Evening journal., 1913-10-06
IT IS A RIG TnING.

THE annual report Of the Young Mems Christian
Association in this city makes a highly crafty
ing showing Of the work done during the last year
by that admirable institution. Il speaks well for
those in charge Of the association work and also for
community that has given to it the moral and ma
tcral support Il richly deserves.
Henry b. Thompson, the president said al lunch
given by him last week that the report shows
high-water mark in every department Of the assoca-
ton work We feel constrained to add TO that state
ment the further that the unprecented showing by
the association is due largely the magnificent work
that Has been done by Mr. Thompson and his asso-
ciates and subordinaes They have built here
ument OF moral educational and physical usefulness
that is exercising constantly increasing and bene-
hcent influence not alone upon our home community
but upon the ration and the world at large. In fact
there is exact standard whereby the Of that
Influence may be measured Il goes wherever The
members and former memhers 30. matter
whether that be 70 the uttermos ends of the earth.
The association here is part OF a great uplft work
that makes for the good Of community in which
it exists There S,62 associations in the world
OF which 2l92 are in North America The total meme
hership of those American associations lis 563f79
They occupy 756 buildings OF their own valued at
SEQ i6a.S3G They have $40 lihrares and 62so3f
loans. IN evening educational classes they have 67-
az young men students; 3Oo5o0 students in their
physical departments and lO3.59a students their
Bible classes. The number Of General secretaries aud
other paid officials employed is 1888 Last year The
associations spent SlisO25f7 for current expenses
local, s;a' and International
The worlds committee OF the association is made
Of members representing America Australasia
Austria Hungary Belgium Brazil Denmark Finland
Great Britain, France Germany. Italy Netherlands
Norway, Portugal Russia, Spain South Africa.
Sweden Switzerland, China, Korea Ccylon. Japan and
India The international Committee consists of 50
representative Christian laymen and employs force
of 50 secretaries in the home field and lO6 in the for
eign fields.
It was happy thought that prompted George
Williams, of London, to organize in 1874. the first
Young Mems Christian Association On June G. in that
year. twelve young men met In a room in ST. Paus
Churchyard nd founded the association as a Society
for improving the spiritual condition Of young men
employed in the drapery and other trades" In fS45
course of lectures legun. The movement took
firm root IN London and at the general conference
OF delegates from the associations of Europe and
America, held in Paris in August 1855 basis of al
lance was agreed Later conferences al Geneva
in 1858 and London in 1862 and 1868 further aided
the movement And it has grown steadily until today
II is Of the greatest agencies for rood that exists
in the wide world
Wilmngtonians who belong to II have a right to
be proud of the afation. They belong to something
that is really Bis Wilmington parents who are in
accord with the religious principles UNDERLYING the
association do nothing better for their bows than
to encourage them TO become members OF this or
sauization, which is in reality institution for tho
promotion OF good citizenship