YMCA Symbol - The Triangle

The 'Red Triangle', the most popular and universal symbol of the YMCA was invented by Luther Halsey Gulick (1865-1918) in 1891 at Springfield College of Physical Education to provide the rationale and philosophical orientation needed to place physical, education in its proper perspective in the YMCA programmes as a whole, which otherwise had so far emphasized only the spiritual and mental well-being of young people. Gulick believed that the equilateral triangle was an appropriate symbol for portraying the work of the YMCA, because it indicated the threefold nature of man- mind, body and spirit.

In selecting the Triangle, Gullick had thought of an emblem that would "stick right out" and would not be confused with the Red Cross, but at the same time serve as a symbol that would look well on sweaters, letterheads and as a sign on building. Students at Springfield College accepted the Triangle as their official emblem when they first published their school paper in the winter of 1890-91. In March 1891 the trustee of the College officially adopted the Triangle. Gulick made every effort to popularize the symbol and to make it acceptable. He introduced the proposal for the adoption of the inverted Triangle as the YMCA symbol at the National Conventions held in Philadelphia in 1889, and in Kansas in 1891. It was voted down on both occasions. In 1895 at the Springfield convention, the Triangle was atleast approved by 182 voting for and 56 against the proposal authorizing the preparation of the Triangle as YMCA badge.

"The triangle stands, not for body or mind or spirit, but for the man as a whole. It does not aim to express these distinct divisions, but to indicate that the individual, while he may have different aspects, is a unit …… Thus with the individual man, he is not a body and a mind and a spirit, but a wonderful result of their union, something entirely different from any single aspect of himself".

The triangle stands for the symmetrical man, each part developed with reference to the whole, and not merely with reference to itself….

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Young Men's Christian Association, a movement dedicated to meet human needs, is a result of the Industrial Revolution in England which forced thousands abandoning the countryside for better living in the city. Britain was plagued with the many ills and human suffering caused by sudden rise immigrants in London. It was the worst affected city, there being no agency to take care of the people.

Amongst many migrants George Williams came to London in 1841 looking for employment and worked as an assistant in the drapery establishment of M/s Hitchcocks and Rogers. Later he married Hitchcock's daughter Helen and took over proprietorship of the firm after Hitchcock died. During the days of his struggle he formed a group of 12 young men coming from different Protestant denominations, three each from the Methodist, Independent, Presbyterian and the Church of England, to take care of the spiritual and human needs of young men who came from rural Britain to find a living in the oppressive conditions of urban society. It was in George William's room that twelve young men met on 6 June, 1844 to form a society for improving the spiritual conditions of young men engaged in drapery and other trades. Two weeks later the society was given a new name "The Young Men's Christian Association".

In the summer of 1851 the London YMCA took advantage of the Great Industrial Exhibition held at the Crystal Palace, London and made the Y-concept known to the visitors by distributing tracts and other information. The visitors, who came from all over the world, took the idea to their countries and that is how the first American YMCA took birth on December 29, 1851 and the Montreal YMCA was founded on 25 November, 1851 as the first Canadian YMCA.