Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

crossed the interest and the energies Of the
people of Kansas. For four years a YER,
large portion of the able-bodied men Of
the state were in the union service
Probably the effect of the war upon gen
eral church work is fairly represented BY
the following report made by the NJ. l..
church for the years indicated:
Year. N;n;:,ors chnrcbe.
1901 ~
1867 ................ ~ o.
The territorial era, and the war era.
embracing a period of eleven years.
brought to the church builders Of Kansas.
in common with other citizens, trials and
sacrifices as heavy as have ever fallen Oh
any people on this continent since the day
of jamestown and Plymouth-and tn,
trials and sacrifices were met by all, WON
en- as well as men, with spirit of patlenc,
and heroism surpassed by nothing In tn
annals Of the world.
The Era OF Peace-IS65-s5.
The current of immigration that begar
to flow into Kansas after the close OF th'
War contained from the first a very larg'
per cent. of persons who had been mem
bers of churches, and also OF those who
though not communicates. were decided.
| favorable to the establishment of churches
The natural result was at once realized
Churches and Sunday schools were rapidly
formed, and this work was prosecuted
not merely in the larger towns and
villages, but throughout the country dis
tricts, and in sparsely settled regions
Wherever the hardy pioneer built hi
lcaim shanty, or sod house, thsre the con
gregaticn was gathered and services wer'
held
OF course the denominations that wer
early on the ground vigorously sought IL
/ reap the advantage of their priority; and
those who came later were not wanting IL
energy and zeal.
For the past twenty years most of tn
religious sects, elsewhere known il
the country, have been at work
here. each according to its chosen and &C
customed methods. 1t may be said Will
truth and emphasis that the work done b,
the churches has been successful In tn,
highest degree. Even if full and com
plete figures. representing results, wer,
accessible. they would very inadequatel,
show the best products Of Christian effor'
since of necessity these ca be beithe,
counted nor estimated. An important
feature in our church work is the active
interest taken in it by comfortable bodies
of intelligent foreign born citizens, nota
bly, the Germans, the Swedes and Nor
wegians, the French and the Welsh.
The fourth biennial ret ort of the state
board of agriculture contains reports from
fifteen of the denominations in the stat.
From portion of these | have been able
to secure later statistics. | have obtained
figures from some denominations not fur
nishing statements in the biennial report
Taking the report as basis, and using ali
reports obtained, and making safe esti-
mates in cases in which returns were not
within reach, think that the following
statements may be regarded as REASONABLE.
correct in the particulars specified.
There are in Kansas at least $500
church organizations. There about 1000
church edi6ces Most Of the buildings are
plain and inexpensive; yet within the past
few year, in the larger towns.spacious and
elegant houses of worship have been erect
ed. There about 10000 church mem
oers. OF these, 10000 are connected
with Protestant churches, and 5000 with
the Catholic church, whose statistics
include the entire church population.
while other denominations report only
communicates. The value of church prop
erty is about s., $4,000.
The roll of churches contains the follow.
ing names. and perhaps others should be
added: Adventist, African NJ. E.. Baptist.
Catholic, Congregational, Christian, Prot.
estant Episcopal Free Methodist. Society OF
Friends, German Lutheran, German NJ. E..
Evangelical Lutheran, Hebrew, Methodist
Episcopal, New Jerusalem, Presbyterian,
Cumberland Presbyterian, United Presby
terrain, Swedish Baptist, Swedish Luther
an. Unitarian, United Brethren, Univer-
| salist, Wesleyan Methodist.
It should be borne in mind that many
congregations made up of colored PEG pie
are included in the reports presented by
the denominations to which they are res
pectively attached.
characteristics OF the Churches OF
Kansas.
T. understand the position of the
churches in the state it is necessary to
Consider not merely the number of organ
izatlons and of members. but equally the
peculiarities of church character and life
that impress themselves On individuals,
and on the general tone of society.
The churches of Kansas are marked hy a
legitimate spirit of propagandism. The
only justification of its existence that a
sect can present to the community is that
it claims to hold with special clearness
some phase of truth. or to practice
with special fidelity some form of duty
and charity A church, therefore, that
does not give work and money, in order
to grow, ought to die. 1t has begun to
die.
The churches of Kansas, generously as
sisted by thoss outside of their organiza-
tions. are working with activity and lib
crafty in promoting moral and social re-
forms, establishing Sunday schools, build
ing houses of worship. supporting benev-
olent and charitable enterprises. and in
extending their influence among the peo-
pie.
In all this work none are more jealous
and seif-denying than the women in the
various congregations and communities.
Fourteen religious newspapers are pub
lished in the state.
The active interest taken in Sunday
schools is indicated by the fact that last
year, bes ides county and township con-
ventions, two meetings for the state at