Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-09
OBLIGATION TO CHURCH OFFICERS.

OBLI0ATlON ~ CdUhCd OFTACLhos
The Census Office Acknowledges great
obligation to all the ecclesiastical officers
of the Catholic Church for their active and
methodical aid in the furtherance Of the
work Of the enumerators. According to
information received from the bishops it IS
the custom of the Church for baptized
persons to make their FIRST communion be-
tween the ages Of nine and eleven years.
Baptized persons below the age of nine
years are not included therefore in the
census returns. Some ecclesiastical au-
thorities estimate that this class consti-
tutes about 10 per cent. of the population
of the Church, which, of course, embraces
both baptized members and communi-
cants.
NUMBE1 OF CoMsdUNIcANTs.
The total number Of communicates Is
6.2sO. 045, who are attached to 10.221 organi-
cations (churches. chapels. and stations),
making an average of GIL communicates
to each congregation. OF the 1O221
organizations, .46s, or about IA per cent.
worship in halls, school houses. or private
houses, which exclusive OF private houses
represent seating capacity of 1886 1893,
making q total of 8. 436.79 for the whole
Church, which is somewhat more than
half the number Of communicates.
VALUE OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
The total value Of church property, in
GLIDING edifces. the ground on which they
stand, furniture. bells, ETC.. Is Sis, 3S1 SIS.
The Metropolitan See. of New York, with
its 472SO6 communicates, has church
property valued at nearly $9,0O0,000, and
that Of Chicago comes second, with pro-
perry worth sc, 457. 064 Boston third, with
total of $6,S79,07S: Brooklyn fourth.
with a valuation OF $500, So7. and Newark
fifth, with $4,2T, 462. These five sees
have more than one fourth Of the entire
valuation of the Church.
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNICATES.
In the distribution Of communicates the
Archdiocese of New York comes first. with
4S2, SOC; Boston second. with 4l0.660: Chi
cago third. with 326,640; Philadelphia
fourth, with 251, 1852: BROOKLYN fifth. with
az, 1888; st. Paul sixth, with 203, 484; and
Baltimore seventh, with 192,597. There
are twenty-five sees which contain upward
Of 5000 COMMITMENTS each.
By s1TEs.
In the tabulation BY States the follow
ing facts appear There are $50 oganize-
tions, with f,153. t30 communicates in the
State of New York (seven dioceses), and
the value of church property is $25, 769.-
Ats; in Massachusetts, 1.-TWO dioceses), there
are 6l4.627 communicates belonging TO S8l
organizations, with church property valued
AZ &J,ol0,VUo; III ISuusyivuuAo \uvo
diocesss), 5S1,577 communicates, 654 or
CARNATIONS. and $40 ,o6S ,770 Of church pro-
perry; In illinois -four dioceses), 473,S24
communicates, 6SS organizations, and
church property valued at $9,9l6,8l9; in
Ohio (three dioceses), a36,1l4 communi-
cants, bs6 organizations. and 81. $40 of
church property. In these five States
there are a.l3S.772 communicative. or q lit
lie moro than one half of the total for the
whole Church. and there Is church pro-
perty of the value Of 90, s98.7l0, which is
considerably more than one half Of the
total valuation.
THE CHURCH IN EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY.
The Church Is represented in every State
and Territory IN the country. including
Alaska and tho District Of Columbia. 1t
has organizations in every county but one
In the six New England States; also in
every county in New York, New Jersey,
Wisconsin, aud other States and Terrific
RES.
IN THx SOUTH.
In the southern States Alabama has 70
organizations and II. $50 communicates or
members; Florida, A organizations and
1851 communicates; Georgia. "a organi.
cations and II. 228 commandments; Louis
lana, 2O6 organizations and 211.763 CON-
municAnt1; Mississippi, 81 churches and
IL .248 communicates; North Carolina, 10
organizations and 2,640 communicates:
South Carolina, 66 organizations and 8 $50
communicable Tennessee. 90 ofganiza-
tions and 1880 commandments; Virginia.
So organizations and u. $50 communicates.