Work of Y.M.C.A.

Hutt News, Volume 21, Issue 1, 4 June 1947, Page 7

Work of Y.M.C.A.

TALK TO ROTARY CLI H MEETING NEEDS OK YOUTH An ii i-ri'si ing talk on ih<* acliviti.'s oi 1 1.1 ■ Y.M.C.A. was given to ihe l!utI Rotary (Mub by Mr. <l. R. I’il imthley. secretary of the Hutt Valley Y.M.C.A. On June t;. !sI I. SSI id Mr. I’Bkethley, (Norge Williams. with eleven oilier young fellows, founded Dm Y.M.C.A. for lie* express purpose of praying for the spiritual welfare of the young nun engaged in their own i drapery > and allied trades. In I s it* the .Association Derided upon .. most inipor'.ani slop. Up ill! I hen it had l»< en m purely religious origin. Its aim was cleariv defined: the winning of young m oi lo Jesus Christ and the building in them of t'hrislia.n character. Ii is an imjiornn! fad that in the pursuance of litis aim i hex had hern led K, minister to 'he im-nia!. then ih<* social, and lastly Do* physical needs of the young men as well as l heir spiritual nature. A great fact of which the Y.M.C.A. is mar a hundred years’ demonstra-

tion rests upon a sociological truth the |.io\ver ol environment. It is th, recognition of this truth and tie* emhodimeni of ii in organised form which has shaped the policy of the ■ y.” Upon two truths—the power of environment to mould character am! tin- adaptation of the religion of Jesus Christ to redeem mankind, body. mind, and spirit—the “Y* rests its claim for its place amongst Ihe agencies of the Church. The Association lias become a social factor because ii always has been, and is still, a religious force. From 12 voting men in one room in 1s t i it lias grown until today it «s in I’.S countries, with 1u.500 Associations with an active and associate membership of over 2,000. n0n. The Associations own buildings and permanent camps with a total value of over £ 1 iMi.mm.nnu. In New Zealand

Just 11 years after the ”Y” was formed in London tin.* Y.M.C.A. first started in a small building in Auckland in 1 sr>s. Mr. James Smith, one of the original twelve founders, started the Y.M.C.A. in Wellington in 185fi. There are now 12 Associations throughout New Zealand. Hut* Valley Association is only 12 years old, hut has the largest membership (percentage of population) in the’Dominion. Membership now totals 12r>0. Membership is open to all hoys ami men from •! to i'O years of age. with classes for girls

and women who are associate members. Tin* Association was built as a result of monies donated by soldiers of the first world war in occupation oi the Rhine, combined with profits from canteens in those areas. The money was handed lo the Y.M.C.A. National Council, who held it in trust until, after surveying the entire Dominion, it was decided that the Hutt Valley was in greatest need of a Y.M.C.A. Hence the building in Cuba Si reel, Petone—a soldiers' memorial lo the Y.M.C.A. during the first war.

The Association desired to serve the whole of the Valley from the commencement and when opportunity offered the building in Birch Street. Waterloo, was purchased with funds subscribed by local citizens, with tin* Mayor giving a big lead. Youth Work Naturally there is today a special emphasis on youth work. The Y.M.C.A. programme of helping youth is designed to satisfy its needs and interests. The purpose is to help hoys and older fellows to see that in serving others through the ordinary vocations of life, through the home, the community, or in the wider national ami world life, they are building up the Kingdom of God in the world.

"In my opinion." concluded Mr. Pitkethley, “Christian youth is still tin* only stuff out of which a greater democracy will be built.”