RELIGIOUS SECTS IN AUSTRALIA.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7629, 22 January 1903, Page 2

RELIGIOUS SECTS IN AUSTRALIA.

Some interesting facts regarding the growth of the various religious denominations in Australia and New Zealand during the past thirty years may be gleaned from the new issue of Mr Coghlan's " Seveu States of Australia." Taking tbe tablrs for Australiasia as a whole, we find that the Church cf England is the strongest, both in actual number, of adherents and in the proportion that numbers bear to the total population. In Australia the membership cf the Church of. England in 1901 was 1,497,620 and in New Zealand 314,024- an increase of 853,130 and 206,783 respectively in thirty years. All the larger religious bodies, with one exception, show an increase in actual membership during the period under notice, but while some have increased in proportion to the XDopulation others show a filling off. Thus the Churoh of England, the Methodist Church, and the Baptist Church are relatively, as well as actually, stronger than in 1871, while the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian and the Congregational are relatively weaker. In other words, tha three former bodies have increased more rapidly than the other three. The actual increases are :—Church of England, from 39.1 to 40 5 per cent of the population of Australasia ; Methcdist Church, from 10.5 to 13.2 per cent ; and the Baptists from 2 to 2.4 per cent. Tha Roman Catholic Church baa receded from 23.1 to 216 per cent, the Presbyterian from 1? 6 to 13.5., and the Congregational from 2A to 18. The only prominent organisation wLich shows an ac'.ual fal ing off in membership is the Salvation Army, whosa numbers have decreased during the last ten years from 33,428 to 30,997 in Australia, and from 9383 to 7999 in New Zealand. The proportion of Jews in Australasia has remained stationary at 0.4 per cent of the (opul.tiofo, while minor denomina tions have dwindled since 1871 from 8.9 to 6.6. per cent- The Church of England is the strongest in Tasmania and New South Wales, but it leads in every State of the Commonwealth and in New Zealand. The Roman Catholic Church comes second in each State except South Australia and New Zealand, giving place in the former to tbe Methodist Church and in this colony to the Presbyterian. The Komaa Catholic Church is strongest in hew South Wales and weakest in New Zealand. This colony is the stronghold of the Presbyterian Church, while Methodism appears to flourish irost in South Australia, v, here 25 in every 100 of the population are Methodists.

St. Francis Xav'tr's seaside acadrny, situated at Sea'cr n, Wellington, offers special facilities for tb 3se wishing their cbildrfn to receive a sound education amidst the iresfc healthy surroundings. The United Farmers' Co-operative Association'e^tondon agen's cabled yestsday that C'Ossbred and fine wools are 5 per cent and medium and coatss wools 10 per cent dearer tha 1 they were at tbe las!: sales. The Government is evidently deternr.ned to divert all the goods traffic between the middle districts ot the island and Wellington to its own mountain tramway over the Riuiutaka. Extensive works", on the co-operative system, are now in progress on the Summit in order to provide big shunting accommodation. Tbe required space is bting obtained by excavating and filing in a large area. Ie is the intention of tbe Government to run live stock and dairy produce through by special goods trains, and break the journey of ordinary goods trains on. the SuixnuK All the members of the Msjeroni Dr jrnatic Company, with but few exceptions, are mating their fi-.s*; appearanco in Palmerstcn North at the Theatre Royal to-morrow (Fiida>) evening. j Tl.-ey are all artists of high standing, jai d have been specially engaged by Mr Mario and 2£r George M»jeroni for their tour of Au tralasitt, and tha phenomenal business done in this colony is a just compliment to the judgment of these young managers and the enterprise of Mr Ohar'es MacMahon, who is directing the New Zealand tour. It is questionable whether there is anything cf more importance to ladies or gentlemen either, than that proper care and treatment should be givtn to the face and hair whon necessity arises. When the bair commences to fall out it is certain thai some disease is the cause, and a specialist of known ability should be nonsuited if distressing results are to to bo avoided. Mr Chas. A!. Turner, Lambton Quay, Wellington, is a hair specialist of a high order, and as a dermatologist he i 3 now consulted by ladies from ail over the colony. People I suffering from facial disfigurements, Such a3 redness, roughness, pimples, eczema, or other blemishes, which aro quickly removable if a reliable specialist is called in, cannot do better than 6ecnre Mr Turner's advice. The success he has attained in his business is demonstrated by the fact that his waiting rooms aro always filled during business hours. A man is seldom a prophet in his own country, though in these days many gratiiying exceptions are to be noted, especially in the musical world. There is therefore some hope that the recital to be given by Mr Wesley Woolhouse, the well-known flautist, in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday next will bo well patronised. The quality of tho programme Bhou'd give enjoyment to the large nausjclovicg community of the town. Mr Woolhouse will be assisted by two pupils in a trio, and will himself contribute a piccolo solo " Voices of tbe Wood," a selection performed with great success on a previous occasion. A flute solo, " Svizero," has been specially arranged, for Mr Woolhouse by Mr Isherwood, and will bo one of the attractions of the concert. The O. chestral Society, under Mr M. Cohen's direction, will contribute two items, and Miss I. Oliver, of Fcilding, and Mr McKennao, will be the vocalists, Both j havo a great reputation iv this district,

