Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-06-15

Slh GEJftGlI WlLlIlAMo.
States and England alone valued at
over $15,OO0,OOO, and to see among its
standard bearers men whose names
are synonyms for greatness and
power.
The story of Sir George Williams
is that of a man who once forgot self
and never remembered 1t again-who
has made a success Of life. little
English village first knew him as the
son of a poor farmer. In another
back-number town, Bridgewater, he
was apprenticed to a draper-a dry
goods dealer as we say in America
at an early age. While still yung
man he entered the employ OF Hitch
cock G. Rodgers, London diapers.
Like almost everyone destined to
make his way in business, there was
evidently such an amount of organic
ing ability stored up in his youth Of
20 that it had to find an outlet some
how. So he conceived the idea that
reading, recreation and religion might
he combined to make a society that
would be of use to some of the thou
sands of lonely young men who had
left country homes and were earning
a living in London and trying to keep
themselves out of the DEVILS clutches.
He found II other young men who
fell in with the scheme, obtained per-
mission from his employer to hold a
meeting in the now historic spare
room over the store, and after two
sessions started a society which they
decided to call the Young Mems Chris
tian Association.
After much elaboration over ways
and means-for money was scarce
they raised between them a fund of
60 cents week, rented room in
hotel that used to stand near Black
friars Bridge, and began to meet there
regularly. One day young Williams
employer, Mr.. Hitchcock, heard of the
peculiar doings Of the club, and decid-
ed that he would go and see what 1t
was all about. He doubtless made the
decision lightly enough, but 1t proved
to be of vast consequences to him and
to the young men, for he was so deep
ly touched by the simplicity and earn
estness Of their meeting that he an
nounced himself as convert" then
and there. He did more than pro-
fess, however; he went out among the
men of wealth and prominence that
he knew and told them of the little
club and what it's members aimed to
do, and got money from them, lot
of money, enough to make the Young
Mems Christian Association thing
to be reckoned with. Larger rooms
were taken in Fleet street, and the
organization began to grow fast and
throw out branches, gradually extend
ing all over England. The first
branch on this side Of the Atlantic
was in Montreal, but soon there was
another one in Boston. New York fol-
lowed suit, and America had adopted
the plan of the London clerk. Then
the world did.
While interested in the affairs of
the new organization Williams did not
forget that he had his way to make
in the world and he applied himself
to his business with such energy that
he was taken into partnership in the
firm.
He was created knight by the
queen in 1894. That was the jubilee
year of the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation-founded in 1S44-and a
great convention was held in Lon
don to celebrate it, in which the VEN
cradle founder was the central figure.
To that convention from all over the
world went 1000 delegates, speaking
II different languages.
Sir George Williams is one Of the
most charitable men in the world and
never grows tired of giving to good
purposes. He would be immensely
wealthy were his charities not so
great. When he was earning $3.50
year he gave $3.50 Of this sum annually
to the support Of the Y. M. c. A., and
this generous spirit has been his since.
D-..tJ.,ta VVl,o VUara Naaop