p. 83 | A Decrease by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1858

A Decrease.

By Editor

THE editor of the Presbyterian, at Philadelphia has been looking over the records of the Congregational Association in Connecticut for the last year. He remarks:

"But what is still more surprising, the whole number of church members reported in 1849, was 41,070; and the whole number in 1857, only 37,929, or an actual decrease, for the eight years, of 3,041, and this, notwithstanding the fact, that within that time, 6,606 had been added by letter—thus seeming to show a decrease, so far as additions by profession are concerned, of 9,647, or no less than 1,205, per year for the eight years! And further still, the baptisms of children reported for every one of these years averaged less than three to each church in the state!"