Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-04

| receives $566; the Income to be used for painting the church property. The church at Portland has received 1 the gift of the mortgage note, which | Capt. Thomas Stewart held against the church. It amounts to $1,2e9 and is a timely and gracious gift te that soei- 1 ety. Capt. Tom, as all his friends call | him, merits and receives the gratitude of the people of the church and con- gregatien. The church at New Lon don receives $70e from the estate of Lucius IT. Bushnell, the income only to be used. A few weeks before he died, MT. l.. l.. Felt of Hartford. an earnest friend of the Mapping church. gave to that society a block of stock, in the Republic Iron and Steel Go. There are thirty shares of preferred stock and it has a market value of $s5 per share, making the gift s2,500. The income only is to be used for Mrs. Esther D. NTurlington. of Mystic, the church at Mystic is to receive her dwelling house for a parsonage. This is a place worth $3,000. It is a good house, in a good location. By the same will the church at Old Mystic is to receive s200.
 S47, $50 In Years
 The total of the gifts and bequests received by the churches on the Nor wien district in six years is $47,950 This is much more than one-fourth of the total of their invested funds Tn addition to this $1,600 has been given by beuuests, to two benevolent en- terprises, the Conference Claimants and The Woman's Home Missionary Society Such giving as this is help ing to seftle the question whether or not the Methodist Episcopal churches are to be driven out of the rural sec tion of Eastern Connecticut without such help as this the churches in many of these places, must surely decline and die, We thank God for every bequest that is given to support the churches In these needy fields.
 Sale Of the Lebanon Church.
 For many years there has existed an ancient and unused Methodist Episco- pal church in Lebanon, Conn It was built in the pastorate of Rev. L. E. Bates, while he was yet a very young man. It has not been used for many years and in the course of time, the structure. through decay beca me dan gerous. We did not own the land, which by the terms of the deed, re- verted to the heirs of a certain estate, when the place ceased to be used as Methodist church. This year we have had the building torn down and sold. The few dollars realized for it have been deposited with the funds of the conference. There are three other buildings which the District Superin- teIadent had hoped he might dispose of before the close of his adIllinistra- ton. It has not been possible to do it to advantage. This waits for other hands.
 Pastors Salaries.
 We are thankful to record another year that the salaries of the pastors have been increased in some churches. There is now $4,40o more coming to the pastors of the district than when we began working together. Thank God, we have been able to do this much. I have lenged and tried to do more, for I have been entirely appFe- iative of the need in many parsonage homes. The difficulties attending the securing of increase in salaries are often very great. Only faithful, long continued, far-seeing, planning will succeed. The District Superi ntendent can best do this. No, more than any one else is in the position so to fit the ministers to the churches and to in- spire the Official Boards, that they will recognize the pastors claim to an adequate support.
 Church Federation.
 Tn two cases there have been efforts to unite our churches with those of . different denomination, in some sort of union for worship and service, while at the same time, preserving the integrity of the societies. In both cases the basis of union has been practically the same, and is such that think the plan ought to be known to those desiring to bring about a union in the small communities where it is needed. In one case our effort suc- ceeded, and the Norwich North Main street church is to join in worship with the Greeneville Baptist church. The experiment is for one year and after that may be discontinued, by the wish of either party, at the end of six months after notice The property of each party remains untouched, by the new arrangement in the possession of the church owning it. The organ ization, which is composed of the members of both ehurchea meets and provides for worship in one eongrega- tien, and with one Sabbath School. In the other ease, above alluded to, the effort to bring the churches to- gether failed. There were fourteen members of the church not Methodist, to vote on the question. Nine voted against union and five voted fer 1t. That four votes of a little church like that can keep a Whele community di Vided and can pefPetuate condition by which the Missionary societies Of two denominations are compelled to help support tive little churches, seems a peer recommendation for the system. When will the true spirit eff fraternity and feasenableness come te the Christians of the little neighberheed? !? Sunday soheols and Other Societies.
 These show conditions similar t0 those of former years. There is, how ever, 8 stronger tendency for men and boys to attend the Sabbath School and to take interest in forming organized classes. This, with the tendency that has been noted for a year CT two, to form clubs. mens bretheFheods etc, seems to me to indicate a gr eater in teFest on the part of men iH the efuTeh, It should be cultivated ia every way. I cannot close this last EepeEt of six years service without recording nay gratitude to God for His guiding and sustaining peweE, and lsav gratitude te the pastors and their families, as well as the laylaen of the churches for their hospitality, their support and their splendid response te every effort to lead the werkeEs of the Kingdom to higher levels of experience and labor.
 Valedictery Werd.
 accepted ay apRaiatRaeRt six years ago reluctantly and gfEenl a sense Of duty. did not anticipate with pleas ure the work of a District SHperin- tendent, but it has proven 8 great joy to me. In laborious travel and in many opportunities for mishap Provi- dential care has been given me. I have enjoyed doing the business incl dent to the work. I have enjoyed the struggles and God has given me great joy in every opportunity that has come to me to help my brothers. I have