New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-09
MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES
THE SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE
CARRIES ON SEVERAL NOBLE
ENTERPRISES.

The cornerstone Of the new building to be
erected by the Society for Ethical Culture of
which Or. Felix Adler is the head. will be laid
with appropriate ceremony on November 81
This building will eventually occupy the block
in Central Park West, between SiXty-third and
Sixty-fourth-sts 1t will contain the lecture halls
and schools. which are now located in different
parts of the city.
The excellence Of the schools conducted by
the society has been recognized for many years
but the men and women who are conducting
them say that the best results have not yet
been attained by them because of inadequate
space, and that when the small schools in West
Fifty-fourth-St. and East Fifty eghth-st. have
been brought under one roof they Will stand
at the head Of the educational institutions of
the metropolis.
The school was established in 1876 as a free
kindergarten the first Of its kind in this city
and the one teacher had eight pupils one
small room in -fourth-st. was sufficient
for the accommodation of the children But
the hool grew rapidly. and in 1850 larger
Quarters were rented at No. l,32l Broadway
The school mad about 100 pupils. MANY If
whom Uere beyond the Kindergarten age. and
the name Free kiudersarten ana Workingrnan's
school was adopted. The society had outlived
It's Experimental state its future seemed to be
assured and The members decided that a build
ing should be owned. II did not take long to
secure the necessary amount of money and
the house. No. 100 West Fifty fourth-st.. where
the central school is still located was pur-
chased. The branch for high school classes. in
Fifty -eighth-st was added later
In speaking Of the school one Of the teach, rs
said.
IN the history Of education. the school holds
J[ a"gt oil nav ing been the pioneer in intro
uu.lHE manual training as an integral and Va .,
liable part Of elementary education. without
reference to It's Industrial uses and solely for
the sake of the general educational advantage
20 pe uerlNtd IRON H. This kind of instruction
has since been largely introduced into the
schools OF France. Germany. the United States
and other countries.
The school has also given greater breadth and
richness 10 the curriculum by adding, besides
sh9p work, elementary art and science to the
ordinary English branches But its chief pur-
pose as stated above, has been ethical one.
II seeks to answer IN a practical way the
question, ITO what end do we educator
The end set up is a social an ethical one. The
attempt is here made to build up a school
frankly based upon the idea of progress of eyo-
luton. This is its distinctive character. and
this its claim upon the attention of parents and
teachers.
Besides the schools and the Sunday morning
meetings, the society has accomplished other
lasting good. Through one of its former assist
ant lecturers DR. Stanton Colt, it was instrI-
mental in establishing the Neighborhood Guild
ana University settlement IN forsyth and Stan
ton SITS. DIR. Colt afterward became the leader
of an ethical society in London.
Another neishborhood guild and social set
Element is hourshing under the direction Of
DR.. John l.. Elliott, at No. POI West Twenty
sixth-st. This branch is only a few years old.
but it has already done much good and has
had a healthful effect on that part of the city.
The young people crowd the cheerful clubrooms.
which contain a library. chess room and other
means of restful and elevating recreation. and
they. as well as the older people. are also at