Y.M.C.A.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17393, 2 March 1922, Page 9

Y.M.C.A.

VISIT OF WORLD REPRESENTATIVE. MB AND MBS J. J. VXEOO ' WELCOMED. The members of the Christchurch Y.M.O.A. and their lady friends extended a welcome last night to Mr J. J, Virgo, for the past five years honorary secretary of the Y.M.C.A. British Empire Union, and now honorary world representative of the Association, and to' Mrs Virgo. The proceedings' took the form of a junior and 6enior rally, and were marked by much cordiality and enthusiasm. On entering the junior department, Mr Virgo was received by Mr T. M. Haalett, Director of Boys' Work, who briefly introduced the visitor. Mr Virgo was received -with great applause, and won the attention of his audience right off with some humorous remarks. Mr Virgo referred to the message he bore from the Prince of Wales s "Tell the hoys and. young men of New Zealand that I hope that they ■vnll act according to the principles which, have made the Y.M.C.A. jgreat." Dealing with those principles, Mr Virgo gave a stirring address, based ohiefly on the four rules of the road: (1) Keep to the right; (2) keep moving; (8) look where you are going; and (4) mind the crossings. The two things essential to ft satisfactory life, he said, were character and service, and" they were the two thing® that stood out as features of the Y7M.C.A. Service was the fundamental 1 idea of the Y.M.C.A.; anybody. who missed that missed what was vital and important. With a .wealth of humorous story and graphio description, Mr Virgo pressed home the lessons conveyed by the rules of the road, *nd commended to his hearers the Bible as the storehouse of the rules of right living. Concluding, he said that they would never be sorry for keeping to the right in life, or for living a clean life, (or for being unselfish, honest, and truthful; and they Would never bo sorry- for leading a Christian life. The principal function-'or the evening took place in the Concert Hall, Mr. A. Borrows, president of the Association, presiding over a. large attendance of members and ijheir friends. In briefly introducing Mr Virgo, the chairman said that his thirty-five years of YjM.O.A. work fully qualified him to 'speak of the progress and aims of the Association. . , ... Mr Virgo, who was received with warm applause, said he could never think of the Y.M.C.A. without thinking of one word that was written clearly on every building ot the Association, and in every department of its operations—the word "opportunity. ' The Y.M.O A. provided opportunity for the members to develop their, bodies—to make them clean, wholesome, J and strong—to develop their intellect, ;to develop the social side of their nature, and to develop their lives on spiritual lines. Mr Virgo gave notable examples of young men who; while still in their teens, had seized upon oppor- ; tunitv—men such as Edison, Marconi,and "Homer Walsh. He stated that the world membership of the Y.M.C.A. was now 1.600,000, and that there were 9000 banches: It stood, be said, as a protest against all that hindered progress,. against sin, against idleness, against the suggestion that one should give the minimum of work for the maximum of pay, and against' unbrotherlihess. Amplifying this lastmentioned aspect of the Y.M.C.A.,, Mr' Virgo said that though he carried messages ,from his Majesty the King, from the Prince of Wales, from Mr Lloyd George, and from the Lord Mayor of London—all designed to assist in making him known to the communities he visited—he never had, to use one pf these, because thie Y.M.C.A..Tvns a big brotherfiood- which' opened its amis 'everywhere to gladden and chfeer thevisitor.-!' That .was true hot only , of the British Empire,, of ,the.great African Continent, of India, Chitia, Japan, and Scandanavia: but it was also true of Czecho-Slovakia, of the Balkan States; of Roumania, Serbia, the West Indies, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Constantinople; eveh oh the borders of Afghanistan he had found the Y.M.C.A. (Applause.) N' A hearty vote of thanks was ed Mr Virgo; by acclamation, for his forceful During the evening recitations were given bv Messrs J. L. Morgan and JVank Bown, and a violin solo was plaved by Master Munro. The pro- ] ceeilteigs concluded with the singing of ] a verse of the National Anthem. To-day Mr Virgo .will be the guest at the -business men's lunch at' the] Y.M.C.A. On Sunday he addresses, a meeting for men at the tho subject, "Why Live??' • ",