILLIAM ENSIOX HOME
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The WILLIAM ENSTON MEMORIAL
Municipal Honors,
22i) FEBRUARY, 1889.
The public ceremonies, on the occasion of the dedication of the AIemorial Hall, and the unveil- ing of the Bronze Bust, erected under the auspices of the
CITY COUNCIL OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
in honor of the Philanthropist, William Exston, at the Village, founded by him, " to make old age comfortable," took place on Washington's Birthday.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
The Prayer by Dr. Brackett.
The Ode'^by d. Herbert Sass, Esq.
The Oration bv J. P. Kennedy Bryan, Esu.
The purpose of the Municipal authorities was, to have made the formal dedication of this uni(|ue and liberal benefaction on New Year's Day. The cot- tages were ready for occupation in November, and
10 ''The High Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth.''^
many assigiiiiients had been made by the end of the past year. Various causes prevented the realization of these })lans, and the date for these public cere- monies was finally fixed for Washington's Birthday, and the Committee of the City Council issued the followino; invitation :
The City Council of Cliarlestoii requests the honor of your pres- ence at tlie formal opening of the William Enston Memorial Hall, and the unveiling of the Bust of William Enston, on Friday, February 22d, 18S!», at the Memorial Hall, at 11 A M.
Respectfully,
SAMUEL WEBB, j S. J. PREGNALL, i Committee. J. P. C0LLIN8, J Charleston., ,S\ C, February lot/i, 1889.
The weather proved unpropitious on the appointed day ; nevertheless, the " Hall " was filled with an appreciative audience, including the Mayor and members of the City Council, Trustees of the Home, and other city institutions, many prominent citizens and quite a number of ladies, who graced the occa- sion with their presence, despite the cold and rain.
Mayor Bryan presided, and at 11 o'clock opened the ceremonies by introducing the Rev. (1. R. Brackett, D. 1)., the Chaplain of the day, who delivered the following
PRAYER.
O Lord, our God, we adore Thee as the Father of Mercies, and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Thou art good to all, and tliy tender mercies are over all Thy works. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge of Thy Goodness. Tliou dost cause the bounti- ful sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and send the refreshing rain upon the just anu the unjust, and the kindly dew of heaven upon the evil and unthankful. As a father
Memorial Proceedings ; William Eiiston Home. 1 1
pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Ilim. As one whom his mother comforteth, so dost Thou comfort thy sorrowing people. We adore Thee for the supreme man- ifestation of Thy boundless Love in the gift of Thy dear Son, our Saviour, who by His example of self-giving and sacrifice, has taught us to give ourselves for others ; who, in bearing our sins and our sorrows, has taught us to bear one another's burdens ; and in giving His life for us, to lay down our lives for our brethren ; who was among us as one that serveth, that we might learn to serve one another ; who de- clared that He shall be the greatest in His Kingdom who is the servant of all ; and that the smallest service done unto the least of His brethren is done unto Him.
We thank Thee for all the Institutions of Christian phil- anthropy prompted by the love of Christ, planted beneath the shadow of His Cross, fostered by His graciou.^ Provi- dence, and crowned with His divine blessing.
We thank Thee for those to whom Thou hast given wealth, and made the generous almoners of Thy bounty to the poor and the suffering. We thank Thee for the noble life and example of thy servant, v/ho has left this beautiful and beneficent charity as a memorial of His love to Thee, and his fellow-men, which we come, to-day, to present as an offering to Thee, and to invoke upon it Thy heavenly ben- ediction. We pray that Thou wilt throw around it the shield of thy protecting Providence; and while thine aged servants are sharing the comforts and blessings of this earthly Home, may they dwell here in peace and safety, as in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Do Thou give wisdom and discretion to those who mav be called to administer this sacred trust, that this beneficent charity may be perpetuated to distant generations. May the ble.ssing promised to him that considereth the poor, de- scend in rich abundance upon the posterity of Th}^ deceased servant ; and may those who honor and cherish his memory, be inspired by his example to noble deeds of charity and beneficence.
12 ''Tlte High Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth ^
We thank Thee that in the midst of these happy homes this liouse has been erected by a grateful community, to be at once a Memorial of their generous benefactor, and a sanctuary for Thy worship, and which we now solemnly dedicate to Thy Great and Holy Name, Fatlier, Son and Holy Ghost. Here do Thou record Thy name, and dispense the blessings of Thy Grace; and may those who assemble in this Memorial Hall, for divine service, learn that the highest act of worship is the offering of themselves and their substance in the work of Christian Charity. And now we invoke Thy blessing upon the exercises of this hour, that they may promote the glory of Thy name, aud the cause of Christian beneficence in our beloved city. We ask all in the Name and for the sake of Christ, who loved us, and gave Himself for us, and who is blessed forevermore. Amen.
The Bust, which is placed in the east wall of the Chapel, was covered with blue bunting, which veiled it from the audience. At a subsequent stage in the j)roceedings the covering was removed and the Bust unveiled by two little girls, Misses Katie Cameron and Hebe Ellen Butler, botli relatives of the founder of the Home.
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VALENTINE'S BUST IN MF.MORIAI, II \I,I,.
Memorial Proceedings ; William Enston Home. 15
The Mayor next introduced Mr. G. Herbert Sass, who pronounced the foHowini;- original Ode, written for the occasion, at the invitation of the City Council.
MR. SASS'S ODE.
Over the far blue sea, Deep in the Kentish vales, Lieth an ancient Town, Hard by the liiinving Stour, Close to St. Martin's Hill. Where in lior rock-hewn tomb Bertha the good Queen sleeps. There, in the years gone by, Wandered an English lad, Thoughtful and earnest-souled. Oft with a heart aflame He strayed by the stately walls Of the great Cathedral Church ; Oft by the gorgeous shrine Of Becket, the Martyr, stood ; Or gazed on the lordly tomb Where, with his arms upraised, Praying a long last prayer, Lowly the Black Prince lies : — Over his useless helm Towers the lion-crest ; Couching beneath his feet Silent, a lion sleeps ; But with his hands outstretched, Humbly the hero pleads, — Pleads for his spirit's rest. Then.l^as the boy strayed on, On through the noisy street. Sudden his wayward steps Paused by an ancient House ; — Panelled and gable-roofed. Over a lofty arch,
16 " The Hi<]h Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth.''''
Stately and tirjii it stands. Here, long centuries since, Lanfranc, the great Archbishop, Planted for aye to stand The Hospital of St. John. Here, where the City's roar Dies into silence deep, Far from the biisv hum Of the bustling Northgate, lies The aged Brethren's Home. Under that peaceful arch Nothing of care can come ; Monarchs and Princes pass, Dynasties fall and rise, Red Rose and White Rose fade, Tudor and Stuart and Guelph Struggle and triumph and die, — Still in its calm repose Rests, and shall rest for aye, The Hospital of St. Jolm.
As the boy gazed there came Unto his inmost soul A vision of things to be: — Far through the years he looked. Far over valley and hill, Over the salt waves' leagues, Unto a distant land. There, in that great New Wui-ld, Clasped by the smiling sea, Peaceful a City lies; And as he mused he saw Linked with liis name for aye Even anotlier Home, — Home for the aged Poor Weary with life's annov, — Haven of peace and rest. Stable, secure, serene !
Memorial Proceedings ; William KnHio)i JIovic. 17
Slowly but surely the years Rolling in ceaseless course Bring to the sons of men At last the appointed hour. Here at the last that dream Dreamed by the Keiitisli ];id Finds its fulfilment meet. Gladlv \vc gather around Praising his faithful vow, Lauding his constant heart. But he, — ah ! not to his eyes Was it vouchsafed to see Here in the llesh on Earth That bright vision fulfilled. Low in the grave he lies, Dumb— but his work remains !
Brothers and friends who meet Here in his praise to-day, Pause ere the moment flies ! Pause and ponder this word : —
Better than storied tomb,
Better than gilded shrine,
Better, ay ! better far
Than the sordid prizes of Earth
Is, and shall ever be
The praise of the open hand,
The fame of the loving heart !
The Mayor next introduced Mr. J. P. Keiinedv Brvaii, the Orator of the Dav, bv tlie in\ itation of tlie Citv CounciL
MEMORIAL ORATION.
TiiH William Enston Home
BY
J. P. KENNEDY JUIYAN, Esq.
22xD Feuruaky, 1SS9.
Mr. Chairman and Fellow- Citizens : It is good for us lobe here. It is y precious privilege always for Americans to meet on thisbirthda}' of Wasliington.a holy day for human- ity, and to be cherished as a Sabbath of our Country. And I feel it is a peculiar privilege to meet here on this occasion, on til is day, in the spirit of this hour ; for if ever a mere human life was of blessing to humanity, " peace and good will to man ," it was that of tlie founder of this Pepublic of the western Avorld and of this new home of mankind. And as akin to the thought that is uppermost here, in gathering around this Memorial of Enston, tlie solemn message of Washington comes back to us with all its pathos and power. In that supreme moment when he had accompHshed the indepen-
20 "7/ic High JJiUij and Precious Privilege of Wealth.'"
(lence of his Country, when he was about to render up his great trust to the people and return to domestic retirement, lie turns in affection to his countrymen, to give his final blessing to that country, to which he gave his life. It was then he wrote that Farewell, familiar yet immortal. In it, after he reviews the history and foundation of this Govern- ment, the principles on which it rests and the development of the State, and forecasts the destiny of the people, and bids farewell to the cares of office and all the employments of pub- lic life, lie lingers still to say one parting word, not of human law, not oi politieal science, not of governmental regulation, l)ut, like the prayer of the patriarch for his children, im- ploring a divine benediction on their heritage, he con- cludes that precious legacy, by an appeal to something be- yond constitutions and laws, beyond principles and pre- cedents, beyond the achievements of the intellect and the conquests of the battlefield. For trusting solely in the providence of God, and feeling that " every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," his last words are :
" I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, * * in his holy protection ; that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordina- tion and obedience to government ; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States, at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field ; and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and follow * * tJiat cliarity, Juimility, and pacific temper of the mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion ; without an humble imitation of whose example, in these things, ive can never hope to he a happy nation."
It is as if in answer to this solemn invocation from the past, in the pure air of its free spirit and in the grace of its blessing, revealed and embodied here in tender human sympathy for human want, that we gather this day to dedi- cate this Memorial Hall of the William Enston Home, and to unveil the features of him, whose life and good work have
Memorial Proceedings ; William Ension Jfome. 21
indeed given us a new language and put a new song in oui- mouth.
My fellow-citizens: It is a story of pui-o l)eneficence — simple hut suhlime! For tiie lasting hrou/.e that is hefore us is of him, that was of the humhlest spirit, that never iield, or sought, any pnl)li(! ottice, that never bore arms and liad no love of military fame, that wrote no book, that affected no genius of poetic song, or art. or ehxpience. His mission on earth was to live a pure and just life, to build his own character, and his own fortune, and in love for the aged poor, and in conscience and duty to God, to give and consecrate the gifts of earth that he had garnered for the solace, and comfort of the stricken, the weary and aged of earth. His highest purpose was to bless, and in blessing, to wake the tenderest feelings in the human heart; to be- queath to his fellow-citizens the noblest and richest heritage of a lofty example in the tremendous power and privilege of riches ! For this, in lasting gratitude, we fashion his form in abiding bronze, that neither time in its flow, nor the elements in their decay, may mar ; that like this spirit of the divine charity it would perpetuate, never faileth, but abideth alway.
I do not propose within the limits of this address to give a biographical sketch of William Enston, and indeed the full materials are not at hand for such a purpose, but there are some facts that I have gathered, that bear upon this occasion, and this charity, that will be of lasting interest.
We can trace the Enstons back, even at this dis- tance and with the little aid that is afforded me, to Geoffrey Enston, in 1(399 His son, Daniel, the elder, the great-grandfather of William Enston. married Mary Pittlock, in 1757, and their son, Daniel, Jr., of Deal, Eng- land, born in 1774. and married in 1S07. to Sarah Knowles, was the father of our distinguished fellow-citizen. His mother was Sarah Knowles, eldest child of William Knowles, and Sarah Boys, and was born and baptized at St.
22 "77t6 lii(jli l)>iiij (iiid rrecloiis Privilege of Wealth."
A 1 phage, Canterbury, 1790. Tlie solemn ceremony of her marriage in 1807, was also at St Alphage, Canterbury, even then a hoary pile, rich in Clii-istian memories, His mater- nal -I'an.lfatlier was William Knowles, of Canterbury; and a-aiii in ('antcrl)ury, in St. Mary's, Northgate, in St. Alphagx', is the rcrord of his twelve children, whose several fainilifs. to-day, are settled in several States of this Country. Tliu Register of the Knowles family goes back to the timeof (iueen Mary, and the family of Boys to the early part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and the old plate and I)ictures taken from the Hall are now in possession of the tamily in this country. His maternal grandmother was Sarah Boys, a member of that celebrated family of Boys, whose name has been for centuries identified with the tender charities of England, and a precious memory to the poor of Canterbury. I call particular attention here to this fact and will refer to it again, for in it is deep significance ibr this greater charity embodied here.
