Ministers. Members. 1843 300 20,000 1850 500 20,000 1860 565 21,000 1867 -- 25,000 1869 220 20,000 Average annual increase in twenty-five years, 200. 37. The African Methodist Episcopal Church owes its origin to the prejudice against the colored members and attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the early days of the latter, this prejudice was so deep that the colored persons were not unfrequently pulled from their knees while at prayer in the church, and ordered to the back seats. This denomination has greatly increased by the addition of emancipated slaves. Its statistics are as follows: Ministers. Members. 1842 -- 15,000 1860 -- 20,000 1864 -- 50,000 1865 405 50,000 1866 -- 70,000 1867 1,500 200,000 1869 1,500 200,000 The average annual increase in twenty-five years has been 7,500. 38. The operation of the same prejudice against color in New York gave rise to the "Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church." Its statistics show a large increase recently at the South, and are as follows: Ministers. Members. 1842 -- 4,000 1860 -- 6,000 1864 -- 8,000 1866 -- 42,000 1867 300 60,000 1869 -- 164,000 The average annual increase of the denomination has been 2,008. 39. The "Methodist Episcopal Church, South," is the second largest body of Methodists in the United States. It arose from a division of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in accordance with resolutions of the General Conference in 1844. The membership of this denomination has been reduced by the war, by the invasion of its territory by the Northern Methodist Episcopal, and by the African and Zion churches. Its statistics are as follows: Ministers. Members. 1850 1,500 465,553 1860 2,408 699,164 1866 3,769 505,101 1867 3,952 535,040 1869 presents no important change. The average annual increase in seventeen years has been 4,087. 40. The "Free Methodist Church" originated in 1859, and consisted of a few congregations in New York and other Northern states. Its statistics have been as follows: Preachers. Members. 1864 66 3,555 1866 85 4,889 1868 94 6,000 The average annual increase in two years has been 617.