Evening journal., 1907-02-07
TAKING CENSUS
OF THE CHURCHES
Blank Forms For Reports
Sent to Officials of the
Denominations
STATISTICSFORGOVERNMENT

for the taking of church statistics be-
gan some time ago. The actual work,
however did not begin until a few days
ago. Preliminary notices were sent to
the church papers and magazines and
TO the bishops presiding elders, stated
clerks and other officials, asking for
their cooperation. II is intended that
the statistics shall show the condi-
ton Of the various churches and de-
nominations during the year 1906. Will
liam c. Hunt, chief statstician Of pop
ulation in the Bureau Of the Census, is
in charge of the work.
First Census in 1890.
The first religious census was taken
in 1890. On March 6. 1902. Congress
passed an act providing that such a
census should be taken every ten years.
The present one is the first under the
Jaw of 1902. The Inquiries this time
cover the same ground as in 1890. with
The addition Of items relating to the
date when the church was establish
ed, the amount OF church Indebtedness,
number and salaries of the ministers.
number and value Of parsonages, the
language in which the service is con-
Quoted. the distribution Of communi-
cants according TO sex and the statis-
Tics of the Sunday school. The other
questions relate to the number of
church edihces. the seating capacity
the value of church property, the num-
ber Of commuhicants or members. In
connection with the regular statistics
Of each denomination, a statement pre-
pared by leading authority Of that
church. concerning its history. doc
trine, polity and work, will be publish
ed
The Bureau Of Census has been at
work for some time securing lists Of the
churches of the various denominations
from the general or divisional officers.
Already it has sent card schedules to
a number Of church organizations. The
term church organization is used rc
designate what is variously called a
church, a congregation, a society or a
meeting It is meant to embrace not
only church proper, but also a mis-
sion, station or chapel when IT is sep
arate from church and is separately
organized.
Schedules Being Sent Out.
The card schedules are being sent TO
the general or divisional officers, as the
bishop Of the diocese. the presiding ell
der the stated clerk Of the presbytery
or the Chassis. the secretary of the as
ISOLATION They are requested to for
ward them to the churches within their
jurisdiction. The object is that these
officials may have an opportunity to
see whether any Of their churches have
been left out and that they may make
such changes or additions as may be
necessary. The schedule card, after be-
Ing filled out by the pastor or officers
Of the various churches, are returned
direct to the Bureau of the Census
Washington. Most Of the local church
officials have already received the card
schedules and are sending them TO the
pastors and church officials.
Church People Pleased.
The church people Of the country M
delighted at the prospect Of a census
being taken by the government. Fol
many years they have had to depend
upon the table collected by individuals
or church papers. These tables are
thought to be generally correct. but
many persons do not take the sam,
care in answering questions asked by
an individual or corporation without
authority that they do I'm answerinf
those asked by the Bureau Of the Cen.
sus. The churches want to take stool
of themselves. and the present ccnsu,
taken by the government viii give
them an opportunity 70 see exacttl
where they stand.
DR. H. X. Carroll, OF New York, hal
collected religious statistics for th'
Christian Advocate annually for a mum.
ber of years. His work has been pains.
taking and the figures are considered q
be practically correct The following
table gives the statistics for all tn
principal denominations and churches
of the country The report credits thl
Roman Catholic Church with 11.143,35I
members. The statistician. however
states that the figures are not the re-
suit of actual count but are derived
from estimates Of the Catholic popula
ton. It includes every baptized Cath
olic. The figures for the churche
which observe the rite OF confirmation
include only those who have been con
frmed. For the other churches the lis
OF. communicates is taken as the basil
for the number of members. The tabl
of statistics for 1906 is as follows;
Commu
Denominations Churches. nicants
Adventists C bodies) q. 2499 95,43
Baptists GA bodies) ..54,566 5,l40,71
Brethren. River G
bodies .............. 9S 4,23
Brethren, Plymouth a
bodies) ............. 3l4 500
Buddhist CChinese) e.. AZ .......
Buddhist and Shintoist
(Japanese) ....... .......
Catholics GO bodies) ...12.449 t1,1iS.45
Catholic Apostolic .. 10 1.49
Christadelphians ..... SO 1,27
Christian Connection. 1,340 101,59
Christian Catholic
(Dowie) ..-....-.... no 4p,Ou
Christian Scientists 49, 663 S0,l9
Christian Union ...... 26S 1850
church Of God CWine-
brennarian) ......... $50 fl,4f
Church OF the New Je-
rusalem ...-........ los Gus
Communistio Societies
6 bodies) ......... y a'ue
Congregationalists .... 5,943 694,s2
Disciples of Christ ....11,110 1,264,15
Dunkards a bodies) e.. l10O l2l,ls
Evangelical @ bodies).. 2'7s0 1888
Friends a hodies) 1,0l5 1870
Friends Of the Temple. "a
German Evangelical
Protestant .....-.... 100 zo'OV
German Evangelical
synod ...-....... AfA4t --oit-
Jews g bodies) ...... go l4'Oo
Latter Day Saints q
DOQleSl ..s....-ss--s Aso-o e''f"'