The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11
THE CHURCHES LAG
Not Keeping Pace With the
Growth of Population.
Statistics Of Or. H. K. CnroI,--- ro'al timber
ship of the Leading Religious Bodies
in The United States.
washington Starr

According to the figures just prepared
the United States have failed notably to
keep pace in their membership growth
with the annual increase in population
in the United States. DR.. Carroll was
the government statistician of churches
in 1890, and since then he has yearly pre-
pared tables of statistics on the same
topic which are recognized by church
leaders as accurate and reliable.
In his figures for 1902 Dr. Carroll
places the total membership gain of all
the churches in this country, including
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Christian,
Science, Dowieism, etc, at only 403, 743.
The total membership of the ecclesiasti-
cal bodies at the present time he places
at 2S,6S9O2S. The gain for the year. ac-
cordipG to his statement is ~ per cent,
whereas the population of the country
since 1890 has been increasing 6-100 per
cent year.
There are no fewer than eight separate
Catholic bodies in America, according to
DR.. CARROTS statement. The regular Ro-
man Catholic church he credits with a
gain in membership for last year of H.
554, which is 76-100 of j per cent. He
states that the growth in all the princi-
pal Protestant bodies for 1902 has been
marked. In his report the statistician
says the communistic societies are dis
appearing because Of decay. The Sepa-
ratists have gone out of existence. and
a mere handful of the Harmony Society
remain. The Shakers have decreased 40
per cent since 1890. The Syrian Ortho-
doX church appears in 1902 for the first
time, with four congregations. under
three priests and one bishop.
STATISTICAL SHOWING.
The Methodists North, including those
in mission fields, last year passed the 3d.
600, 900 mark in membership. In order of
UNCONVENTIONAL families, with their re-
spectjve memberships within the United
States, and not including mission fields,
the total and percentages of growth last
year stand
Adventists, 9S,4S7; liz. Christian
Science, 51,60S; 51A. United Brethren,
277, 1852; A.. Lutherans, 1,745,5SS; 2 As. Re
formed. 3S5,03S; 2 $40. Episcopal, 49,
1884; 21-5. Congregational $50, 324 2.
Disciples of Christ. 1,207,S77; 2. Presby-
terians, 1855, 016; 90. Methodists, g.
OS4.155; ITO. Catholics. 1851, 1903; $40,
Baptists, 4,629,4S7; 10.
80 great is the pressure for pulpits
when desirable ones fall vacant that most
people imagine there are more ministers
than churches" says DR.. Carroll. 1.-THE
facts are directly the opposite. Hardly
a religious body in America but has more
churches than ordained men, and this
in spite of the fact that the multiplied
tion of the pastorate steadily increases.
One church in New York has eighteen
ordained men and women in its service.
the highest number of any one church in
America. The Baptists have 1864 min
listers: Catholics, 12779; Congregational
lists, 1856; Disciples of Christ, 10,957;
Lutherans, 11,7S5 Metbodsts, 1920;
Presbyterians, 12,207; Episcopal, sou;
the Reformed, 1906 the Salvation Army,
$50, and United Brethren, 2,34S. The
number of ministers, all bodies, is 147 ,113.
and it is not rapidly increasing.
con the other hand, the number of
churches rapidly increases, and so does
the proportionate cost. There are 1884,
l16 churches in the whole United States.
and the estimated cost to maintain them.
with hetterments each year, is $26O000.
600. Methodists have 56,787, the highest
number; Baptiats, 81, 142, and Friends of
the Temple, Swenkedelphians and the So
ciety for Ethical Culture, each"