New Britain herald., 1927-01-17
PMinuiMe Mews
CATHOLIC CHURCH
 GREW DURING YEAR Annual Report Shows 875 MeIn- berS-Fine Financial Condition FIRE IN STAR PRINTERY

Blaze Put Out by Owner But Does Substantial Damage-Storm Clear
 cd Away With Despatch-Lcgion Meeting-Bricfs.
 A substantial gain in membership was shown by the annual report sub- ! mittcd to the members of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy by the acting l pastor, Rev. Austin F. Munich. The total number of members is now | S75, the increase during the year be- l ing largely due to the fact that quite a number of people moved into the parish. The attendance as masses has shown a corresponding increase, 1 Father Munich said.
 ! During 1926 there were 51 bap- | tisms in the church, nine marriages were performed, and 16 members were lost through death. The re- ceipts for the year totalled sS,319.94 and the expenses $7,36S61, leaving on hand the goodly balance of | S956.33
 During the year the church lost the services of it's pastor, Rev. John 1 F. Fay, who was taken to St. Francis hospital, Hartford. and is still confined to that institution. He is slowly improving and hopes to be 1 able to leave before many months pass. His place was taken by Father Munich. who has acted as pastor since then. Under him the church has continued it's activities and it's progress as it did under Father Pays direction.
 Fire at Star Printery | An early morning blaze whs dis covered in the shop of the Star Printing Co. on Broad street when the owner, C. B. Turton. went into the shop to put out some orders for delivery. When first discovered, ac- cording to Mir. Turton, the fire was in a box of waste oil rags. but it spread quickly to the wall in front Of the shop. Through the prompt ac- ton of the owner serious blaze was averted, and no outside help was necessary.
 No cause can be given for the fire, but it's starting in the oil rags has led MT. Turton to believe spontane- ous combustion was to blame. Dam age was slight, according to Mir. Turtons statement. as the fire vas checked in time to prevent its spread. A desk containing the books and papers of the company was over 1 turned. however. in the rush to get at the blaze, and the contents of the desk were consumed. A rack contain ing the rubber rollers used on the 1 presses were destroyed and the roll 1 CTS melted beyond further use. Mir. Turton stated this morning that business operations will perforce be suspended for short period un- til new equipment can be installed to replace that destroyed.
 Mrs. Mary C. Root Mrs. Mary C. Root, SS, died yes terday morning in Waterbury. She vas former resident of Plainville, having lived on Park street. She leaves 9 sister Mrs. Anne Scanlon of Southwick, Mass; and four nephews, George Graham of Jack sonvile. Fla. Isaac Graham of Southington, Alexander Graham of Bristol, and L. B. Graham of Plain vile.
 Funeral services will be held to- morrow afternoon at the home of Mrs. A. H. Muus of Southinston. The body will then be taken to New Hartford for interment.
 Legion Meeting
 Brock Barnes post, American Le- gian, will entertain the Bristol post at It's meeting in Legion hall this evening. The meeting will be one in honor of Chaplain Ernest L. Wismer of the Bristol post. who is soon leav- ing that city. A large attendance is expected because of the close ac- quaintance of local Legionnaires with MT. Wismer, who has visited here several times. Chaplains Of other rosts in the vicinity have been invited.
 Thibault-Julien
 Annie Thibaut of East Broad street and Miss Florence Julien, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam