During World War II, a captured Japanese officer thoughtfully examined a football that the Y.M.C.A. had just given his P.W. camp as a gift from his enemies. Later, he approached the Rev. Fredrik Franklin, a Swedish Y.M.C.A. missionary in the Far East. "Mr. Franklin," he said, holding up the football, "is this Christianity?" Said Franklin: "Yes, sir, I believe it is."
Last week 10,000 delegates gathered in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the World's Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations. As Delegate Franklin told his story, the football seemed an appropriate symbol of the Y.M.C.A.'s rugged, straightforward and successful type...
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