J. L. Piercy Remembered

Rev. J. L. Piercy

September 10, 1872 - December 15, 1962

Below: H. C. Morrison, 1941, recalling his world evangelism tour with Bro. Piercy in 1909. 

"Rev. J. L. Piercy, an Asbury student, young man of remarkable common sense and as deep and beautiful devotion as you could hope to find in in any man, joined me as my travel companion my world tour. 

Brother Piercy was born and reared in Barren County, near Glasgow, Kentucky. He fell under conviction for sanctification at Pentecostal (Morrison) Park, a camp meeting I had organized on my grandfather’s old farm where I was reared, which has now been going on for some forty years. Many souls blessed there are now in heaven. Brother Piercy was a graduate of the Agriculture College at Ames, Iowa, but being sanctified; he gave that up and consecrated himself to the ministry. I could not have had a more congenial traveling companion or one more ready to assist me in way possible. We formed a friend which will never break up. Brother Piercy prayed, testified, wept and laughed and helped to kindle revival fires everywhere we went. His religion was catching. He won the confidence of the people everywhere. Some years after our tour, Bishop Warne said to me, “the people are talking about Brother Piercy all over India. His messages and testimonies, with his prayers and exhortation, have made an impression that will abide forever among those who came under his influence.”

                Rev. Piercy was born September 10, 1872 near Glasgow, KY. He was converted August 1900 here at the camp under a great exhortation by Dr. Morrison while a storm was raging and answered the call to preach in 1906. He did evangelist work in 1907 and 1908. On December 30, 1908 Brother Piercy married Tippie Dougherty, daughter of Robert and Martha Wells Dougherty. Mrs. Piercy, for ten years, managed the dining hall and saw to the affairs of the Morrison campground. Reverend Piercy entered Asbury College at Wilmore, Kentucky in 1908. While in school at Wilmore, the way was opened for him to make an evangelist tour of the world with Dr. Morrison.  Brother Piercy serve many charges in the Louisville Annual Conference and retired in September of 1944. After his retirement, he was an associate minster of the First Methodist Church in Glasgow for a number of years. He was one of the great powers in the erection of the community hospital.

                A cabin was built on the grounds for J. L. Piercy, as a lodging cabin for his two week stay each year at the Morrison Park Camp meetings.  Piercy attended almost every year and along with Dr. Morrison, was one of the most prominent ministers to preach here.