The times., 1895-12-06
PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY.

morning was one Oh thanksgiving. Spe-
cial music by the choir was admirably
rendered. A large congregation was in
attendance.
The subject of the mornings discourse
by Rev. w. b. Matteson, was "rhe Pro-
gress of Christianity
After referring to the special grounds
of thanksgiving each one might personal
ly have, the gratitude which as a church
they had reason to express, and also that
which might be properly felt by the ma
ton, the speaker presented some very
interesting facts, showing the grounds OF
praise and anksgiving found in the
progress of christianity.
Mr.. Matteson showed: l. That chris
tianity was gaining the ascendancy over
all other religions. AT the present
time the total population of the world is
estimated at about 1922 millions, of which
447 millions profess some form of christi
anity. Confucianism has 256 millions,
Hindooism 100 millions, Mahommedan-
ism 176 millions all others less numbers.
No reliable statistics exist to show the
numbers protesting the different faiths a
century ago, but many things indicate
very rapid relative gain for christianity
in this interval, as it has been the great
period of christian missions. The actual
number of converts is re atively small
about three millions-but this by no
means measures the influence of christi
anity. The mission work of the century
has been chiefly preparatory. This ap-
pears (2), from the fact that the old
heathen and pagan faiths are everywhere
declining. The historian Froude writes
thus: "In every corner of the world there
is the same phenomena of decay of estab-
lished religions Among the Mahomme-
dams, Jews, Buddhists, Brahmins, tradi-
tionary creeds are loosing their hold.
An intellectual revolution is sweeping
over the world, breaking down estab
lished opinions, dissolving foundations
on which historical faiths have been
built up" (3) The political supremacy
of the world has during the century,
passed into the hands of the christian
nations.
In 1856, the christian nations held do
minion over total population of about
341 millions. In 1886 they ruled over
population of S05 millions In 1856 non
christian nations governed COS millions;
and in 1886, 6l7 millions, or, in other
words, christian nations in 1856 con-
trolled about 80 per cent of the earth's
population, and in 1886 little less than
90 per cent. Mahommedanism is the
only great religion which has in our day
shown any vitality, and the chief politi-
cal representative of this faith is the
Turkish empire, which seems even now
in process of dissolution.
The dominion of the world is unmis-
takably passing into the hands of chris
tian nations; the old faiths are dying; the
opportunity presented to the early church
is now again presented to us, except on a
larger, worldwide scale. Christianity
is face to face with its grandest opportu
nifty.
2. 1t is reason for encouragement that
within the borders of christianity itself,
it is the purest christianity as represent
ed by the Protestant churches which is
making most rapid advance. Much the
larger part of the political advantage ac-
cruing to christianity in the last century
has accrued to professionalism. The gain
to christianity has been AGA millions, of
which 3l6 millions or nearly 20 per cent
has been to the credit of professionalism.
In this case it is possible to apply also,
approximately, the test of actual popu-
lation From 1856 to 1886, the professed
protestants increased from thirty-eight to
one hundred and thirty-four millions, or
nearly four-fold; Roman Catholics from
so to 1853 millions, or rather more than
two-fold; the Greek church from 40 to SO
millions, also rather better than two-fold
Professionalism has increased and is in
creasing almost twice as fast as either the
Romish or the Greek church. The re-
ligious statistics of the last census of the
United States point in the same direction.
Notwithstanding the wild alarms of some,
Professionalism is still predominant in the
United States, and increasing more rap
idly than Romanism. According to that
census the actual protestant church mem
bership in the United States is IA, 10000, |
protestant population of
about 40,630,000. There are 6,257 ,S71 |
Catholic communicates, which rep esents
the entire Catholic population except
children under ten. The total Catholic |
population is not far from 1862, 900.
The Protestant population outnumbers
the Catholic nearly Z to !. Either the
Baptist or the Methodist denomination
the Catholic Moreover,
Notwithstanding the tide of foreign immi-
grafton, the Protestant churches increas-
ed in the decade, 1880 to 1890, about AZ |
per cent, while the Catholic population
did not increase more than 80 per cent |
That the dominion of the world is pass
ing into Protestant hands, that the ad- |
herents of Professionalism in America and |
the world over are increasing much more |
rapidly than those of Romanism or the |
Greek church, is asecond ground for con-
graduation.
3. The evangelical sects of Protestant
ism are those most rapidly increasing.
The percentage of increase of some of the |
leading denominations in America from