In sustaining Stephen Girard's will, this Court referred to the inevitable conflicts engendered by matters "connected with religious polity," and particularly "in a country composed of such a variety of religious sects as our country."

Research has eventually supplied reason to believe that charitable uses were recognized by the English law before the Norman Conquest, and that the Court of Chancery had sustained such trusts long before the enactment of the Statute of Charitable Uses by Parliament in 1601. 43 Eliz., c. 4.

If the trustee named could not act, the court would appoint a trustee to carry out the provisions of the trust.

The Supreme Court and other courts approved such laws on the ground that Christianity is “part of the common law of” the American states.

Christianity, and declined to inquire further as to "general considerations of the supposed public interests and policy of Pennsylvania upon this subject, beyond what its constitution and laws and judicial decisions make known to us," because "[t] he question, what is the public policy of a state, and what is contrary to it, if inquired into beyond these limits, will be found to be …

" `[W] e are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply ingrafted upon Christianity, and not upon the doctrines or worship of... imposters

—the Court declined to invalidate a charitable bequest that prohibited the school for orphans it established from employing religious ministers.

W] e are compelled to admit that although Christianity be a part of the common law of the state, yet it is so in this qualified sense, that its divine origin and truth are admitted, and therefore it is not to be maliciously and openly reviled and blasphemed against, to the annoyance of believers or the injury of the public

We know of no authority which inculcates such a doctrine, or prohibits the execution of such trusts, even though the act of incorporation may have for its main objects mere civil and municipal government and powers.

—it supposes the case of a devise to Philadelphia'to supply its inhabitants with good and wholesome water.'