Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
DIFF e n EMIT RICHES IN
AMERICA.
The Relative Increase In the Leading
Denominations Since 1850

From the New York Sun.
BALTIMORE. November 2S-The presence in
Baltimore in attendance at the Plenary Council
of the Catholic prelates and dignitaries and the
interchange OF opinions resulting from their
several meetings have served to direct particu-
lar attention to a table which has Just made its
appearance. 1t has been customary heretofore
to gauge the growth of religious organizations
in this country by comparative figures at each
new reckoning But as the whole population
is always increasing rapidly, the various de-
nominal ions have thus always been able to
show healthy gain in numbers. Since the
opening of the council an attempt has been
made by careful students and statisticians to
show these results relatively for the better
guidance of the prelates. The table which has
been prepared arrives at some conclusions little
less than startling
BY the census of 1860 tie population of the
United States was 81 ,445.0eO. The present
population Is now estimated at IS, Coos coo. The
gain in twenty-five years has been. therefore
twenty-three and half smillion OF at the rate
of Is per cent.
In 1860, according to estimates. the accuracy
OF which was then universally acknowledged,
there were s, 800 coo Methodists in this country
They were then, as they are now. the strongest
religious body, numerically Since 1860 the
total has grown to Is 100000. which is an in
crease OF IS per cent, keeping pace exactly with
the increase in population.
The number of afiliants Of the various Ban
fist churches was. In 1860. 5000 COO TODAY il
is IL OOO, GOO. The increase in twenty -tive years
is. therefore, 50 per cent. gain in absolute
ratio. but falling off when considered rela-
lively.
The Presbyterians numbered, in 1860. 3. Co.,
GOO. Now they number $500, 900, an increase
in twenty-five years of So per cent
The Lutherans, who have been materially
benefited by constant and increasing emgra-
ton from Germany, Sweden. Holland and Nor
way. have grown from $50. 900 in 1860 to
10000 in 1884 or at the rate of go per cent.
The Congregationalists have declined rela-
lively very much. The old spirit of the New
England pilgrims seems to be dying out among
them In TWENTY-FIVE years they have advanced
but q per cent-that is, from Alb 600 in 1860
to 100000 at present. On the other hand. the
various Reformed Churches-Dutch. German,
and EVangecal-show an increase Of nearly so
per cent, from $4,000 in 1860 to 200, 600 to-
day.
The Epscopalians show a fair increase in
numbers. yet ore relatively below the average.
Their percentage of gain is 3511S per cent in
twenty -five years, bringing up the total from
800 600 to 10000
The Notwithstanding together those who
are orthodox and those who are merely NOM
lnai--have increased from $50. 900 in 1860 to
700, COO in 1884 full 100 per cent of gain.
Inc Friends. or Quakers. show absolute as
we'll as relative decline They have fallen off 60
per cent. from 0OOO in 1860 to $50 600 in 1884
Inc denomination OF Christians, who are nu-
merous il Kentucky. southern Indiana SOUTH
ern Illinois. and Missouri. number 500 600.
against 100000 in 1860, an absolute gan of 60
per cent. yet falling off relatively of Is.
But the most surprising feature OF the calcu-
iations just completed is the growth OF the
Catholics. In 1860 they numbered in the United
States 3.115,OOO. Now there are 9, 500. coo. This
is a gain of 200 per cent in - years Should the
same ratio of increase continue to be pre-
served they would number 10 years hence
$4,000, 600.
The difficulties encountered in arriving at
even an approximate result in religious statis-
tics are many. In the United States. as in Eng
land and Scotland. the dOctrna views of the in
OlVldualS form no item in the census enumera-
tion. The generally accepted plan for arriving
at result Is as follows: The church accOmmO-
dations. which are gathered officially are multi
piled by figure representing i'm that denOmi-
nation the relation of churchgOers to the whole
number of its adherents. Then another table is
made OF the number Of enrolled members or
commandments. These are multiplied usually by
five for the full population. Finally. a third
table Is constructed from the church records of
Oaptlsms and marriages and the official record
OF deaths. These tables are &C impaired in parallel
Columns. and an estimate Is made from the
three. The substantial accuracy. not alone of
these tables but OF the net resi- It's deduced from
their comparison, is not questioned though OF
course, the circumstances of their compilation
do not preclude the possibility OF occasional
errors.
1t is the opinion of many of the Catholic clergy
assembled here that in default OF American uni
versities OF very high scholarship, Catholic
preachers have to contend in their missionary
labors with difficulty not met with in Europe
ihls subject Is one certain not to be neglected
by the Plenary Council. Bishop Gross. of Sa-
vannah. has sough to interest his colleagues in
plan for more efficient pastoral efforts among
the cOlOred population OF the southern states,
wherein Outside OF Louisiana and Texas) the
Catholic church has at present. confessedly,
very little fOothold. 1t is to be noted that the
churches of all creeds and denominations in the
United States contain accommodations for
275OO.OOO persons. or just half of the whole
population of So 600 900,