The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-06
THE Y. M. c. A. HALF CENTURY
JUBILEE.

Association has grown, In so years, L
De an organization of great strength anc
individuality of purpose. 1t has won fol
itself an enviable reputation in the
world, and has achieved a success that
may well make its founder look upon il
today, at the close of half century,
with an honest pride.
George Williams, through whose per-
sonal and unselfish efforts this organiza-
tion was begun. founded the first asso-
citation in London, England, June @, 1914.
Today he still lives and is the honored
president of the London association,
with its sixty or more branches within
the limits of that metropolis alone.
| But few men are permitted to live to
see, after 80 years of operation, move
ment in which they We're instrumental
In starting grow to such proportions,
spread into SO many countries and be-
come such an important factor in the
religious and social life of his own time.
But such is the rare privilege of the
founder Of this organization, and for his
valuable services to the world he has
been knighted by Her Majesty Queen
Victoria.
Each of the past five decades have
witnessed steady and healthy growth
in the number, membership and financial
condition Of these associations. At var
ious periods the Young Mems Christian
Associations have taken up departments
OF work calculated to reach and benefit
special classes, until now they have well
organized and successful lines of work,
which are being conducted for colored
men, German-speaking men, college
men, railroad men and within recent
years department for boys from twelve
years of age and over.
There was period when these asso-
Citations increased rapidly in number
until nearly all the principal cities and
towns that were large enough to main
tain such an organization had an asso-
citation.
Then followed period of careful and
more thorough organization through the
formation of State associations, with an
executive committee and employing one
or more secretaries to visit and counsel
with local organizations. This work
of supervision resulted in such substan-
tial gain and improvement in the various
associations that business men began to
see and appreciate the associations as
valuable agencies for the accomplish
ment OF desirable ends in the improve
ment of the intellectual, moral and
physical condition of the community.
AS the practical value of the associa-
tions became apparent, it was also
clearly seen that, if these organizations
were to do their best work, suitable
and well eq@pped buildings must be
provided in which their various plans
could be executed.
The first building was erected in
Chicago in 1867. In 1883 there were
80 buildings in use valued at over
$4,000, 900, and during the past ten years
these have been increased to 29l build- |
ings valued at more than S13, 900, 900, and |
are occupied by the associations, whose
total net property at the close of 1898 |
exceeded $15.000,0 900, and the paid
up membership quarter of
million. Nineteen individuals
have given buildings to the
associations In America, none Of which
cost less than $1,000, and several of
which exceed $4,000 each, the whole
of these 10 being upward of $1,00O,OO0
Besides these buildings 6S persons
have given outright $4,000 or more
each in sums ranging from this up to
$l25,OOo, and aggregating nearly $2.-
100000, while bequests have been made
amounting to $l,O00,O00. |
Thus we can see that the growth of
these associations has been steady and
and in recent years of the
most substantial kind.
Nearly thirteen hundred persons are
now employed in prosecuting this work
in its more than 400 associations in
North America while 30 State aHa-ere-
vincial committees employ So secretaries
and assistants for the whole or part of
the year. The spread Of associations in
is apparent from the other
Tact that in South America and the
West Indies there are IL, Great Britain
md Ireland 65S, France 90, Germany
1905, Belgium 33. Holland 744. Dem
mark 123. Switzerland 392, Norway and
sweden 13i, Italy 80, Spain 12, Austro-
Hungary IL, Russia o, Bulgaria 1, Greece
!, Turkey 25, Persia 3. Syria 10, India
70, China 8, Japan 20, Africa 80 and
)ceanica 81, total of 1915.
These associations gather triennially
n Europe for worlds conference. The
irst was held in Paris in 1865 and they
lave continued regularly, and at this
ime the 18th meeting has been i'm Sea-