1884-1950

Adoniram Judson Morgan

Baptist Pastor/Mayor/Judge Texas TX

Adoniram Judson Morgan was born in Mississippi in 1884. Rev. Mr. Morgan moved with his family to Parker County, Texas in 1891. He and Mrs. Morgan (died 10/48) were married in 1902 in Weatherford, and he served as YMCA chaplain in France during World War I before coming here [Breckenridge] in 1919.

Besides serving as mayor of Breckenridge and county judge of Stephens County, the well-known minister was voted most worthy citizen by the city several years ago and this year was awarded a certificate of merit by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, the first such award the post has made.

While pastor of the church here, Morgan organized the Roughneck Bible Class and was elected its life-time teacher. He was also a member of the board of the Southern Baptist State Convention. He graduated from Simmons University, now Hardin-Simons, in 1914, and in his work traveled for both Simmons University and [Southwestern Seminary].[1]

The announcement by President L. R. Scarborough of A. J. Morgan’s appointment as Southwestern Seminary evangelist, is revelatory of his status in the Baptist ministry in Texas:

It gives me pleasure to announce that Rev. A. J. Morgan, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Breckenridge, Texas, becomes an evangelist of the Southwestern Seminary and begins his work September 1^st.

He is a graduate of Simmons College and had some studies in the Southwestern Seminary, has been the successful pastor of a number of strong churches, has done a monumental work as pastor of the church in Breckenridge for now around five years. He has built a great meeting house, baptized hundreds and hundreds of people, has built a great, constructive, wide-visioned church with a large membership and has saved the Baptist situation in that great old center. He is a preacher of great spiritual power, a successful evangelist; he loves all the Kingdom work, is a man of consecration, knows the pastor’s situation, and will do a constructive, evangelistic work.

I commend him without reservation to the brotherhood. He will hold meetings anywhere in the Unites States. I would not hesitate to recommend him to any church in the land as a constructive, soul-winning preacher of ability and power.

Rev. J. W. Hickerson and Rev. Ray N. York are the other two seminary evangelists. They are doing a great work; and Brother Morgan will be a fine addition to this team. I hope the brethren will keep him busy.[2]

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[1] “Breckenridge Rites Friday for Ex-Pastor,” Fort Worth Star Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), November 8, 1950, p. 3.

[2] L. R. Scarborough, “Pastor Morgan Becomes Seminary Evangelist,” Undated letter send to pastors in Texas, LA, AR, NM, OK, MS, MO, TN. (Fort Worth, TX: File folder 71 Southwestern Seminary Archives.)

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