William Enston, w^as born 5th May, 1808, and was the eldest son and firstborn of seven -children of Daniel Enston and Sarah Knowles. His father was yet in Canterbury, England, and on the Register at St. Alphage, Canterbury, is entered in baptism his name and all of his sisters and brothers, namely, Sarah, Grotius, Louisa, Ellen B., and Alfred ; all except Daniel, the last of the seven, who was l)oi-n after his father had come to Philadelphia, in 1825, and now sleeps at our own " Magnolia." The Enston associations of family and birth and early life was therefore old Canter- liury and its vicinity. There, while yet a boy, his father, a man of limited scholarship, but fine mechanical talent and skill, lived on Sun street near the great Cathedral, and pur- sued his avocation as a cabinet maker, and there had a large establishment. There William went to the " King's School,"' until he was twelve, when his father left Canter- bury and went to Philadelphia, resuming there his busi- ness on the block above the old Independence Hall. His early training must have been meagre, when this school ceased, for thereafter, William Enston, from his
Memorial Proceedhujs : Will In m F.nshin Ih,,,,, jf?
fourteenth to his twenty-first year was apprenticctj to the trade of " chair ornamental [>ainlin,<,r anil ^rildinj;," in all its branches; and yet in all (hose years \\v tind him at iIm- night school of the Franklin Institute in I'liiladdphiu, or teaching school himself in the evenings, when not ntlicr- wise em])loye<l. Here was the atmospliL-re of the jtr»if(»nnd j)hilosophy and practical wisdom of Kranklin and an ener- gizing and powerful moral force it has ever hi-en. Here, n«i doubt, in these years of practical trade work by day. and study by night, were laid in his youth the broad and deep foundation on which he afterwards built so solidly the lofty structure of his life, and it was here, in this eager race for knowledge beyond his calling, that be opened wide his mind and heart to the great world about bim. I'or ab- sorbed as was his life in business, and devoted as he was to the advancement of his own fortune, he kept his spirit ever open and pure and warm, stirred all the while, no doubt, by the cherished wish, here to-day realized, dear to his heart, but never named on his lips, save to the beloved conijianion of his life, his devoted wife. Travel abroad and throughout this country gave him a rich field of observation, and from a remnant of his books, now preserved, of History and Science, and Literature and the Poets, we know that in his love of letters, he was nourished and made strong by the unfailing springs of mental and moral power.
His apprenticeship finished, though his father desired him to seek other cities, he lingered at Philadelphia, in <le- votion to his mother, who was an invalid, and it was only when she had fallen asleep, tliat he started out to seek his fortune. Then he came to Charleston, in l.So2. under an en- gagement to serve eight months, and his first activity in this city was in the employ of a French lady who had a furniture store in Meeting street. Shortly afterwards, he became llie proprietor of a small business for himself on Nh-eting street. Within a year he returned to Philadeli)hia. and there mar- ried, in 1834, his faithful wife, Haimah Shuttlewood. of Colsterworth, England, and soon after commenced business m Charleston, at a small store on King street, just below
24 " The High Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth^
Clifford, and there with his ever lielpful wife laid the foun- dation of the husiness career, that was to be so prosper- ous. After he had been here ten years, he thus writes from Charleston, in L843, "Refusing several good offers to connect myself in business in Philadelphia, I ar- rived in this city, the Queen of the South. You know, when a boy, I was always of an ardent, sanguine, nervous tem- peramenl, which caused me often to get into scrapes not exactly my own. In this case I was, however, more fortu- nate. I soon identified myself with the people and entered into all their symjjatJiies. From tliat time my march was on- ward."
He had come to this city without friends, without kith or kin here, but with earnest heart and willing hands to work out his own destiny among strangers. How quick he took root and how rapid and sure was that "onward march," the records of this city show in his rapid acquisition of real property, his building of that extensive furniture emporium and warerooras on King street, then the finest on that leading thoroughfare, to which he removed his growing business. His ownership of one-half of the Charleston Hotel, and tlie investments he made in the West reveal again his financial growth. And it came to pass that he actually owned the site of a now thriving Western town. Not onl}'^ in his own special calling was he active and success- ful, but he was personally interested as a pioneer in the de- velopment of the commerce of this port, especially in its first quick and direct communication by steam with New York and Havana. And here let me call the attention of every merchant and financier in this city to the uses to which these old heads and wise brains of the olden time put their gathered riches. To this enterprise, always so vital to this city's prosperity, he gave his personal supervision and attention and staked everything upon it. In 1846 he writes from Charleston: "I was detained a long time at the North attending to the finishing of our own steamship. She is now making her regular trips between this city and New York, and is considered by all to be the very best
Memorial Proceedings: WiUiaia Enston Ho me. 25
steanisliip ever built in the United States. Her name is tlie ^' SoiitJicrner," and I \\ii\'ii no doubt her fame has reached your part of the country. She is one thousand tons burtiien, and carries about two hundred pa.ssengers. Slie can make the trip in fifty-five liours." This was tlie fir.st re^jular line steamship that crossed this bar, and the record shows us that on sea as well as land this old city was a pioneer in steam transportation.
In 1847 he writes from Charleston : "The second steam- sliip of our line, called the " Northerner," made her first trip to this city last week in sixty hours. We consider it great speed for a new vessel. She is larger than the Southerner, and ten feet longer than the Britannia, Cunard steamer. She is certainly fittcMl upnn)re handsomely than other seagoing steamers afloat, and is one thousand tiiree hundred and fifty tons burden, carries two liundred and fifty passengers conveniently. Having succeeded with the Postoffice Department at Washington in obtaining a mail contract, we are now constructing still another steamer, to be superior to the Nortlierner. She is building in Baltimore, to run between this city and Havana, in the West Indies. l^This was the famous " Isabel.") Tliere are but eight of us in the whole transaction. I am very enthusiastic in this en- terprise. I have now cast my bread upon the waters, and hope 10 find it a profitable investment. If it turns out well I shall be highly gratified, it it fails, very sorry. There is a fortune to be made or lost. The die is cast, and we mean to stand the throw. So far we have been successful beyond our most sanguine hopes."
These words of his own are the best picture of the man of business. With an instinct of Eng- land, his mother country, ever Ocean's Queen, he could not but be one of Ocean's children. The commerce of this }>ort he saw was its life, and to him who smote the rock abundant streams would flow. Here the mystery of this large fortune is made clear Here we .see his clear insight into affairs, his extended knowledge of the modern world, his practical realization of the great problem that then (as even
26 ''The High Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth:'
now) must be solved by thiscity and tbe capital of this city, asa seaport, in the light and with the means of this mighty, throbbing, material civilization, with its gigantic forces, its rapid movement and its vast machinery harnessed as the intelligent servant of the enlightened will and quickened spirit of mankind. And we behold him, himself in marvellous enterprises, competing with the largest steam- ships then afloat in size and navigation, staking all for the development and control here in our midst of these powerful commercial agencies. Let not the memory and inspiration of such a spirit pass from us.
Of the loyalty and devotion of William Enston, as a citizen of Cliarleston, we need hardly speak in the presence of this noble benefaction to this city as his chosen Trustee of the most sacred thought and purpose of his life to his fellow- man.
Of his public views however, it is profoundly interesting to know how a strong, practical mind, with his natural pre- disposition, born in England, and a citizen of this country, devoted to progress, stood in regard to the fierce questions that from the day he landed here in 1834, burned with such ardor, and threatened such disaster, when in March, 1860, he passed away. He has given us his own answer. In 1846, he writes : " You will not be long in divining my politics, when I tell you that my neiglibor. Col. Elmore, was the man that nominated Mr. Polk for the presidency. I have always been a staunch democrat, and yet, * * the fact is, I never can become a party man. I never saw a party with all my principles. I like Henry Clay's disposi- tion to compromise, tor this is a government of compromise and concession. The strong must protect the weaker, and the interests of this extended country are ."O different that nothing but concessions and compromises can keep us to- gether. Respecting a war, I have with others, just com- menced to get up a class of steamships to run between this port and New York, and they are now in progress in New
Memorial Proccedi'tr/s ; Willidni Eustun J fame. 27
York, and all this in f\ice of Mr. Cass and Mr. Polk's <i;reat war speeches! You see I do not believe in war. If there should be one. I have no doubt that from <lilterent causes this devoted city would be used up."
In this sentence he paints for us his conservatism, his broad, complacent, heli)ful s{)irit, shunning the falsehood of extremes; his cluirity. his patience and his hope. And yet with prophetic eye, beholding the ruin of this " devoted city," as he affectionately and proudly .says, if ever the storm of civil war burst upon her.
These are a few reminiscences that throw strong light u[)()n this remarkable man, who for twenty-seven years lived in this city, and within that time l)ecame .so clo.sely identified with Charleston, as to have no other home on earth. He had no children, and when he died, at the age of fifty -two, on 23rd March, ISGO, of heart disease, he left as his sole survivor, liis faithful wife. Hannah Enston. When he first entered our city in 1S33, he had walked up Meeting street, unknown, witli no friend, or kith or kin among us. He came for service at his trade to a French lady for " eight ■mont]is !" When in death he was borne hence twenty -seven years afterward, it was amid the solemn pomp of civic Honors, the sad tolling of the chimes of old St. Michael's, and the mourning of a grateful citv for her devoted son and greatest benefactor !
It was in the thought of his last will and testament, founding this tender charity, composed and written by him- self, that lav the grand significance of his earthlv career In it after providing for his wife for her life, and all the objects of his affection among his large connection, in fullest care of them all, he gives his then large estate, and it was then, before the war, I think, nearly a million, to the City of Charleston, for this Home, that we have now called by his name, a Home, in his own words, for " old or in- firm persons,"' '• in poverty, of good honest character, and decent, none must be admitted under the age of forty-live
28 "7/ie High Duty and Precious Privilege of }\'ealth."
years, unless in case of some great infirmity, some lameness, some physical infirmity," or, as he tenderly sums it up, " It is more to make old age comfortable than for anything else." He adds : " The cottages must be built of brick, in rows, neat and convenient, two stories high, each having two rooms, and a kitchen, each cottage must have a small garden to busy the occupant." " The Mayor of Charleston and twelve Trustees chosen by Council, are to determine the gifts." This last will and testament revealed to his fellows the full and noble stature of this man, and lover of man. It suddenly sanctified as with a flood of holy light the patience, the toil, the perseverance of that life, and looking back over that life all is made plain, when we read the words of this bounty. His privations his sacrifices, his simple tastes, his plain living, his quiet and earnest spirit, and his quenchless faith, flowed from the heart-peace of one,
"Who, through long days of labor And nights devoid ofea.se, Still heard in his soul the music Of wonderful melodies."
For to him was realized our own poet's dream. To him indeed,
'Love, like a visible God, had been his guide,
How had the marts grown noble! and the street, Worn like a dungeon floor by weary feet. Seemed then a golden pathway of the Sun."
The first marked feature of this gift is, that it is given to the City of Charleston, his adopted home. In a spirit of truest loyalty and devotion William Enston had come to the New World, and in all pride and affection he became a Charlestonian. To her and her people he had given liim- self without reserve, and threw into her busy life his pro- gressive spirit and ardent impulses. She welcomed him, a stranger, as she ever hath welcomed and to-day welcomes the stranger who greets and joins us as one in our work,
Memorial Procccdiitgs ; W'iUlavi Ensfon Hovic. 21)
our progress and our liopes : and to liiin, as to many a new comer from foreign lands, or other States, or cities, slie gave the richest blessing of her liberal laws and benign institutions and her generous hos|)itality. Here he found a world mart for his busy brain and active spirit : here he found a gracious home to dwell in ; here the liberty of tlic Saxon and God of his fathers. Here, with no capital but his own trade and industry against the established business ho must necessarily compete with, he had under the fostering inlhi- ences of her commercial life prospered as he had not dreamed, and built up his fortune. Here were his friends, here the success of his manhood, here he gathered that wealth that was to fulfil his heart's ideal, here his haj)py home with his faithful wife, the only home he ever knew in manhood and age — and when he comes to the most solemn act of his life, that is to live with his name, he renders back in this noble charity the debt of life and loyalty and grati- tude to this loved and devoted city, the "Queen of the South," as he then proudly and affectionately called her. And though his grave is not here, praying in death to be laid by his motlier, and now with her and his good wife sleeps in the "City of Friends,'^ still here was his heart, and the only home of the heart the wanderer from across the sea ever knew in this new world ; and here, invoking the guardianship of the City for this sacred trust, he has left in our midst a fragrant memorv forever in this warm and hal- lowed home,
" To Make Old Age Comfortable."
The most striking feature of this charity is its, to us, novel plan. This we must seek for, not in this land, but across the sea, even at old Canterbury. There he was l)orn, there his family for generations lived, there all his early and cherished associations of home, of race, of religion. And I doubt if in the English-speaking world there is a spot of more inspiration and associations for human good than old Canterbury. There are the towers of the noble Abbey of St. Augustine, where " Christian learn-
30 "The U'kjIi Dutij ami rrcciovs Privilege of Wealth:'
ini;- and civilization first struck root in tlie Anglo-Saxon race." There the earliest source of the might and glory of modern England. " From Canterbury the first Christian City, from Kent, the first English Christian Kingdom, has by deirrees arisen the whole constitution of Church and State in England."
