"But it is possible that some, calling to mind the large number of weak congregations at the East--where denominational rivalry is less active than at the West--may claim that this feebleness is but a part of the necessary imperfection of human arrangements; that we must always have the poor with us, and that it is not the sectarianism of the West which so reduces our churches. It were sufficient to suggest, in reply, that the weak churches in the older states are found where the communities are weak, in barren or uncultivated districts, or in regions depopulated by emigration, while a large proportion of the feeble churches of the West are in populous, vigorous, growing communities, where nothing but irreligion or division could keep the congregations from being numerous, and where nothing less than the combination of the two could keep them so small as they are. Yonder are three debilitated churches struggling for existence against each other. Is it necessary to ask whether, if they were joined in one, and were with one heart and voice contending for the kingdom of God, the Christian strength of that community would not be greater? "_Proportion of weak Churches at the West._ "But facts are at hand which show that the relative number of feeble churches is much larger at the West than at the East. Of the churches in Illinois and Iowa connected with three leading denominations, the proportion that must be accounted very weak--having not more than twenty-five communicants--is almost twice as great as in the same denomination taken entire, and amounts to nearly _two fifths_ of the whole number reporting. These, again, taken with those whose membership ranges between twenty-five and fifty, make up nearly _seventy per cent._ of the whole!" * * * * * The author would ask attention to a few questions in view of these statistics. The above table was formed from _reporting_ churches. There are 934 churches _not reporting_. Giving to these last the average proportion of ministers and weak churches, and we find this result: Whole number of churches 7187 Ministers acting as pastors and supplies 4336 ---- Churches without ministers 2851 That is to say, in three of our largest and most wealthy and intelligent denominations, _nearly one third_ of their churches are without ministers, and _nearly one half_ of them have not over fifty members, and the majority of these members, no doubt, are women. Then the relative number of ministers is _constantly decreasing_. In this state of things, to what is the Church and ministry coming?