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RAPID GROWTH OF THE V.M.C.A.

The resolution of the com—ittee of the Auckland V.M.C.A. to proceed at Once with the new building in Wellesley-gtreet Bast, is an appropriate time for giving prominence to some facts, supplied by Mr. J. McFariane, the general secretary, relating to the growth of this organisation in the United States. The returns published by the International Committee at New York shew a remarkable advance. This business, in which the Young Men's Christian Association has engaged • -for sixty-six years with increasing capital of men, experience and equipment, k directed by business men who have themselves won success. It has 2,017 centres in North America alone, and a membership and force of half a million men and boys. These men thread the vocations. Thejr are part of the fabric of a nation's life from the grocery store to the university hall, the mine to the manufactory, the railroad to the battleship. It has 700 buildings costing over 70,000,000 dollars. These teeming centres are equipped to serve and conserve the young men and boys in the sensitive and shaping period of life. The employed force of 2,927 men, expert in the science of directing Christian service, are trained, in its institutes, conferences and schools. The men whose capital is their bands and their skill, are in the Association in large numbers. From twenty-two to sixty per cent of many city memberships are from the ranks of industry. The evening classes are full of the—. A coal company gives 10,000 dollars to the Associations to teach its men in mining institutes. Three Carolina cotton mill associations were opened in one month becaoae of the welfare -york done. A construction company in the north-west telegraphed a pledge of 200 dollars a month to retain a secretary* influence in its camps. Sugar refining mills in California and ia Cuba have provided buildingi and **tmvhtf mhuiet; lumber, **^*^_ 3 **™W**9 ! l^^

The 2000 foreigners taught Eaglish by 800 New York College etudeiite last year, got a flew idea, <of Christian Americ*, and the c&llege men a new idea .of-Christian eerviee. TSe twelve secretaries in foreign ports and others at American gateway* are doing 1 a service that is being felt in the coal fields, the inland cities construction camps, and wherever the imiWgrant goes. The Association is to do a yet larger service for coming Americans. The strength of tile atmy and navy is measured by the strength of ite men. Ten years of the Association's service *ith those men or the fighting machine have Won. it a. place and welcome on-every hattlefchipi transport, fort-, navy yard dr"'cnmp, for which it can furnish secretaries" and equipment. The accept' able service of a shipboard-secretary thi? year has made a demand in the fiavy fof-More. The commandant of a camp in India cent fof an Association secretary and equipment to keep his men out of the guard-house and from demoralization, and when he came he did it. Thte thing ha*' been demonstrated in the British camps, .the Japanese army, in South Africa, with Canada's militia, the Soldiers in Alaska and the Philippines, just 4s it hae dons with the men of the railroads on the Isthirtus r and in the Universities. Buildings have been secured on the .Wholesale plan. Toronto, Pittaburg, Cleveland and Chicago, by tlrt rapid campaign method provided for four each; Montreal is erecting three, and Winnipeg two. In five days Vancouver, 8.C., pledged 525,000. dollars for two buildings, and then raised a fund for the Young Women's Christian Association., abrotherly act that is becoming frequent. liouißville, on December 19, subscribed a fund of 395,000 dollars for three buildings. Ohio has done a fine piece of work in its clean-Up campaign for over, a million dollars. By " this" plan '50,000 dolUrg were secured for San Juan> Porto Kico. The most striking undertaking was the 2,000,000 dollars fund for over fifty •buiiaings for foreign cities, launched at the' White House, arid-whieh is now fourfifths pledged. .At.this .rate the Association's equipment gervice to men •hould toUla value of 100,000,000 dollars ■within four'years.. Years ago,- soon after the first genuine Ass6cia;tloil buiMihg ..was erected, the late Cephae Brainerd, "who pasaed away last month in the eightieth year' tif his age, ana ilia; fiftieth' year as director of the New York City Association, and who for a quarter of .a century Was chamnan *nd strong leader of the International Committee, said: "I expect to live to flee the Association bitildings, will be -planted in all the cities' of our coiintTy." He . wa* epared to see far more of his vision realised fiian seemid possible tftiiiS associates in those early days. But in the light of present achievement *nd promise, and in the knitfwledge of world-wide heed., the* brotherhood is only 'beginning t6 fulfil -its-mission-to ihe young men of this and succeeding generations. ■' ". • . t R >"» ' ■•'- ' !

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19110213.2.18

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 37, 13 February 1911, Page 4

Word Count
806

RAPID GROWTH OF THE V.M.C.A. Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 37, 13 February 1911, Page 4

RAPID GROWTH OF THE V.M.C.A. Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 37, 13 February 1911, Page 4

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