Evening journal., 1922-02-15
CHURCHES gain
2,l73 EACH DAY
Federal Council Census Fig
ures Show 4,O7O,345 In
crease in Five Years
100000 PASTORS
IN THE PULPITS

WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-Every /
day in the last five years an aver
age OF 2173 persons Joined the var
ious churches Of America. In the |
same time an average OF three con-
gregations have been organized
daily.
These facts are brought to light
by religious statistics for the United
- States. compiled by DIT. f. o. Wat
son. Washington secretary OF the
Federal Council OF the Churches OF
Christ in America The figures
show that the churches are steadily
4 overcoming their war losses. The
total church membership Of the
country. according to the latest
available figures. is 45,997,l99. This
IS an increase Of 4,07O,345 over the
1916 census figures. and indicates a
gain OF more than a million mem
bers for the preceding twelve
months.
The various religious bodies re-
port 233.1O4 congregations, headed
by 200. O9O ministers. This is a gain
OF 56l7 congregations and 1924
clergy over the Government figures
for 1916.
OF the 45.ss7l99 persons listed
( officially as church members, the
Roman Catholics have lf,Ss5'646.
Roman Catholic figures represent
estimated population. including all
baptized persons. Protestant bodies
count only commandments.
The total religious constituency
OF the country. including all mem
hers and adherents. Is placed at
95.S5S.O96 persons. owing to DIFF
ferent statistical methods OF the
various churches. these figures are
estimated in accordance with stud
ies made by staiisticians. On TINS
comparable basis the constituency OF
the great bodies is as follows:
protestants. 74.795.226; Roman
Catholics. 17,SS5.646; Jews. i'12o'-
600. Eastern orthodox (Greek and
Russian). 411.054; Latter Day
Saints (Mormons), 1.646,l7o.
For the first time. the Baptists
bavo passcd the Methodists In total
membership. now having 7,S35,25O
members. against a Methodist mem
bership of 7.797.991. The Lutheran
bodies stand third, with a member.
ship Of 2.466.645 persons. and the
Presbytorians are fourth with
2.3S4.GS3 members.
Virtually all the major religious
faiths have made a gain except the
TTnitarians. who show a loss OF
I 30 $50 members as compared with
1916 figures. their total member
shin Of last year being 51.635. and
tn, Methodist Protestant Church,
. which shows apparently a loss OF
SECS members for the five-year per
iod Tho Roman Catholics show a
gain Of 2.163.S31 during the last FIVE
years. They have 1850 churches
manned by 21 .643 priests.
Tho Methodist Episcopal Church,
4 North. reports an increase in mem
4 bership Of 22O.S7O over the 1910
4 figures and 62.595 members over
Fl last wear. its present membership
being 3.93S.655. II is the largest
single Protestant communion. The
Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
4 shows a gain OF 91,315 members Tor
| the preceding year with an addition
OF 23t.5SS over the 1916 figures It's
total now being 2,346.o67.
The Protestant Episcopal Church
. shows a gain Of l1,2OS over the 1915
4 figures. Of which 7l34 were report
Cd last wear. It's total membership Is
10000 persons Tho salvation
4 Army. with reported membership
Of IS 900. shows an increase OF only
81 sixty-nve persons over FIVE years ago
Tho combined Baptist bodies
81 show gain Of 6S1.9 persons over
ID tho figures Of 1916. The Northern
81 Bantist Convention. with member
shin OF 1.253.S7S. apparently shows
n gain OF only 2173; but the eN-
planation must be made that in this
neriod 198 .S67 Missouri Baptists
Il formerly affiliated with the North
a ern Raptists Convention. transferred
their alignment TO the Southern Bap'
< tist Convention. which now has
2.1ea OO5 members. This was the
largest gain made by any single
communion
The last available figures regard
nr-membership OF the various de
nominations and their gains durine
Fl tho last five years are as follows:
CONGREGATIONAL Churches, S19,225i
gain 27.951: Presbyterians (North)
Il t22.361. gain 111.110; Presbyter.
f ians (south). 397.O5s, gain 39,2S9
"a United Presbyterian Church OF
& North America, 16O,52S, gain 19S
Reformed Presbyterian Church ir
North America, General Synod
-24OO. gain IA; Society OF Friends
(O-thodox), 96.135. gain 1856; Dis
n cipes OF ChfNst. 1.21O.023. gain 16.
OO5: Evangelical Synod OF Nortl
a -America, 274.S6O. gain 64.993; Evan
n gciical Association, 100, 900. gain 80.
A 24f
"A seventh Day Baptists. s044. gail
"A Z=Z=
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