APPENDICES

I:METHODOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS
II:TABLES

APPENDIX I

Methodology and Definitions

The method used in the Town and Country Surveys of the Interchurch World Movement and of the Committee on Social and Religious Surveys differs from the method of earlier surveys in this field chiefly in the following particulars:

1. “Rural” was defined as including all population living outside incorporated places of over 5,000. Previous surveys usually excluded all places of 2,500 population or over, which follows the United States Census definition of “rural.”

2. The local unit for the assembling of material was the community, regarded, usually, as the trade area of a town or village center. Previous surveys usually took the minor civil division as the local unit. The disadvantage of the community unit is that census and other statistical data are seldom available on that basis, thus increasing both the labor involved and the possibility of error. The great advantage is that it presents its results assembled on the basis of units which have real social significance, which the minor civil division seldom has. This advantage is considered as more than compensating for the disadvantage.

3. The actual service area of each church as indicated by the residences of its members and adherents was mapped and studied. This was an entirely new departure in rural surveys.

Four chief processes were involved in the actual field work of these surveys:

1. The determination of the community units and of any subsidiary neighborhood units included within them. The community boundaries were ascertained by noting the location of the last family on each road leading out from a given center who regularly traded at that center. These points, indicated on a map, were connected with each other by straight lines. The area about the given center thus enclosed was regarded as the community.

2. The study of the economic, social and institutional life of each community as thus defined.

3. The location of each church in the county, the determination of its parish area, and the detailed study of its equipment, finance, membership, organization, program and leadership.

4. The preparation of a map showing, in addition to the usual physical features, the boundaries of each community, the location, parish area and circuit connections of each church, and the residence of each minister.

The following are the more important definitions used in the making of these surveys and the preparation of the reports:

Geographical

City—A center of over 5,000 population. Not included within the scope of these surveys except as specifically noted.

Town—A center with a population of from 2,501 to 5,000.

Village—A center with a population of from 251 to 2,500.

Hamlet—Any clustered group of people not living on farms whose numbers do not exceed 250.

Open Country—The farming area, excluding hamlets and other centers.

Country—Used in a three-fold division of population included in scope of survey into Town, Village and Country. Includes Hamlets and Open Country.

Town and Country—The whole area covered by these surveys, i.e., all population living outside cities.

Rural—Used interchangeably with Town and Country.

Community—That unit of territory and of population characterized by common social and economic interests and experiences; an “aggregation of people the majority of whose interests have a common center.” Usually ascertained by determining the normal trade area of each given center. The primary social grouping of sufficient size and diversity of interests to be practically self-sufficing in ordinary affairs of business, civil and social life.

Neutral Territory—Any area not definitely included within the area of one community. Usually an area between two or more centers, and somewhat influenced by each, but whose interests are so scattered that it cannot definitely be assigned to the sphere of influence of any one center.

Neighborhood—A recognizable social grouping having certain interests in common, but dependent for certain elemental needs upon some adjacent center within the community area of which it is located.

Rural Industrial—Pertaining to any industry other than farming within the Town and Country area.

Population

Foreigner—Refers to foreign-born and native-born of foreign parentage.

New Americans—Usually includes foreign-born and native-born of foreign or mixed parentage, but sometimes refers only to more recent immigration. In each case the exact meaning is clear from the context.

The Church

Parish—The area within which the members and regular attendants of a given church live.

Circuit—Two or more churches combined under the direction of one minister.

Resident Pastor—A church whose minister lives within its parish area is said to have a resident pastor.

Full-time Resident Pastor—A church with a resident pastor who serves no other church, and follows no other occupation than the ministry, is said to have a full-time resident pastor.

Part-time Pastor—A church whose minister either serves another church also, or devotes part of his time to some regular occupation other than the ministry, or both, is said to have a part-time minister.

Non-Resident Member—One carried on the rolls of a given church but living too far away to permit regular attendance; generally, any member living outside the community in which the church is located unless he is a regular attendant.

Inactive Member—One who resides within the parish area of the church, but who neither attends its services nor contributes to its support.

Net Active Membership—The resultant membership of a given church after the number of non-resident and inactive members is deducted from the total on the church roll.

Per Capita Contributions or Expenditures—The total amount contributed or expended, divided by the number of the net active membership.

