New Philadelphia York Agencies having to do with health 412 224 Child welfare agencies 233 147 Settlements, social centers and housekeeping centers 227 608 Relief societies 180 102 Societies for civic and economic betterment by means of surveys, investigations, education of the public, etc. 157 369 Adult homes 136 112 Agencies for obtaining or providing employment 123 46 Special educational opportunities, agricultural, musical, etc. 118 71 Philanthropic agencies with a predominantly religious 96 191 Agencies interested in naturalization, colonization, and work for immigrants 91 28 Correctional and protective agencies 81 54 Societies serving special groups 81 60 Negroes 29 36 Soldiers, sailors, or their dependents 25 10 Clergymen 8 Medical men 7 Indians 5 Artists 4 Firemen 3 Recreational facilities 63 88 Banking, loan and saving societies 23 10 Of which burial societies are 10 4 Milk stations, diet kitchens and lunch rooms 20 23 Conferences and federations which include social work agencies 12 20 Legal aid societies 11 2 Societies for the protection of animals 9 14 In cross section no obvious, no easily discernible bond appears among these diverse agencies. An eleemosynary purpose, the first suggestion of most laymen, is indignantly repudiated by the modern social worker and can be, in many cases, categorically disproved. All are benevolent, but so also are educational, religious, artistic and other undertakings not commonly considered social work. It is a standing rule of science that if you can see nothing crosswise you must try squinting lengthwise. If a present form will not answer your questions look back along its history and consider its origin--study its evolution and genetics. Such a policy with respect to social work brings us promptly to a strong clue.