Senate Resolution No. 1147

BY: Senator HOYLMAN-SIGAL

HONORING the New York Society for Ethical Culture
and commemorating its 150th year as a New York
institution that has promoted social justice and
improvement in the lives of New Yorkers

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
notable citizens and organizations of our State that have taken
extraordinary steps to support and inspire their fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend and honor the New York Society for Ethical Culture (the
"Society") for its 150 years as an important New York institution; and

WHEREAS, On May 15, 1876, Dr. Felix Adler founded the Society in New
York City; the organization was a community of people who believed that
ethics and the mission to live one's life guided by the highest ethical
principles were not a by-product of religion but the essence of
religion, infusing the spiritual imperative to live one's life and
cultivate one's relationships ethically; and

WHEREAS, The Society and its members have pursued projects and
programs that enhanced the lives of New Yorkers, including founding the
Madison House, University House, and Hudson Guild settlement houses,
founding Blythedale Children's Hospital, creating the first "visiting
nurse" program, participating in the founding of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban
League, founding the Workingman's Free School, which evolved into the
Ethical Culture Fieldston School and the Child Study Association and led
to laws that barred child labor, and aiding in the founding of the
National Civil Liberties Bureau which was the forerunner of the ACLU;
and

WHEREAS, The Society promoted rights and opportunities for all New
Yorkers through its activities, promoting peace, women's rights,
reproductive freedom, racial justice, and labor organization and taking
a stand against nuclear arms proliferation and climate crisis; and

WHEREAS, The Society helped persons struggling with adversity
through its Maria Fridman Homeless Women's Shelter, supervised parental
visitation program, televisiting service for children with incarcerated
parents, criminal justice reform, food insecurity initiatives, and arts
and education programs for children in its neighboring public housing
project; and

WHEREAS, For six generations of Ethical Humanists, the Society's
Meeting House has served as Manhattan's Upper West Side center for
community forums, climate conferences, music, dance, and theater
performances, town halls, and panel discussions to highlight public
issues of current importance; and

WHEREAS, The Society has recognized numerous local citizens with
honors for their public service and has been equally recognized and
honored over the years; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the New York Society for Ethical Culture on its 150 years of
service to our communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the New York Society for Ethical Culture.