The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-26
THE CHURCH CENSUS,
SEATTLE, November 25, lS9

SEATTLE, November 25, 1892.
TO THE EDITOR: In common with many 9TH
ers, perused with great interest the figures of
the church and saloon attendance as given by
Rev. ". Nutting in his sermon last Sunday
evening. On the occasion OF another census it
would, think, be we'll to have some enumera-
tions from other churches, and for one the
Methodism OF this city would certainly like
representation on the returning board
As 10 the great disproportion revealed by our
brothers figures between the male attendance
at other churches and his own, can, of course,
only speak FOR the First Methodist church and
here | challenge unhestatingly the correct
ness OF the returns. At last Sundays ser
vices. both morning and evening, our
church was crowded from floor to cell
ing. There was scarcely seat unoccuped
either in the galleries or in the body OF the
church. And that fact speaks for itself rs to
the size OF the congregation, even if it does not
give the proportion OF males and females.
During pastorate of over twenty years I
have never known a larger proportion of males
in the congregation than Seattle affords. I
will, however. now take brothers estimate
OF 167 in the morning and lS3 in the evening TO
represent one-third OF the congregation. This
would give the First church n morning congre-
CATION OF sol, and one in the evening of $40, and
to Plymouth church, by the same estimate,
morning 1.0s3, evening 1854; or at night three
times many as the First Methodist church.
advertised subject would tend to draw the pru-
RENT and curious to Plymouth and possibly in
crease the proportion of males, bat to all of us
it is an astounding revelation that Plymouth
church holds three times many the First
Methodist church, which certainly, with its
caIacious galleries, appears by far the larger
auditorium In the prosperity of Plymouth
church we all most heartily rejoice, however
much we may question the good taste of thus
numbering the people."
1t would be interesting to know the names
and methods of the enumerators and whether
the census was taken at the commence
ment or close of the services. know that after
our opening prayer in the evening at O'Clock
it took nearly five minutes for the people to
enter our church, and am creditably informed
that at one door only the vestibule and side
walk were crowded with the late corners. be-
sides the hundred or more who came up by
another entrance from the Epworth League
meeting
Our galleries are so constructed that IL the
enumerators were at the inner door of the build
Ing ali the gallery congregation would be
omitted in the count. Then sgain, a great dill
ference made if the census taken at
the commencement or close of the service, and
any one must sec that ut the First Baptist and
81, Marks and the Methods. Protestant
churches the count must necessarily have been
taken early To give Mr.. Mating the returns for
announcement, while Plymouth could have
been taken much later, when every one was on
hand.
In estimating the comparative strength of the
churches il should be remembered that in Seat
tie the Methodists have some eighteen churches,
and by no means concentrate their strength on
one central organization. OF course ii the
other counts are as inaccurate as this one it
would materially enlarge the proportion of
church goers, in which respect am sure Seattle
will compare favorab!y with any city in tho
United states am, dear sir, faithfully yours,
W. p GEORGE