The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-13
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
WHAT 4 srUDE,oF THE YEAR BOOK
WILL REVEAL.
Interesting Figures Concerning the
Growth and Prosperity OF the Denomi-
nation Throughout the Cou ntry.

The year book OF the Congregational
denomination contains brief biographical
sketches of the ministers who died during
1892. that of ex-president Porter of Yale
(whose obituary occupies a page) being
he longest. OF the total OF 95 who died
In 1892, IA died of old age. Their average
age was about 10 years, which is an older
average than In any any year since 1873. with
the exception OF 1850.
The average term of service of the 55
who died was 81 years 10 months aud IL
davs, against an average for the entire
period from 1875, inclusive, OF 80 years 10
months and nine days
Only 10 of them were less than so years
OF age, while 23 were In the decade from
81 10 90. The 95 were In the roll OF collegs
alumni as follows: Amherst, 10; Bow
doin, 4; Brown. 2; Dartmouth, 5 {; Ham
iton, /; Harvard, o; Mid ilebury, 81;
ObeIlin. 2; Union. 3: Vermont univer-
sity, 4 /; Williams, 3: other colleges, III |;
not college graduates, "a Seventy-one OF
the 95 were without charge.
The list OF Congregational clubs shows
club life is becoming popular amo & the
religious people. During 1892 the list OF
Congregational clubs In the country
grew uutil IL numbered 40. New clubs
y ere established at Duluth, Fall River.
Cant ridge. Sioux City, TopeSa, Wash
Consolidated mt Last.
The year book notes the expected con-
solidation of the new west education
commission, which has worked among
the Mormous for almost fourteen years.
with the College and T. iucation society,
the new organization To be known as the
American Education society. This
society will carry ON the work Of the
new west commission the same as be-
fore.
The book gives the faculty, course OF
study and leading facts apont all OF the
leading theological seminaries belonging
gor. Oakland. Cal, (the Pacific). Chicago.
Hartford. Oberlin aud Yale. The mum
Der of theologues is the lowest for four
years, for the number for this academic
year is 545, against see for the year he
fore, $40 for the wear before that. and $50
for the year next preceding. With the
exception OF Oberliu seminary, with its
thirty colle1e men. Amherst with its
twenty nine still maintains her historic
position as the one college in the country
which furnishes ministers more than
any other. Bowdoin has IL, Dartmouth
IS, Harvard 10. Williams 90. and Yale 10.
Brown furnishes only3
The totals connected with the semina-
ries, including those graduated, those
who were in college bus did not gradu.
ate, and those who were never connected
with auy college, are AS follows Ando-
yer, 70; Bangor, 43; Chicago, 1876; Hart
ford, 35; Oberlin, 20; Pacific. %; Yale.
9i.
Statistics OF the Churches.
Most of the year book is occupied with
the regular statistics of the churches in
all the states aud territories. Churches
added to the list were 246, 81 were drop
ped, making net gain OF l55. and a total
number IN the country of 5. lao.
territories gained 1s.047, and six lost
4l9, making n net gain of 17,62S, and "a
total of 542. 726. In the 80 states and
territories gaining In Sunday school
membership. there was gain of 20, S47,
aud In the 10 losing there was loss OF
1l,040, making net gain Of l8.S07.
There has been added q new feature
this year, that of all the independent
Sund Y schools which have no church
connected with them, as is not infre-
Quently the case in the new and thinl v
settled parts OF the country. There are
975 such schools in 26 states and terri
tories, with mem bership of 49,27l.
Adding these to the sum above makes a
total of 694, ,053
Benevolent Contributions
In the 80 states aud territories which
increased their benevolent contribut ions
the gain was 1874. 100. and in the 13 which
lest the deere SO was $l7l, los, making a
net gain of s203.0l7 and total OF
$c,65l ,S92.
I, the thirty states and territories
which gained in home expenditure there
was an increase If $541 507, and In the
nineteen which lost there WAS decrease
of $lS7,022, making q net gaia of 1854
4s5. and total Of 81, 1902.
Putting together the benevolent con-
tributions aud the home expenditures to
see what the ConRregationalists gave for
RELIGIOUS purposes, there is total or
%, 797. .9S4, against 80, 240. .4S2 the year be-
tore, or the handsome gain OF $557 ,502 in
one year.
The year book also gives the names OF
all the Congregational ministers who are
living in the country. whether in active
service or not, q list of the licentiat Q
preachers and also u list of the ministers
of other denominations who are supply
ing Congregational pulp ts.
CARDINAL GIBBONS.