And there, from the hill which now marks the venerable ruin of St. Martin's, the oldest Church in England, the hori- zon which bounds the view "encloses within its narrow circle the grave of English paganism and the birthplace of English Christianity." Thereis St. Pancras, or rather the fragment of that venerable monument, in crumbling wall and arch, in which Englishmen first bent the knee as Christians, St. Augustine's first church, and sacred with its fifteen centuries of historic associations to the Christian world. There was also the massive grandeur of the far- famed monastery of St. Augustine, " The first home of mis- sionaries to the heathen English, now become a home and school for English missionaries to the wide heathen world,''
There, too, was Canterbury Cathedral, that towering pile, itself the seat of the English Church for centuries, rising far above the City and above the older memorials of English Christianity. In short, there was at every turn, in religion, history and art and literature, associations the most cherished in the heart of England, and of vast moment and impulse to the modern world.
And there, to come more closely down to the associa- tions of Canterbury that seemed to have lingered latest in the mind of William Enston, and which to-day, I think, are the inspiration of this noble foundation — there in Canterbury, for centuries, were those far famed Homes of the aged, the Brethren, as they were called, that correspond in their main features to the cherished ideal that found expression in the last soleinn will and testament of Charleston's greatest philanthropist. For there in Canterbury, since 1084, for the maimed, the sick, and the weak, was such a Home, or Hospital in Northgate street, called St. John, where passing from the
Memorial Proceedings ; Willidin l-jislmi Home. 31
noisy street, he liim,«elf, doubtless, often entered a (|uict en- closure, a peaceful haven of repose, for oni' liundrecl of the weak and aged, and where in the ehinchyard beyond, the in- scriptions on the headstones, where the former im nates sleep, show how ri{)e an old age is given to the soj(»urnei-s in this quiet retreat from the eares and strifes of a battling world. And there he doubtless also beheld their pleasure in, and their care of, the plots of garden in their busy occupancy with fruit and flowers, and there in the countenances of glad and " good old age released from care, journeying, in long serenity, away," he perhaps first realized tlie profound peace of the weary human soul at rest from this sin- worn world.
For there also, near Canterbury, at Harbledown, where as a boy he used to walk of a Sunday morning, was such a home for old age in St. Nicholas, hoary with its eight cen- turies of blessing to the poor. His path thither would be along the " Old Pilgrim Way," along which age after age ])oured the ceaseless stream of life in that far-famed pilgrim- age to the shrine of Becket, at Canterbury, rich and poor, prince and peasant, native and stranger, thousands upon thousands, year after year. And there on the way he often drank, no doubt, of the spring on the hillside, known as the " Black Prince's Well," behind St. Nicholas, and there he saw the dwellings or homes of the sixteen inmates, described " as comfortable cottages ranged on either side of a hall or frater-house, and opposite them, the venerable old Church of St. Nicholas, with its great ivy tree clinging to the ancient tower," and there in the church yard he saw the memorials of the past "brothers and sisters" as the in- mates were called, the ages recorded being most frequently beyond fourscore years.'^
And there also at Canterbury, and nearest and dearest to his heart was the sight, for the blood of the founder coursed in his veins, through his grandmother Boys, did he see also the Home for the aged and infirm poor at Northgate, founded 1595, by Sir John Boys, Bart., and further endowed by Sir Edward Boys in JG40. And in
32 "TAe Iliyh Duty and Precious Privilege of Wealth."
Canterbury Cathedral he saw the monuments to this hu- mane and compassionate ancestry — standing, as the Home without, a witness for centuries to Enston's lieritago of a tender human heart.
This Home, or Jesus Hospital, as it was called, was for '•founder's kin" above the age of fifty six years, or lame, blind, or unable to work, and not more than two at a time of such "founder's kin," and also for others, "Such honest " persons of good behavior ot the poorest, who shall be fifty- " five years of age at the least, and also lame, blind, or unable " to get their living, and for seven years resident of Canter- " bury," and where" each of the inmates has a piece of gar- den ground that is much treasured by them," is indeed the original outline after which he fashioned his ideal, and on which he wrought new features for this noble benefaction. This Canterbury Home he must have seen in his boyhood, and on his two visits to Canterbury in later life, the last within a few months of his death, and this scene of peace and blessing was indeed the inspiration of his own future bene- diction of Old Age in the new world, and in his loved and new home, in this City by the Sea.
Again, though England was source of this Home for old age, it is more than English in its wider blessing. From old England came the first settlers on this soil; from her came the first church whose spire here sought the sky, from her first came our government, law, literature and learning; from her came our language, the speech of this mighty continent, and here in old Charleston all these elements of power and life and glory have borne their rich fruitage, and here have col- onists of English blood, and after them their American children in outstretched arms to all other peoples and kin- dred and tongues on our soil, made them feel the blessing of this civilization and rejoice as glad partakers of our com- mon heritage.
But there is something more precious still in this latest manifestation as embodied here, as it comes to us in this
3Icmorial Proceedings : Williain FmsIou Home. 33
1)lessed spirit of an awakened liunianity, linking; itself in tenderness to liuman want and human sorrow and Imnian frailty, and making all men kin as they bow with homage and reverence before the holiest feeling of the universal lieartofman. True, it is the thought of one born on Eng- lish soil, it is poured in an English mould, it is the gift fashioned after English charities, but in its spirit and its beneficence it is above all else the compassionate love for human kind that exalts this charity above all difference of race, and makes it the supremest offering that man can make to his fellow man ; and indeed, if with it he conse- crates his heart, to his God.
The genius of this land is to take of the things of light and wisdom, and power and grace and blessing in human na- ture, and give them unto all men. And this we can say this day of our fellow-citizen, William Enston. Eor though all the belongings of William Enston was in the Church of Eng- land, identified from his boyhood with its vast Cathedral, in whose choir he chanted at Canterbury, and a member of Christ Church in Philadelphia, and in this city a member of St. Michael's ; though he was born on English soil and had the strong traits and predispositions of the English peo- ple, yet here in this charity, to make old age comfortable, there is no word of race or sect. What he gave was to all. *' The friend of all his race, God bless him." To humanity he consecrates his life work, and no narrow condition withholds his bounty from the aged poor of his 1 lomeless Jellowman.
The most touching feature of this charity is its direct object, " To make old age comfortable."
Men have given their riches for the building of vast cathedrals, for the spread of the Gospel, for the founding of Universities, for the education of the masses, for the advance of science and art, and for hospitals for the sick and afflicted, and all the outcome of the pervading love of fellow-man ; the divinest principle of action in the human heart, and 3
34 "TJlc IligJi DiUij and Precious Privilege of Wealth"
this day, I love to believe, the most powerful human motive working in this world, filling our hearts with gladness and making us feel all the dignity and nobility of human nature. But there is in this charity, to make old age comfortable, though a manifestation of the same spirit, a something different, that in its tender pathos touches and pierces at once and deeply all natures, and opens all the fountains of reverence and love and compassion.
It is indeed charity, but it is the tenderest arid most pathetic charity. Let me illustrate : In music there are seven notes in the scale, yet out of these meagre elements does each inspired soul create a new world of harmony ! And from these common symbols, each for himself, have the great masters drawn down new melody to earth, waking in us " those mysterious stirrings of heart, those keen emotions, and strange yearnings and awful impressions." What are they we ask ? " They have indeed escaped from some higher sphere ; they are the outpouring of eternal harmony in the medium of created sound ; they are echoes from our Home ; they are the voices of angels, or the magnificat of Saints ; or the living laws of Divine governance, or the Divine attributes," poured in varying strains through the human singer's lips, as each soul is touched by the fire of Heaven. So here from blessed Human Charit}^ that " harp of a thousand strings," the Master draws a new song of blessing,
"To make old age comfortable!"
There is a deep and heavenly liarmony in the music of these words. It is an answer of Heaven, to the cry of the helpless from the lips of David,
" 0, spare me a little, that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen."
" To make old age comfortable !"
It fills with the light and peace of its melody the weary soul of him who, in the weakness of this failing flesh, too deeply knows,
Manorial Proceedings ; Will in m Ensfon Ilomr. 35
" The days of our age are threescore years and ten, and though men be so strong tliat tliey come to fourscore years, yet is tlieir strength labor and sorrow, so soon passeth it away and is gone !"
" To make old age comfortable !"
It comes as a song of deliverance to the desolate poor who, " hath a short time to live and is full of sorrow;" and here may rest awhile as a sojourner in that pilgrimage to the Heavenlv Rest.
Time is not to tell the story of this charity, since William Enston died in 1800 — confiding his estate to his wife, Hannah, as his sole executrix — how the fury of that war broke upon the " devoted city," how her great fortunes were destroyed, and yet how, by providential means, it seems, nearly a half million was preserved of William Enston 's estate to found this Home after a quarter of a century ; how for years the faithful wife of his affection, sharer in his toil and sharer in his blessed purpose, to Avhom he had com- mitted this trust in part, with the fervor of woman's and wife's devotion labored for its fulfilment to the end, and died, her whole duty done, with the work just begun here that was to transform this waste into a village of peace ! Time is not to tell of the energy and zeal of the President of this Board of Trustees who, formerly as Mayor and now as Chairman of the Trustees, has been the soul of the estab- lishment and organization of this charity, as he has been of so many other good works, assisted by the earnest co-opera- tion of the administrations of the cit}' and the public-spir- ited citizens who compose the Board of Trustees.
The work speaks for itself, and this day crowns its glad completion and witnesses this abiding memorial of a city's gratitude to William Enston.
And now, my fellow-citizens, in conclusion let us take home to our hearts and always cherish the spirit of this day.
36 " The High Duly and Precious Privilege of Wealth."
Great and imposing a monument to mortal man is this village of twenty cottages; greater and more imposing will it be when its forty homes of rest shall circle this Memorial Hall : unspeakably tender and precious from generation to generation will be the name of Enston in the full hearts of the brief sojourners that will gather here in the fading light of earthly day — in perpetual veneration and benediction of his name in this his abiding memory home. Yet the most precious heritage here for this city, for us and our children, is the spirit that isiuitJtiii. Tliat is the crowning grace and glory of this charity. This spirit is the light that illumines our civilization beyond all other radiance.
It came to this city in the beneficence of Roper in that historic Hospital that for long years was the home of the sick in this city; it came again in the munificence of Baynard and Boyce, in their splendid foundations for higher learning, whereby the College of Charleston has for generations given to this city strong intellects and brilliant defenders in field and forum.
It came again in blessed manifestation when Shirras estab- lished that Dispensary for free medicines to the destitute poor, a gracious ministry to the suffering and stricken in our midst.
It came again when in that palatial home for the orphans of Charleston, year by year, tender-hearted men and women of Charleston endowed that refuge of homeless childhood.
It came again when Enston opened the gates of this village of rest to stricken and helpless age.
It came again to us from a far land when Peabody, across the passion and storm of war and bitterness of section, sent his millions to give the bread of mental life to the starved minds of the children of the South land.
Again it came when, under the visitation of Heaven, the whole multitude of this city was prostrate before God in its prayer of deliverance from the shock and terror of earth- quake, and it came then from this far and wide land and from beyond the sea to soothe and heal and bless a whole city.
Memorial Proceedings ; William Enston IIoiuc. 37
Wherever this blessed spirit comes aiul abides in man, whether it comes ottering a life and its labor, whether offering riches, or genius, or art, or intellect, if its gift be to all men, and consecrated by the love of man, there is the peace and the blessing of Heaven, which, God grant, may always dwell within this Home 'Wo make old age comJ'ortaOle."
COTTAGE Al WILLIAM KNSTON HOME.
APPENDIX.
a 15kiff review of the cuxditiox of "the enstox estate'' in 1882: the sf:ttlement with mrs. iiannah enston, and the administration of this public trust to 1889. with a condensed exhibit of its finances.
The public ceremonies at the William Enston Home, on Washington's Birthday, which are so fully recorded in the preceding pages, mark the close of the formative period in the promised long life of this unif|ue and munificent bene- faction.
Identified with this public trust, as I have been, since the date of my initiatory correspondence in the early part of 1882, with the late Mrs. Hannah Enston, Avidow and execu- trix of William Enston, and which led directly to the final settlement, which has realized this beneficent fund, and also through the continuing years, as presiding officer of the Board of Trustees, to this time, I have thought it would be appropriate and instructive, to those who may succeed us in this trust, and as well to this community, that the chief events of these seven years should be noted for con- venient reference, and such mention made, of the active administration of these affairs as would give all necessary information to those who may seek it.
In the early months of 1882, having for some time con- sidered the condition of this estate in its future relation to
40 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
the city of Charleston, and desiring, if possible, to carry out the will of William Enston, in the lifetime of his widow and executrix, I finally concluded to open a correspondence with Mrs. Hannah Enston, then residing at Emilie, Penn., and so ascertain, if any feasible plan could be mutually agreed upon, looking to a practical settlement, in advance of the uncertain period fixed by the will itself.
THE CONDITION OF THE ESTATE.
