Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 5

Y.M.C.A.

"HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR." [.'A: presidential,' social to 1 / members and friends of'the was given by Mr. J. G. W.' Aitken in the buildingiast evenling in honour of Mrs. M. A. 'Williams, when 'a tablet commemorating hor gift of the association's 'site was, unveiled, and a pilots graph of tholate ilr; J. G. Holdsworth, preof,,the first Y.M.C/A. in Wellington, was presented to the. association. s ; .In unveiling th<J 'memorial to Mrs., Williams, in the presence '. of a large gathering, Mr. .'Aitken said it was desired that those who came.'after Mrs. Williams should know of ■ the generosity which .had prompted her munificent gift; The tablet had been placed Upon a; pillar 'of the building;'and this-was fitting,: for -Mrs; Williams's gift hatlbecn the first pillar of the'edifice. The inscription on the tablet road: "This tablet/is erected in commemoration of the munificent gift by Mrs. M. A. Williams; of the land on which •this building stands. 1907.." ;He had.very great pleasure' in unveiling the memorial. :Tho association had also erected in the reception ■ hall a portrait of' Mrs. Williams, so that they would not only read of her generosity ,';but would havo her portrait ever.before .them'.. ~,■"-. ■,' '.' ..'."'•Mrs. ''Williams/jwho l ' was 'obviously' much. affecWd l 'b}V'rho' : * ; i ; c'eromony, iv replied . very simply::"Ladies and gontlemeh;—-If I , ; had known that this* was to have taken.place 1, really* could not-liave come.' ,1 was not 'awaro'you would, have .'done anything of tho sort, or I am sure I could '• not' have come, ? and Ithankyou very.much for it.",' •■• .Mr. Aitkori. said that Mrs. Williams hod not; been .'too well of late, andthe surprise was perhaps a little too much, for her just' then, but it would not be' so next, day.' Heaiiy Cheers were;given; for, Mrs. Williams';:.' '.'. : ' l :' :..'•■,'.•• ''.'. i '.'.'-'■•.'- ■'.''. '; Mr; W. G; Holdsworth then unveiled a portrait of his father, who "'was president 'of the first Y:M.C.A. in Wellington, formed as'the result of tho.lato' Dr;. SomerviHe's mission. Thero were some present whojcould, testify, .Mr. Holdsworth said,' to tbe large amount .of good that-was done by the association in those days. Ho hoped and trusted that the present work would; prosper, and become more, beneficial; and widespread.' He had much pleasure in presenting the photo-, "graph of his' late father t&. tho association. ■■'■ Mr/ Aitken .said that he had.very great; pleasure, on behalf of the board, in accepting' tho,.very lifdike .portrait. ' ,It .Was. in 1882 that ,he first came to Wellington,' and Mr. Holdsworth was' then president of the,' j association—an .'exceedingly active' and good' president, a ;man who never; wearied in the' , work ho had undertook, ■ who knew all tho members::'of thV association—which was , a great deal more than tho present president did—(laughter)—and who ■ took 'an exceed-• ingly .lively, interest in every, good wofk that wes going- on in. tho city., Ho'was all that a-president of the'Y.M.C.A.-should be. Mr. HoldsworthYterm of'presidency was from 1879 to ,1884. ■ ;.-: <•"■ • :■ I'A.sooial gathering was then held, at'which the Wesley Church Orchestra, Miss Brittain, Mr. J. M v Clark, Mr. Jantko, and Mr. :W. Goudie ooiitribnted to the entertainment programme. Brief statements on tho departmental work of tho-association were made by. Mr. W.,Eglin (boys' work), Mr. H. W. KersTey (religious), -Mr. A. Hoby (physical), and Mr. H.'N;;'Holmes. (educational and social).