Budget System—A church which, at the beginning of the fiscal year, makes an itemized forecast of the entire amount of money required for its maintenance during the year as a basis for a canvass of its membership for funds, is said to operate on a budget system with respect to its local finances. If amounts to be raised for denominational or other benevolences are included in the forecast and canvass, it is said to operate on a budget system for all monies raised.

Adequate Financial System—Three chief elements are recognized in an adequate financial system: a budget system, an annual every-member canvass, and the use of envelopes for the weekly payment of subscriptions.

Receipts—Receipts have been divided under three heads:

a. Subscriptions, that is monies received in payment of annual pledges.

b. Collections, that is money received from free will offerings at public services.

c. All other sources of revenue, chiefly proceeds of entertainments and interest on endowments.

Salary of Minister—Inasmuch as some ministers receive, in addition to their cash salary, the free use of a house while others do not, a comparison of the cash salaries paid is misleading. In all salary comparisons, therefore, the cash value of a free parsonage is arbitrarily stated as $250 a year, and that amount is added to the cash salary of each minister with free parsonage privileges. Thus an average salary stated as $1,450 is equivalent to $1,200 cash and the free use of a house.


APPENDIX II

Tables

I

LAND AND FARM AREA IN THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL CENSUSES FOR 1910 AND 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910
Approximate land area (acres) 3,620,480 3,020,160 485,760 485,760 1,647,360 1,648,000 3,436,800 3,436,800
Land in farms (acres) 637,009 461,315 284,907 165,069 625,796 421,543 2,515,522 814,011
Improved land in farms (acres) 270,603 275,530 144,237 62,531 113,385 95,368 273,748 72,630
Woodland in farms (acres) 7,142 3,088 7,032 2,521 8,741 7,269 51,634 1,854
Other unimproved land in farms (acres) 359,264 182,697 133,638 100,017 503,670 318,906 2,190,140 739,527
Per cent. of land area in farms 17.6 15.3 58.7 34.0 38.0 25.6 73.2 23.7
Per cent. of farm land improved 42.5 59.7 50.6 37.9 18.1 22.6 10.9 8.9
Average acreage per farm 992.1 860.7 784.9 440.2 643.8 527.6 948.5 423.3
Average improved acreage per farm 421.5 514.0 397.3 116.7 116.7 119.4 103.2 37.8

The average acreage per farm in Beaverhead and Sheridan has increased very slightly in the past ten years, while the improved acreage per farm has decreased. In Hughes and Union, however, there is a decided increase in both the acreage per farm and the improved acreage per farm.

II

FARMS AND FARM PROPERTY IN THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL CENSUSES FOR 1910 AND 1920

Farms Operated by Owners Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910
Number of farms 559 456 245 308 734 626 2,282 1,891
Per cent. of all farms 87.1 85.1 67.5 82.1 75.5 78.3 86 98.3
Land in farms (acres) 490,453 324,248 151,684 124,686 455,057 302,076 2,043,800 716,506
Improved land in farms (acres) 214,638 194,592 69,052 45,675 68,729 63,631 216,881 70,047
Value of land, buildings (dollars) 12,753,847 6,021,007 6,291,101 3,136,356 10,454,136 6,742,704 22,052,531 3,973,909
Number of farmers owning entire farm 506 439 165 219 591 503 1,670 1,822
Number of farmers hiring additional land 53 17 80 89 143 123 612 69
Color and Nativity of Owners
Number of native whites 385 305 187 224 595 519 2,241 1,809
Number of foreign-horn whites 174 151 47 64 131 105 38 77
Number of non-whites 0 0 11 20 8 2 3 5
Farms Operated by Tenants
Number of farms 46 55 112 63 198 164 344 22
Per cent. of all farms 7.2 10.3 30.9 16.8 20.4 20.5 13 1.1
Land in farms (acres) 42,489 43,196 117,163 34,283 86,147 108,233 292,004 14,305
Improved land in farms (acres) 18,536 25,565 65,200 16,136 28,832 28,922 37,362 1,705
Value of land and buildings (dollars) 1,410,170 1,056,695 3,459,605 933,680 3,663,700 2,616,525 3,424,668 88,840
Color and Nativity of Tenants
Number of native whites 37 38 396 57 173 150 289 20
Number of foreign-born whites 9 15 141 6 24 12 54 2
Number of non-whites 0 2 0 0 1 2 1 0
Farms operated by managers
Number of farms 37 25 6 4 40 9 26 10
Land in farms (acres) 104,067 93,871 16,060 6,100 84,592 11,234 179,718 83,200
Improved land in farms (acres) 37,429 55,373 9,985 720 15,824 2,815 19,505 878
Value of land and buildings (dollars) 2,900,920 1,520,630 352,500 103,560 2,483,650 240,200 1,834,472 306,210

As is usual in districts that have been homesteaded, the proportion of ownership is high. But because of absentee ownership, land companies operating over large areas and high taxes, the rate of tenancy is increasing.

