Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-24

during the year. This is an increase of
2.G7 per cent, as compared with a gain
of 2 IS per cent. in population. But of
this total gain 4GS,0S is claimed by the
Catholic church. DR.. Carroll believes
that this is too large, but it leaves gain
of only about 2G0,0 to be distributed
among all the Protestant churches. The
largest growth among these has been
the Episcopal churches, amounting to
31,341, mostly in eastern cities; and the
next largest growth is among the Dis
cples of Christ, a religious body scarcely
known in the east. Its strongholds are
in the middle west, and it has early
doubled in membership since 1890. Its
present membership is reported at
! l,179,54 which makes it the sixth larg-
est church in the United States. Its net
gain last year was 30 800.
The Southern Baptist increased 6,ll3
and the African Methodsts 22.S92. The
total growth of the Lutherans, distrib-
uted among twenty-five varieties of that
sect, was 36,l0l. The Christian Scent
lists are credited with gain of 1880.
The Methodist Church North gained
1880, and the Presbyterans North
1852. But'the Congregationalsts show
a gain of only 3475 and the Baptists
North only 3039. Boston journal.
/oo>
STAND BY THE DEPARTMENT..
1t is evident that determined effort is
to be made this winter to have con-
gress nullify or Overruie the measures
which the pOstoffice department has
taken the past season to remedy the
abuses under the second class mail mat
ter privilege. This privilege in sub
stance gives to legitimate and regularly
published periodicals the right of carriage
In the mails at one cent a pound, pre-.
paid by the publishers, and the free
carriage in the county of publication
except for copies delivered at free de
livery offices. This privilege was ex-
tended upon the theory that it is for the
public good to make the sources of in
formation and education through the
press as broad and free as possible
!, Under this privilege, however, there have
been built up immense business interest;
, dependent enirely on the use of the mail:
at a price far below the cost of carrying
the matter. For years past the annua
deficit of several millions of dollars il
= expenses of the postoilice department
has been due to this cause, and every
postmaste ter general has called the at
tention of congress to the fact During
the past summer. under the lead of Post
, master General Smith, determined ant
effective regulations have been adopte,
= to put an end TO the abuses. \ storm o
: protests from the business interests af
fected has folio we'd, and it is evident, a
y, has been said, that no effort and N
:, money will be spared to induce congress
to override these rulings.
1t is to be hoped, by all means, tina
these efforts will not succeed. They ar
made mainly under a thin pretence tina
it will be preiudicial to the interest o
:. newspaper publishers to have these abu e
: corrected. 1t is especially urged tina
the country publishers will be injured
the reforms are carried through. This
not true. No legitimate newspaper pub
Usher will be injured if the use of tn
second class privilege is confined With
0 its legitimate bounds. All pretense t
4 the contrary is false, and without four
d dation.-Brattlebo Phoenix.
s TIMBER CUTTING METHODS.
Some people have an idea that exper