The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-06
HUSH A BYE, BABY
First Methodist Church to Have
Nursery.
Will Relieve Parents During
Morning Sermons.
DELTA ALPHA CLASS.
Are Willing to Care for Little
Babies.
SO That Mothers Enjoy Services
in Peace.

Hush, a-bye baby, don't GO cry.
Mama's coming pretty soon. Does 90
| want to go by-lo? Rock-a-by baby
Now Johnny, if you will keep still
| just one minute I will tell you story.
Once upon a time
| The above fragments of infant lang
uage may be heard in the kindergarten
room at the First Methodist church here
| every Sunday morning in the future
during the sermon. This is in accord
ance with plan which is being evolv-
| ed by the girls OF the Delta Alpha class
of the Sunday school to take care of
| tables from infants in arms to five
years old, while the little ones mothers
are listening to the sermon. While it
has been tried and is in operation at
some of the other churches in Topeka,
| it will be inaugurated the first time at
the First NJ. E. church next Sunday
| morning.
BY this plan many mothers may at
tend church who would otherwise be
| compelled to stay at home. or to sit
| next to the aisle, hoping against hope
| that baby will be good.
| This same system is employed in 9th
| er cities, in Denver, Los Angeles, and
| other places and has worked like
| charm.
The announcement that it would be
started in the Methodist church was
announced last Sunday morning by DR..
| Frank N. Lynch, pastor of the church.
Hitherto the matter has been talked
| of for some time, but lately Mrs. Ralph
| n. McEntire, president and teacher OF
the Delta Alphas, who range in age
| from the rroverbia1 sweet sixteen to
eighteen and just possibly over, took up
the proposition with her class. She
thought that they were Just the right
age to handle the undertaking. The
girls We're enthusiastic about it and
" ere CAD for the privilege of being tenn
| I,crary mothers to the infants. Thus 1t
| was arranged that the D. A. should
have charge of the Sunday kindergar-
| ten. It is probable that the girls vii!
| alternate, part of them caring for the
| youngsters and the rest listening to the
| sermon one Sunday, and then reversing
the order he next Sunday.
This arrangement, if it works in
peace and harmony may be made per
rianent. If this comes to pass, the
mother can not say to Mrs. Regular
| Church Attender, "Well, I would really
| like to attend services more often, but
| you know, my baby"
| 1t is possible that check system
may be used to keep the babies from
| being mixed up. There is a slight dan
ger that if several kidlets were all
dressed exactly alike, and of about the
/
| them could not tell them apart, and
might accidentally hand them to the
| wrong mothers after the sermon. And
| il is not impossible that the latter, with
/ their minds on the sermon and the
/ Sunday dinner problem might not know
| the difference for some time. So 1t has
| been suggested that slips with cores
| pending number be attached to the ba-
| lies and their respective mothers. This
| would save much time and confusion.
] n
| youngsters has not been decided, but
| at first, likely story telling and "trot-
| ting will be tried. If the babies cry,
they will be cornforted and gently re-
| proved, but it is not likely that cor
| neral punishment will be administered.
| However, the baby-room is far enough
| from the auditorium room that their
| cries will not be heard, but if an in
| FAINT becomes inconsolable a messenger
| will be sent to it's mother, asking her
| to come at once.
| This emergency is not expected as the
| D. AS feel confident of being able to
entertain their charges. The girls re-
| ferred TO are: Miss Clara Currie, Miss
Fay Johnston. Miss Dorothy Overmyer,
| Miss Mary Weightman, Miss ErIna Cor
con ana Miss Nellie Montgomery.
| This class is q branch of the Ma
| tional Delta Alpha and has a regular
| charter. 1t was organized in the Meth
| cdist church here about two years ago.
Mrs. McEntire is both teacher and
pre- sident.
Miss Currie and Miss Gordon are vice
| Presidents. Miss Ovcrmyer is secre-
| tary. These young women are taking
| a Bible study course, at present read
ing from Isaiah.
1.-The girls are very enthusiastic about
taking care of the babies during the
| sermon Sunday mornings, said Mrs
McEntire. "On account of their age and
ether qualifica tons I think they are
Just the ones to take charge Of them.
| II will give many mothers a chance to
enjoy the service in peace, and it IS
likely that many will now attend regu-
larly who have stayed at home before
| On account of their little ones.
| mo, am not worrying as how we
will prevent the babies from being mix
ed and being given to the wrong moth
ers, but perhaps a check system will
remove the danger.
st hope the mothers will trust their
infants with us and we will guarantee
the best OF care and safe return Of
the latter.
| 81 don't know what toys we will use
| In a0111Se them h11t that matter will he