The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-14
Religious Statistics
For United States

during the last five years an average
Of 2,173 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 by
religious statistics for the United
States compiled by DR.. E. o. Watson,
Washington secretary of the Federal
Council of 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 figure is 49,
997, ,193. This is an increase of d.
67O,345 over the 1916 census figures
and indicates gain of more than a
million members for the preceding IL
months.
The various religious bodies report
Z33 ,1O4 congregations headed by 200,-
600 ministers. This is a gain of 5,617
congregations and 1924 clergy over
the government figures for 1915.
While there has been much talk of a
shortage of ministers the inclease in
clergy has been approximately so per
cent more than the increase in the
congregations. The 1904 difference
between ministers and congregations
does not indicate a corresponding
shortage of pastors, as many minis
ters, especially in the rural districts,
have charge of two or more churches.
Of the 45,997,199 persons listed Of
ficially as church members, the Roman
Catholics have 1885, GAG. Roman
Catholic figures represent estimated
population including all baptized per-
sons. Protestant bodies count only
communicates.
The 80 bodies related to the Fed
eral Council of Churches have 49,
933,115 members. They have total
of l42,472 congregations manned by
113,761 clergy. Their gain in men,
bcrship over the preceding five years
is 1,245,935. Their total constituency
is 55,812,722, a gain of 3,448,618 over
the 1916 census figures.
The total religious constituency of
the country (including all members
and adherents) is placed at 95, 1853, ,096
persons. Owing to different statisti-
cal methods of the various churches
these figures are estimated in accord
ance with studies made by statisti-
clans. On this comparable basis the
constituency of the various great
bodies is as follows:
Protestants 74,795,226; Roman
Catholics 17,885,646; Jews 100000;
Eastern Orthodox (Grek and Russian)
All ,054; Latter Day Saints (Mor-
mons) 1,646,17O.
Of the Jewish fgures-4OO,O00 are
estimated. The Jewish bodies have
different methods of reporting, some
counting only heads Of families and
others only heads Of families who are
also pew holders. Vol. % of the
American Jewish Year Book estimates
the Jewish population of the United
States at 100000.
AS the churches report their stats
tics as whole it is practically i'm
possible to tell in what part Of the
country the great gains have been
made. Indications are that the ad-
vance is all along the line. A special
ly significant growth has been report
ed by the Southern Baptists and
Southern Methodists.
For the first time the Baptists have
passed the Methodists in total men,
bership, now having 7,835,250 MEM
.bers, against Methodist membership
Of 7,797,99l. The Lutheran bodies
stand third with membership of g.
466,645 persons and the Presbyterians
are fourth with 1884, ,6s3 members.
Practically all of the major religious
faiths have made a gain except the
Unitarians, who show loss of 3O88O
members as compared with 1916 fig
ures, their total membership of last
year being 51,635; and the Methodist
Protestant Church which shows ap-
parently a loss Of 1925 members fer
the five-year period. The churches of
God in North America, General Ell
dership with membership of 25,920
| also show decrease Of 2,456 men,
bers. The Roman Catholics show a
membership and adherence gain OF
2,163,831 during the last five years.
They have 1850 churches manned by
FL ,643 priests.
The Methodist Episcopal Church
| (North) reports an increase in MEM
bership of 22O,s7O over the 1916 fig
ures and 62,595 members over last
year, it's present membership being
?,938,655. It is the largest single
Protestant Communion. The Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, shows a
great gain of 91,315 members for the
preceding year with an addition of
231 ,588 over the 1916 figures, its to-