The New Jersey, Palma (which began as a Rifle Club), the Jersey
City Athletic, the Cartaret and Catholic Clubs are social clubs
and immensely popular. The most of them extend many privileges and
courtesies to their women friends. The Catholic Club was organized by
Father Kelly, now of St. Mary's Church, Hoboken, in 1892, and was an
outcome of his desire to provide a place of recreation for the young
men and women of his church. It was the first club in the city where
young women had free access and right as associate members to the use
of the reading room, library and bowling alley. I believe that they are
still restricted to certain days in that respect, and in voting they
are not upon a perfect equality with the masculine members, but what
they have is a long step in the right direction, and has been a very
great success. The club now has a membership of one thousand, and the
plan is being followed by the clubs of the other Catholic churches.