New Britain herald., 1915-11-11
METHODIST PASTOR
 REPORTS TO BOARD
Marked Improvement in Finances
 of Church Is Shown
DISTRICT SUPT. IS HERE

Of Pastor For Next Year-Plan.
 For Harvest Festival-saIoonkeep
 CTS Hard Hit-Other Matters.
 Gratifying reports, showing an ex.
 cellent improvement in conditions
 both from a religious and tinancia,
 viewpoint, were presented to the off,
 cial board of the Methodist church at the fourth quarterly conference held
 last evening. It was the last off,
 cial visit of the district superintendent Rev. E. A. Dent, D.D. of New Haven. who presided, until after the New York East Conference and the busi- l ness of the church was discussed at 1 length.
 Particularly interesting was the re- | port of the pastor, Rev. A. A. Houck whose first year as leader of the Plainville Methodists will soon expire. Although continuing his studies in college, MT. Houck makes freuuent visits to Plainville in addition to trips necessitated by services in the church, and his report showed that he had accomplished a great deal since he was assigned to the local pastorate.
 When MT. Houck came here the finances of the church were in rather discouraging shape. He put youth and vigor into his work and was here but short time when an inn provement was noticed. The finan- cial statement presented to the board last night gave evidence that the treasury is now in good condition, al- though there have been some extra ordinary expenses due to improve ments made on the church property, The church has also made a gain in members during the year and there has been an encouraging increase in attendance at services.
 Contrary to expectations no action was taken at the meeting regarding the selection of a pastor for next year. The pastor gets his appointment from the New York East Conference which holds it's annual session in April but the official board of the various churches usually make some recom- mendation to the district superintend- ent on the matter.
 MT. Houck is extremely popular, not only with the Methodists, but with the townspeople in general, and his return here for another year is hoped Tor The matter will probably be taken up by the official board at some meeting before the conference and it IS likely that a petition for the pas tors reappontment will be made.
 Harvest Festival Plans.
 Reports of progress were presented at the meeting on the plans that have been made for the ninth annual festival to be held in the Methodist church parlors tomorrow night The committees are expecting a large at- tendance and they believe a substan- tial profit will be made.
 Supper, consisting of chicken pie, celery, cranberry sauce, mashed po- tatoes and home made mince and pumpkin pie, will be served from to o'clock
 The entertainment committee has that a special program will be furnished by students from Wesleyan. Many of the members of | the famous glee club will be here and l a musical entertainment of excep- | tional merit is promised.
 Saloons Hard Hit.
 Since Bristol went back into the license classification, Plainville sa- have missed the merry tunes played on their cash registers i and there has been a most noticeable | falling off in activity in the cafes. During the two years that the neigh boring city was dry" the saloons here were. veritable bonanzas for their owners and the liquor dealers made more money than they had ever dreamed of.
 Things have changed with them since November 1st, however There Is need no longer of extra bartenders and the decorations at the mahogany rail can easily be counted, Bristolites getting their drinks at home.
 The local cafe owners have had renewed without any opposition but nevertheless they are not exhibiting the signs of content rnent which were apparent during the past two years. They miss Bristols trade and admit that they will be