Enclosure/
Extract from a speech by Sir Henry Kay,
1.
It
he world wide or ŝnisation” known as the Y.M.C.A. an association of young men forted on a Christian basis.
mot, as some seem to suppose MC.A. in the sense of being re- ed to professedly Chistian only. Its membership is pen en generally irrespective of ious bellef. It is non-sectarian and inter-denominational and in no sense in opposition to existing Churches but freely co-operating wh all. I would like to say that ur the Y.M.C.A. organisation it only necessary for the Board of Fectors be Christian. Any other Imbers can be of any religion they
The members of any As- ciation may organise within it abs, sociēties, including Bible clases etc. for self improvement, and the partcipation in these rgani- sations is quite voluntary. No st- tempt is made to cram religion down any man's tbroat. The local Y.M.C.A. ke every other branch, is entrely self governing. Its con- trol is in the hands of la Board of Directors of rfteen men elected for the three years, five retiring each year. The Iirec- tors are electrd at the annual meet- ing, nominations having been nade a least one week in advance by directors or other members. The directors elect their own officers President, Vice President, Record- ing Secretary and Hon. Treasur er. The Directors engage & Ken- oral or executive secretary to curry out their policies and to assist them in finding a suitable secretary they may ask the cooperation or "econa. mendation of the T.M.C.A. leaders, at home or elsewhere. The Hoard of Directors alone has power to inaugurate any new policy or auth- Lorise the expenditure of money but
the detaily may
be entrusted to sub-committees appointed by and responsible, to the Board. The local Board has several sub-commit- tees one of which is the member-
2.
ship or Balloting Committee. Every applicant must be proposed by a member or the Secretary. Appli- cants must be approved by the Membership Committee. The Board of Directors may veto the action of any Committee."
I believe it has been asked whet- ber Germans would be allowed to join the Y.M.C.A. When I read the names of the Board of Directors and the names of the Committee recommended to be appointed as Bailoting Committee I dont think there is any more chance of alien enemies joining the Y.M.C.A. after the war than there is of them joining the Hongkong Club.
The present Board of Directors consists of myself, chairman, Jessrs. Pollock, Holyoak, Stabb, Edkins, Anton. Dodwell, Moss, Kempthome, Rev. Copley Moyle, Mr. G. Ptorcy and Mr. Sykes of the Diocesan Sebool. I think any club might be proud, if I except myself, with a Board of Directors constituted by Janen whose names I have read.
"The Y.M.C.A. is now organised in every important city in the Empire. It has a tradition behind it, a settled policy. Unlike a mere- ly local club it is not isolated or ex- perimental. It is a proved and long-standing organisation whose aims are fixed and whose methods are the result of experience. The Y.M.C.A. being as wide as the Empire the local association has large field upon which to draw for trained leadership. The stimulas jof a large movement insures con- tinuity. The Y.M.C.A. has a posi tive policy, it is not only a place where members may resort after business hours, but it stimulates them to promote and take part in Factivities which conduce to all- round developement."
When I went down to take charge of the Colony of Fiji and landed in Brisbane I was received by a men- ber of the Y.M.C.A. who introdue- ed rue to a well appointed iustita-
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