Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-08-17
Presbyterian Churches Show
Membership Gain.


Membership Gain.
Presbyterians particularly, and
other denominations generally, will
be interested in the fact that this
state stands fourth in membership in
the Southern Presbyterian church in
the Is states comprising that organi.
cation and is outranked by North
Carolina, Virginia and Texas. Prob.
ably no synod is better organized
This and other interesting facts are
available in the minutes of the meet
ing of the general assembly held re-
Gently in St. Louis.
In South Carolina there are 32,911
members, a gain of 1858 in ten
years; just about 80 per cent. There
were received into the church on pro-
fession of faith last year LOAF per-
sons or about five to every 100 mem
bers. The Sunday school enrolment
was 26,555 or 80 to each 100 mem
bers, the largest ever reported.
The receipts for benevolent causes
amounted to $456,7S6 or about s13.-
81 per capita. This is well above the
average Of the church as a whole.
The total gifts to all causes amount
edto s1,049,183 or s31.S4 per capita,
the largest amount eve contributed.
In 1911 they gave to all causes only
l$12.11 per member.
The report shows that the year just
closed was the best the church ever
had. The membership incrasd 25,542
in the entire Southern Presbyterian
church, making the total now 397,-
O58. There were six persons received
into the church on profession of faith
for every hundred members of the
church or a total of 24,369. The Sun
day schools showed an increase of
1892. There are now SO members
Of the Sabbath school for every hum
dred members, while ten years ago
there were 50 Sunday school mem
bers per hundred church members.
The receipts for the designated
causes such as foreign missions, home
missions, Christian education, orphan
ages, ministers relief, etc., were
$50 or s12.43 per member.
Last year the receipts were $685.
76O or $3.50 per member. This is
said to be the best record of any
church in this country. The total re-
ceipts for the year for all causes
amounted to s12,124,s91 or s30.5S
per member as against S9,236,S36 or
S24.5a per member last year. Church
memb ers state that they do not ex-
pect the receipts for benevolent
cause to be affected by the financial
depression as their experience has
been that the designated benevolent
causes and the salaries. of the pastors
of the church are things that the
members consider just as they con-
slider food and clothing or other ne
cessities.
The report brings out that the re-
newed activity of the laymen of the
church is giving the ministers great
hope for the church. The reports
show an increased attendance at
prayer meetings and less difficulty
in securing men to do much of the
church work that formerly fell on
the minister.
Another feature of the church re-
port of special interest shows that
there are $1,000 persons who practice
tithing; that is pay into the church
one-tenth of their income. This is
the first year. this report has been
made and as many of the church did
not give the numbers it is thought
that there are at least one fourth
more than the figures would indicate.
The report is very interesting not
only to members of the Presbyterian
denomination but to others who like
to study church statistics.-Cheraw
Chronicle.