Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-28
PAST YEAR IN NORWICH DISTRICT
Sup J. H. NewIand Tells of the Activities the Methodist Churches to the Conference-Year Has Been Debt Re ducng One

the work of the church because of the financial and social strength they bring to the church. Indeed in many places the church would have long since closed it's doors but for the noble band of women who have organized them selves into an auxiliary of the church.
 The Epwerth league still maintains its place as a spiritual and social force in this district This fact is due large ly to the activities and careful plan ming of the District Cabinet who have maintained the institute at Williman tic and a series of Sub district con ventions throughout the district
 To one who is in a position to be- come acquainted intimately with the working of a large number of church es 1t becomes a matter of intense in terest to note changes in emphasis on certain phases of church activity. It Is not necessarily a sign of decline that some things languish that once four ished if the life of the church be flowing in new channels with un- abated vitality. During the past year there has been growing interest, in the Norwich District, in work for and by the men and boys. This takes diff ferent forms but the object is the same and there is no more hopeful sign, no more encouraging feature of our work than this. The mems clubs, mems classes, brotherhOOds, as well as the boys movements have been greatly stimulated by the Men and Religion movement which our district center ed in Hartford.
 Special Anniversaries and Annual
 Gatherings.
 The one hundredth anniversary of the church at East Glastonbury was , celebrated this year in October A week of programme brought together many of the former pastors and friends of this church. Bishop Wilson s. Lewis of Foochow, China, was the central figure among the speakers of the occa- sion. Part of the services were held on Asbury rock where one hundred 1 years before Bishop Asbury had stood 1 to preach to the people gathered from l all the country round. The services, l however were for the most part held in the newly renovated and redecorated l church which had been especially re- paired for this event The pastor, Rev | Otis H. Green, deserves great credit for the manner ip which the programme was planned and carried out
 The Epworth league institute this year had the most successful session of its three years history. The enroll ment was the largest and the teaching and enthusiasm the best yet secured. This institute is worth while. The young people who spend a week of their vacation there are pretty sure to maintain a keen interest in the young i peoples work throughout the whole year.
 The Willimantic Camp Meeting which followed the institute was also one of the best in the history of that historic camp ground. Rev. Harry Taylor again served as evangelist anC seemed to everybody attending to out
 do all previous years of his service
 there in the quality of his messages
 His earnest and eloquent sermons were
 delivered with rare skill. They were
 tender as the love that prompted
 them, but strong and manly, a lessor
 to every young minister in the art 0.
 preaching to win souls. All the ser
 vices were pronounced more than sat.
 isfactory and the congratulations O
 the entire board of directors were ex
 pressed at the close of the meeting
 The closing Sunday evening witnessed
 the altars filled with seeking souls
 As formerly the finances of the asso
 citation received the care and attention
 of the meeting. During the year W,
 had installed a complete outfit of cleo
 tric lights for the whole ground at
 cost of S900 and digged and equippet
 two new wells at a cost of $400. Thi
 with the regular expense of running
 the meeting made a large amount 0 money necessary. Notwithstanding
 that rain fell all day on the last da.
 of the meeting, keeping away three o
 four thousand of those who usuall,
 come on that day. we raised S1200 t
 cover our expenses It was q nev
 manifestation of the devotion of ou
 district to that meeting and their de
 termination to keep 1t alive and work
 ing. The ladies of the auxiliary wer
 as usual greatly helpful in making pos stble the new Improvements. In addi
 tion to helping in the before mentione
 improvements they have this yea l, bought the cottage that stood too nea } that provided for the district superln
 tendent. It is to be removed that tn camp ground parsonage may be beau
 tttied. The cost of this cottage wa
 s250.
 Church Repairs and Church Debts. There Are but eleven of the sixty seven churches on this district that re
 ported a debt on their church propert last year. This is a splendid showing but it is still farther reduced this veal The church at Willimantic has pal S67O on it's debt, Moosup 1925 on it , debt and Eastford eXtinguished tn
 debt on it's new parsonage by the pay ment of $500. Mapleville, R. l., ha paid S105 debt and s80 repairs, Jewet , City paid S200 toward it's small deb l Various churches have improved tn l church parsonage buildings in variou ways and in sums as follows: Wes kf, f sheds, $200; Bridgeton, repairs { ] church building $500; Burnside churc . and parsonage, S460; South CoVentr, . electric lights, s325; Manchester, re 3 pairs in auditorium, S1200; repair s church in East Glastonbury in preF arati0n for one hundredth aHniVersar, cost S700; improvements at New Lon don and at DdniesOn cost s400 each . a new room for the use of the Ladie society at Hockanum cost S306; a ne l well and repairs at Mapping cost S31 5 To beautify the parsonage at StaffeT s Springs cost $50, and twelve otht g churches spent in repairs sums az t gregating $975. No new debts ha1
 been contracted which is a matter , . lgreat sattst2cti0n.
 Gifts and Requests.
 ] The loyalty of many of the father ' of the churches on this district in Il f years that are gone, is still keepir t some of the churches alive. The s served we'll when alive and dying the l made provisions by will so thi 0 the result of their work is preserve . This worthy custom still continues ar : this year the church received as fo = lows: Windsorville, from the Penfie e estate, s100; by will of Mrs. Lester t Bancroft, the church at Warehoul S Point receives s200 in money and ha |. of a dwelling house and lot of lar e worth s3,500. By the same will u J Thompsonville church receives a sin - liar amount of money and the oth t half of the said house and lot TT p will of Charles Neff, gives s1, 900 to u ,, church at Portland, the income on Q to be used for church expense. TT t will of Mary A. Williams gives s1 .0 e to the. church at Mystic, income on