III

ACREAGE AND VALUE OF CULTIVATED CROPS IN THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO FEDERAL CENSUSES FOR 1910 AND 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
Cereals 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910
Corn 10,740 4,352 292 200 51,077 3,220
Oats 4,118 15,255 2,891 3,684 2,916 8,043 2,819 431
Wheat 2,157 763 4,499 3,761 11,466 9,898 14,094 377
Barley 903 225 1,560 131 801 1,601 552 3
Rye 47 96 962 96 93 224 618 10
Hay and Forage
All tame and cultivated crops 36,243 26,996 4,667 827 35,067 35,766 7,925 2,688
Special Crops
Potatoes 198 408 219 272 267 808 619 157
All other vegetables 9 87 25 132 35 367 142 365
Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
Value of all crops $3,883,480 $1,529,830 $1,141,939 $ 225,315 $1,655,937 $1,108,967 $5,198,986 $ 295,293
Cereals 200,733 414,539 539,471 78,654 335,719 368,205 3,050,879 84,410
Hay and forage 3,597,990 1,080,093 505,323 103,592 1,036,246 596,473 1,092,554 152,494
Vegetables 80,421 33,622 49,673 15,336 109,670 110,087 110,700 18,687
Dairy products 64,083 41,176 71,379 29,162 174,759 85,512 313,632 18,230

The most important crops are hay and forage in Beaverhead and Sheridan; in Union cereal crops; in Hughes, both in nearly equal proportions. Dairying is a comparatively new development.

IV

URBAN AND RURAL POPULATION OF THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL CENSUSES FOR 1910 AND 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union Total
Distribution of population: 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910 1920 1910
Rural population 4,668 6,446 2,502 2,615 9,007 7,916 16,680 11,404 32,857 28,381
Rural increase 1910-1920 27.6% -4.3% 13.8% 46.3% 15.8%
Urban population 2,701 3,209 3,656 9,175 8,408 15,085 12,064
Urban increase 1910-1920 -12.2% 9.1% 25%
Total population 7,369 6,446 5,711 6,271 18,182 16,324 16,680 11,404 47,942 40,445
Total increase 1910-1920 14.3% -8.9% 11.4% 46.3% 18.5%
Density of population per sq. mile:
Rural density .8 1.4 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.1 3.1 2.1
Total density 1.3[9] 1.4 7.5 8.3 7.1[9] 6.3 3.1 2.1
No. of dwellings 1,832 1,493 1,301 1,419 4,169 3,376 3,768 2,961 11,070 9,249
No. of families 1,937 1,561 1,387 1,492 4,492 3,186 3,956 3,093 11,772 9,632

V

RACIAL COMPOSITION OF POPULATION OF THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO FEDERAL CENSUS OF 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union[10]
Number Rank Number Rank Number Rank Number Rank
Total population 7,369 5,711 18,182 16,680
Native White, Total 6,261 5,155 15,058 16,376
Native parentage 4,454 3,752 11,454 15,512
Foreign parentage 1,024 778 2,314 414
Mixed parentage 783 625 1,290 450
Foreign White, Total 1,035 462 2,895 278
Austria 69 7 15 9 90 12 5 14
Canada 150 1 49 2 126 9 26 3
Czecho-Slovakia 11 14 4 11 90 12 7 12
Denmark 121 2 42 3 44 17 6 13
England 98 5 38 4 194 4 19 5
Finland 23 11 3 12 66 13 0
France 17 12 6 10 51 16 5 14
Germany 107 3 118 1 541 1 49 1
Greece 11 14 4 11 53 15 10 10
Hungary 4 16 1 14 107 11 10 10
Ireland 106 4 22 6 56 14 12 8
Italy 33 9 3 12 240 3 8 11
Jugo-Slavia 27 10 0 169 7 0
Mexico 0 0 192 5 13 7
Norway 33 9 49 2 38 18 3 15
Poland 2 17 2 13 290 2 11 9
Russia 13 13 20 7 181 6 28 2
Scotland 33 9 3 12 108 10 10 10
Sweden 80 6 37 5 143 8 15 6
Switzerland 43 8 18 8 15 20 6 13
Syria 0 0 0 22 4
Wales 7 15 3 12 22 19 0
All other countries 47 25 79 13
Other than white 73 94 229 26

