Advancing the Kingdom

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Advancing T he Kingdom: Kingdom House
Convent St. boys secured employment in
a new locality where three of the Seventh
street boys have been working for some
time. Fearing the inevitable initiating from
his fellow workmen at the factory I asked
the three to stand by their fellow clubman
and their response was as hearty as it was
gratifying.19
Mattie Wright remained at Kingdom
House until the end of 1906, when
unspecified “home duties” called her
away.
Sloan Mission’s program in 1903
continued building the existing
industrial school, kindergarten and
mothers’ club and added a night school.
The school began with nearly sixty
girls and boys who worked in factories
during the day. They were taught
reading, writing and arithmetic three
evenings each week. By 1904 a savings
bank had been started, with depositors
saving for things like overcoats, helping
with family expenses and buying a
headstone for the grave of a deceased
mother. The Mission benefited that year
from the World’s Fair, listed among the
many donors as contributing apples.
Persons attending the Fair stayed at
Sloan Mission, paying $2.85 for their
lodging.20
In 1909, Kingdom House moved into
buildings formerly owned by Walther
College on 1031 and 1033 S. Eighth
Street. It remained in this location until
1927. On this “magnificent property…
will be ample room for all church work
and Sunday School services, for play-
grounds, boys’ clubs, gymnasiums,
kindergartens, basket ball [sic], for all
our needs.”21 In this new building too,
was the new Clinic Department. The
clinic had a nurse and doctor, both of
whom supervised the distribution of
milk under the auspices of the Pure Milk
Commission. The Director of the Pure
Milk Clinic reports:
As a result of visiting the sick babes at
their homes where in previous years babes
were suffering untold horrors from improper
feeding, the need of a place where the babes
could be regularly watched became very
urgent.
This was the nucleus of the baby
clinic that has been called Kingdom
House Feeding Clinic by the Pure Milk
Commission.
The growth during the past year has been
very large. There have been 165 babes under
observation: this includes diarrhoeal [sic]
and nutritional diseases.
Three observations are made weekly in
the morning, as this is the best time for the
baby, and most convenient for the mothers,
when they can come for their daily supply of
milk.
Mothers usually bring their babes to us
when they are very sick, and after trying
various proprietary foods. This of course
mars the chance of recovery.
Every babe is given a thorough physical
examination, weight is recorded, note made
of infant’s environments and mother’s
intelligence. Prescriptions for milk is [sic]
issued, and brief instruction in infant
hygiene given. A promise is secured from
the mother that she will return the baby to
be weighed. A gradual gain of weight is an
incentive for returning.
12
A
P hoto:
A: 1033 South 8th Street,
where the clinic and boys’
activities were held from 1902
until 1927
The baby’s condition
was very serious;
emaciation extreme,
shriveled skin marking
the condition of the
bones, intestinal
disorder added to
the gravity of the
situation, weight 7
pounds.