Church Temperance Society

A national organization of the Episcopal Church in the United States for the promotion of temperance. It was founded in New York in 1881, on the lines which the Church of England Temperance Society had been pursuing for ten years previously. Its president is the presiding bishop of the Church. The society stands for a policy of high license as opposed to prohibition, and has done effective work through legislative channels.

 It has also endeavored to provide substitutes for the saloon, the "Squirrel Inn," on the Bowery, in New York City, being the most notable example. In the same city it maintains lunch-wagons, and has built and maintained seventeen free ice-water fountains. In connection with the society's work there is a Church Temperance Legion, which provides moral, civic, and military training for boys.

Holland Society

A patriotic society, founded in New York City on April 6, 1885. Its objects are to collect information respecting the early history and settlement of the city and State of New York by the Dutch, and to discover and preserve all existing documents, mementos, etc., relating to their genealogy and history, as well as to publish material for a memorial history of the Dutch in America, in which shall be particularly set forth the part belonging to that element in the growth and development of American character, Institutions, and progress. The society admits to membership descendants, in the male line only, of a Dutchman who was a native or resident of New York, or of the American Colonies, prior to the year 1675. The insignia is an oval medallion with the head of William the Silent in relief. The society has marked various historical localities in New York City by inscribed brass plates: and publishes volumes containing historical information. Its membership is upwards of 1000.


The Huguenot Society of America

An hereditary patriotic society, organized in New York City on April 12, 1883, and incorporated on June 12, 1885. Its objects are to perpetuate the memory and to foster and promote the principles and virtues of the Hugenots; to publicly commemorate at stated times the principal events in the history of the Huguenots; and to collect and preserve all existing documents, monuments, etc., relating to the genealogy or history of the Huguenots of America. Membership is extended to descendants of Huguenot families which emigrated to America or to other countries prior to the promulgation of the Edict of Toleration, November 28, 1787, as well as to writers who have made the history of the Huguenots a special subject of study. The insignia of the society consists of a badge, pendent from a gold dove with spreading wings surmounted by a rising sun, and worn on a watered-silk ribbon of white, bordered with red, white, and blue. 

The badge itself is of Gold, surrounded by a wavy, ornamental border, and bearing on the obverse the device of Marguerite de Valois, a marigold turning toward the sun, and a ribbon with the motto, "Non Inferiora Secutus," while on the reverse is the name of the society, as well as the name of the member and number of the insignia. This society has its headquarters in New York City, where a valuable library, consisting of Huguenot books, manuscripts, et., has been collected. There are branch societies in several States and cities, notably in Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Its publications are known as Collections of the Huguenot Society of America. In 1898 it celebrated the tercentenary anniversary of the promulgation of the Edict of Nantes, at which delegates from societies abroad were present, and a memorial volume containing a full account of the exercises was published in 1900.

Independent Order of Free Sons of Israel

A Jewish fraternal and benevolent society, with headquarters in New York City, founded on January 10, 1849. It has three grand lodges and 103 subordinate lodges, distributed throughout the United States, and had in 1902 a total membership of some 11,000. At the same time it had a reserve fund of over $860,000 and had since its organization paid to widows and other beneficiaries $3,300,000 and by lodges for benefits $3,150,000.


The Lambs' Club

A social club in New York City, composed chiefly of actors, dramatists, and artists. It had its origin in a group of actors, newspaper men, and other Bohemians, who were in the habit of dining together periodically at the United States Hotel in 1873 and 1874. They organized the club in 1874, modeling it after the Lambs' Club of London, founded by John Hare, George Du Maurier, Sir Douglas Straight, and others. The Lambs has escaped the fate of many similar organizations, and preserved its distinctively theatrical character through a wise provision of the constitution. Although non-professional members are admitted, the constitution limits their number to one-third of the membership. The club-house, at 70 West Thirty-sixth Street, is a handsome building, one of the chief features of which is its theatre, where the Lambs hold their annual "gambol." The chief executive officer of the club is the "Shepherd," the vice-president is the "Boy", while the officer who manages and directs the "gambols" is known as the "Collie."

Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was organized in January, 1875, and within five years ten other societies followed, from Boston to San Francisco. As the movement grew, some societies originally intended for the protection of animals added the care of children to their purpose. In other cases "humane societies" were organized to cover both purposes. The total number of societies in the United States in 1900 for the protection of children, or children and animals, was 161. They were brought into close relations by the Humane Association (q.v.), which has included societies for the protection of children since 1887. As in the case of animals, their work is two-fold--the promotion of better legislation in their field and the diligent enforcement of existing laws. They also investigate cases of alleged cruelty or neglect, and present to the courts such facts as they learn. The New York society exceptionally includes the investigation of cases of destitution. 

