In 1844, one association in the world:  in November, 1851, one association in America, at Montreal; in December, one month after, with no knowledge on the part of either of the other’s plan, one association in the United States, at Boston.  Was it a mere hap that these two groups formed simultaneously the associations which were always to unite the young Christian men of the two countries, and to grow together, till to-day the little one has become a thousand?

Forty years ago, one little association in London:  to-day Great Britain dotted all over with them; one hundred and ninety in England and Wales; one hundred and seventy-eight in Scotland, and twenty in Ireland.  France has eight districts, or groups, containing sixty-four associations.  Germany, divided into five bunds, has four hundred; Holland, its eleven provinces, with three hundred and thirty-five; Romansch Switzerland, eighty-seven; German Switzerland, one hundred and thirty-five; Belgium, eighteen; Spain, fourteen; Italy, ten Turkey in Europe, one, at Philippopolis; Sweden and Norway, seventy-one; Austria, two, at Vienna and Budapesth; Russia, eight, among them Moscow and St. Petersburg; Turkey in Asia, nine; Syria, five, at Beirut, Damascus, Jaffa, Jerusalem, and Nazareth; India, five; Japan, two; Sandwich Islands, one, at Honolulu; Australia, twenty-seven; South Africa, seven; Madagascar, two; West Indies, three; British Guiana, one, at Georgetown; South America (besides), three; Canada and British Provinces, fifty-one.  In the United States, seven hundred and eighty-six.

In all, nearly twenty-seven hundred, scattered over the world, and all the outgrowth of forty years.  It has been said that the sun never rises anywhere that it is not saluted by the British reveille.  Look how quickly the organization of young men has stretched its cordon round the world, and dotted it all over with the tents of its conflict for them against the opposing forces of the evil one.

[Illustration:  CEPHAS BRAINERD, ESQ.  Chairman of the International Executive Committee Y.M.C.A.]

What are its characteristics?

1.  It is the universal church of Christ, working through its young men for the salvation of young men.  In the words of a paper, read at the last world’s conference, at London:—­

“The fundamental idea of the organization, on which all subsequent substantial development has been based, was simply this:  that in the associated effort of young men connected with the various branches of the church of Christ lies a great power to promote their own development and help their fellows, thus prosecuting the work of the church among the most-important, most-tempted, and least-cared-for class in the community.”

[Illustration:  BUILDING OF THE Y.M.C.A.  IN MONTREAL, CANADA.]

The distinct work for young men was thus emphasized at the Chicago convention in 1863, in the following resolutions presented by the Reverend Henry G. Potter, then of Troy, and now assistant bishop of the diocese of New York:—­