The number of churches having pastors installed, as now

or one fifth of the net increase in the number of churches. The number of churches having pastors or in charge of other Congregational ministers

Number in 1874 .

2,713

2,501

212

2,374 2,294

80

or decidedly more than the increase in the number of churches. The number of ministers now in pastoral service

In 1874

Increase.

or less than half the increase in the number of churches. The number of ordinations now reported for three years,

But the ratio between ordinations to the pastorate and ordinations without installation has continued to change. The year 1872 (for 1871) was the last year in which ordinations to the pastorate exceeded ordinations without installation.

In the report now given for three years, 145 pastors; in 1874, 149 pastors. Now, 186 without installation; in 1874, 160. And the last annual report is still more marked: 44 to the pastorate, 73 without installation.

Of course, the statistics now presented do not include any of the results of the recent wide-spread revival movements. Those will

appear in future reports. But the tables show a steady and healthy progress in the number of churches, the number of members, and the number in Sabbath schools, and no falling off in the amount of charities.

What spiritual results are indicated by these statements are beyond the cognizance of human tables.

Respectfully submitted.

ALONZO H. QUINT, Secretary.

UNIFORM STATISTICS.

The Committee on Uniform Statistics recommended that the following schedule of questions, already substantially in use, be adopted in each State.

3.

4.

Is he its installed pastor, acting pastor, or stated supply?
When was he ordained? (Give year, month, and day.)

5. If installed here, at what date? (Give year, month, and day.)

6.

If not installed, when did he commence labor here?

7. How many male members at this date?

11. How many added by profession in last twelve months?

12. How many added by letter in last twelve months?

13. TOTAL ADDITIONS?

14.

How many members removed by death in last twelve months? 15. How many members removed by dismissal in the last twelve months? 16. How many members removed by discipline in the last twelve months? 17. TOTAL REMOVALS?

18. How many adults baptized in the last twelve months?

19. How many infants baptized in the last twelve months?

20. Whole number in Sabbath schools (home and mission) at this date, including officers and teachers?

21. How many families in your congregation (regarding your pastor as their minister)?

CONTRIBUTIONS.

22. How much was given in money in your congregation in the last twelve months for each of the following objects, in no case including home expenses?

(1.) American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the Woman's Board, and other Foreign Missionary Work.

(2) American College and Education Society, or educational work. (3.) American Congregational Union, and other aid to Church erection. (4.) American and State Home Missionary Societies, and kindred work. (5.) American Missionary Association, and similar work.

(6.) Congregational Publishing Society.

(7.) All other charities, in no case including Church expenses. Total benevolent contributions.

CHURCHES:

With pastors,

SUMMARY.

(Corresponding exactly with State boundaries.)

; with acting pastors (not including those supplied by licentiates, or ministers of other denominations), plied by licentiates, or ministers of other denominations, plied,

; sup

; not sup

Pastors,

; acting pastors (not including licentiates, or ministers ; others,

of other denominations),

Deceased:

Pastors,

Acting pastors,

Without charge,

ORGANIZATION:

(Number of Associations and Conferences, and how united; also number of Churches not associated.)

It is also recommended that certain other statistics be reported once in five years, beginning in 1880:

1. Value of house of worship and chapel, and land on which they stand. Date of erection of house of worship.

Amount of funds, not including parsonage.

2.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Amount of indebtedness.

Salary of minister, including value of use of parsonage.

Amount of all parish expenses (in the year of the report), including salary.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

THE treasurer of the Council begs leave to report:

That the collection taken at the last Council amounted to $212.09, which is all the money that has come into his hands; that he has paid bills amounting to $172.49, leaving a balance in his hands of $39.60.

A statement of such receipts and payments is herewith submitted, and has on it the certificate of Hon. Charles T. Russell, the auditor, that it is correct.

There are unpaid, the bills for advertising, and various expenses of the officers and committees of the last Council, which, with the expenses of this Council, and the printing of the doings of the Council, will amount to a considerable sum.

The only source of income, so far, has been the collection taken at the meetings of the Council. This is hard for the members, who are at much expense to attend the meetings, and the result is entirely inadequate to meet the expenses, especially if the Council takes charge of printing its doings.

Besides, this expense properly belongs to the churches. In view of these facts, the treasurer would respectfully recommend that the subject of raising money to meet the expenses of the Council may be referred to a Finance Committee, to consider and report what action shall be taken thereon.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

CHARLES DEMOND, Treasurer.

STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

THE only department of the work of the Union of which I shall speak in detail is its principal work, that of church-building aid. The figures are approximate.

When we analyze the work of the Union, with reference to its expenses, we find three periods.

In the first period, from its organization, June, 1853, to May, 1857, four years, the contributions to its general funds were a little over $6,000. This sum was all expended in the expenses of administration, including therein the publication of the Year Book. In 1856 a special fund of $3,117.78 was raised to aid church building in Kansas. All expenses of raising this fund were charged directly to the fund, and not included in the expenses of the Union. The second period is the period of a single secretaryship, covering nine years, from 1857 to 1866. In May, 1857, the Board, having the Kansas fund in their treasury, decided to enter on the work of church-building aid in addition to the general objects for which the Union had previously existed. They appointed a secretary, and for nine years employed but one. During this period the entire contributions received (exclusive of about $117,000, raised in 1865-6 by the effort of the first National Council) was $86,155. The number of churches aided in building houses of worship during these nine years was 187. The annual income increased to $13,997.

During this period the amount paid for salaries was
For other expenses

Total.

or about thirty-nine per cent of the receipts.

$20,974

12,536

$33,510

The third period is that of two secretaryships, from the eleven years from 1867 to 1877 inclusive.

To provide for an enlargement of the work, after the large collection of 1865-6, the trustees appointed two secretaries. The allotment of their duties, as stated in the report of the trustees for 1866-7, was as follows: "The associate secretary of the Union will have his office at No. 16 Tremont Temple, Boston, and will