Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-09-08
M. E. CHURCH GAINS
OVER A MILLION
Rapid Growth of Church Shown by
Figures Compiled; Sunua,
Schools Show Loss.


OF 1,255.09l members has been made
BIZ all divisions of the Methodist
churches in the United States in the
past ten years, despite great losses
suffered BY the ! denominations dur
ing the war, according to statistics
compiled for presentation ia the de-
cennial Ecumenical Methodist Confer
ence which opens in London next
week. The figures compiled by the
Rev, Dr.. n. K. Carroll, of Plainfield,
N. j., former director Of the United
States census, were made public to-
day
Methodist Sunday schools in the
United States, however, the report
says, show net loss for the two
years 1918 and 1919, of 293,968, ian
appalling figure" although 1920 re-
tFrns indicate that "the lost ground
being regained." Notwithstanding
that Sunday school pupils Of the de.
nomination in this country were 200,
600 less in number in 1920 than in 10
is, the enrolment throughout the en-
tire world shows an increase of L.
189,036 Methodist pupils for the 10
year period.
1T is remarkably good showing
that American Methodism has to pre-
sent to the Ecumenical conference"
declared DR.. CAROLS statement.
Delegates representing nearly ST.
100000 Methodist members and adj
herents will be in attendance. We
can never forget that the past dec
ade includes the worst war in history
and that though our nation was an
active participant in it's battels for
only year and half, we suffered
with eur Allies its terrible effects.
"The year 1919 was the hardess
the churches Of America have ever
known, at least since the Civil War.
Methodism III most Of its branches
suffered, with the other evangelical
denominations, actual losses. The
Methodist Episcopal church suffered
most of all, losing 43,262 in 1918 and
5e,9S7 in 1919 or 103,249 in two
years, and the conditions were even
worse if we leave out our foreign
mission fields, for the net loss in A.
merica alone in 1919 was nearly TO-
900. The Methodist Episcopal chur-
CHI, South, lost 16,404 in that year. In
1920 the tide turned for all evangel-
ical churches, heavy gains succeeding
the losses.
considering the heavy losses in
previous years, it is remarkable that
the total net increase in members
and probationers of the Methodist
bodies Of the Western Section (Unit
ed States) has been 1,255,091, ex-
ceeding the increase of the previous
decade, 19OO-1910, by nearly $4,000.
The per centage Of increase is also
greater. For the decade ending in
1910 it was Is; for the past ten year
nearly IT,"
DR.. Carroll, in connection with the
fact that the number of itinerant
ministers of this church is 48,405,
representing a loss of 209 as compar
ed with a gain of 6,531 in 1910, for
the previous ten years, said: Ser
tainly, more ministers are needed
instead of fewer for a growing Meth
odism. What is the trouble? Is the
Methodist ministry less Attractive
than it used to be
In conclusion, DR.. Carroll said:
"1he net increase of Sunday school
pupils for all Methodist bodies Tin
the world) for the ten years, is L.
269,036. OF this handsome gain the
Methodist Episcopal church, the on
ly body of any name so far, as Ire
call, which has more scholars in Sun
day school than members in church,
gets the lions share, 1874 ,473. 1t al
so participates in the total increase
of officers and teachers of 55,705.
When it is remembered what a big
recruiting agency for school member
the Sunday school has become the
significance of the gains in the num-
Der of equipment and scholrs of this
institution is a hannv a11p11rv"