Lyman C. Pettit (October 1868 in

Northumberland, New York Northumberland is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 4,603 at the 2000 census. The name derives from Northumberland, a location in Great Britain. The Town of Northumberland is at the county's eastern border, ...

– March 8, 1950 in

Lockport, New York Lockport is both a city and the Lockport (town), New York, town that surrounds it in Niagara County, New York, Niagara County, New York (state), New York. The city is the Niagara county seat, with a population of 21,165 according to 2010 census ...

)"Death of Lyman C. Pettit", ''Brooklyn Eagle'' (March 10, 1950):13, https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/72425289/person/48260317709/media/83a899ef-d41a-4fb2-8776-675f20896863?_phsrc=JhJ15414&usePUBJs=true was the founder and first president of the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute (now

Eastern Nazarene College The Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) is a private, Christian college in Quincy, Massachusetts. Established as a holiness college in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1900, the college moved to Rhode Island for several years. With its expansion to a four-ye ...

); the founding pastor of both the Congregational Methodist Church of

Saratoga Springs Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...

, and the First People's Church of

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

; and an

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform va ...

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

who was the pastor of churches in the

Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...

, the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (a forerunner to the

Church of the Nazarene The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged in North America from the 19th-century Wesleyan-Holiness movement within Methodism. It is headquartered in Lenexa within Johnson County, Kansas. With its members co ...

), and the

Presbyterian Church in the United States of America The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was the first national Presbyterian denomination in the United States, existing from 1789 to 1958. In that year, the PCUSA merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North Americ ...

Biographical summary

Family and early years

Lyman Clayton Pettit was born in

in October 1868, the oldest child of Orville Daniel Pettit (born October 1832 in

Saratoga, New York } Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,141 at the 2000 census. It is also the commonly used, but not official, name for the neighboring and much more populous city, Saratoga Springs. The major villa ...

; died 25 May 1905 in Northumberland, New York), a retail

grocer A grocery store (American English, AE), grocery shop (British English, BE) or simply grocery is a store that primarily retails a general range of food Product (business), products, which may be Fresh food, fresh or Food preservation, packaged ...

; and Sarah Frances Robinson Pettit (born 8 July 1849 in Northumberland, New York; died 27 April 1922 in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

, who had married on 6 September 1866 at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of

Gansevoort, New York Gansevoort is a hamlet in the town of Northumberland in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The hamlet of Gansevoort is named for Peter Gansevoort, a hero in the siege of Fort Stanwix (Fort Schuyler) which contributed to the downfall of Burg ...

. After the birth of their oldest child, Orville and Sarah had four more children: Charles Warren Pettit (born 10 May 1869 in Northumberland, New York; died 20 November 1931 in

Middleport, New York Middleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,840 at the 2010 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Village of Middleport ...

). Mira A. Pettit (born Oct 1870 in Northumberland, New York; died 6 Oct 1915 in Northumberland, New York); Orville Bertrum "Bertie" Pettit (born 7 October 1873 in Northumberland, New York; died 21 March 1941 in

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagara ...

); and Alvadore "Allie" Franklin Pettit (born 10 August 1878 in Northumberland, New York; died 13 September 1956 in

Glens Falls, New York Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census. The name was given by Colonel Johannes Glen, the falls refe ...

). By July 1870, Pettit was living with his parents, and younger brother, Charles, in Northumberland, New York, where his father was employed as a retail

, and who was also

Town Clerk A clerk is a senior official of many municipal governments in the English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the United States, the position is elected, but in many others, the clerk is appointed to their post. In the UK, a To ...

of Northumberland in 1869 and 1873; By June 1880 Pettit was living with his grandfather, Lyman Robinson (born about 1830 in New York), a farmer; his grandmother, Almira Robinson (born about 1832 in New York); and one of his younger brothers, Bertie, on the Robinson farm in Northumberland, New York. Pettit's father, Orville D. Pettit, was now a school teacher, who also lived in Northumberland, with his wife, Sarah, and three of their children: Charles, Mira, and Allie. About 1888 Pettit married Minnie Hettrich (born January 1869 in New York), the youngest child of

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

n immigrants, John P. Hettrich (born about 1823 in Hamburg, Prussia), a tailor, whose store was then at 463 Broadway Avenue in Saratoga Springs; and Louisa Hettrich (born about 1832 in Hamburg, Prussia). Pettit and his wife had only one child, a son: Lyman Hettrich Pettit (born 10 May 1889 in Hyndsville, New York; died 19 February 1922 in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.Central New York Conference Seminary"Fundamentalists Win Contest Name People's Church Pastor", ''The Bridgeport Telegraph'' (10 January 1927):2. (now

Cazenovia College Cazenovia College is a private college in Cazenovia, New York. Founded as the Genesee Seminary in 1824 and sponsored by the Methodist Church, in 1894 the college adopted the name of Cazenovia Seminary. It was reorganized in 1942 after church spon ...

