Ministers. Churches. Members. 1843 1,434 2,092 159,137 1850 1,860 2,512 200,830 1860 2,577 3,487 279,630 1861 2,767 3,684 300,874 1863 2,205 2,541 227,575 1865 2,201 2,629 232,450 1866 2,294 2,608 239,306 1867 2,302 2,622 246,330 1868 2,330 2,737 252,555 1869 2,381 2,740 258,903 1870[23] 4,234 -- 446,561 [23] Old and New School united. The statistics of the Southern division are given as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. 1865 811 1,277 83,821 1867 850 1,309 80,532 1868 837 1,298 76,949 1870 840 1,469 82,014 The average annual increase of the denomination previous to the division caused by opposite views on political questions was as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. In 18 years 74 89 7,874 The average annual increase of the whole denomination (North and South) to 1868 has been as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. In 25 years 70 78 6,958 12. The division of the Presbyterian Church was entirely consummated in 1840, by the meeting of a General Assembly representing the seceders, or "New School." Subsequently, the loss of the Southern churches by the "Old School" denomination, and the increase of the anti-slavery sentiment in the Northern portion, suggested a reunion with the "New School" soon after the outbreak of the recent war. At length, in 1868, one General Assembly met in Albany, while the other was in session in Harrisburg, Pa. A plan of union was mutually prepared, which, on being approved by the local presbyteries, went into effect in 1870. The statistics of the "New School" Presbyterians have been as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. 1839 1,171 1,286 100,850 1860 1,527 1,483 134,463 1861 1,558 -- 134,760 1862 1,555 1,466 135,454 1863 1,616 1,454 135,894 1865 1,694 1,479 143,645 1866 1,739 1,528 150,401 1867 1,870 1,560 161,538 1868 1,800 -- 168,932 1869 1,848 1,631 172,560 The average annual increase in twenty-eight years has been as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. In 28 years 24 10 2,167