At the opening of the present century the revivals that prevailed in various sections of the church were' of special interest in the S.W., having in many cases singular physi cal accompaniments—and led incidentally, in 1811, to the formation of the presbytery of Cumberland. See C'IN.IBERI.,,ND PRESBYTERIANS. In 1822 the synod of the associate Reformed church, under the lead of Dr. John M. Mason, united with the Presbyterian church; a considerable minority, however, refusing to acquiesce in the vote of the ma• jority. retained their separate organization. During the following years the denomina tion increased very rapidly. New churches and presbyteries were multiplied in the middle and western states. In 1834 there were 22 synods, 111 presbyteries, and about 1900 ministers. In 1837-38 the division of the church into the old-schod and I new school branches occurred. See NEW-ScuooL and OLD SchooL PRESBYTERIANS. t con tinued until Nov., 1869, when terms of re-union, entirely equal and fraternal, were mutually adopted, and declared to be of binding force, at an adjourned meeting of both general assemblies, at Pittsburg, Penn. In 1870 the first reunited general assembly. com posed of commissioners chosen by all the presbyteries of both branches, met in Phila delphia, and reconstructed the church by consolidating the 51 synods into 33. and directing them to meet at specified times and places in order to reconstruct the presby tories within their bounds. These meetings were duly held, and the 259 presbyteries consolidated into 167.
The administration of the benevolent work of the reunited church was intrusted to the boards of foreign missions, home missions, and church erection, to be located in New York city; the boards of publication, ministerial relief, and- education, in PIIlladelphia; the committee on freedmen, to which was added in 1871 the -committee on sustentation, at Pittsburg, Penn. The theological seminaries were brought under one general plan, according to which, while their boards of directors have the general charge of them, including the election of professors, they report annually to the general assem bly, which has a veto power on professors newly elected, to be exercised, if at all, immediately after the election has been reported. Arrangements were commenced for celebrating the reunion by a genera) memorial fund, to be appropriated to any objects tending to establish the churches and extend their work at home and abroad. The amount thus contributed, as reported at the general assembly of 1871, was about $10,000, 000 additional to the regular contributions to the boards.
For the commencement and progress of the foreign missionary work of the Presby terian church see FOREIGN MISSIONS. Its home missionary work began with its own
existence. In 1707 the first presbytery resolved that every minister of the presbytery supply neighboring destituth places, where a minister is wanted, and opportunity of doing good offers. As the presbyteries and synods increased they greatly extended the work. In 1802 the assembly appointed a standing committee of missions to which the presbyteries were to report; in 1816 this committee was enlarged into a board having full power to transact all the business of the missionary cause, and to report annually to the assembly. From 1802-16 over 300 domestic missionaries were sent out, at a cost of $50,000; from 1816-38, 2,500 were sent out, at a cost of $230,000; from 1838-70, the old school branch alone sent out 16,000, at a cost of $2,800,000. Before the division, and for some time after it, the ne*-school branch carried on its home-mission work through the American home missionary society. In 1852 their assembly appointed a church-exten sion committee, and, in 1862, gave their whole work of home missions to the charge of the Presbyterian committee on home missions. From 1838-69 it is estimated that they sent out 8,800 home missionaries. After the reunion both agencies were united into one board.
The American Presbyterian church has from the beginning diligently prosecuted the work of education. In 1739 a school was established by the synod of Philadelphia. In 1747 the college of New 4,ersey was established by influential men in the synod of New York. Among the numerous colleges and universities since founded by Presbyterians are: Washington and Jefferson, 1802; Hamilton, 1815; 3laryville, Tenn., 1819; Centre, Ky., 1823; Hanover, Ind., 1827; Lafayette, 1831; Wabash, 1832; Lincoln, Penn., 1853; University, Cal., 1859; Blackburn, Ill., 1867; King, Tenn., 1857; Wooster, Ohio, 1870; Evans, Col., 1874; Parsons, Iowa, 1875. The theological seminaries are: Princeton, N. J., 1812; Auburn. N. Y., 1820; Western, at Allegheny, Penn., 1837; Lane, Ohio, 1832; Union, New York, 1836; Danville, Ky., 1853; Northwest, Chicago, Ill., 1859; Blackburn. Ill., 1867; San Francisco, Cal., 1871; German, Bloomfield, N. J., 1869; German, Dubuque, Iowa; Lincoln university (theological department); and Biddle memorial institute, Charlotte, N. C. (theological department). According to the reports made to the assembly, 1830, there are in connection with this branch of the church: 33 synods, 177 presbyteries, 5,338 ministers and licentiates, 5,489 churches, 578,671 com municants, 631,952 members of Sunday-schools, and the total amount of contributions in the preceding year was $8,361,028.