Lee Elmore Baker was born to Rev. and Mrs. La Forest Baker in Bristol, Conn., Dec 23, 1894. His education was interrupted by three years of manual labor in field and forest, but in 1914 he was graduated from Hitchcock Free Academy in Brimfield, Mass. He was baptized by his father and became a member and organist of the Palmer, MA Advent Christian Church.
He entered Aurora College, became a Sunday School teacher and choir director in the Aurora Advent Christian Church, and engaged in musical evangelism in many states. After resisting the call of God to the ministry, he at length publicly dedicated his life at the Plainville, Conn., Advent Christian Campmeeting in 1917, following a summer of field work for Aurora College. At the request of his first church, Mineral, IL, he was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Northern Illinois Advent Christian Conference at Mendota, Nov. 11, 1918.
The day after his graduation from Aurora College on June 13, 1918, he was united in marriage with Cornelia Mae Smith, (the grand-daughter of Rev. Clarence W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora Church, and a sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith), in the Aurora Church, by Rev. David H. Woodward. Mr. Leon Corliss played the organ at the Bakers' wedding and at his funeral, fifty-six years later. Mrs. Baker became an inspiring helper in pastoral ministries in Mineral, 1918-1920, Seattle, 1921-1933, Pasadena, 1933-1941 and Oakland, 1941-1947, and in denominational services as his private secretary, when he became Executive of the Advent Christian General Conference at Aurora.
During his Seattle ministry of thirteen years, a new church building was erected, and he earned the degrees of Master of Arts at the University of Washington, and Bachelor of Divinity at the Pacific Theological Seminary. In 1942 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Aurora College.
He held many responsible denominational offices, including the Presidency of two state conferences and of the Advent Christian General Conference for sixteen years, 1942-1947 and as full-time President Executive, 1947-1958. He also served as Editor of the Messiah's Advocate, 1941-1947 and as speaker at many conferences and campmeetings.
From 1961 until his retirement in the fall of 1972, he served as the Associate Pastor of the Advent Christian Church of Aurora, IL. He was a resident of the Advent Christian Home, Dowling Park, FL, from 1972 until his death, Sept. 27, 1974.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife. The funeral was held in Bixler Memorial Church with Pastor Weldon Chambers presiding. Rev. Norval Richardson read the biographical sketch. Rev. Robert Chriss sang one of Dr. Baker's favorite hymns, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," and the congregation sang another, "Gleams of the Golden Morning." Rev. Joe Tom Tate gave the meditation and benediction. Burial followed in the Home Cemetery.
Compiled from various sources by Duane E. Crabtree, 16 Nov 2022
Married Cornelia Mae Smith of Aurora, IL; sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith; grandchildren of Rev. C.W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora, IL, Advent Christian Church.
He entered Aurora College, became a Sunday School teacher and choir director in the Aurora Advent Christian Church, and engaged in musical evangelism in many states. After resisting the call of God to the ministry, he at length publicly dedicated his life at the Plainville, Conn., Advent Christian Campmeeting in 1917, following a summer of field work for Aurora College. At the request of his first church, Mineral, IL, he was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Northern Illinois Advent Christian Conference at Mendota, Nov. 11, 1918.
The day after his graduation from Aurora College on June 13, 1918, he was united in marriage with Cornelia Mae Smith, (the grand-daughter of Rev. Clarence W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora Church, and a sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith), in the Aurora Church, by Rev. David H. Woodward. Mr. Leon Corliss played the organ at the Bakers' wedding and at his funeral, fifty-six years later. Mrs. Baker became an inspiring helper in pastoral ministries in Mineral, 1918-1920, Seattle, 1921-1933, Pasadena, 1933-1941 and Oakland, 1941-1947, and in denominational services as his private secretary, when he became Executive of the Advent Christian General Conference at Aurora.
During his Seattle ministry of thirteen years, a new church building was erected, and he earned the degrees of Master of Arts at the University of Washington, and Bachelor of Divinity at the Pacific Theological Seminary. In 1942 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Aurora College.
He held many responsible denominational offices, including the Presidency of two state conferences and of the Advent Christian General Conference for sixteen years, 1942-1947 and as full-time President Executive, 1947-1958. He also served as Editor of the Messiah's Advocate, 1941-1947 and as speaker at many conferences and campmeetings.
From 1961 until his retirement in the fall of 1972, he served as the Associate Pastor of the Advent Christian Church of Aurora, IL. He was a resident of the Advent Christian Home, Dowling Park, FL, from 1972 until his death, Sept. 27, 1974.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife. The funeral was held in Bixler Memorial Church with Pastor Weldon Chambers presiding. Rev. Norval Richardson read the biographical sketch. Rev. Robert Chriss sang one of Dr. Baker's favorite hymns, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," and the congregation sang another, "Gleams of the Golden Morning." Rev. Joe Tom Tate gave the meditation and benediction. Burial followed in the Home Cemetery.
Compiled from various sources by Duane E. Crabtree, 16 Nov 2022
Married Cornelia Mae Smith of Aurora, IL; sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith; grandchildren of Rev. C.W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora, IL, Advent Christian Church.
