ury. It should therefore be more
accurately described as that movement of the nineteenth century which,
recognizing the alienation of multitudes within the church from the
Christian faith and life appeals [sic] to all disciples of Christ by
all means to carry the Gospel to men of all classes who have strayed
away and to gather them into the communion and confession of the church.
It is a mission within the church and hence bears the name of Inner
Mission.

Such a call comes to us at a time when we are confronted with a problem
which almost staggers the imagination and when we are offered an
opportunity such as no other Protestant church enjoys.

The Problem of Statistics

The word statistics, according to the Century Dictionary, refers not
merely to a collection of numbers, but it comprehends also "all those
topics of inquiry which interest the statesman." The dignity thus given
to the subject is enhanced by a secondary definition which calls it "the
science of human society, so far as deduced from enumerations."

No branch of human activity can be studied in our day without the use of
statistics. Statesmen and sociologists make a careful study of figures
before they attempt to formulate laws or policies.

For church statistics we are chiefly dependent upon the tables of the
Synodical Minutes. The original source of our information is the
pastor's report of his particular congregation. Unfortunately the value
of these tables is greatly impaired by the absence of a common standard
of membership.

The New York Ministerium has no column for "communicant" members. There
is a column for "contributing" members, but these do not necessarily
mean communicants. Among the records of Ministerial Acts, such as
marriages and funerals, there is also a column for "Kommuniziert." But
even if the Holy Communion were to be classed among Ministerial Acts, it
sometimes happens that others besides members partake of the communion.
The term "Kommuniziert" therefore does not convey definite information
on the subject of communicant membership. For example, a congregation
with 160 "contributing members" reports 770 "Kommuniziert." It is hardly
conceivable that out of 770 communicant members only 160 are
contributing members and that 610 communicants are non-contributors.
Otherwise there would seem to be room for improvement in another
direction besides statistics.

The New York Ministerium also has no column for "souls," that is, for