Young women : a history of the American committee of Young women's Christian associations

Front matter

Book ^Msi

GofPghtN

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

Prefatory Note

The requests for a history of our National Young Women's Christian Association have come from so many directions and so repeatedly that the American Committee has decided to issue such a publication. In compliance with its wish, I have gathered and put together the facts. My desire and effort have been that these facts should be absolutely accurate and that the relation of them should convey a faithfully true impression. Great care has therefore been taken to consult the early and late reports and records of the American Committee and also the reports of other organizations wherever reference to them and their history has been necessary. Mr. Luther D. Wishard has manifested great interest in the work and has rendered valuable assistance in kindly furnishing me information in regard to the early days of the organization, in which he had so large a share.

It is my hope that the story of our beginnings and development in the Association work, and its present condition, may serve to encourage renewed zeal and may testify that throughout the fourteen years of our national existence the "good hand of our God has been upon us."

Rebecca F. Morse.

-AM

vi riH

Camp Collie, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

i.

" With affectionate interest we look back to the beginnings of those things which possess our allegiance as established powers, or are daily enjoyed as familiar blessings. The comparison of the state of commencement with the ideal state, brings with it a natural pleasure, in marking the tendencies and the tokens of all that has happened since."

The origin of an organization is of the first importance in the record of its history. A clear understanding of the circumstances and considerations which led to its existence is essential to a correct appreciation of its place and value in the world.

The American organization of Young Women's ° ri s in in

.... 1 Student

Christian Associations — now known under the

Institutions.

name of the "American Committee of Young Women's Christian Associations" — was the result of a movement among students. A few isolated colleges, independently of each other, and even in some cases without knowledge of other similar societies among young women students, formed Young Women's Christian Associations in the period between 1873 and 1877. Of these the first one was organized in 1873 in the State Normal School, Normal, Illinois.

During the years between 1877 and 1882 Mr. Luther D. Wishard, intercollegiate secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, was engaged in the work of organizing Young Men's Christian Associations in colleges throughout the country. In the co-educational colleges of the West both young men and young women were received into the membership of the association, the article on membership reading "Students," without distinction of sex, the object being to prevent a division in the Christian work of the college. The young women students, through this plan, shared in the advantages derived from the agencies of supervision, development and extension, provided by the strongly organized and well equipped International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. They benefited by the visitation of the international and state secretaries, and the correspondence and publications of the International Committee. They attended also the state and international conventions, and took part in the discussions. Under this united arrangement the part of the young women was largely that of assistance in the work of the young men students. That special work by young women for young women, which they can best accomplish by and among themselves in Young Women's Christian Associations, was not promoted. Neither was the similarly distinctive work of the Young Men's Christian Association, a work by young men for young men, advanced by this arrangement. The general sentiment of the association movement was opposed to its continuance. The young men's associations in the co-educational colleges were accordingly reorganized and a constitution adopted, admitting men only into the membership. As a result of this step Young Women's Christian Associations began to be formed in the colleges, Mr. Wishard advising and helping in their organization. Since these young women's associations could not be officially supervised by the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, Mr. Wishard was authorized to work in conjunction with a committee of three ladies, which, he was informed, had been appointed by the International Conference of Women's Christian Associations to encourage the formation of Young Women's Christian Associations in American colleges and seminaries.

The Conference of Women's Christian Associations had originated in a gathering of societies at the annual meeting of the Hartford

Women's Christian Association in 1871. About seven societies were represented by delegates, and twenty-three by letters. They met at the invitation of the Hartford association, for prayer and conference concerning their work. These societies, the oldest of which was the Ladies' Christian Union of Xew York (1858), had been formed independently in different cities, and had been called forth by some Christian or philanthropic work needed in their own community, in some cases for women, sometimes for other classes. Earnest, active women, making it their responsibility to meet the need in each case, formed themselves into a society to carry on the work. The National Conference was held biennially, and in 1ST 5, other countries being represented, the name of International Conference of Women's Christian Associations was adopted and retained until October, 1891.

