Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-31
CTTHODIST CONFERENCE sADDEN
BY REV. HOLDEN's DEATH

Especial to The Bulletin
PaWtucket March 30.-Rev. H. H.
Crawford, president of the Rural Minis
tiers association, presided over the meet.
ing at p m. Wednesday at which DR..
Paul L. Vogt, superintendent of the rural
department of the board of missions,
spoke on some of he great achievements
in the rural department Of Methodism in
the past five years.
An executive session Of the conference
was held at 2 p. m. Wednesday at which
G, Eleanor Mossman was permitted to
withdraw from the ministry and menl-
bershlp of the Methodist Episcopal church
under charges
Rev. E. A. Legg of Stafford Springs
presided over the uGeGting Wednesday,
evening. Rev Victor V. Sawyer of Rock
Vile Conn, offered prayer. Rev. ].
East Greenwich Academy East Green
witch, R. L, the New England Southern
Conference seminary, was the first speak
er of the evening. Judge Robert F. Ray
mond of the Massachusetts supreme court
also gave an address which was an ex-
cellent presentation of the work of the
board of education, its grasp upon the
needs of the future citizenship and its
spirit in seeking to provide facilities for
the training of the rising generation for
the largest effectiveness,
At the conference session Thursday
morning, Rev Ira W. La Baron, superin-
tendent of the Providence district pr, ssent-
ed his annual report Included among
many other interesting items were the fol-
lowing: Over $4,000 has been eXpend-
ed on this district in repairs and i'm
crarements. st. Paul's church in Prov
idence is free from debt for the first time
in its history. Seventeen church on this
district report an increase in the salaries
of the pastors, aggregating $4,000. The
gospel is being preached in five lang
uages at different points on this district
| The Rev. Bishop Chas B. Mitchell St
Paul, Minnesota, was introduced and
spoke to the conference on the subject OF
ministerial pensions
The Rev. DR.. George D. Owen, president
of the Pawtucket- Central Falls Minister
! lal Union, was introduced and in a few
we'll chosen remarks bore the fraterna
greetings of the Protestant ministers o.
this vicinity. Bishop Hughes RESPONDED
in behalf of the conference.
! Rev w. H. Bath, SUPERINTENDENT of thu
Norwich district, was passed in charac
ter and presented his annual report.
| From 1890 to II a. m. was selected by
the bishop as the devotional period and h
gave a very fitting address emphasizing
| the power of habit as a great possibility
for good and genuine power for rlghte
| business.
AS the conference was about to RESUME
| its routine business there came as sa'
shock to the congregation present HI
telephone announcement of the suddel
death of the Rev. Chas. w. Holden,
| former nuch4beloyed member of thu
conference and pastor over 20 years ag'
of the church where the conference is-uoT
| in session. Mr.. Holden was once a Nor
witch castor
The conference paused in silence for
few moments and q tender and devou
prayer was offered by Rev. ]. Fl. New
! land
Rev. James Dingwell presented TIL
greetings of the Pawtucket chamber o
commerce.
1t is reported that changes are likel.
| in the pastorates at Putnam, Danielsor
| Moosup and South Manchester. Conn. 9th
er churches where canges are expected IN
| clude Brayton curch, Fall River; Sec
ond church, New Bedford; Thompso
church Pawtucket, R. I. Center churc
Provincetown, Mass. Haven church Eas
Providence; Woonstocket. R. L, and Cen
trail church, Brockton, Mass.
Rev. W. J. Smith, for over fifty fear
an active minister, is to ask for the re
tired relationship this year. He is closin
his passionate at Bridgeton. R. l.. Nlic
has extended over the past five years.
1t has been reported that Rev. Josep
Cooper for the past eight years the yer
successful pastor of Central church
Brockton, Mass, is likely IL be appointe
to the church in South Manchester tn
coming year.
The following items of work accomT
lished by Methodist Deaconesses in 1872
! are interesting: Visits, 562,524 visit
to the sick, 62.037 bewildeeed traveller
assisted in railroad stations, 68,244 ps
tients in their hot1Ha3a 3Sy528; FRI
hospital treatment to the value of $206
144; children taken to sumner caps an
for a days outing, 1888; children taugl
in industrial schools, 1877 ,12S. The
own property in the United States value
: at $12.767,O50, an increase in 1921
$2057,944.
Bishop Hughes is presiding over tt
conference in his usual happy and col
genial way, which has made him so grea
:, " beloved in this capacity. In ennphasi;
:, ing the fact that only himself and al
other were present at the time appointt
to begin, one brother protested. we
Bishop, was in before you began
. pray "That was the time Of your grea
est need. brother was the reply, viii
the conference laughed.