Introduction

Christianity from its very early stages faced divisions; the reformation era brought a wide
division and their emerged variety of denominations, various forms of worship and work. The
attempt to unify Christians irrespective of denominational issues is a question however
instead of starting from church organizations unity was fostered from a new centre, which is
the existing Christian organizations of laymen and lay women, committed to the church and
supplementing its activities in all essential programs. 1 The interdenominational institutions
and the rise of student movements have tremendously contributed to the development of
modern ecumenical movement,2 which is the most important development in the church
history of the twentieth century.3 This paper will deal with the factors that led to the
formation of student movements, a brief history of some of the very important movements
and how these movements form into one worldwide organization.

1. Dual major foundation of Student Movements

1.1. Evangelical awakening

The origins of Evangelical awakening differed in different countries and churches, in spite of
that its spirit and its underlying motives were always the same i.e. evangelism. Revival is an
international phenomenon; it is rarely confined to one nation, 4 the spirit of revival came
through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards. It was clear, thoughtful, stirring, marked by little
of the emotional, and was effective in bringing men and women to the acceptance of the
Christian life. Its influence was widespread and stimulating. Jonathan Edwards message
awakened new interest in evangelism in Great Britain, Whitefield and Wesley were
stimulated by him. They had the same passion for the conversion of men and women to the
life of faith. Great multitudes gathered to listen to their preaching of the gospel. The Great
Evangelical awakening as it was called was the result of the message of Whitefield.

Through the evangelistic work of Charles G. Finney in1857 and 58 revival movement spread
to America. Dwight L. Moody was the best known in the history of modern evangelism; hold
revival meetings in numerous places namely Canada, England, Scotland and US. Mt. Hermon
was the outcome of these evangelistic works.5 Ira D. Sankey at Edinburgh University and
J.E.K. Studd at Cornell University brought students for Christian life. 6 Through this revival
movements huge number of converts entered into the church, which yielded to religious
education.7 The result of this passion made societies, voluntary movements or organizations,
in which Christians of different churches and different nations came together to win the world

1
William Adams Brown, Christian unity; Its principles and possibilities (New York: Association
Press,1921), 256, 123,125. Here after cited as William, Christian unity…
2
O.L Snaitang, A history of ecumenical movement: An introduction (Bangalore: BTESSC,2004) ,45.
Here after cited as Snaitang, A history …
3
James Hastings Nichols, History of Christianity 1650-1950 (New York: The Ronald Press
Company,1956), 436. Here after cited as James, History of Christianity…
4
Ruth rose, Stephen Carles Neil (Eds), A history of the ecumenical movement (London:
SPCK,1954),309,330. Here after cited as Ruth, A history of the ecumenical…
5
William, Christian unity… 259-261
6
Ruth, A history of the ecumenical… ,330
7
William, Christian unity… 263.
for Christ. Baptist Missionary society, the London Missionary Society, the Presbyterian
societies, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and the Church Missionary Society
were formed in addition to the existing societies. All these were denominational
organizations, except LMS which started as a union of Congregationalists, Presbyterian,
Methodist and Anglicans.8

1.2. Evangelical Alliance

The growth of missionary interest and cooperation for the furtherance of that cause, inception
and strengthening of the tract societies and other Christian agencies, suggested the possibility
of interdenominational effort among Protestants on a much wider scale. The cooperative
activity in different context led to repeated conferences.

In August 1846 a gathering was convened at London with 800 representatives from 50
evangelical bodies in Europe and America. It proposed a worldwide organization on the name
“The Evangelical Alliance”. India, Japan, the missionary lands and France, Germany,
Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Greece, US and Canada are the
countries where this alliance grew fastly. The alliance should avoid dogmatic or legislative
utterances, and to endeavor to preserve the unity of the spirit. The initial conference declared
as there is no intention to form a new denomination, sect or church, in a way it facilitates
personal Christian inter course and a mutual good understanding, not to interfere in the
internal affairs of churches, but simply to bring individual Christians into closer fellowship
and cooperation on the basis of spiritual union.

