Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-05-07
A CHURCH NURSERY.
Remarkable Success of Plan origi-
mated by Rev. Albert j. Lord.

Remarkable Success OF Plan Or1Rf-
| mated by Rev. Albert j. Lord.
Rev. Albert J. Lord, an Ellsworth boy,
pastor Of the First Congregational church
of Meriden, Conn.,, is the originator OF the
"church nursery" idea, which has accom-
plished so much smong the young people
of his own parish. The Record, of Mcri-
den, tells the story OF the origin of ''the
nursery, and now styled 'sthe beginners
department, and it's extension. The
article follows;
Rev. Albert J. Lord, pastor Of the First
| Congregational church, has accomplished q
great work among the young people Of his
| parish. The congregations on Sunday morn
/ ing are an object lesson In what eau be done
among the Sunday school scholars 10 . pastor
sets out TO do his work well, Mr.. Lord. since
October Of last year, has seldom stepped be-
hind his pulpit and looked about the church
| without noting frem ninety 10 $50 young
people, all members OF the Sunday school.
| from seven years mp TO twenty years, in his
| congregation
For the past six years or more there has
been class for little tots, from four to six
| morning service in the church. This was ar
ranged by Mr.. Lord for the convenience of
parents who hesitated to attend church SER
vice because Of the little folks. Competent
teachers have been engaged. and now while
parents are enjoying the sermon, the little
ones, too, are having q good time, and incl
dentally acquiring n love for the Sunday
school.
This class for children Was originally called
THE Nursery. Later Mr.. Lord gave IL its
present title, "Beginners' department" Not
long ago New York paper heralded q pastor
in New Jersey as the hrst preacher to in
sugarate the nursery plan in the church,
while, as Just stated, Mr. Lord inaugurated
the plan six years ago.
Always interested in the children Mr. |
Lord believed that shey should become at
PENDANTS at church, and SO took the matter |
up with the church committee. This confer |
euce resulted in his starting last October a |
church service at 4 O'Clock in the afternoon |
for children from seven years upward. The |
nrst meeting had an attendance Of twenty. |
Mr.. Lord at this meeting reeited the plans he |
proposed for having them attend 3 church |
service, and the children entered into the |
spirit of the occasion with earnestness. He |
taught them several Of the old hymns that are |
sung in the church services, and = prayer TO
say when they bowed their heads upon enter
ing church.
So fascinated did the children become with
this AFTERNOON church service that the atten-
dance increased with leaps and bounds; first
to hfty and then TO 100.
whea the attendance at the afternoon SER
vice passed the 100 mark, Mr.. Lord placed
them all in the church attendants at the regu-
lar fuorpfug uraarhEn1 Ne |
all who came with their parents to occupy
pews with them, and arranged seats for those
whose parents did not attend. He discoy-
cred in this way that there was fully 50 per
cent. OF the children whose parents were not
attendants In the church; they came 10 the
service alone.
When IL became necessary to divide the
juvenile congregation, Mr.. Lord took the
children from seven to thirteen years OF age
and formed the junior congregation. This has
now reached q membership of i4o. A plan was
formulated whereby II was possible for the
pastor TO keep a complete record of the
young people who attended the morning SER
vice.
Each juvenile attendant has a number and
this number is transmitted TO the helpers at
the door by the children when they enter the
church in the morning. By this means Mr..
Lord knows ut the end Of the service just who
and how many attended. The attendance has
been most satisfactory throughout the weeks
that have followed since this plan was put
into operation. The attendance Is never be-
low ninety and usually reaches lilo children
Another group Of children, from fourteen to
twenty years of age, is designated as the
church-going league. This is composed OF |
$50 members. 1t is made up OF the scholars
from the Sunday school, not including the |
intermediate department; in fact, the entire |
attendance OF the young people is from the |
regular Sunday school. Mr.. Lord has fur |
nished the junior congregation with q SER |
mon book. In this they write the text. sub |
ject OF the sermon and the number Of minutes |
each sermon consumes. These books, when |
filed, are turned over to Mr.. Lord.
That the pastor and his wife may keep in |
close touch with the children, social is held |
on certain days from to 9 O'Clock, when the |
pastor gives 9 talk on religion, games are |
played and refreshments served. These |
socials are enjoyed alike by the Junior con-
gregation and the church-going league. |
The socials for the latter are held in the |
evening.
Mr.. Lord has found that his work among
the children has netted great results. Not
only has 1t brought unheard-of interest
among the children, but has. also, been the
means Of bringing many parents OF the chill
dren to the morning service.
In speaking of his work ar. Lord said tina
what he had done could be done by any pastor
who was willing to make room for the chill
dren in the church. The sight OF the happy,
smiling faces at the morning services would,
he believed. repay any pastor for the added
work entailed.