A Little Taste Of History (20)

Topic: Clubs, Societies Pre: 1905 #1

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.

Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com