One Hundred Years Since the Founding of the Young Women's Christian Association

Between August 28 and September 16 last, Windsor (in England) witnessed the session of the General Council of the 'World Young Women's Christian Association' — and in Windsor itself this Association was founded one hundred years ago!.. Enrolled in it today are some ten million women...

The meeting was attended by 320 delegates representing five continents and 53 states from the ends of the inhabited world. Lebanon was represented by Miss Edma Bayoud, general director of the Association, and Dr. Jamal Karam Harfush, formerly a member of the executive committee.

The meeting showed a spirit of complete order and precision in the handling of business; what most caught the eye was the participation of eight African countries joining the Association for the first time, coming out into the wide world arena with their problems — servitude and hardship — so that the world might hear from their own lips that in Africa there are cultured, awakened women standing on the threshold of a renaissance. Gladness flooded every soul, and eyes grew wet with tears of feeling!!

... Here is a vast assembly of the world's women, examining how their word may be united, the human race made happy, and peace spread through the world, in step with the teachings of Christ...

The most important matters discussed and decided at this meeting were these:

1 - The Council accepted the recommendations submitted by the consultative session held in Switzerland on the kind of leadership needed and on facing the problems of today.

2 - Social and international problems. For the first time the Council raised the 'Declaration of Peace,' which appeals to the world to profit from the atom for the purposes of peace, and those alone...

3 - The Association's constitution was amended.

4 - The problems of youth in the world were discussed.

5 - Handicapped children, and how to help them.

6 - The upbuilding of the community, especially in the countryside.

All these subjects and others played a great part in the general discussions. Special weight was given to 'mutual services' between the Association's centers... each center to give whenever it will... and to take.

Worthy of mention are the splendid stands Dr. Jamal Karam Harfush took in defense during the debate on amending the constitution: she stirred interest and respect, and all bore witness to her ability and intelligence; she raised Lebanon's head high, and she came to be reckoned with in the deciding of matters and in the studies that call for depth and analysis. Nor will this lessen the standing of Miss Bayoud, who since the founding of the Young Women's Christian Association in Lebanon has never ceased to be a wellspring of vitality and work, and a pioneer in 'Leadership' — that newly minted art which we need in all our institutions, resting on sound scientific foundations..

We recall in closing that the previous session of this meeting was held at Beit Mery four years ago, and that everyone who attended it still sings the praises of Lebanon's splendor and the beauty of its views, wishing it might be a seat for conferences... always...