Monday, December 31, 2012

Recognition of Contributors to the restoration of Morrison Park


Morrison Park Summer 2012

The Morrison Park Camp Meeting Association would like to recognize the following people, churches, and organizations who have thus far contributed time, effort and monies to the restoration of this historic and wonderful site. 
Carl and Mary Lou Jackson
Houchens Industries
Joey Crews
Sue Lynn and Bob McDaniel
Roy and Joyce Buchanan
Tootie Bishop
Linda Bewley Mayberry
Steve Morrison
Rita Neighbors
 Marshall Bailey
 Boyds Creek Methodist Church
 Jimmy Smith
 Rev. John Brewer
 New Salem Methodist Church
 Ed Darst
 Buck and Pat Riddle
James Henry Richey
 Bob and Edie Bell
 Delbert and Barbara Birge
 Kevin Birge
 Doris Oliver
 Charles and Helen Crabtree
Temple Hill Golden Oldies Club
Johnny and Allison Day
Nancy Richey
Gary Bewley
Connie Pendleton and the Siloam Baptist Church Sunday School
David and Sheila Milam
East Main Methodist Church
Temple Hill Baptist Church
Sidney Williams
Floyd Ray Jones (Falling Timber Dairy)
Wood Men of the World
Roger and Wandaline McCoy
Harold and Susan Jackson
Charles Smith
Maxine Underwood
Tony Richey and the Temple Hill Fire Department
Anthony Shoultz
Danny R. Daniels
Mike and Joan Hudspeth
Richard Chambers
Gina Lyon
Danny Simmons
Omar Barbour
Barren River Rod and Gun Club
Ernest Chambers
Becky and Bobby Joe Barrick of Awards, Inc.
Floyd and Ruby Cockerham
Bryan and Kuristen Jones
Nell Doris Stewart
Margaret Bowles
Mrs. Lemmuel Martin
South Central Kentucky Genealogical Society
County Judge Davie Greer
Jerry Harvey
Square Deal Lumber Company
Dickerson Lumber Company
Glasgow Electric Plant Board
There have been many other anonymous donors and we apologize if we have overlooked anyone. Special thanks to Buck Riddle who engineered the reconstruction of the J. L. Piercy cabin, with great assistance from Delbert Birge and Bob Bell. Also, special thanks to Bob and Edie Bell for the arts and crafts and beautiful flowers/landscaping of the park. Also, special thanks to Roger Gentry and the Barren County Correctional Center work crews for the mowing and maintenance of the park.

The Morrison Park Board of Directors would again like to thank Wayne Sexton of Sexton Recording Service along with all the singers and musicians who participated in the” Music for Morrison Park” CD, and the more recent "Christmas Music for Morrison Park" CD. We are especially appreciative to each one purchased the CD's which have been a great success.  We thank everyone in the community for the many kind comments and ask for your support as we continue our efforts to restore this historic site which belongs to all the people of Barren County.

 

The History of Morrison Park Holiness Campground Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky


   The Morrison Park community we know today began with  the story of a young orphan boy who through providence was led to the good people of this County where he found love and experienced the effects of a Godly devout people who worshipped in spirit and truth. It was a community in the mid 1800’s that was so committed to the service and obedience of the Lord that most everyone attended church, prayed dutifully and not a single axe handle would ever be heard in use on Sunday, as the whole community respected and honored the Lord’s day. This young boy at the age of eleven was so touched by the this environment and the great drawing power of God’s invitation to salvation that he found himself willfully and longingly on the altar of grace in the nearby community Methodist Church of Boyd’s Creek. When Morrison was saved, he experienced a salvation that was joy filled and full of glory. It is a salvation so great and wonderful that he knew for a fact he had found the Lord, and experienced a new birth confirmed by the receiving of the spirit as promised in the New Testament Scriptures. Immediately this young boy was called to service by the Lord. Morrison’s first act, that very night, was to go forth and beseech his own unsaved teacher standing at the rear of the church to come and seek Christ. God soon directed the young boy to set up an altar in his own home, the old rustic log cabin home of his grandfather William Morrison, who’s house sat on highway 63, just across and a few hundred yards down from the present day Morrison Park Holiness Camp. God was using this small boy to his service as nightly, he read scripture and led in prayer, thereby witnessing to all, his household, visiting family, and occasional travelers the truths of God’s word. Morrison would also attend other nearby churches, and often after the preaching would walk the aisles, begging and pleading with others especially young people to heed the call of God and come to an altar of prayer. Although Morrison would not officially become a licensed minister until a few years later when he would leave Barren County with a half- brother and attended  Perryville United Methodist Church, most everyone would agree, God’s dramatic calling of this young man to his service began right here in Barren County Kentucky at the altar of Boyd’s Creek Methodist Church.

