The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-01-12

~ upstairs room, used by dry
u goods clerk in st. Pauls church
AZ parish, London, IL young men
organized society for the spir-
itual improvement OF the en-
ployees of the large dry goods houses
of the British metropolis.
Today that society, known through
out the world as the "Y. M. G. A."
has grown to a membership of 900,-
600; is represented in Is countries of
the world; Ahas over 5000 separate So
cieties; and owns buildings and prop
erty valued at considerably more than
$7O,OOO,OOO.
In North America alone, it has over
5000 paid secretaries and employees
on its rolls deyoting their time to its
maintenance and expansion. It has
branches from the Arctic Circle to the
Cape of Good Indian, the Philippines
and other ends of the earth It has
become a part Of the man-building
force of every important railroad and
industrial concern, and the army and
navy have seen it's activities through
out their own ranks in all parts of
the world, and on the battlefields of
Manchuria and elsewhere.
In the present day of great build
ings, gymnasiums and swimming
pools, bowling alleys and billiard
halls, Libraries and educational
classes, 1t is difficult to realize the
small beginnings of the institution
that has become the foremost asso-
citation in the world for the aid of
young men. If Sir George Williams,
its founder, or the eleven who joined
him in its former organization, could
have foreseen the great ends of their
work, 1t is doubtful If they would
have brought to it the same qualities
pf mind that they possessed when it
was launched.
Originally, as already indicated, the
Young Mems Christian association
vas voluntary organization among
dry goods clerks. for the spiritual i'm
provement of their fellow employees.
After its organization by WILLIAMS
and his associates in 1914, It was for
some time known as the Diapers
Evangelical association, for want Of
better name, and the title we'll ex-
pressed it's aim and the purpose of it's
organization.
The athletic and popular features
Of the work are at complete variance
with the ideas of most Of the twelve
earnest young men who founded the
original society. Then it was entirely
religious movement, and it had not
been discovered that young men could
best be interested in religion through
the activities that benefited their
physical and mental bodies, and made
better manhood. The very idea Of an
athletic contest, or contest of any
kind, was abhorrent to many Of those
who directed the associations early
activities.
The United States and Canada have
Witnessed the most phenomenal devel-
opment of the original association Of
Sir George Williams. The latest fig
ures show that there are S,098 asso-
Citations in the world, with 100000
members and nearly $70O00,000 worth
of property.
The United States and Canada have
only 2,017 Of these associations, but
they embrace membership of nearly
500, 1000; have property valued at more
than $6O,000,000; and have over ST.
900, 900 pledged in building funds and
endowments. The British Isles, where
the association was born and first
fiourished, have but 10000 members,
and buildings and property worth less
than 100000.
In the United States the Y. NJ c.
A. has become the recognized ex-
ponent Of better manhood and citizen
ship in every large city. The social,
educational and spiritual features of
the work have invaded almost every
field of masculine endeayor Asso-
Citations exist among the mining
camps of Alaska, among the construc-
ton camps on the Grand Trunk Pa
cihc and other roads; in the coal