The Young Men's Christian Association, also known as the YMCA, has been a fixture of American life for over 150 years. This book provides a comprehensive history of the organization, from its founding in London in 1844 to its spread across North America and around the globe. With an emphasis on the people and events that shaped the organization's history, this book explores the role of the YMCA in promoting Christian values, physical fitness, and social welfare. Written by a longtime YMCA executive, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of this important institution. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.