El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-08

, these schools. This IS by far the
! greatest number in any country in the
I world. and il represents a growth in
J scholars more than double that Of the
Z growth in church members. It is from
sunday schools that churches get
Z largest numbers Of new mem bers
I Hence the growth OF church members
I in the near future is expected 10 be
Z large
] schools are the following: No fewer
than $4,000 children belong to schools
that are not connected with any
churches. A very large proportion Of
4 scholars are not the children Of church
members. but they come from homes
where parents never 20 to church on
Sundays. while millions OF sons and
Q daughters Of church members do not
go to any schools. The same IS true
OF mems and womeu's Bible classes.
These classes are rarely ATTENDED by
members Of the churches in which
they are conducted, but are made up
OF strangers, and nonchurch attend
s1.676. GOO.5S2 Invested.
The American people have $3.50
600.5S2 invested IN church buildings,
according to government appraisals-
This is an increase OF SS-3 per cent
in the decade ending in 1915. Bodies
making big new investments Include
in largest amounts the Catholic, Meth
odist. Episcopal and Presbyterian. The
figures do not cover parish houses
and parsOnages, hospitals or converts.
The most valuable plot in America.
used for church purposes. IS that at
the head Of Wall street. New York.
occupied by Trinity church and the
cemetery surrounding It The city OF
New York, for tax emption purposes,
puts the value at SIS. 100000. although
nobody supposes IL would not bring
-
market The next most valuable plot
is that OF st. PauFs chapel in the
same city. at Broadway and Fulton
street, which New York city tax COM
missioners think 70 be worth $780,
600. There is being put into the ca
York. the sum OF S10.00O.000. but so
far only about half that sum has been
invested However. the site alone IS
now held 10 be worth the large amount
named
Gets Ss15 100000 Yearly.
IN the census just taken for 1918 the
government for the first time inquired
the. amount OF money the American
people give annually 70 maintain and
extend Christian causes. The govern
ment arrives at S328. sos. 600 for the
year named Careful estimates make
the amount considerably larger, how
ever, or s415.OO0.00 600, for large sums
are annually put into parish houses
into education under church control.
and into gifts to churches that are
not recorded in official reports.
The largest churches IN the world
are in New York, and not in Rome,
Paris. London or even Moscow This
statement does not cover cathedrals,
but parish churches, and they are
largest in amounts Of money invested.
IN money given annually TO maintain
them. in numbers OF members, and in
gifts TO causes beyond their own Dor
ders- They are also largest in salaries
paid TO their ministers. Episcopal and
Presbyterian churches IN New York. I
outside Of themselves s. for each 81
expended on their own church work I
This IS true OF no other churches in I
the world. Ministerial salaries in /!
London, even including the church Of I
England, and outside Of grants made Z
to ministers, but which 90 on TO other ]
stipendiaries, are $4,000 20 $4,000 q 1
extreme. In New York there are a
dozen ministers receiving $4,000 a I
year, with many additional gifts. and
large numbers receiving $1,000 to $40 l
900. The money IS for the sole bene-
fit OF the recipient. and IS not ex-
pected 10 pay the salaries OF assist /
ants
Plan Big Drive.
Churches have caught the prevailing /
fever OF the financial drive. and as
in the case Of other causes. they scOrn I
TO consider thousands. and talk only I
Of millions. a drive OF churches for
s10,000.0O0 Is on during the week OF
February g, to be used for war pur-
poses and the rebuilding OF ruined
churches in France. II is quite out |
side OF any y IT, c. A. or X Of c .