Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
AMERICA FURNISHES MODEL
England Comes Here for Pointers on
Y. N. C. A. Home.
PARENT INSTITUTION IS BEHIND
London VIII Erect Great Central
Building E~mbodyine All h
Latest Ideas OF Modern
workers.

LONDON. June O.-Cspecial) -Although
the Young Mems Christian a%ssocia-
tlon movement was started In London
slxty-four years ago by an Englishman, the
parent association has today gone to Amer
lea for lessons in how to provide for the
spiritual and social wants Of It's young
men.
The Central Young Mems Christian asso-
citation Of London has prepared plans for
a great structure which is to be a memor al
to the late Sir George Williams, the
founder, and where within a year and a
half it proposes to carry out all the &C
tivities which are the feature Of Young
Mems Christian association life in America.
The new building is to stand on a mag
nificent site which has been acquired by
the association in Tottenham Court road,
close by oxford street, and which has an
area OF 2,124 square feet, occupying a
whole block. 1t is estimated that the en-
tire cost Of the new building will be $4,000
n toward hat there is $4,000 in hand.
For the first time in the history OF the
English organization one Of its buildings
will have a fully equipped athletic depart
ment. There will be a fully equipped gym
nasium, with swimming baths, bowling al
leys. indoor tennis courts and facilities for
other games and sports and a special de-
partment will be set apart for Young boys.
The Tottenham Court road frontage on the
ground floor will be occupied by stores,
but the main entrance will lead past them
into a magnificent entrance hall, from
which a short, wide staircase will lead to
the reception lounge. The executive Of
fices will also be here, so that the officers
will be in continual touch with the mem
bers and visitors. The entire front on Tot
tenham Court road of the first floor will
be occupied by a reading room. This will
be ninety-six feet long, will be the finest
OF It's kind in London and will be equipped
with periodicals from all parts OF the
world. The French section will also be
housed on the first floor. In the rear of
the ground floor and the first floor there
will be a number of small meeting rooms
for classes. etc, and on the ground floor
there will be a large assembly hall capable
Of seating 1000 people. which Is TO be the
gift OF the American people in honor Of
the memory of Sir George williams. A
restaurant for members only will be on
the first floor.
Business University.
The entire second floor will be given
up to the educational work of the associ-
alton and It is here that the American
Influence is most strongly displayed. The
second floor is to be a business university
for London, at which any young man may
take up a course OF study that will teach
him in a couple of years all that can be
taught on the theoretical side. about his
own trade or business. The extent of this
plan may be judged from the following
partial list of subjects which have been
arranged already. Others will be added
before the building is completed, and as
the necessity for them becomes apparent:
Civil Service department, school of
languages. in daily session., thus affording
opportunity for rapid tuition.
Glasses for the preparation of students
for university and other public examine
tons.
University extension lectures.
Shorthand and typewriting school.
Specialized courses of studing in banking.
Insurance. accountancy, forwarding. ad-
Vertising. Journalism. estate agency. tex
tile, printing, publishir g, furnishing, sta
tionary, and other trades; salesmanship,
drawing, music.
Special lectures on business methods for
principals and heads of departments.
The Central London Young Mems Chris
tan association started educational work
ten years ago, but 1t was on a very small
scale, and it has been confined chiefly to
bsrkers' and brokers' clerks in the city.
At that time It undertook to prepare its
members at the city branch for the ex-
animation of the Londo Institute of
Bankers and it is a splendid testimony to
the efficiency Of the Young Mems Christian
association teaching that for the last seven
years rs per cent Of the successful can
didates have been members of the Young
Mems Christian association classes. AS
will be seen from the above list II Is now
proposed to do for all young men what
has been done for bank clerks.
Home for Country Boy.
Perhaps the most interesting feature Of
the whole building, however, Ia the fact
that the two upper floors are to be set
aside as a home for the young man from
the country" Thousands of young men
come from the country every year to seek
their fortune in London. The Young Mems
Christian association receives 1000 letters
a year, asking for advice about lodgings
for young men coming to London. The
averaging earnings CT these young men is
$500 a year and on that the great majority
have to support themselves. Up till now
they have been condemned TO a third
floor back" in a dingy, grimy. lodging
house, but the new Young Mems Christian
association building will provide bright,
cheerful, well furnished rooms for $40 Of
sthem at Sl.& a week. The Young Mems
Christian association restaurant will pro-
vide good wholesome food for them at
cost, and they will have all the comforts
and advantages OF every department Of the
building.
we are proud of having started the
Young Mems Christian association move
ment,' said Mr.. J.. H Putterill, the secre-
tary OF the London Central Young Mems
Christian association, but we are not
ashamed to admit that we have much TO
learn from America. We gave them the
idea, and they have shown us how to work
It out. / have travelled all over the chief
cities OF the United States and I think
have learned a little in each one, but
think that I have helped them a little bit
too.
IT am specially interested in the provision
of a home for the young men OF thS
country and / look on our start in the
new building as a far greater thing thar
Il seems. | intend TO prove that lodging
houses for young men run on similar lines
viii pay, and l hope 10 see dozens Of then
going up all over London. There are many