   The story of Morrison’s great accomplishments and his work for the Lord are more numerous than could ever be written in this space provided.  At home here in Kentucky, Morrison was twice President of Asbury College at Wilmore Kentucky, and both times saved the college from financial ruin and bankruptcy. No one doubts, Asbury College would not be in existence today without the efforts, works and prayers of H.C. Morrison. Morrison would later found a Theological Seminary at Asbury that is still in operation to this day, being one of the most prestigious seminaries in the nation. Morrison published and served as Editor for a very popular religious publication “The Pentecostal Herald”, which carried his sermons, as well as those of other prominent ministers, around the nation and various parts of the world. Morrison wrote many books, and was one of the most respected and highly known ministers of the day. During the great Holiness Movement in America, Morrison rose like a colossus, preaching all across America from the smallest to the largest cities and is regarded to this day as the greatest advocate of Holiness. The most prominent words of praise for Morrison came from the great William Jennings Bryant who proclaimed H.C. Morrison the greatest pulpit Orator on the American continent.

   Despite the constant demand for Morrison all across the nation, Morrison still took the time and felt the need to establish a special place of worship in his own hometown of Glasgow/ Barren County Kentucky. “Pentecostal Park”, later evolving into the name “Morrison Park”, was founded in 1900 on the very farm that had once been the plantation of his great grandfather John O. Morrison who settled here from Virginia around 1800. A portion of this property had become the farm of the grandfather who raised the orphan boy. Morrison had played, worked, and roamed this land as a boy.    

   Morrison Park Camp Meeting was a six acre park, dedicated to the preaching of Jesus Christ, and the Holiness message. The park had a large open air tabernacle for the preaching services. There were many small cottages supplied with simple cots. There was a large wood frame building commonly referred to as “the hotel”, with a dining room downstairs and a number of rooms above. A few years later Rev. J.L. Piercy had a more elaborate log, lodging cabin constructed there for his own use, and following in the same design, a larger cabin was built by Morrison for use as a working library for the community. In more recent years a modern restroom building was provided and a caretaker’s house was built. The park flourished in attendance over the years with great success. Hundreds, even at the greatest of times, a thousand in number would be on the grounds of the park for the religious services. Many who traveled greater distances literally would live on the park for the two week period, thus giving it the name “Camp Meeting”. Prominent ministers, singers, and special guest were secured each year to provide the spiritual services that resulted in no doubt thousands of souls being saved.  In time the park grew old, and in need of great repair. Along with this decay in the physical nature of the park came a decline in attendance and support and by the late nineteen nineties, the park suffered a crippling blow when the huge tabernacle was damaged by storm, causing its eventual removal. The general consensus among those in charge was that the day of the camp meeting was surly over and therefore the park lay mostly untouched for about fifteen years.

  In December 2010, a Godly directive caused some local residence to begin a reconstruction of the grounds and the repairable structures that remained. The result has been most favorable. Much of the Park has been cleared, and at this time the two log cabin buildings have been refurbished and stand in good repair. This has been accomplished by generous donations on the part of many citizens, churches and groups who have graciously supported our efforts. It has also been accomplished because of the generosity of wonderful men like Buck Riddle, Delbert Birge, and Bob Bell who gave their time freely to perform this great work. Edie Bell has spent countless hours and planted beautiful flowers all over the park, making it truly come to life. There have been so many wonderful donations and acts of support. I wish space was provided to list everyone who has done so much, and is still doing so much. Let me say on behalf of myself and all that is Morrison Park, “we love you, and thank God every day for you.” We can never say “thank you, “enough. Still, there remains so much more to be done, the greatest being the rebuilding of the tabernacle so that once again God’s word may be proclaimed on this sacred hillside.

Morrison's Testimony of Salvation


                    A Testimony of Salvation 

                 THE TESTIMONY OF HENRY CLAY MORRISON,

              BOYD’S CREEK METHODIST CHURCH, BARREN COUNTY KENTUCKY Ca. 1868



I arrived at church a little late, and, on going forward to the “mourners’ bench,” found it full of seekers. So I kneeled down at the end of the front bench, in the “Amen Corner”, up next to the wall and commenced to pray. I did not hear the sermon. But after Bro. Phillips concluded the people sang and came around and instructed the seekers. Someone came to me and said” Joe Mansfield has found peace. Take courage and the Lord will save you.” To think that the Lord was so near, that others were saved, and that I was in darkness, plunged me more into despair. I began to wail out my sorrow at the top of my voice. Uncle Emory Hammer , a devout deacon in the Baptist Church, came to me. I was flat, face down on the floor. He took me into his arms and lifted me up upon his bosom. He pressed his mouth against my ear and whispered, “Buddie, God is not mad at you.” That shot through me a ray of hope. I began to say, ”Sir? Sir? Sir? “ I wanted him to repeat that. He was quiet for a while. Then he pressed his dear old mouth through his heavy mustache up to my ear and whispered, “Buddie, God loves you.” What a thrill it gave me! Again, I began to say “Sir? Sir? Sir? Longing for a repetition. He held me tightly in his big arms and by and by he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “Buddie, God so loved you that He gave his only son to die for you.” Something inside of me said, “that is so.” My burden fell off. A joyful sense of forgiveness went through me. I leaped to my feet praising the Lord. I felt as if I would burst with a gracious agony of joy and praise. My whole heart was aglow with love. I leaped for joy. Mike Smith, a neighbor boy was sitting on the steps of the old- time pulpit, planked up in front of me at one end. I caught him about the neck and hugged him with all my might; it seemed that I would die of joy if some vent of expression could not be found. Everyone looked so beautiful, my heart was aglow with love. I leaped into the pulpit, ran across and shook hands with the choir, and then faced the people and began to exhort them to come to Christ. I saw my schoolteacher, one of the best educated men in the neighborhood, and a skeptic, halfway down the aisle, looking at me. I ran out of the pulpit, ran down the aisle, embraced him and wept and begged him to give his heart to Christ. He did make a profession of faith sometime afterward and united with the church. Many years of conflict have passed away since that glad night, but sitting here in the silent room, by the smoldering fire in the grate, the memory of the incidents of that happy hour are as clear and as fresh in my mind as if they had occurred only last week; it seems that I can almost see the bright faces which smiled upon me that evening, and almost hear the songs. I thank God I still have the peace He gave me then.  
 

