Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-05-29
Religious 1ntrIIigente.
Statistics of Methodism.

Bangs, giving the statistics OF the Meth
odist Church. They viii be read with
interest by members of other commun-
ions. We make the following extracts ::
In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ
1773, the Methodist Episcopal Church
or as it was then called, the United So
eieties, in connection with Rev. John
Wesley, of England,-it was not orga-
nized into a separate church, with its
present name, until 1784-contained but
1,160 church members and ten travelling
preachers.
In 1888, ten years afterward, there
we're II travelling preachers, and 1870
church members. Increase of preach
ers in the ten years, 81; increase of
church members, II 1857. In 1850 there
vas decrease of 73 church members.
Average increase per year, of preachers
6; of members, 1,196. In 1776 there
was a further decrease of z travelling
preachers and in 1879 there was a fur
Their decrease of 16 travelling preachers.
These are the only years, in the whole
history of our church, when there was
decrease of travelling preachers, showing
how careful God has been to furnish the
workmen to carry on his own work in
this land, by his great agency, a trareling
Ministry. This decrease was occasioned,
probably, by the Revolutionary War,
when many of the preachers returned
home.
In 1898 there were 269 travelling
pr.achers, and 61,643 church members.
Increase in the ten years, of church Iaem-
ben, $3.50; and of travelling preach
eFs, 1913. In 1892 there was a decrease
10,l73 church members. During this
period 8 travelling preachers had been
expelled from the connection, "a had
died, and So had located. This is the
first period in which we have any ac-
count of locations, deaths and expulsions
of travelling preachers. Average in
crease, per year, 10 preachers and a
fraction and 1867 church members and
fraction over.
In 1903 there were 383 travelling
preachers, and 104,070 church members.
Increase in ten years of LA preachers,
and of 47,427 church members. In IL
"a there was a decrease of 6,3I7 mem
bers, and in 1896 there was further de-
crease of 1927 members. Total decrease
in these three successive years, 10,869.
Average increase, per year, a fraction
over II preachers, and 4,742 members.
During the ten years 8 travelling preach
ers had been expelled, ID had withdrawn,
40 had died ard 26S had located. This
period is the first in which we have any
account Of travelling preachers withdraw
ing from the connection.
In 1913 there were 678 travelling
preachers, and 2I5, 307 church members.
Increase, in ten years, Of preachers, 295,
and Of members, 1G8,934. There was
no decrease any one year during this pc
riOd, from 1903 to 1913; s travelling
preachers had withdrawn from the con-
neetion, l6 had been expelled, 50 had
died, and 423 had located. Average in
crease, per year, 20 preachers, and TO-
993 church members.
In 1928 there were 1926 travelling
preachers, 3l2, $40 church members
Increase in ten years, Of preachers, 54S,
and of church members, 98,233. Ave-
rage increase per year, of preachers, a
fraction over "a, ard of church members.
9,025. z travelling preachers had with
drawn from the connection during this
period, 20 had been expelled, 60 had
died, and 515 had located. In 1914
there was decrease of 3,178 church
members.
In 1888 there were in the connection
E,4OO travelling preachers, and 599,736
church members. Increase in ten wears.
LIZA travelling preachers, and 287,I96
church members. Average increase, per
year, of preachers, III, and fraction
over, and Of members, 27,719. 13 trav-
cling preachers had Withdrawn from the
connection during this period, 40 had
been expelled, 143 had died, and COG
mad located. These were years of pros
perlty. No decrease in any one year.
l843 there were 1882 travelling
preachers, and 1,l01,3 1856 church mem
Oers' Increase in the ten years, 1896
travelling preachers, and 532, 572 church
members. Average increase, per year,
OIL preachers, 1919 IL, and of church.
members, 5S,257; 50 travelling preachers
Had been expelled from the connection
dur;no, a..