Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-19
ONE THING, FIRST DUTY TODAY
To Win The War; Says District Superintendent Scrivener In Annual Report to Southern New England conference- Lei the Less Important Things Stand Aside, He Says Some Drives" Can Afford to Wait

the WluHI1S 0L the WsLTs Sd1Q sI5lStflCLf Superintendent G, G. Scrivener of tfiis city, in the report he made Thursday at the annual conference. of the Meth odist churches of Southern New Eng land, which is being held at Provi dence this week. It is for loyal Meth odists as patriotic citizens, he de- clared, to decide what their first duty is and dedicate themselves to this SUI pretne task, allowing other less impor tant things to wait.
 Annual Report.
 His annual report upon the eendi- tions in the Norwich district was as follows:
 The beginning of the conference year 1917- found all the churches on Norwich district supplied with pastors and looking forward to year of en- thusiastic service. The close of the year finds two churches without pas tors, Willimantic and South Coventry linked together, and Stafford Springs and Crystal Lake united under the same minister. The vacancies were caused by the transfer of E. A. Legg from Danielson to Waterviile, Me, and the departure of C. B. Delamater from Hockantln to spend 8 Sabbatical year in Southern California. The new ad- justment for South Coventry and Crystal Lake resulted from the seri- ous illness of N. B. Cook who was compelled to relinquish his work at Holland and Crystal Lake. W. H. Bar Der supplying at South Coventry was assigned to Holland and the two small CT churches provided for as already stated. These, with new student supply at Oneco and Green, constitute the changes in pastoral charges during the year. For several weeks B. J. Curry of Westerly was incapa acitated by sickness during which time his work was cared for by the men in the district.
 Death of Michael Maynard.
 Until about a week ago we had hoped to report no deaths among the pastors of the district. but on Monday, April 8, Michael Maynard died at Montville. For three years he sup piled the little church at Gardner Lake, tramping three miles each way, when the weather was favorable and preach ing to a few faithful folks who en- deavor to keep the gospel fires burning in one of the most remote sections o1 Connecticut and receiving for his sti- pend the fabulous sum of $120 8 year He was an ordained Baptist minister supplying a Methodist church. After 8 brief illness he died full of good works at the ripe old age of S2 years Servant of God, well done"
 We also have to chronicle the deaths of Merrick Ransom, who retired from active service in 1908; Joseph H James, grand old man of Connecticut Methodism, and good minister of Jesus GhT-ic4 fnV- civ a1e the death of Mrs. Ella J. Aclzley, wife of J. B. AcKley of Burnside, and Mrs Maria A. Dodge. the widow of for mer member of this conference.
 Church Programme Changed. Four days after conference adjourn ed the United States entered into the war against Germany and the pro. gramme of the church was changed F Ii was not less enthusiastic, but il was different, new adjustments had tt be made. old sermons had'to be, flet or fired, the times demanded a new message. From the president of ths nation, from the governors of states from the food censervator- and th' fuel administrator, not to mention bishops and other men of lesser i'm. pcrtance, the call came to the preacher to use his pulpit as a forum to presen the needs of the country and discuss | the policy of the government in tim | of war, and as a fulcrum with Nhicl to boost Liberty loans, thrift stamps 1 food Conservation. Red TOES, Y. II. C A., Armenian and Syrian relief, etc and right Loyalty have our preacher | delivered the message and right lis1
 erally have our people responded t.
 the call. From the churches in Nor
 wich district nearly four hundre' Iyoung men have entered the service 0 the country, scarcely a church but ha a service flag containing anywher from one to forty stars, and thes
 numbers are daily increased as neI
 James are added to the roster, an while 1t is impossible to compute tn
 amount of money subscribed, becaus the larger part has been given throug l agencies not immediately connects with the church, yet from reports C offerings taken in Sunday schools, an
 at different services for Red Cros. treiief work, camp supplies, etc., tn district will aggregate not less tha three thousand dollars and during thi ! time the preachers have given thei time and strength without stint, a speakers for the state council of de fense, service on exemption board,
 visiting camps and forts. addressin
 the boys, and helping whenever the
 could with advice and counsel
 Many Uniformed Men Attend Servic 1 The church at New London has ha Ian average attendance of sixty me lin uniform, at the Sunday service while in twenty one weeks, six hun
 dred different names were recorde onStile church register.
 | While work connected with the wa looms large. and the call of countr irnust have the right of way until vic tory is won, nevertheless, the regula | agencies Of the church have bee
 pushed with vigor. A deep spiritu;
 earnestness is apparent in man
 places, the spirit of self sacrifice bearing fruit in individual lines. | religious atmosphere has been create in which it is easy to preach, and ol
 Of which should come a rich harvet I of lives converted to Jesus Christ. I Last fall a district team was orgar ! ized for evangelistie- work. R.
 Moore was the preacher A. H. Witht
 conducted the altar services and c. T Delamater had charge of the nilsi A three weeks meeting was held
 South Manchester, eight other MethS dist churches cooperating.
 | Fuel Shortage Entarfered. j. It was. our purpose to carry the.
 meetings to all parts of the distri
 but the severity of the winter ar ] shortage of fuel compelled a cessatic , of effort in this direction. Enough "; accomplished, however, to prove u value of team work as an organize effort for evangelistic purposes + Special revival services have bet
 held at Westerly, Manchester. Sta : ford Springs, the pastors having d sistance from outside, :, but in mo
 evangelist.
 All Two hundred and seventy live pc sons have been received into prepar;