The City Reform Club [ 253 ] Earlier in 1892 a number of reform-minded New Yorkers had organized the City Club, an association with goals similar to those of the City Reform Club, but with a membership of between seven and eight hundred persons, Doubting the efficacy of the City Reform Club with its extremely small membership, the City Club planned to welcome as many members as possible into its organization. The sole qualification for admission to this new club was a professed attachment to civic betterment. For purposes of membership the City Club rented a clubhouse which could easily hold large numbers of people for business or social activities. The City Reform Club, in contrast, had held its meetings at the homes or offices of its members. By late 1892 several of the City Reform Club men were also enrolled in the City Club. The loyalties of these men were now put to an increasingly severe test. Could they effectively serve both organizations at once, or must they relinquish membership in one of the clubs? Late in 1892 the City Club precipitated a crisis within the City Reform Club. On November 5, Richard Watson Gilder and Howard Mansfield of the City Club spoke to the City Reform Club concerning the possibility of turning over their records (consisting chiefly of newspaper clippings) to the City Club where they would be available to a larger number of interested persons. This proposal drew a mixed response. While Chapman concurred wholeheartedly with Gilder and Mansfield, Hayes thought that the removal of the records would penalize those City Reform Club members who had not also joined the City Club. The proposal was tabled. Sensing the division of opinion, Gilder boldly asked whether the Club expected ever to be absorbed into the City Club. James Pryor retorted angrily that no major New York reform organization had lasted as long as the City Reform Club. He assured Gilder that all the members consequently were determined that the Club should never disband or merge with any other group, notwithstanding how promising the future of that group might be. Pryor's opinion, however, was not shared by the majority of members.37 The City Reform Club rapidly disintegrated. On December 10, Boudinot Keith, a former President of the Club, resigned, and Hayes expressed his fears of absorption by the City Club. A resolution to loan the records to the City Club was finally passed on December 29 despite 37 Minutes, II, November 5,1892.