South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-05
LOCAL PASTORS TO
HONOR CENTENARY
OF FOUNDER OF 'Y''
Association Officials Through
out Country Observe VIII
liams Anniversary.

The hundredth anniversary OF the
birth OF the founder Of TIE Young
Mems Christian association. Sir
George Williams will be celebrated
in all the large cities Of the country
next Tuesday. Y. NJ c. A.. officials
OF South Bend will speak In practi-
cally all OF South Bend churches sun
day morning in recognition OF the
founder Of their association.
Following are interesting facts
concerning the life Of Sir George
Williams:
Oct Il, 100 years ago. the founder
OF the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation was born. Both by this
great organization and by the Christ
ian church the centennial is being
observed in formal services and in
closer study Of the processes and
results Of a life which has spread its
influence over the whole world.
Within the span Of his own life
George Williams saw the Young
Mems Christian association. both as
an organization and as a spiritual
force, encircle the earth. When its
founder died in 1908, 81 years after
its beginning, the Y. NJ. G. A. had
1913 associations with 1920 mem
bers, totals which have since grown
to more than 5000 associations and
more than 100000 members.
George Williams was born near
Dulverton. in Somersetshire. Eng
land. Leaving school when 13 years
old and showing no aptitude there
after for farm work. he was appren-
ticed two years later to a draper al
Bridgewater He was at that time.
to use his own description, a care
less. thoughtless. goddess. swearing
fellow" But coming under the In
fluence Of the Rev. Evan James,
minister OF the local congregational
chapel, who had established a great
hold on the young people Of the
town, he made a determined decis-
ion TO alter his life, and to make its
keynote Ito live not unto himself
but 10 the glory Of God and in the
services Of men," He became
member OF the church at Bridge
water in 1898.
When Williams went to London
his first concern was to single Out
one after another from among the
young men in the drapery establish
ment and seek 10 win each to a life
of Christian service. He established
regular prayer-meeting services in
his small bedroom on the third floor
of the building. His religious efforts
followed several other well-defined
lines, but these prayer meetings
were at the very center Of his pro-
gram Of service, and they were the
foundations upon which the Young
Mems Christian association was
built. BY 1S43. Williams ana two
or three other young men who had
stood with him from the outse,,
found themselves the leaders of a
movement which had affected the
whole mercantile establishment with
which they were connected, from
the head of the firm down TO the
youngest apprentice on the staff OF
some 40.
One day, while crossing Black
friars bridge, which then more than
today focused the life and struggle
Of the city, Williams expressed to a
friend Edward Beaumont, his desire
that the Young Mems society which
had been organized among the clerks
at Hitchcock & Rogers be expanded
to every drapery establishment in
London. A meeting was called to
meet June 6, 1914, to consider the
/ Importance and practicability of es-
/ tablishing such an association.
| Twelve young men attended. Three
were Episcopalians, three Congre-
gationalista three Baptists and three
Methodists. It was agreed TO form
an organization ito Influence relig-
/ ious young men to spread the Re
/ deemer's Kingdom amongst those
| by whom they are surrounded" This
was the birth of the Young Mems
| Christian association, although this
name was not selected until two
months later.
The story of the life Of George
/ Williams is the story Of the Y. NJ. G.
/ A. during its so years to his death
/ in 1905.
When the Y. NJ. c. A, in North
! America had completed in 1901
! half century Of service, Sir George
came 10 this country. His journey
/ through the states was in the nature
] of a triumphal progress. When in
/ 1905 he attended the jubilee Of the
! Worlds conference Of the Y. NJ. c.
| A, in Paris, he received an ovation
| Of which an American who was then
/ present as a delegate writes: LAS a
| demonstration Of personal feeling
and affection I have only once seen
l