South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-04
METHODISM GROWS
IN MEMBERSHIP,
LOSE MINISTERS
Church Strength Increases
l,255,O9l in Decade-Sun-
day Schools Suffer.

CHICAGO, Sept. 3.-A net gain OF
l255, O9l members has beet made by
all divisions Of the Methodist church
in the United States in the past 10
years. despite great losses suffered by
the denominations during the war
according 10 statistics compiled for
presentation 70 the decennial ecu
menical Methodist conference which
opens in London next week. The fig
ures, compiled by the Rev. DR.. II. X.
Carroll Of Plainheld, y. J.. director
OF the United States census, were
made public here today.
Methodist Sunday schools in the
United States. however, the report
says. show a net loss for the two
years, 1918 and 1919, CT 293,96S, "an
appalling figure" although 1920 re-
turns indicate that 1.-THE lost ground
/ is being recained." Notwithstanding
that Sunday school pupils of the de-
nomination IN this country were
100000 less in number in 1920 than
in 1918, the enrolment throughout
the world shows an increase Of l.
2S9.03 Methodist pupils for the 10
year period
Suffered I'm 1919.
1T IS a remarkably good showing
that American Methodism has TO pre-
sent 10 the ecumenical conference. 4"
declared Or. CAROLS statement.
Delegates representing nearly 81
600. 900 Methodist members and ad-
herents viii be in attendance. We
can never forget that the past de
cade includes the worst war in his
tory and that. though our nation was
an actual participant in it's battles
for only a year and a half, we suf-
fered with our allies its terrible eff
fects.
The year 1919 was the hardest
the churches Of America have
known, at least since the Civil war.
Methodism in most of its branches
suffered, with the other evangelical
denominations, actual losses. The
Methodist Episcopal church suffered
most Of all, losing 1882 in 1918 and
50, 987 in 1919-1O3.249 in two years
and the conditions were even worse
if we leave out foreign missions
fields, for the net loss in this coun-
try alone in 1913 was nearly 10000.
The Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, lost 16,4O4 in that year. In
1920 the tide turned for all evangel-
zeal churches, heavy gains succeed
ing the losses.
Fewer Ministers.
Considering the heavy losses in
the previous two years. it is remark
able that the total net increase in
members and prObationers Of the
Methodist bodies of the western sec
ton Omitted States) has been 1853
091. exceeding the increase of the
previous decade, 19OO-191O. by nearly
$4,000. The percentage of increase
is also greater. For the decade end
ing in 1910 it was Is; for the last 10
years, nearly IT,"
DR.. Carroll, in commenting on the
fact that the number of itinerant
Methodist ministers. 4S,4O5, repre-
sented a loss of 209 as compared
with a gain of 6.531 in 1910 for the
previous 10 years. said: Certainly
more ministers are needed instead OF
fewer for growing Methodism
What is the trouble? Is the NIetho-
dist ministry less attractive than il
used TO be?"
in conclusion, Dr. Carroll says:
THE net increase of Sunday school
pupils for all Methodist bodies Gin
the WORLD for the ten years is l.
2S9,036. OF this handsome gain
the Methodist Episcopal church. the
only body Of any name, so far as
recall which has more scholars In
Sunday school than members in
church. gets the lions share-S34
473. It also participates in the total
| increase of officers and teachers OF
55.7O5. When It is remembered
what a great recruiting agency for
church members the Sunday school
| has become the significance of the
gains in number, equipment and
schols Of this institution is a happy
augury."