Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
FOUNDERS OF THE Y. M. G. A.

pened to receive London paper one day
little over fifty years ago which con-
tanned an account of a Young Mems Chris
tian Association organized in that city. The
methods of organization. the, objects, etc.,
were described at considerable length, and
1 remember one feature in particular sug-
gested by the article was that the associa-
t1on was considered as a great assistance
In forming closer union between the va
r1ous churches in their work.
The project of organizing the young men
Tor religious work impressed me, and it oc-
Cured to me that a similar association
would be splendid thing for Washngton's
youth. L was then young man, parish
Toner of the Rev. DR.. Clement M. Butler
rector OF Trinity Episcopal Church, and
teacher in the Sunday school Of that church
as well as being engaged in other work per-
tanning to the church. I talked the matter
over quite thoroughly with DR.. Butler, and
we decided that an association ought to be
established here. DR.. Butler was a liberal
churchman, and was DESTROYS Of co-opera-
ton among the churches of the city along
relglous lines. and he thought the project
Woulo De OF great value in arousing SEN
timent more favorable toward union of eff
iort. with his promise of Cooperation in
the forming of an association 1 went to see
several young men of my acquaintance.
among those with whom I talked were
William ]. Rhees, William Chauncev Lang
oon, MI. Wood, Alexander H. Lawrence.
nrSt president of the associat ion; a. Rich
ards; second president; Otis C. Wight the
HASSiuCit, MITCHELL Miller, the first
treasurer, and various other young men of
tnat time, whose names 1 do not now re-
member. Nearly all the young men T
TAXED with in regard to the matter ap-
proved OF II, and We decided to call a meet
ton. q" dssocia-
DR. Clement Butler wrote the first oau
LOT the meeting, and it was published in
think. The Star among Others Thnras 49, 1na
large attendance of young gentlemen ren
resenting the different churches at tha
meeting, and after considerable discussion
we uscIueu 10 undertake the organization
or a Y. NJ c. A. So far as we knew ther
mere was no other association in America.
we learned year or so afterward that an
ASSOCIATION MAD been established in Boston
several years before. We did not have any
general secretaries or similar officers to
nelp US organize then as is the case now.
Inc account. Of the London association in
ehe EngHsh newspaper furnished the bas sis
LOT our organization, and the constitution
was drafted after lines mentioned in the
pupllcatlon A committee was appoint ed
TO secure suitable room for the meetings
70 PROVIDE furniture, etc., and another com
mlttee was selected to secure books for the
library which had been decided upon. The
work OF the association then consisted of
prayer meeting, religious song service,
charity work. literary work and an occa,
sional entertainment.
Some OF the churches at first held aloof
and did not join in the effort to establish
the association, but the membership stead
lily increased and results We're soon fort h.
coming. The membership was divided into
committees, and the activity and interest
IN the work was marked with steady
growth.
"The feeling of opposition in some of the
churches gradually gave place to co-opera-
ton, and when the association was badly
pressed for funds during it's early history
the cnurches came to the support of the
young men in splendid manner Among the
clergymen of the city who were most ac-
tive in the work Of the association were
Dr. Clement Butler, DR.. Sampson of the
Baptist denomination, DR.. Byron Sunder-
land and Rev. Dr. Junkin of the Presbyte-
RAN denomination. DR.. J. G. Butler of the
Lutheran Church. Rev. Drs. Hall and Nor
sell of the Episcopal Church, and others
we had some very active and admira BILE
Christian workers in the association of fifty
years ago. William J. Rhees was from the
first most valuable member He always
TOOK deep interest In the association and
has given of his time and means to it's SUD-
port. His interest has never diminished,
Tor he Is as enthusiastic in the work today
as when he was young man with youth-
full energy. The late Joseph Bradley
shortly after the organization of the Y NJ,
G. A., became prominent and active mem
Der. He was at the head Of a committee Of
the Washington association which collected
and published book of sermons from all
the eminent clergymen, bishops and church
dignitaries of the United States. The book
had a wide sale. DR.. William C. Langdon
was the first corresponding secretary, and
to him is ascribed the credit for insttuting
the international conventions of the Y. M
G. A. The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of Washington has had some intensely
loyal supporters, and it has continued to
prosper since its beginning There have
been times of adversely in its history but
it has grown to be mighty power for good
in the capital city, notwithstanding its
trials"
Rev. J. g. Butler, ID.
I'm 1852 few young men of large vision
and warm hearts caught the thought of as
sociating Christian young men in Washing
ton for the betterment of young men,
thought transplanted first from London,
the birthplace Of the Y. M. c. A. move
ment. to Boston. The association. whose
jubilee We now celebrate with grateful joy
and earnest resolve for better work, was
then born. This initial movement did not
at first meet general favor with either
pastors or their f1ocks.- The Rev. DR.. Glenn
ent M. Butler, then rector Of Trinity p Z.
Church, and whose name suggests to those
who knew him Christian catholicity and
manly courage, was from the first a warm
friend of the movement. Every man. how
ever. can pull his pound" Grouped in my
memory Of the beginning days of Y. NJ. &
A. work in Washington are William Chaun-
cey Langdon, Thomas Duncan, William !.
Rhees, Otis C. Wight, Zalmon Richards.
IQOmdS y. MdSFuQeF, L. MOrSeu,
Mitchell H. Miller and little later Henry
Beard, William Ballantyne and B. II.
Stinemetz. Others doubtless were interest.
ed whose names have dropped from my
memory. The treasurer's report of fifty
years ago reveals the day of small things.
Yet the young association, under rental.
and with incidental expenses, undertook
and accomplished the purpose of our or
ganization. The gospel was carried to the
prison and to the market place and to the
streets and lanes of the city. William
Chauncey Laagdon and Thomas Duncan.
full of zeal for Christ and champions for a
united church, soon after entered the min
istry of the p. E. Church. in which they
labored faithfully and from which Langdon
was translated but a few years since to
the Church Triumphant. Duncan still lives,
a retired but useful life, and viii be with us
at the jubilee celebration. o. c. Wight, q.
Richards, NJ H. Miller and B. H. Stin ,metz.
all men of godly sincerity. have served
their own generation faithfully and nave
left the memory of a true life behind them.
Mr. Magruder removed to Baltimore. Mr.
Rhees, Mr.. Ballantyne and Mr.. Morsell are
still numbered among the members and
friends of the Y. NJ. C. A.
I'VE need not say that the young asso-
citation had no paid secretary. Its room
rent and incidentals exhausted its limited
treasury. Our first resting place was In