Elias Smith (1) (1769–1846)

Elias Smith was a prolific author, writing and publishing many books, sermons, and hymnals. He was a preacher, physician, journalist and clergyman. Smith, along with the preacher Abner Jones, founded a group of Christian Churches in New England that eventually merged with other like-minded, regional groups to become the denomination known as the Christian Connexion. Smith founded The "Herald of Gospel Liberty" in 1808. Later changed to “The Gospel Proclamation”. It was the first gospel teaching paper published in the new world.