LUNCHEON TO MR. D. A. BUDGE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 April 1906, Page 2

LUNCHEON TO MR. D. A. BUDGE

At the YJLOA. Lecture. Hall yesterday a luncheon 'was tendered to Mr-1 D. A. Badge (secretary of the Montreal Y.M.CA.) to allow of Mm meeting some of the leading business men, and those interested in V.M.C.A. work. Over fifty gentlemen sat down, Dr. Knight (presi- j dent of the local branch) presiding.- At the conclusion of the lunch Br. Knight briefly introduced Mr Badge, reminding those present of the American gentleman's visit here two years ago, and tbe improvement that had taken place in various phases of tbe Association's work since that time. Mr D. A Budge, who was received with applause, - expressed tbe unexpected pleasure of renewing the acquaintances made on his previous visit with his wife. He wished to express the appreciation of the various branches of tbe YJVLCA. in the United States . and Canada for the interest taken by the New Zealand branches. In the course of his remarks Mr Budge men- [ tioned that in his country tbe animal demand was 193 secretaries, 204 assistant secretaries, and 114 physical direeI tors, and the supply was only two-thirds equal to the demand. The three sources jof supply were drawn from (1) Two ■ training schools (one at Chicago and the other at Springtown); (2) assistant seeI rciarics; (3) colleges and universities, which now have associated branches of the 3CM.C.A. Tlie growth of the work in the United States and Canada waslargely due to the growth of trained employers, which numbered now 3000, Twenty per cent of those who entered i Y.M.CA. work last year were college students. Mr Budge mentioned that Mr I Lyman Pierce, of Washington (district 'of Columbia), was expected - to leave Trisco to-day by the Sonoma to act: las secretary to tbe Melbourne branch. He wished to congratulate the local branch on securing Mr J. G. Mitchell as I general secretary, who was trained in Sydney, and has considerable experii ence. The essential difference betwen th YTM-CLA. and an ordinary clnb was its aggressive Christian spirit. Mr Badge | then spoke of the value of the physical movement in the Association's work. In North America twenty years ago there I were abont 30 gymnasiums in the various branches of the YJVLCA. 5 to-day, there are 700. 180,000 young men are entered for the physical classes, and at least 60 per cent..of the men would not have come to the Association had ifcnot; been for thephysical work to be'obtained there. Mr Budge then touched on tbe student volunteer movement—a movement for sending young, men into foreign lands, those chosen being China, India, .Japan, South America, and Mexico, to exploit and take strategic points and develop model associations.. He mentioned that the Chinese merchants in Hongkong had voluntarily offered to put up a branch there (which has been done), knowing the value of YJVT.CA. work amongst their em-. ployc.es. He also mentioned, that the Emperor of Japan was so struck by the Association's work in that country, and also from tbe fact that thirty men accompanied the troops throughout the recent war, that he had sent 10,000 yen Ito their funds.

At the close Mr Budge was heartily, appltLnded for his interesting lecturette.