Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-30
66 CHURCHES IN NORWICH DISTRICT
Report of District Superintendent George G. Scvener Shows
 Total Membership of 7,0Oo-The Report in Full

In 1S66 Brother Converse was elect | ed secretary and treasurer of the First | dist Episcopal church, he was made a trustee in 1863 and became president of the board in 1890. serving in that capacity until his death. His love choice find expression in a bequest of three thousand dollars, the income for the support of preaching. Thus will the memory of a good man be kept green and his inuence continue through the years.
 The church at Portland has suf- fered the loss of several faithful SUD- porters, also the church at Gales Ferry.
 Some of the preachers have been and prevented, by sickness from carry ing out their cherished plans. The wonder is, not that so little has been done, but that so much has been ac- complished.
 A majority of the churches have fol- lowed the Forward Movement Pro- gram in some of its phases. Evangel- ism has been the slogan on the dis trict, practically all the churches re- port members received on probation.
 The methods adopted are public ap- peal in some cases with an evangel- ist, and personal persuasion on the part of the pastor. Both methods have been successful at Putnam and Willimantic evangelistic services have been conducted by Miss Frances B. Adams, at the former church, the pas tor. George D. Stanley has received sixty-one on probation, at Williman- tic w. O. NurZum has received thirty two at Hazardville, in the seventh year of his pastorate. Thomas lyric, by personal work and after careful training, received twenty-two young people on probation and twenty-six into full membership, while at Maple vile and Glendale, R. J. Chrystie in the first year of his pastorate by per sonal work and through the regular services of the church, has received forty seven probationers. At New London, as a result of both methods twenty-four have been received on probation and twenty-one into full connection Baltic and Versailles re- ter Is on probation and 25 in full membership. Norwich Trinity 12, Portland 12 probationers and 16 full members, Hockanum 10.
 Mystic has had an awakening which promises much for the future, 32 pro- bationers have been received and 27 full members. Thompsonville reports s, Mapping 6, Moosup II. Gales Ferry 6, East Glastonbury 6. Oneco and Green 6. The total number received on probation 390, exceeds any report for the past sixteen years. Number IuIl InSnDeTSnlp ZoS- w nlle we are glad to record so many and sorry there are not more we would remem- Der that the value of a church to a community is not measured by access sions in membership. Some of the churches failing to report an increase for good, and in various ways are planting seed the harvest of which will appear after many days.
 The Sunday schools are increasing in efficiency. Many use the Graded Lessons in whole or in part. Some have teacher training classes. More time and effort is being used to de- velop an interest in systematic Bible study. Decision Day is not generally observed, but when properly planned and conducted is fruitful of good re- suits. Crowded conditions continue to prevail at South Manchester, New London and Burnside. The Sunday school at Mystic is a beehive of in dustry. Increase in membership and attendance has been secured not l through a cross and crown system of rewards, but through the adoption of | modern methods, the introduction of young people as teachers and a spirit | of loyalty and cooperation. The Su- | perintendent Herbert Gurnee, has been given a local preachers license and
 is candidate for the Methodist min | istry.
 A very important feature introduced | on the district this year was the In- | stitute of Religious Education, held ! under the auspices of the Congrega- | tional and Methodist churches in
 Manchester The time occupied six | evenings, the program consisted of
 courses in Bible study, Child study and Psychology, Sunday school meth | ods of teaching, and for the Primary | department a special course in Bible stories. The success attained was be- I -N~Na
 tion was 120, the lowest attendance
 was 56, the highest 95, and this dur ing the severest part of this very | severe winter. As result the Sun- day schools of Manchester will have | teachers and helpers better equiped
 fore. The plan is adopted to any com-
 munity and will increase the efficiency
 of the teaching force and the enthu-
 siasm of Sunday school workers | wherever it is introduced.
 Little change has taken place since
 the last report in the work for boys
 and girls. Boy Scouts and Camp Fire | Girls, Community Gymnasiums
 Classes in English, sewing and basket
 making for foreigners, farmers insti- tute, open air meetings, community picnics and Christmas trees represent
 some of the activities.
 Pastors report the proportion o1
 foreigners in their communities iron
 50 to 90 per cent. of the population
 Ten years ago the presiding elder O.
 Norwich District said in his report
 We are making slight progress in tn,
 work, which we must accomplish O
 winning to a vital religious life thu
 foreigners who are fast filling our ter
 ritory." Ten years later, to our sham' be it confessed the statement migh
 be truthfully repeated. The fields ar,
 white for the harvest but the Iaborer
 are few. Three great requisites ar
 men, money and a program. Tn
 Woman's Home Missionary Societ,
 has been active this year. Miss Grac Rorabach, field secretary, has visite, the churches, new auxiliaries an, Queen Esther Societies have beel formed and the interest in home mis
 sionary work intensified. Dr. Alphi
 G. Kynett spent ten days on the dis trict conferring with pastors and con ducting public services in the inter , est of the Board of Home Mission { and Church Extension, giving infor nation concerning the great work O the Board, and receiving, incidentally first hand information regarding Nor wich District as a field for Home Mis- tsionary activity.
 The program in the interest of edu cation has been continued representa-
 tives of East Greenwich Academ have visited the churches. In thi connection the District Cabinet of tn