New Britain herald., 1922-02-13
CHURCHES GAIN 2l73
 MEMBERS EACH DAY
Less Than Hall the People Of
 America Are Church Members

Washington Feb, 13.-Every day during the last five years an average Of 2,l73 persons joined the various churches of America. During the same time an average of three con- gregations have been organized daily and the average number joining the ministry has been four and one half persons per day.
 These facts are brought to light py religious statistics for the lNlted States/compilcd by Dr. F.. O. Watson, Washington secretary of the Federal Council Of the Churches of Christ in America The total church member ship of the country, according to the latest available figures, is 45,997, 19s, an increase Of 4,o70,345 over the 1916 census figures and indicates gain of more than a million members for the preceding l2 months.
 The various religious bodies report 2s3,104 congregations headed by 2oo,- 0s0 ministers. This is gain Of b. 617 congregations and SPA clergy over the government figures for 1916 While there has been much talk of a shortage of ministers the increase Tn clergy has been approximately Do per cent more than the increase in the congregations.
 Of the 45.997,19s person listed of- fcialy as church members. the Ro- man Catholics have 17,ss5,646. Ro- man Catholic figures represent estl- mated population including all bap- tized persons. Protestant nodleS count only communicants.
 The total religious constituency of the country Gncluding all members and adherents) is placed at s5,s5S,o9e persons, as follows; Protestants, I4,- 795,22s: Roman Catholics. 17SS5,- e4s; Jews, 1,12o,o0o: Eastern ortho- dox (Greek and Russians), 4ll,o54; Latter Day Saints (Mormons), l,o4o,- 17o.
 For the first time the Raptists have nassed the Methodists in total mem bership. now having 7,s35,25o mem hers. against a Methodist member ship of 7,797,991. The Lutheran bodies stand third with membership of 2,46s,645 persons, and the Pres hyterians are fourth with 2,3s4,6S; members. The Methodist Episcopal church (North) reports an increase in mem hership of 62,595 members over last wear its present membership being 3,936,S55. The Methodist Eplscopa Church (South) shows a great gan of al.315 members for the precedin! wear, it's total now being 2,S46,o67 The Protestant Episcopal church shows gain of 7,134 last year US total membership is 1,104,o29 per sons An interesting fact is that the Salvation Army with Il reported mem bership of 35,969 shows an increase of only s5 persons over five years ago
 The combined Baptist bodies show gain of 6S1 ,937 persons over the fig- ures of 1916.
 The last available figures regarding membership of the various deho,il- nations and their gains during 1he last five years are as follows;
 conrregationa churches, S19,22o, gain 27,951; Presbyterians U. $. A (North) 1,722.361, gain l,llo; ires- hvterians U. $. (South) S97,oos, gam so2so: United Presbyterians church of N A. 16,52S, gain 19S; Reformed presbvterian church in N. A., ten eral synod, 2,4oo, gain IA Society oi Friends (Orthodox), 96,lSe' gam 75s. Disciples of Christ, l.2lo,o2", gain 1e.O05; Evangelical synod ol North America, 274S60, gain of'sSa Evangelical Association, lbo,ooo' Eal' op44. Seventh Day Baptists, so44 cain GA: Christian church (Amerlca' Christian Convention) 97,OS4, gali 9l658; United Lutheran churcn tor p, nized within five year perlod iroh . eroup of Lutheran churches), ''l'- aoo. primitive Methodists. lo,9Sb gain, 1883; Moravians tt'nitas fra. trump S1,767. gain 5,S94 Reformed Episcopal church, l3,o22, gain l'si- Reformed Church in Amerlca So'' s34. gain 9,295; Reformed Church IT The United States 33l,369, gain 'S' on5. Christian Reformed church 4''. 900 gain 5,2S4; Church of the lnlteo Rrethrcn in Christ 364,22a, gain l',' 4N1. | nlteu ISNaHStllNdl al ''''' - - oos. gain S22; National Baptist con yention (coored) 3,ll6.S25, gar IF 74s. African Methodist Episcopa church (CoIored) 551,766, gain ".4l T. African Methodist Episcopal Zion 412,s2s, gain 155,15s; Co'ored Metho dist Episcopal church in Amer'ci 245,749. ,
 The membership Of some o' tn' better known smaller bodies IS as 'o' lows.
 Social Brethren 950. Society ot Fun ,caj Culture 3,210, Spirituallsts los, Ss7. Theosophical Society 62' INV Jniyersalists 5S.5G6; Bahais 2,SS4 Adyentists tnve bodies) 1S6,2SS' AT menian church 27.45o, Church ot th' New Jerusalem tSwedenborgian two bodies) s,oS7, Friends Cou' bodies) t17,23o, Volunteers of Ameri ca, 1O.2oo.