The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-28
IS HE D|V|N[LY INSPIRED?
George SchWeirfurth Declares Himself
Of ChriSt'S Spirit.
some RELIGIOUS STATISTICS.
A Census Bulletin just Issued from the
Department of the Interior Which
Relates to Churches and Which Is
Full of Interest.

The thirteenth bulletin OF church sta.
tistics, prepared by Henry X. Carroll.
LII. D., has been issued from the census
office of the department Of the interior.
1t contains reports of tour Methodist
branches, three of which are colored. of
the Ffeewill Baptists, and of vario us
minor branches, including the Chinese
and Buddhists. The bulletin is full of
interesting matter, giving not statisti C s.
alone, but the history or the different
bodies
The largest bodies reported in the bull
letin are the African Methodist Epis-
copal Zion and the Colored Methodist
Ep&scopal church and the Freewill Bap-
lists. The two bodies Of colored Metho-
disls have together upwards of 479.000
members, with church property aggre-
eating "a, 427, 494. The total of the sevei l.
teen members OF the Methodist family
shows that it numbers 81. 4S9 organiza-
tions, 46, 1873 church eiifces with seat
ing capacity OF II s63, IFS, and valu ed at
sl32. .l4O l79, and $50, 2s7 commune ants.
La X ode Island there are three Afri-
eau Methodist Episcopal Zion or ganiza-
tiops, one church edihce. with "a seating
capacity of 400 aud two halls with "A
seating capacity of $40. There are 4Ol
members, and the church property il
valued at $1,000
There are no colored Met odist Epis-
copal churches in Rhode Island, but
there are a number OF African NJ. K.
churches which are not mentioned in the
bulletin.
In this state there are twenty-six Free
Will Baptist organizations, aud the num-
Der OF
Church Edifces
IS the same. The seating capacity OF the
churche, is 7,s45. Two halls with a seat
ing capacity of 2l5 are used, and the
value of the denominations church
property is s226,757 The number of
members Is 3. 252
OF the other bodies mentioned in the
bulletin there are none in Rho 'e Island.
The census enumerators evidently had
some difficulty In Obtaining statistics in
regard to the Old Order Brethren, or
Dunkards. This order opposes as In nova
tions many practices which are tolerated
in the conservative ana progressive
branches. such as Sunday scho OILS, schools
for higher education, depar ture from
simplicity In furnishing hou ses, etc. A
number of the elders voted at a council
not to give any Information to the census
men, but IL was found that the Dunk
ards have 1876 organizations, 63 church
iifces, with seating capacity OF %, 750,
and vaiued at $50. 770 and 4,41l commune
cants. They are strongest in Ohio.
The churches OF God In Christ Jesus,
popularity known as the Age-to-Come
Adventists have 2s12 members and
believes that God is pledged through the
mouth Of the prophets TO the final resti-
tuition OF all things. /, expects to see
the kingdom of God established
on earth, with Christ as king of
kirgs, the saints being as,cc.-
ated with him in the govern ment
of the world. IL believes that Israel will
be reorganizsd AS a nation in the Holy
Land; that the dead will have literal
resurrection, the righteous to receive the
blessings of Immortality, aud the wicked
to be destroyed, and tnat eternal life
comes only through Christ. 1t holds
that the nc, eptancs of the gospel. re-
pentance, immersion in the name of
Ch risG tor the remission of sins, are con-
dltions to
orGiv of Sins
and that holy life is essential TO saliva
ton. In Ohio this branch is strongest.
The eChristalelphians are strongest in
Massachusetts, where there are 245 OF
them. Ia the whole country there are
but l.217. This boiy does not accept the
doctrine OF the Trinity aud does not have
any oriaiued ministers.
The Church Triumphant (Koreshan
Fcclesia) has 2J5 members, OF which 100
are in illinois. The foundation principle
of this church Is the "re-esta snmpnt of
church and state upon a basis of di vine
fel lowsnip." The disciples hope TO pass
out OF tie world as did Enocb, Elijah and
Christ.
The Church Triumphant (Schw wein-
furth) was founded IN 1883 by George
JACOB Schweiufur1h who was declared
by Mrs. Beekman, who styled herself
the spiritual mother OF Christ" to he
the messiah OF the New Dispensstion."
or this mum DER 100 are in Minnesota and
100 in Illinois. This church ac-
cepts the Bible as the Word OF
God. but denies the essential di.
Unity OF Christ. lie was a mere man,
it teaches, who passed through an expe.
renee 10 whicn be was fred from tine