A Biographical Sketch of Henry Clay Morrison, D.D. The Man and His Ministry

The digital copies of this book are available for free at First Fruit's website.
place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits

AURTHOR'S PREFACE

It is a difficult task: to write a book, and still more difficult to write one that the public will care to read. The book that can get by the cold-blooded scrutiny of an unsympathetic public in these days of much book-making, must possess merit beyond the realm of the mediocre. This merit must be either a superfine production of English, so that the finish and technic of the quill will shine out on the pages blameless; a literary production, such as the critics will be forced to say that a. real contribution has been made to the literature of the times: or merit must be found elsewhere. The other content a book may possess, whereby it is possible to break in, and break through-is the Message. If a book comes with a message, filled with" human appeal," striking the heartstrings with such fervor and zeal, that an echo will touch the souls of others; if the writer of a book is fortunate enough to make such a discovery in the message that message will cover up a multitude of literary sins.

Impelled by this latter hope, that in helping others to our own view-point of a life--a life that has wrought in righteousness and truth-we venture before the public once more. The theme of this book is to the writer an untried field; it is not without some misgivings that we undertake the task. In this, however, we find a still stronger motive---giving strength and courage to the endeavor: it is a labor of love. Then, the journey which we shall ask our readers to take with us--beginning with barefooted obscurity, and ending upon a nation-wide and world-wide forum-shall be more of pleasure than of toil.

We believe the only biography that should be imposed upon a long-suffering public is of one whose life has made its impress upon the world sufficiently to make history. A biography that has to be created by literary genuflections is not worth the labor either to write, or afterwards-to read; but the life that has projected itself into the thought, aspirations, and ideals of an indifferent world-forcing attention in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles: the biographer in such cases has only to record what has been done. He is a chronicler, rather than an author. We feel that in the subject of this sketch all the specifications of what ought to appear in a biography have been met. We have known Dr. H. C. Morrison almost intimately for twenty-five years, and our friendship, love, and appreciation have grown with the passing decades. We beg of the reader such an interest in the theme as will help them to overlook the weaknesses and limitations in the preparation. May the recital of the dramatic scenes in the life of this faithful servant of God bring, in some measure, such blessings as his living ministry has been to the multitudes who have been thrilled and lifted heavenward by his message of tongue and pen, is the prayer of the author.

C. F. W.

Glasgow, Ky.

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CONTENTS

Nature's Environments

The Dynamics of Blood

Little "Bud"

The Boy

Conversion-The New Life

The Intervening Years

The Circuit Rider

Pastoral Sketches

Vanderbilt University and Else

His Pentecost

A New Call and New Vision

Tears and Triumphs

The Preacher

The Orator

The Evangelist

The Editor

The Author

The World Tour of Evangelism

The College President

What He Could Have Been

Life's Balance Sheet-Not Closed

An Appreciation By Ulysses Grant Foote, D.D.

Other Appreciations

The Christ of the Gospel Commencement sermon preached by Dr. H. C. Morrison, Asbury College.