Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-10
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES
THE METHODiSTS.

OF about twenty-seven and one-half
million of religious communicate in the
United States, nearly six millions are
Methodists, divided between seventeen
different bodies bearing the Methodist
name. Taken together, they make up
the most numerous Protestant denOmina-
ton in this country, the Baptist coming
next with about four and half millions
gathered into thirteen distinct branches.
The Roman Catholics number between
eight and nine millions, according to
statistics prepared by Protestant compil-
ers, though they themselves lay claim to
a much larger following. Methodism
was third among our Protestant denom-
nations in number of communicates In
1900, but 1t now occupies the first place.
These facts we obtain from the "Meth-
odist Year Book" for 1902, an annual
publication which pays attention to the
branch designated especially as the
Methodist Episcopal Church, or the
largest of the different Methodist COM
munlons, with an aggregate membership
approaching three millions. The annual
expenditures of this body are between
twenty-three and twenty-four million
dollars. The number of its churches is
about twenty-seven thousand, of its
preachers between twelve and thirteen
thousand. The state In which its men,
bership is largest is Ohio, 297 ,65l, with
these states close behind: New York
2S7 $40, and Pennsylvania, 3,46l.
The growth of American Methodism,
impelled especially by the great religious
revivals of the early part of the last CEN
tury, has been one of the most remarka-
BILE in the history of religious develop
ment. In New York, in 1766, " a cody
woman called few Methodists to their
duty in rigging loft" The whole number
in the American colonies was only five
thousand; now the membership in all
the branches is nearly six millions.
This Year Book opens with an eloquent
tribute to President Mckinley, in which
we are told that "his election to the
Chief Magistracy of the nation conferred
on the Methodist Episcopal Church, for
the first time in the history of the gov
eminent, the exalted honor of being rep
resented in that high office by one of its
beloved communicates This will
probably surprise most people, because
usually in the descriptions of our Presi-
dents Lincoln, johnson, Grant and
Hayes are also set down as Methodists,
but, apparently, none of them was a
communicate.
Traces of the influences of the spirit of
criticism which has entered so largely
into modern religious thought appear
among the Methodists, but unless the
Baptists are to be excepted, they are
fewer than in any other Protestant de-
nomination. Great changes among
them, however, have taken place during
the last quarter of century, and in the
large towns more especially. Once they
were 'plain people" sedulously es-
chewing worldly display, and the meet
ing houses were humble and without
ornament; but now they have churches
notable for a pretentious ecclesiastical
architecture.-Ne York Sun.
~oo>
ALL READY TO RAID THE TREASURY.
A surplus is undoubtedly much
more comfortable fault in a public treas
ury than deficit, but it is dead certain
to lead to extravaganza, and congressman
are now getting ready to "return the
money to the people" in way which
they think will conduce to their re-
election and which make of the treasury
balance a vast bribery fund.
The river and harbor bill of the presen
session is to be the biggest ever, post
office buildings are to be scattered owe
the land with unprecedented liberality
deserts will be made to bloom by the aiC
of government irrigation. and no single
tax will be reduced until the swag Is al
appropriated. Such is the programme
which is said to be taking shape in the
minds of the legislators, and such pro
gramme may always be safely predicted
when a trimming treasury is close by
with the manifold temptations that i
suggests.