The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-25
HALF OUR PEOPLE
BELONG TO NO
CHURCH
Figures From Religious Census
Of United States
NON CHURCHMEN IN MAJORITY
Catholics Strongest in Sixteen States
Professionals in Twenty-Five and
Mormons in One

Washington, Aug. 25.-That the
church members in the United States
numbered nearly thirty-three millions
In 1906 that there was a billion and
quarter dollars invested in church
edifices; that every day eight new
churches sent their spires skyward:
that males formed considerably less
than half the total church member
ship; that larger percentage of
! Catholic males than Protestant males
were members; that In Is states the
majority of the total church member
ship were Roman Catholic; but that
of the grand total of church members
reported for the United States Gle
per cent were Protestants and 36.7
per cent were Roman Catholics; these
are the salient and conspicuous facts
appearing in the proof sneets of
| United States census bureau bulletin
prepared by Chief Statistican VIII
| liam c. Hunt of the division of popu-
lation. of the United States census bur
eau
The bulletin will be issued this
month II is in the nature of an alb
stract of the comprehensive report,
now in press, giving the results of the
| fifth census of religious bodies in the
| United States.
1t is stated that United States cen
sus statistics of churcn membership
! by sex We're collected for the first
time in 1906. OF the total number of
members reported by the various re-
ligious bodies and classified by sex,
49, per cent were males and $50 per
cent females Among the Prote stants
the difference was greater. only 1873
per cent being males. In the Roman
Catholic churches there were relative
ly more males. the number forming
49, per cent of the total membership.
Fewer males than females were
found among the Latter-day Saints
the Luehtrans. Disciples, Methodists,,
Baptists. Presbyterians and Protes-
tant lGpiscopalians, the percentages of
male members decreasing in the or
der shown, and there being but 35.5
per cent male among the Episcopal
ians. Among the Christian Scientists
only 27.6 per cent were males and Of
the Shakers but 21.3 per cent but in
the Greek Orthodox church, 1919 per
cent were male as practically all
Greek immigrants have been males.
OF the total estimated population of
continental United States in 1906. the
cnurch members formed 391 per cent
as against 1927 per cent for 1890,
amounting to GA per cent more in
1906 than in 1890. or this GA per
cent Increase the Roman Catholic
church is credited with A per cent
and the Protestants with is per cent
the remainder being divided among
all other denominations.
It is stated in the bulletin that the
total number Of members reported by
the various religious bodies for 1906
was 32,y36,li5 of which number the
Protestants were credited with 20.2S7,
ZAP and the Roman Catholics with
l2,079,142. OF the Protestant bodies
the Methodist numbered 5,749,S3S;
the Baptists $3.50 ,234; the Lutherans,
2,112,A94; the Presbyterians 1,S30555
and the Disciples or Christians, LAP.
$50.
OF the total-of 32,936.445 church
members GIG per cent were Protes-
tants; 36.7 per cent Roman Catholics,
and IL per cent members of other re-
ligious organizations. The rate of in
crease shown for the Roman Catholic
church is 93.5 per cent. which is more
than twice that for all the Protestants
combined. The Metnodists reported
l7.5 per cent of all Protestant church
members; the baptists 17.2 per cent
The total number of religious or
CARNATIONS in 1906 is given at 2l2.230 |
an increase since 1890 Of 47,079, or |
2S.5 per cent. The Protestants are |
credited with an increase in this par
ticular amounting to 27.S per cent |
the Roman Catholic church 2l.9 per |
cent; the Jewish congregations 231.9
per cent; and the Latterday Saints
1888 per cent.
The Methodists reported the largest
number of local organizations 64,701;
the Baptists reported $3.50; the
$500; the Lutherans,
12,7O3, and the Roman Catholics 12,-
1872
other interesting features of the
bulletin are those showing that the
total seating capacity of churches was
IS, 536. $50. an increase over the 1890
United States census figures of 344
per cent: that the rate of increase
was practically the same for both
and Roman Catholics and
kept pace with the increase in popula-
ton; and that $1,257,575,S67 was in
vested in church edifices in 1906. The
total amount of debt was sos, 050,946
or So per cent. of the total value; of
this total the Protestant bodies owed
$50, 301 ,254 and the Roman Catholics
$40, 4SS. 055 In 16 States a majority
Of the church members were Roman
Catholic: in 30 states. Protestant;
and in /, Utah, Latter-day Saints.
The figures show that in 20 states
a majority of the members belonged
to Protestant bodies; in 16 states, to
rae Roman Catholic church; and in
state, Utah, to the Latter-day Saints
The states and territories for which
a majority of Roman Catholic mem
bers were reported, with their respec-
tive percentages, are: New Mexico,
SS.7; Rhode Island, a. Montant, 731;
69.2; Nevada, 66'7;
&C.,; New York, $50; New
So; Louisiana. 61.9; Con
necticut, 500; California, 5S; Yer