NOTE: I have no connection, no further information and am not seeking additional information. 11353 UNION CO WILLIAM MORRISON Morrison, Hall, Seay, Buck 11353 A HISTORY OF KENTUCKY BAPTISTS from 1769 to 1885 by J. H. Spencer, Vol. II, 1886. WILLIAM MORRISON was among the fathers in this fraternity. He was born of Presbyterian parents at Aberdeen, Scotland, May 25, 1795. Having been well education, he embarked ford America, at the age of 23, and arrived in Philadelphia, in the fall of 1818. Here he found the Presbyterian General Assembly in session. Forming the acquaintance of Rev. N. H. Hall, of Kentucky, he was induced to accompany him to his home, and was employed by Mr. Hall as a clerk in a dry goods store at New Market in what is now Marion County. After two or three years, he established himself as a grocer, in Springfield, Washington county. Here, on the 7th of August, 1823, he was married to Elizabeth G. Seay, a lady of eminent virtues. In the fall of 1827, he closed up his business in Springfield, and moved to Union county, where he bought a farm and settled, about six miles from Uniontown, and near the same distance from Morganfield. In the following spring, he and his wife professed religion and united with the Presbyterian church at Morganfield, he having been christened in the Kirk o Scotland, in his infancy. Soon after his union with the Morganfield church, he was elected to a ruling eldership. He was zealous in public prayer and exhortation, and through the solicitation of his brethren, was preparing to attend the approaching meeting of the Presbytery, in order to be set apart to the ministry. Meanwhile, his wife had become convinced, by a close study of the subject, that infant baptism and affusion for baptism, were unscriptural. She now induced her husband to read that immortal work, Pengilly on Baptism. This raised so many doubts in his mind, that he declined to attend the Presbytery, and resolved to thoroughly study the whole subject. He finally arrived at the conclusion, that nothing but the immersion of a true believer in Christ, is scriptural baptism. On the 19th of August, 1832, he and his wife were baptized into the fellowship of Highland Baptist Church in Union county, by Wm. C. Buck, and, at the following church meeting, he was licensed to preach. On the resignation of Mr. Buck, Mr. Morrison was called to the pastoral care of Highland church, to which office he was ordained by Wm. C. Buck, Mar. 16, 1834. This ordination caused some dissatisfaction, on account of its having been performed by only one minister. The subject was brought before Highland Association, in 1834, and the following opinion was given: This Association is of opinion that although the act was in violation of the letter of the constitution of the Association, yet the Association deemed it prudent to acknowledge the ordination, while it hopes that Bro. Buck, the church at Highland, and all others concerned, will be more tenacious of this rule in future. Mr. Morrison continued to serve Highland church, as pastor, from ordination, till his death, a period of about 24 years. Under his ministry, it was exceedingly prosperous, and no less than six other churches have been constituted of its membership. Of these, Mr. Morrison was directly instrumental in gathering Zion and Uniontown, in Union county, and Mt. Pleasant and Bethlehem, in Henderson. He was laborious also in the broad mission field beyond the bounds of his pastoral charge, and was the first missionary employed by Little Bethel Association. He continued to preach with untiring zeal and activity, till the Master called him from the field, to his rest, on the 24th of August, 1858. On a marble slab that marks his resting place are engraved the words: a sinner saved by grace, placed there by his request. Mr. Morrisons preaching talents were not above medium; but they were supported by an undoubted piety, and used with consecrated diligence. He was greatly beloved, and implicitly trusted by the people among whom he labored, and his influence was extensive and salutary. His eminently godly and faithful wife is (1884) still lingering on the shore of time, and doing what she can to advance the cause to which she has been scarcely less useful than her husband. KYBIOGRAPHIES Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=kybiographies KYRESEARCH: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.kentucky.tips/mb.ashx