The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-05
METHODIsTIC.

ne usual regular ocTNICcS III IHe
two Methodist churches will be OBJ
served tomorrow. The regular pas
tors will oficiate. The weather
promises to be pleasant, and we pre-
sumo both churches will be largely
attended.
The gross receipts from the Ladies
Fair and Lunch, in Princeton, for the
benefit of the NJ. E.. Church, was
1856 IS, netting 1874 81 after all ex-
penses were paid.
STATISTICS OF METHoDIsM.-The
recently published Annual Minutes p"
of the Methodist Church for 1866,
contain some interesting statistics.
From them we learn that the member
ship of the Church is 1902, 1874, in
Guiding 161 OH probationers, showing
gain for the year of 102, 925-more
than eleven per cent. Twelve thous-
and members have died during the
year. The ministry have also made
great advancement during the year.
It now embodies no less than 1876
preachers. It's increase is406-a con-
siderable ministry of itself. Method
ism had operated nearly forty years
its heroic years-over most of the
country, before its aggregate minis
terial force equalled this increase of
one year. wei e,os ~ li.e h. aasai
Besides these gains of the regular
ministry, there has been an addition
of 200 to the local ministry, which
now reports nosless than 1902, and is
more than a thousand stronger than
the regular ministry. 10 aaGf7o. sgf.>
Our ministerial force is distributed
through sixty-four annual conferen-
cess four of which has been organ
lied this year. The whole force, To-
cal and itinerant, exceeds 16,000-a
host competent to shake the strong
holds of darkness throughout this
whole land Never had it a mightier
consciousness of power-power from
on high. Never were all auspices
more favorable for its success.
Our church buildings are valued at
$29, 594, OO4; they number 1882;
their increase for the year is 400; in
crease of their value, 81, 843,50 But
it must be remembered that these re-
turns were made at the respective
conferences, many of which were
held early in the year. They are
doubtless now much advanced. The
same is true also of the parsonages,
which number 1914 "a gain of 171),
valued at 81, APO, 958. The aggregate
value of these two kinds of Church
property is about $34,0l5, 900. SWAT
Every one of the Benevolent
Contributions " shows, by these Con-
ference reports, important increase.
Their aggregate is 1929, 221; increase,
$91, 074 But it must be borne in
mind again that many of these re-
ports were made early In the year,
and though they take in part of. the
previous year, yet the advancements
of the present far surpass those of the
preceding year. For example, the
missionary returns, in these Minutes,
amount to about $671 900, whereas at
the late meeting of the Board they
were reported at more than .$700, 900.
We are quite certain that these vol
untary offerings amount to more than
one million; and this is aside from all
contributions for support of the min
istry, church building, ETC., etc. L
We add the Centenary contributions
(now about four millions), the be-
nevolent gifts of the Church, for the
year, cannot be less than fve millions.
The Centenary donations, are not,
however, fully reported yet. The ag-
gregateo will be probably much en-
HANGED.