27. The "River Brethren" is an organization in Pennsylvania and other states, so-called to distinguish them from the German Baptists or Brethren above-mentioned. Their meetings are generally held in dwelling-houses, or barns fitted up with seats; in other respects, they are similar to the German Brethren. Their numbers have been stated as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. 1860 65 80 7,000 More recent statements make no important alteration in these numbers. 28. The "Disciples of Christ," or, as the denomination is often called, "Baptists," "Reformed Baptists," "Reformers," "Campbellites," etc., originated in the early part of the present century. The first advocates were Thomas and Alexander Campbell in Pennsylvania. The statements of their numbers have been as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. 1842 -- -- 200,000 1850 848 1,898 218,618 1863 1,500 1,800 300,000 1867 -- -- 300,000 The average annual increase, according to these statements, has been in twenty-one years, in members, 4,762. 29. The first appearance of the Puritans, since known as "Congregationalists," was in the early part of Queen Elizabeth's reign. The first church formed upon Congregational principles was that established by Robert Browne in 1583. The denomination is the largest in New England, and exists in small bodies in a number of the states. Their numbers are stated to be as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. 1742 1,150 1,300 160,000 1850 1,687 1,971 147,196 1858 1,922 2,369 230,093 1861 -- -- 259,119 1862 2,643 2,884 261,474 1863 2,594 2,729 253,200 1864 -- 2,856 268,015 1865 2,761 2,723 263,296 1866 2,919 2,780 267,453 1867 2,971 2,825 278,362 1868 -- 2,951 291,474 1869 -- 3,043 300,362 The average annual increase of this denomination during the last twenty-five years has been as follows: Ministers. Churches. Members. In 25 years 73 61 4,734 30. The denomination of "Unitarians" arose in this country from a division of opinion among Congregationalists on the divinity of Christ. Their statistics contain no report of the membership. All who are respectable and orderly members of the society are admitted to the sacraments if they desire to be. Their numbers for a series of years have been estimated at 30,000.