TOX7NO MEN'S CHRISTIAN JgQ TOX7NO MEN'S CHRISTIAN
definite oreanization 6 June, 1844, in London, when In 1916 the Pan-Protestant Congress at Panama George Wuliams, its founder, met with eleven asso- inaugurated a movement to make Latin America ciates to enlarge, and crystallize the work and purposes Protestant (see Protbbtantibm) . The Y . M . C . A . of an association for Bible reading and prayer which gave the fourth k^gest proportionate donation for he had or^nized seven years before. Several socie- this work, while a further active interest is also being ties of a similar nature nad existed previous to this taken in the work. In the reconstruction work in time, some as early as the seventeenth century, and Europe after the war both the Y. M. C. A. and the some of the pre-existing societies joined the Associa- Y. W. C. A. have played a prominent part, the tion in a body. In 1845 the first paid secretary was religious side of the work being strongl;^ featured as appointed; in 1847 or^nized Bible work was started, one of the leading aims behind me material aid which By 1851 the Association had spread to many places is being given. In 1920 the Association reported in England, to Germany, Switzerland, France, and 8789 centers; 6250 in Europe, 32 in Africa, 386 in had been established in Montreal, Boston and New Asia, 23 in A\istralasia, and 2098 in America. Its York in America. The first international meeting total membership in the United States in 1921 was (United States and Canada) occurred in 1854, and 739,438, of whom 304,399 were active members. The the first intercontinental at Paris in 1855. The total property and funds in the United States in 1921 Central International Committee was formed in 1878 was $121,000,000 and its total income $29,000,000. with headquarters in Geneva. In 1894 on the occa- Catholics and the Y. M. C. A. — AtUacted by sionof the jubilee of the Association, George Williams, the facilities for physical training and recreation its founder, was knighted by Queen Victoria. The which the Association afforded, and not fully under- British branch took up educational work in 1864 and standing its religious character. Catholic young men in the World War 1914-18 performed welfare work in large numbers joined the organization as associate among the soldiers and sailors, while since the war members. In 1914, accordins to reliable estimates it has been active among the ex-service men. based on statistics furnished by the Asfiociation
In the United States the Association had attained officials (see Garesch6 infra) . out of a total members-
a membership of 25,000 by 1860. The Civil War ship of 625,598 in the United States there were about
forced many of the units to disband and the life of the 146,000 Catholics, approximately 23.5%. The total
entire organization was threatened. However, the associate member^ip was 254,830, the Catholics
leaders turned their attention to the Brmy, and wel- constituting 57.34%. Exact figures are todav unob-
fare work consisting of devotional meetings, Bible tainable, but if the Catholics still constitute the same
and hynm-book distribution, sermons, and the like, proportion (probably they are less numerous now,
and material aid of various kinds occupied the Asso- owing to the increased facilities obtainable in Catho-
ciation almost exclusively. As a result of their ^n- lie societies), they number about 240,000 in 1922.
eral introduction to the public through these activities In many inaividual units in 1914 there were more
the Association took on a new lease of life after the Catholics than members of any other Church and in
cessation of hostilities. More attention was now nearly all units the number of Catholics ranks high
paid to the auxiliary works, such as physical and men- in comparison with those from other Churches. The
tal education and the organization recorded a rapid presence of such a large number of Catholics in an
yearly increase. association which was founded for a religious puri)08e
In the meanwhile the question of the membership under Protestant auspices and which today retains test was causing considerable discussion. The its religious aims and methods, in some points devel- American organization at first followed the "Paris oped far beyond those of its early stages, raises various basis of 1855 which reads as follows: "The- Young questions which may be summed up as follows: (a) Men's Christian Associations seek to unite those Is the Association really a Protestant or^mization? young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God (b) Does it make any difference from the point of view and Saviour, according to the Holy Scriptures, desire of religion and faith if a Catholic belongs to it? to be his disciples in their doctrine ana in their life. Before answering these questions it will be weQ to and to associate their efforts for the extension of his explain the status of the Catholic in the Y. M. C. A. kingdom among youn^ men." This was reaffirmed The fabt that he is admitted only as an associate at Albany in 1866 but m 1868 at Detroit the Evan- member can only be interpreted to mean that be is gelical Church t^t" was adopted. To define more not a Christian in the sense in which the word is used clearly the term "evangelical the "Portland test." in the title of the Association. In point of fact be is as ^ven above, was adopted in 1869. Gradually ec^uivalently placed by the constitution of the Asso- the individual units, which nad at no time been unan- ciation in the same religious category as Jews and imous in their test, adopted that of 1869, and by 1885 Unitarians. That this distinction was, as first for- this test uniformly prevailed in the United States, mulated, intended to bar out Unitarians and that thepenalty for its infraction by a unit bekig exclusion there was no thought of its reference to Catholics from the conventions. .Since 1885 the growth of the has always been asserted by the leaders of the Asso- United States or^nization has been rapid, and the ciation and is undoubte(uv true. They did not scope of its activities has graduallv enlarged, till expect that Catholics would applv for admission to today it includes the various branches enumerated such an association. However, the presence of the above. In the World War the Association in co- clause proclaiming the Bible to be the sole rule of operation with the Government undertook welfare faith and practice safeguarded Protestant control work among the soldiers and sailors, in cities, in when Catholics began to Join. In justice to the camps and overseas. Its conduct of this work, Association it must be admitted that its leaders particularly amon^ the overseas troops, brought down repudiate any intention of denying to Catholics the upon the Association severe adverse criticism, chiefly title of Christian: the Portland test, they say. was because of its methods. Although many have claimed intended to define evangelical , not Christian. Grant- that these charges were unjustified it remains true ingthis, it is clear that then the title of the Association that the Association was the only one of the various should be evangelical or Protestant , not ChrisHm organizations thus engaged to be generally criticized which is a much more inclusive term than as used in by the soldiers. In distinctively religious fines, apaxt the Association title.
from its work of conducting Bible classes ana devo- The answer to the question as to the Protestant
tional meetings and directing drifters back to their character of the Association is best given in the words
church, the Association has in recent years taken an of Association leaders. In 1915 the general secretary
active interest in Protestant proselytizing movements, of the Chicago Y. M. C. A. said to a Catholic priest