), at

Cazenovia, New York Cazenovia is an incorporated Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Madison County, New York. The population was 6,740 at the time of the 2020 census. The town is named after Theophilus Cazenove , Theophile Cazenove, the ''Agent Gener ...

, "the second Methodist seminary to be established in the United States","History of the College", http://www.cazenovia.edu/about/history-cazenovia-college and from its inception in 1824 one of the first co-educational schools in the nation. After completion of his pre-college studies, Pettit completed four years at the Syracuse College seminary in

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...

. By 1914 Pettit was listed as having a

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

, however from 1921 he was listed as having received a

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

(D.D.) degree. A 1925 source indicates Pettit had a

Doctor of Sacred Theology The Doctor of Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated STD), also sometimes known as Professor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STP), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church, ...

(S.T.D.).

Personal

Pettit was "an impressive person, with a commanding personality and a natural gift for oratory."Cameron, 19.

Ministry

Methodist Episcopal Church (1887–1895)

Gansevoort Methodist Episcopal Church (1887–1889)

By 1887 Pettit, while still a

Methodist local preacher A Methodist local preacher, also known as a licensed preacher, is a layperson who has been accredited by the Methodist Church to lead worship and preach on a frequent basis. With separation from the Church of England by the end of the 18th century ...

, was granted a

licence to preach Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform vari ...

, and was assigned to the Gansevoort Methodist Episcopal Church. At the 1887 Conference there was a report that "A gracious revival influence has pervaded the district, and a majority of charges have gathered a precious harvest of souls". Among those churches that receiving a large "ingathering" was Gansevoort. In April 1888 Pettit was ordained as a

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

in the Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Cyrus David Foss (born 17 January 1834 in

Kingston, New York Kingston is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, United States. It is north of New York City and south of Albany, New York, Albany. The city's metropolitan area is grouped with t ...

; died 29 January 1910 in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

). Pettit was ordained as a traveling

of the first class,. which is the beginning of a two-year probation period towards ordination as an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which authorised him to "baptize and perform the office of matrimony in the absence of the elder; to assist the elder in administering the

Lord's Supper The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...

; ndto do all the duties of a traveling preacher."

Hyndsville Methodist Episcopal Church (1889-1890)

In 1889 Pettit was appointed as the pastor of the Hyndsville Methodist church, near Cobleskill, New York. While pastoring at Hyndsville, Pettit's only child, Lyman Hettrich Pettit, was born on 10 May 1889.

Chestertown Methodist Episcopal Church (1890–1893)

In 1890 Pettit was appointed pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in

Chestertown, New York Chestertown is a hamlet of the Town of Chester, in Warren County, New York, United States. It is located by the junction of Route 8 and U.S. Route 9, in the Adirondack Mountains. The population was 677 at the 2010 census, which lists the communit ...

. During his pastorate at Chestertown, there was a "most notable revival", where "about one hundred and fifty have been converted during the year, every part of the charge sharing in the gracious work." After his graduation from seminary, Pettit was ordained at the 1892 annual Conference as an elder in the Methodist Episcopal church at

Troy, New York Troy is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany a ...

, and elected secretary of the Troy Conference's

Epworth League Founded in 1889, the Epworth League is a Methodist young adult association for people aged 18 to 35. It had its beginning in Cleveland, Ohio, at its Central Methodist Church on May 14 and 15, 1889. There was also a Colored Epworth League. Before ...

, the Methodist youth organization. About this time, Pettit's brother, Charles, was assigned to the Methodist church at Saratoga.

St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, Cohoes (1893-1894)

By 1893 Pettit had replaced Rev. Henry Wright as the pastor of the St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, located at the corner of McElwain Avenue and Walnut Street,

Cohoes, New York Cohoes ( ) is an incorporated city located in the northeast corner of Albany County in the U.S. state of New York. It is called the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile manufacturing to its growth in the 19th century. The city's f ...