A cordial interest was felt by the Young Men's Christian Association in this international movement. It was watched by them with fraternal sympathy and earnest desire that it might prosper and become the wide-spread blessing to women that their own association had proved to men. They knew that an important element in the success of the Young Men's Christian Associations lay in the strong organization of their international work on a uniform basis of membership which closely allied them to the Evangelical church, together with an ample provision for international development and extension. They saw in this conference opportunity for Women's Christian Associations to so organize as to do a similar strong work among women and to reap a similar success. In several instances the reports of the individual Women's Christian Associations testified to the help rendered them in their organization by the Young Men's Christian Associations or by individual members of that organization. Mr. H. Thane Miller, for many years president of the Cincinnati Young Men's Christian Association, had rendered much of this kind of help in the large cities of the West and in Philadelphia in the East. At the early conferences of the Women's Christian Associations he was a welcome guest and speaker. This led him in 1875 to take a step, the wisdom of which some have questioned. On his way from the East to attend the Women's Conference at Pittsburg in 1875, he stopped in New York, sought and obtained the consent of the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations that its general secretary, Mr. R. C. Morse, should accompany him to Pittsburg and cooperate with him in presenting to the delegates a statement which Mr. Miller had prepared of the nature, rules and methods of the international organization of the Young Men's Christian Association. The secretary accompanied Mr. Miller, and attended with him the opening meeting of the conference, leaving him to explain to the officers and members more fully the nature of the work and administration which the printed suggestion submitted by Mr. Miller and himself had outlined. A committee was appointed by the Women's Christian Association Conference to consider the proposed constitution. Discussion on this committee's report led to postponement of decision until the following — the Fourth International Conference held in Montreal in 1877, when a constitution was adopted which practically confined the international work of the Women's Christian Associations to the international biennial conference and arrangements for its conduct, and this continued to be the form of organization until October, 1891.

In the biennial conference held at St. Louis in 1881, the committee of three ladies, Mrs. Thane Miller being chairman, was appointed to encourage the formation of associations in colleges and seminaries, and in 1883 it became a standing committee.

In consultation with Mrs. Miller, Mr. Wishard prepared a circular to the young women students, together with a form of constitution, both issued in 1883 in the name of the International Conference of Women's Christian Associations, but printed by and at the expense of the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. The constitution recommended was formed with the Evangelical basis of active membership, and conformed in all other respects as well, to the one used in the college Young Men's Christian Associations — the one under which the young women had already been organized as a part of the association.

Mr. Wishard performed his work so thor- Eighty to

-1-1-11 -i ^^ -i^^ Ninety Younj

oughly that between the years 1881 and 1885 women's the young women students in from eighty to christian

- Associations

ninety associations were organized separately organized. in Young Women's Christian Associations, side by side with those of the young men, on the same basis, in accordance with the constitution recommended, with similar objects and work and pursuing similar methods. These associations were instructed to look to Mrs. H. Thane Miller as their correspondent. Had there been at this time, back of the correspondence and work thus carried on by Mrs. Miller, a strong organization, with a membership through which the student associations, after they had entered, could have received the help they needed for development and extension, they would undoubtedly have applied for admission into such a membership, and would have become an integral part of such an organization. But the constitution adopted by the fourth international conference of Women's Christian Associations in Montreal, 1877, had not made provision for such an organization. Consequently the Young Women's Christian Associations in the colleges continued to depend partly on the Young Men's Christian Associations and their agencies and also to develop independently and self - reliantly, with but little communication with the Women's Christian Associations. It is interesting to note this self-reliance as it is shown in the early state reports.

A spirit of responsibility seems to have been felt by the members of the associations in these early days. They were more or less actuated in thus banding together in their Christian work by a sense of obligation to other young women — an obligation not confined to the members of their own local association, nor even to those non-Christian students in their own college, in whom they felt a special interest. They had an appreciation of their broader privilege and duty of offering these advantages to the women in other colleges. This led them first to consider the needs of their own college, then of young women in other colleges, in the cities, the state, and afterwards the whole land. At the convention called to organize a state association in Iowa, 1884, the young president thus simply expressed this sense of responsibility: "While we enjoy a Saviour's love, let us not forget the very many young women in our own state who do not know Him. Feeling this and that we needed to know more of Christ, that we needed each other's encouragement, association and prayers in our Christian work, quite a number of us young women from all parts of the state have banded ourselves together. We call our organization the Young Women's Christian Association of Iowa. Its one aim and purpose is to make the young women of Iowa active, earnest, devoted Christians. It proposes to do this through religious conversation, correspondence, Bible study and prayer. Its members to live so that the world will know we are Christ's followers. It is not a work outside of the church, but in the church, to bring others into the church."

State organization was the natural result of the relation held to the Young Men's Association, and was effected through the help afforded by its secretaries. Nine state associations were thus formed between 1884 and 1886. They were Michigan, February, 1884; Ohio, spring of 1884; Iowa, November, 1884; Illinois and Wisconsin, January, 1885; Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Indiana, in 1885 and 1886.

