Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — A RELIGIOUS WAVE. [ARTICLE]

A RELIGIOUS WAVE.

Almost Unparalleled In Its Extent, Sweeping the The fact has often been noticed and commented upon that a religious wave of greater or lot s degree of p >wor always follows a period of financial depression. This winter furnishes no exception to tho rule. Tho reports since the close of summer, although coming from widely separated points and scattered over several months of time, have nevertheless shown that a religious revival, almost unparalleled In its extent and force, has boon and is now sweeping over the country. In order to ascertain the effect of this revival in what is usually considered St. Louis territory, a loading newspaper of St. Louis recently directed a number of its correspondents in the States of Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas Io report thonumber and results of religious revivals in tho evangelical churches of their respective counties since tho first of last September. I The results of this inquiry, although not as complete as was desired, owing to tho inability of a great many correspondents to got reports from tho country districts, the unwillingness of some of the ministers to furnish information and other causes, the object is 1 nevertheless fully attained in the ini toresting reports which follow. These show that in 177 counties of the States named there have been during the past five months 5.3,001 conversions and 49,010 accessions to tho churches. Of the total, 01 counties in Missouri report 20,210 conversions and 17,071 additions to the churches; 51 counties In Illinois, 15,852 conversions and 14,247 additions; 32 counties in Kansas, 8,574 conversions and 8,227 additions; 23 counties in Toxas, 7,100 conversions and 7,345 additions; 10 counties in Arkansas, 2,249 conversions and 2,120 additions. The average per county is in the neighborhood of 3uo in all of the States. The denominations which have benefited the most by. moans of these revivals report tho following accossions: Methodist, 21,810; Baptist, 7,577; Christians, 0,902; Presbyterians, 2,900. The miscellaneous additions aro 3,231; unclassified, (1,5(0.