Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-12
THE RELIGIOUS CENSUS.

religious statistics of the population
are to be taken In the present census,
and il not, why not? The subject has
also been d discussed to limited ex-
tent In he rel gicus newspapers OF the
county. For these reasons 1t has been
thought adv isa lie to publish the FOL
Iowiug autL OF. rative statement on the
whole subiocs:
A very general Misrepresentation seems |
to exist regarding the methods. by
which the figures were obtained ~
1890 for the volume on the statistics OF
churches. They were not procured
through the enumerators. In an official
circular, published October LIST, 1889,
IL was said that "This Information
can not be gathered by the enumera.
tors. 1t Is necessary, there
fore, to make church statistics q special
inquiry, and they must be gathered
chiefly by schedules placed In the
hands OF some competent person IN
each Of the minor ecclesiastical sub.
divisions of the various churches. :"
In exact conformity with the Ian.
gugae OF this circular, schedules were
prepared containing line for each
Organization reported, including
churches without pastors, missions OF
stations, chapels, meetings and socie-
| ties. The questions asked related to
the character Of edifices occupied, their
| seating capacity, their value, and the
number of communicates or church
| members. In the instructions for filling
the schedules the word COMMUNICATE"
was defined to embrace ''all, without
| distinction Of sex, who are privileged
to participate in the ordinance of com.
mInion In denominations which OBJ.
serve it, and all members 10 other, de-
nominations, - In nil denominations
having ucc.esiastical systems which
group local churches into associations,
conferences, presbyteries,. Or dioceses,
| the secretaries or clerks OF the divisions
| we're requested to furnish the informa-
tlon desired: in other cases communi-
cation was had with the local church
direct, or some other method was
adopted.
| The COVER nment OF the United States
does not concern itself with the re-
lieious opinions of its oitizens. "
does not consider that 1t has any right
to inquire into their hereditary or per-
sonal convictions regarding matters Of
faith, or into their ecclesiastical rsla-
tions. Such an inquiry addressed to
l
information obtained, IL the ennmsra-
tors we're instructed TO ask this ques-
tion, would be 10 incomplete and mac.
curate as to be OF little practical value.
The present Census act divides the
inquiries to be made into two groups.
The first OF these includes those sub
jects on which information can be OBJ.
tanned through the agency Of the census
! enumerators. while the second includes
subjects which can he dealt with with.
J out tue aid Of the enumeratois, by GORE.
! spopdence, or by the use OF speoiR
agents. The seventh section Of the nci
restricts the first group TO "inquirie,
J relating to the population, to mortality,
to the products of agriculture ane
J Of manufacturing and mocha nj OF
, establishments. The reports OF
, these subjects are to he published
not later than July LIST, 1902. V
The eighth section provides tina
latter the completion and return
) of the enumeration and of the worl
+ upon the schedules relating to tn,
. products Of agriculture, and to manufac
T turing aud mechanical establishment
! provided for in section of this act,
that is, after July lst, 1909, 9TH
r Director of the Census is hersb
authorized to collect statistics relat
D ing to" several subjects specified, O
which one reads: 81 to religious bodies.
I Under the language OF this ssutiol
y nothing can be done, except in pre-
paratory way, with reference to the col
Q lection of religious statistics for tn
d ensuing two years. 1t will be note
q that at the expiration of that time th
director is authorized, not required
r to collect these special statistics; $
J, that the question whether they sha
l be collected or not is entirely withil
Q his official discretion.
d The value OF religious census of tn
population Of the United States
n somewhat problematioal. The publics
10 tion of the volume In which the sta
y tistics of churches are contained hl
q exerted, SC far as can be judged, no ar
l preciable influence upon the religion
!. thought or life Of the nation. This
n not because the work was not well don,
d Probably no census report has ev,
y been more thorough or accurate, With
the essential limitations Of the sui
IN ject itself. 1t ia report on ''religio,
y bodies,' whether Christian or moi
tt Christian, including the worshippe
is in Chinese temples. Obviously, Their
fore, the word ''oommunicauts'' do,
D. not apply to the members of all the
10 bodies. These conditions Of ruembe
Dr. ship in the various bodies oallir
to themselves Christian vary SO II
definitely, that comparisons of d
oil nominational strength based upt
TX nominal membership in the sever
ht churches can not be otherwise thu
s. misleading. There are religious d
$; nominations in which children born
~ parents connected with those organic
~ tions are birthrighr members of ther
DIS without baptism, confirmation, or al
10 personal profession of reiigioussfait
D. Admission to other churches is by ha
q tism and confirmation, or by baItis
without confirmation, or by confirm
ton after baptism, or by profession
personal belief in the doctrines co
tanned in a particular creed and
pi omise Of obedience to the authori
;" vested in the ecclesiastical organic
ton. In comparing the statistios
!, yN membership in one religious body wi
~ those in another, therefore, we a
~ comparing things which are so dissin
y. lar as to elude compai ison. We a
~ attempting to reduce to common d
eu nominator figures which have no COL
y, mon denUminator. The ATTEMPT to es
ii lnaJe Tile StEouRbu Vi u telRious uenOL
gu nation by the number OF sittings
aS the churches is also misleading, sin
a in the Roman Catholic churches t
lei same edifiee is used by different W,
81 shippers at different hours of the ds
~ while in the Protestant churches 70
Us orally, the seating capacity of an edit
w. exceeds the average attendance.
This is a subject which will b,
serious consideration and discussion