Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-08
MoMENTOUS YEAR FOR
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
One of the largest of annual meet
| ings of the First Baptist church was
held at the church Monday evening.
| At 7.45 the meeting was opened by
| the pastor, &ev. George H. StrOuse,
as moderator by Offering prayer. A
most interesting annual report was
given by the clerk; Miss Bernice Viii
| ley. The pastor gave an encouraging
report for the past year. with assur-
ance for a brighter coming year. 1t
was as follows:
| The year 1918 will occupy a con-
| spicussls place in history. Decisions,
testings, victories and defeats will
make the records of this past year not
only fascinating but OF the utmost
value.
| So momentous have been the hap
penings of the past year, that a man S
veracity will not be questioned, when
he claims the year has been one Of
unparalleled significance. This is true
religiously, Intellectually, politically
and economically. The whole life Of
the race has been effected No year
in history has afforded the Christian
statesman a larger and more profit
able field for the exercise of his gifts.
The church has passed through the
fiery furnace and many of her gar
ments have been scOrched and even
burned, but her heart beats more true
and brave than ever The church has
gained infinitely more than she has
lost.
With gratitude to God for all his
goodness and the faithful cooperation
Of His people, | am pleased to record
a prosperous year. And I use the
word prosperous in q little different
sense than perhaps we have used it
| in the past Nine have been received
into the fellowship Of the church
through baptism and three by letter,
This, I'm sure, is worth While. but
by no means is extraordinary. Many
churches are compelled year after
year to report no accessions so that
we rejoice to think some have found
. our Saviour during the year. But
when [ speak of prosperity, / am
thinking in terms of sacrifcial ser
! vice. And tae past year has been Pre-
, eminently year of sacriHCial service
Never We're appeals for help more pa
thetic and never did they come SC
: thick and fast. And never have VIC
: given in such large figures And We
are none the poorer God has giVer
back to lis i'll overlooking measure.
Our church life has been somewhat
IdiSarrdnged during the past year he
cause of the coal famine last winter
and the "flu' epidemic in the early
fall but in spite of all the trying auj
> changing scenes of life l have tried to
: make you ever conscious that God was
on the throne and in His own time
l He would bring order out OF chaos
1 haven't any apology to offer because
= haven% led you more into the beau
tifuI and inviting fields of ethics anj
/ patriotism, but believe my business
= as your pastor, is to preach Chris
Y and persuade men to become recon.
ciied to God through Him.
= I am more interested in 1919.
e simply cannot believe We have see1
our best. 1t lies ahead OF US and no
behind us. I can think of no time il
h the church's history and especially
! during the present Bastorate when tn.
!, future was more rosy with promise
= But the church Will have to gird her
" self for the task, and nothing less thai
a deaInless passion to see Chris
, magnitied ara sinners saved viii VIII
u the day. And what is vitality imDOr
= tant, in my thinking, is this, that eaci
II Christian be perrlittf@ to translat
- | this deatfs1ess passion into a life, il
/ his own way. If one has a genius 70
5. organization, then organize for Goo
Il Another a passion for prayer, then le
that person become an iutercessOi
n Another for personal testimony, the
n testify. While another has a passio
for teaching. then teSrh. But "
J. must do with our might some work /
ID the church.
n 1 hail the New Year with deIigh
ot welcome all it's responsibilities an
am profoundly thankful for all n
h privileges for service which viii com
lr our way. Thanking you for your sym
ot pathy, your prayers and cooperation,
am yours for service in His name.
$ Reports were read by the officers
teh respective organization and CON
at mittees of the church as follows
Treasurer, Robert W. Otis; assistal
TX treasur Mrs. William GiIchrist: co
" lector, Walter NJ, Cowan: music, Rot
a ert w. Otis; property committe
IN George W. Rathbun; finance commi
tee, William J. KOonz; benevolent
1T committee, Mrs. William J. Koon
at read BY Mrs. Arthur f Howare
le Church Aid society. Mrs. Edwm
Breed; Womans Home and Foreig
- Missionary society, Mrs. George
Strouse: B. Y. P. Z. society, Mi
y Vera Stetson, treasurer poor fund, De-
! Icon Charles Cross. World Wide Gull
y Miss Grace Stetson. 4 pleasing T
3, port of the every member canvass W;
a. given by Walter NJ. Cowan,
I Each anu every 1GpOIL WAS IlOSl e.
re- coura ging and the church for mar
- years never had so bright a prospe
'1 as it has for the coming year. bo
=. financially, and in the closer intere
eu in the spiritual life of tie church
sh The election of officers resulted
-. follows: Deacon, Charles Cross. 7
pr elected for three years; trustees. De-
III con Frank L. Lathrop, Deacon Charl
10 Cross, William J. Koonz: clerk. Nj
ne Bernice Wiley: treasurer, Robert Y
I'M Otis; assistant treasurer Mrs Wi
ia liam Gilchrist; prudential conlmittt
be Mrs. J. Edwin Olcott. Miss Katie WI
ley. Ratification of officers: Sund,
ed school, superintendent. Walter NJ. G
let wan with assistant officers; Woman
Home and Foreign Missionary sOciet
re Mrs. George H. Strouse president. Al
e officers B. Y. P. L.. the president III
lal Vera Stetson and officers; Church :
society Mrs. Minnie Anburn. pres
dent, and officers. The executi
= council with the pastor, officers
the church ard presidents Of the @
a CARNATIONS of the church and the fC
lowing elected members: William
Koonz I,eRue Bliven. Mrs. Mary Dc
beare, Mrs. George Tucker, Mrs.
G Rue Bliven. Mrs. Charles Cross, NJ
Lena Perkins Mrs. z. c. Leac!;-AI-
. J. Edwin Olcott George w RathbJ
z ! Wise men make proverbs that fot
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