The New York herald., 1922-02-13
CHURCH BODIES GAIN
MILLION MEMBERS
That Is Estimated Increase in
Last Year, According to
Census.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Every day
during the last five years an average OF
2.173 persons Joined the churches of
America. During the same time an
average of three congregations has
been organized daily and the average
number joining the ministry has been
four and one-half persons a day.
These facts are brought to light by re-
ligious statistics for the United States
compiled by DR.. L. o. Watson, Washing
ton secretary of the Federal Council or
the Churches of Christ in America. The
figures show that the churches are
steadily overcoming their. war losses.
The total church membership of the
country. according to the latest available
figures, is 45,997,1s9. This is an in
crease of 4,070,345 over the 1916 census
figures and indicates a gain Of more
than a million members for the preced-
ing twelve months.
The various religious bodies report
233.104 congregations headed by 20o'o9O
ministers. This is a gainN of 5,617 con-
gregatlons and 1924 clergy over the
Government figures for 1916. While
there has been much talk of a shortage
of ministers, the increase in clergy has
been approximately so per cent. more
The 33,014 difference between ministers
and congregations does not indicate
corresponding shortage of pastors, as
many ministers, especially in the furai
districts have charge of two or more
churches.
Roman Catholic Figures.
or the 45,997.1s9 persons listed Of
.ficially as church members the Roman
Catholics have 17,SS5,6 ,646. Roman Cath-
olic figures represent estimated popula-
tion, including all baptized persons.
Protestant bodies count only communi-
cants.
The thirty bodies related to the Fed
eral Council of Churches have 1888, 10
members. They have total or i4z'4z
CONGREGATIONS manned by 1879 clergy
Their gain In membership over the pre-
cedine five years is 1,245.935. Their
total constituency is 55,S12.722. gain
of 3,44s6 61s over the 1916 census tgures;
The total religious constituency OF the
country Qncluding all members ana an-
herents) is placed at 10, ,ooo"o peIsoiiS'
Owing TO different statistical methods
~ various churches these figures are
estimated I'm accordance with studies
made by statisticians. On this compar-
a bile basis the constituency or the va
r;ous great bodies is as follows:
Protestants. 74,795, ,226; Roman Catho-
lies. 1855. .646 Jews, 1.120,000; Eastern
Orthodox Greek and Russian), 4ll,oof'
Latter Day Saints (Mormons), l,Sit.I'o.
OF the Jewish figures 100000 are esu-
mated. The Jewish bodies have differ
ont methods of reporting. some counting
only heads of families and others only
heads of families who also are pew
holders. Volume 22 of the American
Jewish Year Book estimates the Jewish
population of the United states at
$500, 900.
Advance All Along Line.
AS the churches report their statistics
as a whole 1t is practically impossible
to tell in what part of the country the
great gains have been made. Indie
tons are that the advance is all along
tho line. A specially significant growth
has been reported by the Southern Bap-
fists and Southern Methodists
For the first time the Baptists have
passed the Methodists in total member
ship, now having 7,s35, $50 members,
against n Methodist membership Of
7.797,991. The Lutheran bodies stand
third with 81 membership of 2,466,6i5 per-
sons and the Presbyterians are fourth
with 1854 ,6S3 members.
Practically all Of the major religious
faiths have madS gain except the
Unitarians, who show loss of $3.50
members. as compared with 1916 fig
ures. their total membership of last
year being 51,s35, and the Methodist
Protestant Church. which shows appar-
ently a loss of S,625 members for the
five year period. The Churches of God
ir North America, General Eldership,
with membership OF 1920. also show a
decrease of 2.406 members. The Roman
Catholics show n membership and ad-
herents gain of 3,s31 during the last
five years. They have 1850 churches
manned by 2l6I3 priests.
The Methodist Episcopal Church,