Reading Everybody.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2443, 6 March 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

Reading Everybody.

THE Y.M.C.A. : ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS. (By F. A. McKenzie in the “Winner Magazine.") - Sixty years ago last June, in a little room on the premises of a famous sdk mercer under the shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral, twelve young men met together, inspired with a- great purpose. They were distressed with the <onJ'tion of their fellow shop and warehouse assistants. The long hours, poor pay, and inadequate housing 'accommodation which then prevailed in many London business houses were having their inevitable outcome in the shiftless and purposeless lives of those subject to them. The twelve young men, with all the boldness of youth, set out to revive religious purpose amongst their fellows. Their first ambition was to reach the men in warehouses around their own; they dreamed that possibly their work might extent to the provinces. But in their most exalted moments they could scarce have imagined , the result" that has come. From that meeting on a June evening has sprung a movement which has gone round the world. Alike in London warehouse, in Californian university, and' in the tented fields of South African armies; among turbaned Turks, i'urliatted .Russians, and the peak-capped - lads of Rhineaitle colleges ; from coon blacks in Central Africa, brovvu Arabs to pale-faced sons of Arctic regions, they have gone. The twelve nave become nearly 1,000,000. The little room has spread its branches till today there are 8,000 centres. The property also owned by the Association is now worth considerably over £9,000,000. And the work is only at its dawn ; for in this twentieth century, the era of young men, *a young men’s movement, created by them and propelled with all the force of their youthful strength, presents such possibilities as never before. There were twelve in the first gathering. At their head was setshire youth, George Williams bv name, twenty-three years old, the son of a yeoman farmer, -and an assistant in the house of Hitchcock and Rogers, in whose, premises the meeting was held. The name of George Williams is now worid-’known. His story is that of the industrious npprent.ee. Trained to his trade iu a West of England town, he came to London with fixed ideas. He was resolved to get on in business, but he was equally determined to promote the religious principles which he firmly held. He soon made his mark, for among the apprentices and assistants of Hitchcock and Rogers were many likeminded; At first it was doubtful if the house would approve of the zeal of his young men, but they kept on notwithstanding. Then Mr Hitchcock himself came out as their disciple, and afterwards as one of their most generous supporters. George Williams advanced steadily. By the .time he was 30 he had been taken "into partnership. He married liis master’s daughter, ana when riches came proved himself even more energetic in his work for young men than before. When Air Hitchcock died, Mr Wiliams succeeded him as head of the firm; 'arid years after, |when liis Queen picked him out for knighthood on account of 'his philanthropic work,, and when the City of London conf erred upon him the hi guest distinction in its power to bestow, men of all opinions knew that tlie honor had been well earned. ~Sn' George Williams still lives in Bloomsbury, to-day an aged man, bub tireless in the task to which he set- himself in his youth. In tlie ’forties, the hundred and one means of rational recreation which we to-day take as a course in London were unknown. The social institutes, educational classes, polytechnics, tlie easy moans of transit to the country, the'facilities for athletics, now so common, were then but in their mtaiicy or altogether non-existent. But at first the young men of St. I aids Churclivard did not aim .at providing them. "Theirs was a. much more limited programme. They wanted to promote religious services in neighbouring houses similar to those they alieady -had at Hitchcock’s. ■ They went oo work most formally, do spread the interest, Mr Smith, of another house, in Great Coram Street, was chosen president. .. The movement was designated ' from the first by the title— Youii" Men’s Christian Association bv which its work is now known throughout the world. Mr E. • a ™- tine was made treasurer, two others were chosen honorary secretaries, and the remainder were placed on the They promptly proceeded to take up a collection among themselves for the campaign they bad in hand, realising the sum ol Ids. Next evening;’ business over, they set out to find a room suitable for their work. They could not go to great expense, but m a coffee-house m It, Martin’s Court, off Ludgatc H they .secured a room tor one evening each week at a rent of ks 6d E very member was a missionary, andead stirred up the others to promote the.r purpose. They issued a circular to every large business house in London, and soon their room was too small to , hold the young.men who °ame. They V transferred, their meetings to Radley s Hotel Blackfnars, m October, and resolved to engage a misswnary seexetary who could devote all his time to the work. , , i . These voting men were not arrant to back rip their beliefs with their purses. They started by collecting ■ contributions amongst themselves for them work, and continued to do so. Ine payment of the salary of a man was a serious item for them, but., aided by a few gifts from outside, they managed jt For the first year of the work of the Association was purely a religious one Their experience among othei young fellows proved to the members that they could reach many who would be otherwise untoucheddf ed their field of . action. When the Association moved to &eigeant s Inn in the autumn of 184?,. bocuT work in the form of mutual improvement societies was begun, fins was a momentous step, changing at a stroke the conception of the Association fion a body that would cater for young men through strictly religious means '"mohe. to that of one that would cater , for all their needs, religious,. physical, v and mental. The year was important in other ways.. Lhc dirst branch was established in the. West of Loudon, and a famous series of

lectures, maintained, for twenty years was begun. Those lectures, well known afterwards as the Exeter Hall Lectures, were for many years a prominent feature in London life. Almost all the great speakers of the day, English and American, took part in them, and they attracted great audiences.

