Transcript of Speech by Sir George Williams to the Springfield College Jubilee Class of 1894

Transcript of Speech by Sir George Williams to the Springfield College Jubilee Class of 1894

International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (Springfield, Mass.); Springfield College; Young Men's Christian Association of North America; Springfield College;

Speech; Transcript; YMCA; Jubilee; YMCA Hall of Fame

Transcript of Speech given by Sir George Williams to the Springfield College, then the International YMCA Training School, Jubilee Class of 1894. The Speech was recorded by George Williams on a wax cylinder recording and played at the Jubilee Celebration of the Founding of the Young Men's Christian Association at Springfield College on June 6, 1894. George Williams was the Founder of the YMCA. In 1844, after becoming a devout Christian, he gathered a group of young men together for prayer and reflection. This simple act developed into the worldwide YMCA movement. By 1845 the YMCA was holding public lectures in rented halls and Sunday afternoon teas at Hotel Radley in London. By 1851 the YMCA had spread to 16 other cities in England, Scotland and Ireland. The YMCA movement reached the American shores in 1851, with the first YMCA established in Montreal on November 25 and the second in Boston December 29. By the time George Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894, the 50th anniversary of the YMCA, there were 5,000 YMCAs in 24 countries with 500,000 members. He died in 1905.

Fellow workers of the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School-I greet you on this Jubilee Day with the expression of my loving regard and esteem.
Join with the workers gathered here in from all parts of the World in thanking and praising God for the marvelous blessings He has bestowed upon the work of our beloved association.
The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
I address you with feelings of profoundest admiration. You have set before you the noble aim of leading the young manhood of America and of the World, to the Saviour. This is an ambition worthy of your best powers -worthy of the highest gifts of character, of mind and heart.
What a magnificent service you will render to your country and to the churches in your land if only you go forward to this great work in whole-hearted consecretion.
Prayer and faith have won victories in the past fifty years ­but these may'be, -will be -as nothing to what shall yet be wrought through the power of Christ resting upon you.
I sincerely pray that you may each be fitted with the Holy Spirit. Let it be the aim of each to be able to say, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
The young manhood of America is a gift to the world. How important that it shall be definitely and decidedly on the side of truth and right. Cherish the desire to be useful to young men individually by leading them to the foot of the Cross. Remember how potent will be the influence of your personal example. Your privileges are great in being permitted to work in so important, so hopeful and promising a sphere.
From the bottom of my heart I pray that you each, -with all who have been or may yet be, students in the Training School, -may be mightily owned of God.
Yours most affectionately, George Williams.

Processed;

The transcript is presumed to be written by Williams' secretary, W. H. Mills. The transcript is not in George Williams handwriting as compared to signature and letter in his handwriting within collections. To an untrained eye, it appears handwriting appears to match secretary's hand. In addition, there are some discrepancies between the transcript and the actual recorded speech.

Williams, George, Sir, 1821-1905

Springfield College

1894-05-24

2011-02-22

Mills, W.H.

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