The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17

The contributions from church members for
home charities are not incluaed IN the sc, 975,
nearly the whole of which is for missionary work
and outside benevolent purposes. The home
charity work is Left mainly TO the Charity Or
ganization Society, which is literally maintained
by private contributions FROM citizens and
are discussed annually in public benefactions to
the helpless poor of the city Besides giving
free gospel to the public, however, the church is
. munifcent charitable agency. and is quick to
respond to any call of suffering humanity for
he,D. In 1889, when the ford in the Ohio valley
swept away the homes and the food supplies of
hundreds of people Irving along the river. there
was 81 $50 ~ COLLECTED from the church conpre
cations OF indianapolis ON single SUNDAY for
the relief of the sufferers.
The actual church expenses, estimated in the
aggregate at san. 6S5 year, include only the
salaries of the pastors, the cost of music. fhe
work or janitors, light, fuel, and repairs to the
buildings. Including the contributions for
foreign missionary work, the sum is ;swelled to
$l7I, GEO. The church property of this city,
valued at &lsG2S $780, is worth $500 98l more
than the public school buildings. The amount
paid annually for the support of the churches of
Indianapolis and fer religious work is more than
81 for each man, woman and c2ild in The CITY;
yet no one pays cent under compusion. The
money is raised by presents by Sunday col
leotions and private contributions There are
some men IN the city who give as much as $500
q year to their church. The pew that they
occupy may be next to one that O poorer man
rents for $40. or even $40 or %, hut doubtless
both are equally liberal, according to their
means.
The uncertainty of the income makes church
1nanciering "a difficult problem. but no inststu-
xions have the benefit of greater business sagac-
ity, and 1T is only by very skillfal methods that
the churches SAVED from becoming involved
IN debt. Many of them do venture into debt in
order to make improvements, and. although it is
hardly ever advisable the mnnifcenee of the
members of the congregation is generally equal
to the obligation.
There are a great many people in indianapolis
who go to church. Theayerage at the Sunday
services during last year numbered a, 362 per
sons, divided among the churches OF the differ
ent denominations as follows: Baptist, 100
Catholic, 5000; Congregational, 8a0; Episoopal
$50; Evangelical, 1856 German Reform, 666;
Lutheran, $50; Methodist Episcopal, ,t45; Pres
byterian, 2,560; Swedenhorgan 40; United Pres
Dyterian, 1b Christian, 900; United Brethren
Ile There were during the year z, 792 persons
admitted to membership in the different demon
innfions. A little more than one-third of the en-
tire population belong 20 the ,serenty six
schnrches IN the city. The membership of these
.seveuty six chnrches lis divided among the de-
nominations as follows: Baptist t6l, S54: Cath.
Ollie 49, I0, Sol; Congregational t3l. 303: Episeo
pal 'l5l, 750; Evangelical "a go; German
reform t3 GIG; Iatharan t4). 2,526; Methodist
Episcopal, IA, 4,817; Presbyterian. tle), 3Il7;
.bvBaenbargian. n3. 10; United Presbyterian,
sa), 81 Christian, lid, 1880; United Brethren,
s2b Do 1t isa generally conceded fact that
women are.pore religious shan men, and that
they ind more satisfaet ton of soul In devotional
survives than the Steiner sex. a worsan wants
70 go to Church. q man .mnst go' With one
it's desire, and with the other ii Is o duty.
Among the church members ,0f Indianapolis
thsps are D. III moro women than men. The