Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-12
TAKE BABIES TO CHURCH
ADVISES PROF. M'KEEvER
Nationwide Authority on Sociologi-
cal Problems Tells OF Plan
Tested.
PROVIDE FOR URsERY
Asserts That 1t Is Conceivable That
Man Whom Sermon Failed to
Move May BE Reached Through
an Infant.
ny DIR. William a. M.kEEyru

Take the babies to church during
the service. Have them kept in "A side
room and tended by tho young ladies'
OF the sunday school class while the
congregation is at worship This
scheme Is now in operation in AT least
ono big city church. and here twenty
one babies were counted during Il re-
cent service.
Now. here is IT means OF real com
Tort to the busy mother in this day
of tho vanishing home helper and the
enforced expcdicnts for getting the
work OF the household done while yet
finding time for poise and worship.
How dclightful-a long line Of autos
parked In front OF The church and a
long row OF baby autos" parked on
the inside with four bright middle teen
girls in charge of the baby brigade.
But II IS not merely the valuable
plan for combining rest and service
and Worship for the mothers OF in
iants which wish to commend here.
canoe in this baby affair at tho church.
After tho benediction IL seemed that
nearly half the consrcgation-ol Id and
nursery 10 admier the babies II was
vcriiablc love feast. and really am
other form of worship.
An Aitnr of Childhood.
Ana why not an aits.r OF chiiahooh !;
Why not a form of worshippinE God
through practice Of reverence and
love for the greatest in His heavenly
s sGSdG% md The @1Fes S
stone and wood. but ! worship Cod
through you my high minded and
reverend friend. as living EXPRESSION
of Gods highest thought in tho world.
IL you cannot sec God acting through
the forms OF common men and women
can you not III least behold Ills spirit
and majesty AZ wrought into the little
unspoilcd infant?
And so commend tho Idea Of baby
nursery in the back .parlor OF every
city church during the hour OF tho
sermon with half hour OF worship
with the little ones as further ser.
vice. At the close OF the sermon. and
just before the bcncdiction. | imagine
the minister will announce
Friends. stop TO greet one another
with Il cordial hand shake Be watch
us and make him welcome. Then pass
through our baby nursery and larry
isere Ions eFonsh gs nao TaEe
them. for by SO doing YOU mag bring
your own heart"
Thanks God for Children.
II is conceivable that a man whom
the sermon failed to move may here
be touched 20 the hearts core. Many
children and secretly thanked God for
sending SO many OF them into this
stormy old world. II is likewise alto
Eethcr probable that many who have
hitherto shown hard hearted indit-
ference 10 children may DC horn again.
That at least is my hope and cxpecta-
ton as valuable result of the baby
nursery in the church.
The man who has never found God
because Of a foolish habit OF look in z
OF into heavenly space for Him-and
such wretched men arc common among
US today-by coming into the loving
presence OF an ordinary infant. such 4
man might conceivably feel strange
now thrill in his heart and exemplify
once more that grand old saying of an
ancient day. "A little child shall lead
them"