Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-05-03
A RELIGIOUS CENSUS.
The Difficulties That Sue, an Urscr.
taking NoaId Encounter

a RELIGIOUS CENSUS.
The Difficulties That Suc,, an Urscr-
taking Noald Encounter.
The great number OF letters on the
subject which have lately reached the
director OF the census at Vashlr=ton
offer conclusive evidence that there is
not in the country at large very clear
idea of the prospective religious cen.
sus which it had been proposed to CON-
pile in connection with the general
enumeration of the people OF the Unit.
ed States recently made under gov
ornamental auspices. AS q matter OF
fact 1t has not yet been definitely de-
termined to make presentation of the
relative strength of>the various reli-
Sious bodies in the country, ard even
in the event of a favorable decision
upon the proposition 1t Will be imprac-
ticable TO undertake active work prior
TO July 1, 1902
In the regular house to house census
enumeration made in the summer of
1900 the officials did not concern them
selves directly or indirectly with the
religious opinions Of the people. Not
only was the stand taken that any in
quiry as to hereditary or personal con-
victions regarding matters of faith or
ecclesiastical relations would be v,gor-
ousIy resented by many of those 10
whom such questions might be pro.
pounded. but it was held that figures
thus obtained would in all probability
be so Incomplete and inaccurate as to
be possessed Of but slight value.
The prevalent impression that the
census ottico was gathering informa.
ton relative to the strength of the va.
rious religious denominations may
doubtless be attributed TO the publlca.
ton, in connection with the census OF
1890. OF a volume OF statistics of
churches. These statistics were secur-
ed from schedules placed in the hands
OF competent persons i'm eachsof the
minor ecclesiastical subdivisions Of the
various churches.
The schedules which were sent ont
ut that time and which it is possible
will be duplicated n year hence con.
tanned line for each organization re-
ported, including churches without pas.
tors. missions or stations, chapcls.
meetings and societies. There were
also propounded questions relative to
the character of the edificcs occupied.
their seating capacity. their value aud
the number of communicates or church
members. In the instructions sent out
TO guide persons in filling out SEIZED.
/ to-
municant was to be interpreted as
embracing 'all, without distinction of
sex. who are privileged TO participate
In the ordinance OF communion in de.
nominations which observe Il and all
members OF other denominations. %
Some OF the faults of such n system
were Obvious at the time IL was uiopt.
ed, but no better plan presented itself.
Census Director Merriam states
frankly that he has not yet been able
10 determine whether or not TO under
take religious Investigation or. II he
does, how extensive the research shall
be. Some strong objections have been
made to any consideration of the CUES
ton whatever. For one thing, Il is
claimed that the conditions OF mem.
bership In the various bodies calling
themselves Christians vary so indcli
nitely that comparisons OF denomina
tional strength based upon nominal
membership In the several churches
are almost certain TO Ice misleading.
For instance. there are religious de
nominations I'm which children born of
parents connected with these organiza.
tons are birthright members, without
baptism, confirmation or any personal
procession OF religious faith. Then.
again, admission TO other churches
may Ire by baptism and confirmation.
by baptism without confirmation, hy
coniirna lion. after baptism or by pro.
tession OF personal belief i'm the doc. |
trines contained I'm particular creed
and promise OF obedience TO the an. |
thorlty vested in the ecclesiastical or
ganization. All these make comDari. |
sons or computations on common |
basis practically impossible.
Dr. Frederick III. Wines, the assist |
ant director OF the census, Is confident
that II the religious statistics arc gath. !
cred they will show that there has
been no diminution of religious interest
In the United States during the past
ten years and that they will demon.
strate that there has been a heavy in.
crease In the number OF churches,
membership. aggregate wealth and
average attendance. He declared In
The course OF recent conversation
that tie people OF the United States
are. contrary TO certain contentious
going 4" chur' Il more regularly and
supporting the gospel more literally
than they did decade or two ago
Waidon Fawcett in Christian Herald.