The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-13
OVER HALF A MILLION.
The CongregationaIists Learn of
Their Great Numbers.
Or. QUINT is THEIR NEW HEAD.
Christian Unity was the Subject ofa Report
60 the National Council of the congre-
gationaI Churches at Minneapolis Yes
ferday.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, Oct. 13.-The
National Council of the Congregational
Churches OF the UIited States OF Amer lca
was called to order by President North
rop yesterday. The nominations for
moderator was then called for. But one
was made, that OF Rev. DIR. A. II. Quint
OF Boston. 1t was made by John A.
Bell OF New Hampshire. The election
was practically unanimous. There were
2o5, votes OF which he received 193
I'VE stand on the grave OF buried pref
udices," said the moderator elect. and
then he gave in terss words plain and
earnest address, urging the burial OF all
past difficulties. He spoke of the unity
OF the church, the need OF the most care
ful deliberation on the part OF the coGn-
eli and the promise that this would be
the most important meeting in the his.
tory OF the Congregational church.
The council then elected b. NJ. Cutch-
con OF Michigan, as first assistant mod
orator and Rev. George c. Lowe of South
Carolina as second assistant moderator.
Two assistant registrars were chosen, Rev.
t. L. Hood, New Mexico, and Rev. Geo.
Curtis, North Dakota. The following
committees were chosen:
Business committee: Rev. Henry Hop
kins,. Kansas CITY, Mo-; Rev. Cyrus
nahi4uc, beloit, VIE. John ". Haskell,
Lawrence, KAN; Rev. Clarence 5. Sar-
gent, Adams, Mass; Rev. Arthur Little,
Dorchester, Mass VIM. II. Upton,
Akron, O.
Credentials: j. A. Bell, Exeter, N. H.;
Rev. A. Fl. Brad ford, Mont Claire, N. j.;
Rev. VIM. +. Park, Gloversville, n. Y;
Rev. Evarts Kent, Eldora, Iowa; Henry
Baldwin, Allston, Mass.
The secretary's report shows that the
number OF churches is now 5000. The
East has 2ll0: the interior, comprising Ii
states, has 1s42, and the West 1124.
During the triennium just closing, 13s
churches were added in the East, 300 in
the interior and 270 in the West, total OF
7OS. Out OF this number 29l have disap-
peared. leaving net gain of AT.
The membership OF the church is now
bZb,C00, the East having 305 600, the inte-
rior 100 600 and the West $4,000. The gain
In the East the past three years was 15,-
600, in the interior q, ,739 and in the West
IL 800, the percentage OF increase being
largest in the West. Illinois gained most
1891 members.
The Sunday schools have gained 49,
0O0, reaching now total OF 625, ,975. The
East gained 9955, the Interior II ,635 and
the West 1888. There are now 1924
young peoples societies, with 145, 100 |
mem bers.
The benevolent contributions in the |
three years were s7,115,073, an average |
per member per annum of sl3.55. 1t was |
an increase over the previous trieHnium |
OF ", l3S,S00. The East gave si,710, ,725, an
average OF sl5.5S per member; the inte-
rlor Sz0O6.6 649, an average OF s1l.S6; the
West F399, ,699, an average OF S722.
The home expenditures meanwhile i'm
creased S4,692, ,996, reaching total OF s1S,-
g29 100, the East having $40 0.S52, III; tho |
Ia terror -, ,633, ,207, and the West sZ,4if- |
w. The denomination had only $50 |
churches at the beginning OF the CEN
tenary. The American Home Miss onary
society report shows that in 1891 the
whole number of Congregational church.
% in the States and Territories was 32I2.
Oh the 1900 churches which have been
established in that time, about fiye-sixths
re either the planting of this society or
lave received aid from it. The mission
iries OF this society are found now in As
tates and territories. The receipts last |
ear were $685., ,1S9, against 20 years ago OF
240,62e. There are 3270' fields occupied
nth 961 missionaries.
The additions to the home missionary
hurches last year were IL 800. The MEM
'ership OF the Sunday schools i'm connec-
lon with these churches is 154,722. The.
verage annual expense OF the society per
nissionary is s341. There are 191 foreign
peaking missionaries. There are 81 state
Inions, representing $500 churches.
CHRISTIAN unity IL the subject of an i'm
,ortant report. The growing interest wn
he cause OF Christian unity is noted as
me of the most manifest and most aus
,icious signs of the time.
The promotion OF Christian union must
,egfn from within. The Roman Catho-
ic body Is recognized as a branch of the
'hurch OF Christ, and the report well
'omes th9 opportunities to CO. operate
With its members, clergy or laity, in tho
ldvancement of the cause of Christian
ruth and Christian morals.