Lee Elmore Baker was born to Rev. and Mrs. La Forest Baker in Bristol, Conn., Dec 23, 1894. His education was interrupted by three years of manual labor in field and forest, but in 1914 he was graduated from Hitchcock Free Academy in Brimfield, Mass. He was baptized by his father and became a member and organist of the Palmer, MA Advent Christian Church.
He entered Aurora College, became a Sunday School teacher and choir director in the Aurora Advent Christian Church, and engaged in musical evangelism in many states. After resisting the call of God to the ministry, he at length publicly dedicated his life at the Plainville, Conn., Advent Christian Campmeeting in 1917, following a summer of field work for Aurora College. At the request of his first church, Mineral, IL, he was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Northern Illinois Advent Christian Conference at Mendota, Nov. 11, 1918.
The day after his graduation from Aurora College on June 13, 1918, he was united in marriage with Cornelia Mae Smith, (the grand-daughter of Rev. Clarence W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora Church, and a sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith), in the Aurora Church, by Rev. David H. Woodward. Mr. Leon Corliss played the organ at the Bakers' wedding and at his funeral, fifty-six years later. Mrs. Baker became an inspiring helper in pastoral ministries in Mineral, 1918-1920, Seattle, 1921-1933, Pasadena, 1933-1941 and Oakland, 1941-1947, and in denominational services as his private secretary, when he became Executive of the Advent Christian General Conference at Aurora.
During his Seattle ministry of thirteen years, a new church building was erected, and he earned the degrees of Master of Arts at the University of Washington, and Bachelor of Divinity at the Pacific Theological Seminary. In 1942 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Aurora College.
He held many responsible denominational offices, including the Presidency of two state conferences and of the Advent Christian General Conference for sixteen years, 1942-1947 and as full-time President Executive, 1947-1958. He also served as Editor of the Messiah's Advocate, 1941-1947 and as speaker at many conferences and campmeetings.
From 1961 until his retirement in the fall of 1972, he served as the Associate Pastor of the Advent Christian Church of Aurora, IL. He was a resident of the Advent Christian Home, Dowling Park, FL, from 1972 until his death, Sept. 27, 1974.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife. The funeral was held in Bixler Memorial Church with Pastor Weldon Chambers presiding. Rev. Norval Richardson read the biographical sketch. Rev. Robert Chriss sang one of Dr. Baker's favorite hymns, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," and the congregation sang another, "Gleams of the Golden Morning." Rev. Joe Tom Tate gave the meditation and benediction. Burial followed in the Home Cemetery.
Compiled from various sources by Duane E. Crabtree, 16 Nov 2022
Married Cornelia Mae Smith of Aurora, IL; sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith; grandchildren of Rev. C.W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora, IL, Advent Christian Church.
He entered Aurora College, became a Sunday School teacher and choir director in the Aurora Advent Christian Church, and engaged in musical evangelism in many states. After resisting the call of God to the ministry, he at length publicly dedicated his life at the Plainville, Conn., Advent Christian Campmeeting in 1917, following a summer of field work for Aurora College. At the request of his first church, Mineral, IL, he was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Northern Illinois Advent Christian Conference at Mendota, Nov. 11, 1918.
The day after his graduation from Aurora College on June 13, 1918, he was united in marriage with Cornelia Mae Smith, (the grand-daughter of Rev. Clarence W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora Church, and a sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith), in the Aurora Church, by Rev. David H. Woodward. Mr. Leon Corliss played the organ at the Bakers' wedding and at his funeral, fifty-six years later. Mrs. Baker became an inspiring helper in pastoral ministries in Mineral, 1918-1920, Seattle, 1921-1933, Pasadena, 1933-1941 and Oakland, 1941-1947, and in denominational services as his private secretary, when he became Executive of the Advent Christian General Conference at Aurora.
During his Seattle ministry of thirteen years, a new church building was erected, and he earned the degrees of Master of Arts at the University of Washington, and Bachelor of Divinity at the Pacific Theological Seminary. In 1942 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Aurora College.
He held many responsible denominational offices, including the Presidency of two state conferences and of the Advent Christian General Conference for sixteen years, 1942-1947 and as full-time President Executive, 1947-1958. He also served as Editor of the Messiah's Advocate, 1941-1947 and as speaker at many conferences and campmeetings.
From 1961 until his retirement in the fall of 1972, he served as the Associate Pastor of the Advent Christian Church of Aurora, IL. He was a resident of the Advent Christian Home, Dowling Park, FL, from 1972 until his death, Sept. 27, 1974.
Dr. Baker is survived by his wife. The funeral was held in Bixler Memorial Church with Pastor Weldon Chambers presiding. Rev. Norval Richardson read the biographical sketch. Rev. Robert Chriss sang one of Dr. Baker's favorite hymns, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee," and the congregation sang another, "Gleams of the Golden Morning." Rev. Joe Tom Tate gave the meditation and benediction. Burial followed in the Home Cemetery.
Compiled from various sources by Duane E. Crabtree, 16 Nov 2022
Married Cornelia Mae Smith of Aurora, IL; sister of Dr. Clarence R. Smith; grandchildren of Rev. C.W. Smith, the first pastor of the Aurora, IL, Advent Christian Church.
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