The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-04-19
Cur 0lia.



country during twenty years The table
is interesting, as presenting succinct
catalogue of our bewildering sects it is
still more interesting we think, as a cata-
fogae rdisoRne, by means of which we may
discover in what direction the religious
tendencies Of the day are drifting.
Ii will be observed that while the num-
Der Of churches has not doubled from
1850 to 1870, and the membership has
only increased about 80 per cent, the
church property has more than quadrupled
in the same period, showing steadily in
creasing departure from the apostolic sim
plicity. II will be further noticed that
none Of the denominations have lost in
property, though goodly number have
suffered in point of membership To hold
its own with the growth of population, a
denomination must have added 66 per
cent to its membership, between 1850 and
lS7O,and per cent between 1860 and 20.
Tried by this standard, the regular Bap-
lists have fallen short about so per cent.
but the irregular Baptists (Hard-shells,
Campbellites, Newlights, &c all of them
revivalists and protesting more sensational
forms of doctrine, are far above the aver
age, having sextupled in the period The
Congregationalists have trebled their prop
erty, but have only increased their men,
bership 3S per cent, showing decline of
nearly 30 per cent, The Protestant Epis-
copalians have also trebled their property
and added so per cent to their member
ship. This growth, however, has been
chiefly fostercd by the Ritualists, and is
principally upon the emotional side of the
church. The spirit has evidently ceased
to move the Friends, who, financially
thrifty, have increased their dollars from
sl,7l3,767 to 1898, 500, but have re-.
duced the number of their churches by
sixty and their membership by over &C, 900.
The Quakers have apparently suffered in
spiritual regards by the contaminating in-
huenees Of the late war. The Jewish
churches have increased their membership
from 1881 to 1925, but this is chiefly,
if not entirely, by immigration. The
growth Of the Lutherans, about 80 or 90
per cent, in two decades, is also to be at
tributed principally to the large immigra-
ton of North Germans. The Methodists
have raised their estate from $4,000, 900
to near $4,000, 900, and their member
ship has increased about 80 per cent. The
bulk of this increase, however, was chron-
icled in the census of 1860. Since that
date, while their property has more than
doubled, their membership has increased
only about per cent, showing that they
are Is per cent below their status in 1860.
They have, perhaps, more than made up
in social influence and political power,
however for this loss of spiritual sway,
and are very likely quite contented with
the outlook. Camp-meetings, revivals, and
the doctrine of sanctifcation will continue
to give them powerful hold upon the
emotional side of the people among whom
they proselyte. The Moravians have gone
down to almost nothing, but the United
Brethren, reforming schismatists from the
Moravian fold, hold their own much better
than most denominations. The Mormons
have grown from l0,s00 to s7,S3S; and
those pure and unworthy Spiritualists, the
Swedenborgians, have more than trebled
their membership, but, alas, their property
has increased seven-fold, and we tremble
for the Swedenborgians. The Presbyte-
rians, old and new schools combined, have
only increased their membership about 30
per cent, but their property has augment
ed $50 per cent. The Dutch and German
Reformed have grown largely, but chiefly
by immigration, immigration has con-
tributed largely to the growth of the Cath
olic Church, the membership of which is
three-fold as great as it was in 1850, while
its property has increased six-fold. The
Second Adventists, who totally discard
history, science, experience, and such tri-
fes, and guide themselves by the inner
light, have increased nearly seven-fold in
membership and nearly thirty fold in this
worlds gear. The Shakers have added
20 per cent. to their membership, but this
growth was principally during the war,
when good many men of pacific DISPOSE
tion would naturally become Shakers in
view of the frequent drafts, and the more
readily, that this sect was practically ex-
empt from military duty. The Spiritu-
alists are reported as having increased
their churches from IL to Is aud their
membership from 6,275 to 500 since
1860. They have, however, 95 organiza-
tions (mecting, VIC suppose, in rented build
ings) and large class of believers and
semi-converts who are ashamed to confess
their belief The Cnitariahs are virtually
at astaudstill in membership, though much
richer in money, and the Universalits have
declined largely in members, although their
esa'e has trebled in value.-1Ne0 York
World.
CHEAP BARoMETER.-Put small quan-
tity of finely pulverized alum in clean
bottle; gil the bottle with spirits Of wine
The alum viii be perfectly dissoyled and
in clear weather, the liquid win be as