Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-08-29

study of but one side Of the subject No one pro-
perly informed will dispute that England (includ-
ing Canada) and America are the leaders in all
those things which have an influence for the en-
lightenment and elevation of the human race.
AS to the non Christian beliefs of the people
of the United States. let us see, perhaps figures
will give us an insight. Andrew Carnegie, the
prime figure in the worlds peace movement is a
Christian an ardent financial church supporter and
regular church attendant. The presidents of this
country have nearly all been Christians and reg
ular church attendants, and many of the leading
men of the nation have been Jealous Christians.
Mr.. John Wanamaker. former postmaster general
has for fifty years been superintendent of the
largest Sunday school in this country and
the second largest in the world. At the present
time our president. vice-presdent, secretary of
state, and other cabinet officials, are men who are
and have been active in church work, and their
efforts to restore peace in Mexico along lines
of Christian justice is approved by Germany,
France, all of South America. and even Japan.
Most of the Protestant churches have been
organized within the last three hundred fifty
years, and their greatest growth and expansion
dates no farther back than two hundred years.
At this time, in the United States alone. the
Baptists have an active membership of 8, 800, 900,
the Congregationalists 2.52O,OOO, the Presbyter-
ians 600 600, the Methodists g. I46 900, the Nor
mons 450, 900, or total of ID no 600 regular COM
municants. To this sum should be added about
three million more who make up the membership
of more than dozen other churches, and an
other fifty per cent of the total membership for
those who attend either regularly or occasionally
some one of the churches and give to them finan-
cia support. making total of 27,7l0,000 active
supporters in the United States nearly all of
whom are adults To this number should be adj
ded large part of the membership of the young
peoples organizations and members of the Sun
day schools which, in many of the churches, are
not inclued in the church membership.
1t must not be overlooked that the Methodist
church has been organized only 1876 years. vet
has over 5000. 900 active members. thouands of
church buildings, schools. hospitals. printing
plants and some 2, 400 missionaries in every hea-
then land on che globe. Another new organization
is the Latter Day Saints, whick has been organ
lied but IS years, has Membership of 45O.0
and approximately 1000 missionaries.
Another church organization is that Of the
Christian Endeavor, or young peoples organiza
tion, non-sectarian. and affiliated with a majority
of the Protestant churches. 1t was organized in
1881. and by 1896 had been endorsed by thirty
two Christian denominations. had 43. $40 organi-
kotiOuo Will q uicAUucISHipO VI A,OOVyVVOs
doubt the growth of these fifteen years is indies
putable evidence of the spread of Christianity
in the United States.
The first American Sunday School Conven-
ton, held at Baltimore in 1875, according to re-
ports filed by the several denominations repre-
sented. there were in the Sunday schools of the
country 6,543, TAB. AT the 1905 convention at
Toronto. Canada. the number in the Sunday
schools had increased to 13 200 LA, in the United
States. or an increase of more than 100 per
cent in the brief period of thirty years.
Allowing but little for the growth of church
organizations within the last four or five years. it
will be seen from the above figures that more
than 80 0O0 600 people in thiscountry actively
supporting the cause of Christianity. There are
hundreds of thousands of others who lend their
moral support to the work although not denti-
fed in anv visible manner with any church or
ganization
In view of these amazing changes in recent
years. it seems impossible that any one would
say that this country in pon- Christian On the
other hand. it should be plain that the great re-
forms of recent years have been due to the ac-
tivity of religious workers. Never in all the his
tory of the world has there been such harmony
of action by the forces of righteousness in this