The property at that date consisted of the real estate in the city of Charleston, of which William Enston died seized, amounting at the city's, then assessed value, to $61,950. The personal estate consisted of public securities, bonds and mortgages of property in different States of the Union. The will required the approval of Mrs. Enston to the site of the " Hospital," and also her approval of the plans ; and although it thus contemplated the inauguration of this benefaction in her lifetime, it did not give the whole estate to the city, until the death of the last mentioned annuitant under the will, and at that date, there were eight annuitants living besides Mrs. Enston herself.
The ultimate settlement being thus postponed to a re- mote and uncertain period, and the property itself, being still in several States, made the required action of the city of Charleston, in dedicating a site, and Mrs. Enston's ap- proval thereof, and of the plans in her lifetime, a practi- cal difficulty. This, however, was solved in June, 1882, by an agreement among all parties in interest, to value Mrs. Enston's life estate, and thus settle with her; thus to create a trust fund reduced to possession in this State, for the pay- ment of the annuitants from the income, and upon these deaths, to pay the principal to the city of Charleston, the balance of the estate to l)e transferred forthwith to the city of Charleston -
This settlement, agreed upon by all the parties under the will, and by the City Council of Charleston, at once real-
WlUuiiii I'litstiin J foinc. I ]
ized to the city, for tlu' Il(.inc, il,,. tullnu in^j nal aini pi-r- soiuil property at the (hitc naiiud :
Personal bonds and casli SH'J.ST.'I (M)
§7,400 City of Charleston I |Mr ccnl. l.ond^ at . "..ITti no ^5,100 City of Charlcstun fi per (cnt. l.nnd- at ."..I.">| nu 11,500 South Carolina liidwn ('niisdls 1,.'(mi((u
i?7r.,(KK) 1)1)
and the following real estate, at thr then rity a.sst»s.setl values :
One-half interest in Charleston Hotel, with lialf-
interest in frame building next to Mills House ..^2n..'n() ou House and lot King and Clifford streets . . . . l.s^ooo nu House and lot King and Calh(»un streets .... ll.-Joo on
House and lot south side of CI i (lord .'),.")()() iiii
Vacant lot in Queen street 7.')0 (»0
$r.l. !).■»(» (HI Making a total of S130.950.
For the ample .security of the annuitants, the additional sum of §200,000 in cash was brought into the State, an 1 duly created into a trust fund, the income to pay th»'se annuitants, and thereafter the whole sum to be pai<l to the city; Messrs. Wm. A. Courtenay, *Isaac Hayne aiitl W'm. E. Butler were appointed Trustees of this " .\nniiitant's Fund." In this way the whole estate was elos«d and brought within this jurisdiction, and the opportunity pre- sented, of putting into execution the will of Charleston's most liberal benefactor.
It is a pleasure here to make record of the fact, that from the first letter received from Nfrs. Knston, to her last act in the concludino; details of the settlement, she alwavs mani- fested a lively interest in this foundation, and expre.s.sed the
*Isaac Hayne died 7th Xovombor. l-^Ss. Hon. J. K. Kicken dwted to fill the vacancy.
, . * » # » -fr^fc .
*-t.W'.
40
Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
the city of Charleston, and desiring, if possible, to carry out the will of William Enston, in the lifetime of his widow and executrix, I finally concluded to open a correspondence with Mrs. Hannah Enston, then residing at Emilie, Penn., and so ascertain, if any feasible plan could be mutually agreed upon, looking to a practical settlement, in advance of the uncertain period fixed by the will itself.
THE CONDITION OF THE ESTATE.
The property at that date consisted of the real estate in the city of Charleston, of which William Enston died seized, amounting at the city's, then assessed value, to $61,950. The personal estate consisted of public securities, bonds and mortgages of property in different States of the Union. The will required the approval of Mrs. Enston to the site of the " Hospital," and also her approval of the plans ; and although it thus contemplated the inauguration of this benefaction in her lifetime, it did not give the whole estate to the city, until the death of the last mentioned annuitant under the will, and at that date, there were eight annuitants living besides Mrs. Enston herself.
The ultimate settlement being thus postponed to a re- mote and uncertain period, and the property itself, being still in several States, made the required action of the city of Charleston, in dedicating a site, and Mrs. Enston's ap- proval thereof, and of the plans in her lifetime, a practi- cal difficulty. This, however, was solved in June, 1882, by an agreement among all parties in interest, to value Mrs. Enston's life estate, and thus settle with her ; thus to create a trust fund reduced to possession in this State, for the pay- ment of the annuitants from the income, and upon these deaths, to pay the principal to the city of Charleston, the balance of the estate to be transferred forthwith to the city of Charleston.
This settlement, agreed upon by all the parties under the will, and by the City Council of Charleston, at once real-
]
sm ^vimutmirm. im
William Enston Home.
41
m
ized to the city, for the Home, the followiiifr real and per- sonal [)ro[)erty at the date named :
Personal bonds and cash $62.87o 00
$7,400 City of Charleston 1 j)or cent, bonds at . r).47(i 00 $5,100 City of Charl('st(jn (i jkt cent, bonds at . r).151 00 $1,500 South Carolina Brown Consols l,r,00 00
$75,000 00
lei m\
II l>)
■k\
ition
iOli:
iiiHi
Up! I
tcti-
k m av-
■k iiv
and the following real estate, at the then city assessed values :
One-half interest in Charleston Hotel, with half- interest in frame building next to Mills House .$26,500 00 House and lot King and Clittbrd streets . , . . 18,000 00 House and lot King and Calhoun streets .... 11,200 00
House and lot south side of Cliflbrd 5,500 00
Vacant lot in Queen street 750 00
SO 1,950 00 Making a total of $130,950.
For the ample security of the annuitants, the additional sum of $200,000 in cash was brought into the State, and duly created into a trust fund, the income to pay these annuitants, and thereafter the whole sum to be paid to the city ; Messrs. Wm. A. Courtenay, *Isaac Hayne and Wm. E. Butler were appointed Trustees of this " Annuitant's Fund." In this way the whole estate was closed and brought within this jurisdiction, and the opportunity pre- sented, of putting into execution the will of Charleston's most liberal benefactor.
It is a pleasure here to make record of the fact, that from the iirst letter received from Mrs. Enston, to her last act in the concluding details of the settlement, she always mani- fested a lively interest in this foundation, and expressed the
*T.saac Hayne died 7th Xovember, 1S8S. Hon. J. F. Ficken elected to fill the vacancy.
/ /
42 Apperidix — Memorial Proceedings.
liope that she might be spared to see tlie projected village ill successful operation.
The adjustment of this large transaction had been con- fided to a committee of the C'it}- Council of Charleston con- sisting of the Mayor, Aldermen Rodgers, Thayer, Rose and Aichel, who gave much thought, time and attention to the settlement ; Mr. J. P. Kennedy Bryan was associated with the committee as legal adviser.
At the regular meeting of the City Council on the 8th August, 1882, an ordinance was passed confirming this set- tlement, and, in accordance with the terms of the will, a board of twelve trustees was elected to administer the affairs of the institution. The City Council included in this Board the gentlemen engaged in the settlement, and also elected the following Trustees, who were, upon request, suggested by Mrs. Enston : Alva Gage, E. H. Jackson, Wm. Robb, J. H. Pieper, C P. Aimar and W. J. Miller; under the terms of the will, the Mayor of the city is, in addition to the twelve Trustees named, e.v-officio a member of the Board, making in all thirteen.
Upon the memorial of the City Council of Charleston, the General Assembly of South Carolina, in December, 1882, passed an Act incorporating the above named Trustees, as "The Trustees of the William Enston Home." These official papers will be found printed in full, hereafter.
SELECTING THE SITE.
It having been ascertained that the Storen farm on upper King Street, conformed to Mrs. Ension's wishes, as to loca- tion; the City Council having to provide at least eight acres of land under the will, made the purchase from Mr. M. Storen, on very fair terms; record should be made here of the pleasing circumstance that when approached on the subject of the purchase of this farm, Mr. Storen replied that it was not for sale at any price; but, when informed that it was for the City of Charleston, and for a public beneficiary purpose, he at once acceded, and Mrs. Enston forthwith approved of this as a site.
WilVnnn Ivnsfmi TTome. 43
A survey ol' thesi- lands sliu\V(.'i| Ihat oii the inn'th-uost side the level was above the stre(>t. wliilf to Wu- «)Ulh-(ast the ground fell oil to a very low level. An o|.|.ortunitv ottered to extend the ^i-ounds southward, hy liie |.nrehase of about three acres ot "Blake bands," from the estate of Ivutledge, and this was done. It was a vci-y de<ii-ablc ae- <|uisition, costing ^2,8(M).UO, and gave greater freedom to th.- Trustees in laying out the grounds.
The settlement in all its details having been elleetetl and confirmed, the Trustees met and orranizeib Thev found themselves in possession of a site, and available for the in- auguration of tlie "Home," about two-fifths of the whole fund. 'J'here was no precedent to guide them in this new founchition, and, whatever was undertaken, had to be most carefully considered, not only as to the means available, l)ut as well in the character and scoj)e of the establishment. It was an interesting question, whether anything could be immediatel}^ done with the means at command, and there were, with some, grounds for the belief, that })erhaj)s the wisest course was, to invest all the funds, and await the in- crease of the property, to such a sum in the future, as would warrant a certain success. Such were some of the reliec- tions of the Trustees, as to the complex character of the work entrusted to them, but after mature and careful con- sideration of the subject, circumscribed as they were, in projecting plans and sha[)ing finances, equal to their com, pletion, the conclusion was reached, that it was best to pro- ceed, and now that their work, as far as contemplated, is substantially finished, it is a satisfaction to realize that an undertaking of this magnitude, has been achieved within the safe limits of the early prospective, as to its character and scope, and within the means available; and so far com- pleted, establishes this blessed benefaction in advance of any similar foundation in this country, and eonspieuously in advance of the Canterbury Homes, wliich it is believed, suggested the thought of this institution to Mr. Enston.
The result is the founding of the first half of the village, with a management of the trust funds, so successful us to
44 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
leave, judiciously invested, an amount, the annual income of which is equal to the present administration of this trust. Special reference is asked to the tinancial exhibit which forms a part of this record.
PREPARING THE GROUNDS FOR BUILDING.
The first work to be undertaken, was to transform eleven acres of rough farm and pasture land, uneven in grade, and in part unsuited to its future purposes, to a building site, with paved streets, courts, water supply, sewerage and resi- dences, in substance, the creation of a modern village. The entire a,rea had to be graded, and the south-eastern section filled, at some points to the depth of ten feet. This exten- sive work was undertaken by the South Carolina Railway Co., under special terms, in view of the objects to be accom- plished; a side track was laid into the grounds, and a total of twenty-four thousand cubic yards of solid earth and gravel deposited, expeditiously and economically. The property was next enclosed with an enduring fence, built with locust posts and cypress pickets; this was a necessary outlay for the protection of the premises, and in the progress of the work to be undertaken. The lands were laid off in a central avenue from west to east, and another at right angles from north to south, which have since been desig- nated Canterbury Avenue and Colsterworth Avenue, after the birthplaces in England of Mr. and Mrs. Enston. A sub- division was further made of each of these " fourths," in two parts, embracing in each five spacious building lots. These have been designed by historic names from Canterbury,
The first is " St. Martin's Court," (Cottages Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4^ 5, on King Street,) in honor of the first Christian Church built in England.
The second "Queen Bertha's Court, (Cottages Nos, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,) in honor of the first Christian Sovereign in Eng- land.
The third is "Colsterworth Avenue," (Cottages Nos. 21,22, 23, 24, 25.)
Williatu Euston Home. 45
The fourtli "St. Ausustino Court." ff'()tt;ij;<'s Xos. .'i2. '.V.\, 34, 35,) in honor of thi' lirst Chiistiaii .Mi>sioiiaiv in I'jig- laiid.
STKKKT TAVlNli AND SIDK WALKS.
The streets arf graded sntticiciitly lioin inulli to south to takeoff the heavie«t rain fall iiioiiiptly, (his of citursc! is greatly facilitated hy the granite Mocks, with wliidi each street is paved; the ap})roaches to the cottages aiv l;iid w iih l)lue flag stone. All the roadways were paved at an early date and are of the most permanent character.
PLANS FOR THK COTTAfiKS.
Among the earliest acts of the Trustees was the careful consideration of what was possible to he doni' in huildiugs, with the means actually available ; after mature reflection, plans and specifications were i)erfected for the erection of double cottages, which are thus described in their complete state.
Each cottage is on a separate lot, with amj>le ground around it, for cultivation and to ensure complete ventilation. The fronts face the southwest, and each is so located by the natural direction of the grounds as to l)e o))en to the i)re- vailing winds in summer from this quarter, while they are in great measure sheltered from the northeast winds in winter.
