, 1866-11-25
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
Interesting StntfktlcH Of ftA Growth nud


Interesting Statistics Of it& Growth md
Present Strength.
The (nriaian -idroeafe Of New York cuffs
from the rzoofshects Of the Geucral Minutes
Of the Methodist Conference the following
statistics Of the Methodist Church in the
Cuited States. The advocate says: In every
department Of the church there has been
real and noteworthy progress, and the
centenary year closes With most en-.
evuraging indication Of prosperity.
ANIMAL CONFERENCES.
OF these there arc sixty .fbnr, an increase
Of fos;r oser the previous yeur- At their
recent session, the bishops made provision
for tie organizstlon Of three new ones,
makir:, total for the year 1857 Of sixtY.
seven, IN increase oEer 1876 of seven.
PREACHERS.
The n9!mhsT OF travelling preachers Is
4,HG-su increase over the pfevlous rear Of
401. Of these, 0,2s7 arc effective tthat Is,
taking full work TO which they are assigned
and 4ls are returned superannuated. During
the year travelling preachers located. 80
died. and t&l we're admitted on trial. The
number Of local Preachers is S,G03, an in
crease Of missionaries not embraced In tue
including the bishops. Is Is, lis, being ! net
increase Of Gl0. Philadelphia Conference
has the largest number Of travelling minis.
tiers, namely. II. and Colorado the smallest,
namely, Q. In loc4l preachers Philade2rhia
also exseIs, having S5l; Nevada reports only
q. which Is the smallest number.
MEMBERSHIP. ..
The total membership reported Is ], ,oa2. 1s4,
an increase drsinG the year Of lu5., BIS. This
is in c1cess Of the lumber VIC gave last week,
,hc difference. arising from the correction OF
The returns Of one OF the conferences By tho
Secretary. This is an Increase during tue
ef n1nERn Thr nnY1 her IF
baptisms stands thus: Adults, 4s,419: child
rep, IS, $50; total, 8, ,55, being an Increase Of
1S,eeea adults, and e,GA children, OF q total
increase Of baptisms Of %, 9l4. During the
year J., ,22l4 members died. These are not In
clnded above. five add this number to that
showing the incrsasc, NC find that during the
Sear at least III, ,lD persons united with tho
Methodist Episcopal Church.
- CurncH EDIFlCE~ AND pAhsoSAGES-
The number Of churches tdouses Of wor"
ship Is 1o, 80 being an n; ine5case Of 20 Ihs
- .s4&;,aG The nambcr Of rassonae,es Is
asia, valued at q 10 9Ss, IN Increase of Ill
ID number, and Of $234,2s7 ~ 2s7 In value The total
ra1nc Of church cdiices and Passona.es IS
IS: 9.a, being an Increase Of $e,s61, -.
BENEVOLENT COLLECTIONS.
The following arc the summaries Of the
ccntrllption for the principal benevolent
causes, omittinC all receipts FROM legacies
Conference claimants (worr~out preachers
! and widows md orphaRs OF ministers VINO
crease Of s14, 1896; for Missionary Society,
sS1l ,c:De6 an ircScasc Of a,01.s3; fol
| Tract society, S3,SSsa.SS, an increase q
| St.ooGp6. for american Bible Society
Sl07, y IN Increase OF $5,a15>l3 for Sun
| day School Union, S19. .s50S3, an increase o
| s1$s.H; the total contributions foz thest
carscs Is SEQ ~ s.. This Is an increas:
| orer the returns Of 1855 Of e21 ,0'33t,
| SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Total schools 14,o45, an Increase Of e6: o1
Dse1s aud teachers, 16,, ,l2l. an increase q
S,4!r.; scholars $50 e.. an lncreass Of 4S.ss
yp]uues in library. 2,b44,9 an increAs
| Of ltt., ms. The Sa@iay School 4dra:ase. q
! ;hc close of the volume In October, Issued
~ .ular edition cf 500 900 copies, a large II
crease over the preceding year.
COMPARATIVE PROGRESS.
IS examining the of1lcill returns Of th
| cnnftepc~s for the whole century, and con
| rarirs them by decades from LTD, VIC has
. | inc toflnEfttr table: