Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-26

when So Paul. a foreigner, visited
the great city u Athens, bis principal
criticism Of its people was. that they
were. 200 supertious.' aud spent their
time in nothing else but % near or tell
some new thing." The nrst phrase Is
undoubtedly mlstrans.ation. lie
really said that these brilliant people VI
the ancient capital OF learning, were
every religious" Various travellers
from other lands have precisely the
same observations about the United
States, with how much more reason let
US see.
Athens had at the most half.dozen
different forms OF religion. Our own
country has liS sects, besides no less
than sS7 separate congregations OF peo'
pie that acknowledge no denominational
allegiance. IL Is true that nineteen
twentieths OF these numerous sects rep
resent but the one religion which 81.
Paul preached, yet they are each entire
ly distinct forms OF belief aud practice
nevertheless. What would the apostle,
could he revisit the earth, say OF us2
Certainly that we were by IA the most
religious people In the world, aad moro
than any other nation given 10 new
things, since we have succeeded Ia In
venting at least l42 new forms OF the
simple faith which once he preached.
From q religious point OF view this
great nation rs certainly curiosity,
and the variety IN its forms Of belief
finds no parallel IN the whole world,
present aud past Tho recent census
which Investigated these matters has
furnished MS an ineIhaUstiole fund OF
most interesting material.
The comparative strength OF the
churches in our midst has frequently
been a matter OF debate between the
pulpIt and the sgeptlcaily inclined.
Very extreme ground has usually been
taken on each side. aud claims range all
the way from the position that all
Americans virtually are Christians. 10
the allegation that religion snow prac-
tlcally an inert force 10 our midst. The
census OF 1890 should BE- able 10 settls
this difference OF opinion. There we're
then, in a population a little more than
three times as great, 20.Gi2, SOC commu-
nlcants Of the various churches
But 70 must be remembered that
10 this total are Included the
more than six million members ~
the Roman C5iboI c Church. Asis well
known, this body counts the whole
number OF It's population as members.
In order then, that us strength may
fairly figure Ia these calculations, IL
should De reduced 20 terms comparable
70 those used by the Protestant Demon
inatlons. Amongst these latter the
usual calculation 10 that the number OF
baptized persons. and others adhering
closely to the church, but not ad Ditted
10 Us full membership, II about as great
az the list OF commandments Making
this deduction OF one-balf from tbs
Catholic numbers, would leave about
seventeen and bali millions OF church
member In the country. II, again, We
double this result 70 get the real church
strength. IL Is found 70 DO thirty-1ys
millions.
That number OF Americans out OF q
population OF nearly siHtJ.ibfee mil
lions. are either Communicates OF the
churches or directly under their in1u-
ence and training. The proportion Is
SO per cent, or q little more than ons-
half, and II will doubtless prove disap-
pointing 10 both sides concerned 10 the
controversy mentioned, but there Is no
reason for dlstrusting its substantial
correctness The conclusion Is, that
neither ~ our country more than bali
Christian nation, nor on the ether band
are It's churches rapidly losing their
hold upon the people. All outside sta
tlstics seem 70 Indicate that the proper
tlon Of church members 10 total popu-
lation 10 steadily increasing, year by
year.
The Iis American denominations may,
BY process OF msrshalling together
into private families. DC reduced to 40
principal groups. Eight Of these have
each over a half million communicates.
eight more reach the hundred thousand
mark. These sixteen may fairly De said
20 represent the entire religious forces
~ the country. as the % families thai
remain are Of but trifiing Importance To
the aggregate unless you happen 10
belong 70 one OF them.
On the face Of the census figures the