^, -^f^^^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) v ^ {./ /!^ Fm^ ^^ / A II I.I 11.25 iai2.8 ■so ^^™ M IIIII2.0 1.4 6" I 1.6 i ■■ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation v ^ V iV i ■^ o ^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4^ ^ ■<^ ? ' V'C - -v f: i ' :? ' ' OP THE i::i\ 't A V'i' i ^ < ■ . s e I A't; ^ife^x: wc^E:. iii^^ife ■ -^1 I ^ X * \ # I n ij« i" '^ * V * Printed Bfv Joiw? %/>^mjX fc^SoN, I \ ^♦^ ^3' • ' • ^ \ -4^ '' ., ■'8' •' « t- ' ^ -^^ :? I: hi II .c^i IC CONSTITUTION /Jr^^ / OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THF STUDY AND DISSEMINATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE. ^ttattfitttatoH ^att. 1893. V?7i ^'^ MONTREAI, :, PROPERTY* Printed by John I/OVEi*l & Son/ OP ^^9'- ^ UNIVERSITY. ORIGIN OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY AND DISSEMINATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE. i The formation of an Association for the study of Social Science in all its aspects has been the subject of private conversation for some time among several gentlemen who had read of the importance of similar organizations in Europe and in the United States. These private meetings and conversa- tions took a more practical form when the following gentle- men at the urgent request of Dr Larocque,Federal Statistician, who may be regarded as the founder of the Association, met together at the residence of Mr. James Baylis, 55 McGill College avenue, Montreal, September 17 th, 1891 : A. B. La- rocque, M.D. ; Louis Laberge, M.D., Medical Health Officer, Montreal ; Rev. W. J. Smyth, M.A., B.Sc, Ph.D. ; James Baylis, Merchant; L. H. Pignolet, Advocate ; J. L. Coutl6e, N.P. ; Ludger Gari6py, Merchant ; L. E. Beauchamp, Presi- dent of Merchants' Society ; Ovide Dufresne, sen., Merchant; L6on Gerin, Advocate; F. X. Moisan, Merchant; Dr. S. Lachapelle, and Alderman N. A. Hurteau. Dr. Larocque was called to the chair, and Rev. Dr. Smyth, was requested to act as Secretary. Dr. Larocque gave an elaborately prepared paper on the subject of Demography, and showed that there was great danger of sacrificing mental and moral progress by the undue attention that men give to material progress. He entered largely into the necessity of building up a healthful and united nation by the spread of those grand principles of reform in political and social economy, and by bringing the spiritual to bear upon the material progress of the nation. He also showed how that, by the study and comparison of our vital statistics, with those of other nations of the past and present, we could be better qualified to investigate our own position, and see whether we are tending towards national decline, or towards a higher and stronger existence. Dr. Larocque also drew attention to the need of studying the habits of the people so that we might put into the hands of families, and into the schools through the governing bodies, such literature as would help the rising generation to under- stand physical laws and the natural penalty for breaking them; and to learn those principles of health, through the study of Hygiene and kindred subjects, which would tend to heir physical and intellectual improvement. After an interchange of ideas on the part of all present, a Committee, consisting of Rev. Dr. Smyth and Dr. Larocque was appointed to consider the name of the association, set forth the objects, and prepare plans of procedure. Subsequent meetings were held at the residence of Rev. Dr. Smyth, 385 St. Antoine street, and at the residence of L. E. Beauchamp, 265 Sherbrooke street, the outcome of which was the preparation of the following Circular ; the adoption of the Constitution ; and the formation of the Society by the appointment of the following officers : — Hon. President, President, A. B. Larocque, M.D, I St Vice-President, James Baylis, Esq. 2nd Vice-President, L. E. Beauchamp, Esq. Secretary, Rev. W.J. Smyth, M.A., B.Sc, Ph.D. Assistant-Secretary, J. L. Coutlee, N.P. Treasurer, F. X. Moisan, Esq. Council. LudgerGari^py, Esq. ; Louis Laberge, M.D. ; E.F.Ames, Esq.; Leon G6rin, Advocate; Wm. Drysdale, Esq.; Ovide Dufresne, Sr. Esq. ; L. H. Pignolet, Esq. ; Dr. S. La- chapelle and Alderman N. A. Hurteau. THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY AND DISSEMINATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE. The promoters of the above-named Association do not consider it necessary to make an apology to the thoughtful people of this Dominion, for endeavoring to meet a great social need by forming a society for the study and diffusion of knowledge bearing upon social life in its physical, moral and national aspects. The idea is by no means new, as both in Europe and the United States of America there have been many societies formed for the purpose of watching and diagnosing those conditions of society which are unfavorable to true national progress, and to advance such measures by the dissemina- tion of scientific and economic knowledge, as shall, in a large degree, lessen the irregularities which mar the social order in our national life. As a justification of the course we are now taking, it is only necessary to give the names of a few well-established or 9 worthy. We have erected no walls to limit the subjects to be discussed but such as belong to the individual mind. We are no political society for furthering the interests of any party. Our sphere of labor is as broad as the nation and as deep as the human soul. We cannot avoid the study of political economy, because it grows out of domestic and social economy, and is identified with our national progress. In our Association there is neither Rouge nor Bleu, neither Liberal nor Conservative, for all are united in the great objects before us. Our population is composed of the descendants and adopted sons of some of the noblest races and nations of the earth. As the French and Anglo-Saxon tongues gracefully blended