Who was Harry Morse ?

[Praxeas]

Scott you gonna post some pics of those trout you been catching?

[Scott Pitta]

Pentecostal Training Institute students in 1930

Ida Thompson
Ena Wagner
Florence Seagraves
Marjorie Morgan
Marie Jensen
Samuel Jensen
Charles Yadon
R. Yadon
L Orton
E Orton


Pentecostal Training Institute students in 1940

Ida Thompson
Herschel Redman
Mary Durst
Victory Walker
Helen Swier
N McFarland
B McFarland
E Holly
R Berntsen
Pearl Tuttle

[Scott Pitta]

Oakland Tribute October 25, 1963

The Rev. Harry I Morse, founder and pastor for 55 years of the Revival Center here, has died at the age of 84.

His death came Wednesday afternoon after a brief illness.

The Rev. Mr. Morse established the "Big Downtown Mission" at 9th and Broadway in 1915. He opened the independent Pentecostal assembly like a mission with Gospel services, street meetings and jail services.

During the depression, the church feed and clothed many persons in need.

The Rev. Mr Morse also conducted a Bible training school at his home, 3370 62nd Ave., for more than 25 years. There are numerous Pentecostal pastors, missionaries and evangelists over the world who received their training from him.

The Revival Center was demolished to make room for a parking lot, and the church was moved in 1957 to its present site at the old Pix Theater at 647 East 12th St.

The Rev. Mr. Morse was born in Michigan. He moved to Stockton in 1896 and served as a minister for the Volunteers of America there. After brief stays in Canada and Oregon, he returned to California and became an evangelist in 1906.

He is survived by his wife, Maude, whom he wed in 1900, and a sister, Linnie Warda of Illinois.

The Rev. Mr. Morse held many posts in area and state Pentecostal organizations and was a member of the International Ministers Association, Inc.

[Scott Pitta]

May 28, 1957
Oakland Tribune

To make a parking lot,a church was bought and demolished.

To provide a home for the congregation,a theater was purchased and remodeled.

The Revival Center at 9th and Broadway is now a parking lot for Simon Hardware. However the old Pix Theater at 637 E. 13th St., is the new home of the Revival Center after a $17,000 remodeling operation.

The Rev. Harry Morse, 78, has served as pastor of the congregation for 42 years. The congregation of more than 100, is an independent Pentecostal assembly.

The switch in location will result an a change in program emphasis according to the Rev. Mr. Morse.

Until now members of the congregation conducted the operation of the church like a mission with Gospel services, street meetings and jail services.

The new program includes a Youth nite every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. and evangelistic services Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm.and a home visitation evangelism program of Friday evenings plus the regular Sunday services.

The Rev. Frank Walker serves as assistant pastor and directs the youth program and calling effort.

According to the Rev. Mr. Morse, his group has no special doctrine to champion except that all men belong to one church- the church of Jesus Christ. He does not believe in criticizing other denominations because each group is making its contribution to the ultimate goal- one God, one Savior, one Church.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

May 28, 1957
Oakland Tribune

To make a parking lot,a church was bought and demolished.

To provide a home for the congregation,a theater was purchased and remodeled.

The Revival Center at 9th and Broadway is now a parking lot for Simon Hardware. However the old Pix Theater at 637 E. 13th St., is the new home of the Revival Center after a $17,000 remodeling operation.

The Rev. Harry Morse, 78, has served as pastor of the congregation for 42 years. The congregation of more than 100, is an independent Pentecostal assembly.

The switch in location will result an a change in program emphasis according to the Rev. Mr. Morse.

Until now members of the congregation conducted the operation of the church like a mission with Gospel services, street meetings and jail services.

The new program includes a Youth nite every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. and evangelistic services Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm.and a home visitation evangelism program of Friday evenings plus the regular Sunday services.

The Rev. Frank Walker serves as assistant pastor and directs the youth program and calling effort.

According to the Rev. Mr. Morse, his group has no special doctrine to champion except that all men belong to one church- the church of Jesus Christ. He does not believe in criticizing other denominations because each group is making its contribution to the ultimate goal- one God, one Savior, one Church.

Looks like a shift in doctrine? For a season Ewart preached Universalism I wonder if Morse was also involved in that?

[Disciple4life]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Looks like a shift in doctrine? For a season Ewart preached Universalism I wonder if Morse was also involved in that?

Correct me if I am wrong,

I thought I read that Ewart believed or hoped everybody would eventually be forgiven and accepted into the Kingdom of God. But he wasn't 100% sure so he didn't preach it openly.

Christian Universalist are very open about telling everybody that everyone will definitely come into the Kingdom.

Not trying to split hairs, just wondering about Ewart's theology. Did he later reject Universalism beliefs?

[Scott Pitta]

Harry I Morse timeline

1878 born in Michigan

1896 moved to Stockton serves as minister to Volunteers of America

1900 single and living in San Francisco

1900 married Maude Morse

1906 having traveled to Oregon and Canada Morse returns to California

1910 in Stockton as a "Pentecostal Missionary"
1913 attended the Arroyo Seco camp meeting with Ewart and Haywood
1915 by the time of the General Conference of the AG, Morse had already been baptized in Jesus name
1915 begins the "Big Downtown Mission" in Alameda

1930 census shows student boarders of the "Pentecostal Training Institute"

1940 census shows student borders of the PTI

1947 Morse preaches funeral of Frank Ewart in Los Angeles
1950 leaves the UPC
1957 moves church to old Pix theater and

1961 Morse is the "pastor emeritus"

1963 Morse passes away

[Scott Pitta]

Who knew Harry Morse that is still living today ? What came of his old church ? Why no children ? Who has his old study notes ? How are we to determine what he believed ? Did it change over time ? The paper said the training institute was in operation for 25 years. Which 25 years ?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Disciple4life

Correct me if I am wrong,

I thought I read that Ewart believed or hoped everybody would eventually be forgiven and accepted into the Kingdom of God. But he wasn't 100% sure so he didn't preach it openly.

Christian Universalist are very open about telling everybody that everyone will definitely come into the Kingdom.

Not trying to split hairs, just wondering about Ewart's theology. Did he later reject Universalism beliefs?

Yes he taught it openly destroyed his work and became more less exiled but later denounced the teaching.

[Scott Pitta]

Do we have documentation of what he believed ?

How do we know of his relationship with other churches ?

How do I track his changes in theology ?