Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-31

RELIGrous DENoM1NATIoNs OF THE UN1rED STATES.
THE number of religious sects in the United States
is twenty without counting the Chinese Budhists in
California, or snndry minor Christian denominations
The whole number Of edifces is about thirty-six
thousand, capablcsof accommodating fourteen mil
lions of people The total value of the church pro-
pery held by these twenty denominations is nearly
SEQ, 600 600 in exact Numbers $50, 416, $50. The
average value of each church and its appurtenances,
is $4,000. These facts, which arc derived from OIL
cia tabesfor the census, explode another false no
ton, which is, that there is too much luxury and
wealth in American churches.
The most numerous sect in the United States is
the Methodist the second the Baptist, and the third
the Presbyterian. The first has church accommo-
dations for four millions of worshppers in 9TH
er words the MethoiSts have houses OF worship for
onc-sixth of the entire population The Baptists
have accommodations for more than three millions,
and the Presbyterans for more than two The fourth
sect, in the extent of its accommodations, Is the
Congregational; the ifth the Epscopaan; and the
sixth, the Roman Catholic The number OF churches
belonging to the three leading denominations does
not follow this proportion however The Method
twice many worshipers the Presbyterians, have
three times many churches. The Roman Catho-
lies, though sixth the list regards accommoda-
tonS stand seventh in the number of their church
es of the principal sects that which has the small
est edlfces for worship is the Methodist and those
which have the largest are the Untarians and Dutch
Reformed The smallest denomination is the Swe-
denborgian and the next Mennonite. There no
thousand worshippers. The Friends So numerous
in this city, have accommodations for about three
hundred thousand, o. but little than onl-,lun-
dreth of the entire population of the United States
The richest denomination is the Methodist, which
is rated at $14 635, 636. The next is the Presbyte
rian, which is rated at $14,369 8S9 The Episcopal,
which, in number of churches stands fifth, ranks
third for its church property, being estimated at
$1l,251 $40 The fourth is the Baptist, Slo,93l,
1872 the fifth, the Roman Catholic s., 9T3 S38 and
the sixth, the Congregational $7973,962. Of these
various sects, the two which sympathize the most
in doctrine, the CongregationaIiss and Prcsby
terians-both adherng to the Westminster Cate
chism, and differing only in their form Of govern
nent, the one being republican, the other democratic
Together, these two sccts have over six thousand
churches, seat nearly three million of Worship
ers and hold church property to the value Of more
than So, 900, coo.
The sect whose average value Of property ranks
highest is the Unitarian. Next comes the Dutch
Reformed, and next the Jewish. The Swedenbor-
gians, Roman Catholics, and Epscopaians, follow
in the order named. Of the leading denominations
the Methodsts stand the highest the list and the
TeptStS next, while the Presbytcrians and CoAgre-
gationalists hold middle place
IhihtdeIuhit Ledger.