ARE THE CHURCHES LOSING GROUND?

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 8

ARE THE CHURCHES LOSING GROUND?

WHAT THE CENSUS SHOWS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND COMPARED Are the churches losing ground? A review of the question, from the tables of the last census, affords Interesting information, especially when New Zealand is compared with Australia. It seems to show that in both countries people are going to church in larger numbers than ever, but more so in Australia than here.

For every hundred people in New Zealand who profess some kind of religion, 42 claim Church of England belief, .24 Presbyterian. 13 Roman Catholic, and 9 Methodist. In Australia, there are 44 Anglicans, 22 Catholic 12 Presbyterian, and 12 Methodist to every 100 church-goers. Adherents of the Christian religion represent 95 per cent, of the population in New Zealand, and slightly more (97 per cent.) in Australia. The total number of persons in this category in the Dominion at the last census was 1.162,741. made up of 587,060 males and 575,681 females, showing an increase of 114,289, or 11 per cent, in five years. The record of the chief Christian denominations is as fol-

Eighteen denominations have less than a thousand adherents. Objections to state relieion numbered 38,591. while 3919 said they had no religion whatever, and 169 did not know what religion they belonged. It will be noted that the highest relative increase is shown by the .Salvation Army. There is a very slight preponderance of females in the principal denominations, which is easily understood, having, regard to the man-power lost in the war. Th? chief adherents to the nonChristian religions are Hebrews (2380) and ConTuclan (2100'' the latter showing, an increase of nearly 50 per cent. In Australia, Hebrews number 21,615. The number who objected to state their religious belief in the Commonwealth has declined from 83.003 to 46,268 in ten years. There are only four Hindu women listed in the returns in New ZeaAdherpnts to non-Christian religions have increased by 2-5 per cent, in New' Zealand in five years, while in Australia they have declined by three per cent. On the other hand th? persons having no belief have doubled in numbers in Australia, <whi|e they have declined 6 per cent. m New Zealand.

Churches Popular In America. Figures quoted here (writes Reuter’s Washington correspondent) show that within the last 12 months the religious bodies of the United States have gained 1,220,428 members over the preceding year. This is approximately 50 per cent, greater than the average annual growth for the preceding five years. The present membership of all religious bodies in the country is estimated at 47,461,558 persons, and the total “religious constituency” is placed at 98,878,367 persons. Church officials define constituency to mean all baptised persons. The membership of the chief religious bodies are as follows:—Protestant, 78,113,481 ; Roman Catholic, 18,104,804; Jews, 1,600,000.

lows;— Increase Church 1921 Census since 1916 per cent. Church of England 514,607 12 Presbyterian ... 299,545 15 Roman Catholic ... ... 163,303 9 Methodist .... 112,344 6 Baptist 19,926 *5 Salvation Army ... ... 11,591 16 Brethren ... 11,055 13 Church of Christ ... 8.640 •7 Congregational ... 7,977 *8 Seventh Day Adv. 2,224 decreases. 45 * Indicates