after the Norman Conquest in England, and have left happy traces of such union in such words as honour and favour (which ruthless vandals have lately destroyed by the elimin- ation of the historic letter «), so let the Anglo-Saxon and French-speaking peoples of this Dominion hopefully, peace- fully and enthusiastically blend their interests and fortunes and energies to the rearing up of a nationality of strength and purity and durability of which our descendants shall have cause to be proud. In our Association the matter of creed shall not be con- sidered. We agree that " GodUness is profitable, unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is and that also which is to come," and we shall aim to encourage, and spread it. But each member shall have the liberty to wor- ship God according to his own conscience. Our motto is union in all that concerns the building up of a strong nation- ality. All races can surely rally round such a standard as we propose, and work together for the physical, social and moral welfare of the people. We have the holy boldness to declare that our aim shall ever be to inspire and sustain that "rig/ikousnesswhich exalteth a nation," then we know that God will be honored, the nation benefited, and our own souls blest. k M 10 CONSTITUTION OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY AND DISSEMINATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE. 1. The Name — The name of the Association shall be " The Canadian Association for the Study and Dissemination of Social Science." 2. The Objects of the Association — (a) It shall be the first object of the Association, since we believe the time exceedingly opportune, to seek by every worthy means to promote the building up of a pure, strong and united Canadian nationality, irrespec- tive of race or language. {d) It shall be the second object of the Association to take special cognizance of our vital statistics, and en- deavor to secure through the proper channels the fullest returns possible, so that our authorized statisticians may be able to approximate more accurately the ratio of our national progress. (^) It shall be the third object of the Association to discuss questions which bear intimately upon the physi- cal, intellectual and moral welfare of our people ; to study the social status of the different nationalities inhab- iting Canada, and the research of such reforms as shall promote the best interests of our common country. (d) It shall be the fourth object of the Association to encourage and stimulate the dissemination of such liter- ature among our families and public schools, as shall, instruct the rising generations in the laws that relate to physical health, and in those principles of moral and social order which shall make them good, reliable mem- bers of society, and help them, as required by God's Holy law, " to glorify God in their bodies and their spirits which are His." u 3. Membership — All members must be elected by ballot, after being nominated 'at a previous meeting. Associate members may be elected after notice being given, but such mem- bers cannot vote at any of the meetings. Honorary members may be elected at any time. The active mem- bership fee shall be one dollar annually. Twenty dol- lars shall constitute a life irember. 4. Officers — The officers of the Association, who shall be elected by ballot, at the annual meeting, shall consist o fa Presi- dent, first and second Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Associate Secretary, and Treasurer, with an Executive Council consisting of 9 members. Should a vacancy occur, It may be filled at any regular meeting. An Hon. Pre- sident may be elected ac the annual meeting. 5. Meetings — The annual meeting shall be held on the last Monday of September at 8 o'clock. Regular meetings shall be held on the second Friday of every^month at 8 o'clock. Special meetings may be called by the President, or by the Secretary when requested by two or more members. 6. Headquarters of the Association — The Association shall have its headquarters in Mont- real. 7. Local Associations — It is most important, and shall be the purpose of the Association, to form Local Associations in every City Town, Hamlet, or Municipality throughout the Dominion of Canada. These shall ha\e the same objects ; be governed by the same constitution j appoint their own officers j arrange their membership fee; elect a representa tive to the annual meeting of the Association ; collect and classify and forward quarterly all matters bearing upon the objects of, and of interest to, the Association in Mont- real. In large cities, where the population is mixed 12 national groups or sections or other departments may be formed, with the view of collecting information on the social or domestic status of the people, for the Local Association. In Montreal national groups, or sections, may report directly to the General Association. 8. Local representation shall be based on the principle of one representative for every 25 members, and on the payment to the General Association of $5 for each representative by the Local Association. National groups, or other sections, may arrange their own affairs, subject to the approval of the Local Associations. 9. It shall be competent in each Local Association to form a class of students, or analysts of social phenomena, who shall be trained to observe and collect facts, thereby facilitating the comparison of the data furnished from several localities. The Association shall maintain the most cordial relations with kindred societies, and shall co-operate with Muni- pal, Provincial and Dominion Authorities in securing the best statistical returns possible ; in restraining social vices and promoting the best physical, social and moral conditions of the people. Any alterations or additions to this constitution can be made only alter due notice has been given — (at least one month previous). ' 10. II