BAPTISTS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 9

BAPTISTS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

THE STATISTICS FOB 1911. The "Baptist Times" says, in reference to the statistics for 1911: "It will* be seen that the total membership of our churches is 418,G05, a. decrease' of 72 ns compared with the figures for the previous year. 1911. 1910. Kndaiul 2G7.259 2GG.22.1 +1,005 Wales •• 12G.SC3 125.038 —1,1*5 Scotland 21,021! 20,997 + 2C Ireland 2.93(5 2,5)35 + 1 Channel Islands ... 412 433 + 9 Islo of Man 53 53 - "From this table it appears that Encland, Scotland, Ireland and tho Channel Islands all show an increase, hut that this is more than neutralised by a dcclino cf M"5 in the Welsh Church's. Last year thero was a decrease in England, Wales, and Scotland anioimlin? in the Hgßi'c.s'al'fl to 3775. It is encoui'asin? (n note further that the diminution in Wales is less than half what it was hist year. We may also add that the. increase in England would have been considerably la.vsnr had it not been for the i-iftiiroiM revision of tlie (Church roll which 1t.".:, taken place in ,-ciuo of our lafßer churches. The figures, if not satisfactory in themselves, are at least cnrourngitiff an showing that we arc onterir.ff on a new era. Hut in coming to this conclueion w.e do not rely 6ololj or pTe*

mainly on statistics. Thero is a now spirit abroad in our churches. The problems of our Church life are being earnestly studied and grappled with' by tho best minds in the denomination, especially among tho younger moil. And, best of all, we think thorc is a profound senso of dissatisfaction with existing conditions, and a humble spirit of waiting upon God, which will soon ehango our lan'ient over arrested progress into thanksgiving for tho hastening of the coming of lire Kingdom."