In 1844, Englishman George Williams was concerned about the lack of activities for young men who came to the cities looking for work. The only activities available were generally found in taverns. To address the problem, Williams founded the YMCA. His purpose was to improve the “spiritual condition” of young men in the trades, intending for the Y to offer healthy physical exercise as well as uplifting spiritual activities. By 1851 the Y had spread throughout Europe and across the sea to the