Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-10-22
REV JAMES MORRISON.

readers. EDS. GAzETrE.l
REV JAMES MORRISON.
Though not native of Rock.
bridge, Mr.. Morrison spent the
greater portion of his life here,
laboring in the ministry, teaching
school, tilling the soil and truly
may it be said Of that useful citi-
zen, that he is one of those
"whOse works live after them.
He was born in the State of North
Carolina, Cabarras Co., March
oath, 1895. His higher grade OF
education was acquired at the
University of North Carolina, of
which institution he was u gradu-
ate. His ministerial labOrs COM
menced as a missionary, or rather
what is known as an Evangelist,
in the State of his nativity, after
being licensed to preach by the
Orange Presbytery, April 9Th, 1917.
INSTALLED PASTOR NEW PROVIDENCE.
He had been thus employed for
the space of Is months and having
received a call to become the pastor
of New Providence church, was
received into the Lexington Pres
bytery, April 22nd, 1919, and was
regularly installed as pastor of
that congregation during the ses-
sion Of Presbytery held there, Sept.
25th, Of the same year. For the
data, this connection, we are in
debted to the interesting pamphlet
entitled "a History of the Church
and Congregation of New Provi-
dence," prepared by Rev. +. ID.
Junkin, the present pastor of that
church. Mr.. Junkin in treating
Of Mr.. Morrison's installation,
gays, "The Rev. DR.. Baxter
preached the sermon; Rev. DR.. X.
H. Chapman presided and delivered
the charge to the peOple"-a trio
of the names divines of the Pres
byterian church which have been
reyerently cherished and will long
be remembered by the people of
this vicinity as well as in the much
wider field of their well earned
reputation.
Some weeks ago mention was
made in this paper Of the effects
of the Jones revival in the Provi-
dence congregation and the date
was fixed somewhat at random
then, about the year 1884. The
records of the church would indi-
cate the correctness in fixing upon
that date, for the church member
ship previous to that time, during
several years, had ranged from
two to three hundred and in 1884
it reached five hundred and ninety
one, result which is to be at
tributed to the religious interest
in the revival carried
on by the Rev. Isaac Jones. (The
name in the article before referred
to was inadvertently stated, Rev'd.
VIM. Jones. Mr.. Morrison partici-
pated zealously in this revival and |
must have given it great aid and
or it could not |
have continued so long or so sue
cessfully in the congregation. under
his charge; and among the results
we're the acquisition of some of |
the most valuable members Of that
church.
. Passionate OF THIRTY-EIGHTY YEARS.
1t is a very remarkable circum-
stance in the history Of the church
,ver which Mr.. Morrison presided,
hat in a period of something over
hundred years itshould have had
,ut three pastors, viz: Rev. John
Brown the first minister, called,
1853, and who during the earlier
,art of his ministry preached at
Iew Providence and Timber Ridge
hurches. Next Rev. Samuel
Brown (no relation of the former
,astor) called 1896 and filled the
pulpit of New Providence to the
late of his death, October 18th,
8lS. Then the Rev. James Nor
ison from 1919 to 1857, period
f 3S years.
What history, and what record
t church events did the life Of
uch man embrace? How much
Ike father must he have been to {
hat church, and how much like
hildren under "A fathers care, must {
ave been the numerous members, [
orn, reared, living and dying I
nder his venerable pastorship. In c
he latter years of his ministry it
lay be considered that nearly all c
nose Up to middle life, at least, c
.ithin the bounds of that cOngre- I
alton, were baptized and married =
t his HANDS. And that host who 7
ave been laid in the graveyard S
ose by, the funeral sermon of how =
any of them was preached by the 4
ev. James Morrison.