The use of the word Socialism—­Approval of the Democratic Federation—­Tract No. 1—­The Fabian Motto—­Bernard Shaw joins—­His first Tract—­The Industrial Remuneration Conference—­Sidney Webb and Sydney Olivier become members—­Mrs. Annie Besant—­Shaw’s second Tract—­The Tory Gold controversy—­“What Socialism Is”—­The Fabian Conference of 1886—­Sidney Webb’s first contribution, “The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour.”

The Fabian Society was founded for the purpose of “reconstructing society,” based on the competitive system, “in such manner as to secure the general welfare and happiness.”  It is worth noting that the word “Socialism” had not yet appeared in its records, and it is not until the sixth meeting, held on 21st March, 1884, that the word first appears in the minutes, as the title of a paper by Miss Caroline Haddon:  “The Two Socialisms”; to which is appended a note in the handwriting of Sydney Olivier:  “This paper is stated to have been devoted to a comparison between the Socialism of the Fabian Society and that of the S.D.F.”  The Society, in fact, began its career with that disregard of mere names which has always distinguished it.  The resolutions already recorded, advocating the reconstruction of society on a non-competitive basis with the object of remedying the evils of poverty, embody the essence of Socialism, and our first publication, Tract No. 1, was so thorough-going a statement of Socialism that it has been kept in print ever since.  But neither in Tract No. 1 nor in Tract No. 2 does the word Socialism occur, and it is not till Tract No. 3, published in June, 1885, that we find the words “the Fabian Society having in view the advance of Socialism in England.”  At this stage it is clear that the Society was socialist without recognising itself as part of a world-wide movement, and it was only subsequently that it adopted the word which alone adequately expressed its ideas.

At the second meeting, on 25th January, 1884, reports were presented on a lecture by Henry George and a Conference of the Democratic Federation (later the Social Democratic Federation); the rules were adopted, and Mr. J.G.  Stapleton read a paper on “Social conditions in England with a view to social reconstruction or development.”  This was the first of the long series of Fabian fortnightly lectures which have been continued ever since.  On February 29th, after a paper on the Democratic Federation, Mr. Bland moved:  “That whilst not entirely agreeing with the statements and phrases used in the pamphlets of the Democratic Federation, and in the speeches of Mr. Hyndman, this Society considers that the Democratic Federation is doing good and useful work and is worthy of sympathy and support.”  This was carried nem. con.  On March 7th a pamphlet committee was nominated, and on March 21st the Executive was reappointed.  On April 4th the Pamphlet Committee reported, and 2000 copies of “Fabian Tract No. 1” were ordered to be printed.