Added growth and organization brought in their train additional demands. Quite early in

Nine State Associations the period of state organization came the call from cities for Young Women's Christian Associations to be organized on the same lines as those of the young men in the cities, and to be admitted into the Young Women's State Associations. Some of the state constitutions were amended so as to admit cities. This step, however, involved responsibility which was felt to be too heavy for student associations to assume. Yet, in view of the opportunity opening to them of a far-reaching work for young women, if only it could be supported by Christian women firmly united in a strong and aggressive movement, they felt they should not draw back. Acting on the advice, therefore, of their friends and helpers, Mr. Wishard and the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, which had been in full sympathy with Mr. Wishard in his work among the young women students, they took the important step of appeal to the International Conference of Women's Christian Associations assembled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1885. This appeal was for their help and cooperation in forming a strong national organization for the development and extension of Young Women's Christian Associations.

Before the students made these overtures, however, information was sought concerning the character and work of the Women's

Christian Associations. The result did not appear to them promising- for the furtherance of their object. This was not because the students felt there was a lack of consecrated Christian service and valuable work on Christian lines and lines of philanthropy in the individual Women's Christian Associations represented in their International Conference. Nor was there any question in regard to the value of the International Conference itself, affording, as it did, thoughtful, prayerful intercourse among the Women's Christian Associations, an intercourse which drew the delegates together and was of mutual benefit to themselves and to the associations, to which they returned with fresh strength and suggestion. But it was noted that thus far these conferences had not developed a uniform, national membership nor a concentration of effort on behalf of young women exclusively, such as the college associations desired to engage in, and such as they felt to be the work peculiarly and appropriately belonging to Young Women's Christian Associations. It was also noted that although some of the strongest of the individual Women's Christian Associations — either in their government or in their active membership — were on an Evangelical basis, yet there was no universally adopted test of membership which affiliated all the associations with the various Evang-elical churches — a test which had proved of invaluable service to the Young Men's Christian Associations in the remarkable development of their work and efficiency, and which the young women felt to be essential to their own organization.

To the student associations the discovery of these facts was disappointing, but they entertained the hope that the obstacles could be overcome. They thought that inasmuch as the Women's Christian Associations had no other organization than the biennial conference, they would heartily agree to form one. into which the student associations could be received and through which this definite work for youngwomen could be done. They did not anticipate, as a result of the desired consideration at the Cincinnati Conference, any decision leading to immediate, radical reconstruction of those Women's Associations which were not already working on these lines. They believed that the experience of the Young Men's Christian Associations would satisfy the leaders of the conference that the Evangelical basis of membership would be a wise one for newly organized associations, and would gradually commend itself to the entire organization as a basis which had proved a sufficiently broad foundation for the world-wide movement among young men.

Of one point the student associations were not aware. It was the relation their own associations held to the conference of the Women's Christian Associations, in the estimation of the conference itself. In the International Conference of Women's Christian Associations, held in Boston in 1883, the report of the Committee on Colleges and Seminaries, presented by Mrs. Miller, was received, and much gratification was expressed at the large number of Young Women's Christian Associations organized. The facts concerning their origin within the organization of the college Young Men's Christian Association seem to have been hardly noted, though the circular issued by the conference in the first instance indicates a knowledge of these facts. Their significance was evidently not realized. The student associations were accepted as the work of the special committee appointed by their conference — a not unnatural conclusion, under the circumstances. Though thus regarded, however, no record of the college associations appears in the tabulated lists of the published conference reports of the Women's Christian Associations. The independent strength of the student associations and their state organizations were unknown to the conference until 1887.

It was under these not altogether favorable Appeal for

t ■ • 1 -ill • National

conditions on either side that the representative Organization.

Proposed company of student delegates and the International Conference of Women's Christian Associations met at Cincinnati in October, 1885. The committee appointed by the colleges was the bearer of greetings to the conference and resolutions adopted at their state conventions of 1884 and 1885, by the seven state associations then existing. These resolutions expressed sympathy with the work for young women which the Women's Christian Associations were doing and a desire to unite with them in forming an international organization, asking them to consider as a basis: — Basis i. As the object of the organization: The promotion of the physical, social, mental and spiritual welfare of young women.

2. An active membership which should affiliate the organization with the Evangelical church.

3. A permanent executive committee to oversee and develop the work.

A paper had also been prepared to accompany the resolutions, stating the need felt by the student associations of such an international association.

