The New York herald., 1874-07-12
LEE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, BROOKLYN

Remarkable Rec0rd-Heavilyi in Debt
. Year Ago, Ostracised and Pursu ed
by Its Enemies, Now Strong in Num-
bers and FREQ from Debt.
Lee avenue Baptist church. Brooklyn, +. d.. has
q record that is, perhaps unparalleled In the his
tory OF churches in this vicinity. 1t has been the
pioneer OF open communionisIn in this section
and had to bear The brunt OF the battle for all who
have followed in its wake. It's pastor, Rev. j.
Hyatt Smith, originally o Western pastor, came
hIher and labored quietly without creating any
or very little stir in clerical circles, among
his own denomination, until a few years ago,
wnen he began to preach in favor of the union
and communion OF Christians as the body OF
Christ Then from preaching he went to writing
books about 'the gates ajar," and in his sacra-
mental invitations he was careful to explain to
communlcants that the table spread before the m
was the Lords and not Lee avenues or the Baptist
denomination's. and that allegiance to Christ was
the prime qualincation for participation in the
holy feast. This was objected to by many in the
Chnrch and out OF 1t, and the acceptance OF this
kind OF invitation by unimmersed Christians led to
the withdrawal OF some influential and wealthy
places were quickly filed by others OF equal II not
greater piety, though with less money. The
society had Dan new house Of worship on It's hands,
enemies sought to cripple 1t and to choke OH
THE HEaEsY OF OPEN COMMUNION.
An efrort was made TO get the pastor to resign or
the society to rid itself OF him. But the church
would not listen to any proposal OF separation,
and he held on Fifteen months ago there was a
debt of 5000 on the feeble society. Its mortgages
were I0reclosed. Its church proper was sold by
the Sheriff, and deacon In one OF the
close-communion churches-the Central-boughti it
in, hoping that the Lee avenue church would
not be able to redeem 1t within the time above
by law. ST. Johns Methodist Episcopal church and
the Reformed churcn, on Bedford avenue, took up
collections, aggregating 81 800, and other churches
here and elsewnere-of It's own and otnet denom-
nations jumped TO the rescue The pastor con-
tnued TO preach full and free salvation. and
room within hearing distance-without any
chance or seeing the speaker-could not be had at
any evening service during the past winter. And
to give better chance to the masses who came to
hear him Mr. Smith provided separate services Tor
young men when females were not admitted to
the building at all. The church edihce will hold
about 1000 persons, and 1T was not an uncommon
tnlng at those special services see from 500 to
500 young men rise In their seats after one OF his
pungent Gospel sermons and ask the prayers OF
Christians III their behalf The
CONVERTS MIGHT BE COUNTED by THE HUNDRED,
and baptisms were frequent; 701 have been bap-
tlzed already. And If Mr.. Smith had had the
Academy OF Music he could have filed it with
young people as easily as he did his own church.
HIS people have now paid or their Indebtedness
and are again free and independent and they IN
event.
The readers OF the HERALD win remember the
defiance which the Lee Avenue church and pastor
hurled at the Long Island Baptist Association last
tall, when the latter sought TO disellowsnip the
church. II 1t could take such stand then, when
1t was comparatively weak and heavily In debt 1t
certainly need not lear the malice OF It's enemies
now, when IL is strong and free from debt The
Association at that time appointed committee
TO hunt up the 'beretics" In Lee Avenue churca,
that at the next meeting they might be burned
seeing that they can't be drowned. But the COM
nit toe has not been made much the wiser by its
nine months inquiry, and the PROBABILITY Is that
ton It's connection with Lee Avenue church well
be severed.