THE Y.M.C.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 10

THE Y.M.C.A.

MR J. J. VIRGO'S RETIREMENT. FORTY YEARS’ SERVICE. (From Oue Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 21. Aftev 40 years' service with the Young Men’s Christian Association in many parts of the world, Mr John J. Virgo, who is known to many New' Zealanders, is about to retire from, active work. A complimentary luncheon was therefore given to him by Mr Howard Williams, chairman of the Y.M.C. A. British Empire Union. Mr E. J. Chamberlain (associate - core lary, English National Council oi YAI.C.A.’s) spoke of Mr Virgo’s 52 years’ work for the association in Australia, and of his connection with the London Cen tral Association as general secretary for the last ten years. Mr Virgo, he said, had also undertaken seven world tours, and wherever he went he was first and foremost a Christian evangelist. He was a great association promoter, and his best work had been done in days and circumstances when severe criticism had been levelled against the association, lie was also something of a cricketer, and in his bOth year he scored 110 rails for tl e Y.M.C I .A. against the City of London, with the veteran W. G. Grace looking on W. G. Grace came up a week later to see Mr Virgo make another century, but he made a° “duck”—(laughter)—and it was said that “W.G.” was rather hurt by (be nettled wav in which Mr Virgo apoue to him on‘being chaffed about the performance Sir Joseph Cook (High Commissioner for Australia) said he knew of Mr Virgo's great work in Australia, where it w; s honoured as much as it was here. Mr Virgo, in reply, recalled that he attended the association’s jubilee .‘ebbrn tions in England in 1894, when he had 'tv. privilege of meeting the Grand Old Han of the°movement, Mr George Williams.— (Cheers.) The association appealed to him for the contribution it had made to the world at large, to the churches, and to civic and national life. Its greatest need at present was money, and the business men of the community had no right to make it difficult for those who had given their lives to the work by refusing, to make contributions of money and so leave the officials free to do the work which they had set their hearts and hands.