Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-12

Religious Denominations Of the U. s.

The number of religious sects in the United
States is twenty, without counting the Chinese
Budhists in California, or sundry minor Chris
tian denominations. The whole number of
edifices is about thirty-six thousand, capable
of accommodating fourteen millions of people.
The total value of the church property held
by these twenty denominations is nearly $780,
900, 600; in exact numbers, $50, ,416 ,630.-
The average value of each church and its ap-
purtenances, is S2,4OO. These facts, which
are derived from official tables for the census,
explode another false notion, which is, that
there is too much luxury and wealth in Amer
lean churches.
The most numerous sect in the United
States is the Methodist, the second the Bap-
tist, and the third the Presbyterians. The
first has church accommodations for over four
millions of worshippers in other words, the
Methodists have houses of worship for one
sixth of the entire population. The Baptists
have accommodations for more than three mil
lions, and the Presbyterians for more than
two. The fourth sect in the extent of its ac-
commodation, is the Congregational the fifth,
the Episcopaian and the sixth, the Roman
Catholic. The number of churches belonging
to the three leading denominations does not
always follow this proportion however. The
Methodists, for example, while they can ac-
commodate but twice as many worshippers as
the Presbyterians, 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 edlfces for worship, is the Metho-
dist, and those which have the largest are the
Unitarians and Dutch Reformed. The small
est denomination is the Swedenborgan, and
the next the Mennonite. There are no less
than fifty-two Tunker churches, and thirty
five thousand worshippers. The Friends, SO
numerous in this city, have accommodations
for about three hundred thousand, or but little
more than one-hundredth part of the entire
population of the United States.
The richest denomination is the Methodist,
which is set down in the census tables at SI4,-
635, ,636. The next is the Presbyterian, which
is rated at $14, 1863, ,SS9. The Episcopal,
which in number of churches stands fifth,
ranks third for its church property, being es-
timated at SAL 1861 $50. The fourth is the
Baptist, SIC, ,9sl ,392 the fifth, the Roman
Catholic, SO 1913 $685. and the sixth, the Con-
gregationalist. $7,973, 1862. OF these various
sects, the two which sympathize the most in
doctrine, are the Congregationalists and Pres
byterians-both adhering to the Westminster
Catechism, and differing only in their form of
government, the one being republican, the
other democratic. Together, these two sects
have over six thousand churches, can seat
nearly three millions of worshippers, and hold
church property to the value of more than
S22, ,OOO, 900.
The sect whose average value of property
ranks highest is The Unitarian. Next comes
the Dutch Reformed, and the next the Jewish.
The Swedenborgians, Roman Catholics, and
Eplscopalians follow in order of their names
the leading denominations. the Methodists
stand the highest on the list, and the Baptists
next, while the Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists hold middle place.