Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-25
.2,l73 A DAY
JOIN CHURCHES
Total Membership Now 1897, 199, An
Increase of 4,070,345 in
Five Years.

Every day during the last five
years an average of 2,173 persons
joined the various churches of Amer
lea, according to statistics given out
recently by DR.. +. o. Watson, Secre-
tary of the Federal Church of Christ
in America. During the same period
an average of three congregations
have been organized daily, and the
ministry has been increased by four
and half persons per day.
DIR. Watson reports that, accord
ing to the latest available figures,
the total church membership of the
country is 45,970,l99, representing an
increase of 4,070, 345 over the 1916
census figures. The Roman Catholic
leads the denominations in member
ship, its clergy reporting 17,sS5,646.
The various religious bodies report
233,l04 congregations, headed by
100000 clergymen.
"The thirty bodies related to the
Federal Council of Churches have 49,
933,1l MEMBERS" DR.. Watson says,
"They have total of l42.472 con-
gregations, manned by 1891 clergy.
Their gain in membership over the
preceding five years is l,2i5,935.
Their total constituency is 55,S12.722,
gain of 3,iIS,6lS over the 1916 CEN
sus figures.
Professionals Total 71,795.226
'The total religious constituency
of the country (including all MEM
bers and adherents) is placed at 95,-
S5S,096 persons. The constituency of
the various great bodies is as fol-
/ lows:
"Protestants, 7l,795, 226; Roman
Catholics, l7.Ss5,6i6; Jews, 100000;
Eastern Orthodox Greek and Rus
sian), 4ll,054; Latter Day Saints
(Mormons), l,656.l70.
"For the first time the Baptists
have passed the Methodists in total
membership, now having 1885, $50
members, against Methodist mem
bership of 7.797,99l. The Lutheran
bodies stand third, with a member
ship of 2,466,6I5 persons, and the
Presbyterians fourth with 1884 1888
members.
Practically all Of the major re-
/ ligious faiths have made gain ex-
cept the Unitarians, who show loss
of 30,SS0 members, as compared with
the 1916 figures. their total member
ship for last year being 1885; and
the Methodist Protestant Church,
which shows apparently loss of
1923 members for the five-year per-
iod. The Churches of God in North
America general eldership, with a
membership of 25,920, also show a
decrease of 2,456 members. The
Roman Catholics show membership
and adherents gain of 2,163,S3l dur
ing the last five years. They have
1880 churches manned by 2l,643
priests.
The Methodist Episcopal Church
! (North) reports an increase in MEM
ship of 220,S70 over the 1916 figures,
and 62,595 members over last year,
its present membership being $685.
655. 1t is the largest single protes-
tant communion. The Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, shows a
great gain Of 91,315 members for the
preceding year, with an addition of
23l 1888 over the 1916 figures, its total
now being 2,346,O67. The Protestant
Episcopal Church has recovered its
war loss, and now shows a gain of
II, POS over the 1916 figures, of which
7,l3A were reported last year. Its
total membership is l,104,0 29 persons.
An interesting fact is that the Sal
walton Army, with a reported mem
bership of $1,000, shows an increase
of only Go persons over five years
ago.
Baptists Gain 1887
"The combined Baptist bodies show
gain of 6Sl 1897 persons over the
/ figures of 1916. The National Bap-
fists (Colored) show an increase of
/ l77.746. Fourteen other Baptists
bodies show loss of 1857. The
Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, re-
port a membership of 587fi91S, an in
crease of 10000 over the 1916 CEN
sus figures.
The last available figures regard
ing membership of the various de-
nominations and their gains during
the last five years are as follows:
congregational churches, Sl9,225,
gain 27,951: Presbvterians. L. 5. A.
(North), i.722,36l, gain lll,liO;
Presbyterians, L. ). (South), 397,05~,
gain 39,2s9: United Presbyterian
Church of n. A., 160,52S, gain 1873;
Reformed Presbyterian Church of n.
A., General Synod, 2,400, gain Ia; So
ciety of Friends Orthodoxy, 96,i35,
gain 1856; Disciples of Christ, l,210,-
O23, gain l6,0O5; Evangelical Synod
of North America, 274,S60, gain 64,-
1893; Evangelical Association, 100000,
gain 1924; Seventh Day Baptists,
s,044, gain 81; Christian Church
Cnupanfinnl