The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-03-05
CALVARY CHURCH TO REOPEN.
History OF This FIourishing Oraanfza-
tion-Sketch of the Pastor.

The congregation of the Calvary
Baptist Church have been compelled
to make extensive repairs to their
church editice on Willow street. The
building had practically become so de-
cayed as to be dangerous for meeting
purposes. An examination by ex
perts showed that some work was
needed, and the congregation wisely
decided TO make thorough repairs
while they were at it. The work is
practically completed, and it is pro-
posed to devote all of next week and
the following Sunday and Monday
evening to appropriate services.
Calvary Baptist Church was or
ganized the first Sunday in March.
1889, with nine members, by Rev. AL
bert M. Lowery, and organized a
Sunday School with eighteen mem
bers. They worshiped at various
times in Young's hall, Morris street;
Kane's hall, South street; Runyon's
hall, Park place, and Banner building,
Washington street, before erecting
the present building on Willow street.
Tie church has had five pastors Rev.
Albert Lowery, year; Rev. E. w.
johnson. months; Rev. Joseph II. Bell,
16 months; Rev. E. Elliott, , years
and months, and the present pastor,
Rev. George Edmund Morris, D. D.,
II years and 6. month. When the
present pastor took charge of the
church on the first Sunday in Septem-
ber, 1894, he found it in bad condition
in every way and very poor. New
life and inspiration came to the
church membership and the lost con-
tidence of the public, owing to the
failure of the Sussex avenue project,
was soon restored SO that within a
years time all obligations had been
met and good nucleus for a building
fund secured. The present site was
purchased for 5000 and plans prepar-
ed for building. The third of Oct,
1895, the corner stone was laid and the
main building was dedicated during
the Christmas holidays of the same
year, The building, when fully COM
pleted four years later, with the
ground and furniture, cost $500
which was all paid off by August,
1908. The remodeling of the church,
just completed will cost 1880. The
membership has grown from forty
eight twelve years ago to about $50,
revised list, While the church has
not made special appeal to the pub
lie in eight years, it still is very
grateful for the assistance rendered in
it's time of dire need, and will be as
grateful for any help that may be ex-
tended to 1T at the present time when
the necessary repairs are proving a
very heavy burden.
The Rev. George Edmund Morris,
under whose faithful ministry the
Calvary Church has made SO credit
table showing, is graduate of the
Richmond Institute (now the Virgin
ia Union University, class of 80, and
of the Richmond Theological Seminary
where he was graduated with the de-
gree Of Bachelor OF Divinity, and in
1908 received the honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity. Since coming to
Morristown Mr.. Morris has been
identified with the State work, repre-
senting New Jersey at the Young
Peoples Religious and Educational
Congress at Atlanta. Ga, in 1902. He
is president of the Afro-A merican
Baptist State Convention of New Jer-
sey, has been for five years member
of the Board Of Managers of the New
England Baptist Missionary Conven-
tion, and vice-president from this
State OF the National Baptist Con-
yention of America, South America
and Africa, and an active member of
the Morris and Essex Baptist Associa-
tion, and served as member of the
Executive Committee. He is a preach
er of more than usual excellence, a
wise and tactful pastor and his in
tluence for good upon his people is
very great. He is universally respect
eu by all who know him and of his
work and we trust he has many years
of usefulness before him.