Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-06-21
Y. M. G. a.
Great Development of This Porular
Religious Organization.

80
Religious Organization.
The jubilee celebration in Boston Of the
founding Of the Young Mems Christian
Association centers attention upon the
wonderful growth and many sided level-
opment of this constantly growing So
cicty.
The association had its origin in 1874,
in the brains OF George Williams, then
a dry goods clerk in London. The room
where the first meeting was held is still
preserved as it was on that day fifty
seven years ago, when twelve young men
the apostolic number-met to launch q
movement, the extent of which none Of
them could then predict. The develop
ment has been along the line of the para
bic of the mustard seed and to-day in
fifty nations, speaking thirtytfve differ
ent languages, there are 5,132 branches
of the Y. NJ. G. A., with a membership
of $4,000. Here in the United States
there are 1,439 branches, with q member
ship Of $4,000.
The establishment of the Y. nj. G. A.
on the American continent was almost
simultaneously effected in Montreal and
Boston, the year in both cases being
1851. The Boston association waxed rap
idly and at the end of eight months had
a membership of 1000. BY May, 1855.
there We're thirty-six associations in the
United States and Canada, with a men,
bership Of 1900. In the whole world
there were 800 associations, with a men,
bership of 10000. The Civil Wal had a
di%sintegrating influence on the associa-
ton and in 1862 there were only twenty
associations, and these were generally
confined to the larger cities. After the
war the work of rehabilitating was begun
and the growth of Y. M. C. A. work has
been constant since.
The railroad department. of the Y. NJ.
@. A. had its origin in Cleveland. The
railroads have earnestly co-operated in
the promotion OF the work, contributing
lib orally for buildings, equipment and
secretaries. To-day the railroad associa-
lions are a feature on 10000 miles of
road and the railroads are annually con-
tributing $175,00O for maintenance. In
1877 the work on behalf of Indian young
men originated.
At the convention in Boston nearly
1000 delegates We're in attendance. A
feature of the meeting was an unveiling
Of a tablet in the Old South Church meet
ing house, where the association was or
ganized. The first day of the Jubilee con-
vention ended with welcoming addresses
by prominent citizens, including Mayor
Hart, Lieut.. Gov. Bates, Henry NJ.
Ward and the Rev. ~. NJ. Plumb, ID. d.
g. L. Williams of Montreal and w. %.
Dodge of New York responded.
Election Of officers was the first work
of the convention. The following We're
chosen: President. William Il. Dodge.
New York; Honorary President, Howard
Williams, London. England; Vice-Prcsi-
dents, G. I. Williams, Montreal, Que:
James Stokes, New York; Il. II. Thorn
ton, Atlanta, Ca; S. Z. Spencer. st.
Louis; G. Ii. Mccormick, Chicago; II. NJ.
Moore, Boston; ID. w. S. Pattee, Mime
apolis; s.. w. Woodward. Washington,
ID. c.; j. Thoburn Ross, Portland, Ore;
j. G. Cass. Nova Scotia: James E. Har-
dy, Louisville; Henry Waterhouse. Iia-
wall; Secretary, c. G. Kitchener, Chicago;
Assistant Secretaries, A. G. Knobel,
Rsheville, n. c., and Henry w. Stone,
Portland, Orc.
kilograms Of congratulation were re-
ccivell from President Mckinley and
others.