Smyrna times., 1882-01-25
Denominations in PHILADELPHIA,

Philadelphia has an aggregate of about
| 9oo places OF religious worship or one for
l,ooo OF It's population. These are divided
among the denominations as follows:
>. methodist Episcopal, Sc; other Metho-
SGlsts, II Presbyterians So; Episcopa-
mans, 93, beside those of the Reformed
Eplscopals: Baptists, 65, and Roman Cath
ollcs, 10. The balance are scattered amono
the smaller denominations. The Friends
III three branches, have IA. and the lows
nave ten synagOgues. There are in all a.
denominations or divisions of denomino-
tl0ns. 1t will, therefore, appear that Phil
adelphia is well cared for religiously. II
mas variety Of denominations and annie
church accommodations The leading de-
nominations have of members as follows
Methodist Episcopals, 27,5OO; Presbv-
terlans, 26,34G; Protestant Episcopals. %.
sos; Baptists, IA ,253. The Roman Cath.
ollcs have different basis of computing
membership from the Protestants. and
hence cannot be rated in the same wav
1t thus appears that three-fifths of the
churches in the city have 81 ,457 members
OF commandments. Assuming that this
ratio holds good for the balance the entire
church membership in Philadelphia will
aggregate, i'll round numbers. 100000. or
about one-siXth of the population of the
city. This is probably close approxi-
mate of the actual numbers.
From official data it is learned that the
increase last year was as follows: Prcsbv
tcrlans, l,212 on profession of faith and
,l43 by certificate; Methodist Episropal
Z,Il3; Protestant Episcopal, $50: Ban
tlsts, l,OOO. This shows an average ratio
Oh increase OF per cent. The Metho-
dlsts have doubled in churches and mem
Dershlp, as shown by actual statistics in
70 years. The other denominations have
done nearly as well. But even this ap-
pears to be slow growth in great city.
FINANCIAL strength and liberality are un-
equally divided. The value of the Meth
0dlst Episcopal churches in the citv *
SZ,2JO,OOO, and parsonages, $500 The
FreshyteIlans raised last year S152.51l. of
WING Wnlcn S"o9 ~ was for congregational, and
Sl93,2lS for benevolent purposes. The
0aptists average for all purposes S17 per
member; the Methodists. SIS. and The
EpiscOpalians $26. 1t is hard to know if
| this does justice to the last named denom-
nation. 1t has SO many eleomosynarv
| institutions that there must. in the nature
OF things, be large unknown liberalitv
among the people. These figures speak
well for the liberality of all the denonina-
tons. Perhaps there is more individual
wealth i'll the Protestant Episcopal than
in any Of the other denominations and il
IS but Just to say that it is literally be-
slowed in beneVolence
The statistics bearing on Sunday-schools
is especially suggestive. The Methodist
churches, in this city, have Sunday
school enrolment Of 10000, and spend
annually the sum of $4,000 in Sunday
school work. The Presbyterians closely
compare inits numbers and expense. The
Baptists have II 900 children, and spend
$4,000. The Episcopalians have 10000
children, aud expend $4,000 on their
Sunday.schOols annually A peculiarity
OF this department of congregational work
is that the attendance is but about one
half the enrolment, and this is the case.
in about equal ratio, among all the demon
inations.-Erenjng Neus.