By the work of the agents whom it stations in all the magistrates' courts it has come to have a powerful advisory influence on the commitment of destitute, neglected, and wayward children in New York City, thus affecting the lives, on an average, of about 15,000 children. These societies in general are private corporations, supported by subscriptions, although in New York, Philadelphia, and a few other places, some aid has been given from public funds. In the State of Indiana since 1889 boards of children's guardians have been organized by law, which not only investigate cases of cruelty and neglect and secure the punishment of the offenders, but also undertake subsequent oversight of the children. The Colorado Humane Society was made by the Legislature of 1901 a "State bureau of child and animal protection," with an appropriation of $3000 per annum for two years; this, however, remains under private control, though three State officers are made ex officio members of its board of directors. Consult: Folks, The Care of Destitute, Neglected, and Delinquent Children (New York, 1902).

The Jewish Chautauqua Society

Conceived and founded in 1893 by its chancellor, Dr. Henry Berkowitz, of Philadelphia, this society is modeled on the mother Chautauqua of New York. In 1897 the first assembly was held in Atlantic City, and this focusing of the work has so greatly prospered that the original session of two weeks has now been extended to three. Here the creation of departments for study and entertainment is similar to those of other Chautauquas. More than this, the influence of the society has resulted in the London "Jewish Study Society." The official organ is the MENORAH MAGAZINE of New York, and there is also an ASSEMBLY RECORD, published at Philadelphia, besides special series of various publications. The society was incorporated in 1899, and is administered by the following officers: a chancellor, a president, a treasurer, a secretary and director, a field secretary, a board of trustees, and an educational council. Consult: Special Series No. 7 of the Jewish Publication Society of America (Philadelphia, 1902); the Menorah Magazine (New York, since 1897); Reports of the United States Commissioner of Education.

National Association of Naval Veterans

A patriotic society organized in New York City in January, 1887, having for its chief purpose the preservation of the traditions and memories of the United States Navy during the Civil War. It admits to membership any officer, appointed or enlisted man who served in the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, or United States Revenue Marine Service during any portion of the time between April 12, 1861, and August 25, 1865, and who has been honorably discharged or resigned by an honorable acceptance of resignation. The organization is divided into thirty-nine local associations, and has a membership of nearly 10,000

National Arts Club

An organization formed in New York City in 1898 "to promote acquaintance among art lovers and art workers in the United States and to stimulate the practical expression of the artistic sense of the American people; to provide proper exhibition facilities for such lines of applied and industrial art as shall be unprovided for; and to encourage the publication and circulation of new suggestions and discussions relating to the fine arts." A regular feature of the club programme is the holding of monthly exhibitions of works of art. The membership of the club is large and includes men who have won fame in various walks of art, and who are in constant requisition for advice by various associations to whom are committed public and private enterprises in which art largely enters. The principal executive office, that of managing director, has been filled since the organization of the club by Mr. Charles de Kay.

The National Academy of Design

A society of American painters and sculptors, whose headquarters is in New York City. The first Academy of Arts in New York City was founded in 1802 by prominent citizens, among whom was only one professional artist, Trumbull, but it excited little interest until 1825, when a secession of the younger artists occurred. Dissatisfied with the character of the old society, they formed a new association, called the New York Drawing Association, directed by practical artists. The present name was adopted in 1828, and the society, composed of thirty members, was incorporated. Prof. S.F.B. Morse (q.v.) was the chief organizer of the movement, and was twice president of the National Academy, in 1827-45 and again in 1861-62. In this capacity he delivered the first lecture on the fine arts ever given in America. The Sketch Club, formed by C.C. Ingham, one of the original members of the National Academy of Design, afterwards became the Century Club (1846).

The National Academy is founded on the plan of the Royal Academy of London, and its active members are divided into academicians and associates, the number being limited to one hundred, the only qualification that they be professional artists. There are also honorary members and fellows of the Academy who have certain privileges. The society is governed by a council consisting of its officers and six members, and the instructors in the school of design are chosen from among its ranks. The Academy stands for the conservative, traditional element in art, as opposed to the more modern sentiments which were represented in the earlier work of the Society of American Artists (q.v.). It held its seventy-eighth annual exhibition in 1903. At these exhibitions the Clarke prize of $300, and the Hallgarten prizes of $300, $200, and $100, respectively, are distributed, and the Inness gold medal for the best landscape. The school of design connected with the Academy has been in existence since 1825, and the instruction includes classes in the antique, life, still life, anatomy, painting, perspective, composition, etching, and medal and coin engraving. These classes are open from October until May, and are free to students admitted on the evidence of the school committee. The average attendance of pupils is about 300.Consult: Cummings, Historic Annals of the National Academy of Design (Philadelphia, 1865).