Each cottage is divided by a central hall, and so arranged as to be occu[)ied by two separate families : on the lirst floor to which access is had from the fi'ont porch, and on either side of the hall is a living room and comfortably furnished kitchen; on the second floor arc four nice bed rooms, with bath room and closet. The attics aie spacious, but as yet unfinished, affording ample space for such present or future purposes, as may be found desirable. In the base- ment are three rooms, two for a storage of wood and coal, a supply of which is laid in for a year, every summer, and a room for washing and ironing, with a laundry stove tor
46 Ajjpendtx — Memorial Proceedings.
heating water, smoothing-irons, etc. A cistern of ample ca- pacity furnishes drinking water. Hot and cold water is ac- cessible on both floors, and the drainage of each cottage is discharged into New Market Creek, running into Cooper River east of Meeting Street. The sewerage system is plain in material, and simple in design and construction, and is as nearly perfect as careful attention to detail good material and workmanship can make it. It was designed by Mr. Herring, Sanitary Engineer of Philadelphia. Each of the large rooms is furnished with a fire place, fitted with a large grate, ash- trap and chute, through which dust and ashes pass down to the basement, whence it can be easily removed. The cot- tages are built of brick and stone with metal roofs, the inte- rior plastered or ceiled with yellow pine. Water for common house purposes is supplied by an artesian well yielding 20,000 gallons a day, and by a very large surface well 20 feet diameter and 23 feet deep, put down for a reserve supply. Drinking water is of course furnished from the cisterns. The buildings are insured under a perpetual policy in the Liver- pool, London & Globe Insurance Company.
The water tower is a substantial brick structure, with ample capacity for a supply of water for the cottages and flushing the sewerage pipes. The engine room is of brick, with a steam-pump for raising the water to the top of the tower ; there is also a wind mill for pumping purposes in case of need.
The ground was broken for the foundation of the first cot- tage on the northwest lot, in St. Martin's Court, on the 9th March, 1887, as appears by the following invitation.
Office Trustees William Enston Home,
Charleston, S. C, March 8th, 1887.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and City Council of Charleston, S. C: Gentlemen : — I beg leave respectfully to inform you, that the ground for the first of the forty cottages of the William Enston Home, will be opened on Wednesday afternoon at 5 o'clock, and I respectfully invite you to be present on this
W'illiaiii En.stdii ffonic. 17
interesting occasion. Conveyances will leave tlu- (•<»rner of King and Shepherd Streets, at 4.4') I' M By Order. Respectfully,
.M, \\. I'AINi:. Srcrtanf.
The Mayor and City Council accejitid tiic invitatimi, ;ind at the appointed time, in the presence of tlie Mayor, .Mdi r- men and Trustees, the work was formally initiated : the lirst soadeful of earth being removed bv the ^hlvor.
This was ajjpointed to be done in 1880, but was deferred by the occurrence of the EartlKpiake that year, an<l althou;_di due diligence was used in the resumption ofucrk. fuilln r unexpected delays occurred. During this suspension of the work, Mrs. Hannah Enston died at an advanced age. < )ver- taken by the calamity of 31st August, 1S8('), in tins eity, sin- was as soon as possible, removed to Spartanburg, S. C, for quiet and freedom from the excitement incident to the Kartli- (piake, in which city she died, on 2(jth October.
The Trustees of the William Enston Home, cause<l to be prepared the following expression of their respect and sorrow, which was printed on a mourning card, and .sent to her family and friends. It is re-produced here to preserve her memory in the annals of the " Home," she was so instru- mental in aiding into early existence.
IN MEMORIAM.— Mrs. HANNAH EXSTOX.
Entered into Rest Eternal, on Tuesday, 20th October. 1880,
at Spartanburg. S. C, whither in feeble health, she had
been removed, on account of the eartlupiake shocks
in Charleston. S. C, Mrs. Hann-vji^ En.ston,
aged 77 years, relict of the late Willia.m
Enston, whom she survived more
than twenty -six years.
Mrs. Enston nee Shuttlp:wood, born on loth July, 18(i!», at Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, England, married Wifjiam Enston, at Philadelphia, on lUth July. 1834; they settled in Charleston the same year. an<l were resident here during their lives. They were childless. Their remains now lie to- gether, in Laurel Hill Cemetery, near Philadelphia.
48 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
Mr. Enston, after providing for his widow and kinfolk for life, left his large estate to the City of Charles- ton, for a charitable foundation, to '7o make old age comfortable." It was the high privilege and pleasure of Mrs. Enston, as wife, widow and executrix, to testify her full approval and deep sympathy, with this tender and munificent benefaction, and to make sure in her own life time, the realization of her husband's will, by effecting a full settlement of the estate with the City Council of Charleston, in J 882, and to see this great trust inaugurated, and the William Enston Home established before she passed away.
A community of forty cottages, with a gracious endowment,
will })reserve to posterity the beneficence and generosity
of both these donors. The Trustees of the William
Enston Home, in grateful remembrance of
Charleston's benefactors, enter ui)on their
journal, this brief record.
"And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three ; But the greatest of tliese is CJiarity."
Charleston. S. C, 31st December, 1886.
The cottages were not all ready for occupation until No- vember, 1888. In anticipation of their completion and in- tended occupancy, the City Council arranged to erect a public memorial hall, in the centre of the grounds, which in another form had been contemplated by the City Coun- cil of 1800, and determined upon by the City Council of 1882. Their present action, though different, is in every respect most commendable, embracing a handsome " Memo- rial Hall " of great utility which will be most acceptable to the residents of the village, as a suitable place when so de- sired, for religious services, lectures, and as a daily reading room and library. It is a beautiful apartment with hand- some stained glass windows and neatly furnished.
WiJlUnii EuMiHi Home. I'.»
MEMOltlAI. IIAI.I.
Is .situated in the eeiitre of the ;4n»nii(l, I'iicni;^ uc>t. It i-< two stories high, wi:h tower aii<l l>eltVv, hiiviii^' a lioiit nf thirty feet, and a dcptli of forty feet. The entruuee is in a spacious vestibule, on the left is a eoimnodiuus nflicc I'm- the superintendent, and on the right, the staircase leading up- stairs, about which nothing favorable can |n)ssibly be sai<l. Facing the entrance, on the east wall of the veslii)ule, i> a granite tablet with this inscription :
MEMOKIAT. HALL
ERECTED 1;Y
TJIE (ITY COl'.NCIL
OF
CHAKLL.STON, -S. C.
IX IIOXOR OF
WILLIAM ENSTON.
1888.
The second story is in a single apartment, which presents a very attractive appearance; the ceiling, walls and gable roof are in native hard woods, neatly dres.sed and jKilislied. It is lighted with ten stained glass windows of great beauty, and altogether, is a beautiful room.
At the east end of the hall stands an imposing bron/.e
l)ust mounted on a polished Carolina granite pe<lestal, with
this inscription : 4
50 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
The City of Charleston,
In lasting gratitude
For his munificent benefaction
And liis noble example to his fellow-citizens,
Erects this Memorial to
William Enston,
Founder of the William Enston Home.
" To make old age comfortable."
Dedicated February 22, 1889.
On one end of the pedestal is the record of his birth. " Born at Canterbury, England, oth May, 1808" and on the other the record of his death. " Died at Charleston, S. C, 23d March, 18G0."
This noble piece of sculpture, presents a faithful likeness of Mr. Enston, as he appeared in life; the expression is thoughtful and pleasant, and the bust is in every respect most satisfactory to the community. It is from the studio of Mr. Edward V. Valentine, of Richmond, Va., who studied art in the ateliers of Couture of Paris, and Kiss of Berlin.
Charleston has now four pieces of statuary in marble and bronze from Mr. Valentine, and each is greatly admired. The granite pedestal for the Enston Bust was designed by Mr. L. J. Barbot, and carved by Mr. Reynolds, King Street.
THE FINANCIAL EXHIBIT 1882-89.
As an important feature of the work of the Trustees, I deem it in order here, to present this condensed statement of their entire financial transactions, during their seven years administration of this public trust which brings the account up to this date.
Despite the fact of continuous outlays on account of the improvements going on during several past years, the judi- cious investment of funds, yielding good rates of interest, and the profits thereon as shown in the sales, when money was wanted, with the attention given to rentals, aggregate
WUllmit Eiii^ton Home. ;")!
$75,213.19 in something less than seven years from tiu- receipt of the original fund ; eijual t<» a gain of ~n per cent. In the cost of the administration also, the small ligures of only $2,742.57 are shown in dehit for the same period, or an average of less than four hundred dollars a year.
52
Appendix — Memor ia I Proceeding i^ .
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Will/dill Enston Home. 53
It thus appears that at this date, the Trustees have prop- erty and seeuritics amounting to $217,382.01 as a«;ainst $13G,0o0, in June 1882, and that ultimately the fund in the hands of the Trustees of the annuitant fund stated in Jan. 1889, as comprising -$100,000 ('ity of Charleston 4^. Bonds. $120,500 State of South Carolina i>'/o Consols, will, (suhject to the conditions of the will), finally he added to this trust. It is from this source that the southern half of tiie villa<re will be erected in the years to come, and under favorable cir- cumstances and the continuing care by the Trustees, this entire plan of a noble, public benefaction will be consumated in its entirety, a splendid memorial of a single life, revealing to his fellow-citizens through the ceiituries, " the full and noble statue " of their benefactor.
" Better Ihau storied tomb. Better than j^ilded slirine, Better, ay I better far Than the sordid prizes of earth Is, and shall ever be The praise of the open hand, The fame of the lovinti heart ! "
THE BUILDERS OF THE " HOME."
Plans and specifications were prepared by Mr. \V. ii. W. Howe, Jr.. Architect.
The contract for the first five cottages gave the Trustees much trouble, and for this reason tliey awarded the work for the fourteen cottages subsequently contracted for, to Mr. Pat- rick Culliton, and took occasion to express their approbation upon his completion of these buildings.
The plumbing work was contracted for by Mr. John F. Tobin, and was found entirely satisfactory, upon the occu- pation of the cottages; Mr. Tobin was also placed in charge of the premises for six months, and gave every attention to the duties of Superintendent until 1st April, 1889, when a permanent administration was initiated.
The Memorial Hall was erected bv Mr. Colin McK. Grant
54 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
and is regarded by the Board as entirely satisfactory as to workmanship.
TRUSTEES OF THE WILLIAM ENSTON HOME. 1882-89.
There have been in all, nineteen citizens in the Board of Trustees during the past seven years ; four deaths and two resignations have occurred in that period. From 1882 to December, 1887, there were only twelve Trustees, the then Mayor being one of the original Board, occupied his seat as such, and not as Mayor, ex-officio.
On the election of the Hon. George D. Bryan as Mayor, and his installation on 19th December, 1887, he by the will, was added to the roll as a member, ex-officio, making a full Board of thirteen.
For convenient reference, the accompaning Roster is re- corded here.
1882-89.
The following Trustees were elected as the original Board by the City Council, and incorporated by the General Assem- bly as " Trustees of the William Enston Home."
1882, August 8th, Wm. A. Courtenay, " Alva Gage. " F. S. Rodgers, " E. H. Jackson,
William Thayer, Died Nov. 3rd, 1885.
J. H. Pieper, Died June 10th, 1887.
" A B. Rose, M. D. " C. P. Aimar,
Oskar Aichel, Resigned Jan. 9th, 1884.
William Robb, Died Sept. 8th, 1885. '' J. P. K.Bryan, " W. J. Miller.
« u a
«« f< ((
William Endon Home. 55
1884, January Otli, Wm. Ufrorhanlt, elected in jilacc of Os- kar Aichcl, resigned. Wm. rilcrliardt. died ()rl. iM, 1887, at Heidleburg, Gerniauy.
1885, December Otli, C. G. Ducker, elected in |ila(c <>f Wil- liam Robb. Mr. Ducker, resigned .July 12tli, 1888,
1885, December 23d, Geo. W. ^\'illiam,s, .Jr., elected in place
of William Thayer, deceased. 1887, August 1st, Charles J\. \'alk, elected in place ol'.). II.
Pieper, deceased, 1887, October 20th, Wm. E. Iluger, elected in place of Wm.
Ufferhardt, deceased.
1887, December li)tli, Hon. Geo. D. Bryan, Mayor, ex-oHjcio.
1888, November 7th, William Enston Butler, elected in place of C. G. Ducker, resigned.
In concluding this review of the administration of the affairs of the William Enston Home, up to this date, it is a pleasure to refer to the continuous interest manifested in this large work by the several members of the Board, to all of whom I have been under many obligations, not only for useful services, but for very considerate and friendly atten- tions, which are highly appreciated and will be ever grate- fully remembered.
Prcsidcni. Charleston, S. C, 30th .Vpril, 1880.
[Fruin Uti Citi/ Yiar Hook, ISS.'.)
DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES.
During the past year the most noted event in tlie liistory of the charities of our City occurred. I alhide to the final settlement of the will of the late William Enston, by which the largest bequest ever made to the City of Charleston was paid, and the initiatory steps taken looking to the founding of the
WILLIAM EXSTOX HOME,
for the old and infirm. It is a most grateful duty to speak of this charity, that has touched all our hearts in its beauti- ful sentiment, promises such great and long continued bless- ings to old age, and stands as a monument in itself to the life-labor and last holy thoughts of William Enston, wlio, while providing with just and jealous care for his blood and kindred, consecrated his fortune to help the human want and suffering about him ; in his own memorable words — " to make old age comfortable."
