Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing - Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Lift Up 'Your Eyes Six Sisters working in Chicago among the poor, the sick, the broken homes and at the Day Nursery, bringing and proving Christ's love to the lowly and forsaken Lutheran Deaconess Day Nursery y The Day Nursery exists for the purpose of SAVING the home. Orphan Homes take the children from broken homesg hut the Nursery takes little ones in order that their homes may be continued and hettered. In order that a mother may go out to earn a livelihood, and at the same time keep her home for her loved ones, the Nursery cares for the little children during the day. From those few but descriptive words, we sense a vast field for cultivation-a iield bearing social, economic and Christian fruits. Thus, it must have been that our kind deaconesses, back in 1911, seeing the fields of poverty about them, set out to root out the weeds. Mother Superior Ingeborg Sponland has been in the very heart of the service from its inception. Our Day Nursery had its first beginning in 1911, when a small Christian kindergarten was opened at Hope Mission, Mrs. Bruun's old temperance hall. Our kind sisters went out to seek poor children in needy homes-homes, needy not only from a material standpoint, but Page Fourteen

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Lift Up 'Your Eyes Wliat jesus Said I said: Let me walk in the fieldf' God said: Nay, walk in the townf' I said: There are no flowers there: He said: No flowers, but a crown. I said: But the sky is black, 'There is nothing but noise and ding But He wept as He sent me back, There is more, he said, there is sin. I said: But the air is thick, And fogs are veiling the sung He answered: Tet souls are sick, And souls in the dark undone. I said: I shall miss the light, And friends will miss me, they say, He answered me, Choose tonight, If I am to miss you, or they. I pleaded for time to be given: He said: Is it hard to decide? It will not seem hard in Heaven To have followed the steps of your Guide. I cast one look at the fields, Then set my face to the town: He said: My child, do you yield? Will you leave the flowers for the crown? Then into ,His hand went mine, And into my heart came He: And I walk in a light Divine, 'The path I had feared to see. -George MacDonald. Page Thirteen

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Lift Up row Eyes uh wanting also in the message of the Gospel. Here in this little school, children were garnered in, cleaned and washed up, and then told the wonderful story of our Saviour. Here, too, mother's meetings were held with devotions, health and educational talks and refreshments, sewing classes were conducted for the girlsg and Sunday School on Sabbath afternoons. Truly the Lord prospered the work, for the hall soon became too small. In October, 1914, the Mission was moved two blocks away to 1307 W. Erie Street, with Sister Caroline as Superintendent, Sister Olette as kindergarten teacher, and Sister Martha Hagen as first Nursery, relief and house visitation matron. Here three new branches were set up, namely, manual training and Bible classes for the boysg Gospel meetings for the adults, and day nursery work. A poor mother of six children, who had been deserted by her husband, made a pitiful plea for leaving her little ones at the Mission while she sought work during the day. Her supplication was granted, and thus, the Day Nursery had its actual start. But there were never more than eight children kept here during the day. In 1917, the place again outgrown, the Nursery was moved to 1759 No. Campbell Avenue, in a store building with three flats. In October of the same year, the kindergarten numbered fortyfthree, ages three to six. Witli its first license on October first, 1917, the Day Nursery opened with one child, but sixteen were added during the month. Sister Caroline was Superintendent until 1919, when Sister May took charge. In September, 1921, a notice to move was received. With meager funds and no place in view, matters looked dark. In vain, the sisters sought a place. Friends, however, came to the rescue, and in the fall of 1921, the present property was purchased at a cost of fB5,2iO. In 1924, the house was moved to the rear of the lot, remodeled and enlarged at a cost of 5513,000.00. At the present, the institution is valued at 325,000 From an objective viewpoint, we marvel at the rapid growth of this Day Nursery. From one child at the time of licensing, to wellfnigh 300 at the present, is the remarkable increase in enrollment. During the past year, 178 homes have experienced of its benefitsg thus, socially and Page Fifteen