SOCIETIES & CLUBS






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<font color="red">THE WHITE CROSS SOCIETY</font>

   An organization formed in England in 1883, having for its object the
cultivation of social purity and the practice of Christian morality. The
movement was introduced into New York City during the winter of 1883-84 in
connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church of Saint John the Evangelist
by the rector, B.F. De Costa. The extension of the influence of White Cross
principles has been widely advocated by the heads of the American Church,
and is at the present time closely associated with church work all over the
United States. A form of pledge promising to treat women with respect and
preserve them from wrong and degradation and to maintain the law of personal
purity is given by members joining the society.

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<font color="red">SOROSIS</font>

   The first woman's club in America, organized with twelve members in
March, 1868, by Mrs. Jane Cunningham Croly, in New York City, and
incorporated in January, 1869. Its object is to further the educational and
social activities of women, and to bring together for mutual helpfulness
representative women in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits. The
first officers, Mrs. James Parton (Fanny Fern), Mrs. J.C. Croly (Jennie
June), and Miss Katie Field, with Madame Botta and the Misses Alice  and
Phoebe Cary as members, gave the club a literary tone, but the 83 members
enrolled during its first year included, besides authors and editors,
artists, teachers, physicians, and philanthropists. Meetings occur once or
twice a month and are conducted by two of the ten working committees.

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<font color="red">WOMAN'S  RELIEF  CORPS</font>

      A woman's patriotic society organized in July, 1883, and known as an
auxiliary to the Grand Army. The society is composed chiefly of the mothers,
wives, daughters, and sisters of Union soldiers of the Civil War, although
all loyal women, no matter whether they are related to a war veteran or not,
are eligible to membership. The organization, like the Grand Army, is
divided into departments, of which there are 35, and into smaller divisions
called corps, of which there are 35, and into smaller divisions called corp,
of which there are 3106, with a total membership of 144,387. The society has
expended upward of $2,000,000 in the carrying out of its charities among the
widows and orphans of Union veterans. It meets simultaneously with the Grand
Army. A somewhat similar organization, known as the Ladies of the Grand
Army, is composed of the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, blood-kin
nieces, and all lineal descendants of soldiers and sailors of the Civil War;
but army nurses may be admitted to membership.

Source:   The New International Encyclopaedia
Publisher:   Dodd, Mead and Company--New York
Copyright:  1902-1905  Total of 21 Volumes
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Transcribed by Miriam Medina
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