The delegates were received most cordiallv at Cincinnati as apart of the conference, representing individual college associations. As such, reports of their work were asked for and received with gratification. Their message as the representative committee from the state conventions was not known to the body of the conference. The prominent and influential leaders to whom it was presented privately, discussed the matter with the committee and urgently advised that it should not be presented to the body of the conference. Their reasons given were that the question of a national organization had already, some time before, been discussed and decided satisfactorily to itself by the conference, and that this present conference was an especially unfavorable one for such a proposition for various reasons, one being that a number of the delegates would be opposed to the Evangelical basis of membership, and the warmest advocates of the union would therefore not be willing to support the proposal at this time.

Finding that this was the attitude of the leading delegates, the committee of students did not bring the matter before the body of the conference. They returned a report of the failure of their mission to the State Executive Committees of the College Associations, adding a recommendation that "as it seems necessary that there be a national organization," a Young Women's Christian Association Convention be held in the summer of 1886 to form one on the plan of that proposed to the leaders of the Cincinnati Conference.

The first National Convention of the Young "Women's Christian Associations was accordingly called for organization at Camp Collie, Lake Geneva, "Wisconsin, August 6-12, 1886. National Nineteen delegates were present, representing

Organization . 1 . . . . ..

Effected. e] ght state associations. A national organization was effected and a constitution adopted with the Evangelical basis of membership.

Greetings of congratulation were received from the "two hundred and ninety-eight college students " assembled in the Young Men's Christian Association Summer Bible Conference at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts. National Chicago was selected as the headquarters of and National the National Committee. Mrs. John V. Far- Secretary. well, Jr., was elected chairman, and Mrs. W. W. Van Arsdale, secretary. In November, 1886, Miss Nettie Dunn, an alumna of Hillsdale College, Michigan, was called to the position of National Secretarv.

II

The National Young Women's Christian Association was now fairly launched, and the committee began its work under the favoring conditions of a marked loyalty in its constituency, an earnestly prayerful spirit among the association members and a deepening sense of responsibility for the extension of the association among all young women. The demand for this extension into cities had already been made upon some of the existing state associations. Cities where state conventions were held became interested and desired a similar work for young women in their midst, and this desire, fostered and guided by the State and National Secretaries, led to organized associations. The better to secure uniformity of organization, the National Committee prepared and published a form of constitution for the help of city associations, recommending its adoption by those cities about to organize. A new state constitution was also recommended, better adapted to the states as they were now admitting city associations to membership.

The Evangel.

2\ national paper, the Young Women s Christian Association Quarterly, started in 1888, became in 1889 the monthly publication of the National Committee, under the name of the Evangel, and was issued at first during ten months, subsequently in every month of the year.

The visits of the National Secretary, hei wise counsel and spiritual instruction, were eagerly sought by the individual associations. Her valuable help was deemed indispensable in state organization and conventions. As counselor to the National Committee and at the same time medium of contact between them and their associations, she was called upon to be frequently at headquarters, and yet to give an even larger proportion of time and energy to the development and extension of associations in colleges, cities and states. Although alone in a new work, with a vast territory as her field, obliged to make for herself an entirely new experience, the young secretary, with untiring and unselfish devotion, bravely and faithfully performed this pioneer work. During more than two years Miss Dunn was the only National Secretary. In this time state associations were strengthened, new ones organized, a beginning made in the state secretaryship, and student and city associations were added to the national organization

The organization of the Student Volunteer Connection

r t-> • ™- -.1 -it with Student

Movement for Foreign Missions had resulted volunteer from the memorable missionary meetings Movement for

J . . Foreign

among the College Young Men's Christian Missions. Associations assembled at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1886, followed by the visits of Mr. Wilder and Mr. Forman among the colleges. Men and women students alike became student volunteers, avowing their purpose to become foreign missionaries unless providentially hindered. The movement was in charge of a committee of three, representing the Intercollegiate Young Men's and the National Young Women's Christian Associations and the Inter-Seminary Alliance. Of the Young Women's Association, Miss Dunn, herself a volunteer, was appointed the representative in 1889. In her visitation among the colleges, she was ever mindful of this Volunteer Movement, and through her own enthusiasm and missionary spirit, was the means of bringing many to the same high resolve.

In 1889 two secretaries were added to the Three

• tit- /"\ 1-irrr International

national secretarial force, Miss Corabel Tarr, secretaries. as associate with Miss Dunn and Miss Thirsa Hall, whose province lay in the important charge of the office work and business detail of the growing organization. The impetus given to the work through this addition to the secre-

2S YOUNG WOMEN

tarial force was soon felt. Parts of the country which had not hitherto been touched were visited in 1890 and 1891 and important organization was effected. Through the admission of a few associations in the British Provinces the National had already been for some time an International Association. A visit from Miss Tarr to Canada resulted in an increased membership of the British associations and a Canadian delegation to the International Convention in 1891. Thus the bond with Canada was strengthened. The Pacific Coast was carefully studied. An extensive correspondence resulted in visitation and the organization of the Pacific Coast Association. The possibilities of extension into Colorado and into the Southern states were also investigated at this time.

