New Britain herald., 1915-08-02
therefore hereby publicly thank pr.

l Forrest.
 Another lay reader, not of the ves- try. deserves high praise and he also i teaches in the Sunday school. The
 Wardens have taken care of the church property with diligence The new roof and heater for the church bear eloquent witness to their work. l The new lawn is the work and gift of the Senior Warden. The parish treasurer and his wife spend many hours on the church finances. You have little idea how much work our envelope system of contributions in- l wolves. The treasurer of the Sunday school also gives generously of time and work and patience in similar ser- 1 vice.
 The parish clerk likewise does much that must wait for its reward in glory everlasting.
 Statistics Of Church.
 T shall burden you but lightly with statistics. The number of com municants reported by my predeces- sor in June 1899 was Al. The number of confirmed persons enti- tied to frequent the commission is now TOO. The number confirmed from 1886 to 1899 was 245, an aver age of r per year. The number confirmed from 1899 to 1915 is APO, an average of 26 per year, an increase of 50 per cent The baptisns show a seeming contradiction. From Au- gust |, 1850 to August 1, 1885 there were 764, an average of 22. From August l, 1885 to August 1, 1899, 5oS, an average of 36. From August 1, 1899, to August 1, 1915, were 527, an average of 33 The last two years show,112, an average of 56. The past year alone shows 6S baptisms, twice the late average and three times the earlier.
 There are three probable reasons for the small decrease from 1899 to 1915. First the new rector gave chief attention to the confirm ation of those already baptized. Second, be- tween 1881 and 1Ss28a number of German and Swedish churches were esta blished here and baptized many of the children we formerly received.
 'ThirdIy,. the rector needed help in this very work. Since he got 1t the number of ba ptized, has made wonderful advance. One English woman of consecrated soul has done an immense deal of this work and is still doing it though she, if any body might plead tToo busy as, she earns her own living. Curate Disappeared. Here I would speak of the sec ond great step forward the parish has made The securing of curate to assit in the great work at our doors was venture Of faltn and necessity. Some of the increase in Baptisms is due to the curate's diligent search for unhap- tized children in the parish and his pursuit of indifferent and dilatory parents. I need hardly tell him or you how grateful I am for his assistance and for the relief he brings to my conscience which was much exercised over work beyond the limit for one man to do,
 Now let me say brief word of the year to come.
 We need: f: a##
 First, to relieve the rector of all anxiety and responsibility for the parish finances.
 Second, to raise our full apportion ment for foreign and domestic mis- sions, on which we have fallen shame fully short the past year.
 Third. to restore in some modest form The Lion,' our parish paper, in order to reach the stay-at-homes.
 Fourth, to found and sustain 2 real live, forceful, religious, Men's Club.
 Yesterday I received in my morn- ing mail these verses from three hard working. appreciative sisters who have faculty of remembering their rector is a most delicate and sym pathetic way
 Friendship.
 It is my joy in life to find
 At every turning of the road The strong arms of a comrade kind To help me onward with my oad. And since | have no gold to give And love alone must make amends, My only prayer is, While I live God make me worthy of my friends.
 ITO this prayer of Friendship I would add two things.
 First, Cardinal Newman's prayer. tOh Lord support us all the day long through this troublous life. un til the shadows lengthcn, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of our life is over and our work is done. Then 1 in thy mercy grant Us a safe lcdg- ing, and holy rest, and peace at the last with Thee forever. Anten.'
 .'secondly, Q Christi @ King of l Glory!' We therefore pray Thee, help thy servants, whom Thou hast l redeemed with thy precious blood.
 Make them to be numbered with 1