The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-31
he NEEDS ROOM.
Rev. Charles N. SheldOn'S
Church Enlarged.
Work Is Commenced on a Tenn
pOrary Structure.
FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Place Is Needed for Overflow
Attendance.
How the Church Will Look AT
FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL,
How the Church Will Look At
ter 1t Is Enlarged.

Work is to be commenced at once by
the Central Congregational church on
the construction of a large temporary
addition of wood TO the church which
will be used while the new $4,000 addi-
| ton to the church is in course of cree
ton. The temporary addition is 10 adj
join the present church building on the
west, and will be so arranged that the
permanent building will be constructed
around and over it. When the time
comes to build the roof to the permanent
building, the lumber of the temporary
structure will be used for the purpose
1t is thought that the actual cost of
the temporary addition will not not be
much more than the mere cost of the
labor of erecting the building, as all of
the lumber will be needed for the perrna-
nent roof to the new addition.
1t is the purpose of Charles NJ Shei-
don, the pastor of the church, to use
the temporary addition chiefly for an
overflow Sunday school There is much
shortage of space in the present struc-
ture and the Sunday school has ions
been demanding increased facilities.
4 believe that our intermediate de-
partment will double in size as soon as
we can give it room to grow, said MI.
Sheldon recently. The other depart
ments of the school are also much in
need of ROOM
Plans for the permanent building have
been about decided upon Under the
proposed plan the new main auditorium
of the church will not be made a part
of the present building. The two will
be separated by wall, with only
small doors leading from the present
building to the new auditorium. The
present building will be devoted to one
department of the Sunday school. Thss
arrangement is made so that the pulpit
can be placed at the east side of the
church, facing west. The main en-
trance to the church will be at the
northwest corner.
There will probably be a balcony in
the church, and the seating capacity of
the auditorium will be about 800. 1t
may be deciled not to build the bali
cony at present, but to leave it for some
time in the future.
One of the novel features which Mr..
Sheldon will introduce at his new
church Will be a nursery where moth
ers can leave their small children while
attending church. The nursery will be
provided with facilities for caring for
a large number of babies. There will
be cradles and babywalkers and toys of
all sorts. and with this opportunity
open to them Mr.. Sheldon expects the
attendance of the mothers of his con-
gregation to @5hcrease- Many people
the most sensible o1les-will not take
ices with bowls, but the church nursery
solves the problem. The nursery will
be located in a distant corner of the
church, where the combined screams
of a score of babies will not interfere
with the progress of church exercises.
Experienced baby tenders will be in
charge of the nursery to see to it that
the youngsters are kept as happy as
possible.
There will be no spire on the church.
Spires are expensive, dangerous and
useless says Mr.. Sheldon land whlls
some people like them because they are
ar 70 1x-s{ Il,
churches, yet l am personally not in
favor of them" The new Sheldon
church Will have tower at the north
west corner, forming sort of architec-
tural finish for the main entrance to
the church. But the tower will termi-
nate with some sort of ornate battle
ment instead of a tapering spire
The church will have no bell and
probably no pipe organ for the present.
These things cost money. and the Shell
don plan is to go into debt for nothing
on the new building. Every plank and
stone and hod of mortar will be paid
fog as it is used, and when the church
is finished it will be free from mortgage.
Mr.. Sheldon is opposed to church debts.
If the members of Central church can
build the church and pay for it, they
members. An unusually large proper
ton of them are children. There are
few ricn men in the congregation. Two
or three of the members of the church
will probably give $1,000 apiece. But
the burden OF raising the $4,000 will
be on about 200 church members. AL
ready the contributions are flowing in,
most of the church members having as
sessed themselves certain amount per
month for the building fund.
The temporary building which Is to
be erected for use this winter will be
constructed in a similar manner to the
down town tabernacle which was used
last winter for revival services. 1t will
be covered inside and out with building
paper, and will be heated with several
big stoves.