New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-17

ITS MEETING TO-DAY IL DgTEOu-ITs FUNCTIONS
STATISTICS.

ITS MEETING TO-DAY IL DETROT-lTs FUNCTIONS
STATISTICS.
The third trcnnial session OF the National
Council OF the CONGREGATIONAL Churches II the United
states VIII De held iu Detroit Hich opening to-day. The
council s representative body composed o; deo-
gate u each local conference for every ten churches
aud OF one delegate in State organization for the
State and one also for every ten thousand communi-
cluts The Congregational societies Tor cAartJ Chris
tan work. ANA tho faculties o. the Congregational thco
Logical scmnaries, allowed one delegate each with
the piycgc OF discussion. By the terms Of it, c0ustu
to this body is precucd from exercising legislative
judicial authority. acting council Of reference
lis declared objects 10 express md foster The sub
stlutil unity of the churches iCprcscnted. in doctrine
rn.itv aud work. and to consult upon tneir
tcrcsts.
Although this me ting viii he largely attended yet
grave doubts expressed by some Cnngregatona'ts
OF The utility Of National Councils, aud the wisdom Of
their continuance The iihode island Conference has
sent its delegates with resolution declaring that reg
larly recurring National Councils are incor stcnt with
CONGREGATIONAL pOity, and recommending hat they be
no longer held. On tho other side IL has been
urged that the councils already held have done
much to promote unity of Thought and fcclng, 10 stim
uate bcneyoience. and TO make strong impression Tor
Cougrceat!onaism. The question Of tc continuance OF
these meetings viii DO doubt mp nj tie present
meeting Tie topics he considered will he wholly prac
teal. 4 paper viii be read from eNfcsdehI N00i-'y,
y la
ro~tort.. Churches and ciuIccss pastors, by the Rev.
d. Henry &. Dexter Oih"r papers VIII De read on the
I,yaugal.ic movement, fellowship and union meetings,
yy,Tlls WORK etc. 40 is expected a.7o that each OF tho
general benevolent societies viii present written state
utnt o. its work ana cO-dificn.
Tne statistics OF COncrc gauOnallsn in the United
states will reported by the councils secretary te
Rev Dr. A. II. Quiut. In 1874 there Werc according 20
Inc tables then presented, SIS congregational minis
icfs ia tie country 90 whom s53 .Wcic pai Ors, $50
acting astors, and 9ll nos iu tie pastoral Work In"re
were III the sane 1893 churches. oi which S33
were supplied hy pastors ,6JS by aclng pastors, ana
s2t either bt supplied or supplied D.! hcrntlaes. inc
met iulca-c nf churches IN the three years rom
Is7I to 1871. was 2O4. The churches were thus
lr-1uund: IN the NeW-ElgaDd states, l,45l ia Now
York EeW-Jar-cv AID Peusy lvani1, 80; ONO and ~
IA. Mississippi, sos; the western side OF tho Mahls
s,up NOT including the Pacific slope 0J2 ~ the laclic
Sr D ana IA the south. not including Missouri, "a
The net gain members for the three years rom 1871
10 1874 WAS I7I6l. annual average % 5,12O. Tor
fifteen wears I~Tl the annual average increase OF
members was o.5j4. The total number of members ~
that year was 3Z3679. The statistics FOR 1917 snow
that in the three years interval there has been An al
vance in all particulars The churches are now 1000 ~
number; there 1888 ministers and 3jOb1s
past 743 served by acting pastOrs During tie
wear 1876 there 2O.,si members added To tine
cburcAee and there appeared net gain In members Of
l234J Tho benevolent contributions reported Ia 1874
made total Of l213.-l6; tho same contributions re-
ported 1877 Si,27-252 an increase, notHitt-
standing the continued depression ~ business The ad
vance 1877 in benevolent contributions over 1870 B
1923 GJ7 The council 5 expected 10 close Oh Saturday
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