. Pettit and his family lived in the Methodist manse at 66 McElwain Avenue. On Sunday, 15 October 1894, Pettit failed to appear to preach at the St. James' church. According to a report published the next day in ''The New York Times'':

The congregation of St. James' Methodist Church waited until noon Sunday for the pastor, the young and eloquent Rev. L.C. Pettit, but he did not appear, nor has he been seen since. He has been suffering from
nervous exhaustion Neurasthenia (from the Ancient Greek νεῦρον ''neuron'' "nerve" and ἀσθενής ''asthenés'' "weak") is a term that was first used at least as early as 1829 for a mechanical weakness of the nerves and became a major diagnosis in North ...
for some time.

Pettit had eloped with an unnamed female, and was accused later of committing adultery.M. E. Billings, ''Crimes of Preachers in the United States and Canada'' 7th ed. (Truth Seeker Co., 1905):131. Pettit subsequently returned to his wife. Pettit and his family subsequently left Cohoes and moved to Saratoga Springs. After a complaint had been filed against him and a subsequent investigation, the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of 1895 voted to allow Pettit to withdraw from the Methodist church "under Charges or Complaints" and "under censure".

West Side Mission, Saratoga Springs (1895–1896)

In 1895 Pettit, his brother, Charles W. Pettit, and J.H. Lovemoney established the independent West Side Mission in a storeroom at 92 Woodlawn Avenue, Saratoga Springs with no financial backing., with Pettit becoming the superintendent. Services were held at 7.45pm on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, as well as another service at 4.00pm on Sundays and Sunday School at 2.30pm each week Pettit and his family resided at the Mission, and his parents lived nearby at 144 Woodlawn Avenue. In January 1896 Pettit organized from this work the Mission Circle, with a membership of sixty who were "banded together for the conversion of sinners and the spread of scriptural holiness."Cameron, 18.

Congregational Methodist Church, Saratoga Springs (1896-1898)

Just down the road from the West Side Mission, on 30 September 1896 Pettit established the Congregational Methodist Church, an independent holiness congregation, and he was chosen as the founding pastor. At that time the West Side Mission seems to have been discontinued. According to James R. Cameron, "Growth was so rapid and the church so prosperous that ground was broken for a beautiful new church and parsonage the following spring. By fall the structure was completed". at 120 Woodlawn Avenue (at the corner of Van Dam Street).

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...

, While it cost more than $11,000 to build, by 1900 more than half of the mortgage was paid. The church was considered "the finest Pentecostal church building in the East at that time." Pettit and his family resided next door at 118 Woodlawn Avenue, and his parents lived at 146 Woodland Avenue. The Congregational Methodist church held services at 10.30am and 8.00pm each Sunday, with Sunday School at 2.30pm and Prayer Meeting at 7.30pm. In 1897 an additional service was added at 7.30pm on Thursdays.

Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (1898–1902)

Grace Pentecostal Church (1898–1902)

In 1898 Pettit led this congregation into an affiliation with the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (APCA), which had been founded in 1896. Soon afterwards his brother, Rev. Charles Warren Pettit, became the pastor of the Immanuel Pentecostal Church in

. In 1898 the name of the Saratoga Springs church was changed to the Grace Pentecostal Church of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. By 1900 the church held services at 10.30am and 8.00pm on Sundays, held Sunday School at 2.30pm, and its weekly Prayer Meeting at 7.30pm on Thursdays. By 1900 the church membership was nearly one hundred, making it one of the strongest congregations in the APCA. Due to the increase in the number of churches affiliating with it, in 1900 the APCA divided its work into three districts, with Pettit chosen as one of the assistant secretaries under the supervision of Home Missions Secretary Rev.

Hiram F. Reynolds Hiram F. Reynolds (1854-1938) was a minister and general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. Biography Reynolds was born 1854 in Lyons, Illinois. He was converted at age twenty-two and began preaching the following year in the Methodist ...

. Pettit resigned as pastor as of 1 May 1902, and after a ten-week gap, was replaced by Rev. Ernest E. Angell, a Congregationalist minister.

Pentecostal Collegiate Institute (New York) (1900–1903)

Soon after he joined the APCA in 1899, Pettit began to articulate the need for a school for training preachers, missionaries and evangelists and other Christian workers for the APCA, to the extent that "Pettit was one of the main advocates for starting the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute."Cunningham, 70.

