Y.M.C.A. FOUNDERS' DAY

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 2 June 1919, Page 8

Y.M.C.A. FOUNDERS' DAY

On 6th June, 1844, the Young-Men's Christian Association was formed in a small room of a. drapery establishment in St. Paul's Churchyard in London. Georgo Williams, a country boy from a farm in Somersetshire, who had served an apprenticeship in Bridge-water beforo coming to London, was the moving spirit of a group of twelve young men, who met aud organised under tho name of tho Young Men's Christian Association. Juno c-th is now rnnually observed by the associations throughout the world. Tho germ of this national, international, world-wide organisation, planted in London in 1844, was carried, with the name, to North America, where it fell into more congenial soil than in Europe. On this now continent it developed into an agency and organisation with a stall' of workers and equipment, the strong, contagious/ shaping influence of which has been felt in Europe, whero the original germ was planted, and throughout the .-.world. In Sydney in 1853, and at Auckland in 1855 assoeialio is wore formed by members from the London association. The Young Men's Christian Association of 1919 may bo described a.-s a world brotherhood of over 1,000,000 young,men and boys, resi dent in over 50 countries on all continents, speaking 50 languages and dialects, banded together in some 9000 cities, towns, and smaller communities, at a financial cost of £2,400,000 annually. Proper equipment to the value of over £40,000,000 has been secured, and this has been invested chiefly in association buildings. On Thursday next, in tho Town Hall tho local branch is to celebrate "Founders' Day." Speeches aro to be delivered by Sir James Allen and General Richardson, and 4000 feet of pictures showing "our boys" in English cxmps, will bo displayed. Thoro will be no charge for admission.