VI

AGE AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL CENSUS FOR 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Under 7 years 1,057 ... 847 ... 2,779 ... 3,217 ...
7 to 13 years inclusive 850 ... 790 ... 2,395 ... 2,909 ...
Attending school 789 92.8 714 90.4 2,225 92.9 2,594 89.2
14 and 15 years 213 ... 201 ... 564 ... 700 ...
Attending school 195 91.5 191 95 495 87.8 590 84.3
16 and 17 years 206 ... 216 ... 531 ... 655 ...
Attending school 137 66.5 153 70.8 286 53.9 337 51.5
18 to 20 years inclusive 302 ... 306 ... 829 ... 846 ...
Attending school 68 22.5 82 26.8 147 17.8 140 16.5

The proportion of children in school is high through the age of sixteen. Beyond that age the ratio of attendance falls off rapidly, Sheridan and Union having a smaller proportion in school than the other two counties.

VII

ILLITERACY IN THE RANGE COUNTIES ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL CENSUS FOR 1920

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
Ten Years and Over Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Number Per
cent.
Total 5,950 ... 4,520 ... 14,320 ... 12,123 ...
Illiterates 59 1.0 20 1.4 437 3.1 668 5.5
Native Whites 4,863 ... 3,982 ... 11,284 ... 11,830 ...
Illiterates 13 .3 2 .1 33 .3 652 5.5
Foreign Born Whites 1,023 ... 460 ... 2,828 ... 276
Illiterates 29 2.8 9 2. 393 13.9 14 5.1
Negro 14 ... 23 ... 131 ... 12 ...
Illiterates 3 ... 1 ... 4 3.1 1 ...
16-20 Years Inclusive
Total 508 ... 522 ... 1,359 ... 1,501 ...
Illiterates 2 .4 1 .2 9 .7 44 2.9
Illiteracy 21 Years and Over
Males 42 1.4 8 .5 276 4.2 211 4.6
Native Whites 11 ... ... ... 16 ... 205 ...
Foreign Born Whites 18 ... 5 ... 252 ... 6 ...
Negro 2 ... ... ... 3 ... ... ...
Females 15 .8 11 .7 148 3.2 350 9.2
Native Whites 1 ... 1 ... 9 ... 341 ...
Foreign Born Whites 10 ... 4 ... 137 ... 8 ...
Negro 1 ... ... ... 1 ... 1 ...

The rate of illiteracy is higher in Sheridan and Union than in Beaverhead and Hughes.

VIII

DEVELOPMENT OF PROTESTANT CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CHANGING FRONTIER

BEAVERHEAD HUGHES SHERIDAN UNION TOTAL
Total Number
Churches
Number Now
Active
Number Now
Abandoned
Number Now
Inactive
Total Number
Churches
Number Now
Active
Number Now
Abandoned
Number Now
Inactive
Total Number
Churches
Number Now
Active
Number Now
Abandoned
Number Now
Inactive
Total Number
Churches
Number Now
Active
Number Now
Abandoned
Number Now
Inactive
Total Number
Churches
Number Now
Active
Number Now
Abandoned
Number Now
Inactive
Period of organization:
1871-8011.... 11.... ........ ........ 222..
1881-90743.. 871.. 321.. 11.... 19145..
1891-1900........ 11.... 55.... 33.... 99....
1901-1022.... 11.... 7412 15951 251663
1911-20........ 55.... 66.... 21183.. 32293..
Total1073.. 16151.. 211722 403181 8770143

About one-sixth of all the churches which have been organized are now either abandoned or inactive. Population has shifted; communities have changed; the churches sometimes have not survived.

