The schedules which were sent out
at that time and which lt ls possible
will be duplicated n year hence con?
tained a line for ouch organization re?
ported, including churches without pas?
tors, missions or stations, chapels,
meetings and societies. There were
also propounded questions relative to
the character of the edifices occupied,
their seating capacity, their vnlue and
the number of communicants or church
members. In the instructions sent out
to guide persons In filling out sched?
ules lt was stated thnt the word "com?
municant" was to be Interpreted as
embracing ""ail, without distinction of
sex, who are privileged to participate
In the ordlunnce of communion In de?
nominations which observe lt and all
members of other denominations."
Some of the fnults of such a system
were obvious at the time lt was adopt?
ed, but no better plan presented Itself.
Census Director Merriam states
frankly that he has not yet been able
to determine whether or not to under?
take a religious Investigation or. if he
does, how extensive tbe research shall
be. Some strong objections have been
mnde to nny consideration of thc ques?
tion whntever. For one thing, lt is
claimed thnt the conditions of mem?
bership in the various bodia* Miling
themselves Christians vary so Indefi?
nitely that comparisons of denomina?
tional strength based upon noniimil
membership in the several churches
are almost certain to be misleading.
