The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-10
CHURCH GROWTH vs.. POPULATION.

CHURCH GROWTH VS.. POPULATION.
Are the churches of America keeping
up with theageneral pregress and growth?
More specifically, has the increase in
cnurcn membership during the census dec
ade, 189O-19O0. kept step with the increase
in the countryss population? That is
the problem which Is now busying the
religious press OF the United States. The
census statistics. have not yet appeared;
but the well known and generally ac-
cepted authority on church statistics,
Rev. DR.. E. NJ. Bliss, one of the man
ayers. of the Ecumenical Conference on
Missions, has published a statistical table
of church membership for 1880 and 1900
in the columns of the Independent, and
discussion is now rampant
The church statistics of Dr. Bliss are
eye-openers.s They show two facts in
marked prominence. namely: % that few
of the larger church organizations dur
ing the past ten years have grown as
fast as population (2) that with two or
three exceptions the denominations that
show growth equal to that Of population
have received much of their increase
from European immigration.
Among the denominations showing
heaviest growth, and specially favored
by immigration, are the Lutherans and
Roman Catholics. The Lutherans, five
branches, have advanced from 1.231. O72 in
1890 to 1868 in 1900 being a growth
Of 4S4,S06, or about 345 per cent. This Is
considerably aboYe, the population ratio
of increase. 20 eIQ
The United staffas Advanced in popula-
ton, during 1S9oaeeo Iofrom e2,622,25 to
7s,2s5,2oO, an increase of 1s,61z,972, or 21.s
per cent Irfq g
The Roman Catholics make a strong
showing in both number and rate of
growth From 6,242,267 in 1880 they go
to S,610,226 in 1900, an increase of about
2,360,OOo, or 37.S per- cent.
In three cases there has been a large
Increase due wholly to immigration,
namely, the Jews, the Armenians and
the Greek Orthodox church, which have
had their strongest growth In this coun-
try during the past ten years.
Three churches which have shown
marked growth, due very slightly to i'm
migration, are the Disciples, the Congre-
gationalists, and the Episcopa,ians These
three are the exceptions.
The Disciples Of Christ have grown
from 81, 017 in 1890 to 1,14s sS2 in 1900, a
gain of 27S,OOo, or 80 per cent. This de-
nomination has pushed ahead remarka-
bly,, also, in number Of churches-from
7,246 in 1890 to 1888 in 1900, an increase
of 1882, or As per cent.
The Congregationalists had 512,7n mem
bers in 1890 and 629,874 in 1900, a growth
of something over 1T, coo, or % per cent.
This is slightly larger than the countrys
ratio Of population growth, and there
fore shows that this denomination is
more than holding its own
The Episeopalians advanced from $50, =
054 to 716 431, growth of 1874. 600 or over
"a per cent. This denomination also
made strong showing in churches-from
5,O19 in 1890 to $685. in 1900, an increase of
1867, or SO per cent.
On the other hand, the three great
Protestant Evangelical bodies, the Meth
odists, Baptists and Presbyterians have
not quite kept up with the country's
growth in population, except In the color
ed branches Of these denominations
South
The Baptists Regular (North) increased
from SOO,45O to 97s,S2O, which is close to
but small fraction under the population
ratio of 21.S per cent; while the Baptists
Colored advanced from 1885, S9 to 1864, 900.
a growth of over half a million, or 50
per cent.
The Methodists. main branch NORTH,
were 2,24o, S54 in 1880 and 2,7l6, 4s7 In 1900 an
advance of fraction under the general
population rate Of gain; while the African