“Y” LUNCHEON CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19836, 8 July 1926, Page 3

“Y” LUNCHEON CLUB.

“A WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT.” “A City’* Asset and a World-wide Movement” was the title of the address given to the “Y” Luncheon Club by Mr H. K. Wilkinson yesterday. In dealing with his subject, Mr Wilkinson said that the idea of the address was engendered by the fact that, during the recent campaign for funds to assist the Y.M.C.A., be had been amazed by the ignorance displayed regarding the aims and operations of the institution by otherwise well-informed citizens. The speaker then gave a brief history of the birth and rise of the Y.M.C.A., and drew attention to its enormous ramifications throughout the world. In 184-1, George Williams, a lad of 20, said the speaker saw the necessity of providing facilities for self-improvement among the young men employed in the mercantile houses in the City of London. Having been provided with a room by employer, Williams and his friends held meetings at every possible opportunity, till in 1844 the movement was established under the name ‘‘Young Men’s Christian Association. Eleven years later a great convention was held, when the membership stood at 28,800, representing 322 associations in various parts of the globe. It was at that conference, what is known as the “Paris Basis of Faith” was adopted. In 1865, Russia began to show interest in the movement. In 1870 it had spread to India and in 1873 Austria, Denmark, and Japan began to realise the need of such an organisation. In 1864, George Williams received his Knighthood at the hands of Queen Victoria, and 2400 “boys” gathered together, not under the shadow of St. Paul’s, but under the dome itself, to celebrate the jubilee of the work, 42 countries being lepresented at that gathering. The rapid growth of the movement from then on, continued the speaker, coujd be seen from the present vast membership of the association, and the number of countries in which it was operating. In the United States this growth as particularly noticeable. Six hundred and thirty-six cities of the United States and ■Canada had well-organised associations, practically all of them occupying md owning splendid and costly buildings erected for tneir especial use. The association m the larger cities, like Nevy York, Qhicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore, had from five to 25 departments or branches, with separate buildings for each,_ located in different sections of the city. Among the railway services of the countries mentioned, th© association was especially active in extending its operations; and a total of nearly 2,000,000 men constituted the field of the Railroad Young Men’s Christian Association of North America. The associations were conducted in the true jpirit of partnership, officials and employers meeting on a common level, and uniting in bearing th© cost _of building construction and of association maintenance. Approximately 4,200,000 dollars was now invested i > railroad association buildings, and of this amount th railroad companies had contributed a total of 5,000,000 dollars. Towards the annual operating expenses, aggregating 1,400,000 dollars, the railroad companies had contributed a total of 600,000 dollars. In 669 of the universities, c. “egs, and theological seminaries, student associations were organised enrolling a total membership of 62,626, with Dr John R. Mott as president. The efforts of the association were practical. Theodore Roosevelt, while President, said: “The thing I like about this work is that it mixes commonsense with religion.” During the past year over 190.000 men in army and navy had slept (n the association’s buildings, and over 14.000 were turned away for lack ' accommodation. During these periods 65,800 dollars had been deposited with the “Y" for safe keeping. The work had spread to Japan, Korea, China, Hongkong, Philippine Islands, India, Ceylon, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Ar-entme, and Chile, and those who knew most about it estimated that over 200 secretaries of the right type had been sent out to these countries and were maintained by the North American associations. At the conclusion of the address, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wilkinson, which was moved by Mr S. G. Pether, was carried by acclamation.