Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-04
METHODIST DISTRICT REPORT
(centinued From Page sevenl

METHODIST DISTRICT REPORT (centinaed From Page sevenl and underlies all other interests and work, and [ should hail with joy as [ thank we all would. a church wide awakening to this age-long, but newly emphasized truth.
 WiIlmantic Camp Meeting. One of the long time evangelizing agencies of the Norwich district has been the Willimantic Camp Meeting. The meeting this year was no less in spring than formerly, though it was not attended with as great results in seemed in latter: years that less num- berS, of unconverted attend the Camp Meeting than formerly. This is the experience of all modern Camp Meet 1ngs. We have done what we could to overcome the tendency at Willimantic. We have poured out our money in greater amounts than ever to equip the place. We have reseated the whole auditorium. We have dug new wells, bought five acres of additional land, added two new 7dormitories for ministers, lighted the whole ground with electricity, beauti1ed the ap breaches. perfected the play grounds etc, to the amount of $4,o00 in the last five years. We have organized a new and successful summer institute for the Epworth League, which gives an extra week of interesting meetings for the youth of the district, and we now have an organized ladies auxiliary under the leadership of Mrs. Costello Lfppitt, which is the best financial as- set the Association has. At the pres enJ time this Auxiliary is rebuilding the house which the Association pro- vides for the District Superintendent on the camp ground. We are leaving the whole institution i'll the best con ditien it has ever been, May God 13cIy hafT afI1I raea evange1istically for every church on the district.
 Gain In Benevolent Collections.
 orty two pastors reporting, indi- cate that there will be some advance in the amount of the benevolent col 1eetions this year. Eighteen churches report increased collections. In some of them the increase is quite large. If this works out as reported, we will continue our record of the five prev ious years. In three years, we have advanced the totals of the Missionary collections as well as the totals of all the collections each year: and that without making extraordinary cam pa1gns CT neglecting the other import ant matters of the district.
 Gain In District Population.
 wish you would note that this, the smallest district of the conference. five years ago had one thousand mem bers less than the next district above r IS reduced to less than seven hundred. Also. that in the collection for the Home Missionary society and for the b'oresgn Missionary society, it had come to the second pIaee four years ago and that it has maintained that position, giving to the one $1.500 and to tile other $f.700 more than that larger district in these years will you note also that it has maintained the second place for two years in the sum total of all the Disciplinary benevo- fences given, having given $500 in excess of the other district, and that this smallest district is first in the size of the gifts or bequeStS to any benevolent cause. It has given the largest gift($1,0oO) to the Conference Claimants fund and this year the an- come on that bequest to the worn out preachers was $500. It has also given one gift of s1o,ooo to the Womans' Hume Missionary society. Pardon me if for this once I say this district has possibilities that have not been appre- ciated. Even in these hard days in spite of emigration and migration it has grown end with fair treatment will, continue to grow. It has given to the church and will continue to give if its interests are cared not alone to the appointment of a proper District Superintendent, and pastors but to the Missionary society as well. They have given to this the only district Of the Conference that for four years has increased it's gifts to the foreign held the petty sum of $160 to help it's needy fields each year while to the missions of the other dis trlcfS they give ethousandS Of dollars. It is my last opportunity to say in this way that such a policy is sui ci6al It is most profitable to spend the society's money where there is most return, and 1t is not wise to dis crirninate against a people because f0cXy F Ina :e,1a
 Property Matters.
 There is considerably over $700,e6o worth of real estate belonging to our church in this district and invested furds and endowments that amount to S172000 In the six years not one dollar of these funds has been lost. They are invested in various ways a careful oversight of which the Dis trfct Superintendent has endeaEered to give There has net been single failure to get the income for the use of the churches, save in the case of a single block of stocks which were giV- en to a certain church, the invest ment of the funds having sen made by the donor himself before it was given. On these the dividends have been passed once.
 Repairs and Improvements.
 Thirty-four churches report repairs and improvements to the amount of $5,9e0 this year. In addition to these several enterprises deserve word of recognition. Rockville has recon structed it's parish hall at 8 cost Of s2,700. Of this amount S700 is already paid, and the place is so adapted to it's use to be now able to pay large part of it's own debt
 Putnam's New Organ.
 Putnam is In the midst of an organ building project. Ever since it was built their beautiful new church bufld- ing has waited for a pipe organ. Ttis year the pastor and friends, have raised in subscriptions toward this s625. Mr. Carnegie has promised the last $750, and the friends are working for S700 to complete the entire price Old Mystic has risen to new victories In the summer a fire destroyed the place where the Ladies' Aid Society, Epworth League, and other societies of the church were accustomed to meet. It seems to have been a much needed fire. for the place was made quate and difficult of access, being a room over a store. When there was no other place to go to the society arose and betook itself to building. It now has a splendid parish house on the land owned by the church. By tho oF sfrin If land f,ror7a o11-