HISTORY OF Y.M.C.A.

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21197, 22 June 1934, Page 18

HISTORY OF Y.M.C.A.

•LINK WITH FOUNDER jpEBISTCHURCH MAN WHO KNEW SIR GEORGE WILLIAMS 'A Christchurch residenf, Mr A. J. Bridgewater, of Urunga avenue, provides an interesting link with the early history of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr Bridgewater's father was one of the 12 men Iwho attended the inaugural meeting of the association in a small room in St Paul's Churchyard on June 6, 1844, and Mr Bridgewater himself knew as a friend the great founder of the movement, George (afterwards Sir George) [Williams. Mr John Bridgewater, one of the first 12 members of the association, was a close friend of George Williams while the young enthusiast was still planning his great scheme on behalf of young men. George Williams was employed in a wholesale and retail drapery firm situated in St. Paul s Churchyard, and lived on the premises, as was the custom. For some time he had dreamed of the scheme which later became embodied in the Young Men s Christian Association, and secured the support of a small band of willing young men who held his views about the need for such an organisation. Twelve of these men met in a small room above the drapery premises on June 6, 1844, to form the society, the " objects of which were "to influence religious young men to spread the Redeemer's Kingdom amongst those by whom they were surrounded." The society was formed and the organisers rented a room in St. Martin's Cof- . fee House, off Ludgate Hill, for 2s 6d a week. It was not until the twelfth meeting that any name was suggested, and the Young Men's Christian Association was adopted. Early Progress The association spread and prospered rapidly, and in a comparatively short time had become an organisation with wide ramifications and influence. Mr John Bridgewater remained connected with it for many years, doing splendid work in the early days of organisation. For his services, in 1384, he was presented with a magnificent family Bible, inscribed with the thanks and signature of George Williams himself. This Bible is in Mr A. J. Bridgewater's possession. Mr Bridgewater, sen., died in Auckland in 1910, at the age of 85. Mr A. J. Bridgewater remembers the founder of the movement as an old man with a remarkably cheerful disposition, revered throughout Great Britain for his philanthropy, who became as successful in his business as In his philanthropic career, and lived to see the movement which he founded fulfilling his high expectations. As a boy Mr Bridgewater met Sir George Williams frequently at the headquarters of the association in Aldersgate street, London, and also had the honour of being introduced to another famous philanthropist, the Earl of Shaftesbury, who used to preside at the early annual meetings of the association. Shaftesbury was already famous for his work for child emancipation. Heard Dickens Speak Mr A. J. Bridgewater also took a keen interest in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was an active member for many years. He has been in New Zealand for 42 years, and until his retirement was connected with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Ltd., He is a member of the Dickens Fellowship, his interest in Dickens having been greatly stimulated by his father, who frequently heard the author speak in London. Mr Bridgewater's association with the early days of the Young Men's Christian Association was recalled through his hearing a broadcast address by the general secretary of the association in Christchurch (Mr A J. McEldowney), who referred to the first meeting of the 12 enthusiasts held slightly more than 90 years ago.