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Full text of "Proceedings on the occasion of the dedication of Memorial hall, and the unveiling of Valentine's bronze bust of William Enston at the "Home," on the 22d February, 1889"

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II 


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. 


\  THF 


iPUB.. 

343066 


RK 

.RYl 


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. 


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. 


^6 


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