Reviewing the work of the nine months preceding the Scranton International Convention in 1891, Miss Tarr says in her report: "As I turn from the summary of the past crowded nine months I cannot refrain from looking into the same number of future years with great thanksgiving by faith. A future is before us which means unthought-of possibility, requiring much wise and systematic planning, more earnest, active work, not only from a few" secretaries, but from a large force of volunteer workers, a constant strengthening- Q f founda-

DEVELOPMENT AXD EXTENSION 29

tion principles — a steadfast faith that God will use our faithfulness to glorify His name among the young women of the world."

The numerical growth of the organization as Numerical reported at the Scranton Convention in 1891 mis9i. was : —

Growth in associations: —

State associations, ..." 9 " 13

Secretaries, international, " 1 " 3

The membership, active and associate, in 1891, had trebled that in 1886. Nor had this numerical growth been ephemeral. Strength had been developed side by side with numbers.

The problem of secretarial training demanded much attention from the International Secretaries. From their entrance into the work both Miss Dunn and Miss Tarr gave time and thought to correspondence and intercourse with candidates for the secretaryship. It was apparent how little the qualifications for this office were understood, how narrow, in many cases, was the conception of its possibilities. On the other hand, those young women who recognized in it a profession opening to them a rare means of Christian influence among young women, in proportion as they appreciated this, eagerly desired to be better equipped to meet its requirements.

The General Secretary of the city association is its pivot — the heart of the association, not alone as its vital centre, but also in her affectionate relation to the young- women of the community. As such she is their representative in church, social and business circles. She should therefore be able to meet all classes with ease. She needs to be thoroughly informed in association principles, methods and history, in the social conditions of young women in her own and other communities; their problems and how to meet them. And to meet the needs of young women with the only effective help, the secretary should have thorough knowledge of her Bible. All this requires training.

First There was no training school yet established. Association ^ t ^ e assoc j a tions were too young in experi-

Summer J ° L

Conference, ence to serve the purpose of one. Impressed with this need, Miss Tarr prevailed upon the International Committee to undertake, in the summer of 1891, an Association Summer School at Bay View, Michigan, in connection with the assembly held there every year. The result of this first attempt was the conviction among association workers that the Summer School was an indispensable factor henceforth of the work. A change of place, however, was deemed desirable, and the school was transferred in the summer of 1892 to the Young Men's Christian Association Secretarial camp on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where it has continned each summer to be the conference for the associations of the middle Western states. The general plan of the first Summer Conference became the pattern of all the Association Summer Conferences since held — of which the number in 1899 was five. They proved an invaluable factor in the association development.

Instruction was afforded through carefully prepared lectures and open discussion, in the history, principles, aim and methods of the association. Specialists explained and taught the work of each of the departments. Each part of the field with its relation to all the other parts, was considere/i. Very special attention was devoted to the secretary and her responsibilities. But above all, prominence was given to Bible study and teaching, through general classes and workers' training classes ; and the special province of the association in direct spiritual effort to win young women to Christ was emphasized in action as well as theory in the Summer Conferences. Young women heretofore Christians only in name, realized for the first time their Christian privileges and responsibilities, and others were led to a Saviour whom they had never before accepted. Missionary and Student Volunteer meetings had always a large place in the Conference. Young women now in the foreign field, many of them, remember well that their decision to go was definitely made on the banks of Lake Geneva, or in the twilight meetings on Round Top at Northfield.

Miss Dunn retired from the secretaryship immediately after the Bay View Summer School. After a period of rest which her health demanded, she was married to Mr. Walter Clark and with him entered the foreign mission field, to which she had long desired to devote her life. As a wife and mother she has been able to exert in Northern India the influence which emanates from a Christian home.

In 1891, shortly after Miss Dunn's resignation, the International Committee called Miss Elizabeth Wilson as editor of the Evangel. The many demands of the field obliged her, in addition to this work, to spend much time in visitation and organization in the far West and on the Pacific Coast. a General In view of the importance of a wise plan- SeCr ofthe n i n & an d supervision of time and visitation, international the office of General Secretary of the Internacommittee. tional Committee was instituted, and Miss Tarr was called to the position at the close of. the Bay View Summer School.