Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-08
NOTABLE INCREASE
RELIGIOUS GROWTH
FASTER THAN POPULATION IN
PRINCIPAL CITIES, SAYS
CENSUS BUREAU.

Washington, May 31.-Much greater
than the rate of increase in the popu-
lation of the principal cities between
1900 and 1906 was their gain In the
number OF religious organizations and
communicates or members, according
to part l of the special United States
report on the census of religious bod
les for 1906, now in press. It is stat
ed that, fer the area outside these cit
les, the rate OF increase in the num-
Der of organizations was approximate
~ the same as the rate of increase
in population and in the number of
eommunieants or members it was
considerably greater.
In the general tables and the textu-
al discussion in the report the ITO
principal cities those having $4,000
Inhabitants or more in 1900, we're di-
vided into four classes, according to
population; IL cities of the first class,
having over S60G6G population, 81
cities of the second class, having
from 100000 to 100000 inhabitants;
40 cities of the third class, from So
GOO to 100000 population; and 80 cit
les of the fourth class, having from
$4,000 to $4,000 inhabitants.
The Most Notable increase.
The report declares that, among the
different classes of cities, the first
class showed the most notable in
crease, more than doubling the num-
Der of organizations and communi-
CAMS; the third and fourth classes
followed closely; while the second h1d
much lower rate. Outside the prin-
cipal cities the rate of increase was
even less.
The number of communicates or
members in each 1000 of population
in 1906 was. for the principal cities.
469; for the whole ountry, 391, and
for the sections outside of the prin-
cipal cities, 1863. The ratio of COM
munieants to population was consid-
erably greater for the principal cit
les than for the country as a whole.
Comparing the different classes of cit
les it appears that the ratios for cit
les of the first and second classes
We're considerably smaller than for
the other two classes. As compared
with 1890 the report shows a gain of
90 communicates in each 1000 of
population for the principal cities, and
of 81 outside of them Among the
different classes of cities, the largest
gain, 106 communicates per 1000
population, was found in the cities of
the third class The smallest gain
was in those of the first class and
the next smallest in the second class.
The Reason for High Ratios.
1t is affirmed by the report that the
high ratios of communicates or mem
bers to population shown for the prin-
cipal cities, as compared with the
area Outside those cities, are due
chiefly to the greater strength of the
Roman Catholic church in the cities;
and the greater proportionate increase
in communicates or members between
1890 and 1906 shown for these cities
is said also to be largely due to the
same cause. The report observes
that the fact that in 1906 the number
of principal cities was larger by So
than in 1890, and that in addition,
during the 16-year interval, a consid-
cradle territory had been annexed to
various cities, augments to a notice
able extent the rates of increase for
the principal cities and diminishes the
rates of increase for the area outside
these cities. 1t is said that the latter
fact does not materially affect the
changes between 1890 and 1906 in
the ratios of communicates or mem
bers TIC population.
There were 4,0S2, 039. or 32 per
cent more female than male members
in continental United States in 1906.
While in the principal cities the ex-
cess of female members was proper
tionately less, being 960,526, or PCS
per cent. Comparing the different
classes of cities, it appears that in
those Of the first class the excess of
female over male members was only
lS per cent; in the second class.
2S.9 per cent. in the third class 25S
per cent; in the fourth class 81 per
cent: and outside of these cities 35.o
per cent 1t is stated that the greater
of males in the principal
cities is largely due to the greater
strength of the Roman
church in these cities.