IX-A

DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCHES AMONG DENOMINATIONS

Churches in
Denominations Country Village Town City Total
Baptist, North 0 1 2 1 4
Baptist, South 3 1 1 0 5
Church of Christ or Christian 0 1 1 1 3
Church of Christ (Unprogressive) 2 1 0 0 3
Congregational 3 0 1 1 5
Evangelical Association 0 0 1 0 1
Lutheran:
Norwegian Lutheran of America 0 0 1 0 1
German 0 0 0 1 1
Swedish 0 0 0 1 1
Polish 0 1 0 0 1
Others 0 1 0 0 1
Methodist, North 13 6 3 1 23
Methodist, South 6 0 0 0 6
Nazarene 1 0 0 0 1
Presbyterian in U. S. A. 3 2 1 1 7
Protestant Episcopal 0 0 2 1 3
Seventh Day Adventist 1 0 0 1 2
United Brethren 2 0 0 0 2
Total 34 14 13 9 70

IX-B

Denominations Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union Total
Baptist North 1 1 2 0 4 }9
Baptist South 0 0 0 5 5
Church of Christ or Christian 0 1 1 1 3
Church of Christ (Unprogressive) 0 0 0 3 3
Congregational 0 2 3 0 5
Evangelical Association 0 1 0 0 1
Lutheran:
Norwegian Lutheran of America 0 1 0 0 1 }5
German 0 0 1 0 1
Swedish 0 0 1 0 1
Polish 0 0 1 0 1
Others 0 1 0 0 1
Methodist North 2 6 5 10 23 }29
Methodist South 0 0 0 6 6
Nazarenes 0 0 0 1 1
Presbyterian in U. S. A. 3 1 1 2 7
Protestant Episcopal 1 1 1 0 3
Seventh Day Adventist 0 0 1 1 2
United Brethren 0 0 0 2 2
Total 7 15 17 31 70

With so many denominations at work in the field, every square mile of inhabited area ought to be reached. But large areas and many people are not even touched by the church.

X-A

RESIDENCE AND ACTIVITY OF CHURCH MEMBERS BY TYPES OF COMMUNITIES

Churches in
Country Village Town City Total
Net active members616 497 1,178 1,665 3,956
Inactive members129 66 221 607 1,013
Non-resident members152 60 186 453 851
Total enrollment897 623 1,575 2,725 5,820
Average per congregation26 45 121 303 83

X-B

BY COUNTIES

Churches in
Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union Total
Net active members345 884 1,988 739 3,956
Inactive members96 74 646 197 1,013
Non-resident members94 108 496 153 851
Total enrollment535 1,066 3,130 1,089 5,820
Average per congregation76 71 184 35 83

The non-resident member is an “unattached Christian” and no one looks out for him.

XI-A

CHURCHES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SIZE BY TYPES OF COMMUNITIES

Country Village Town City Total
Churches with a net active
membership of:
25 or less 26 7 2 1 36
26 to 50 7 4 1 1 13
51 to 100 1 3 5 1 10
101 to 150 0 0 3 1 4
Over 150 0 0 2 5 7
Total 34 14 13 9 70

XI-B

BY COUNTIES

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union Total
Churches with a net active
membership of:
25 or less 3 7 4 22 36
26 to 50 1 2 5 5 13
51 to 100 2 3 2 3 10
101 to 150 1 1 1 1 4
Over 150 0 2 5 0 7
Total 7 15 17 31 70

Scattered and transient population together with denominational competition has resulted in a large proportion of small churches.

XII

HOW THE CHURCHES HAVE GROWN DURING A ONE-YEAR PERIOD BY TYPES OF COMMUNITIES

Country
Churches
Village
Churches
Town
Churches
City
Churches
Total
Number Per
Cent
Number Per
Cent
Number Per
Cent
Number Per
Cent
Number Per
Cent
Gained 12 35 7 50 10 77 8 89 37 53
Stationary 9 27 6 43 1 8 0 0 16 23
Declined 13 38 1 7 2 15 1 11 17 24
Total 34 100 14 100 13 100 9 100 70 100

The gain in church membership increases with the size of the community.

XIII

MEMBERSHIP GAIN OF THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED TEN YEARS OR MORE, DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS

Year Nine
Country
Churches
Seven
Village
Churches
Thirteen
Town
Churches
Eight
City
Churches
Total
1910 257 166 1,197 1,012 2,632
1915 303 278 1,385 2,011 3,977
1920 326 271 1,575 2,660 4,852

Village and Country Churches Increased 41% Town and City Churches Increased 92%.

XIV

AGE AND SEX OF RESIDENT MEMBERS

By Counties
Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
Men over 21 24% 31% 31% 33%
Women over 21 55% 45% 47% 47%
Young men and boys under 21 8% 10% 9% 7%
Young women and girls under 21 13% 14% 13% 13%

The churches are not winning the boys and girls. They need better recreational methods and broader programs.

