The Court Decides It: Dr. Morris is No Longer Pastor
June 4, 1898
Summary
A church calls for its own pastor to retire because they had "gotten tired of his methods" and "just didn't want him."
Transcription
The court St. Baptist Church turned over to those who oppose him.
The city sergeant obeys the order—another church will be organized—a fine site purchased.
The court Street Baptist Church trouble at Lynchburg, Va., has at last culminated in the defeat of Rev. P. F. Morris, D. D., and his retirement from the pastorate body.
There seems to have been no specific charge against the Rev. Dr. more than they had “gotten tired of his methods” and “just didn’t want him.”
On a regular church-meeting night, a large number of the dissatisfied members gathered, and although Rev. Morris conducted a prayer-meeting, they waited until his supporters were tired out singing and praying, and proceeded to elect a chairman protem and after vacating the deacon-board, declared the pulpit vacant.
Quite a clash took place on the Sunday following between the contending “wings” of the church. Rev. Dr. Morris secured an injunction from the Corporation Court and Judge Christian ordered the sheriff to take charge of the keys of the church, locking the same against both of the contending elements.
Both took depositions. The meeting at which Rev. Morris was voted out was set aside. The case was referred to commissioners Messrs. A. R. Long and G. E. Caskie, who were instructed to hold a special church meeting Friday, May 20, 1898, and take a vote of the bona-fide members of the church, as to whether Rev. P. F. Morris, D. D., should continue as pastor and Messrs. J. W. A. Pride, W. J. Calloway, Armistead Pride, Thomas M. Coles, Vaul Jones, James Glover, George D. Grimes, Henry Green, Jackson Wells, William Bryant and Benjamin Shelton shall continue deacons of the Court Street Baptist Church.
The vote as reported stood 309 for Rev. Dr. Morris and 637 against him, and 322 for the deacons and 623 against them.
Thereupon, City Sergeant S. H. Johnson was instructed to deliver the keys to the church building, the building itself and all of the property of the said church which may have come to his hands as such receiver to the trustees of said church, who are to hold the same subject to the will of the majority of the members of the said church. City Sergeant Johnson was allowed $50 for his services as receiver and the two commissioners $25 each. The expense was divided between the contending parties.
Rev. Dr. Morris and his supporters have purchased a fine site on 8th St., and will erect a handsome structure.
The divine was not in the city during the meeting. Quiet reigns once more in the Hill City.
The city sergeant obeys the order—another church will be organized—a fine site purchased.
The court Street Baptist Church trouble at Lynchburg, Va., has at last culminated in the defeat of Rev. P. F. Morris, D. D., and his retirement from the pastorate body.
There seems to have been no specific charge against the Rev. Dr. more than they had “gotten tired of his methods” and “just didn’t want him.”
On a regular church-meeting night, a large number of the dissatisfied members gathered, and although Rev. Morris conducted a prayer-meeting, they waited until his supporters were tired out singing and praying, and proceeded to elect a chairman protem and after vacating the deacon-board, declared the pulpit vacant.
Quite a clash took place on the Sunday following between the contending “wings” of the church. Rev. Dr. Morris secured an injunction from the Corporation Court and Judge Christian ordered the sheriff to take charge of the keys of the church, locking the same against both of the contending elements.
Both took depositions. The meeting at which Rev. Morris was voted out was set aside. The case was referred to commissioners Messrs. A. R. Long and G. E. Caskie, who were instructed to hold a special church meeting Friday, May 20, 1898, and take a vote of the bona-fide members of the church, as to whether Rev. P. F. Morris, D. D., should continue as pastor and Messrs. J. W. A. Pride, W. J. Calloway, Armistead Pride, Thomas M. Coles, Vaul Jones, James Glover, George D. Grimes, Henry Green, Jackson Wells, William Bryant and Benjamin Shelton shall continue deacons of the Court Street Baptist Church.
The vote as reported stood 309 for Rev. Dr. Morris and 637 against him, and 322 for the deacons and 623 against them.
Thereupon, City Sergeant S. H. Johnson was instructed to deliver the keys to the church building, the building itself and all of the property of the said church which may have come to his hands as such receiver to the trustees of said church, who are to hold the same subject to the will of the majority of the members of the said church. City Sergeant Johnson was allowed $50 for his services as receiver and the two commissioners $25 each. The expense was divided between the contending parties.
Rev. Dr. Morris and his supporters have purchased a fine site on 8th St., and will erect a handsome structure.
The divine was not in the city during the meeting. Quiet reigns once more in the Hill City.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“The Court Decides It: Dr. Morris is No Longer Pastor,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 15, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1392.