, 1892-08-27
OUR BIC CHURCHES.
MethOdists, Baptists and Roman
Catholics.
These Three Churches Contain
About ThFee-Quarters of the
Church Members in the United
States-SOme Facts and Figures.

Church Members in the United
States-SOme Facts and Figures.
New YORK, August 27.-The Sun contains
the following: Of the twenty MILL
ions of church communicates in
the United ~ States, according to
the estimate of the superintendent Of the
census, more than 30 per cent. are Roman
Catholics. More than one-fifth are Metho-
dists. The returns of the Baptists are not
completed, long as it is since the enumera-
ton was made, but probably they we're
nearly as many. These three churches,
therefore, contain about three-quarters Of
the church membership Of the Union.
Theirindividual churches are also nearly as
many proportionately to the whole num-
Der; but the value of their church proper
ties amounts to only about one-half of the
aggregate. The Presbyterians, for in
stance, have church property of the value
of nearly $95 900, though they are only
about one-third rs numerous as the Bap-
lists, with church property worth only
$68, 100000. The Episcopalians, though
fewer still, are richer than the Baptists by
churches are comparatively poor. Their
membership is made up chiefly of the poor
and humble of society. They are not FASH
iOnable churches, and they are the
cOmmuniOns which appeal least Of
all to merely worldly motives in
their adherents. If man is a
Baptist, or Roman Catholic, or Methodist
it is pretty safe to assume that he is so
from sincere conviction, and not because
of social ambition. The Baptists and
Methodists, too, hold their Communicates
up to the strictest religious obligations, and
to practical asceticism of life. There may
not be as severe in their requirements as
they we're formally. That many of them
are little more liberal touching worldly
amusements than they were in the past is
evident from the discussions at their con-
ventions. A minority at least are rebel
ling against the Puritanical restraints Of
the old days. Some of the young people
want to dance and go to the theater. But
the Baptists and MethOdists are still kept
separate from the world to very marked
degree. No one of them, for instance,
could retain his membership if he was
known to be addicted TO the mildest form
of profanity, though among EpiscOpallans
there is some latitude allowed
in that respect. In the gay
world of fashion the Baptists and
MethOdists have little part. Mr.. John
u. hOCkelbllbEt bub IlCu Ddpbl5bs Is COul-
paratively Puritanic in his mode of life
and he sets an example to all his brethren
of that faith by his dilgent attendance
upon the regular prayer meetings of his
church. If Baptists or MethOdists desire
to enjoy the pleasures Of gay society, or if
they acquire social positions along with
wealth, usually they leave their old faith
and seek religious association with the
EpiscOpalians. In this country there are
few communities where the Baptist and
Methodist churches are not looked upon
as humble in the social scale. The same
is the case to a large extent with the Roman
Catholic churches. They are not frequented
because of their superior respectability
Here in New York Roman Catholics were
almost unknown in the circles Of fashion
until very recent years; and even now the
great majority of them are poor anC hum
bic. All three of these churches, containing
-three-fourths of the religious communi-
cants of the union, are prominently the
churches of the poor and plain people
They are also the churches which have
grown the most rapidly since 1850, and
their present progress is steady. Moreover,
they are the churches which cling most
tenaciously and most uncompromisingl
to their standard of faith. They make no
terms with the intidelity which is under
mining Presbyterianism and Congregation
alism. Thus firm in their belief and eX-
acting in their requirements, they hold on
their course ofprosperity and teach a lesson
which all other religious organizations may
study with profit.