Arizona republican., 1902-05-25

This years proceedings of the Gen church having been of GROWTH more than usual inter- OF THE est to the general public CHURCHES. on account of the dis cussion of creed revision and other live subjects, it is not sur prising that there has been much news paper comment occasioned by these discussions. and that a very superficial knowledge of the condition of the churches generally is disclosed. For instance, the assertion is frequently
 made that not only is orthodoxy losing it's hold upon the popular mind, but
 that the numerical strength of the churches is growing steadily less in comparison with the growth of popula-
 tion. It is undoubtedly true that broader views prevail concerning es- sential beliefs, but it is not true that
 the various denominations are losing ground On the contrary, many of them are growing faster, proportion- | ately, than the country population. ! This fact is brought out by statistics contributed to the Church Economist
 by MT. E. N. Camp. president of the ! Church News association.
 ] The first question he answers is: Does church membership growth keep pace with population growth?'' This he answers as follows: In 1860, not to weary by going further back, the Popu- lation Of the United States was 31 1443.- 521, and in 1920 75, ,303 3S7. Here vas an | increase of not quite two and cne-half times We look upon that increase as phenomenal; as nation We boast Of it. Congregationalists are one of the bodies that have. Of late. been pointed to as not keeping up their end: some have asked if they were losing. The same has been asked of Methodists North. In 1860 Congregational mem bership was 253, 165, and in 1900 6S3 549 ] Here is q ratio of growth almost eS- actly equal to that of the phenomenal population srowth-a fraction greater. But now add the Presbyterian growth. In 1860 Presbyterians North numbered 2763G6, and in 1900 1925, ,3SS. Together these two religious bodies grew a little more than threefold, as against the 1 population a little less than two and One-half. In 1860 the number of Epis- 1 cOpalians was 146.600 and in 1900 714 575. These three bodies together were to the population growth as three to two: that is, their growth was three and One-half times, nearly. Now add the i Lutherans. In 1860 there were 232, ,7S0. and in 1900 1.665S7S. Here is four and one-half fold as against the population i less than two and one-haIf. If, now. the Baptist, the Methodist Episcopal,
 the Disciples of Christ, and the Roman i Catholic growth be added, not to men i tion smaller bodies, all of which, save 1 Unitarians and Quakers, have held
 their own or grown proportionately 1T
 will be found that growth in church membership during the last forty years
 of the nineteenth century stands to the phenomenal population growth in
 round numbers as sixteen to five.
 i Then he turns to the question: Do 1 people give as they used to do?'' This.
 also, he answers in the affirmative.
 Presbyterians gave to missions in 1895
 $12,517. in 1850 $4O6,672, in 1875 $2, ,O6S,
 and in 1900 S4.1S6, ,2SS. In 1850 the total
 gifts of Presbyterians North for all purposes were $1,462, ,G2S, in 1875 S9,625.- i 594. and in 1900 $16. 33S. .376. In 1892
 Lutherans gave to missions and benev- ] oIences sS-9. eco and in 1902 $1.2s5. .775. 1 Young Mems Christian Association
 work of this country cost last year
 $10,oG0.oGO, which was $2,G0O00O in ad- ] vance of any previous year, and people ! gave enough to enable the year to ne i closed without debt. While the fashion Of the moment is to give outside of the churches. after the pattern set by Mr
 Andrew Carnegie. yet the income ol church causes is not declining. Lock
 at the great gifts to education just now, to hospitals. and the rest. This year is going to be a record breaker .. Mir. J. Picrpont Morgan gives $1.GOO.OOv
 to q Boston hospital, MT. Rockefeller i $1,0OO,OCO to southern education, Miss
 Helen Gould $1,G00OO0 this year through
 the Y. NJ. C. A These and alm0st everybody known as liberal givers are church people. MT. Rockefeller has
 given, this year, s1OO,OOO to the Amer