By 1848 religious services had been established in thirty London houses of business, and special premises for the infant body'were opened in Gresham Street.

The year 1851 saw the Association grow from a national to an international body. It was the year of the Great Exhibition,, when men were dreaming of the reign of universal brotherhood and peace. Mr Williams and his colleagues determined to use that- year, and the oportuuity afforded by the large number of foreigners coming to London, to influence the world in favour of their movement. Papers were prepared and carefully distributed. Mr Wiliams, who was now a partner in tlie firm of George Hitchcock and G 0.,. helped to 'start an Association in Paris when on a business visit there. A student of Columbia University, New York, G. M. Van Derlip by name, had studied the' work of the parent body in London, and wrote an account of it in a Boston newspaper, causing a similar organisation to be started there. In the same year Montreal liad a Y.M.C.A. organised on the model of the. London Association.

The movement was now fairly planted. Lord Shaftesbury, the noted philanthropic peer, became its president, and filled this office for upwards of thirty years, to the time of his' ■ death. Many lands were following the example of London, and the.need was felt of some closer bond between the scattered members. At the time of the Paris Exhibition, in 1855, a conference was called of delegates from Associations everywhere. Thir-ty-eight Associations in eight countries responded, sending thirty-five delegates and sixty-four visiting members. The Paris Conference, as it has since been known, was one of the historic gatherings of the movement, for at h was laid down the basis of the Association-. Many members and delegates, especially on the Continent of Europe, were in favour of formulating a statement of doctrine to which every Association must subscribe. But in the end wiser counsels prevailed, and the Conference determined to form a confederation with one fundamental principle alone—that of seeking to unite Christian young men together for the purpose of extending the practise of faith among young men. Were I tracing minutely the history of the movement, I would describe here how fresh work opened up in place after iilace. But, despite openings, there came a pause in the advance in this country. The loose organisation, which had grown up almost- spontaneously, was found inadequate. The parent .London Association, which was supposed to exercise a parental oversight throughout the country, could not effectively do so." Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, and other large centres, jibbed at the idea of being domineered by London; they wanted their effective voice in the councils of the movement. The result was seen in the formation, of a separate Executive for Scotland, and in the early" ’eighties in a re-casting of the organisation, largely brought about through tlio energy of Mr J. Herbert Tritton, the well-known banker. Tlie National Council was then formed, consisting .of representatives from the different Associations. This has given an effective central organisation, which since then, under the effective supervision of a competent staff of officers, has solved the dual problem of local independence and mutual co-operation. The purchase of Exeter Hall, in 1808, for the work of the movement,' served again to bring it prominently before the world. For nearly a century this hall had been the centre of British philanthropy. Despite -Macaulay’s sheer against its “bray”— a sneer which he should have been the last man to utter, seeing that he made hie first start in public life on the platform of its predecessor, the Freemason’s Tavern —the great building in the Strand has had a record of which its owners might be justly proud. The home of the May meetings .and a head of world-wide beneficence, a thrill of horror went through many when fears were expressed that it might be handed over for .secular purposes. Several well-known public men avoided this by subscrit Jg together, purchasing the leasehold of the hall, 'and making it the'centre of the young .men’s work. The purchase and alterations cost over £60,000. Among British Associations, London has been ever foremost as the parent bod”; but it may be doubted if the work is seen to such .advantage- in London as in the great provincial centres. Newcastle, Birmingham, and Cardiff boast the most splendidly equipped buildings in this country. Glasgow has made a bold" departure oil lines many have often desired should be followed in London. Largely under the leadership of Lord Overtoun, it has built, and successfully manages, a young man’s residential club. The great block of buildings in Glasgow is technically divided into three parts—the Bible Institute, the Young Men’s Club, and the Y.M.C.A. For financial purposes the Young Men’s Club is a separate organisation, althoguh controlled by the same men as the Association. It has two hundred bedrooms and is constantly full. Financially it is successful, and it provides for young men a homo where they can live with companionship at a cost within tlie reach of their modest purses. I state no secret when I mention that the building of a similar residential club has long been discussed in London. The. lot of the young man in lodgings here is often a very comfortless one. In times of health it is barely endurable; in times of sickness it is intolerable. With no friendly associations, with the minimum of the decencies of life, with in some cases badly cooked and badly served food at high charges, he is to be pitied. Some small attempts—and one, Hampden House, on a more considerable scale—arc being made by isolated bodies to meet his need. But it yet remains for the Y.M.C.A. to take up the matter really adequately. Great difficulties bar the way; the financial problem alone would he hard

