The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-10

wEP|SGOPALIAA FIGURES
Official Statistics Showing
the Ghuroh's Yearly Re-
cord Of Growth and
Finances.
ALASKA IN THE LEAD
North Dakota a Close Second
Immense Wealth and
Liberality = Among
the Churches.
ALASKA IN THE LEAD

The first church to issue statistics OF
growth and record of finances for the
year is the Protestant Episcopal. Inc
section of country making the largest pro-
portionate increase in number OF Episco-
palians last year was Alaska, but con-
ditions there were exceptional. Inc
largest growth under ordinary conditions
was made in North Dakota, which had a
bishop only in part, the bishop OF Du-
luth serving it in addition to his own mo-
cese. The increase was eighty-three per
cent. Oklahoma, Arizona, the northern
part of Michigan, and the entire State OF
Kansas show large percentages OF gam.
The figures point out the interesting TACT
that in a territory beginning with Mas
~sachusetts and running westward to and
including Ohio there was the largest ae-
tual growth of the year. No New Eng
land State. except Massachusetts, shows
any Increase much above the average. but
the Bay State, that traditional home OF
the Puritan, is row the third in the Union
in number of E-piscopalians, only New
York and Pennsylvania outnnmbering It.
Central Pennsylvania gained LOO, Iowa
i os7. and Pittsburg, which diocese com
prises all of Western Pennsylvania, l'olo.
"A curious IdCI - blfC OtiS
northern half of Ohio, which is the do
cese Of Ohio. made a gain of ten per
cent. the southern half. or the diocese OF
Southern Ohio, lost nine per cent. Inc
church in Illinois did not do well, having
actually lost in the two country dloceses
and gained but one per cent. IN chicago
In the two dioceses in Missouri It exaclly
held its own, losing one per cent. IN the
ST. Louis and gaining one in the Kansas
City See. In the South it barely held lts
own, losing in Virginia and Iennessee.
Upon the whole the gain was 2l,z3o N
membership, or three per cent, Which -
the normal increase. The number OF ITS
clergy is 4.S74, and of parishes and mis-
sion stations, $3.50.
In Chicago there are n,009 children IN
Episcopal Sunday-schools; in Connecticut
1900: in Massachusetts,, 22,000; in New
York. 4. 000; in New Jersey, both dioceses'
"a. COG: in Philadelphia, 41,000; in Indiana,
$500: in Southern Ohio, $500, and in MIS-
souri,. both dioceses, $500. The total num-
her in the whole country is $4,000, or
about 1000 fewer than the previous year.
The contributions for all purposes
reached $13, 703, S14, or almost precisely
81 1000. 900 in advance of the previous year.
The bulk of this money is given to sup
port the churches, or, at most, LOT mo
cesar aims. The diocese of Missouri,
which includes st. Lou and comprises
the eastern part of the State, spent upon
itself last year s123, 600, and gave only
$500 for the heather. In Western Penn
s~vlvania the same relative figures are,
s27e, 900 to SIS, 900; in Chicago, $325, 600 to
SIS, 600; in Indiana, 1893, 600 to 81, 100; in Mas
sachusetts, $763, 900 to $4,000; in Georgia,
$14, 900 to S., 200; in Southern Ohio, $4,000
to $2,5o0: in New York, which is practical
1y the city, so, 436, 900 to $1S3. 600; in Western
New York, $500, 600 to ST, 900, and in Penn
~sylvania, which is practically Philadel-
phia, $1,000, 600 to $50, 600. The new diocese
of Washington, which is practically the
city of that name, spent s237, 900 upon its
own churches and contributed s12.0 900 to
missions.
There is probably no other Church
which gives so much per member. The
average contribution for eaeh commune
cant member last year was $1,000, and this
included members in the mission stations
IN heather lands. In Chicago each COM
municant Episcopalian gave, last year,
on the average, S17.74 Average c%ontribu-
tons in other d~ioceses are:-Georgia.
s20.56; Indiana, s14.O9; Massachusetts,
81. IS; Missouri, s22; New York, 1851:
P~ittsburg, $20.05: Southern Ohio, 81. rs;
Washington, $17.52, and Western New
York SOL IL