THE RELIGIOUS CENSUS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 381, 18 June 1861, Page 4

THE RELIGIOUS CENSUS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

If an illustration were required of the inevitable fallaciousness of a census of religious profession, conducted on the plan cf Sir G. C. Lewis, ifc might be found in the experimeut which has beeu recently made iv South Australia. The census of that colouy was taken on the Ist of April last, and included a voluntary inquiry aa to tho religious denomination of every inhabitant. Tbe eutire population enumerated was 117,967; and answers were received respecting all but 1390—■ the respective proportions being as follows :—

Church of England, 43,587 j Church of Rome, 15,594; Wesleyan Methodists, 14,322; German Lutherans, 11,235 ; Independents, 6268 ; Church of Scotland, 4821; Bible Christians, 4216 ; Free Church of Scotland, 4137; Primitive Methodists, 3672; Baptists, 3424; Christians, 1658 ; United Presbyterians, 1572; Other denominations, 573 ; Unitarians, 493 ; Hebrews, 360 ; Moravians, 217; .New Church, 192; Society of Friends, 104 ; Mohammedans and Pagans, 112; Not specified, 1390. Total, 117,967.

The very completeness of this account is its condemnation. To represent that all but one per cent, of tbe population of South Australia are positive adherents to one or another of the various religious organisations, is at once to proclaim the uselessness of the inquiry. That uinety-nino persons out of every hundred are really attached for any practical purpose to some religious body, is a supposition too outrageous to receive a momentary credit; it offends against common sense and common observation, Nevertheless, this incredible state of things is gravely assorted with all the authority of a solemn census, and the community is nicely parcelled off into a score of separate sheepfolds ; tbe Church of England under this arrangement, having tho largest and most populous pen. Here indeed, we see the special dishonesty, as well as the fallaciousness, of such ao enumeration ; for, while there is nothing to lead a man of no religious opiuions to class himself with tbe " Independents" or the Baptists," or any of the smaller divisions, it is only natural that, when when wishing to acquire the. respectability of possessing a religion, he should assert a conneo* tion with the national church. Probably not one of tbe many thieves in the prisons or of their more numerous comrades outside would foil to see the absurdity of calling himself a "Methodist" or a "Christian;" but he would neither blush or hesitate to claim a filial relationship with the Church of England. This in fact, unless South Australia is exempt from a criminal and vicious class, is just what all the rogues in the colony have done; and thisisjust what Sir G. C. Lewis would have had the corresponding class do here. All the rasoals in the country were to be paraded as good Churchmen, and in the face of this imposing array, the question would have been triumphantly asked, whether church-rates could now be abolished, and whether parliament could possibly refuse further grants for the support of a church so umnistakeablo the object of the ardent affections of the people ? Fortunately the trick was exposed and defeated; but it is well, by reference to such illustrations as the present to keep in mind the fact of the attempt, and prevent the possibility of it 3 renewal ten years hence.— English Paper.