Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29

places Of amusement offered the only recre-
alton. Coming from the country. George
Williams saw all this contrasting forcibly
with his ideals, and he soon became ac-
quainted with two or three congenial young
men who were clerking in the large dry
goods establishment where he was en-
ployed. They met each week in Williams
bed room for prayer meetings. inviting
others of their associates TO Join with them.
One by one their careless companions drop
ped In through curiosity and soon. for many
of them, the evenings hitherto spent on the
street or in places of low amusement. and
Sundays formerly occupied with gambling
and drinking, were spent In beneficial and
uplifting ways.
1t must not be supposed that these clerks
were from the lowest society OF London.
nor that their recreations were selected
with wiilful disregard OF more heightened
amusements These men represented the
middle class, and there were few recrea-
lions provided for them. save OF a low
moral tone Religion business, socisl du-
ties had suffered severe setback In tho
early part of the century. but a few years
before, and while II is true that activity
had revived among leading people and that
missionary and Bible societies. ragged
schools and workingmen's clubs had been
founded by such leaders as Wilberforce.
Charles Simeon and Hannah More. yet the
spirit of moral and religious regeneration
had not yet touched the 10000 young men
of Londons middle class to any consider
able extent Furthermore. the Established
Church was decidedly opposed to such In
novations, and this work devolved upon the
dissenters. who were looked upon with dis
favor. Indeed George Williams
member of the Independent Church. al
though his family belonged to the High
Church.
The wonder is that so many young men
could be found who were ready to engage
in active religious work but over a hun
dred attended the meeting called June 20.
1874, at which time the first organization
was effected. and the name Young Mems
Christian Association was adopted.
The original intent was that none but re-
ligious men should be eligible as members.
and the original purpose, as expressed In
their first constitution, was spiritual de-
velopment In less than a year the word
mental" was added, and the Y. NJ. c. A.
stood for spiritual and mental uplift. Glasses
in various studies were formed. The report
for 1850 states that classes are now in
operation in French. German, Hebrew and
Greek languages. mathematics. arithmetic
and bookkeeping. in history and essay writ
Ing and for the practice of psalmody.
Shortly afterward men, not Christians *
Of good moral character. were admitted as
associate members, for a small fee, to all
privileges, save that Of taking part in the
management
Though the Y NJ c. A has never been
dependent upon philanthropy for Its exist
ence, yet from its inception to the present
time, its financial policy has been mainly
upon the lines set forth in the report for
1874: Although this sum I'D. membership
fee and Cd. dues per quarterC will be Insult
fcient to defray current expenses, yet It
has been deemed advisable to place so low
a sum, relying upon the spontaneous llber-
ality of members and friends for the addi-
tional expense of work" In one of the de-
scriptive folders issued recently of the
classes for the ensuing year is the follow
ing: These classes are conducted at q
loss. The balance is provided by philan-
thropic people the same in practically
every American college-'a school run for
men and not for money "
The soundness of this course is fully
the Washington male public is now in
vited, a testimonial to lberality and earnest
work.
In the earliest days George Hitchcock,
one of the proprietors of the establishment
In which George Williams employed,
gave largely of his wealth, and may be
called the Y NJ. c. AS first benefactor.
Today men of wealth vie with one another
to be numbered among its patrons Par
ticularly is this true OF the association in
this country. The fact that church and
state are separate allows greater freedom
to the individual regardless of church af-
association has always prospered greatly
in excess Of that in Great Britain. Today
the Young Mems Christian Association ex-
tends to nearly every country of the civil
ized world, including. aside from own
country and England Scotland Ireland,
Wales, Germany, France, India China,
Japan, Ceylon, Brazil. Argentine. Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia,
Switzerland and Australasia.