Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-12
FOUNDER OF THE y. Nj. C. A.
Splendid Results Achieved in sixty
Two Years.
Baltimore American.


Baltimore American.
It rarely is given to a man to see the
realization of his plans and hopes to such
an extent as was vouchsafed to Sir George
Williams, the founder of the Young Mems
Christian association, whose death oc-
CURED in London on Monday. The idea of
bringing his fellow workers into an organ
ization for the "furtherance of religion
and society among the clerks of the
diapers and other trades" suggested itself
to him, after a talk with another clerk
when he was a young man of %, nearly
sixty-two years ago. So successful was
the little society that was the result of
the idea that it soon outgrew it's original
limitations and became an organization for
young men in general. The plan was
quickly taken up in other countries and
today there is scarcely a country on the
map in which some branch of the associa-
ton is not to be found, and the movement
has come to be recognized as one of the
most important and practical agencies in
the spread of the principles of Christianity
as applied to everyday life. Evangelical
but not UNCONVENTIONAL in scope, it has been
equally influential in helping to bring about
the closer kinship and better understand
ing which characterize the present day re-
lations between the denominations.
With the view of giving opportunity for
the development of all sides Of the young
mans character, the activities of the Young
Mems Christian associations have been eX-
tended until they have touched almost
every phase of spiritual, mental and phys
ical endeavor The religious gatherings of
the early days of the organization have
been supplemented by the educational de-
he gfah 1felaD ont Of
gymnasia and other means of athletic ac-
tivity. The original plan of establishing
such associations as meeting places for
young men engaged in some particular oc-
cupation has been supplemented by the
larger one, in which business men, clerks,
railroad men and students have common
interest. While figures can tell but little
of the practical value of any activity, they
do show to what a tremendous extent an
idea many spread. According to the gem
eral report published two years ago, there
were in all 6624 associations in various
parts Of the world, Germany taking the
lead with LISA North America coming next
with l.736 and Great Britain standing third
with LIS. The total value of the prop
erty owned by these organizations is start
lingly large, amounting in all to nearly
1913 900 OOO the North American associations,
with their equipment valued at SIS, 600 900,
taking the lead in this respect. In numbers,
too. the North American societies stand at
the head, with a membership of $4,000 out
Of the total membership Of $4,000 through
out the world.
Sir George Williams not only had the
satisfaction Of witnessing the remarkable
growth of the Young Mems Christian assoc
citation movement, but he was actively in
terested in and identified with the move
ment throughout his entire life. He was
greatly honored in his own land, and 1t
was because Of his work as the founder Of
the movement that he was knighted by
Queen Victoria when the society celebrated
its hfteth anniversary.