XV

WAYS OF RAISING MONEY

A = Beaverhead B = Hughes
C = Sheriday D = Union
CITY TOWN VILLAGE COUNTRY ENTIRE
COUNTY
ABCD ABCD ABCD ABCD ABCD
Number of churches with:
Budget for all monies0050 2[11]301 0201 0443 2995
Budget for local expenses only0010 1301 0100 0002 1413
Annual every member canvass0060 3[11]502 0401 0344 312107
Both budget and every member canvass0060 3[11]501 0301 0343 311105
No budget and no every member canvass0030 0000 0104 00111 00416
Total number of churches0090 4603 2525 14623 7151731

A fair proportion of the churches are using modern methods of financing their work.

XVI

OCCUPATIONS OF CHURCH MEMBERS

Churches Located in
CITY TOWN VILLAGE COUNTRY ENTIRE COUNTY
Number
of
Members
Per Cent
of
Total
Number
of
Members
Per Cent
of
Total
Number
of
Members
Per Cent
of
Total
Number
of
Members
Per Cent
of
Total
Number
of
Members
Per Cent
of
Total
Beaverhead:
Retired farmers 65.7 65.3
Operating farmers 2826.6 2824.8
Farm renters
Farm laborers
Business or professional 5148.6 240 266.7 5548.7
All others 2019.1 360 133.3 2421.2
Total reporting occupations 105100 5100 3100 113100
Hughes:
Retired farmers 62.8 11.7 72.5
Operating farmers 83.8 3458.7 675 4817.2
Farm renters 1220.7 112.5 134.7
Farm laborers
Business or professional 11453.5 610.3 12043
All others 8539.9 58.6 112.5 9132.6
Total reporting occupations 213100 58100 8100 279100
Sheridan:
Retired farmers162.3 162
Operating farmers497.2 4151.8 9011.1
Farm renters812 1519 232.8
Farm laborers5.7 5.6
Business or professional17926.2 67.6 18522.9
All others42662.4 49100 1721.6 49260.6
Total reporting occupations683100 49100 79100 811100
Union:
Retired farmers 1 1
Operating farmers 1316.4 41622 4680.1 10049.5
Farm renters 35.1 31.5
Farm laborers 35.1 31.5
Business or professional 3645.6 1116.6 35.1 5024.7
All others 3038 14212 23.6 4622.8
Total reporting occupations 79100 66100 57100 202100

Of the four counties, Union is the only one with a higher percentage of farmers on its rolls than of men in other occupations. Yet over half the churches in the four counties are country churches.

XVII-A

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED AND SPENT

The amount raised by the local churches is $97,571.98.

Per cent.
Subscription $70,910.74 72.68
Collections 9,464.24 9.7
All other methods 17,197.00 17.62
$97,571.98

XVII-B

The amount spent by the local churches is $96,992.85.

Per cent.
Salaries $41,268.79 43.
Missions and benevolences 24,657.55 25.
Upkeep and all other expenses 31,066.51 32.

The entire amount spent for church purposes is $110,080.35.

Per cent.
Salaries $54,356.29[12] 49.
Missions and benevolences 24,657.55 23.
Upkeep and all other expenses 31,066.51 28.

Of the entire church dollar, about 12 per cent. comes from Denominational Boards.

XVIII

RECEIPTS PER CHURCH

Country Village Town City Total
From:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Subscription$235.45 $526.51 $1,972.93 $3,824.04 $1,074.41
Collections57.99 106.57 254.35 358.49 143.40
All other methods12.96 297.42 458.01 834.63 260.55
Total$306.40 $930.50 $2,685.29 $5,017.16 $1,478.36

XIX

RECEIPTS PER ACTIVE MEMBER

Country Village Town City Total
From:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Subscription$12.39 $14.07 $21.77 $18.65 $18.04
Collections3.05 2.85 2.81 1.75 2.41
All other methods.68 7.95 5.05 4.07 4.37
Total$16.12 $24.87 $29.63 $24.47 $24.82

The average active member is generous in the support of his church.