, one of the founders of the APCA, was influential in convincing the delegates at the 4th annual meeting of the APCA in April 1899 to create a Committee on Education to "consider the matter of Pentecostal schools; to outline courses of study for training preachers, missionaries, and evangelists; and to deal with such other interests as might come before them." At the same meeting, the APCA elected a standing committee on education with Pettit as chairman and Reynolds chosen to be the financial secretary.Smith, 64. During the following year this committee recommended the establishment of Pentecostal schools and the adoption of a course of study for preachers. The recommendation was adopted by the next annual meeting in April 1900.Redford, 45. Pettit was chosen to be first president of the new Pentecostal Collegiate Institute and Bible Training School, however he received no salary and relied on continuing to pastor the Grace church for his support. By the summer of 1900, Pettit had recruited a faculty and the APCA's official periodical, the ''Beulah Christian'' announced that the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute would begin operation in September 1900. All faculty were required to be in the experience of

entire sanctification Christian perfection is the name given to theological concepts within some sects of Christianity that purport to describe a process of achieving spiritual maturity or perfection. The ultimate goal of this process is union with God characterized by ...

, and the Bible was to be "the Great Textbook". During the summer of 1900 Pettit was active in recruiting students while speaking at

camp meeting The camp meeting is a form of Protestant Christian religious service originating in England and Scotland as an evangelical event in association with the communion season. It was held for worship, preaching and communion on the American frontier d ...

s from Canada to Pennsylvania. On 25 September 1900 PCI commenced with Rev. William H. Albrecht (born June 1856 in New York), a former Methodist clergyman from the New York Conference, who had recently joined the APCA, chosen to be principal, and five other teaching staff, and 51 students For the first year, PCI was based in the rented Garden View House, a disused resort hotel. The students were enrolled in PCI's

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

, and its preparatory department. Unlike Bible Colleges of that day, PCI was a post-secondary school

collegiate institute A collegiate institute is an institution that provides either secondary or post-secondary education, dependent on where the term is used. In Canada, the term is used to describe an institutions that provide secondary education, while the word is us ...

and for its first two years had a

liberal arts Liberal arts education (from Latin "free" and "art or principled practice") is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term ''art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the ...

program with "Latin, Greek, modern languages, art, music, and oratory" in its

curriculum In education, a curriculum (; : curricula or curriculums) is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view ...

for ministerial students. PCI specially rejected the use of

higher criticism Historical criticism, also known as the historical-critical method or higher criticism, is a branch of criticism that investigates the origins of ancient texts in order to understand "the world behind the text". While often discussed in terms of ...

to study the Bible. From its inception, there was a commitment to a balanced educational preparation for ministry, however "tremendous pressure was applied throughout the year to bring every student into a profession of saving and sanctifying grace. Scenes of rather unrestrained emotional fervor were characteristic." By the end of the first school term, "virtually all were converted, and most of them were sanctified wholly".Redford (1948 ed.), 111. During the first year, Albrecht resigned as principal, and Pettit was chosen to become his successor. At the 6th annual meeting of the APCA held in April 1901, the standing Education Committee recommended that "a building be erected for the Pentecostal College at a cost not to exceed $20,000, provided that $10,000 in good subscriptions could be secured." The school's name was changed to the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute and Biblical Seminary.''Directory of Saratoga Springs'' (1901):17. At the beginning of its second year of operation on 10 September 1901, an

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

was added, and the enrolment had increased to 78 students: "Thirty-three enrolled in the college preparatory course, nineteen in the Biblical

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

, and twenty-six in other departments." On 17 September 1901, the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' reported that Pettit had purchased the Kenmore Hotel located at 556 Broadway Avenue (at the corner with Van Dam Street) in Saratoga Springs from Max Marx as the permanent location of PCI. The

deed In common law, a deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms or confirms an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions, sealed. It is commonly associated with transferring ...

s to the three-story hotel and its lot were issued in Pettit's own name rather than in the name of the PCI or the APCA.Cunningham, 71. At this time Rev. David C. Thacher had become PCI's third principal, while Pettit remained President of PCI, as well as chairman of the executive committee. Other members of that committee were: Secretary: Rev. Joseph Caldwell Bearse (born 4 October 1869 in South Chatham, Massachusetts; died 2 July 1931 in

South Portland, Maine South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state, incorporated in 1898. At the 2020 census, the city population was 26,498. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is sit ...

), then pastor of the APCA Church at

Malden, Massachusetts Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 66,263 people. History Malden, a hilly woodland area north of the Mystic River, was settled by Puritans in 1640 on la ...