Numbers of unemployed are said to be tiocking to Dun din froia Austraia. Their presence in the southern metro- ' polls is expected to prove euibara3s.ing during the coming winlor. On the app'ica'ion of Mr H. G. Moore, Judge Kotilo has granted probata of the wili ot tho late Joseph Gattsche to J. H. Gattfehe and J. 11. Kuch, the executor named in tho will. Is is stated on good authority that Messrs 11. acid W. Fletcher, a leading London firm of umfc salrstrieo, have arranged to be directly represented in New Zealand, and that a gentleman is now on hia way to tho colo.iy 0.5 behalf of the firm. Private advices have been received from South Africa that uniil New Zeaiaod shippers can offer fceef, tit si quality, (it Cd, second quality 2fi and mutton at 2id, f.0.b., there ara no prospec's of ( business in South Africa, in viow of competition from tho Argentine. The College-street Ex-Pupils' Association will open their tennis and croquet lawna this afternoon. The courts aro in epleiid d eonditio.-i considering tbe short tiruo they have been laid down. Afternoon tea will ba provided, and members aad \isitors arc requested to go in at tho Linton-street side enlrance to Mr Park's grounds. In the Wairoa Guardian, a Native claims the ownership of Lake Waikaremosllia in these terms :—" No ships or boals of any kind will be allowed on my Private Lake, Waikaremoana, without arrangements being made." The representatives of theManawatu Cricket Association wi'l meet a Wanganui representative team on tho Sports Ground to-day, when a closely-contested game may ba anticipated. Lovers of melodrama were treated to another thrilling entertainment last night when the TayJor-Carrington Co., appearing for the last time, staged " Moondyne," the s'.ory of a bu>hrangfr who amasses a foitune and turns philanthropist. Vico was vanquished, and virtue triumphed in the good old melodramatic fashion. The play wa* wholesome, and it suited the audience, who received it well. A proposal wa? recently considered by the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Union to register that body as an industrial union. The chairman stated that two solicitors had advised that that could not be done without altering the constitution of the Union, co as to make it a Union of employers only, by excluding farm labourers. H < did not suppose the members wished to go to such an extreme as thar,, which would only increase the tendency to class antagonism, which they desired to avoid. The matter was dropped. A warning to grocers ia furoishad by the Darrow escape from poisoning made by a Newtown family the other day (says the Post). A grocer had a cask of vinegar with a leakirjg tap, and his assistant placed under it a clean galvanised iron backet to catch the drops. The assistant a^eo supplied a customer with a bottle of vinegar taken from the bucket, but the appearance of the liquid was such that the customer and members of her household did not do more than taste it. They became ill, and analyses made by the Colonial Analyst showed that the vinegar in the cask was alhight, but that a sample from tbe bucket contained zinc in solution through the vinegar having dissolved the metal of the bucket. Tne poison was fortunately not taken in I sufficient quantities to cause serious results. One occasionally hears of (ho erratic ratnblings of a needle in the human body, but we think the experience of Mr J. Appleton, of Otara, in this way (says the Opotiki Guardian) is somewhat unique. Eight months or so ago he ran a needle into las right foot, and two evenings since cut it out of his left tliigh. During the various stages of the needle's journey, considerable ptiu had. been f It, especially while passing over the knea and n ar the spine, when it made its presence very distinctly felt. Strange to say, ie took only eight days to travel from the spiuc to where it was drawn out. During the eight months that the needle had been on its travels, Mr Appleton was convinced that it was responsible for the pains in various parts of his body, but his family were somewhat sceptical. Some good stories ara being told in connection with tbe bivak-up of the I long spell of dry weather up Gishorne j way. One esteemed settler sallied out in the cool night air, and, thinly clad, i elid a gambol on the meadows while the bounteous ram poured down uprn him. An unusual sight was presented at one establishment, where the delighted members of the household got up and had a joyful dance on tlie veranelah. One man in another household clambered out on to the ro-.f-top to make sure that tlie water was having a free course to the tanks. Possibly if ike rain had continued for a few days everyone would have been gru-nblirig at the shocking weather. While Gisborne has bsen rejoicing at the fall of rain, our telegrams show that in some parts of tfio South, the people are delighted at having at last got a gleam of sunshine The Palmerston drapery sales are now on in all directions, and they have been respectively tested, and as usual the popular verdict favours the Bon Marche fcr choice goods and genuino bargains, of which there is an abundance to choose from.—AdvrJ