The record-union., 1891-12-23
A GOOD BEGINNING.
Preliminary Meeting of the Proposed
Humane Society.
An Excellent start 9Iade-History Of
the Humane societies-Organi-
cation Effected.

geuc and representative preliminary
meetings to effect organization ever held
IN Sacramento was that which assembled
at Y. M. I. Hall last evening to consider
the formation of a humane society. 1t
was aetuated by an umselfish and most
philanthropic spirit, and manifested
an earnestness and determination of pur-
pose that is prophetic OF success.
The meeting was called to order (by
request by J. A Woodson, who out
lined the purposes of the gathering and
the history Of the San Francisco society,
stating the object here to be to form an
association under the laws Of the State,
providing for one such society in
every county to prevent cruelty to ami
mails. it was also the desire to make an
cidental purpose of the society, the
placing Of Efe-saving and body-recOver-
ing appliances at convenient points along
the river front and near the city, and to
encourage heroic efforts to rescue the
drowning. But the main purpose was
that outlined in the statutes of 1874, the
prevention of cruelty to animals
EX-Sheriff J. w. Wilson was called to
tile chair, and accepted, giving the move
ment hearty encouragement and the
promise of his assistance.
-Nstt4tfAillGl AoCClCLdly vi Tic San
Francisco Society, who was present by
special invitation, was then introduced,
and requested by the chair TO address the
meeting concerning the history and char
acter OF such societies as that proposed.
ljr. Hunter spoke as follows:
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT.
Societies for the prevention Of cruelty
to animals have become the great factors
for the relief of dumb animals, mans
TlIf f11l ray1#c Il
cruel and inhuman treatment heaped
upon them by man who is indebted to
them for success in business pursuits.
many Of the enjOyments of life, and, if
not for life itself, certainly for civilized
life, which without their help would be
an impOssibility.
For instance, when the epizootic pre-
vailed among the horses to such an alarm
ing extent throughout the continent,
business was paralyZed, although every
eXpedient that could be devised was
Utilized to supply the means of trans
pOrtatiOn for which only the horse was
properly suited. Merchandise remained
IN the storehOuSeS, men were obliged to
perform journeys on foot, and it was with
great difficulty that the absolute wants of
the people could be supplied. Oxen were
brought to the city, and in some in
stances Chinese were harneSsed to wag-
ons, to supply the deficiency; but with
I'll lAlC CN l)CulCutS IGSOIlCkl 10 business
lid not resume its usual course until the
licourge had expended its violence, and
the horse was once more himself
On June Is, 1924, in London, the fir st
society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals was inaugurated. In describing
the cause which led to its organization a
late report of the society saws:
''The most reckless and savage pun
ishment, and the most disgust
ing disregard to the bodily suffer
ings of animals. were exhibited IN on
cealed in the highways and streets daily;
fostering sores, diScharging wounds, eX-
cruciating lameness and tOrturing in
trinity called not forth modern devices
TO evade public TeprObatiOn, and without
disguise the lash and gOad worked their
bloody infections. The uncOmbined
efforts of a few benevolent individuals
were no check to these evils, and hence
1t became necessary to establish q society
which should unite the friends of dumb
animal creatures.
This society, which had its birth amid
ridicule that came from the platform, the
pulpit and the Senate, as we'll as from the
CALLED pens of satirists, numbers now
among its patrons, her most gracious
majesty the Queen, and nineteen mem
berS Of the Royal family, and among it's
Nice-Presidents and members most of
the titled heads, male and female. Of
England, with the right honorable Lord
Aberdare q. G. B., as its President Be-
fore the Queen assembled the throne of
England, III 1885, she became a patron Of
the society, and in 1910 she authorized it
to use the prefix royal to its name
She has not considered it beneath her
dignity to attend it's meetings, and has at
all times extended 10 it her cOuntenauce
and sympathy. This society now has
ninety-twO branches with a mem bership
of 1876 life, 2.4O0 annual, 1000 subscribers
4 Il. Il
Der OF the branches. Its convictions dur
ing the past year form a vast total of
$3.50. From this beginning the move
ment has spread to every country and
every people,"
In 1856 the Iamented Henry Bergh,
with the courage of which heroes are
made, organized the American Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals,
thus becoming the pioneer in this move
ment on this continent. Of this SOCiety'S
great success l presume many Of you are
familiar.
In the early days Of its existence the
Bonard bequest placed it upon solid
financial basis, and it has ever since
grown with the years until now its in
come amounts TO over $4,000 a year, of
which about $4,000 is expended for the
maintenance of the society. In 1890 it
prosecuted 949 cases, and during the
twenty-four years of its existence its
prosecutions NUMBER 10, ISU.
Later in the same year the Massachu-
sets Society was called into existence.
In 1867 the Pennsylvania Society fell into
line, and in 1868 the San Francisco Soci-
iety followed, being the fourth society in
the order Of organization in this country
Since that time, laws for the protection
of animals from cruel treatment have
been made by the Federal Government
and nearly all of the States and Terri
tories, and most of the States and terri
tories have societies organized to enforce
these laws.
These societies, with the societies for
the prevention of cruelty to children.
constitute the National Humane Associa-
ton, whose members, by delegates, as
semble yearly to exchange ideas and to
devise ways and means TO further its OBJ
iects. 1t was owing to the eXertionS of
this association that Congress passed the
law for the protection of food animals
during transportation. Its last meeting
was held in Denver In October last, the
report Of which has not yet been pub
lished, but believe the meeting was an
interesting and successful one.
In It's report for 1850 it published re-
turns from IS societies in the United States
and Canada, organized wholly, or in part
for the protection of dumb animals
showing that 10, l39 complaints had been
received, /, POI cases prosecuted, ], lS9 per
sons convicted and 3S,554 animals re-
lieved. This from only IS societies of the
$50 in the United States and Canada, not
intending the New York, Massachusetts
and San Francisco Societies, which. to-
gether, would have more than trebbled
these numbers.
At the present time there are 305 socie-
ties in Europe "a great proportion of
them in England and Germany, in
Asia, IN Africa, 6 in Australia, in the
West Indies, in South America and
Mexico, 264 in the United States, S in
Canada and in Nova Scotia, some of