Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-20
STATE BAPTIsTs
IN ANNUAL CONVENTION.
Second Day of the Gathering at Mystic
Reports on the Legacies Includes
the Barber Disqualification of Of
ficers.

Tuesday morning a devotional SER
vice conducted by Rev. N. b. Prindle
of Preston City began the activities
of the second day for the nearly 300
Baptists, including delegates from
most of the churches of that denomin-
alton in the safe who are gathered at
Mystic to attend the anniversaries OF
the state Baptist societies, which be-
gan Monday and which continue
| through today. Following the devo-
tioIfal service, w. J. Tuller of Hart
ford presented paper on A Forward
Look.
The opening session of the Con-
neeticut Baptist Convention with an
address OF welcome by the Rev. w. Z.
Bates, pastor of the Union Baptist
church, where the exercises are being
held, and response by the president
| Of the convention, Rev. Dr. H. M
/ Thorn pson of Hartford, followed. After
presentation of the reports Of COM
mitttees and of that Of Rev. DR.. A. b
1 Coats of Hartford, secretary of the
annual sermon was preached by Rev
J. w. Richardson Of Stamford, ON
The Ever Victorious Christ.
The report of Secretary Coats
showed that the Baptists now have
152 chlrchcs in Connecticut, with a
membership of over $4,000. One new
church has been established during
| the year, that at Mansfield Depot the
| church being beneficiary to quite q
large amount under the will of the
late Eber Durham. The total minis
terial changes in the state the past
year is Al, an unusually large num-
Der.
A falling Off In the number Of ac-
cessions to the churches was spoken
of by the secretary. He said he did
not think it grew out of any decrease
! ii might be regarded as the natural
reaction after such unusually large in
creases in revenue from all sources
but that this had been accompanied
by an increaes in demands for aid in
the regular work and I'm special ef-
forts. The time is at hand. he said
when the Connecticut Baptist conven-
not less than $4,000 in the regular
work of the convention
The report showed further sttat for
| the whole or part Of the year the con-
vention has aided in the support OF
/ 20 English speaking pastors, one
German and five Swedish pastors. and
these men have occupied 27 fields and
report 50 baptisms-20 less than last
year. In cooperation with the Amer
, lean Baptist Home Mission society
| one French and six Ita tan mission
! aries have been employed, occupying
nine fields and reporting 81 baptisIhs
as a gainst 40 last year. OF the Bap-
fist churches at East Killingly the
report says: Tt Is interesting Ia
note that at East KiIIingiy the Bap-
fist and Free Baptist churches are
slowly working toward union OF
forces. Since January / Rev. W. B
| Green, pastor of the Free Baptist
church. has also been the acting pas
tor Of the Baptist church. and the
congregations have worshipped to-
gether three months in one church and
three months in the other"
The legacies reported by DR.. Coats
were: Two thousand dollars from the
estate of Miss Ellen M. King of Suf-
field; $2,ceO from the estate of Miss
Amir e. Westcott OF DanielsoR; $500
from the estate of the late Jane More
house Of Bridgeport; part proceeds OF
a house and lot in Deep River.
From r. 3. BARRIERS Estate.
DR.. Goats said that the saffairs OF
\ the Birney Realty Co. of Torrington
| in which the convention has a one
sixth intele est, are taking shape and
a fund is accommodating, which will
! some day become a valuable addition
to the conventions resources. BY the
will of the late Thurston Barber of
| Baltic the convention is to hold in
trust for the widow the estate, consist
| ing Of $16,257.96 and land appraised
at $4,000, the income to go to her, and
upon her death the principal to revert
to the convention. The secretary urg-
ed the increasing by gifts and legacies
of the present small edifice fund to not
less than $4,000. Important church
enterprises, it was pointed out could
thus be granted loan Off few thou
! sand dollars at reasonable interest
rates. A conservative estimate of the
| budget for the coming year placed il
at S12,750 including s2.25O for aid to
"A English speaking churches, S3,700
for work among the foreigners. $4,000
for salaries. $500 for interest, $3.50 for
supplies $500 for repairs and taxes
and $3.50 for incidentals.
The following announcement was
made in regard TO the restoration fund
Of about $4,000:
IT seems necessary to say a last
word concerning this fund. The
| amount in hand collected from the
pledges. together with property at our
disposal is amply sufficient TO restore
every dollar of the lost funds. even
| I'd the last dollar of the church edi-
flee fund. So that the splendid task is
at last accomplished There is still
about $1,000 that may be collected on
| plcuSSs, IHdl Gail ne uS'C TO paw the
cost Of the campaign If we can now
wipe out the last remnant of debt, we
viii gladly turn down that page of
our experience and turn ourselves to
worthier things"
! Election of Officers.
The election of officers by the state
Organization resulted in reelection of
all the officers of last year excepting
the two vice presidents. There were
some changes in committees. The list
| follows:
President, DR.. H. NJ Thompson of
Hartford; past vice president, Pierce
M. Welsh, New Haven; second vice
president, Captain Elias F., Wilcox of
Mystic; secretary, DR. A. B. Goats of
Hartford; treasurer, Charles Edward
! Prior, Sr, Hartford; auditor Alfred
| Spencer. Jr., Hartford.
| Committee on nomination Rev.
w. G. Fennell, Hartford; Rev. Brewer
q. Beardnan. Waterford; Rev. II. p.
| Carpenter, South Norwik; Rev. w. ".
Gray. Southington: Rev. d. J. Nelly,
Danielson; Rev. II. B. Rankin, Noanlx.
Committee on resolution--Rev. Fl. b.
Rankin, Noank; Hadlai A. Hull. New
London; kev. A. r. Todd. Stafford;
| Rev. A. II. Carpenter, Wethersfield
Rev. George d. Reid, Shelton; Rev.
florf..I-