; Financial Secretary: Rev. Hiram F. Reynolds; and Treasurer: Rev. Charles H. BeVier (born 5 September 1858; died about 1905), then pastor of the John Wesley Pentecostal Church in

. Pettit continued to serve as the pastor of the Grace Pentecostal Church. At the 7th annual meeting of the APCA held in April 1902, Pettit reported that "the number of faculty members had increased to fourteen and the enrollment had nearly doubled. The school building, including furnishings throughout, had been purchased at a cost of $16,500." Further, Pettit indicated that for his administration the purpose of PCI was that "the school might be not only a holiness college but a holy college striving to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world." Due to conflicts with Pettit over unauthorised expenditures and unfunded debt levels, the Education Committee of the APCA decided to dismiss Pettit and disown PCI at its 1902 meeting. They also decided to sell the property of the school "as soon as sale could be effected advantageously", and relocate to a new site at

North Scituate, Rhode Island North Scituate is a village in the town of Scituate, Rhode Island. Since 1967, the village has been home to the Scituate Art Festival.

. According to official Nazarene historian Timothy L. Smith:

Pettit's zeal outran the limits of financial wisdom, and his personal life fell far short of the heights which he proclaimed in his sermon oratory. A new building, purchased in the summer of 1901 for $16,500, remained heavily in debt. Bills for improvements and operating expenses were secured by a
second mortgage Second mortgages, commonly referred to as junior liens, are loans secured by a property in addition to the primary mortgage. Depending on the time at which the second mortgage is originated, the loan can be structured as either a standalone secon ...
of dubious legality. The property turned out at last to have been deeded entirely to Pettit. These facts did not become clear, however, until May 1902, when H. Brown visited Saratoga to investigate rumors of fanaticism and questionable moral conduct on the part of the leaders of the school. Brown found the rumors amply confirmed.

In late April 1902 Pettit withdrew from the APCA, and continued to operate the school himself until it closed in February 1903. However, Pettit was unable to meet the

mortgage A mortgage loan or simply mortgage (), in civil law jurisdicions known also as a hypothec loan, is a loan used either by purchasers of real property to raise funds to buy real estate, or by existing property owners to raise funds for any pu ...

commitments, and filed for

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...

on 29 August 1903 with debts of $26,483 and assets of $22,124. In 1904 Pettit was declared

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debt ...

. Rev.

William Howard Hoople William Howard Hoople (August 6, 1868 – September 29, 1922) was an American businessman and religious figure. He was a prominent leader of the American Holiness movement; the co-founder of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of Americ ...

, one of the founders of the APCA, who had been elected superintendent of home missions for APCA in April 1904, argued that the APCA should assume certain debts of PCI in Saratoga. When the APCA refused to accept responsibility for some of the Saratoga debts, Hoople resigned as superintendent of home missions.

First People's Church of Brooklyn (1905–1911)

After Pettit was rejected for ministry and membership in the Presbyterian Church, in 1905 Pettit and his family moved to

and established the First People's Church of Brooklyn, New York, at 45th Street and 12th Avenue in

Borough Park, Brooklyn Borough Park (also spelled Boro Park) is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City. The neighborhood is bordered by Bensonhurst to the south, Dyker Heights to the southwest, Sunset Park to the west, ...

, with himself as founding pastor. Its 1906 Manual described it as "Evangelical in doctrine" and "Congregational in government". Pettit described the church as undenominational and "purely

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...

".''NEW YORK CHARITIES DIRECTORY'' (1911):737. By 1911 the church membership was 127 and increasing. By the time Pettit resigned as pastor in early July 1911, the church property was valued at $30,000. On Sunday 23 July 1911, the congregation voted to affiliate with the

Disciples of Christ The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...

, becoming the Borough Park Christian Church, with Rev. Roland J. Nichols of Indiana becoming pastor of the hundred member congregation.

Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (1911–1941)

In 1911 Pettit became a minister in the

Hornell, New York (1911-1914)

From 1911 Pettit pastored a Presbyterian church in

Hornell, New York Hornell is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Steuben County, New York, Steuben County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 8,259 at the 2020 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early set ...

Greene Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, New York (1914-1918)

In 1914 Pettit became the pastor of the Greene Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 957-63 Greene Avenue (between Reid and Patchen Avenues) in the Eastern District of

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. Pettit and Minnie; his son, Lyman H. Pettit (and his wife, Clara Gertrude Hodge (born about 1891 in Pennsylvania), and their two children) who by 1917 was a salesman for the

Remington Typewriter Company E. Remington and Sons (1816–1896) was a manufacturer of firearms and typewriters. Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, on March 1, 1873, it became known for manufacturing the first commercial typewriter. History The ...

and a ministerial student at the Bloomfield Theological Seminary in

Bloomfield, New Jersey Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township's population was 53,105. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District. History The initial patent for the land that w ...

