Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: [v. 101, no. 2616: Articles]: [May 4, 1918]

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New York Realty Leader Highly Honored Alfred E. Marling Elected President of the Chamber of Com¬ merce—His Many Activities in Business and Philanthropic Work. ALFRED E. MARLING, president of the real estate corporation of Horace S. Ely & Company, was on last Thursday afternoon elected president of the Cham - ber of Commerce of the State of New York at its 150th annual meeting. This is one of the most distinguished ' offices that can come to any resident of this state, Mr. Marling has been vice-presi¬ dent of the Chamber for two years, and in elevating him to the presidency the organiza- ^ tion honored a man held in ^ high esteem in commercial circles of this city and in the real estate business, in which he is an active and conspicuous figure. Mr. Alarling succeeds Eugenius H. Outerbridge, and assumes the duties of an office occupied during the many years of the existence of the Chamber by distinguished men. The term of office is two years. The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New . York was founded April 5, 1768, and is therefore one of the oldest organizations in the city. It comprises in its membership representatives of the government, commerce, industry, military and the press. Its object as set forth in its charter is "to carry into execution, encourage and promote by just and lawful ways and means such measures as will tend to promote and extend just and lawful enterprises." It has a member¬ ship limited by its charter to 1,500 resident members, which includes the most distinguished business men of New York. It has also 250 non-resident members, and owns the fine building at 65 Liberty street. Mr. Marling entered upon his new duties at once. .His introduction into office came at the close of a very strenuous month as chairman of the Real Estate Division of the Liberty Loan Committee. Alfred E. Marling was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1858, the son of Rev. Francis H. and Marina C. Mar¬ hng. He was educated at the Collegiate Institute, Toronto. On January 10, 1884, he married Harriett W. Phillips, and resides at 35 West 47th street. He began .his career in the real estate business with Mr. Horace S. Ely on October 1, 1877, and in 1894 formed a partner¬ ship with Mr. Ely under the firm name of Horace S. Ely & Company. Upon the death of Mr. Ely Mr. Mar¬ ling became president of the corporation. Mr. Marling has for many years been active in the •affairs of the Y. M. C. A., and was chairman of the 23d street branch for a long period. He became a member of the main organization and at once took a leading part in its business. It has been said that the three most active organizations in the world are the Catholic Church, the Standard Oil Company and the ALFRED E. MARLING, Of the Real Estate Firm of Horace S. Ely & Co., President of the Chamber of Commerce. International Committee o f the Y. M. C. A. Of the latter Mr. Marling has been chairman since 1911, succeed¬ ing Dr. Lucien C. Warren, who held the office for fifteen years. It is an established rule in the organization that the tenure of office of the chairman of this committee depends upon the activity of the occupant, and the members of the committee expect to have Mr. Marling as their chairman for many years to come. He has served as a member o f nearly every important committee, and has given his time and money unstintedly in consultation and for service. His father was a pastor and association leader in Canada, having been chairman of the first meeting called to organize the Montreal Y. M. C. A. in 1851. This was the first associa¬ tion in North America. A few years later his father removed to Toronto, where he was intimately connected with the early work of the association. It is said of Mr. Marling that he was cradled with the association movement. He was a boy member, an adult member, a director and has been in close sympathy with the State Committee, and for twenty years he has been a member of the Inter¬ national Committee. The International Committee of the Y. M. C. A. is an elective body, chosen by delegates from all parts of North America gathered in convention. It is com¬ posed of one hundred Christian laymen working all over the country. Notwithstanding the great demands of his real estate business on his time Mr. Marling never fails to visit his office at national headquarters daily, where he spends about one hour. During this brief period he frequently attends half a dozen committee meetings. Mr. Marling is a leader in the Laymen's Missionary Movement and active as an elder of the "Brick Presby¬ terian Church," New York. He is in touch with the world movement and is an active member of the Y. M. C. A. World's Committee in Europe. He is a trustee of the Mutual Life Insurance Com¬ pany, a director of the Fulton Trust Company, Hanover Fire Insurance Company, Plate Glass Insurance Com¬ pany of New York, City of New York Insurance Com¬ pany, a trustee of the United States Savings Bank, vice- president of the New York Juvenile Ayslum, trustee of the Fifth Avenue Bank, a director of the Bond & Mortgage Guarantee Company, Columbia Trust Com¬ pany, Bankers' Club and is a member of the following clubs: Union League, Metropolitan, Downtown, City, Republican. In poHtics he is a Repubhcan.