Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-29

District Superintendent)
 Two hundred and fifteen have been received into preparatory membership and 265 into full membership in the church, said District Superintendent George G. Scrivener of this city i1' his annual report of the Norwich district, submitted to the 77th annual conven conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in Providence on Wednesday. District Superintendent Scriveaer's report follows in full:
 District Superintendent Scrivener's Report.
 Immediately after conference ad journed a year ago, word came that J. NJ. Tranmer, appointed to Holland and Crystal Lake, had been trans ferred to the New York East Confer ence and D. H. Talmage appointed to windsorville had been transferred To fill these vacancies N. B. Cook was transferred from New Hampshire and stationed at Holland and Crystal
 Lake and c. B. Bromley, a local elder has supplied during the year at Windsorville.
 In June Paul Miller, pastor at Ster- ling for three years. graduated fl om Brown university and left his charge to take work in the New Jersey con- ference. c. D. Meade, a student from l Boston School of Theology has filled out the year very acceptaeiy. In July, Duncan F. Dodd, pastor at the District Epworth League, was sent by the district cabinet as a dele gate to Silver Ray for the purpose of
 securing ideas and speakers for the Willimantic Epworth League Insti- tute. Under the inspiration of that gathering he offered himself as a mis- sionary to China, was accepted, and in September sailed for Ranking. League lost it's president, we did not receive any new ideas for local work, but, what is perhaps better we re- ceived new impulse for mission ary endeavor. Brother Dodd is to be the living link between Norwich District and China and arrangements have been made whereby the missionary offerings of the Epworth Leagues are Brother Dodd is engaged. E. J. Ayers supplied Mantle until November when w. E. Plaxton was secured as per
 manent supply until conference In rSeptember Fred Sterling supplying at Oneco and Green surrendered his charge to engage in eNangelistic work. A. G. Williamson, student from Bos- ton has supplied so successfully that his reappointment is requested with an increase of salary.
 Notwithstanding the disappointment and confusion incident to these changes the churches have not suf- fered but will report an increase along all lines, all of which serves to illus
 ada durability and acceptability Of our Methodist policy.
 Deaths During Year.
 Four weeks ago occurred the brief illness and almost sudden death of Dr. James Coote. pastor at Portland Two weeks later the sis ter of William Crawford died in the parsonage at Old Mystic. We have also to report the death of Mrs. Ran
 som. the aged wife of Merrick Ran ence. also the death of. the aged father of W. H. Barber of South Coventry, a veteran of the Maine conference, and the father of H. H. Critchlow of Burnside.
 The year has been one of serious losses among the laymen of the dis trict.s New London, Stafford Springs, Hazafdville, Danielson, Thompson vile and Portland have suffered severely in this respect. Conspicuous among the lavmen who have died during the year, we cannot refrain from mentioning one or two by name. David Gordon of Hazardville for sixty years one of the most faithful mem bers and loyal supporters of the local church and actively interested in the
 larger field of Methodist endeavor He was a nem5er of the General Con- ference in 1896 and for four years a member of the General Missionary committee. His large gifts to mis- sions and other benevolent enterprises
 reveal that he regarded his posses
 sions as a trust for God. One of his
 regrets during his long illness was
 that he should be stricken down when
 he had reached the place where he
 could make money for the advance
 ment of the Kingdom. His place will
 be hard to fill, may the mantle of his
 loyalty, conservation, and genera sity
 fall upon the shoulders of those who
 labored with him in business and in
 the church to which he gave the best
 of his life. Another loyal layman was
 Horace Abbe of Thompsonvi1le, quiet,
 unosteptatious. generous, the church is poorer for his going, heaven richer
 for his coming. One other I must
 mention, F. A. Kennedy, the deSend-
 able, stricken suddenly in the strength
 of his manhood, his death is a severe
 blow to the church at Banielson. only
 God knows the reason why and enly