RELIGIOUS SEOTS IN AUSTRALASIA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11485, 19 January 1903, Page 4

RELIGIOUS SEOTS IN AUSTRALASIA.

Some interesting facto regarding the growth of the various religious dmoramatione in Australia end New Zealand during the paefc thirty yeans may be gleaned from •the new issue of Mr. Ooghian's "Seven States of Australia." Talcing the tables for Australasia es a wihole, we find that the Cburefci of England' is the strongest, both ia the actual number of adherente and in the proportion that number beers to the total population. In Australia the membership of 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 yeans. 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 population others show a falling off. Thus the Ghurrih, of England, the Methodist Cburah, and the Baptist Church are relatively, «c well ac actually, stronger than in 1871, -while the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian, and the Cong-re-gataanel are relatively -weaker. Iα other words, tne three fanner bodice have increased more rapidly than the other three. The actual increases are:—Churoh of England, from) 39.1 to 40.5 per cent, of the population of Australasia,; Methodist Ohurch, from 10.5 to 13.2 per cent.; and the Baptists from 2to 2.4 per cent. The Roman Catholic tacurch has receded from 23.X to 21.6 per cent., the Presbyterian from 13.6 to 13.5, and the Congregational from 2.4 to 1.8. The only prominent organisation •which shows an actual falling off in membership is tihe Salvation Army, whose numbers fcave decreased during the last ten yeara 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 population, while minor denominatkxne have dwindled since 1871 from 8.9 to 6.6 per cent. The Church of (England is strongest in Tasmania and New South Wales, bat it leads ia every State of the Commonwealth, and In New Zealand. The Roman Catholio Church comes second m each State except South Australia and New Zealand, giving place in the former to the Methodist Church and in ifcbis colony to the Presbyterian. Toe Roman Catholic Churoh is strongest in New South Wales and weakest in New Zealand. This colony is the etrongaold of the Pxe«byferi&n Church, while Met&odsem appears to flourish most in South Australia, where 25 in every 100 of the population are 'Methodists.