He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and president of the Vedanta Society of New York.
Phelps admired Swami Vivekananda, and the Vedanta Society (established by the Swami) in New York was at the time under Swami Abhedananda, who was considered "seditionist" by the British.
Sara left almost her entire estate, valued at approximately US$500,000, to the Vedanta Society.
Society of Jesus | Royal Society | National Geographic Society | American Cancer Society | Royal Television Society | American Physical Society | American Chemical Society | International Society for Krishna Consciousness | American Society of Civil Engineers | Royal Society of Canada | Royal Geographical Society | American Philosophical Society | Theosophical Society | Royal Society of Edinburgh | Society of Antiquaries of London | Society of the Cincinnati | Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Justice Society of America | American Mathematical Society | Royal Aeronautical Society | National Honor Society | Black Label Society | Students for a Democratic Society | society | Royal Society of Arts | secret society | Royal Dublin Society | Royal Astronomical Society | London Missionary Society | Zoological Society of London |
Currently, the Vedanta Society is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Math religious monastic order and the Ramakrishna Mission.