Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17


word'-a manly declaration Of truthfulness--
at the end of which he grasped Bishop Way
mans hand, then crossed over to William
Arthur, who also like the black bishop arose,
Dr. Fitzgerald held William Artburs hand and
then spoke of the Tongue of Fire until we
all felt like singing:
Names and sects and parties fall.
Thou, oh. Christ. art all in all
SIT was long after 10 when the delegates
trooped down into the school room, where the
coIored ladies' royalty refreshed us with coffee
and ice creams and happy smiles.
said an English delegate to me as we went
away: 1t was worth while travelling from Eng
land if only for this nights enjoyment
FIGURES ABOUT THE CHURCH.
Some Surprising Statistics Prepared by an
Ecumcnical Delegate.
Mr. r. A. W. Bruehl, delegate to the con-
ference, has prepared the following statistical
statement in regard to the Methodist church
in America, especially the Methodist Episcopal
church:
The following statistical facts may be of great
interest to the members of the second ecumeni-
cal conference: Many are of the belief that
the Roman Catholic church is the strongest and
most powerful church organization in Amer
lea. But its 1928 churches, with 1899 priests
and 4,616, 292 members, are overcome by the
Methodist family in America with their 81, III
churches, As, S37 preachers and 4, $50, 2i0 men,
bers. The next large Protestant organization
is the Baptist family, with Is, 81 churches. 3d.
3i3 preachers and 4, 49,, 291 members All the
other Protestant denominations in America
have 4O,676 churches, 80. 763 preachers and
4, POI. sol members. At the death of John Wes-
lev the Methodists numbered in England Il, 900
and in America Is. 900. During the following 100
years the Methodist family in America increased
4. 932, $40 members. For the Methodist Episco-
pal church the following wonderful progress
can be recorded: 1t had at the centennial of
the death of John Wesley 1919 annual and mis-
sion conferences, 16 bishops, missionary
bishops, 14792 travelling preachers, ii ,O72 local
preachers, 2,2S3.154 members and probation
ers. 22,S33 churches, 1868 parsonages. churches
and parsOnages, valued at S110, 500, TAG: &c, 8S9
Sunday schools. 296, 243 officers and teachers,
2, 264, S52 scholars.
SOCIETIES OF THE CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church has eight
societies, which are in excellent working order.
l. The Missionary Society. organized 1919.
The receipts since its organization amount to not
less than :23. 427 430.S5. In 1890 the receipts
were II, 135, 80; this year it is hoped they
will reach 81 ,250, 900. The society has mission
aries in the United States, Bulgaria. China,
Germany, India. Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
Mexico, Scandinavia, South America and
Switzerland.
2. The Sunday School Union, organized 1s4O
The receipts in 1890 have been S25. FOG; 3,Ol1
needy Sunday schools were supplied with books
during the year: over 100000 sunday school
donations were male since its organization.
3. The Tract Society. organized In 1852. The
receipts in 1890 were S23 I25; 775 applications
for tracts were granted during the year. Since
its organization over 600 Co., COO pages of tracts
have been donated by the society for distr ibu-
ton.
A. Board Of education. organized in 1868.
The receipts in 1890 were $50. 551.77. Nine
hundred and twenty-three poor students re-
ceiyed aid during the year.
8. The Freedmen S Aid and Southern Educa-
tional Society, organized in 1872. Total re-
ceipts since organization, e, 309, 267.23; last
year alone. S266, 6S4.43. The society owns
As universities, colleges and schools EMPLOYS
3l5 professors and had during 1890 1896 stu
dents.
G. The Church Extension Society, organized
in 1872. Receipts since organization, S4,OI7,-
977.S2. last year, S1S5, 992.62. This society
aided in the building of 1899 churches and to
pay of church debts.
Z. The Womans Foreign Missionary Society.
organized 1884. Receipts since organization.
81 1888 $50. A. This society has Sc missionaries
in the field.
s. The woman's Home Missionary Society.
organized in 1854. Receipts since organization.
S578, $50. 81. This society does a great mission
work at home.
The Methodist Episcopal church has 16O
universities and colleges. worth about $50 0OO,-
900, in which about 800 professors are teach
ing $4,000 TO $4,000 students annually. Over
ooo,OOo students received their education In
these institutions. 1t also owns a number of
hospitals, deaconess homes. homes for old peo-
pie, orphan asylums, worth about 81, 900 600
FOR TIE MINISTRY AND BENEVOLENT PURPOSES
For the support Of the ministry and be-
nevolent purposes the members contributed in
1890 $50, $50, 476,49. Millions of dollars ex-
pended for new churches and parsonages flor
these alone near 600 000). additions to insti-
buttons. donations to colleges and endowment
| funds, &c, are not included in this amount, SO
| that nearly sl0.OOO, 900 can be added to it,
Soon the church will have an opportunity to
lay their offerings upon the altar for the mouu-
| ment of the Methodist Episcopal church, THE
| American University at Washington" Nav
| the necessary $40. 600, 900 thereto comei The
| Methodist Episcopal church has a book con-
Germ. with publishing houses at New York and
| Cincinnati and repositories at Boston Pitts
burg. San Francisco. Chicago and st. Louis II
was commenced by John Dickens in 1889, who
was the hrst BOOK steward and loaned 5000 to
begin operations The book concern lost by
| fire in 1886 in New York S25O,OOO and
| in 1871 in Chicago Sl02, 900. In 1874 the bust
| ness was divided between the northern and
southern churches. From that time 70 1880
| the sales of books and periodicals in the north
amounted to S50, sol, 646.23. The net capital
now is 81, 957 33l.44. Dividends were declared to
the amount of - 600 0OO OF which within the last
| four years S430, OO0were spent for superannuated
preachers and widows and orphans Of deceased
preachers. The catalogues, English and Ger
man, contain II, 600 books and tracts which
| have been published and Of which 1000 are in
| the German language. The official organs or
dered by the general conference have 204 $40
| subscribers, the Sunday school publications
3,4I6, AS While the English official papers
| are taken by one in seven teen the German aye
| taken by one in two members. In Germany
the Methodist Episcopal church was allowed to
| establish an independent book concern. Its cat
aiogre contains over 1000 book and tract pub
iieaaions. The official paper there has Il, 0Oo
| subscribers Zone TO one and one-quarter mem
bers). The Sunday school and missionary
papers have AZ zoe subscribers. The sales last
year amounted to ITS, 600 marks and % .00C
marks could be paid over for missionary work,
| The Swedes have their own book concern in
America
4 MISSIONS IN AMERICA.
4 Thu Mofhodiak Rriaconal chu->l