Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-02
The Cost Of Making Converts.

The Cost Of Making Converts.
Il is curious inquiry that has been made
how much actual expenditure it requires
to convert the average sinner in Chicago
The churches have not kept their statistics
in manner calculated to throw any light
on the question, and the results given be
low are, it must be admitted at the start,
more guesswork than fact. They are ia.
teresting, however, as they are the results
of a number of independent estimates made
by editors of religious papers, preachers, and
laymen directly interested in home mission
ary enterprises.
While the question in each case was di
rected to the economical management Of the
resources of each church 60 employed in
making conversions, it usually took the form
OF the direct inquiry: How much does it
cost the church to make one convert?
Nobody knew exactly-or even approx
mately. Methodists, Baptists, Congregation
alists, Presbyterians, Epscopalians, Luth-
erans, and Roman Catholics were seen, and
it is by comparison of their answers that
the statemen given below vas constructed.
1t shows what, in the opinion of men best
posted on the subject, it costs to gather the
average Chicagoan into one or the other OF
the churches which are most prominently
before the people.
From diagram it would be seen that the
church working the most cheaply in Chica-
20 is the Methodist. Making calculation
based upon the number OF adults added to
the church each year and the amount of
money expended at home, it costs about S25
to add one member to the Methodist faith.
In other words, this religion gets larger re-
suits from given expenditure of money
than does any other one in the field.
1t spends money freeIy the average tax
upon the members of this conference for
missionary purposes will this year run over
81 apiece, but the peculiar fiscal policy of
their church and it's ability to mass it's re-
sources, make it financially very effective.
Crowding close upon the Methodists come
the Baptists, whose conversions average
cost of $50 each-but So more than the first
named. The two churches are in their
methods very similar, and the economical
manner in which their work is done is
models Of good management OF their re.
sources.
The Congregationalists spend somewhat
named. Each edult convert admitted to
the fold represents, according to the pub.
lished reports, cash outlay of $45.
The Presbyterians are credited with an
expenditure of $50 for each adult admission
their diyines said II believe it is true that
it costs three times as much money, if you
want to put it that way, to add ameinber to
our church as it does to add one 10 either
the Methodist or the Baptist faith but you
must remember on the other hand, that
when man becomes Presbyterian once
he stays Presbyterian. We do the work
once for all, while some of our brethren
have to convert their converts three or four
times over before the work is really done.
That may account for the great difference in
the figures, to certain extent" -
The Presbyterians do not make as many
converts in Chicago as many of the other
creeds, but the sums expended in church
and benevolent work, both here and abroad,
are very large, and the tax on the members
for mission work is said to be larger than that
paid by any other faith
The Episcopalians are credited by their
brethren with an expenditure of at least
$500 for each adult added to the church
from the outside. With this creed, as with
the Lutherans and Roman Catholics, the
growth is almost wholly from within, rather
than from without The additions to the
fold are made from children who are born of
church members rather than of outsiders
who are attracted in. Hence the figures on
these three faiths are apt to be misleading.
Both the Lutheran and Catholic churches,
especially the latter, are growing rapidly in
Chicago Their expenditure for all purpo-
seq, while possibly larger, is not so much
more than that of the others as the prepared
table would lead one to believe. It ia esti.
mated, however, and the printed reports
bear out the estimate, that for adult con.
versions the Episcopslians pay out $500 and
the Catholics and Lutherans 1850 each.
Adding up the results claimed By the diff
ferent churches in their reports and news
papers, the total shows that the average
cost of converting the average Chicagoan TO
some from of Christianity is 1884, 25, q fact
which permits another singular comparison,
and one which is not without interest
In Smalley's Cost of the Gospel" it is said, af-
ter an exhaustive comparison of the religious
work done throughout the world by the various
Christian sects, that the following table illus
trates very closely the actual outlay required to
bring into any one of the reformed churches each
one of the people named:
An African SD A japanese. ......... $50
An Italian .......... AZ A Chinese........... 100
spaniard ......... 55 A Jew $500
An East Indian. 6O
So that after all, the average Chicsgoan is as
cheaply converted all around as any one could le
ultimately expect.
Along with the enterprises of different churches.
there is being accomplished IN Chicago great
deal of what its promoters call undenominational
mission work This is, of course, very cheap,
and probably very effective. In the poorer quar-
ters of the city the people arc gathered into the
services, and afterward, if they choose, are given
a breakfast. Mr. Kirkland, who is conducting
the largest of these missions, estimates that he
can save soul for every dollar he expends which