The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-18
Tho Great Forces Of Faith.

The total number Of Roman Catholic COM
muncants In the Union Is returned by the
census as G25O. 900. Add to these the chill
dren who have been baptized In the faith,
but are not yet old enough to make their first
communion, and we get about 100000 more
as the entire Roman Catholic population.
This Is body OF believers about equal to
the combined numbers of the Bnptists and
Methodists, tho two communions in
which arc included tho vast major
ity Of the Protestant Church mem
bership. BY the side OF 1t tho largest
Of tho other Protestant denominations Is
small. The great mass Of the Christian be-
levers In this country are divided into Cath
olics on the one hand. and into Baptiss ond
Methodists on the other, aud the strength Of
each is in the hold it has on the plain and
simple people more especially.
The communions which are moro favored
by the rich and prosperous. tho critical, the
fastidious, and the fashionable are far in
ferior In numbers to any OF tho three. Tho
Presbyterians, who are distinguished for
their wealth. are growing only by slow de-
Rrees. Tho Episcopalians. far less numer-
GUS. are gaining more rapidly, in the towns
at least, and chiefly because they are max
ing concerted efforts to engage the sympa-
thies OF the poor and humble. The Congrc-
gatlonalists. the last Of the main divisions OF
Professionalism in this country, seem to be
losing their hold even in New England. the
place OF their origin. Meantime the Roman
Catholics and the Baptists and Methodists
are increasing more rapidly than any other
communiOns, the first everywhere, and the
two Protestant denominations in all parts of
ho T1rip tbn lorr cit
1t Is significant that the two communions
which include so great majority Of the Pro-
testant believers are those which have been
least affected by the theological revolution
now going forward. The faith OF both
Bapt1sts and Methodists remains substan-
TALLY unchanged 1t is the same now as it
was when they received their first impetus
from the early REVEALS They believe In the
Bible as the absolutely infallible Word Of
GOD and as the only source OF authority in
matters Of faith and practice. Perhaps they
are less disposed than formerly to rely on
tho terrors OF tho Law as a means OF con-
verting sinners. preaching the love Of GOD
rather than His wrath. but they dare not
question the perfect truth OF the Bible.
They are distinctively Protestant in spirit
and foes Of thu Roman Catholicism which
dominates an equal body Of believers.
The Roman Catholic Church, Of course,
makes no compromise with tho agnostic
tendencies which are subverting Protestant
theology to 80 great an extent. 1t regards
them as the logical consequence OF throw
ing of tho authority of the Church. and
substituting the private and individual judg
ment in matters OF faith. Itdoes not change
its theology to catch changes OF popular
sentiment but contends the more confidently
for its authority rs divine commission for
directing the conscience and judgment OF
men, and saving them from the shipwreck
Of inhdelity.
On ono side, therefore. we find the expo
nents OF the simplest and least critical faith
OF Professionalism, and on the other the an
cient Church against which they rebelled
These arc the two great religious forces. and
numerically they are nearly equal. Outside
OF them the theological revolution OF this
day proceeds, but within their ranks, re-
cruited chiefly among the palmer people.
theology remains at a substantial cquilibr-
UNI. They are believers and not skeptics and
together they comprise the great mass OF
tho Christians of the United States. Totally
opposed in everything else, the two forces,
Roman Catholics and Baptists and Method
lists, are united In their unquestionng faith
In the authority which each respectively
holds to DO divine. the Church and the Bible.