The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-18
Y, N, c, A, IS WORLD
WIDE IN ITS
SCOPE
Grand Forks is Progressive
Along This Line Fine
Institution.
HISTORY OF ASSOCIATION
Was Organized Many Years
Ago in England-Now All
Over the Globe.
HISTORY OF ASSOCIATION

Grand Forks is progressive. She has
$4,000 Y. NJ. c. A. building.
The history of the Y. NJ. c. A. re-
cords the all around growth and dew
elopment Of young men in every sta
ton of life The social instinct Is the
predominating influence with the in
dividual. Every man likes to live and
enjoy himself in congenial surround
ings and among friendly groups. The
churches have rarely appealed to this
craving social inclination. 1t has
proven the strongest argument for the
saloon.
There are always a large number
Of men in every city without home
or to whom the word lacks any true
significance. These truisms might
we'll have remained empty platitudes
had it not been for the consecrated
life of Sir George Williams, who form
ed the first Y. NJ. C. A. in the city of
London, in 1874. Fate reserved the
chance to young man to find the
remedy for the trying situations which
confront young men in strange city.
George Williams came to London from
a farm. BY constant application and
tireless energy, at the age of %, he
had become member of one of the
leading drapery firms in Lodon. His
chief though in life centered in mis-
desire to help those around him. In
his house were some 40 assistants
and his constant question was What
can / do for these men?" The con-
ception of the Young Mems Christian
association was spiritual. This was
shown in the account of the historical
meeting of twelve young men gather
ed on June 6, 1874 in THE Little Up
per ROOM" in which George Williams
slept and where the Young Mems
Christian association was founded,
The sole object of the society formed.
which was mentioned in an entry of
diary of one of the members was to
influence religious young men to
spread their beliefs among those by
whom they are surrounded" From
this humble beginning began the work
which is now world wide in its in
fluence.
World Statistics.
At the worlds committee of the
Young Mems Christian association,
held in Geneva, in 1906, the official
figures showed that there were 1903
associations with 10000 members.
This has now increased to S,342 as
sociations, with membership of
$4,000. In North America alone, there
are 1878 associations, with a total
membership of 413,9O0.
In April, 1905, the jubilee of the
|. Worlds Alliance of Young Mems
Christian associations was held in
Paris. Sir George Williams, knight
ed, honored and revered all over the
world, was than SO years old. Against
the advice of his family and his friends
he determined to be present. The re-
cord of his reception is thrilling in the
extreme. AS he walkd along the aisle
left open for him by the thousand dele
gates of more than twenty-five diff
ferent nationalities to a dais at the
end of the reception hall, a great wave
of emotion passed over the gathering.
Men were beside themselves. They
seemed utterly unable to voice their
devotion and affection. They crowded
towards him, stretching out hands of
welcome, while cheer after cheer broke
forth until their voices were spent
and there was a deep silence. One Of
our American delegates wrote: GAS
demonstration OF personal feeling
and affection, have only once seen
its equal, and that was the greeting ac-
corded to Emerson as he passed out of
the Church at Harvard at the close of
Longfellow's funeral"