Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22

has become this decrease IL IS the of much anxiety and discussion among learned clef- gymen of the day. It has become serious matter. drawing away from the church is not restricted to any one city nor to any part of the country 1t is manifest throughout all parts or the OllIeu States as well as Europe. 1t has not been nent ming change the decrease has been slo" @ ouI rro6nol and constant. So widespread has it become that at the services in many churches on Sunoas the number of empty peWS equal ano oAIeh SuAP''" the number of those occupied -,
 As a local minister has stated: There IS "loe- spread attention of thu masses from the cnulc" 1he church is losing it's influence and church going is not looked upon now by many people as q nece0- sarv means of salvation. But this does not neceS- surv mean that Christianity is losing It's hod upon the people, but church going is not looked upon now, as it formerly. A large number or People do not believe that it is necessary to attend churc to be saved they do believe in the principles O, Christianity and eXemplify them 1n thelr oally FeS So spoke local clergyman.
 There is a wide diversion of opinion among local protnetant clergymen in regard whether the at tendance is increasing decreasing, as Democrat reporter found the course of interviews with them Several it, others deny it, while third states that church attendance is at standSt. that It IS holding its own. There are three different opinions It is a noticeable that all the Catholic clergy interviewed were united in stating that not only was the church attendance increasing, but the num- Der of non-church goers was decreasing In several local Protestant churches the number of attendants morning service is less than the attendance a the same services at the churches ten twelve years ago. In church, for instance, account ot the congregation at a Sunday morning service was
 
 6I persons present To-day there isn't near that number, although the church membership is much larger The pastor of the church in question: is the authority for this statement.
 Tn a sermon delivered at the Centennial anniver sary of the birth of the First Baptist church held about three weeks ago. the Rev pr Anderson had undoubtedly in his mind the subject of small church attendance when he said: "Our theme brings before us the question to how large part of the popula ton is provided for. Probably less than one-half than 5OOOO inhabitants Protestants I that only a small portion of that 25,0O0 is oI, fhOTO r7 Iof- fectve way. Tn IS churches and two chape1s there are, let say, 5000 sttngs. Are they all occupied fair Sunday mornings? But let say that 10000 people attend church on both Sun day morning and evening, and there still 15,OOO left"
 r About two weeks ago a reporter of the Democrat sent number of letters to the cIergymen of the city asking for information in regard to the average attendance at their churches Sundays, Answers 13 Protestant churches and 10 Catholic church received. Judging from the statistics fur nfshed nearly onehalf of the population belong to the class of people who do not attend church. Of course perfect accuracy of these statistics is not guaranteed. They only approximate estimates, But 1t be safely stated perhaps, that in the attendance underestfmated. In 1t might have been overestimated
 The statistics submitted show that the attendance at the 10 Catholic churches amounts to 17,225, the attendance at the 16 Protestant churches to about 5000 Taking into consideration the few Protestant churches not heard from namely the A. M E. Zion church, the Christian Scientists, the Catholic Apostolic, the total attendance would be in creased by 500 O more.
 . In looking over the figures published below 1t must be borne in mind that the people who attended both the morning and evening services at the Protestant churches were counted while in the Catholic churches only those who attended masses in the morning counted. This due the fact that Catholics morally bound to hear mass. Those who do not attend mass generally main away from vespers also. With the Protestant churches it is different. Their members morally bound to attend services Some may attend the morning services, while others attend in the evening. Of course when estimate is made, attendance at both services must be counted, but when the figures being read it be borne Il mind that number of persons have been counted twice.
 The attendance at the Catholic churches is as fol lows:
 Immaculate Conception ..................... $500 St Anns 2,5OO St Francis Xavier .......................... 21OO St Patricks ........,.....,............ 17O0 Sacred Heart ........................... 600 St ThOmaSs ......................-..... 145O Our Lady of Lourdes ....................... 1000 Et .Osephs ............................ 800 St Ceclla's ............................ 400 St Mchaels ........................... 175
 Total attendance