SOCIETIES. 303 SOCIETY. ciations formed for numerous secular purposes (see Bbotuerhooos, Religious), .ns the care of the sick (see Hospitalers), tlie building of bridges (see Bridge-Bcildino Brotherhood), the protection of pilgrims, and a combination of some of these duties as exemplified in the great Orders (q.v.), sueh as the Tcmpkirs or the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem (qq.v.). Pre- eminent among societies formed for the defense of faith stand the Jesuits (q.v.). Political organizations begin very early and take the form of public associations, working for their purposes in the open (e.g. the Anti-Corn Law League, q.v.) , or secret associations wherever the objects or the methods of the societies are regarded with disfavor by governments or were even hostile to government. The latter type would include the great revolutionary societies which have played an important part in European all'airs, especially since the beginning of the nine- teenth century. See BuRSCiiE>i8t'HAFT; Car- bonari; FENLiN Society; Nihilism; Young Italy; etc. The primitive cult societies were largely social in their nature, and social organizations constitute at the present day an important class of societies. Such are clubs (q.v.) and college fraternities (see Fraternities, College), where- in, in general, there is no further aim than the bringing into contact of a certain number of in- dividuals of congenial tastes and character. Or the interests of the association may centre in some one line of amusement or some single pas- time, as with athletic organizations, sporting clubs, etc. (See Alpine Clubs.) Where the element of sociability is supplemented by some at- tempt at self-instruction in one of the various arts, we have the large class of musical societies, choral societies, literary societies, art soci- eties, etc. Noted for its broadness of scope in combining the social, the educational, and the re- ligious elements is the Young Men's CJiristian Association (q.v.). The social element is largely overshadowed by a common professional interest in the class of organizations known specifically as learned societies, embracing every field of sci- ence and liberal learning. (See, for example. Academy; Institute of France; Royal Soci- ety ; Historical Association, American ; etc. ) Of great importance, in the L'nited States espe- cially, are the fraternal organizations combining the elements of sociability and mutual assistance rendered either in an informal way, as among the Free Masons (see Masons. Free), or in .a more definite form, as by life, sickness, and accident in- surance, as practiced by various other organiza- tions. As typical of the great class of benevo- lent and fraternal societies, see Oddfellows; Pythias, Knights of; Elks. Order of; etc. Finally, mention must be made of a class of so- cieties devoted to the amelioration of social condi- tions and directing their eflorts to the advance- ment of the general welfare or to the cure of some specific evil in society. For the one type see Charity Organization Society-. Boys' Cuius ; Workingwomen's Clubs; Working- men'.s Clubs ; etc. Typical of the second are the various temperance societies in the United States. See Temperance; Woman's Christian Temperance Union. See also Patriotic So- cieties. SOCIETIES FOB ETHICAL CULTURE, The. The first Society for Ethical Culture was formed in New York City in May, 1870, by Prof. Feli.K Adler and several associates. Tlie purpose of the movement was to provide a centre for per- sons who had lost their attachment to the tradi- tional creeds and desired to aid in seeking what is good and in promoting the moral development of the individual and of society. A second society was formed in Chicago in 1882; a third in Philadelphia in 1885; and a fourth in Saint Louis ill 1880. A few years afterwards the first society in London was organized by Dr. Stan- ton Coit. Other societies have since been formed in England, and in Germany (where there are 16), Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. The most important of these societies are those in the LTnited States, England, and Germany, and at Zurich, Switzerland. An Ethical Congress and a convention of all the Ethical Societies- in America were held in con- nection with the tenth anniversary of the fourth society, in Saint Louis, in 1890, A congress of American and European societies was held at Zurich, Switzerland, in the same year, when the ofifice of International Secretary was instituted. The societies in America seek less to gain ad- herents than to establish their principles and perfect their organization. Not affirming any creeds and not hostile to any, the Society for Ethical Culture teaches that moral ends are supreme above all human ends and interests, and that the authority of the moral law is im- mediate and not dependent upon religious beliefs or philosophical theories. Meetings are held on Sundays and are devoted to addresses, with ex- clusion of audible prayer and all forms of ritual. Special importance is attached to the ethical training of children, and important schools have been established in New York and other cities. The New York Ethical Culture School was the first to introduce manual train- ing as a regular branch of the curriculum in ele- mentary schools. Young men's societies, women's conferences, Sunday ethical classes, and the like come within the sphere of activity of the societies. The New Y'ork society had 900 members in 190L Bibliography. The Ethical Record (bi- monthly) and a 'lecture supplement,' Ethical Addresses (monthly), are issued by the Society for Ethical Culture of New York. The Inter- national Journal of Ethics (quarterly, Phila- delphia), while not the official organ of the so- cieties, owes its origin and main support to them. Ethics (weekly, London) is the organ of the English societies, and Ethische Kultur (week- ly, Berlin) represents the German movement. Consult the writings of Felix Adler, such as The Moral Education of Children (New York, 1898); Creed and Deed (ib., 1877); Life and Destiny (ib., 1903) ; W. M. Salter. Ethical Religion (Boston, 1889) ; W. L. Sheldon, An Ethical Sumlay School (New York, 1900) ; id.. An Ethical Movement (ib,, 1896) ; Stanton Coit, Neif/hhorhood Cruilds (London, 1892). SOCIETY (from Lat, societas. from sociu», a companion ) . A naturally formed group, as a tribe, a village, a nation, organized to achieve the common good — a community, a common- wealth. The basis of society is mental agree- ment and pleasure in association. An entire population occupying a defined territory becomes.
