The United States Census
Nearly fifty years ago F. D. Srygley wrote the following under the above caption in the Gospel Advocate:
"Several years ago I started out in all good faith to be a Christian and obey all the commandments of God without joining any denomination, championing any party, or becoming a sectarian is religion It is a pretty hard thing to do, I admit; but I could get along reasonably well on that line is it were not for this everlasting United States census "round up" every ten years. These census fellows never can get the idea into their woodenheads that a man can be a Christian and yet not belong to any denomination. They seem determined to pen up the Lord's people in little denominational stalls, so that they may be counted, marked, branded, labeled, and waybilled for heaven and immortal glory in "original packages." They are after me now to get me into the pen with "us as a people," and they will put a party yoke on every man who will wear it. I am going to keep out of the party pen of "us as a people," if I can; but if they force me into it, by the blessings of God I will butt the cross fences all down if I can and get all those little denominational herds mixed up so that there will be but one flock, with Jesus as the Shepherd."
Now that "we, as a people" have been again properly counted, with "our" schools and papers and orphans' homes and what have you; and have been classified as one of the leading denominations in the country and duly impressed the government with "our" importance: we preachers can now get back to the main job of preaching the gospel and saving the lost, and the churches can get back to the tasks assigned them in the New Testament. If it so happens that our great Uncle Samuel did not get you listed and classified in this denominational "roundup," do not be unduly alarmed. If your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, you will finally reach heaven and immortal glory whether Uncle Samuel ever finds it out or not.