justify; and for that purpose to take by gift, grant, purchase, devise or bequest, and hold and dispose of such real and personal property as the laws of the State shall permit." Approved, May 18, 1898.

13. "The Christian Herald Children's Home;" principal office, New York City.

Formed "To provide children who would otherwise be unable to leave the city of New York during the hot season, with the means of passing some time in the country at that period of the year under favorable sanitary conditions and with due regard to moral and religious influences." Approved, March 15, 1898. 14." The Faraday Institute of Education and Philanthropy;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "For the relief and improvement of the condition of the poor, and to furnish educational advantages to those desiring them." Approved, July 13, 1898.

15.-" The Fresh Air Fund of the Church of the Divine Paternity, New York City;" principal office, New York City.

Formed "To give a change of air and scene to children and others needing a vacation, and to furnish them with an opportunity of enjoying same." Approved, March 15, 1898.

16.-" The Graduated Nurses Protective Association in the State of New York;" principal office, New York City.

Formed

"To found and maintain a hospital for sick graduated nurses practicing their profession within the State of New York and belonging to this Association; to found and maintain in connection with said hospital a home for aged and infirm nurses belonging to this association." proved, March 15, 1898.

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17." The Homeopathic Hospital of Harlem;" principal office,

New York City.

Formed "To provide, erect, establish, organize, support and maintain, in the City of New York, in the county and State of New York, a dispensary, and a hospital, infirmary or home, or either or any of them, together with a training school for nurses, for the reception, care, nursing and medical and surgical treatment of such sick, injured and infirm persons, male and female, as may require the same, the said corporation and the several institutions comprised therein to be controlled, managed and carried on under the supervision, direction and care of those in sympathy with and supporting the homeopathic system or school of medicine and surgery, and the said homeopathic system or school of medicine and surgery to be used and applied therein.” Approved, March 15, 1898.

18.-"The Kallman Scandinavian Orphanage;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "To establish and maintain a home for the care of orphan and destitute children of Scandinavian parentage." Approved, July 13, 1898.

19. "The North Brooklyn Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital;" principal office, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Formed "To render medical and surgical aid in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, advice and treatment to poor persons in need of such services, without charge therefor at the hospital and dispensary." Approved, October 12, 1898.

20." The Old Ladies Home of the County of Ulster;" principal office, Kingston, N. Y.

Formed "To provide a comfortable home for aged females who may be admitted as inmates of the home, under such regulations

and by-laws as may hereinafter be adopted by the corporation." Approved, May 18, 1898.

The Board also approved, at its meeting of October 12, 1898, of the extension of the corporate purposes of the "Sisters of St. Joseph of the City of Troy," to include "The care, maintenance, education and support of orphan and destitute children,” and of the change of time of holding the annual meeting of the Hudson City Hospital," from the second Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in October of each year, at 7.30 p. m., commencing with October, 1898.

The Board disapproved of the incorporation of a number of organizations during the year, and requests from several others were pending when the year closed.

SHOULD UNINCORPORATED CHARITABLE SOCIETIES BE PERMITTED TO EXIST?

This question the Board asked in its report for 1897, in an attempt to call out an intelligent expression of opinion on the subject from those most competent to discuss it, and it is now renewed for the same purpose.

The Board is fully aware that there is much that can be said on either side of this subject, and that it would not be an easy task to put into practice any legislation designed to regulate it in the manner indicated by a negative answer. The Board believes, however, that to require all organizations which collect money from the public for the relief of the poor to become incorporated under suitable safeguards as a condition precedent to carrying on their work, would be a movement in the right direction, and would not have the effect, which perhaps some may fear, of improperly discouraging the giving of charitable assistance. In the Board's estimation such assistance is in many instances bestowed in this State

with a lack of care and discrimination, and there seems to be a constant tendency in this direction, which, by promoting the growth of a pauper spirit in its citizens, is injurious to the best interests of the State. It is no light matter that so many of its people as appears to be the case, should be subject to demoralization by the almsgiving of the heedless, but on the contrary it is something of serious and far reaching importance.

The glory and the safety of the State rest chiefly in the sturdy independence of its citizens while on the other hand their needless dependency is a source of danger and reproach. The State should, therefore, seek to encourage and preserve this independence and prevent the needless pauperization of its people.

While charitable assistance is a blessing at times, the ability to do without alms is more to be encouraged.

Under all the circumstances it cannot be too constantly reiterated that careful methods should prevail in almsgiving, and that the State should, for its own protection, seek to bring about such methods in the most direct way possible.

PLANS OF BUILDINGS APPROVED.

Pursuant to the provisions of chapter 225 of the Laws of 1896 (the Poor Law) and other statutes, the Board is required to consider the plans for the erection and improvement of almshouses and other public charitable institutions, and to approve or disapprove of such plans in its discretion.

In 1898 the Board approved of the plans with modifications suggested by the Board's committee on the construction of buildings, with the proviso in each case that the expense should not exceed the appropriations, of the following buildings and improvements at the several institutions named:

Department of Public Charities of the city of New York, boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.-Four new pavilions in connection with the Infants' Hospital, Randall's Island; flooring and steel ceiling, City Hospital, Blackwell's Island; addition to general drug department, Bellevue Hospital; receiving and ferry houses, City Hospital landing; new tables for dining-room at male and female almshouses, Blackwell's Island; new system of steamheating at Bellevue Hospital, and Nurses' Home at City and Metropolitan Hospitals; approved January 12, 1898. Westchester County Hospital, East View; approved April 13,

1898.

Monroe County Hospital, Rochester; approved April 13, 1898. Rome State Custodial Asylum, Rome.-Administration building and new dormitory building with connecting corridor; approved July 13, 1898.

New York State Woman's Relief Corps Home, Oxford.-New barn and stable; approved July 13, 1898; Dormitory building; approved November 22, 1898.

State Industrial School, Rochester.-Two-story frame cottage for gardener and new smokestack for boiler-room; approved July 13, 1898.

Craig Colony, Sonyea.- Fifteen dormitory buildings; Superintendent's residence; laundry building and physiological laboratory; approved October 12, 1898; extension of sewage disposal and water facilities; approved November 22, 1898.

Orange County Almshouse, Goshen.- Changes and sanitary improvements; approved October 12, 1898.

Department of Public Charities of the city of New York, boroughs of Kings and Queens.-New hospital building in connection with the Kings County Almshouse and changes in and additions to existing buildings; approved October 12, 1898.