The YMCA was the result of dreams put into action…Of ideas put into deeds
It was founded in London in 1844 by 12 young men under the leadership of George Williams, a young assistant in a draper’s shop near St. Paul’s Cathedral. Williams and his friends found that there was very little in the London of his days to encourage young men who wanted to live a decent and helpful life.
The city was full of temptations and influences which tended to drag men down. He felt that something constructive was needed, so he gathered a number of close associates together in a small room over his shop and there on June 6th was formed the first Young Men’s Christian Association. The basis was Christian and the means was a co-operative effort in everything the group undertook.
The organization was so helpful that it spread rapidly in London… Wherever these early members went they carried their enthusiasm for this new movement and helped to establish new YMCAs.
By 1851 YMCA work had started in most of the countries in Western Europe, United States and Canada. In 1876 YMCAs were established in Bombay and Lahore. In 1894 the Corporation of the City of London conferred on George Williams its highest tribute “The freedom of the City,” and Her Majesty Queen Victoria bestowed on him the honour of Knighthood in appreciation of his valuable work.
Thus from a little group of young men in an upper room over a shop in the shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral, came into being an organization which has spread to more than 120 nations with a membership of 30 million young men and women scattered over almost the whole face of the globe.
The worldwide symbol of the YMCA is equilateral red triangle whose sides represent the triple development of a man’s personality, i.e., Body, Mind and Spirit. The programs of the YMCA are so arranged that each activity seeks to contribute to the development of the “whole man”.
Throughout the world the familiar red triangle is an invitation to a friendly centre of activities, a home away from home.
Lahore YMCA
The Lahore YMCA was founded in 1876 by Major Edward Newbury, a British Engineer, as result of evangelistic meeting conducted by the Rev. J. Sommerville in 1875. The YMCA started the first evening classes in Punjab for type writing, short hand and book-keeping. These have run successfully up to the present time.
Though many such schools have sprung up all over the province, the YMCA commercial classes have continued to grow in size and popularity through the maintenance of high standard of teaching.
The Boys’ Scout Movement was organized in 1921 in Punjab by Mr. H.W. Hogg who was then a secretary of the YMCA. Ever since the inauguration of the Boys’ Scout Association our relations with the movement have been close and cordial. The Olympic Association in the sub-continent was organized by YMCAs Physical Directors in this regard one thinks of such men as Dr. H.C Buck, founder of the YMCA College of Physical Education in Madras Dr. Grey, Dr Fred Webber, Mr. Edwin Earl and Mr. N.K. Mia.
The Punjab Championship in volleyball, basketball, and badminton were first introduced by the YMCA, both basketball and volleyball incidentally were invented in 1881 by two person both of whom had close association with the YMCA. J. Naismith, a student at Springfield YMCA College invented the game of basketball while volleyball was invented four years later by a YMCA member W.G Morgan.
The first university Boxing tournament in the Punjab was held on the roof of the YMCA building. The first rural Reconstruction Centre was started in the Punjab in 1930 at Vaniake now in Amritsar District in India.
It is of special interest to note that the first broadcasting station in the sub-continent was established in 1928 in the Lahore YMCA building.
The Lahore YMCA also conducted the first Inter Club Tennis Tournament in the city in which the leading clubs participated. Almost all the Davis Cup Players of Pakistan have figured in these tournaments.
The First Radio Institute to train Radio Technicians was established in 1940 in the YMCA. The strength of the YMCA Movement is derived from its ability and willingness to meet the changing needs of the Youth. It is this spirit that makes it a pioneer in various fields of life.
The Lahore YMCA owes its success to the leadership of many devoted men who with the inspiration of God, have labeled to make the YMCA what it is today. One thinks with gratitude of men like Mr. J.H. Oldham, Mr. G.D Turner, Dr. S.K. Datta, Mr. A.L. Miller, Dr. W.H. Hume, Mr. W.H. Heinricks, Mr. H.H Peterson, Mr. F.S. Coan, Mr. E.C. Earl, Mr. B.L. Rallia Ram. Mr. J.C.L.Nasir, Mr. R.S. Trops, Mr. P.K. Josiah, Mr. RA Jeremy, Mr. RB Mall, Mr. SS Albert, Mr. Inayat Masih, Mr. Roy McMullen, Mr. Ivan McMullen, Mr. Rashid Masih, Rev Mehnga Mall, RB Mull, Ifraheem Massey, Andrew McMullen and Mr Ashaknaz who with untiring zeal have given their best in the services of this movement.
The current President of YMCA Mr. Asghar Suleman, Program Secretary Ms Irum Nelson, Kiran Aneek, Mala Nazir, Augustine Shakil Zafar, Sania Hans, Ramis John and many other young people hold the promise of continuing the movement of YMCA.
A lifetime is not enough to meet great challenges and achieve highest goals. The YMCA movement is a case in this regard. Who would have thought the movement which began in a shop in central London would today spread to 120 countries and get the support of more than 60 million people. YMCA in Lahore as well as in many other places has stood the test of time and is a testimony to the fact that faith based movements can be the catalyst of change for good positive goals in the course of humanity.
Lahore YMCA as we see it today is already on the course of adapting to the changing needs and trying to stay abreast with the new developments.
The YMCA keeping in view the requirements of the age and changing times is doing its best to make the process of human progress smooth and easy. YMCA continues to play its role in giving quality education and equipping the young to boldly face the challenges of changing times. We recently started artificial intelligence courses and skin and health care programs.
