LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn,
New York upon the occasion of its 90th Anniversary

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to celebrate the
milestones of those enduring places of worship within the State of New
York which serves the spiritual needs of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York upon the occasion of
its 90th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, The founder of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, Willis B. Wyatt,
arrived in New York City with his family several years after college; he
soon found a store front building at 25 Hunter Fly Place in Brooklyn,
where he was determined to do God's work; and
WHEREAS, On September 7, 1919, Pastor Willis B. Wyatt opened the doors
to the First Union Baptist Mission to six members, Maggie Wyatt, Clara
Fields, Louisa Mosely, Anna Jones, Jack Jones and Robert Hutchinson;
that same day, he established a Sunday School with only five children in
attendance; and
WHEREAS, The First Union Baptist Mission held its first monthly meet-
ing in November 1919; as membership began to increase, Pastor Willis B.
Wyatt saw a need to establish a Deacon, Deaconess and Usher Board; and
WHEREAS, The first Deacons were Brother Jack Jones, who was 92 years
old, and Brothers James Butcher, Robert Brandom and William H. Johnston;
the first Deaconesses were Sisters Louisa Mosley, Angeline Jones, Clara
Fields and Ida Watkins; the Usher Board began with one usher, Sister
Baylock; and
WHEREAS, In March 1920, the name of the First Union Baptist Mission
was changed to the Mount Sinai Baptist Church by its members at a
special meeting to give the church a permanent name and reflect its
purposes and direction; and
WHEREAS, Later that year, the Mount Sinai Baptist Church established a
missionary circle to serve and nurture the needs of its members and the
community; the first members were Sisters Ida Watkins, Catherine Jackson
and Queenie Pegram; and
WHEREAS, In December 1921, the Mount Sinai Baptist Church was forced
to move to 25 Chauncey Street but continued to look for a more fitting
and larger edifice; in March 1922, the church moved into its newly
purchased home at 1699 Atlantic Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The Mount Sinai Baptist Church continued to grow over the
next few decades and became known for offering a multitude of services,
activities, clubs and auxiliaries for its members; and
WHEREAS, In 1945, the founder and Pastor of the Mount Sinai Baptist
Church, Reverend Willis B. Wyatt passed away and his Assistant Pastor,
Reverend Paul Earl Jones was chosen to guide the church through the next
stage of its spiritual growth and development; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Reverend Paul Earl Jones, the member-
ship at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church increased rapidly and it became
necessary to search for a larger sanctuary; in 1951, a building at 107-
09 Marion Street was purchased and the church moved in on October 4,
1953 and it was dedicated in early 1954; and
WHEREAS, In 1954, the attorney for the Mount Sinai Baptist Church
informed the Trustees that the city was claiming all the property in the
vicinity of Marion Street and the congregation began to look for a new
home; and
WHEREAS, The Mount Sinai Baptist Church purchased its current home at
241-45 Gates Avenue in July 1955 and held its first service there on

January 1, 1956; six months later, the congregation mourned the passing
of its beloved Pastor, Reverend Paul Earl Jones on June 12, 1956; and
WHEREAS, A year after the death of Reverend Paul Earl Jones, the Mount
Sinai Baptist Church held a special meeting to elect a pastor, assisted
by the Eastern Baptist Association; on September 1, 1957, Reverend
William Lymon Lowe assumed his duties as the new pastor; and
WHEREAS, With Reverend William Lymon Lowe at the helm, the Mount Sinai
Baptist Church continued forging ahead both spiritually and physically;
missionary work increased by helping the needy and supporting organiza-
tions in house and abroad and the beautification of the interior of the
building continued with the help of the members; and
WHEREAS, After 27 years, Reverend William Lymon Lowe retired as Pastor
of the Mount Sinai Baptist Church on June 30, 1984; in his place, the
Pulpit Committee selected his assistant, Reverend Curtis L. Whitney, to
lead the congregation; and
WHEREAS, Mount Sinai Baptist Church stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York upon the occasion
of its 90th Anniversary, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy
the sparkling success which has so characterized its past; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.