New-York tribune., 1922-05-12
Charities Aid
kecOunts Work
of Fifty Years
State Society's Achievements
Since Foundation in 1872
Told by Veteran Members
at Anniversary Meeting
Future Plans Outlined
First Orphan Child Placed
With Private Family Pays
Tribute to Organization

The New York State Charities Aid
Society celebrated yesterday with
meetings and dinner at the Hotel
biltmore the fiftieth anniversary OF
Its founding. Miss Louisa Lee
Schuyler, who called the first meeting
on May II, 1872. was unable to be
present owing to illness, but she re-
ceivcd by telephone the greetings of
10000 members
The achievements Of hfty years in
placing orphan children in foster
homes, Transforming insane from aims
houses, establishing traired nursing
service. warning against tuberculosis
and rcorganlzlng tho State Depart
mont Of Health were recouuted By
officials Of the society and other pub
lie mon and women.
John n. Finley, former secretary Of
the association, presided over the "Rc-
union Dinner"
Former Governor Alfred z. Smith
who was to have been ono Of the speak
ers, was unable to be present because
of sore throat. but sent message
telling Of the high regard in which he
held the organization Messages OF re
grct at their inability to attend were
received also from Charles f. Hughes,
Secretary Of State and honorary presi-
dent of the association. Governor Mil
lcr and former Governor Charles S,
Whitman.
All the speeches were broadcast by
radio to upstate communities and plans
were announced for many upstate cele
rations of the anniversary TO last
throughout the summer.
Homer l.. Folks, ror twenty
years secretary Of the association, did
not permit the celebration to be entire
ly backward looking.
Describes Work to Be Done
"Wherc do we go from here?" he
said, after recounting the society
many good works. "Nh remains tc
be done? The answer is. more and
greater accomplishments along these
same lines, such as Cd to secure spe-
cial classes for all difficult and back
ward children in schools; (2) to secure
clinics with expert doctors and socia
service workers, available in every part
of the state for those apparently men
tally disturbed or deficient; (3) to DC
away with the remaining twothirds rt
the volume of tuberculosis as it existed
and expert medical diagnosis and treat.
ment, trained nursing and home assist
ance Of every sick and injured person
in tho state
One Of the veterans at the dinner
was DR.. W. Gill Wylie, who went te
England fifty years ago for the assocla
tion to interview Florence Nightingale
on the training of nurses. Upon hi:
return the first school for nurses il
this country was established at Belle
vue Hospital. Previous to that the pa
ticnts in hospitals had been attended
by inexperienced women and hygien,
and sterilization were virtually un
known.
Tells Of Early Struggles
George +. Garfield, president of th'
State Charities Aid Association, re
erred to those dark days in his speech
Other speakers were Isaac Adler, pres
ident of the tuberculosis Association
of Rochester and Monroe County; tn,
Rev. Robert F. Keegan, secretary fo
Catholic Charities of New York; Mon
signor J. l.. Reilly, of Schenectady
Victor F. Ridder, Mrs. Paul Revere
Reynolds. of the Westchester Count!
Childrcn's Association; William ]
Wallin. president of the New Yorl
State Conference of Mayors. and Mis-!
Lila c. Wheeler. member Of the boart
OF managers of the association.
Mrs. William H. Rice. eighty -egh
years old, and Miss Georgina Schuyler
another veteran member, were among
the guests at the banquet.
The heroine Of the afternoon ses
sion was Miss Marjorie Wendell, vh,
was the first orphan child placed will
a private family under the auspires @
/ the association, in 1898. She is nos
an attractive young woman, a skille,
musician and an eloquent witness t
the advantages Of being an adopted
child.
"As I grew older J understood th
meaning Of adoption" she said "ant
realized that there was no difference
because my parents could not hav,
loved me more If I had been born t
them. At the time I was being edu
Gated in music am sure they sacri
feed far more than most parents do"
Miss Sophie Van S. Theis, superin
tendent of the Child Placing Agency
reported that 3,400 children had beel
placed in childless homes. Dr.. Henr,
W. Thurston, Of the New York Schoo
of Social Work, reported that 10000
widowed or unmarried mothers hac
been helped to find work where the,
could keep their children with them.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
C1 NTxa H.: