The
digital copies of this book are available for
free at First Fruit’s website.
place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits
FORWARD
In my observation of conditions in our country, I have become fully persuaded that the Five Great Needs in order to the preservation of our homes, the spirituality of the Church, in its mission of evangelization of mankind, the building of character, enforcement of law, and the development of an intelligent, righteous and progressive civilization are:
First, good family government, with discipline and guidance, which produces obedience among children.
Second, the by the Holy Spirit of the individual in the early morning of life.
Third, that Christian Education which prepares one for the duties of life, and produces intelligent, citizenship.
Fourth, industry, beginning in early youth, that will take the place of the advantages of the city gymnasium; hoe-handle exercises that will make one healthy, industrious, guarding against wastefulness and producing a spirit of economy.
Fifth, the prompt enforcement of law, so that those who are criminally inclined will be deterred, realizing that if they do violate the law they will be promptly and severely punished. Leaving out the items mentioned above, or anyone of them, we break the strong, golden chain that would bind our civilization together for the very best there is for the times in which we are living, and the future history of our country. I am hoping this booklet will have a wide circulation and thoughtful reading.
Respectfully
H. C. Morrison
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CONTENTS 1. The Hickory Limb
2. The Mourner’s Bench
3. The Book
4. The Hoe
5. The Policeman’s Billy
Noted evangelist and founder of Asbury Theological Seminary, Henry Clay Morrison (1857-1942) was a Kentucky-born preacher, ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, who served churches from 1878 to 1882. Feeling the call to evangelize with a dynamic message of conversion, entire sanctification and holiness of life, Morrison left the pastorate to focus on evangelism, even to the point of conflict with his own denomination. His evangelistic work was a lifetime endeavor, but reached a high-water mark with a year-long evangelistic tour around the world from 1909-1910. Upon completing his world evangelistic tour, Morrison became the president of Asbury College from 1910 to 1925. At that time, he founded Asbury Theological Seminary to foster the development of preachers committed to holiness and evangelism. From 1925 until his death in 1942, Morrison served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary. He even resumed the mantle of president of Asbury College again from 1933 until he retired in 1940. Henry Clay Morrison was also committed to proclaiming the Gospel through the written word, founding The Old Methodist newspaper (ultimately to become The Pentecostal Herald), which he edited for thirty-five years. Morrison wrote twenty-five books and published many more through the Pentecostal Publishing House, another of his many projects. The assets of this press were left to Asbury Theological Seminary in Morrison's will, and First Fruits is now proud to begin releasing these rare materials once again as part of our holiness heritage for a new generation.