Abridged from, the books, Life Sketches and Sermons 1903, and Some chapters of My Life Story 1941, by Henry Clay Morrison

Christmas Music For Morrison Park

Christmas Music for Morrison Park is a musical CD release featuring local performers with all the proceeds going directly to the restoration of the Historic Morrison Park Holiness Camp Meeting Grounds located about 4 miles from Glasgow, Kentucky on Hwy 63.
Morrison Park is governed by a Board of Directors, but belongs entirely to the community. There is however, absolutely no funding provided from any source, other than personal contributions, and money raised from various events and projects. Our current fund raising project is the Christmas for Morrison Park CD. The CD features local performers who gave their talents as well as contributing an equal share of the production cost. This enables 100% of the proceeds to go directly to the park’s restoration. The CD features several different styles of music, from contemporary, traditional, Southern and Country Gospel and one track even features a Celtic harpist. The songs are wonderfully performed and professionally recorded by Wayne Sexton (Sexton Recording Services in Cave City, Kentucky). Some of the performers include Sexton, The Heavenly Heirs, Judge Phil Patton, Dennis Devore, Debi Simmons, Robbie Jones, Joy and Anthony Greer, Randy Richardson, Sheila Atwell, Marshall Bailey, The Greers, Anne Bewley, Dane Bowles, Sharon Burgess, Herman Hume, along with other singers and musicians. The Christmas selections include, A Strange Way to Save the World, A New Star Shining, Carols Sing, When Love Was Born, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, The Angels Cried, and more traditional tunes like, Silent Night, White Christmas, and Jingle Bells. The CD gives the community an opportunity to enjoy a new collection of great Christmas Music, and hear some local talent they might otherwise never get to experience, as well as doing so much to help out such a worthy cause. The Morrison Park Camp Association hopes you will consider participating in this great fund raising effort. The greatest treasure of all on the CD is a short segment featuring the actual voice of Henry Clay Morrison from a 1930 radio address, provided by Asbury Theological Seminary Archives. The CD will sell for $10 and may be purchased at Awards Inc. on the square in downtown Glasgow, and from many of the performers included on the CD. For more information about the CD, the park, or any help you may wish to provide, contact, Gary Bewley 2731 Tompkinsville Rd. Glasgow Kentucky 42141. Please email glbewley@glasgow-ky.com or Ph. 270-834-9553. Also available is a collection of Gospel Music, Music for Morrison Park 2011, featuring many of the same performers who are featured on the Christmas CD.

 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Morrison Park Restoration Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky

In December of 2010, work began on restoring Morrison Park Camp Meeting grounds and cabins. The park encompasses five acres and has been the scene of revival camp meeting services for approximately 100 years. The park began in 1900 under the direction of Dr. Henry Clay Morrison who was raised within sight of the camp ground on his grandfather's farm.
The park has a long, rich history of preaching by Morrison and other prominent ministers and guests including Alvin C. York.  Morrison Park Camp Meetings were held annually. At its zenith, some services attracted as many as 1000 people who attended and worshipped here.  Sadly, the ravages of time and severe storms in the 1990s, damaged the open air tabernacle where the worship services were held and the park ceased to function for a time. The lack of funds, along with the fear of  many that the days of camp meetings were over added to its decline. Two original log cabins remained on the park grounds, one of which was built at the direction of Rev. H. C. Morrison. It was built as a working library for the community and the other was a small lodging cabin that was built by Rev. J. L. Piercy. The cabins, like the tabernacle, were in danger of being lost forever. However, the recent restoration efforts has been very successful.  Work continues daily on the grounds with many wonderful people providing labor, funds, encouragement and prayers. This beautiful, historical park was provided by Henry Clay Morrison  and many of the local residents of the day for the people of Barren County. The park shows the great love and spiritual concern these early pioneers of righteousness had for the community. Please consider what you can do to help restore this beatiful park that belongs to all of us. We believe that God's hand is in our many efforts and trust that many wonderful blessings are still to be found at Morrison Park Camp Meeting.  Please check this blog for continuing information about our efforts and to learn more about the history of the Camp and Henry Clay Morrison legacy.