Among the literary, musical, artistic, and scientific clubs stand out preeminently the Athe neum, founded in 1824 by Sir Walter Scott and Thomas Moore, its members numbering 1200. It is devoted to art, science, and literature. The Press Club, established in 1882, is strictly jour nalistic; the Garrick, established in 1831, is the home of actors and of the patrons of the drama; the Royal Societies, established in 1894, is composed of 1700 members belonging to the learned associations. The principal clubs pat ronized by military and naval officers are as follows: The Army and Navy (established in 1837), with 2400 members: and the Junior Army and Navy (established in 1869), with 2000 mem bers, including among them officers of the army, navy, marine, yeomanry, and militia.
The two principal commercial clubs are: the City of London (established in 1832), with a membership of 800, the home of merchants and bankers; and the Cresham (established in 1343), with a membership of 475, and with a like clien tele.
Some of the leading athletic and sporting clubs are: The Alpine (established in 1857), devoted to mountain exploration; the _Automo bile (established in 1807). and interested in motor locomotion, with a membership of 1036; the Hurlingham, whose members number 1200, devotees of polo and pigeon-shooting. The M. C. C. (Lord's) Club (established in 1787) is the headquarters for cricket, and has a membership of 4700; the Prince's Racquet and Tennis (es tablished in 1S33), with a membership of 1500, devoted to the practice of these games; the Renelagh, devoted to polo, golf, etc. (established in 1894), with a membership of 1900. The Lean der and the Thames are among the principal row ing clubs in England. The New Oxford and Cam bridge, composed of the members of those univer sities, was established in 1884 for the purpose of bringing graduates of those institutions into closer social relations, and has a membership of 900; the United University, also composed of Oxford and Cambridge men, has the same aim in view; the University for Ladies (estab lished in 1887) is composed of women educated at universities and medical colleges. These are the principal university clubs of England. The Saint James Club, established in 1857, has a membership of 650, and is the rendezvous for diplomats. The Royal Yacht Squadron is the leading yacht club, and is a very exclusive insti tution. These clubs are all housed in buildings that are remarkable for their architectural mag nificence and for the completeness of their inte rior appointments. They combine the comforts of a home and the service of a hotel without the re sponsibility of the one or the publicity of the other, and are conducted at a comparatively moderate expense to the individual members.
Attempts to introduce chubs in Continental Europe long met with little success. In Ger many. such associations were discountenanced by law. The first club established in France in 1782
had politics for its main object, and went by the name of 'Le Club Politique.' Among the clubs that played an important part in the French Revolution may be noted the Jacobins; the Feuillants; the Montrone of which Mirabeau and Latouthe were prominent members; the Cor &fellers, and others. Purely social clubs have also been established in Paris. First among them arc the Jockey Club and the Cercle Roy al, the most fashionable and exclusive clubs in Paris. The Club de Boston was established in 1885.
In the United States clubs were fir.'( intro duced in the latter part of the eighteenth cen tury. Tlw Hoboken Turtle Club, organized in 1707, is still in existence. Such a club was, how ever, of slight importance in the social life of the town. In the city of New York the pioneer club, in a modern sense, is; the Union Club, established in 1836. It is one of the oldest and most exclu sive in New York City. Its membership is lim ited to 1500, and its object is purely social. The Century Club. organized in 1840. has the pro motion of art and literature in view. Member ship is limited to authors, artists, and amateurs in letters and the fine arts, and must not exceed 1300. The Union League Club was founded in 1863 for the purpose of discountenancing any attempt to impair the integrity of the United States. The New York University Club, com posed of college and university graduates, was incorporated in 1865. None except degree-hold ing persons are eligible for membership. lts aim is literary and artistic. One of the most exclu sive clubs in New York, the Knickerbocker, was organized in 1871. lts purpose is purely social. The Lotus Chub, organized in 1870, is the home of journalists, authors, artists, musicians, and friends of literature. Resident membership is limited to 500. The Catholic Club of the City of New York has for its primary interest the promotion of Roman Catholic interests in New York, and has existed since 1863. The Calumet, a purely social organization, was established in ISItb Us membership is limited to 500. The Manhattan Club is a powerful factor in Demo cratic politics of New York. Its membership is limited to 1500, and it has an actual enrolled membership of 1200. It was organized in 1864, in opposition to the Union League Club. The lie form Club has for its object the promotion of good government and the abolition of the pro tective tariff. It was organized in 1878. The United Service Club was organized in 1889 for the promotion of military science. Membership is limited to military and naval officers. The Players' Club was organized in 1888, to pro mote social intercourse between the different members of the dramatic profession. This club was founded by Edwin Booth, who left the house, with its furniture and pictures, to the associa tion.