Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-06
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
 E BEGINNING IN PROVIDENCE

(Spec1al to The Bufetln.l
 Providence, April 5.-The S1st session of the New England Southern conference of the Methodist Episcopal church will open tomorrow morning at o'clock. Bishop Edward H. Hughes presiding. Methodist geography sets up divisions and subdivisions of territory which do not correspond fully with state boundary lines. There are in the Methodist Epfs- copal church of the United States 106 an- nual conference divisions, part of which hold their sessions in the spring and a part in the fall The New England South ern conference, in which territory most of The Bulletin readers reside, has it's boundaries specified officially as follows: It includes that part of the state of Con- necticut lying east of the Connecticut river, the entire state of Rohde Island, with the town of Blackstone in Massachu- sets and that part of the state of Mas sachusetts south of the towns of Wren tham, Walpole. Dedham. Milton and Quincy.
 This conference was first organized in | 1S41. It weht then by the name of Prov l idence conference for many years. the name being changed for the present one, however. more than 40 years ago. This conference has been under the present district division since 1882 and comprises the following three districts i New Bedford district, with 59 pastoral i charges; Norwich district. with 52 pas l toral charges, and Providence district with 50 pastoral charges. Each district has its superintendent. formerly known as presiding elder. These superintendents | together with the presiding bishop. form | what is generally known as the cabinet 1 The bishop is authorized to fix the ap- l pointments but the advice of these su- 1 perintendents is usually very large fac 1 tor in the final determination of these matters.
 The sunerintendents who are at present
 the incumbents of that office are as fol
 lows: New Bedford district Rev. Johr H. Ne&yland D. D.; Norwich district. Rev 1 William H. Bath; Providence district Rev. I. ". LeBaron. As the time limit on the district superintendents, which was formerly six years, has been removed b5 | the general conference of 1920, the timt for changes in the personnel of this offic,
 may not always be so definitely marked in advance. Nevertheless it is general!
 expected that all the above men are tt
 be appointed to the same positions the!
 now hold for another years. Nevertheless there are usually some surprises eacl
 year when the appointments are read
 and much that is heard before that tim : In the talk outside the cabinet is simp1. idle speculation.
 Rev. J.. Francis Cooper. D. D., tn present secretary of the conference, ha filled this position since 1903 and as sucl Is very popular Dr. Cooper has serve several important charges, one term a superintendent of Providence district an
 Is now president of the East Greenwic academy. which operates under the con trol of this conference organization. . Rev. Frank l.. Brooks of Warren. F l.. is the statistician of the conference
 cnd Rev: John s. Bridgford of Fall Rivel Mass. is the conference treasurer. The lay electoral conference, whie
 regularly convenes but once in four year
 viz, the year of the general conferenc q is called into. special session this year {
 act upon certain amendments to the COT 'stitution which have been approved the general conference and handed dow . for action by the annual conferences an fay electoral conferences this year Tn |. session extraordinary of the laymen Cor
 from each pastoral charge1 will contril : ute to make the conference this year ,, moro than the usual interest especial
 on Friday, which is the day When tn
 body will convene.