The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-31
FIGURES THAT DO NOT DEPREss.

The popular magazines have late
ly been opprest with the notion that
there is something wrong with the
churches. One of these has publish
ed symposium on the subject,
what is the Matter with the
Churches?" to which large number
OF prominent ministers have con-
tributed their answers. OF course
the replies are various, and most of
them contain or imply an admission
that something is wrong somewhere,
but the composite result is not un-
animous. The Western Methodist
Little Rock) retorts with story of
Benjamin Franklin who asked a
party of wise men why tub of wa
ter weighing, say, rs pounds, would
weigh no more If 10-pound fish
should be placed in it," This ques-
ton was learnedly discussed with all
possible pros and cons, after which
Franklin said: Gentlemen, are you
sure the tub will not weigh 10
pounds more?" This Methodist
journal takes up the role of Franklin
with the assistance of the recently is
sued bulletin of the United States
Census Bureau covering the religious
statistics of the country. 1t gives us
such fact and comment as this:
''The bulletin deals with member
ship figures and other figures only as
they apply to the United States
does not consider statistics of the
missions of the several churches in
other lands; and the bulletin covers
the years 1890-1906, sixteen years,
1905 being the latest year for which
the bureau had gathered statistics.
II the enterprising editor of The De-
lineator had seen this bulletin be-
forehand, he probably would not
have sent out his question.
Now, the census bulletin shows
that as a matter of fact the growth
of the churches Is considerably in ad-
vance of the growth of the popula-
ton. During the years considered
the population of the country in
creased 1913 per cent, while the
churches increased 60.4 per cent. In
1890 the churches held in their men,
bership 1927 per cent. of the whole
population; in 1906 they held 39.1
per cent. During the sixteen years
thO luCTSdSGu 900
per cent, and the value of church
property increased 85.1 per cent
The Roman Catholics made the heav-
lest gain, showing an increase of 93.5
per cent, while the Protestant bodies
showed an increase of 44.8 per cent.
The Catholics have been aided, of
course, immensely by immigration,
But more than one-half of all the re-
ligious organizations OF the country
are still in the hands of the Metho-
dists and the Baptists, to say nothing
of other Protestant denominations
This does not look like the churches
are dying. We might add that eight
new church-buildings per day are be-
ing added to the equipment of the
churches. The Manufacturers Rec
ord (Baltimore) has Just given out
the statement that during the first
ten months of the present year the
South has put $13,000,0OO into
church-buildings." r.
Another fact, we read, and one.
which may surprise some who have
been having SO much to say about
the dearth of preachers is that the
proportion of preachers to the num-
Der of members rose considerably
during the sixteen years." Further:
"In 1890 there was one preacher
for every 1876 members, while in
1906 there was one for every 139
members.
while we are on this subject of
church statistics, we will notice an
other phase. The Baptist brethren
are certainly doing we'll. The figures
show that taking all the Baptist bod
les together they have gained during
the sixteen years 52.5 per cent,
about twice the gain of the Metho-
dist bodies. The Baptist Watchman
thinks that these figures would indi-
cate that the Baptists are the largest
church in the country. We congratu-
late our Baptist brethren and wish
them mighty well. But they need
not to be too quick to assume that
they are the greatest body of Pro-
testants in this country. The facts
are that the Methodist Episcopal
church gained 33 per cent; the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
gained over 35 per cent; that these
two churches show an actual increase
during the sixteen years of 1,174,3O4,
against the actual increase of the
Southern Baptist Convention, the two
corresponding white churches, of