Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-02-20
KANSAS CHURCHES.
Denominations.

A census bulletin, which has just been
issued by the census bureau, shows that
Kansas has a greater variety of religious
societies than any other western state,
some very queer denominations. For
instance, the Temple society, sometimes
known as Friends of Jerusalem, has a
church in Kansas. It was organized in
Germany, and there are two societies in
this country-one in New York and the
other at Gypsum, Saline county, Kan
sas, that at Gypsum having been trans
planted from Germany. The temple in
Jerusalem is regarded as the chief or
ganization, and they believe Jerusalem
is to be ''the mother and queen of the
nations in the approaching Messianic
Kingdom on earth" Four colonies of
Friends of the Temple have been estab-
lished in the Holy Land, where their
Industries are horticulture and viii
culture.
The "IndeP2 ndent Churches of Christ
in Christian Union" is organized in five
counties in Kansas Bourbon, Dickin-
son, Doniphan, Riley and Wilson-has a
membership of 500 and owns church
property worth $4,000. This denomi-
nation had its beginning during the
war. Those who led the movement out
of which it was formed objected to po-
litical preaching and to the adoption of
resolutions by church bodies favoring
the war. They also stand for the idea
of Christian union without controversy.
The Church of God" has organiza-
tions in thirteen counties in Kansas,
with membership of nearly 1000. It
is strongest in Crawford, Wilson and
Bourbon counties. This church holds
that the division of believers into sects
is contrary to the teachings of the New
Testament.
The "Reorganized church of Jesus
Chris of Latter-Day Saints" or Nor
mons who do not believe in polygamy,
has churches in twenty-five counties in
Kansas, with a total membership of
about 1900. There are 200 of these
Mormons in Cherokee county, and Wy
andotte county has almost as many.
Each of these counties has two church
buildings, and Crawford and Atchison
counties also have two churches. The
society also has church buildings in
Clay, Marshall, Usage and Wyandotte
counties. They trace their origin back
to the movement begun by Joseph
Smith in 1880. They characterize the
doctrine of plural wives as abominable.
The Conservative Brethren, or Dunk
ards, have membership in Kansas of
nearly $500, with societies in thirty
five counties. They are strongest in
Cherokee, Dickinson and Jewell coun-
ties, in each of which they have three
churches. Jefferson and Brown counties
have a membership of nearly 200. The
organization owns church property in
Kansas valued at $4,000.
The Progressive Brethren, or Dunk
ards, are stronger in Kansas than in any
other western states,- having total
membership of 500, including societies
in fourteen counties. They are strong
est in Brown county, where they have
three societies, with membership of
155-more than one-third of the total
membership of the state. They became
separate body from the regular organ
ization of Dunkards because of dissatis-
faction with the decisions of the annual
meeting in enforcing the principles of
non-conformity to the world. They call
themselves simply Brethren and do not
wish to be known ss Dunkards.