Y.M.C.A.

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 16

Y.M.C.A.

BOYS’ GAMPS To-morrow the Y.M.C.A. will launch a street appeal to assist in the purchase of the camp site recently procured at Waitati. For many years the association has conducted a five-weeks’ camp for the boys of Dunedin and country districts. During the last four years no less than 160 boys who have been unable owing to financial reasons to take a holiday have been taken into camp, in many cases free of charge. In addition to these hundreds of other boys have taken the opportunity which a Y.M.C.A. camp offers of enjoying a health-giving holiday. That the appeal for such a purpose as the provision of a peramnent camp site for the hoys of Otago will be generously supported is assured. Apart from the boys’ work aspect of the association’s work, the great industrial contribution it is making with its post offices, social hall, canteen, and organised social activities in isolated camps is a big one. It may be of interest to know of the pioneering contributions to social, religious, and physical given by the Y.M.C.A. to the world. James Naismith, student of Springfield Y.M.C.A. College, invented the game of hasketOall in 1891. Camp Dudley (on Westport, on Lake Champlain) is the oldest organised camp for boys. It was started in 1885 by Sumner F. Dudley. Y.M.C.A. camp member, Orange. N.J. Volley hall was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, Y.M.C.A. member, of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Chas. R. Towson’, international secretary Y.M.C.A., instituted National Thrift Week movement in 1914. Father and son dinners were started in 1907 bv B. M. Russell, boys’ secretary, Province, Rhode Island Y.M.C.A. E. M. Robinson, international boys’ secretary. Y.M.C.A.. was the leader in organising Boys Scouts of America in 1910. The Y.M.C.A. first served soldiers in wartime during the Civil War. John R. Mott, international secretary Y.M.C.A., was the leader in starting the World’s Student Christian Federation in 1895. The Organised Men’s Bible Class movement was first organised, sponsored, and brought into being by the Y.M.C.A. The Week of Prayer began as a day of prayer 61' years ago when Robert 11. M‘Burney, at the Eleventh International Convention held at Albany, offered a resolution to set apart the first Sunday in November as a day of prayer for increase of spiritual prosperity of the Young Men’s Christian Associations throughout the world.