The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12
GENERAL STATISTICS
Compiled by Lan,ing Burrows, One of
the Conve ntion's Secretaries.

Complied by Lan,ing Burrows, One OF
the Convs ntioh's Secretaries.
The compiler is able to present to the
denomination again this year compare
lively exact statement Of the official fig
ures OF the associations within the bounds
OF the convention. The number OF the
missing associations is thirty.four, but
among these is included three new bodies
which have been organ Q during the
year, whose statistics are included in the
mother organizations, so that the number
missing is reduced to thirty-one. In the
case OF the missing associations, we are
able to give the figures for 1887 in all save
nine. These are generally small and UNI
important bodies, possibly some OF them
having quietly died without the formality
OF obsequies. For two years or more we
have been unable 10 hear from them.
They are tho Town Creek, OF Alabama;
New Conasauga, OF Georgia; New Con-
cord, OF Missouri; Pennsylvania, OF North
Carolina Beech River, Of Tennessee, and
Central, Paluxy, Tryon and Western
Branch, OF Tcxns.
In analyzing the figures, decrease will
be noted nj once in the number OF bap-
tsms ~ compared with the year proceed
ing This would not be affected materially
by the presence OF the missing minutes,
since about the same number OF these
missing ones occur year by year. A de-
crease Of 10000 baptisms stands us u fact
| 10 be explained by some more intelligent
mind than the compilcr's This year was
known rs a presidential one, and ii is
affirmed that in times Of political excite.
ment Zion loses much OF the enthusiasm
which is nccdiul for abundant fruitage.
| Are We 10 seek in the same fact for an ex-
PLANTATION OF the problem, that the dismiss
sions by letter and tho exclusions exceed
those OF the preceding year, While the
| baplisms decrease, the additions by letter
are within an hundred OF those OF the year
| preceding.
Comparing the additions with m, di-
munitions, We have, as net increase,
A,SS0. which Is below the normal rate Tor
/ the past lew years Among the factors TO
be considered in seeking the explanation
for this condition OF affairs apar. from the
! prevailing political activity, was the dread
and confusion occaSiOnci by ieArs aud no
| ports Of lever existing IN Some pafts ~ the
territory, which Affected the meetings in
/ some eases II tho Associations, % mani.
tested ITSELF IN iacomplctc rcports from
| chunhcs o. their ASsociationA meetings
In calculating tie ssercSt;c membership
81 both rAss,s IN car tcrrilcfN', u must h,
cbsyfNSNi taAi grcai inccMDle,cncSs still
chAracicrias-S the rcpCrts 81 the c0lort.l
| lApilsiS They vary widely year hy ycai
without any explanation. When thew do
they cause the toO,ings 10 vary - much
that, while there may b. a gratifying in
crease among the white churches, the
total may be pulled down 10 a decrease by
the figures OF the col0red RanistS The
compiler must insist that brethren shall
accept the figures OF the white associations
as nearly accurate rs /, Is possible for
one TO make them, and make
their comparisons on the basis OF the
white mempeship. IL will be rcmem-
bcred that the second table, giving the
property, educational and slate mission
AIRY statistics, Is exclusively for the white
churches la harmony with the conven-
ton. In the prevailing carclcssncss OF tho
compilers OF the cOlored statistic, IL would
bo entirely impossible TO arrive at any re-
liable data. II will be further observed
that the compiler las been hindcred most
unnecessarily Ia presenting the Informal
ton embodied ia this table, through the
want Of sympathy with the project on the
| part oi brethren Who could have given
| tae facts.
With the prcsen: system, rs Ne ,ssult
| OF many ycars nov OF Experimenting thu
defects ia our statistical tables represent
simply the unwillingncss OF those who
have the facts 10 cooperate ia their tabu.
lati0n. There is not blank line in the
following tables that does not represent
toll aud expense on the pau OF tile COM
pilcr which wns unrcwardcd. Still, the
number OF those Who render Information
gladly, aud often with words of cheer and
encouragement, Is steadily increasing. Tn,
result Is visible Ia lho discovery Of hithcr
10 unknown associations, or In the com
plcicnvss OF tables that were dpafy will
blank lines Tor years
The memberships Ia the States anu con
tribuliOus are ~ follows Figures under
white" aud ''colorcd" indicate the mum.
Der Of associations