XX

EXPENDITURES PER CHURCH

Country Village Town City Total
For:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Salaries$220.12 $366.43 $1,247.31 $1,637.50 $625.28
Missions and Benevolences42.59 117.85 638.84 1,672.75 373.60
Upkeep and all other expenses40.95 441.63 794.22 1,661.18 470.70
Total$303.66 $925.91 $2,680.37 $4,971.43 $1,469.58

XXI

EXPENDITURES PER ACTIVE MEMBER

Country Village Town City Total
For:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Salaries$11.59 $9.79 $13.76 $7.99 $10.50
Missions and Benevolences2.24 3.15 7.05 8.16 6.27
Upkeep and all other expenses2.16 11.80 8.76 8.10 7.90
Total$15.99 $24.74 $29.57 $24.25 $24.67

XXII-A

HOW A TYPICAL DOLLAR IS RAISED AND SPENT BY THE LOCAL CHURCHES

Country Village Town City Total
By:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Subscription$.77 $.57 $.74 $.76 $.73
Collections.19 .11 .09 .07 .10
All other methods.04 .32 .17 .17 .17
Total$1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00

XXII-B

Country Village Town City Total
For:Thirty-one
Churches
Fourteen
Churches
Thirteen
Churches
Eight
Churches
Sixty-six
Churches
Salary$.72 $.39 $.46 $.33 $.43
Missions and Benevolences.14 .13 .24 .34 .25
Upkeep and all other expenses.14 .48 .30 .33 .32
Total$1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00

On the average, these churches devote one-fourth of their receipts to benevolences.

XXIII

GRADING FOR HOME MISSION FIELDS—PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN U. S. A.

A.Promising Field:
1. Prospect of self-support.
2. Strategic service opportunity.
B.Problematic Field:
1. Uncertain of community development.
2. Denominational responsibility uncertain.
C.Field to be relinquished:
1. Should be self-sustaining.
2. Work should be discontinued.

This would be a good test to apply to every aided church on the Range.

XXIV

NUMBER OF CHURCH SERVICES

Number of Services
a Month
Country
Churches
Village
Churches
Town
Churches
City
Churches
Total
Eight3 3[13] 12[14] 7 25
Seven0 0 0 0 0
Six0 0 1 0 1
Five0 0 0 0 0
Four6 6[13] 0 2 14
Three0 0 0 0 0
Two9 3 0 0 12
One12 0 0 0 12
No regular service2 2 0 0 4
Services in summer only2 0 0 0 2
Total34 14 13 9 70

About three hours a week set aside for church services and Sunday school means six days a year; only twenty-five out of seventy churches have as large a number.

XXV

ATTENDANCE AT SERVICES COMPARED WITH SEATING CAPACITY AND ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

Beaverhead Hughes Sheridan Union
Average seating capacity 197 277 286 160
Average active membership 49 59 117 24
Average attendance at services 52 50 80 67

An average attendance one-third less than the seating capacity means many empty seats.

XXVI

ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHURCHES OTHER THAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Mixed
MenWomenGrown-upYoung PeopleBoysGirlsBoys and Girls
NumberMembersNumberMembersNumberMembersNumberMembersNumberMembersNumberMembersNumberMembers
Churches in:
Country0091710010239000000
Village00916600381000000
Town274227100093143545128273
City522616635240620011539400
Total7300561,682240288344698222273

Women’s organizations are numerous; men have only one-eighth as many. Less than half of the churches have young people’s organizations.

XXVII

NUMBER OF PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED THE CHURCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED TEN YEARS OR MORE

One
Pastor
Two
Pastors
Three
Pastors
Four
Pastors
Five
Pastors
Six
Pastors
Seven
Pastors
Eight
Pastors
Nine
Pastors
Churches in:
Country112223101
Village111211310
Town013422100
City121220000
Total3571076511

The turn-over on the part of the ministers has been high. Two-thirds of these churches have had a new minister every two and one half years or oftener.

XXVIII

RESIDENCE OF PASTORS IN RELATION TO THEIR CHURCHES

Country Village Town City Total
Churches with:
Pastor resident in parish 8 8[15] 10 8 34
Pastor resident in community but not in parish 4 0 0 0 4
Pastor resident in other community in same county 12 2 0 0 14
Pastor resident in another county 3 0 1 0 4
No regular pastor 4 4 2 0 10
Supply pastor 3 0 0 1 4
Total 34 14 13 9 70

About half of the churches have their ministers resident among the members.

