The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-07-13
THE RELIGIOUS CENSUS.
Statistics Obtained, But Not
Through Enumerators
From individuals.

whether the religious statistics of
the population are to be taken in
the present census, and if not,
why not! The subject has also
been discussed to a limited extent
in the religious newspapers of
this country. For these reas OnS
it has been thought advisable TO
publish the following authorita-
tive statement on the whole sub
icct:
\ very general misrepresentation
seems to exist regarding the
methods by hich the figures were
obtained in 1890 for the volume
on the statistics Of churches.
They were not procured through
the cuumcratorS. In an official
circular, published October /,
1889, it was said that "this in.
formation cannot be gathered by
the enumeratorS. 1t is
necessary, therefore, to make
church statistics special in
quiry and they must be gath
chiefly by schedules placed in the
hands Of some competent person
in each Of the minor ecclesiastical
subdivisions of the various
churches"
In exact conformity with the
language of this circular, Sched-
ulcs were prepared containing a
line for each reorganization re
ported, including churches with
out pastors, missions or stations,
chapclS. meetings and societies
The questions asked related to
the character of editiceS occupied,
their seating capacity, their value
and the number of communicates
or church members. In the in.
StructionS for filling the schedules
the word commitment" was de-
fined to embrace call, without
distinction of sex, who are prlNl.
legged to participate in the ordl-
nance of communion i'll denomi-
nations which observe it, and all
members in other denominations"
In all denominations having ec-
cle>iaStical systems which group
local churches into associations,
conferences, prcSbyteries or dio.
ceSeS. the secretaries or clerks Of
the divisions were requested to
furnish the information desired;
i'm other cases communication was
had with the local church direct,
or some other method was adopted.
The government Of the United
States does not concern itself
with the religious opinions of It's
citizens. 1t does not consider
that it has any right to inquire
into their hereditary or personal
convictions regarding matters of
faith, or into their ecclesiastical
relations. Such an inquiry al
dressed to individuals would be
resented. and the information OBJ
tanned. if the enumeratOrS were
instructed to ask this question,
would be 50 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 in
cludeS those subjects on which in-
formation can be obtained
through the agency of the census
enumeratorS. while the second i'll.
cludeS subjects which can be dealt
with without the aid of the enum-
orators, by correspondence, or by
the use of special agents. The
seventh section of the Act re-
stricts the first group to "nquir-
les relating to the population, to
mortality, to the products cfagri
culture and of manufacturing and
mechanical establishments" The
reports on these subjects are to
be unpublished not later than
July l, 1902 The eighth sec
tion provides that CATER the com
pletion and return Of the enum-
Grafton and of the work upon the
schedules relating to the products
of agriculture and to manufacture
ing and mechanical establish
mentS provided for in section Z of
/ this Act" that is, after July l,
/ 1902. 1.-THE director Of the census
! is hereby authorized to collect
: statistics relating to"-several
/ subjects specified, of which one
reads, ''to religious bodies. "
Under the language of this sec
I ton nothing can be done, except
in a preparatory way, with refer
ence to the collection of religious
statistics for the ensuing two
years. 1t will be noted that at
the expiration of that time the
director is .'authoriZed," not re-
quired to collect these special
statistics, so that the question
whether they shall be collected
or not is. entirely within his Off
cial discretion.
The value of a religious census