RELIGION IN NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2504, 9 November 1922, Page 4

RELIGION IN NEW ZEALAND.

INTERESTING FTGURES. A Blue Paper containing census figures is just to hand. It contains some interesting comparisons of the strength and growth of the various religions in New Zealand. Now Zealand seems to have a fair representation of all the beliefs extant. The Church of England (514.607), Presbyterian (299,545). Catholic (163, 303), Methodist (112..344), Baptist (19,920), Salvation Army (11,591), Bret hern (11.055), head the list. The Christian sects which are lasi on the list are: Church of God (122), Swedenhorgian (97), Church of Jesus Christ (32), Cooneyitos (32). Brotherhood (19), Conditional Immorfalist (19). The “Church of Jesus Christ" must not he confused with the “Church of Christ" which has 8,640 adherents. The non-Christian religions arc 6,031 strong in New Zealand, under the banner of: Hebrew, Confusion, Theosophist, Hindu, Liberal Catholic, Mohammedan, Buddist and Sikh. “Other Beliefs" cover tht beliefs and unbeliefs of 50,141 people, a.follows: Object to State 38,591, No Religion 3,919, Unspecified 7,4.'m. Spiritualist 1,510, No Denomination 1,382, Free-thinker 1,209, Agnostic 726, Rationalist 430, Athoi.-i 191, Uncertain 169, Socialist 67, Deist 19, ami an assortment of other?- tolulling 192. Out of the principal dtnominalions, and based on a percentage basis, the Salvation Army shows the greatest increase (15.86 per cent) since 1916, then comes I lie Presbyterian (14.92). Brethtrn (12.85), Church of England (12.11), Roman Catholic (9.45), Methodist- (5.96). 1 1 , of course, follows that some of the smaller denominations can show the largest percentage increase. The Evangelical, once 24 strong, hut now with a roll call of 188, boasts of a record increase of 683.33 per cent. The Hindu is next with 388.61, per cent. The “uncertains” have multiplied by 177.05 per cent. Seventh Day Adventists have increased by 44./9 per edit, Christian Scientists by 76.39 per cent, the Mormons bv 40.64 per cent., Church of Jesus Christ by 113.33 per cent. Another tabulated sheet sets out the strength of ihe various religions, in all the provincial districts. Except in Otago and Southland, where Protestantism is pre-eminent, the Church of England claims the majority of adherents. In Otago and Southland none of the main religions, except the Presbyterian, have made any appreciable progress. Tho Presbyterians have made their greatest strides in the Auckland province (28.05 per cent). In Nelson and Westland they are weakest, but all religions seem to lie stagnant there. These are only two districts where the Roman Catholics have suffered a decline.