The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-04
Contributed BY
~DCEON BAILEY

SIr l1eOlSt w l1lieiiAAS Vco SAAS WA |
ofa gentleman farmer of the south
u ENGLAND, and came to London
and found employment as a drap-
op,s clerk in 1841. George Williams
booan a series of prayer meetings
omorg the clerks W h slept in
rooms above the store, n d on
lime s, 1914, as result of these
meetings. a permanent organiza-
finn was formed. That marked the
birth in London of the Young Mems
Christian Association.
Steps later were taken to estab-
Ush permanently Young Mems
Christian Association in Whining
Ton. and on November 5, 1887, an
informal meeting was held in the
home of the late E. S. Tenant,
Superintendent of the Wilmington
Cotton Mills. Those present were
W. NJ. Cumming, P. B. Manning,
Frank Meier and G. C. Worth. Mr..
Worth was then a student at the
University of North Carolina Later
he became a celebrated physician
and spent many years in China as
missionary.
The meeting in the Tenant
Aome resulted in the Association
being revived, and Mr.. Tenant
was elected president. The group
met in a hall at the Wilmington
Library Association. Later tn ey
moved into quarters in the Bank
Building at Front and Princess
streets. Old records reveal that
among those who participated in
the work of the association dur
ing that early period were: W. B.
Cooper. B. F. Hall, R. H. Northup,
j. 7. Sholar, F. L Higgins, J
C. Stewart, A. C Warren, Lott M
LeGwin, B F. King and Andrew
Howell, Jr.
Still without facilities for a per-
manent headquarters, and without
sufficient funds to carry on its
work, the association was greatly
handicapped, At that time, too
most persons did not take the work
seriously, in spite of the earne@t
and sincere efforts of the young
men identified with it. But, dur
ing the spring of 1888, great
change in the attitude of persons
in Wilmington toward the Young
Mems Christian Association came
about Thie change in attitude re-
suited from the forceful and in
Spirng sermons Of the Rev. R. G.
Pearson. an evangelist, who visit.
ed the city early that spring and
conducted a series of evangelistic
meetings. According to some of
the older residents of Wilmington,
those meetings stirred the towns
people to realization that they
should support such institutions as
the Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton, and, within a short time
benev0Iently minded citizens con-
trIbuted several thousands of dol
larS-anough to erect a building
for the association, and the struc-
tJre was built at Front and Grace
streets in 1891. that building was
occupied by the association until
January, 1913, when it was cold
and temporary offices were open
ed IN the Odd Fellows building and
occupied for a few months while
the present building at 305 BOT
Market street was being construct
ed.
While the Rev. Mr.. Pearson is
gwen credit by many for awaken
ing support among benevolently
minded citizens toward the Will
mngton Young Mems Christian AS
Soclatlon, other persons recall an
other event which played no small
part IN rallying support to the then
Struggling Wilmington Association.
III 1889 the State Young Mems
Christian Association convention
was held in Wilmington, being the
arst Of the kind ever held here
me association at that time was
5anlng great Roadway in the col
reyes throughout the nation, ane
representatives from many institu
lohs OF learning attended this con
rehtlon in Wilmington. The ses
Mons Of the convention we're HEX
IN the First Baptist church, ant
great crowds turned out to hea:
1e speakers. W. A. Blair, super
nrendent Of schools of Winston-Sa
ZEN, presided over the gathering
MT Blair gave promise then of
great career. and later became
prominent banker, with wide an
Nafled civic interests. But tWf
Young college H4en, then recentl