; lived at 961 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn.

West Presbyterian Church, Newark, New Jersey (1919–1925)

On 20 February 1919 Pettit was installed as the pastor of the West Presbyterian Church at the corner of Littleton Street and Eleventh Avenue in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.spinster ''Spinster'' is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. The term originally den ...

; and Isabella Aldrich (born about 1858 in New York), who was divorced; and Isabella's daughter, Ruth I. Aldrich (born 1896), who was a school teacher. On February 19, 1922, Lyman H. died and was buried in Saratoga Springs on February 21, 1922. Within one year of Pettit's arrival, the church membership increased significantly. Despite the largeness of the congregation, Pettit resigned in 1925 due to Minnie's health, and because her doctor recommended the clearer country air.

First Presbyterian Church, Thompsonville, Connecticut (1926–1927)

On 9 March 1926, in a special session of the Connecticut Valley Presbytery, Pettit was admitted to the presbytery so that he could become the pastor of the First Presbyterian church, the first Presbyterian church in the state, at the corner of Church and North Main Street,

Thompsonville, Connecticut Thompsonville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population of the CDP was 8,577 at the 2010 census. History Thompsonville was established in the 19th century as a carpet-m ...

, the urban center of

Enfield, Connecticut Enfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, first settled by John and Robert Pease of Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The population was 42,141 at the 2020 census. It is bordered by Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and East Longm ...

People's Presbyterian Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut (1927–1931)

On 9 January 1927 Pettit was elected pastor of the People's Presbyterian Church at 42 Laurel Avenue,

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

, in controversial circumstances. Conducted during the Fundamentalist–Modernist Controversy within the

, Pettit was supported by the older church members who were described as

fundamentalists Fundamentalism is a tendency among certain groups and individuals that is characterized by the application of a strict literal interpretation to scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, along with a strong belief in the importance of distinguishing ...

, against six other candidates including Rev. Clifford L. Le Duc (born about 1891), then pastor of the Bethesda Presbyterian Church in

, a candidate they perceived to be a

modernist Modernism is both a philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new forms of art, philosophy, an ...

, winning with a vote of 73 to 48. Pettit's starting salary was voted to be $3,600 ''per annum'' and use of the church

manse A manse () is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other Christian traditions. Ultimately derived from the Latin ''mansus'', "dwelling", from '' ...

at 36 Laurel Avenue. Pettit started his pastorate on 15 February 1927, and according to John B. Wynkoop, the church's financial secretary, in an interview on 2 February 1928: "Since Dr. Pettit became pastor of our church, one hundred new members have been added to our church.""People's Church Take Over Its Larger Edifice", ''The Bridgeport Telegram'' (2 February 1928):2. Additionally, the increase in church membership, Sunday School and Young People's work necessitated extensive additions costing $27,0000, including an extension in the size of the

Sunday School A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

facilities. In an attempt to identify itself with the conservative reaction to increasing liberalism within Presbyterianism, in 1930 the church changed its name to the Westminster Presbyterian church, reflecting the actions of J. Gresham Machen who had left

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of ...

to form the Westminster Seminary in 1929.

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Lockport, New York (1931–1941)

By 1931 Pettit was living in

Williamsville, New York Williamsville is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 5,423 at the 2020 census. The village is named after Jonas Williams, an early settler. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical ...

. In March 1931 Pettit conducted

evangelistic In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are in ...

services in nearby

Clarence, New York Clarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States, northeast of Buffalo. The population was 32,950 according to the 2020 census estimate. This represents an increase of 7.4% from the 2010 census figure. ...

in the northeast part of Erie County. On 13 August 1931 the ''Amherst Bee'' reported that Pettit had accepted the call to pastor the Calvary Presbyterian Church (founded 1878) at 232 South Street,

. Pettit was pastor at this church until 1942, and the Pettits lived at 226 South Street.

Later years and death

Pettit and his wife, Minnie, continued living in

. Minnie died in January 1945."Attend Funeral", ''The Post-Star'' (Glens Falls, NY) (January 9, 1945):3, https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/72425289/person/48260317710/media/16553189-5c4e-494a-a568-b54fc762431e?_phsrc=JhJ15422&usePUBJs=true Pettit remained in Lockport until his death there on Wednesday, March 8, 1950.