New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-15
Y.W.C. HOLD
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Thousand Associations in
u. S. Plan Month of
Celebration.
BEGAN IN BOSTON
ON MARCH 3, 1865
National Membership Is Nearly
$4,000: World Enrolment,
$4,000.

The Young Women's Christian Asso-
Citations of the United States. from
February | 70 March 3 next. will cele-
brate with national golden Jubilee
the fftieth anniversary OF the found
ing Of that organization.
A nationwide membership rally VIII
be held on February /. when al mem
bers OF associations will meet for
demonstration Of what the orgsniza-
ton means 10 them. On February x
there will be a historical presentation,
pictorislIy. of association work. "Girls
Of Yesterday and To-day" prepared by
the 966 city. county and student asso-
Citations. March 2. the fftieth birth
Gav Of the Y. ". c. A. wor1 IN Amer.
lea. will be observed b. g service o.
rejoicing.
Boston Formed First Association.
The first Young Women's Christian
Association in this country was formed
in BOSTON in 1866. when wcmen or
Boston formed society in behalf OF
self-supporting girls who had come 70
the citv 20 seek employment. Two
wears later a boarding home was start
ed. Buildings were provided later FOR
the physical education OF young
women.
The Boston association was the first
10 organize and standardize the teach =.
ing Of cooking and the teaching or
physical exercises.
Assoc .ations were organized IN mart
ford. Conn: Providence and PITTS
burgh and Allegheny, Penn, IN $50 g.
Cincinnati. Cleveland and s. LOUIS
formed similar societies in 1858. IN
other cities, especially in the Missls-
sippi Valley or in places TO which col
lege women from the Mississippi Val
lev had gone 70 reside. young women.
both those in their own homes ana
those occupied outside and m sell
support OF many kinds. formed Young
Women's Christian associations mod
elled after the Young Mems Christian
associations. where less emphasis was
placed on efforts FOR self-supportlng
Young women and more attention was
given 10 extension Of the opportunities
they themselves enjoyed among other
Young women Of the community. Suen
cities were s. Joseph, No; Scranton
Penn: Kansas City. No; Minneapolis
and Toledo.
New York's Bible Class 500.
All city associations emphasized the
religious meetings and Bible instruc-
tion. The New York City Young Nom-
ems Christian Association IN 1872 com
menced Bible class which soon al,
,erwsrd had an average attendance oil
coo Sunday afternoon was the regu-
lar time OF mee.lng. with members OF
outside speakers presenting religious
/ theme. Often a supper was served
after this vesper service or Bible class
Bible study was II charge o. the sec,
retaries and other trained leaders. and
! later on OF pastors in the city.
Employment agencies referring
Young women 20 bushes positions and
domestic situations have always been
included. Cooking was introduced IN
all associations. Boarding homes,
chiefly for those engaged in self-sup-
port. or preparation for Il. were
opened. Hartford. Conn. in 1872 erect
ed the first building for such pur-
pose. The Philadelphia association IN
1874 built the first summer home for
its members at Asbury Park
Educational Features Established.
Educational classes have been a grad
ual development, until to-day almost
every subject is taught that could De
found in the curriculum Of schools,
from the grammar grade to the univer-
sity.
American delegates were invited 70
London in 1892 70 help form world 5
Young Women's Christian Association,
This was effected in 1894.
Membership i'm city associations Is
now 273. 234; in county associations
APO, and in student associations. S.
2e4. The total world membership IS
$4,000