There is something profoundly impressive in this bequest. Seldom does such deep philoso})liy, reverent gratitude to heaven for the good gifts of earth, and tender compassion for the suffering and aged poor and afflicted, come from the long, earnest life-work and yearning spirit of one man.
The poverty, the want, and the misery of humanity in all ages, oppress the mind, sadden and overwhelm the heart and in some lands so destitute are the masses, so hopeless 5
58 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
their need and cruel their want, amid the ease and wasteful plent}^ of the compassionless and heartless rich, that the frenzied leaders of these starving multitudes of the poor threaten the very institution of })roperty. and seek to de- stroy the fundamental principle of organized society. These fierce mutterings are heard even now in the spirit of the Commune, which, with blasphemous imprecations, would destroy the right of property, and amid orgy and anarchy divide the accumulated wealth of the world.
And even in our own land, known to the world as the land of plenty, " after all has been said and done, the sighs of men, disabled from no fault of theirs, the moan of the widow, and the wail of the orphan still atflict the land."
The solution of this dark, human problem, wdth its ap- palling and ever constant woe, has busied heart and brain of many of the wise and great, and it has been said, with singular force and truth, that he would now be the greatest statesman who could teach a people " the true function of riches." In the words of our eloquent fellow-citizen,* who, with his rich gift of tongue and pen, has plead so earnestly for all the suffering children of men, "there must be mercy, unwearied compassion, and mere}' and patriotism too, in the use of the high prerogatives, the extensive privileges, and tremendous power of property." * * * <• gi^ow me the tribute money; whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him Ciosar's; tlien saith he unto them, ren- der unto C?esar the things that are Csesar's, and unto God the things that are God's ; as much as to say, this image and superscription is human, but this fine gold, which the alche- mist, through many generations, shall in vain rack all the secrets of science, and torture all the powers of nature to create, this Aladdin's lamp, which brings all the treasures and splendors of earth to your possession — this weird magi- cian of the mart and the exchange — this power of wealth is sacred and divine. The ore is the symbol of human power, the human laws and the human institutions under which you hold this coin ; the other is the symbol of the Divine Com-
*Thomas M. Hanckel, Esq.
Wllliaiti Elision IhniK. 50
mandment, under wliidi you lidld I Ids ucidili. Tlic (.no is the evidence of your allegiance to Ciesur, the mlicr is the witness of your allegiance to Heaven, or, in otln r woids, tlic institutions of government and pi'ojxTty must lie |. reserved, and at the same time, the fundamental ( 'onstitutions nf Heaven which established and reguhited tliem, all nuist bo reverenced. What, then, are tliose fundamental Constitu- tions? The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the (K'af hear: above all, the poor have the gospel preached unto them, (lo teach — is the great commission. Mercy! Light! Education I The.se are fundamental Constitutions, which declare the highest func- tion of riches. This is the tenure by m inch wealth holds it These are the correlative duties of its prerogatives. These are the sacred seals of its title. * * * This the tribute that wealth owes to Heaven, as well as to its own safety and its highest interests. This consecrated office of property is a priestly and sacramental function of riches and the highest and noblest obligation of wealth."
It is in the light of these reflections, and under the deep feelings the}^ move, that the William Enston Home for the old and infirm, the bounty of one man to his kind, has made its deep and lasting impression upon the City he loved so well, and the poor of that (^'ity, whom God put it into his great heart to love best.
The munificent bequest to the College of Charleston, which alone has kept its doors open and the lamp of learn- ing lit, within those walls amid long years of trial, enshrines the name of Baynard among the sons of his people. The gift that established the Hospital for the sick, makes Roi'er a name of blessing among the suffering poor and sick of this City, that was his home. The mercy of Shirras in the founded Dispensary of advice and medicines to the poor, links his memory for seventy -three years to the grateful heeling and balm of the stricken and oppressed, and hel[)- less. Thus, in our City in the past, has wealth, and God grant so may V\ealth continue to do, even more, its sweetest duty, and fulfill its holiest mission. Again, in the noble
6U Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
words of our thoughtful friend, speaking of the men of wealtli of this land : " They represent the property of the country and the power it gives. The question remains, will they represent its legitimate power, and its enlightened nuniiticence, or will they represent its selfish greed, and its corrupt ambition ? * * * The institutions of charity, and the institutions of learning, are everywhere rising on their foundations. The Constitutions of the covintry, the liber- ties of the people, and the highest interests of society, de- mand the shelter of these institutions, as well as the vigi- lance of patriots. I have shown that the rich are invested Avith almost sacred functions. Government has been de- fined to be ' organized property.' Will our men of property recognize the sanctity of their vocations ? Will the}^ conse- crate the governments by the beauty of their mercy, and illustrate our history, by the grace of their patriotism, and the wisdom of their munificence, or will they imperil the country by the blindness of their selfishness and the folly of their neglect ? "
" It is said that when Alexander was about to die, he ordered that when laid in state, he should be laid with out- stretched arms and empty hands. His armies are dust, and their swords are rust. But the ghostly gesture of those gleaming, weird and empty hands have reached us across the pallid centuries of the past, and the eloquent lessons of that majestic mandate still rules us from Alexander's bier, and as we read, we remember that he was the pupil of Aristotle as well as the soldier-son of the Great Mace- donian."
So by a nobler mandate, in his own handwriting, of his own will, founding this great charity, William Enston has been laid in state — empty-handed by his giving to the poor; and as we read, we remember that he was born at Canter- bury, the Missionary home of St. Augustine, where christian learning and civilization first struck root in the Anglo-Saxon race, and which encloses in its narrow circle the grave of English paganism and the birth-place of English chris- tianit}'; and there learnt of old England the power and
William Enstoii Home. 61
beneficence of riclies — tlie high duty and [.r<ci()us jn-ivilege of wealtli.
It has come to us, the present inunici|)al govornnicnt. to receive this grand bequest, to give practical expression t(» William Enston's thought, by uniting with his venerable widow, in creating the liigh commission which is to found this beneficent charity, and so shape its future that its bless- ings shall be })erpetuated, througli the centuries, l)y a suc- cession of public-spirited citizens, who will guard this trust and transmit it from generation to generation.
To preserve to posterity the face and form of William Huston, the City Council will cause to be erectc«l in the centre of the grounds of the " Home," a bronze statue of tlie founder, suitably mounted and inscribed, and also i)re- sent in this volume his portrait in a steel engraving, that his face ma}^ become familiar in the homes of Charleston.
For present and future reference, the following papers are appended, being proceedings at the regular meeting of the City Council, held August Sth, 1882.
The following letter was read :
Emilie, Pp:nn., July '_'4th, issi'.
Hon. Wm. A. Courtenay, Mat/or of Charle.'iton, So. Ca. :
Dear Sib — Your cominunication of July 10, 1882, to my attor- neys, ^Messrs. Hayne & Ficken, relative to a i>r()])()se(l site for the erecting of public buildings under the will of my late husband, Wm. Enston, having been refei'red to me for approval or otherwise, T hereby desire to communicate to you my approval of the location of the grounds selected.
Very respectfully,
H. ENSTON.
Alderman Tha3'er offered the following, which was adopted :
Hesofvrd, That the Committee of Ways and Means is hereby authorized to purchase for dedication as a site for the William Enston Home certain lands on King Street, in Ward No. 7, which have been tendered by the Mayor to Mrs. Hannah Enston for her approval, and ajiproved of by her, as provided in the will of the late William Enston, and that they report by Kill what amount in cash is neces- sary to pay for the same.
G2 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
Alilerimui Svveegaii offered the following, which was unanimously adopted :
l?rsolvf'(I, Tliat tlie oil portrait of tiio late "William Enston, which, upon his death in lS«jO, was, l)y resolution of Council, painted lor the City of Charleston, and for many years adorned this (Chamber, and wliich was removed hence amid the i^erils of war for safe-keeping^ l)y the family, be restored to its old familiar place on the walls of the Chamber of the City Council of Charleston.
Alderman Eckel introduced the following, wliich was also adopted :
Jiefiolved, That a Special Committee ot nine be ai^pointed, con- sisting of one Alderman from each Ward and the Mayor of the City, who shall forthwith prepare a suitable design for an enduring memo- rial to the late William Enston, to be erected at the William Enston Home, which his noble liberality has created, with such inscription as will express the lasting gratitude of the corporators of the City of Cnarleston for his munificent legacy, and that they report with said design the cost thereof as may be approved by a majority of said Conmiissloners.
Alderman Aicliel offered the following, which was unani- mously adopted :
Whereas, in the arrangements now concluded, whereby a settle- ment has been effected realizing to the City the miinfieent beciuest of the late William Enstoa, deceased, the services of J. P. K. Bryan, Esq., were had by the Committee as legal counsel and special agent in the lengthy negotiations connected therewith ; and, whereas, the Committee feel that the City is indebted to Mr. Bryan for his able counsel and indefatigable efforts in the successful issue attained, so satisfactory to all the parties in interest ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the thanks of the City Coucil are hereby tendered J. P. K. Bryan, Esq., for the services so ably and faithfully rendered.
Alderman Rodgers offered the following Bill to carry into effect the settlements made :
AN ORDINACE RELATING TO THE WILLIAM ENSTON
HOME.
Whereas, William Enston, late of the City of Charleston, by his last will and testament, after providing for the members of his family and others therein named for their several lives, did devise
William Enston Jfomc. <',:;
and lH'<|ueatli to tlie ("ity (»r Cliailcstoii in nniMimlir his i-siatc lur tlie foundinj^ ol' a hospital tor tlic old and inlirni ;
And, whereas, in order to secure, a.s eonteini)lated in suid will, the personal supervision and approval of Mrs. Hannah Enston, widow of William P^nston, in whom he therein reposed his special trust and confitlenee in determining the plan and in the estaMisiiment of this numitieent charity, and for other good and suHieienl rea.soiis, a settlement has heretofon- l>een had and concluded liy and Itetween the City Council of Charleston, Mrs ilannah Enston, widow and executrix of William Enston, and the several surviving annuitants therein named, whereby the .said City of Charleston has now become invested with and possessed of a consideraMe portion of said estate, and upon the death of the surviving annuitants of William Enston, will receive in final settlement a further portion of said estate, now vested in remainder in said City of Cliarleston for tlieuse of the said liospital under the deed of trust hy Hannah Enston, rfaf., to William A. Courtenay, Isaac Hayne and William i-^nston lUitler. Trustees;
And, wliereas, it is considered an object of primary obligation to keep this munificent legacy of the late William Enston separate and distinct from the general funds of the City of Charleston, so that, while it accomplishes the leading object of the testator, it may stand as a monument of his liberality and public spirit ; Now, therefore,
I. Be it ordained bi/ the Mai/or and Aldermcit i,f ilir (itij of CJuirhxton, in Citu Council amnnblcd, That there shall be established as hereinafter provided, with the funds devised and beijueathed to the City of Charleston by the late William Enston, a Home for old and infirm persons.
II. That \Vm. A. Courtenay, Alva Gage, F. S. Rodgers, E. H. Jackson, Wm. Thayer, Wm. ilobb, A. B. Rose, J. H. I'ieper, O. Aichel, C. P. Aimar, J. P. K. Bryan and W. J. Miller are hereby chosen as Trustees, who, together with the Mayor of the City of Charleston, shall constitute a Board of Trustees for the management, direction and control of the said hospital, and who shall have power and authority to make rules and regulations neces-sary for the good government and the conducting of the affairs of the said Home.
III. The ]^Iayor of the City of Charleston shall always be cj-opicio a member of said Board of Trustees, and the twelve other Trustees shall be residents of the City of Charleston, and shall be chosen to serve perpetually and without compensation. That upon the death, resignation or removal from the City of Charleston of any one of the said Trustees, the vacancy shall l)e filled by the remaining Trustees.
IV. All such old and infirm persons in iioverty, of good honest character and decent life and conduct as shall be deemed proper objects of admission by the said Trustees, may be admitted into the said Home, and the said Board of Trustees shall at all times have power to remove any person so admitted.
Provided, however, That no i)erson under the age of forty-five
G4 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
years shall be admitted, unless in the case of some great physical infirmity, such as lameness.
And ]>n)vi(lr<l, further, That no lunatic person shall be admitted or allowed to remain tlierein.
And prodded J'iirfJi<r, That there shall always remain in the gift of any of the family of William Enstoii six gifts or appointments in said Home to be enjoyed by six individuals.
V. The said Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint such officers, physician or physicians, nurses and servants as they may deem necessary, and to allow them such compensation for their services as shall be reasonable, and shall also have power to remove them or any of them at their will and pleasure, and shall and may exercise such other powers and authorities for the well governing and ordering of the affairs of the said Home as shall not be repvig- nant to or inconsistent with the true intent and meaning of the ])rovisions of the last will and testament of the said William Enston, deceased.
VI. That the premises known as late Storen's Farm, situate in the C'ity of Charleston, and lying on the East side of King Street (and more particularly described in the deed thereof of Michael Storen to City Council of Charleston), containing eight acres, be and the same are hereby set apart and dedicated by the City Council of Charleston as a site for the said Home. And the said premises shall be known and designated as the William Enston Home, and the same are hereby vested in the said Board of Trustees for the use and l)enefit of the said Home.
