The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
THE RELIGIOUS CENSUS.
Director scrrinm's Rer;y to Nsny
Enquiries Concerusaw "a.

|
Enquiries COncerpsag II.
The Director of the Censu: has received
many letters asking whether the religious
| statistics OF the population are to be taken
| in the present Census. and II not. why
| not? The subject has also been discussed
to a limited extent in the religious news
papers Of the country Fer these reasons
it has been thought advisable to publish
the following authoritative statement Gu
the whole subject:
"A very general misapprehersion seems
to exist regarding the methods by which
the figures were obtained in 1890 for the
volume on the statistics of churches.
| They were not procured through the
enumerators. In an official circular. pub-
! nshed October 1, 1889, 1t was said that
| this information cannot be gathered by
| the enumerators. 1t is necessary.
| therefore. to make church statistics spe-
cial enquiry, and they must be gathered
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
&C this circular, schedules were prepared
containing a line for each 'orge nization'
reported. including churches without pas
tors. missions. or stations. chapeis. meet
ings, and societies. The questions asked
related to the character OF edifices occu-
pied. their seating capacity, their value.
and the number of communicates or church
members.
In the instructions for filling the sched-
ules the word COMMUNICATE was defined
to embrace ALI, without distinction Of sex
who are privileged to participate in the
ordinance OF communion In denomina tions
which observe 1t. and all members in other
denominations. In all denominations hav-
ing ecclesiastical systems which group
local churches into associations. confer
enees, presbyteries, or dioceses. the secre-
taries or clerks Of the divisions were re-
quested to furnish the Information desired:
in other cases communication was had with
the local church direct, or some ether
method was adopted.
The Government of the United States
does not concern itself with the religions
opinions Of its citizens. 1t does not con-
slider that it has any right to enquire into
their hereditary or personal convictions
regarding matters OF faith. or into their
ecclesiastical relations. Such enquiry
addressed to individuals would be
scented. and the information obtained, IL
the enumerators were instructed to ask
this question: would be SO incomplete and
inaccurate as to be of little practical value.
THE present Census act divides the en-
qufries TO be made into two groups. The
first of these includes those subjects on
which information can be obtained through
the agency Of the census enumerators,
while the second includes subjects which
can be dealt with without the aid OF
the enumerators. by correspondence OF
by the use of special agents. The sew
enth section of the act restricts the first
group to enquiries relating to the pspula-
ton, to mortality, to the products Of
agriculture. and of manufacturing and me-
chanicai establishments
1.-The reports on these subjects are to be
published not later than July I. 1902 the
eighth section provides that after the COM
pletion and return Of the enumeration and
of the work upon the schedules relating
to the products of agriculture, and to man
ufacturing and mechanical establishments
provided for in section of this act,' that
is. after July I. 1902 the Director Of the
Census is hereby authorized to collect sta
ustics relating to- several subjects speci-
fed, Of which one reads, to religious
bodies
Under the language of this section Moth
ing can be done, except in preparatory
way, with reference to the collection OF
years. 1t will be noted that at the expira-
t;cn Of tha. time the director is author
zed.' not required to collect these special
statistics; SO that the question whether
they shall be collected or rot is entirely
within his official discretion.
THE value Of reiigiouse census of the pop
1lation OF the United States is somewhat
,roblematical. The publication OF the volume
n which the statistics Of churches are con-
.sined has. exerted. so far as can be judged.
IL appreciabie influence upon the religious
thought or life of the nation. This Is not
because the work was not well done.
Probably no census report has ever been
more thorough or accurate, within the es-
sentiai limitations of the subject itself. 1t
IS report on religious bodies whether
Christian or non-Christian, including tie
worshipers In Chinese temples.
obviously. therefore, the word COM
municants,' does not apply to the members
Of all these bodies The conditions of msr,-
bership In the various bodies calling them
selves Christian vary so indefinitely, that
of UNCONVENTIONAL strength
based upon nominal membership in the
several churches cannot be otherwise than
misleading There are religious denomina-
lions in which children born of parents
with those organizations ara
birthright members OF them, without bap-
ism. confirmation. or any personal profess
zion of religious faith.
admission to other churches is by bap-
ism and confirmation. or by baptism with
nut confirmation. or by confirmation after
Baptism. or by profession of personal be-
ief in the doctrines contained in partic-
liar creed and a promise of obedience to
he authority vested In the ecclesiastical
rganization. In comparing the statistics
Z membership in one religious body with
hose in another, therefore. we are COM
airing things which are so dissimilar as to
lude comparison.
I'VE are attempting to reduce to COM
ION denomination figures which have no
ommon denomination. The attempt to es-
innate the strength of a religious denom-
nation by the number OF sittinss in the
hurches is also misleading, since in the
.oman Catholic churches the same edifice
used by different worshipers at differ
MT hours of the day. while in the Protest.
Mt churches generally the seating capac-
y OF an edifice exceeds the average at
This is a subject which will bear Sc
ous consideration and discussion on TIE
art of those more particularly interested
! this enquiry. and any suggestions re-
ting to it. addressed TO the Director Of
lie Census, will be welcomed"