The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-11
YESTERDAYS TEMPERATURES.
GRowTH OF THE CHURCHEs.

not all Of the existing religious bodies
In the statements made by their repre-
sentatives as to the conditions made
manifest during the year 1899 declare
themselves to be very well satisfied with
their progress and the work that has
been done by them for the advancement
of the Christian religion. Indeed but ore
Of the principal denomirations-the Meth
odist Episcopal-avows disappointment,
because, while prosperous in everything
else, 1t did not add numerically as 1t
would wish to It's communicates during
the year. In all the fields of Christian
usefulness in which the several churches
are engaged the past year was dis
inguished by its great success. The
Baptists, for instance, declare that for
the first time in several years their mis-
sionary societies are not filled with ap-
prehension Of a big deficit. but, on the
contrary, find their only difficulty in this
direction in the scarcity of men to send
out into the missionary fields (which are
tionalists are enthusiastic in the belief
in the advances that have been made III.
the establishment among English-speak-
ing nations of a common faith, and in
common purpose to extend Christian
civilization among all nations. The
Quakers have made great progress in the
unifcation Of the several branches Of
their people at least along the great lines
of religious and philanthroplc work. Mr..
Abraham S. Isaacs, editor of the Jewish
Messenger, reports gratifying advance
for the Jews in every line Of activity
educational, benevolent. communal He
regrets, however, what he calls the noto-
riety given to his religion by Mr.. Gang
will, and says in this behalf:
''The American Israelite neither seeks
nor desires public notice, and depfeeateS
more or less offensive exploitation of his
religion and traditions. One views with
disnay the rise of American Ghetto lit
erature in the magazines that is abso-
iutely distorted and coarse-grained
A table of additions made to the mem
bership of the several denominations.
compiled from their several returns for
the past year, shows the additions of the
principal creeds as follows: Baptists,
1920: Catholics 52.62S; Disciples of
Christ. 30. ISL; Episcopalians, 10000; Chris
tan Scientists, 10000; Lutherans, 4O226;
Methodists, S3,15o; Presbyterians, 1S0Oo
Congregationalists, 2,370. from this
statement 1t would appear that the Bap-
lists have relatively as well as absolute
ly made the greatest gains. After them
come the Lutherans, and third the Cath
olics.
The Baptists are estimated as number
ing about 4,5OO000; the Catholics. about
$500 600; the Disciples of Christ, 1,12O, coo;
Lutherans, 100000; Jews, 1,043, 800; Con-
gregationalists, $4,000; Methodists, $780,.
900; PresbyterIans, 100000
Nowhere does there appear to be any
grave concern evinced over what is gen.
orally regarded as the decadence Of the
Christian churches In their influence on
the lives of the masses of the American
people. 1t cannot. of course, be said that
the several denominations would ignore
this very important consideration If, in
the opinions of their leading representa-
tives, there were any such cause for con-
Germ. 1t remains true, however, that the
total of religious communicates, as
given in the published tables, toward the
entire American adult population, leaves
q big margin of people unaccounted for.
These are to be regarded, no doubt, as
either not active communicates in the
several churches to which they belong.
or as having surrendered any connec-
ton which they ever maintained with the
\ churches
1t is indisputabie that the great pro-
portion of the people who are not
enumerated belong to the unbelievers,
who, while they may not be said to have
surrendered their faith wholly in the
teachings of the Christian religion, are
not disposed to maintain connection with
any church whatever.
However men may choose to regard
the question Of the alienation of the
masses from the several churches, it is
source Of qualification that the church
IS themselves do not seem to consider