to solve; the details of management would be, perhaps harder.' Glasgow has shown that the thing can be. done, and some day a strong man will rise up in the Association to do it for London. ' Religion is still foremost in the aim of this young men’s movement. But the religious side is supported by many others. Reading-rooms and libraries were among the first additions; refreshment-rooms where good food at reasonable prices could bo had, followed. Then oauie gymnasia, educational classes of many kinds, cricket and footbal clubs, boating associations, and athletic organisations of every kind. Holiday schemes followed, holiday homes being established in various parts of the country, on a self-supporting basis. In short, the aim of the movement has been to cater for the whole man an all his needs. , It was found that some branches <n the work could best be done by special bodies. . It has ever beeii the glory of this movement that much of the great philanthropic work of the past half-century has come from it, while not bearing its name. Thus the United States Christian Commission*, which did such splendid service during the Civil war, was formed at a convention of American Associations. In England we have an army organisation, known as tlie Soldiers’ Christian Association, formed by and connected with the Y.M.C.A., which did nobly during our South African war in providing comforts for our men. During recent years special efforts have been made directly by the Y.M. C.A. to cater for Yolnnteers in their encampments throughout tho country. A report of the first year of this work said: “The men were supplied with pen, ink, and blotting-paper, also spccialy printed writing-paper, envelopes, and post-cards. We told stamps, sent telegrams, wrapped up parcels, and did everything we possibly could to be of service to them.. Dozens of them commissioned us to purchase presents for their children. More than a hundred came to us for remedies for toothache, and other slight ailments. We gave away a large amount of literature. More than fifty men signed the temperance pledge. The writing-tables were always crowded; also tliose devoted to games and reading. The singing was greatly appreciated, as well as the free and easy character of the meetings.” At Dartmoor, the military authorities gave The Y.M.C.A. tent its wood and coal free,- and provided it with water from the water-carts, no small boon when it is remembered that otherwise water would have to bo car-

ried half a mile up a steep liil. “The sergeant-major of -one battalion, which lias always borne a bad name, called at the close of the camp and heartily thanked us” writes the worker in charge. “He said that, most exceptionally for his battalion, there had not been a crime to deal with, and he put it down to our tents.” To the man who has no time to study details, one of the best evidences of the admirable and practical work the Association is doing in this country is tho strong support, it is receiving from leading employers of our youth. Among its active helpers, business men come first. Sir George Williams is, as has already been told, head of the great sjHe mercers of St. Paul’s Churchyard ; Mi* M. H. Hodder, head of the publishing house of Hodder and Stroughton, hat. worked with him from the beginning Mr F. A. Bevan, and his father before him, and Lord Ixinnaird, of the banking-house of Barclay and Co., have been among the most generous contributors to the movement. In the West of England, the most libera! importer is Mr J. Storrs, of Bristol, whose firm is known in all lands ; in Wales,, Mr John Cory, the coal king gives personal service and purse boti in unstinted measure; in Manchester district, Mr W. J. Cross Icy, of the gas engineers, leads; Scotland, Lord Overtoun, the famous chemical manufacturer, is the foremost in every scheme ; in the Homo counties, Mr J ■ 11. Sutton is in front. These prominent business men not merely lend moral support and the weight of their names to the movement, but are unceasing workers for it. Among others whose unceasing woik has brought them to the front must be mentioned Mr C. J. Procter, head of the Birkenhead Association, and Dr. Kingston, of Plymouth. The list might be almost indefinitely extended. t

But it roust bo admitted by all who know the world-wide- nature ol this work, that while England was the pioneer and has done much America lias left it behind. The United Kingdom to-day has 127,060 members; the .United States has 373,000, or nearly half of the world’s total. In this country the Association owns buildings to tho value of £81^,669; in the United States the buildings owned are. worth nearly £5,000,000. Au.Q these outward evidences are but signs of a movement that has-gone further than here. (To be continued.)