The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-28
Religious Denominations Of the
United States.

United States.
The number Of religious seets in the
United States Is twenty, without counting
the Chinese Budhists in California, or
sundry minor Christian denominations.
The whole number OF edi6ces is abou,
thirty thousand, capable of accom-.
modating fourteen millions OF persons.
The total value Of the church property
held by these twenty denomin ations, is
nearly ninety millions of dollars, in ex.
act numbers $50. .4l6 .639. The average
value Of each church and its appurte.
napces is twenty four hundred dollars.
These facts. which are derived from off.
cial tables for the census, explode an other
false notion, which is that there is too
much luxury and wealth in American
churches.
The most numerous sect in the United
States is the Methodist, tho second the
Baptist, and the third the Presbyterians
The first has church accommodations for
over four millions ST worshippers: in 9TH
er words the Methodists have houses oi
worship for one-sixth Of the entire popu.
lation. The Baptists have accommoda-
tioDs for more than three millions, and
the Presbyterians for more than two. The
fourth sect, in the extent OF its accommo-
dations, is the gregaiional, the fifth
the Episcopalian, aud the sixth the Roman
Catholic. The number oI churches be.
longing TO the three leading denomina l..
tions does not always follow this proper.
iion. however. The Meihcdis,s, for ex
ample, while they can accommodate bu,
twice as many worshippers as the Presby.
terians, have three times as many churches
The Roman Catholics, though sixth on the
list as regards accommodations. stand
seventh in the number Of their churches
OF the principal sects. that which has the
smallest edifices for worship, is the Meth.
odist. and those which have the largest are
the Unitarians and Dutch Reformed. The
smallest denomination is the Swedenbor
gian. and the next the Mennonite. There
are no less than fi!ty-two Tunker churches
and thirty five thousand worshippers.--
| The Friends, 40 numerous in this city
have accommod asioas tor about three hun
lred thousand. or bu, ht,le more than on,
hundredth Of the entire population Of tbs
| United States.
| The richest denomination is the Metho
dist, which is set down in the census ia
bles at $14.635.6 636. The next is tn,
Presbyterian, which is rated at $I4.369,
500. The Episcopal, which in numbe
OF churches stands fifth, ranks third for il
church property, being estimated at$ff,
26l $40. The fourth Is the Baptist, $40.
l93I.382; the fifth the Roman Catholic
$8.973. 1888; and the sixth the .Congrega
iional. $7,713.969. OF these various sect
the two which sympathise the most in doc
trine, are the Congreg ationalists and Pres
byterians-both sdhering to the Westmin
ster Catechism, and differing only in thei
form OF government. the one being re
publican. the other democratic. Togeih
er these sects have over six thousan'
churches. can seat nearly three million
of worshippers, and hold church propert,
to the value of more than $22 100000.
/ The sect whose average value OF prop
erty ranks highest. is the Unitarian. Mex
comes the Dutch Reformed. and next tn
Jewish. The Swedenborgians, Roman
Catholics and Episcopalians follow in tn
orde. FAMED. OF the leading denomina a
,ions. the Methodists stand the highest OF
the list, and the Bap,is,s next. while III
Presbyterisns and Congregationslists hol'
a middle place.-PMladelphia Ledger.
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