Each branch of the alliance should hold meetings annually, and all should unite in a general
conference in four or five years. Conferences were held at London in 1851; Paris,1855;
Berlin,1857; Geneva, 1861; Amsterdam,1867; New York,1873; Basel,1879;
Cophengen,1884; Florence,1891;London,1896; and 1907 following the three lines of activity:
Holding conferences, the promotion of the week of prayer and the encouragement of religious
liberty.9

2. Twin youth movements of 19th century

The YMCA and YWCA were movements of spiritual origins. Young people all around the
world were in search for a new spiritual meaning. People of likeminded met together in
prayer cells, Bible studies shared their experiences and mould each other on the same pattern
of life.10 These youth movements arose out of a desire of Christian laymen to win to Jesus
Christ, without the influence of the church and were successes by the extended work in the
field of social, educational and physical activities. They insisted that it is not a substitute for
the church, but its servant.11 Its active members and leaders are often lay officials and church
members of churches. Richard C. Morse has put it, “By intimate connection with the
churches the association became an interdenominational organization and happily avoided
being classified with undenominational societies outside of vital union with the churches.
8
Ruth, A history of the ecumenical… ,309,311
9
William, Christian unity… , 262- 265.
10
Snaitang, A history …, 46.
11
William, Christian unity…, 126.
2.1. Factors that led to the formation

The moral and spiritual condition of the Christian world was serious at the beginning of
nineteenth century. Wars led the society in a disastrous state, which leads to infidelity and
social unrest. Industrialization and the growth of new cities drew young men to these cities
where they lived in crowded quarters and their companionship was difficult or of the worst
character. Churches were inadequate to provide suitable provisions; meanwhile Protestantism
was declining religiously and morally. The impact of revivalism made an in spring among the
young men with a passion for high ideals or sacrificial effort.

2.2. The Young Men’s Christian Association

2.2.1. Origin of YMCA

George Williams at the age of fifteen after his conversion took seriously the responsibility of
Christian life. Engaging in Sunday school he gathered about a small group two or three for
prayer and conversation on religious themes and went on holding meetings to the nearby
town. He moved to London in 1841 at the age of twenty with zeal in that crowded city,
gathered a group of boys for prayer, Bible class, and formed a missionary society and a
literary club. The influence of Finney’s message on William during this period was definitive
and inspiring. The letters of Finney made him to engage in a great enterprise for young men.

On June 6, 1844, an association was formed with twelve men as members and named as “The
Society for improving the Spiritual condition of the young men engaged in Drapery and other
Trades.” An invitation was sent for young men to join in this association and continued in
prayer and Bible study.12 Evangelistic service was also soon started and soon spread to
Boston in the US in 1851.13 Christopher Smith, friend of William proposed the name as
“Young men Christian Association,” the growth of the movement was swift and steady. In
November a young man was selected as assistant secretary and missionary, works have
carried to all parts of Great Britain. Men of all Christian creeds have joined and commitment
to the programmes of the association for physical, intellectual, social, and religious
betterment and therein have learned the value of Christian operation.

2.3. The Young Women Association

2.3.1. Origin of YWCA

The YWCA in its organization and its relationship to the churches parallels YMCA. George
Williams had the intention to start a similar organization for women and it was drafted
before1850. However in the fifties, the need of providing some sort of social and religious
atmosphere for the young women employed in business and industry, stimulated men and
women of good will in various parts of US to provide suitable homes or other places of
recreation and improvement.14 The young Women’s Christian Association was organized in
England in 1854 and devoted its work mainly among women.15
12
William, Christian unity… 127,267- 269.
13
Snaitang, A history … 45
14
William, Christian unity… 270,271,132.
15
Snaitang, A history … 45.
In November 1858 a meeting was held in the chapel of the University of New York and an
organization was formed known as “Ladies’ Christian Association,” for social life,
instruction, employment, and recreation to young women away from home in cities. In1859
the first branch was formed for its ministry, included a restaurant, an employment bureau, a
loan library, a program of social and religious activities, a Sunday afternoon Bible class, a
Thursday prayer meeting, a monthly missionary meeting and open and cordial hospitality.
This became the standard activities of the branches and there were four branches in1861.

In 1866 it took the name of the “Young Women’s Christian Association” with the declaration
of promoting the” temporal, moral and religious welfare of young women dependent on their
own exertions for support.” The criterion for membership was “any Christian woman who is
a member of an Evangelical church may become an active member of this association.”
In1867 Pittsburg Association was formed and entertained the third annual conference of
YWCA, gradually the movement spread to various parts. The standard activities have been
carried and in some branches it varied depending upon the need, one most important
departments of the organization is its student section, represented in all the institution of
education to which women have access.

The Boston Home decided to enlarge the scope of the Home for Nurses under the direction of
YWCA. In 1894 World YWCA was formed, with US and European countries as members.
The prayer leagues have stressed the common heritage of worship in the lives of all believers,
and its ministries have carried multitudes of young women, in industry and in college, the
values of practical Christianity and have been another living proof of the unfailing vitality
and unity of the Christian faith. In administration the local associations can have active
membership and the voting and office holding membership be “limited to women who are
members of the protestant evangelical churches.

In1920 at national convention student association was permitted by not disturbing its aim to
serve the church, but certain resolutions have been taken. The aims were: To lead students to
faith in God through Jesus Christ; To lead them into membership and service in the Christian
church; To promote their growth in Christian faith and character, especially through the study
of the Bible; To influence young women to devote themselves in united efforts with all
Christians, to make the will of Christ effective in human society, and to extending the
kingdom of God throughout the world.

3. The Student Movements

The student movement is composed of several organizations with a common goal of being
one great enterprise; it is also the most prophetic organ of Protestant Christianity in the
twentieth century.16 YMCA, YWCA and SVM are three major organizations which constitute
the heart of the movement. They shared the same Christian convictions and espoused
common evangelistic thinking. At the international YMCA at Louisville in the year
1877student members discussed the possibility of Christian intercollegiate movement, which
soon organized and spread rapidly.

16
James, History of Christianity… ,437.
The Purpose of these movements were: to lead students to become intelligent and loyal
disciples of Christ as their Saviour and Lord; to help them in their encounter with the
temptations of student life; to build up strong Christian faith and symmetrical Christian
character; to train them in individual and associated Christian work in order that they may be
useful in church; to place up on them a burden of responsibility for the extension and up
building of the kingdom of Christ throughout the world, and to influence them to place their
lives where they can best serve their generation.” Universities, colleges, seminaries, law,
medical, dental, agricultural colleges are some of its fields.17

3.1. The inter seminary Missionary Alliance

It was an offshoot of the intercollegiate student movement that had its first meeting at New
Brunswick, New Jersey in 1880.Robert Mateer was among its pioneers. It fostered
missionary interest and action among students in several seminaries in US irrespective of
denominational affiliations. It was later named as Inter seminary movement was a forerunner
of the Student Volunteer Movement. After the emergence of SVM, the alliance continued its
close ties with it and later became a theological department of YMCA.

3.2. Student Volunteer Movement

The SVM was organized during the Mount Hermon missionary awakening in 1886.Luther D.
Wishard, C.K. Ober, Robert Wilder, J.E.K. Studd, D.L. Moody, John R. Mott and many
others leaders were from SVM. News of volatile SVM in the US spread rapidly among
students of several universities in England. The visit of Robert Wilder to England in the
academic year 1891 stirred up British student’s interest to begin a movement as SVM in
US.18 The SVM quadrennial conventions had a unique influence on colleges and universities.
As for the mission fields themselves, three fourths of the men and seventy percent of the
women who have sailed from North America since 1890 have been “volunteers.” John. R.
Mott was the administrative genius who organized this “student Volunteer movement” of
which he was chairman from 1888 to1915. The missionary vocation of Evangelical
Protestantism was there proclaimed with revivalistic urgency made many to become foreign
missionaries. The conference sent messengers such as Robert Wilder to circulate around the
colleges and in one year 2,500 students volunteered. With its travelling secretaries the
movement soon spread to Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Holland and
Switzerland.19 Membership was based on the declaration,” It is my purpose, if God permit, to
become a foreign missionary”. The watchword was “the evangelization of the world in our
generation,” these volunteers vitalized student Christian work with their demand of absolute
commitment, at the same time that they easily bridged denominational differences.

