LANDMARK IN Y.M.C.A.’s HISTORY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 13

LANDMARK IN Y.M.C.A.’s HISTORY

Seventieth Anniversary

CELEBRATIONS TO OPEN NEXT WEEK

On Wednesday next the Wellington Y.M.C.A. will hold a citizens’ banquet, the first of a series of gatherings which has been organised to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the association in the city. The Y.M.C.A. was first started in Wellington on June 8, 1865, but as till recently the opening date was believed to have been a year later, the seventieth anniversary celebrations are 12 months overdue.

The first meeting was held in the home of Mr. James Smith, in Cuba Street. Mr. Smith was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the association in Wellington, and another was Mr. Jonas Woodward, the first president. The membership originally was 30, In the growing town which was Wellington in those days. The work lapsed late In the ’sixties, however, and it was not until 1878 that it was born again. The leaders in the revival were Dr. Somerville, Mr. James Smith and Mr. J. G. Holdsworth, and the first president was Professor Thomas Kirk. The membership soon reached the hundreds, and then began all the activities for which the Y.M.C.A. of to-day is noted. The history of the time is reflected in the fact that part of the work undertaken was to meet young men arriving in immigrant ships and assist them to establish themselves in a new country.

After 10 years’ activity this association, too, lapsed, its affairs being wound up in July, 1887. It began again 15 years later, when, in September, 1902, a meeting of 300 men, at which Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, Mayor of the city, presided, resolved to form itself into an association. Lord Ranfurly became the first honorary president of the third association. The Y.M.C.A. later took up the work of acquiring a fitting and permanent home. Mrs. M. A. Williams gave the present Willis Street site to the association, and a building campaign realised over £lO.OOO in a very short time. The building was completed in May. 1908.

Boys' Work Inaugurated

The next big forward move occurred in 1900, when the association’s boys’ department was inaugurated. Mr. A. Varney was secretary of the department from 1912 to 1914, and in that time the sports and athletic activities were considerably extended. The Y.M.C.A. rose to the occasion during the Great War. The Wellington association gave its whole-hearted assistance to the national effort in the training camps, on the troopships and in the field. The association’s building was devoted almost entirely to the work. Many hundreds of members volunteered for service overseas. The general secretary of the association then, Mr. A. E. Smith, died in the 191 S influenza epidemic after outstanding service for the association-. The first New Zealander to serve overseas as a Y.M.C.A. secretary, Mr. J. L. Hay, became general .secretary in Wellington after the war, and in 192" the present secretary, Mr. L. J. Greenberg, took up the office, on transfer from Perth. Western Australia. The work has continued to grow on its social, educational, religious and physical sides, until now it has a membership of over 1000. In more recent times the Y.M.C.A. has taken part in the promotion of cooperation among the youth movements of the churches. In 1928 the association’s building was modernised, and more recently further renovations have been made. Seventy years ago the YMC A. had a budget of £lO. To-day it’has’one of £lO.OOO. and its property assets are more than £40.000 in value. In the recent years of depression it has done fine work for unemployed youth by placing its organisation at the disposal of the citizens’ youth employment committee.