VII. That in improving and laying out the grounds of the said William Enston Home, the said Board of Trustees are hereby re- ([uired to reserve and set apart a space of one hundred (100) feet scjuare at or near the centre of the grounds, or at some other suitable l)oint therein as they may determine, which spot is hereby dedicated for the erection thereon of a perpetual memorial by the City of Charleston to William Enston, her large-hearted noble benefactor.
VIII. All the money, stock, securities, investments and estate of every kind and description, with the increment thereon, which has heretofore come and which hereafter shall come into the possession of the City of Charleston, or which is now held by any agent or officer of said City, or trustees on behalf of said City, and which has been or may hereafter be received by the (Jity of Charleston under the bequests and devises contained in the will of the late William Enston, and the articles of agreement and deeds and instruments executed by and between the parties in interest under said will in settlement of said estate of William Enston, shall pass to and be vested in said Board of Trustees for the use and benefit of said Home.
TX. And the said Board of Trustees shall have power to sell, at juiblic or private sale, and transfer and convey any and all of the said property, real or personal, applying the proceeds of such sale to
WiUiavi Endon Home. 05
the useof said Home. And all funds held !>> Ilnin ~li:dl In- in\r>tid ill such publie securities or oHkt estate, real and |ni>i.nal, a~ ilny may deem most beiieticial. Ami all such investments shall l>e made in the name of the trusteis of the William Isnston Home. Andnn investment or ehanue of investment of such jiroperty shall he niadi- unless hy the vote of ( hree-roinl lis of the nninliers of -aiil I'.oaid ot Trustees.
X. Tiuit the said Hoard of Trustees, oiil of the |irinei|ial of tin fund and tlie property now^lurned over to ilicin. >hall I'orthuilh apply and expend such sum. as they shall in llieir discretion delci- mine, in the imjirovement of the said i)remises lu-reinhefore dedicated as a site for tlie said hospital, and in the erection thereon of such iiiiml)er of cottages as they shall dt-termine, of hriek, in rows, neat and convenient, each cottage to have a small garden, according to a plan to l)e ai)i)roved hy Mrs. Hannah l-'nston. widow of the late William Enston.
XI. That the rest and residue of the princii)al fund and estate now turned over to said Board of Trustees, remaining after said im- provements al)Ove mentioned, he held l»y the sai<l Hoard, to he applied, principal or interi'st, in their discretion, to the ihc ami maintenance of said Home.
That the corpus of the trust fund and estate now vested in \\'iHi;iiii A. Courtenaj' and Isaac Hayne and William Enston Ihitkr, 'i'ru>- tees, wliich liereafter, upon the death of the annuitants of William Enston, is to be paid over and transferred to the City of Cliarleston for the use of the said Home, shall always be kept and preserved intact by the said Board of Trustees as a principal fund and i-state. And only the intei'est income, rents, profits and dividends issuing out of the same shall be applied and expended in the further im- provement of said premises, erection of additional cottages and the support and maintenance of said Home.
XII. It shall l)e the duty of the said Board of Trustees to make in writing annually to the Mayor and City Council of Charleston a full report cf their proceedings during the year, and of the state of the Home, showing the number and condition of the cottages, inmates, and all matters necessary to a full understanding of the aflairs of the Home, which shall be certified by the President an<l Secretary of said Board. And there shall be rendered with said report annually an account or statement, certified in like manner, showing the receipts and expeiulitures for the year and the assets and pecuniary condition of the Home, and said reports shall be adtlri'sse<l to the Mayor before the tenth day of .hi n nary in eacli year for the preceding fiscal year.
Charleston, S. C, September 18. 1SS2. The Special Coinmittee appointed to consi(l(M- and icjiorf a (lesion for an cndurino- memorial to tlie late William
(U) Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
Kiislun, whose muiiifu'ciit boqiicst to tlie City of Charleston for the founding of a charity in our midst has been recently settled by liis executrix, beg leave respectfully to recom- mend, that a bronze statue which siiall preserve the face and form (jf the donor, suitably mounted, be erected in the centre of the grounds of the William Enston Home. They respectfully ask for further time to report the cost of the same. All of which is respectfully submitted.
Wi\£ A. COCRTP]NAY. Mmjor.
THOMAS RODDY.
S. WEBB.
B. L. WHITE.
A. AV. ECKEL.
JOHN FEEHAN.
R. C. BARKLEY.
D. C. EBAUGH.
H. HENRY KNEE.
Unanimously adopted.
AN ACT RELATING TO THE WILLIAM ENSTON HOME.
Whereas, the City Council of Charleston did, by its Ordinance ratified on the twenty-second day of August, 1882, name and appoint the persons hereinafter named as Trustees of the William Enston Home, a charitable institution l)y said Ordinance founded and estab- lished in conformity to the last will and testament of William Enston, deceased;
And, whereas, it is considered an object of primary importance that this munificent legacy and foundation of the late William Enston l)e kept separate and distinct from the general funds of the City of Charleston ; and for this purpose, and for the purpose of the better securing and eftecting the objects of the said institution, the City Council of Charleston and the said Board of Trustees have memorialized the General Assembly of this State to incorporate the said Trustees ; Now, therefore, to carry the said purposes into effect—
Section I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives of tlie State of South Carolina, now met and sittinq in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same. That William A. Courte- nay, Alva Gage, Francis S Rodgers, E. H. Jackson, William Thayer, AVilliam Robb, A. B. Rose, J, H. Pieper, O. Aichel, C. P. Aimar, J. P. K. Jiryan, and W. J. Miller are hereby declared to be a body corporate by the name and style of " The Trustees of the William
William Euston Jfoine. i\~
Eiistoii Hume," aiul. shall l».v itssaiil iiaiiic have iHi|>(liial >ii<ccssi<iii of its officers and nionilKTs, tlic right to use and kt-.p a coiiiiikiii seal and the same to alter at will, to sue and he sued, to pii ad and l<. I.c imi)l('aded, and to have and Id enj().\- all and evt'ry ri;,dit and privi- lejiv, power and Iranehise, ineideni and heloii<;iny: to incorporate i)odies. They siiall also have lull powciand anthority from lim<lo time tomake, eorjstituteand estahlisii such l)\-la\\>, rule- and nixnla- tionsas to them sliall seem projjer and necessary fort he lietlcrcondiici . government and direction of themselves as a IJoard of Trnstees, as well as of the William Enston Home, ami all ollieers, pliysieijjiis, nurses, attendants, or other persons hy them employeil or to he cm- l)loyed in and about the same, and of all inmates and lieiieliciari«'s of said Home, and for the better managing, adnnnistering, limiting and appointing of all and singular the trusts and authorities in them and each of them reposed and to be reposed, and for tlic doing, man- aging, and transacting all things necessary for and eonceriung tlii' government of the said William Enston Home, according to the true intent and meaning of the last will and testament of William P^nston, deceased ; and the same by-laws, rules and regulations to i)ut in force and execution accordingly, and the same again at their will and pleasure to alter, change, revoke and annul ; all of which by-laws, rules and i-egulations so to be made as aforesaid shall be binding on each and every of the Trustees and on all the officers, physicians, nurses, attendants, and other persons by them employed, and by all inmates and beneticiaries of said Home, ami shall be from time to time by each and every of them observed according to the tenor and effect thereof under the several conditions, pains, penalties and disabilities therein exi)ressed : Provhlrd, (lUrai/x, m v( rtlii h ss^ That the same be not inconsistent with the laws of the land, nor the i)ro- visions of the last will and testament of William Enston, deceased.
Sec. II. That the said the Trustees of the William Enston Home shall consist of thirteen members, whereof the Mayor of the City of Charleston for the time being shall always be rx-ojficio a Trustee. That each and every of said Trustees shall be resident in the ( ity of Charleston, and shall be chosen to serve during good behavior, and without compensation. That upon the death, resignation or removal from the <'ity of Charleston of any of the said Trustees, the vacancy thereby caused shall be filled by the remaining Trustees.
Sec. III. That all the real and personal property, money, stocks, securities, investments and estate of every kind anil descrii)tion, present and future, with the increment thereon, which, in settlement of the estate of William Enston, deceased, has heretofore come and may hereafter come into the possession and useof the ( ity of ClK.rk's- ton under the trusts declared in said last will and testament of Wil- liam Enston, together with that tract of land and premises known as late Storen's Farm, King Street, City of Charleston, containing eight acres, in and by said Ordinance de<licated l>y the said City
08 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
Council of Charleston as a site for the said Home, all of which said aforementioned ])roperty, real and personal, was by said Ordinance of the City Council of Charleston passed to and vested in the said Board of Trustees for the use and benefit of the said Home, be and tiie same are hereby passed to and vested in the corporation hereby created — " The Trustees of the William Enston Home."
Sec TV. That the said "The Trustees of the William Enston Home " shall have power to sell at public or private sale and transfer and convey any and all of the said property, real and personal, applying the proceeds of such sale to the use and benefit of the said Home. And all funds held by them shall be invested in such public securities, and in other j^roperty, real and personal, as they may deem most beneficial. And all such investments shall be made in the name of " The Trustees of the William Enston Home; " and no investment or change of investment shall be made unless by the vote of three-fourths of the members of said Trustees of the William Enston Home.
Sec. V. That the premises lately known as Storen's Farm, City of Charleston, containing eight acres, in and by said Ordinance aforesaid dedicated by the City Council of Charleston as a site for the said Home, be and the same is hereby declared to be set apart for the sole, separate and exclusive use and benefit of the said Home, and it shall not be lawful to open or extend any street, road or walk, passing into and through the same, without the consent of the said " The Trustees of the William Enston Home."
Sec. VI. That the said "The Trustees of the William Enston Home " are authorized and empowered to secure and hold donations devises, bequests and legacies, and to hold real and personal estate to the amount of one million dollars, for the use and benefit of the .said Home.
Sec. VII. T'lat all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, and this Act shall be deemed a public Act is to take effect from and immediately after its passage.
In the Senate House the twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
Approved the twenty-first day of December, A. D. 1882.
HUGH S. THOMPSON, Governor.
' 1
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, )
Office of Secretary of State. j
I, James N. Lipscomb, Secretary of State, do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of an Act now on file in this office.
Witness my hand and the great seal of the State, at Columbia, this 29th day of December, A. D. 1882.
[SEAL.] JAS. N. LIPSCOMB, Secretary of State.
WilUavi Kii-slfnt ffmiir. 6$)
WII.IJA.M i;.\S'l'()N. [Fkom TiiK News am> Coi kiki:, Arcisr i»'iir, Issj |
111 the first decade of tlic present ceiiturv was horn. ;it Canterbury in England, a jiodi- l)()y whose iinnic is honored in Charleston \vhere he lived lor more than a <iuarter of a century, and tlie story of whose nHinifinenee will ere lon<,' be told by a mcmoiial that will endure from ucneration to generation. Of the boyhood oi' William Huston little is known, but it is a natural picsumjttion that, wandering through the quiet streets of the most famous of l-Jiglish cities, lingering in the dim religious light of the Cathedral where the bones of the l^laek Prince repose and where the hard stones are hollowed out by the knees of the throngs who reverently visited the shrine of the martyred Thonias a Beckett, and watching the Poor Bretliren, smiling their last 3"ears away in the tlower-decked porches of the cottages of their well-known Hospital, he conceived the hope and the plan which twenty-two years after his death are on the eve of fulfillment. Steadil}' must he have kept that one end in view throughout his career, clinging to a ])urpose more noble' and honorable than that which animated \\'arren Hastings, as he mused on the grassy slopes of Daylesford and vowed that the broad acres of his ancestors should one day be his. What the founder of the Hospital for Poor Brethren did at Canterbury, a son of the old City accom- plishes in Charleston, three thousand miles away.
William Enston served his apprentice in England as a cabinetmaker and emigrated to Philadelphia, where he re- mained for some time. Failing health and the lack of ^uch success in his calling as he had expected induced him to come to Charleston. Bv his .skill, economy and rigid ap- plication to business he soon began to prosjier, and at the time of his death, in 1860, he was known to be exceedingly wealthy The true character of the man was not revealed, however until the terms of his will, which was written with his own hand, were made known. It was then a.scertained that, by the terms of the will, the whole of the income of
34306^
70 Aj^i^endix — Memorial Proceedings.
the estate was to be enjoyed by his relic, Mrs. Hannah Enston, subject to tlie payment of certain legacies and annuities, and that upon her deatli and the extinction of the annuities the whole estate should go to the City of Charleston for purposes similar to those which had been familiar to him in his old home in Kent. The clause in the will describing the uses to which the estate should be ultimately put are as follows :
" I wish it, however, distinctly understood, that nothing- shall be done to reduce the income of my wife below ten thousand dollars per annum, and that every legacy must be paid out of the interest arising from the principal of my estate, and at the death of the parties concerned, wherein the amount is not left unqualifiedly absolute, shall revert back to my estate. At the death of all parties concerned, it is my wish and will that the whole fund shall go to the City of Charleston, for the following purposes and upon the following provisions :
" To build up a Hospital for old and infirm persons. None must be admitted under the age of forty-five (45) years, unless in a case of some great infirmity — some lameness, some physical infirmity. I entirely exclude lunacy fron;i said hospital; it is more for to make old age comfortable than for anything eise^ The necessary qualifications for entrance must be poverty, a good, honest character; the parties must be decent, and the gift of the places must be invested in the hands of twelve trustees chosen by Council, and the said trustees, together with the Mayor, shall de- termine whether they are proper persons for the charity. There shall always remain in the gift of any of my family, if an}^ be alive, six gifts for six individuals. Before any- thing can be done with my funds, for such a purpose, the Ciiy of Charleston must furnish not less tlian eight acres of ground to erect the said cottages on, for each cottage must have a small garden to l)usy the occupant. These cottages must be built of brick, in rows, neat and convenient, two stories high, having each two rooms and a kitchen. As I
William Kndun IIuiiu. 71
have no time noAv, tliere iiiust l)c nia<Ic ;i |il;iii of <;ii.l hospital, and submitted to my wife, HaiiiKdi. for Imt ap- ])roval. The lot of ^lound or its location must have licr aj)proval.''
