Young Men's Christian Association

an organization of young men for social and religious purposes. Its privileges are open to all young men of good morals. Those who fill its offices must be members of good standing of Protestant evangelical churches. The association was founded at London June 6, 1844, by George Williams, then a dry goods clerk, now a wealthy merchant. The original members were employes in business houses. Provision was made for Bible study, a library and reading room, a restaurant, evening classes, and a gymnasium. The movement proved so well suited to the needs of young men without homes of their own that it soon spread throughout the cities of all parts of the English-speaking world. The first American association was organized at Montreal in 1851. Societies were organized in Boston and New York later in the same year. In 1854 the American associations held a general convention at Buffalo. Speaking for the American associations alone, there was, in 1910, a membership of nearly half a million, holding property valued at $40,000,000. The organization owns about 500 buildings and employs 2,500 men. See Epworth League