RELIGIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 November 1901, Page 4

RELIGIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

An interesting table id connection with the recent census, which has just been completed in the Registrar-General’s offics, shows the religions of the people of of New Zjaland, exclusive of Maoris. The table enables a comparison to be made between the results of the census of 1896 and that taken in this year. The Church of England is the strongest denomination numericaliy, with 314,023 persons, an increase of 32,858, or 11,69 per cant., in five years. The Presbyterians come next with 176,503, an increase of 16,551, or 10,35 per cent. The number of Roman Catholics is 108,960 an increase of 11,436, or 11.7 par cent. Particulars of Methodists-are as follows: —Wesleyan Methodists, 71,034, an increase of 7661, or 12.09 per cent. ; Primitive Methodists, 10,143, an increase of 3132, or 44.06 per cent ; Methodists (undefined), 2396, a decrease of 497, or 17.38 per cent; other Methodists number 223, an increase of 169.

Baptists have remained almost absolutely stationary at 16,035, a decrease of 2, or 0.01 per coat; and Gongregationalists very nearly stationary at 6699, a decrease of 78, or 1.15 per cent. The Salvation Army, with 7999 members, shows a loss of 2533, or 24.05 per cant.

There are 7484 Brethren, an increase of 2449, or 48.64 per cent; and 6105 members of the Church of Christ, an increase of 216, or 4.2 per cent. Lutherans number 4833, a decrease of 705, or 12.73 per cent.

Freethinkers is the classification of 2356 persms, a decrease of 1127, or 28.3 per cent.

Students of Truth have fallen from 340 to 33. a decrease of 307, or 90.29 per cent.