Tlierc was great rejoicing in tlie City when tins fvidouee of Mr. Enston's large-hearted and i)hilantlnoj ic sagacity was given. The Mayor and Aldermen attende<l the funeral ceremonies in a body, and took steps at once to make suitable commemoration of the gift. It was roughly esti- mated at the time that Mr. Enston was a millionaire, but this proved to be an exaggeration. Wlien Mrs. Knston, as executrix, took possession of the estate in 18G0, the value of the whole property was about half a million dollars. 'I'lic investments in Charleston had been wi.sely made by .Mi. Enston, but the war came and real estate depreciated in value, while much of the personal property was lost. Xo return of the condition of the estate was made by Mrs. Enston after the close of the war, and little or nothing was known of its condition, h futile effort was made by the City authorities to effect a settlement with Mrs. Enston, and then the Enston donation, as it was called. drop})ed out of sight and out of mJnd. The benefit to the City .so far was entirely prospective, for the estate could not be apj)lied to the erection and maintenance of the " Hospital for Old and Infirm Persons" until after the death of Mrs. Enston, and of the last of the several annuitants.
About eight months ago Mayor Courten.ay obtained a copy of William Enston's will, and determined to put the matter in practicable and beneficial shape, if this were pos- sible. It was his own idea, and to him, therefore, is ju.stly due the credit of the .surprising success \%ith which the ne- gotiations have been crowned. Mayor Courtenay i)lanned the campaign and organized the victory. The City Council associated Aldermen Rodgers, Thayer, Rose and Aichel, of the Ways and Means Committee, with >hiyor Courtenay, and he retainea Mr. J. P. Kennedy Bryan as legal advisor. Communication was speedily opened with Mrs. Enston, and
72 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
the exact condition of the estate was learned. It took a long time to reach any basis' of agreement. Mrs. Enston had full confidence in the present City Council, and was naturally anxious to see the beneficial intentions of Mr. Enston realized. Mayor Courtenay and his colleagues were anxious to remove the be(|uest out of the domain of incerti- tude, and to begin immediately the application of the fund. Finally, after prolonged correspondence and many confer- ences and making full ])rovision for the different interests involved, the matter has reached a conclusion which is ex- plained in the proceedings of the City Council at the meet- ing last night, as published in The News and Courier to-day.
Under the settlement which has been effected, the City has entered into possession of the real estate of the late William Enston in Charleston, together with about $75,000 in money. This gives the City about $200,000 in property and money which is available immediately for the erection and maintenance of the "William Enston Home." Besides this a sum of |200,000 has been placed in the hands of trustees and invested in State and City securities to secure the payment of certain annuities under Mr. Enston's will. Any surplus of the income of this fund, after the payment of these annuities, will be available for the support of the Home, and uj)on the death of tlie annuitants the capital sum will swell the general Enston fund. Charleston there- fore has in possession nearly $200,000, and will ultimately receive $200,000 additional, under tlie Enston will, making altogether about $400,000. The revenue of the Home froin the trust fund of $200,000 will of course steadily in- crease, and the capital will be applicable to the same pur- pose when the annuities shall have expired. Thus an estate which was scattered over the country, indeterminate in amount and incapable of realization at any fixed period, has been brought into the actual possession of the City in a way that is singularly advantageous to the City, and en- tirely satisfactory to Mrs. Enston and every one else who was interested. It was a delicate affair to manage, and Mr.
Williaiii Enston Ifo)ne.
I •>
Bryan tliroughout oxliibitc'd tact aii<l (liscrt-lioii as woll as ability and good judgment. Mayor Courtcnny liad in liini a most excellent assistant and adviser.
The arrangements made for the conservation ol' the hiiid are admirable in every resj)ect. There will he no change in the trustees except by death or removal, when the remain- ing trustees will fill the vacancies. In this way the fund is taken out of the domain of politics and lirtcd aliove paiti>;in influences. The strictest care has been taken to conform the arrangements to the wishes of Mr. Knston as expre.s.sed in the will, and the place chosen for the Home is convenient and commodious. It is what is known as the " Storen Farm," about two miles from 8t. Michael's Church, on the King Street road, and just beyond the thickly settled part of the City. The farm consists of eight acres of high land, and was originally a part of the Blake estate. It was not in the market, and Mr. Storen had declined to sell it, but when he was told that the land was needed bv the Citv for a public purpose, he said at once : " I would not part with " the land to any private person, but if our City wants it " for a public purpo.se it can have it." AVith .so public- spirited a citizen there was no difficulty in dealing. Mr. Storen named a reasonable price for the property and it was bought at once by the City. The erection of the cottages is expected to begin forthwith, and the City has provided for the reservation of a site in tlie middle of the tract, where will be erected a bronze statue of William Enston with such appropriate inscriptions as will transmit to posterity the record of his generosity, and keep before those who enjoy its benefits the name and tame of their judicious benefactor. In doing this the City Council will fitly exj)re.ss the public gratitude, and carry into effect the determination of the City Council at the time of ^Fr. Enston's death. The grounds themselves will be carefully laid out, and the object will be to make the M'illiam Enston Home an ornament to the City and an attraction for visitors, while fulfilling every practical use of the trust. An impetus will uiupiestionably be given to Imilding in 6
74 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
that locality, and we may soon expect to find residences planted beyond the present outposts at the William Enston Home.
There is no douot in our mind that William Enston had in contemplation, during his whole life, the foundation of a " Hospital for Old and Infirm Persons," and surely no one could labor and prosper with a better end in vieAv. Those Avho were near to him, or who were dependent on him, were not neglected, as is oftentimes the case when large fortunes are bestowed upon charitable objects. Mr. Enston's charity began at home, but it did not end there. After securing to his widow and to his immediate family every comfort during their lives, he made the old and infirm their successors, so that good should continue to be done, by his means, for all time to come. There was no thought of self in it. There was not even the usual request that the institution to be founded with his fortune should be known by his name. William Enston was content in the knowl- edge that hundreds would rise up and call him blessed. Not for fame or honor did he toil and plan, but in his own quaint words, " more for to make old age comfortable than " for anything else." It was an honorable thought, and may suggest similar benefactions hereafter, just as the foundation of the Hospital for Poor Brethren in Canterbury bears its ripe fruit in the William Enston Home. South Carolina has many citizens of whom to be proud, but surely there is none more worthy to be held in remembrance than he who, coming here a stranger and clinging always to his recollec- tions of England and to the friends whom he had made in other States, still chose this good old City as the spot to be favored by as wise and considerate an act as this country and this century has known.
THE DEATH OF WILLIAM EN8TON.
In connection with the proceedings of the City Council the following will be read with renewed satisfaction and pleasure :
William Knstoii Home. 7.")
[From thk Charleston Courier, Makcii lM, Ihou.]
Mr. William Enston, who for son lo years iuul Ikmii UiKtwii in tlii~ City as our most extensive dealer in furniture, cal>i net ware, ^v., ami was the in-oprictor of tlx- hirtr*' csfalilislimciit on l-vintr Street, north of Cliflbrd .Street, died suddenly on Kridii> niornin;^ of disease of tlie heart. He had heen suffering for sonic time with symptoms of suih an atleetion, but, as is often the ease, the fatal result at last was sudden, and at the time unexpected. Me was in iiis tifty-second year, and a native of Canterbury, Kent County, England, .\fter serving an apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker's business he enu- grated to America, and settled first in riiiladelphia without means, except his own energy and trade. His health failing, and i>usiness not equalling his ex[)ections in Philadelpliia, he sought a location more Southward, and came to Charleston about twenty-five years ago. By industry, economy, and rigid application to business, he soon began a prosperous business in the furniture line, and his earn- ings were increased i»y sagacious investments, in which Mr. Enston's judgment was unusually successful. He continued to the last his business habits and application, and \vas so successful that for some years he has been regarded as one of our largest cai)italists.
Mr. Enston leaves a holograph will, the provisions of which are creditable to his judgment and foresight, and will establish for his name and memory an honorable and lasting testimonial in this City of his adoption and prosperous career.
He leaves all the income of his estate, real and personal, to his widow, Mrs. Hannah Enston (having no heirs), charged with the payment of certain liberal bequests and annuities to brothers and families of brothers, with the provision that such payments shall not reduce the annual income remaining to the widow below $10,000.
After the life-interest of the widow, and the reversion or lapse of the several charges mentioned, the whole estate is given in trust to the City of Charleston for the establishment and support of a retreat for aged indigents, under certain conditions.
Mrs. Enston is named and appointed sole executrix, and in all the details of the will a large and creditable discretion is allowed to her decision and approval.
The body will be interred at Philadelphia, according to the direc- tions of the testator.
The will has been ottered for i)robate.
THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
[From the Charleston Courier, March 26, ISiHi.]
The remains of Mr. William Enston were on Sunday morning
followed by his Honor the Mayor, the City Council, and a concourse
of citizens, to the depot of the Northeastern Railroad, and placed on
76 Appendix — Memorial Proceedings.
board the '.-ars on their way to Philadelphia. The widow and one of the brothers of the deceased accompanied the body. In accordance with his directions the body will be interred in the burial place of the Bible Christian Church, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, along- side of his mother.
The funeral services were solemnized on Saturday at his late resi- dence in Queen Street, by the Rev. P. T. Keith, of the Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Enston was a member. The assemblage present was a large one, including the Mayor and a number of City Council. By order of his Honor a cast of the body was taken by Mr. Louis Fora, sculptor, and also an excellent photographic likeness by Mr. Jesse Bolles, artist.
By this proper and connnendable precaution the officers of the City have secured the means of erecting or procuring some permanent testimonial and memorial of a citizen whose bequest will long be remembered, and whose career in many respects may be referred to hereafter with profit and instruction.
Mr. Enston was scrupulously just in all his dealings and trans- actions, and few, if any, have ever accumulated in e(iual time such an amount of possession in this City or elsewhere with equal avoid- ance of anything equivocal or objectionable
That he was rigidly economical and frugal of expenditures may be, of course, inferred from his earnings, but the exactness with which he expected obligations towards him to be met was never attended with harshness or undue severity, and was accompanied always and habitually by an equally strict regard to his own obliga- tions and contracts.
He was reserved in habits, and from this as well as from his unre- mitting devotion to business he was little known outside of that business.
Several of his intimate friends, however, were aware of his inten- tions concerning his property, but in every instance this communi- cation was only made for necessary advice and with strict injunc- tions of secrecy.
The surviving consort, who is made the sole executrix and agent in executing the bequest, was consulted and, as the will itself shows, was fully aware of the intentions of her husband. More we cannot add at present without invading a retreat of recent bereavement.
In all respects Mr Enston's bequest and endowment will be regarded as fully worthy of the notice given by a correspondent, "A Native," to whose remarks we refer. The charitable consideration and the deliberate preference exhibited for the City of his adoption and career are signally enhanced and illustrated by the fact that Mr. Enston had not forgotten the City of his earliest American resi- dence, Philadelphia. At his special request, as above stated, his mortal remains are to be interred in Philadelphia beside the grave of his mother.
Willimn Enston Home. 77
The City Council of Charleston shared in tlu' dyinj? reeoUeetions with the name and sacri'd character of Motlicr. Tlie testator, uidikc others of like circumstances, only forjiol himself, and made no stipu- lation or recjuest for any connection hetween his own name and the bequest. It is for us to establish that connection.
THE LATE BE(il P:RT. [For the Courier, ;March 2h, 18(i(i.]
The name of William Enston must be enrolled amon^ tlie most munificent of the benefactor.s of this City. He has devised the whole body of his immense estate, after the death of his wife, to the City of Charleston for cliaritable purpo.xes.
Mr. Enston. was not a native of this City, and this disposition of his property could only have sprung? from a kindly and grateful feeling towards the people among whom he had lived for the past twenty-five years, and in whose midst he had amassed this s])]endid fortune. Had his motive been the mere vanity of giving a posthu- mous notoriety to his name he would have connected it with some more conspicuous City, or State, or object.
Let his name live in grateful remembrance among us. Many will bless his memory hereafter, but not the least of the benetits he has conferred upon this City is that of a noble example of beneticenee bestowed at the light time and in the right way. A Native.
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