New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-17

tine that has elapsed since then il has mustered
g regular congregation Of more than 100 with ne"
faces al every meeting. Nesting under the caves
OF large sanctuary FOR grown-ups, chicken
under the wing Of its mother protector. the chill
orens church appears 70 be almost toy. child
plsything- II is only one story high, but is "sde
enough for a double door and TWO windows in
front and long enough for many rows Of pews.
platform and q pulpit Over the doorway lis name
is painted in large letters.
Its origin can be traced back 10 that noted
evangelist Dwight l. Moody, though II is not
known that NJ. Moody ever suggested the organl-
cation Of 4 church exclusively for children He
was responsible, however. Tor the establishment
in Chicago Of 4 great religious institution known
as the Bible Institute, where hundreds and thou
sands Of young mer are trained TO perform evan
Felistic and mission work 1t happened in the pas
sing OF tine that young printer. William Filline
by name took Z course at the institute and was
Inspired with desire TO uplift the community in
which he dwelt While he labored at his trade by
day-for ne was & poor boy-Filline cast eyes
around night in search OF the hest spot TO put
his shoulder to the religious wheel.
TOO S0MBRE FOR YOUNG.
The ueiglbor-aood in which he lived appeared 10
be well supplied with churches. but he believed
there was much austerlty about them 10 at
tract children. Somewhere he had read story OF
q dominic who had a charge in a rural community
Whenever the dominic made pastoral call the
heads of the family hailed him with delight and
the plurnpest 1enderest fowl of the henroost ran
to the block and laid its head in readiness
for the axe but the children Of the household ran
away fnd hid. II plain. reasoned Fllline, that
thu little folks STOOD in awe Of the sombre dress
and the solemn 1isage of the riding preacher.
Conditions were much the in the city,
only there was no henroost. and the children. in
stead Of hieing away the woods, could find
amusement the skating rink or at a dice game
81 alley.
Now" said this youthful missionary. who was
not too old TO sympa1hize with children or too
young TO understand the ways Of men, "a man
likes 70 own horse automobile Owning
St he interested In 1T and takes good Of it
The same inherent desire something be-
longs 10 the small boy. Give him top and he
will learn how 10 spin IL and treasure il. So. IL
you wish 10 interest children in the church let
them own the church and then to il that
their church has elements which Will satisfy their
natural longings It is natural for child to
r3lay The church must recognize this and supply
amusement. The form of amusement must pro-
gress as the child grows.
With these theories about amusement and own
ership as q basis Filline began TO build the first
childrens church. At this point he found
ally in Bernard Gronseth. who is e little older
than FfIline and Is q carpenter and paperhanger.
Both worked steadily and apart portions Of
their earnings q fund with which 10 erect
church. When they had nucleus they acquired
q lot al No, 60 North Fairfield avenue. adjacent
TO the Humboldt Swedish Methodist Church
Then they began buying lumber and with their
own hands started TO construct house Of wor-
ship for children doing the work IN their spare
time.
The construction Of the building proceeded
slowly and laboriously but the young. self-ap-
pointed self-supporting home missionaries perse-
vered until IL was finished. BY that time news Of
their undertaking had spread throughout a large
neishborhood and into most Of the churches OF
the city. Both layInen and ministers had be-
come interested in the project