Morris, John Piper, a minister of the Methotlist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Devon, England, Jan. 30, 1846. His early life was spent in Canada under the pious training of his father, who was himself a local minister of the ^yesleyan Church. Young Morris was converted at seventeen, and soon after became convinced that he was called of God to preach. While preparing for the ministry his health was impaired, and he was advised to go South. After his arrival at Charleston, S. C, he decided at once to enter the ministry, and supplied a vacancy in the village of Summerville. In 1862 he was received on trial in the South Carolina Conference, and appointed to Aiken. In 1867 he was ordained deacon, and appointed to Darlington ; but his health failing, he was obliged to give up all work. He died Jan. 24, 1868, See Min. of A nn. Conf of the Meth. Epis. Church, South, 1868, p. 214.
Morris, Joseph, an English Baptist divine, flour- ished as pastor of a London congregation in the first half of the eighteenth century. He is believed to have been born about 1685. He died in 1755. Ivimey speaks of him as " a sensible, pious, and learned man," and that he was "in habits of intimacy with the excel- lent Dr. Johnson, who esteemed him for his modesty and ability" {History of the English Baptists). He published several of his Sermons (Lond. 1722, 8vo ; 1743, 8vo; 1757, 8vo), which were admired for their solidity, and prove him to have been a man of more than ordi- nary talent. His influence in the English metropolis was considerable in his day and generation.
Morris, Judah, a Jewish convert to Protestant Christianity, was a native of Italy, and emigrated to this country about 1835. He was for a time instructor in Harvard University. He died in 1855. He publish- ed a Hebrew Grammar, and some religious books.
Morris, Samuel, a Presbyterian lay worker in colonial days, flourished near the middle of last centurj^ in Hanover, Va. He was a man of singularly earnest and devoted spirit, and did much to advance the inter- ests of Presbyterianism in Virginia. His house was a resort for those " who were dissatisfied with the preach- ing of the parish incumbents, and anxious to enjoy the privilege of listening on the Sabbath to the reading of instructive and devotional works on religion." He was himself reared in the Anglican establishment, but by accident becoming acquainted with Presbyterian works — among them Boston's Fourfold State — he embraced that Calvinistic confession, and soon gathered about him others who, like him, chose rather to subject them-
selves to the payment of the fines imposed by law than to attend clmrch where they felt that they could not be profited. The little band of lay workers, as yet never under the instruction of a Presbyterian pastor, but nev- ertheless greatly interested in Presbyterian doctrine, and unconsciously its adherents even, first met every Sabbath alternately at each other's houses to read and pray. But as their number increased they regularly gathered at Mr. Morris's house, until at length that dwelling-house was too small to contain the people, and it was determined "to build a meeting-house," " merely for reading," as ]\Ir. Morris himself adds. This house of worship was afterwards designated " Morris's Reading-room," and was the starting-point of Presby- terianism in Virginia. From Hanover Mr. Morris was frequently called to different places in the state to in- struct the inquiring, and, complying with their invita- tions, went out and spread the interest in distant parts. As they increased in numbers the Estabhshed Church made complaint against them to the governor, and they were called up for trial, but they were promptly dis- charged when it was found that their creed was that of the Kirk. See Presbyterianism. See also GiUett, Hist, of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, i, 111-120; Anderson, Hist, of the Colonial CA«?r^, iii, 229 sq. (.LH.W.)
Morris, Sarah, a Quaker preacher, the daughter of Anthony Morris, himself a Quaker preacher, was born at Philadelphia in 1704 ; preached in New Jersey, Maryland, and Long Island ; went to Rhode Island in 1764; and travelled through Great Britain, preaching in many places, in 1772-73. She died in Philadelphia Oct. 24, 1775. Possessing a superior mind, combined with a social and cheerful disposition, she proved au efircient helper to her people.
Morris, Gusanna, a Quakeress noted as an effi- cient preacher of the doctrines of her sect, was born about 1682. But little is accessible to us regarding her personal historj'. She labored in the work of the min- istry for nearly forty years both in this country and in Europe, where she visited England, Ireland, and Scot- land. She died April 28, 1755. She was a devout Christian, and a firm adherent to her people, whom she dearly loved. See Janney, Hist, of the Religious Society of Friends,ni,Zm.
Morris, Thomas Asbury, D.D., a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years the senior ofiicer of the episcopal cabinet, a man of indom- itable energy and great love for the Christian cause, in which he proved a most efficient workman, was born in Kanawha County, Va., April 28, 1794. His parents, while he was yet a youth, removed to Charlestown, W. Va., and it was for some time his home. The educa- tional facilities of that period, and especially of tliat region, were extremely limited. It was the good for- tune of the Morris family, however, to enjoy the advan- tages of a good grammar-school, organized by "William Paine, an educated Englishman, near the homestead, when Thomas was about sixteen years of age. His old- est brother, Edmund, held the clerkship of Cabell Coun- ty, in which the family resided, and Thomas, at the age of seventeen, became a deputy in the office, a posi- tion which he held until he was about twenty years of age. While discharging the duties of this office, and when greatly broken down in health, and somewhat depressed in spirits, he was drafted into a company of militia, to perform a six-months' tour in the Korth against the British and Indians. They met at the court-house, shouldered their muskets, and took up their line of march to join a regiment forming at Point Pleasant, to re-enforce the main army near the Canada line. The father of Young Morris was so affected by his son's frail and youthful appearance and his feeble health that after the company had started he procured a substitute, overtook the young soldiers their second day out, and procured a discharge for his slender and