VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA: A philanthropic, social, and Christian movement. It was inaugurated in Mar., 1896, in response to a number of requests on the part of American citizens, and was subsequently incorporated Nov. 6, 1896, under the "Membership' Act" of the state of New York. It is 'organized in military style, having as its model the United States army, but, in conjunction with military discipline and methods of work, it possesses a'thoroughly democratic form of government. Its constitution and by-laws are framed by a grand field council, which represents the minor councils of officers throughout the country annually. Though only fifteen years old, the Volunteers have representatives and branches of their benevolencea and cause in almost all the principal centers of the United States. They have about forty principal homes and institutions of benevolence, many of which are Volunteer property, and are open for poor and deserving people in different sections of the country. During the year 1911, 41,905 beds have bin provided for all classes of women in the Volunteer women's homes, and 7,332 persons have been received under the care of, and permanently aided by, the organization. The Volunteer commissioned workers called upon and aided in their visitation 26,308 families. This work was done primarily in the poorer sections of the large cities. In the different permanent philanthropic homes and institutions.398,304 lodgings have. been given, while 413,648 free meals were provided, and 230,622 meals were distributed to persons who paid for them, many doing so by work. In their latest undertaking, the Volunteer Hospital, located at No. 93 Gold Street, New York City, there have been 1,280 ambulance calls; 358 major operations, 7,001 days' treatment given to patients in the surgical and medical wards, 13,943 new cases treated, 19;684 old cases treated, and a total during the year of 33,62? cases of all kinds surgically and medically treated in the institution. The Volunteer Prisoners' League has embraced upward of 75,000 members since its inauguration. It has leagues in about twenty-five state prisons, and over 70 per cent of those having left the prisons are through the "Hope Halls" living reformed and honest lives. Through the fresh-air branch of the work many thousands of mothers and children have been taken from crowded cities to a change in the open air amid hills and rivers, lakes and dales. Through the regimental reports from Volunteer centers, it is calculated that 837,130 persona were gathered at the indoor services, while 2,108,534 persons were listeners in open-air stands. Through these services 4,534 persons were led to testify that they would live a new life. .

In addition to the Volunteer reading-rooms, thousands of copies of Christian books are circulated in the state prisons, jails, hospitals, soldiers' and chil-

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dren's homes. The Volunteers also conduct sewingclasses, do hospital-nursing, have temporary financial relief departments, and provide Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The headquarters is at No. 34 West Twenty-eighth Street, New York City.