The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-04

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FOR both the Minnesota cities named. In
Chicago it was possible 10 cover the whole
twenty-five. but in all other cities the
number fell OFF, the person employed not
being able 10 attend so many within the
limited time. Inquiries were also made
Of church officers, but in most cases these
were supplemented by tests by other
persons Particular attention was paid
to the opinion OF sections. for any one who
has ever had to do with counting coagre-
cations. has learned the conservative
leanings OF sections. In four Of the CT
ties the first date proved rainy, and in
one ii WAS learned that not all the people
had returned from the country. In these
the figures are for the second date nam
ed.
CHURCHES CHOSEN.
In some cities also large churches were
selected for the test. In others, small
ones were designedIy chosen This state
1nent viii explain why the average in
different cities Is much higher than in
Others. In the following account Of the
test the names of churches are not given
for tn. reason that such names indicate
nothing The test is: Whether fewer
people are attending q given number of
churches than formerly attended them, or
whether more arc doing Sc While il
may be true that certain churches may
have been hit upon that are upon the up
ward grade toward prosperity and large
congregations, it may likewise be true
that churches whose Immediate history
is tending the other way, were also certain
10 have been hit upon. The. churches
gwere selected without previous knowl-
edge on these points.
Twenty-Five churches in Boston, some
large and many small We're taken for
lest. All are Protestant The total
number Of persons attending them at
o.
tober 21st. was, actual count, &c, 4o3. The
number does not include q third service
on the day named, and although one or
two churches Were found to be having
special services, one or two others were
found 10 be pastorless. Inquiry was made
concerning atterdances, both from church
officers and from members and the uni
versal report VAS that the number was
quite equal. If not indeed a little above
the attendance on previous years. At
the Peoples Temple different authorities
placed the increase at from 100 to 500. AT
Berkley Temple counts have been kept
through a series Of years, the figures for
octobr 2st. 1899 We're 933, and for 1900,
lao Records are also kept at fremont
Temple. and they show that attendance
has not been larger there during the past
twnty-five years than il is now. A mar
Of twenty-years experience III Boston.
who has studied the matter. expressed
the conviction that there has been no de-
cline in his time, and nobody could he
found who could show figures to prove
such decline.
IN NEW YORK CITY.
test OF nineteen churches vas made
in the New York that used TO be, and
sixteen in Brooklyn. or a total Of thirty
five for what is now New York. Churches
large and small Were selected. and the
total attendance was 4, Sol. Returns We're
t1so had from four Roman Catholic church.
IS. those first named having been eNcu-
s'rely Protestant. In the Roman Catholic
ccnsregatitsr there was not a larger
proportion of men than in the Protestant
ones. and pastors in all four deplared the
falling off al weil-to-do men. whom it
MAS admitted were much given 10 the neg
iact Of religious privileges. The figures
for the Catholic churches. all services.
we're 10 a. and lie testimony of those
in charge was 10 the effect that the
number was about the same as last year.
In four of the Protestant churches there
was falling off from last year, but in
TWO of them there were local causes for
the same In six churches records of
last year were at hand. and an Increase
of ten per cent. in attendance was shown.
In three of them there We're local causes.
and in the other three there seemed to be
none
Congregations in twenty-four Philadel-
phia churches we're counted on October 81
The total in attendance. morning and
evening or morning and afternoon as the
case was, numbered 20 664 Churches select
ed We're up town. in West Philadelphia
and in Germantown. but only the regular
public services, which the average person
would attend were counted. There We're
found two churches where the sexton said
the number was smaller than last year.
and inquiry failed TO discover any cause.
There seemed simply 10 be a falling off.
There WIS. however. no records of last
year. because none had been kept. Against
these SIX churches We're found which had
records for last year, and indeed for
several years. These records had been
zealousiy kept at the expense of the gov
ernlng body Of the congregation, and were
never tempered with They indicated
steady Increase each year. very small
and Yet an Increase. Nine churches were
found where sexton. clerk and pastor
agreed in saving the attendance was larger
but could give M figures
IN THE WEST.
u was impossible to get accurate facts
from about twenty-one of the Pittshnrg
churches, and, 10 be exact. some of these
We're III the residence section of the
i,eishbortng Allegheny Here the large
churches We're designediy avoided in the
count. So were the pastors and sextoss
IN all but -four churches No church
Was found with record of last year and
The figures for the most part are those
Obtained simply by going and counting
the persoss present The average was
7as. and the total l5.2:Ss Two of the four
pastors inquired OF said the number Il,
attendance was larger than on the same
date last year. Others were not COM
naunicated with. AS effort was made TO
avoid counting conyreeatione in churches
wher TIE comaarison and the conditions
would DE unusual as that they were with
out e pastor. or they lust had a new
pastor. or ware heid!-s some special ser
Vice. Much !atelltsence was exercised
IN the count. and It is believed to be
fair one.
The cincinsati count covered only seven
saen churches. These We're Episcopal.
Baptist. Christian. Presbyterian, and
lutheran. and were downtown IN MI