The Society of American Artists

An organization of painters and sculptors, representing rather advanced and radical ideas in art, as opposed to the more conservative tendencies of the National Academy of Design (q.v.) It was founded in 1877 by some of the younger American artists who had been trained abroad. It has more than a hundred members governed by a president, a board of control made up of the officers, and an advisory board. Annual exhibitions are held in New York City. The work of both members and outsiders is passed upon by a committee on selection. The Webb prize of $300 for landscape or marine, the Carnegie prize of $500 for an oil painting, portraits excepted, and the Julia A. Shaw Memorial prize, for the best work produced by an American woman, are awarded each year. The Shaw Fund of $1500 is devoted to buying one or more works of art by American artists. The society originally stood for development and breadth, and the expression of personality, which it was maintained had been previously hampered by academic traditions. The line of division between the Society and the Academy is now less marked. A number of artists exhibit at both, and belong to both organizations. The Society of the Ten American Painters is composed of members of the Society of American Artists, who organized themselves into an independent body in 1898. They hold annual exhibitions in New York City, the note of which exhibitions is impressionistic.

Society of American Authors

A society incorporated in May, 1892, in New York City, for the purpose of assisting authors in their dealings with publishers and generally improving the condition of the craft. It is formed on the same basis as, and is in close touch with, English, French, and Spanish societies of authors. The society is also committed to the agitation for the transmission of authors' manuscripts through the mails at printed matter rates, according to the arrangements existing in England and other countries. It publishes a bulletin, The American Author.

Volunteers of America

An organization for religious work in America formed in New York City in 1896. At that time Ballington Booth (q.v.), Commander of the American Province of the Salvation Army, and his wife, not approving certain of the orders of General Booth for conducting operations in America, withdrew from the Army, and, with a few other officers, organized the Volunteers. The general aims and methods are the same as those of the Salvation Army, but certain modifications were introduced supposed to be better adapted to conditions in America. The organization of the United States Army is taken as the model, and the Commander-in-Chief is elected by the soldiers for nine years: he is assisted and advised by a Grand Field Council composed of those commissioned officers of and above the rank of major. The Volunteers observe the sacraments of baptism and communion, and seek affiliation with the churches.

The organization in 1903 included 6 regiments or districts, under the direction of as many sectional officers and their wives, embracing 14 chartered companies, besides nearly 100 self-supporting posts or societies, with outposts. These societies, in 1902, raised $86,819 for their maintenance and work, and attracted 3,920,893 to their indoor and outdoor meetings; while 30,522 families were visited by their officers. Homes for the destitute and for workingmen are maintained in many of the larger cities, where 252, 760 people were lodged during 1902, and 344,450 persons were furnished meals at a nominal cost. There are houses of mercy for young women at Newark, N.J. and Boston, Mass., where 2760 beds were furnished. In the homes for unprotected and neglected children, 426 were provided for. In connection with the Volunteers' Prison Work leagues have been formed in 16 State prisons, embracing 14,000 prisoners leading reformed lives, correspondence has been carried on with about 22,000 men, and homes designated as "Hope Halls" have been established at Chicago and at Flushing, N.Y. The Volunteers' Gazette is published weekly in New York.

Fresh Air Work

A form of charity which consists in taking poor children from the slums of great cities into the country or to the seashore for recreation. The first authenticated case of charity of this kind was in 1849, when Rev. William A. Muhlenburg, a pastor in New York City, sent poor and sick people from his parish into the country for short vacations. In 1872 the NEW YORK TIMES inaugurated a system of free excursions, and its example was followed in other parts of the country. The first general fresh-air societies were
organized in 1874. Since that time, by reason of the earnest support of philanthropists and of such newspapers as the NEW YORK EVENING POST and TRIBUNE, the number of such societies has greatly increased. The general agencies in thirty-eight cities furnish as many as a million days' outing to the poor and destitute, while sectarian and private organizations add greatly to this number. In New York City alone, fourteen general and non-sectarian organizations, and no fewer than nineteen denominational and
special societies, are in the field. The beneficiaries are, for the most part, children from six to twelve years old, though some of them are infants. A few adult women usually accompany them. They are sent away from the city for periods varying from a few hours to a fortnight spent in the so-called country "homes," or as the guests or boarders of private families. As a rule, the parents of the children are not required to bear any of the cost.