3.3. Student Christian Movement

The student Christian movement grew out of the international and interdenominational
YMCA. The worldwide student Christian movement developed from the first international

17
William, Christian unity… 274.
18
Snaitang, A history …, 46-47.
19
James, History of Christianity… ,436-437.
Christian student conference at D.L. Moody’s Mt. Hermon center in1886. 20 The SCM grew
out in the context of the intercollegiate YMCA, SVM and evangelistic movements. Its
objective was to bring together Christian students for worldwide mission and evangelization.
Many of those who were actively involved in the student movements like John R. Mott,
Nathan Soderblom, W.A. Visser’t Hooft, Joseph H Oldham, Tissington Tatlow, William
Temple, William Paton, V.S. Azariah and others have become outstanding ecumenical
statesman of the 20th century.

The student movement did not confine itself to the US and England. Like the YMCA and
YWCA, it made significant expansion in other European countries and across the world. Its
missionary obligation was summed up in one line definition, “evangelization within this
generation,” as the unevangelized portions of the world posed a serious challenge to Christian
students. It was also a movement for unity. 21 Various national student Volunteer movements
became the nucleus of SCM.

3.4. World’s student Christian Federation (WSCF)

In the year 1884, Luther D. Wishard strongly underscored the utmost importance of the unity
of Christian students around the world.22 At a YMCA conference at Amsterdam in 1891 Mott
gathered delegates from various countries to discuss an international student Christian
fellowship and this promoted John R.Mott to set up the World’s student Christian Federation
(WSCF) at Vadstena, Sweden in 1895. He was a leader of exceptional quality. Through his
eloquent speech and intelligence, he could wield tremendous influence upon the students and
through an inbuilt administrative prowess he set the organization in order. Then he made
personal visits to different countries, promoted student organizations and brought them
together under the umbrella of the world student body. His attempt rightly fulfilled Wishard’s
vision that Said “Christ for the students of the world, and the students of the world for
Christ.”

3.4.1. Features that characterized WSCF

The features that characterized WSCF

 It was an inclusive movement that embraced students from different denominational

The WSCF varied from country to country in its theological and ecclesiastical character, but
in it hundreds and thousands of future professional people learned to think, worship, and
work for the glory of God across denominational lines, yet without compromising their
20
James, History of Christianity… ,436-437.
21
Snaitang, A history …, 47.
22
Snaitang, A history …, 47.
23
Snaitang, A history …, 47-48.
convictions. By training men in this context, and by building all kinds of personalities across
denominational and national lines the WSCF became the most important and probably the
indispensable nursery of the personnel of the ecumenical movement. The WSCF was the only
student group which held across the battle lines in World War I, when both communist and
socialist student internationals spilt open. In the postwar despair again it was the WSCF
which alone mustered faith to undertake the task of rebuilding. Out of this effort came the
great International Student service Organization (ISSO). World youth conferences of the
WSCF as at Amsterdam (1938) and Oslo (1948) paralleled the conferences of the other
contributory streams of the ecumenical movement.24

Conclusion

The student voluntary movements arouse out of the two crucial events Evangelical
awakening and Evangelical alliance. The passion for world evangelization which is the result
of these events united and collected students from different parts of the world. They all left
their ecclesiastical traditions, doctrines and patterns of worship and gathered for that one
cause. It was not the church which fostered this unity but the notion came out from the lay
people and lay movements which made success in bring all together. There emerged diverse
movements which moved laypeople and students to get united. The role of these movements
in laying the foundation for ecumenical movement cannot be ignored. These movements
were pioneer in bringing modern ecumenical movement. It is because of these movements the
last years of the nineteenth century bring us to the verge of a new epoch in ecumenical
Church history.

Bibliography

William Adams Brown, Christian unity; Its principles and possibilities (New York:
Association Press,1921.

24
James, History of Christianity…, 437-438.
O.L Snaitang, A history of ecumenical movement: An introduction (Bangalore:
BTESSC,2004.

James Hastings Nichols, History of Christianity 1650-1950. New York: The Ronald Press
Company,1956.

Ruth rose, Stephen Carles Neil (Eds), A history of the ecumenical movement (London:
SPCK,1954.