Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-27
CHURCHES GROWTH.
Their Progress for a Century Has
More Than Kept Pace With
THE INCREASE OF POPULATION.
Interesting Statistics on the Extent of
Ministerial Work,
GLEANINGS FROM CHURCH FIELDS

Philadelphia is evidently the American
Jerusalem of the Presbyterian church, as
will appear from the following statistics
presented by Rev. R. NJ. Patterson, editor
OF the Presbyterian Journal, to the Presby-
terian preachers meeting of Philadelphia
this week. Next to Philadelphia Pittsburg
stands in her devotion to Presbyterian the
ology. When the difference in population,
as between the Eastern and Western Penn
sylvania metropolis is taken into account, it
will admit of doubt as to which is the
strongest hold of Presbyterianism. In the
paper presented to the Ministerial Associa-
tion of Philadelphia, according to reports
given by the Ledger of that city, DR.. Pat
terson furnished the following statistics
culled from the General Assembly's min
utes:
''In 1890 there were in the whole country
only lS4 ministers; now, including the
three organizations lineally descended from
the Presbyterians, there are 1888 ministers.
In 1890 there were 435 congregations; the
number now 2,07O. The population of the
United States then was under 4, 600, 900; now
it is Ga, 100000 The increase of population
has been 16 fold, of churches % fold and of
ministers 40 fold. The average congrega-
tion then consisted of SO persons; now of 112.
In 1870 there were not $4,000 Presbyterian
communicates in the whole country; now
there are ], 1,107. .910. In 1898 the contribu-
tions amounted to s., ,397; in 1907, 81, GAL;
in 1851, 81, ,O56, 900; and the total last year
was SIG, s47,075. There now in PhiIadel-
phia 32,941 Presbyterian communi-
cants, more than twice as many as
were in the whole country in 1890. There
are now ink Philadelphia 5000 more com.
munlcants than there were in the whole
country in 1910, when the population was
5000, 900. There are four cities with pop
ulation of above 500, 900, viz: New York,
Chicago, Philadelphia and Brooklyn. In
New York there are 55 churches and 23. 900
communicaDts; in Chicago 9,164 communi-
cants The Presbyterv OF Chicago contains
60 churches and IA, 3S8 communicants. The
number of communicants in BROOKLYN is
16,5SO. With one-thlrd less population
than New York, Philadelphia contains one
third more communicants. In this city the
Baptlsts have 70 churches, with %, ,3O6 COM
municants; the Episcopalians, 80 churches,
with 49, 221 communicants; the Methodist
Episcopalians, 80 churches, with 1923
COMMITMENTS, and the Presbyterians
81 churches. with 32,941 COM
municants. Four Presbyteries cover
the counties of Chester, Delaware, Mont
gonery and Philadelphia. The Philadel-
phia Presbytery contains 80 churches and
L, 595 communicants: Philadelphia Central,
3S churches and 16, ,157 communicates; Phila-
delphia North, so churches and 1882 COM
municants; Chester Presbytery. 45 churches
and 6, 1874 communicates; total, 165 churches,
with A. 07S communicates. For the same
districts the Protestant Episcopal Church
has 125 churches and sc, 121 communicants.'
In the Presbyteries of Pittsburg and ALLIE
gheny there are between 60 and 20 churches
of the various Presbyterian order and a
membership not far from 10000 according to
latest statistics. showing that the Western
metropolis OF Pennsylvania is holding its
own as regards devotion to the theology of
John Calvin.