The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-11

The showing for the religious life NJ
the city is a remarkable one. six-sev-
enths of the population OF Topeka are
affiliated with soma church 81 belief IN
some form Of religious worship. IN
reaching this report, attendance AT
church, membership IN Il church. e
pressed preference for = Church and tae
sending of children to Sunday school
were counted as utilization with tSat de-
nomination.
The census revealed the existence OF
some new types of religious following
which are comparatively unknown, such
as the Church of First Born, Social
Brethren and the New Thought
There is one lone follower of Dovvfe
in Topeka. This would seem to indi-
cate that Dowie's teachings are not
well received here The church of the
Latter Day Saints. AIormOns, have a
fair sprinkliEg. There are ten families
in Topeka with forty individuals who
owe allegiance to this denomination.
The MethOdistS have the largest fol-
lowing and lead by 1915 adhersats. The
Baptists come next. The Methodists
have total membership Of 8,199 and
the Baptists 1854. The PresbyTari9n-
follow in third place with $500 mem
bers
The colored church membership census
was taken separately and this fact led
to some incomplete returns.
1.-THE census of the cOlOred church
gOers I feel has not been as we'll taken
as it might have been" said Rev
left this work with the pastors of the
cOlored churches. Some of these
worked faithfully and hard and their
returns show it, but I feel sure that
others failed to turn in complete re-
turns. 1t is evident from the face of
the whole report.
I'VE had some unsatisfactory re-
suits from the census of the adherents
Of the Catholic denomination. Espe-
cially was this true with regard to the
number of children given as attend
ing sunday schOF, or whatever they
call that portion OF their service which
corresponds with Sunday school. I
am certain that there must be a great
er number of children attending that
service than is given in"
1.-THE most significant thing about
| the whole report" said Rev. Francis
M. Hayes, of the First Congregational
church, who spoke upon the report as
a whole lis the 4,784 persons who are
given in as having no church prefer
enceS. over 1000 souls in Topeka
who are waiting to be saved. 1t is
significant fact Every one has his
duty to perform. We should go to
/ these gently, prayerfully and persist
entity and bring them into the fold"
The census was unique in many re
| spects, but the palm was given to the
| fact that it was taken all in one day
upon the 22nd of November -Four
/ hundred and fifty canvassers were in
1 structed in their duties and sent out
/ on that one day. The first suggestion
! of the census came from DR.. Wilbur
I F. Chapman, and from the latter part
/ of October until the 22nd of Novem-
/ Der the plans were being gradually
/ perfected.
Tabulated forms printed on small
cards were utilized by the canvassers
4 In making their enumeration. A certain
number of square blocks from one to
/ two were assigned to each person and
/ the whole canvass was completed in a
few hours. The compilation of these
/ individual reports was where the real
labor came in. This compilation was
/ finally not completed until late Satur-
! day evening Very little difficulty was
/ experienced by the canvassers in their
I work But 80 people refused the fnfor-
nation which was sought after. Three
1 hundred others were not at home but