XXIX

SALARIES OF MINISTERS ACCORDING TO PROPORTION OF TIME DEVOTED TO THE MINISTRY

Ministers Giving
Full Time to
Ministry
Ministers
with other
Occupation
With One
Church
With More Than
One Church
Pastors receiving:[16]
Over $2,000 6 3
$1,501-$2,000 4 3 2
$1,201-$1,500 5 3 0
$1,001-$1,200 2 2 0
$ 751-$1,000 0 3 1
$ 501-$ 750 1 0 0
$ 101-$ 500 0 0 2
$ 100 or less 0 0 1
No salary 0 0 2
Total 18 14 8

With the high cost of living, it is difficult to sustain adequate family life on many of these salaries. It is not strange that eight of the ministers must earn part of their support at other occupations.

XXX

GAIN AND LOSS IN MEMBERSHIP AS RELATED TO RESIDENCE OF MINISTERS (One year period)

Churches with: Country Village Town City Total
Resident minister 8 8[17] 10 8 34
Number gaining 4 5 7 7 23
Number stationary 2 3 2 0 7
Number losing 2 0 1 1 4
Non-resident minister 19 2 1 0 22
Number gaining 5 2 1 0 8
Number stationary 17 0 0 0 7
Number losing 7 0 0 0 7

About two-thirds of the churches with resident ministers made a gain in membership; of the churches with non-resident ministers only about one-third show a gain. Fourteen churches were either pastorless or were served by a supply. Six of them made a gain during the year preceding the survey.


UNIQUE STUDIES OF RURAL AMERICA

TOWN AND COUNTRY SERIES TWELVE VOLUMES

MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
Edmund deS. Brunner, Ph.D.

What the Protestant Churches Are Doing and
Can Do for Rural America—The Results of
Twenty-six Intensive County Surveys

DescriptionPublication Date
(1)Church and Community Survey of Salem County, N. J.Ready
(2)Church and Community Survey of Pend Oreille County, WashingtonReady
(3)Church and Community Survey of Sedgwick County, KansasReady
(4)Religion in the Old and New SouthForthcoming
(5)The New and Old Immigrant on the Land, as seen in two Wisconsin CountiesReady
(6)Rural Church Life in the Middle WestReady
(7)The Country Church in Colonial CountiesReady
(8)Irrigation and Religion, a study of two prosperous California CountiesReady
(9)The Church on the Changing FrontierReady
(10)The Rural Church Before and After the War, Comparative Studies of Two SurveysForthcoming
(11)The Country Church in Industrial ZonesReady
(12)The Town and Country Church in the United StatesForthcoming

They are fine pieces of work and examples of what we need to have done on a large scale.” Dr. Charles A. Ellwood, Dept. of Sociology, University of Missouri.

I am heartily appreciative of these splendid results.” Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, Genl. Secy., Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America.

Published by GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY, New York

FOR

COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS SURVEYS

111 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK


Footnotes:

[1] See Wilson, “Sectional Characteristics,” Homelands, August, 1920.

[2] A monument to Sacajawea was erected in Armstead in 1915.

[3] Three country churches raised no money during the year and one city church, which tithes, did not have financial figures available.

[4] See [Table XXIII].

[5] 17 country churches have buildings.

[6] 13 village churches have buildings.

[7] The membership of the separate boys’ and girls’ organizations cannot be added here because it would involve duplication.

[8] The capital letters in parentheses in the Table indicate the respective counties, Beaverhead, Hughes, Sheridan, Union.

[9] In deriving these figures the Census Board has included the forest reserve territory. The following figures were obtained by excluding this area (with the exception of the inhabited portion of Beaverhead):

Total density per square mile of Beaverhead 2.1
Total density per square mile of Sheridan 9.2

On the Range the development of centers is just beginning.

[10] The Census does not give Spanish-American separately. They are of course native-born and are included under that division.

Percent.ofnativeincreaseis20.7inBeaverheadfor1910-20
""""decrease"4.1"Hughes"1910-20
""""increase"12.1"Sheridan"1910-20
""""""32.2"Union"1910-20

In Sheridan, the “New Americans” are in the mines; in the other counties, they are on the land.

[11] Two federated churches have a single budget and a single canvass.

[12] 76.37% of this amount was raised by local churches. The rest came from the denominational boards.

[13] One church in each of these groups unites regularly with a church holding eight services.

[14] One church in this group also has four week day services. One church has its four services on week day nights and has no Sunday services.

[15] One church in this group has two resident social workers.

[16] Including $250 rental value of parsonage if there is one.

[17] One church in this group has two resident social workers.