America's 253,762 churches counted their sheep. There were a lot to count. In the 18 years between 1926 and 1944, said the Federal Council of Churches, church membership had increased 32.8% (estimated population in the same period rose 17.9%). Other findings:
The number of religious bodies had increased 20.8%.
Baptists, among major church groups, showed the greatest gain (68.3%), trailed by Lutherans (29.3%), Roman Catholics (25.9%), Methodists (22.9%).
Percentagewise, some groups did spectacularly better. The Evangelistic Associations 91.3%, the Mennonite bodies 73.9%, the Christian Scientists 33.1%.* Most spectacular: the Free Christian Zion Church of...
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