The J Frank Norris / BROOKS MORRIS Connection

(photo used with permission by Vickie Bryant, Historian, Arlington Baptist College) - Click to enlarge.


This year, 2012, is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra of Fort Worth, Texas. Some may ask, what does all of this have to do with the J. Frank Norris Historical Society. But wait until you hear about the career of Mr. Brooks Morris, who was among the early pioneers in establishing this now renowned orchestra. Mr. Morris was the concertmaster in 1912.

The advent of World War I brought about a temporary demise of the orchestra until its reorganization in the year of 1924. The vision and commitment of Brooks Morris is credited as the driving force behind the re-founding of the orchestra in 1924. The Brooks Morris Society is largely responsible for the great strides of the orchestra development into its now acclaim of international recognition in the realm of classical performances. In 1924, the newly re-founded orchestra was attracting thousands to its concerts. The First Baptist church of Fort Worth happened to be the only place large enough to accommodate the crowds. It was a casual meeting of J. Frank Norris and Brooks Morris where the two met for the first time. Dr. Norris was so impressed by what he had heard and seen that he promptly offered to Mr. Morris the position of choir director at the First Baptist Church. J. Frank Norris himself, being a man of vision in his own right, recognized the professionalism of Brooks Morris. Ironically, it must have been the professionalism of both men which accounts for the fact of the bonding together of two men with opposite personalities.

Thus began a 28 year tenure of close association in which Mr. Morris expressed to me, “There was never a cross word between us.” In an interview in 1974, Mr. Morris stated to me, “J. Frank Norris was the most honorable man of my acquaintance.” Sunday after Sunday, this esteemed violinist thrilled the audiences of the First Baptist Church with his melodious rendition of the classical hymns. His participation as choir director, his performances and very presence had to be an integral part of what accounts for a lasting legacy of the ministry of J. Frank Norris.

I say all of this for posterity sake, for it bodes well as credible evidence to the character and integrity of a man so often maligned. J. Frank Norris could not have been guilty of all the fallacious rumors perpetuated through the years and even 60 years after his death. If for no other reason, the legacy of J. Frank Norris and Brooks Morris are inexplicably linked together.

The legacy of Brooks Morris is the prestigious Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in this year of 2012.

The legacy of J. Frank Norris is reflected in the world-wide interest expressed by his many admirers as well as the continuation of the seminary he founded in 1939, now the Arlington Baptist College of Arlington, Texas.

You can learn more about Arlington Baptist College by contacting Mrs. Vickie Bryant, historian of the college.


Roy Falls, Founder
The J Frank Norris Historical  Society
August 31, 2012

Baptismal Regeneration is Not Biblical

Baptismal Regeneration has no biblical foundation as a part of God's redemptive plan.  The bible is a book of symbolic notations as well as a substantive account of an eternal message which is applicable for all ages and climes.  That eternal message is rooted in just two words:  MERCY and GRACE, which best describes the heart of God.

Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord ... by FAITH.  Abraham by FAITH believed and it was accounted unto Him for righteousness.  Hebrews chapter 11, there all died in faith.  If you add to the bible and give symbolic notations as substantive truth, then you dilute the message.

There is no power to transform a life by use of symbols ...... only mercy and grace freely given to all who believe.

There is NOT a hymn we sing which diverts from the eternal message of grace and truth.

The words of the old hymn 'JESUS PAID IT ALL' :

♪ ♫ ♪ ♪

 Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe,

Sin hath left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

_______

Now, an example of SATIRE:

♪ ♫ ♪ ♪

Jesus paid it ALL (not quite)

All to Him I owe (give credit also to the man who baptized you)

Sin hath left a crimson stain,

HE (and your preacher) washed it white as snow.

(if you've been baptized)

Roy Falls

The J Frank Norris Historical Society

August 31, 2012

Brooks Morris

Click photo to enlarge

BROOKS MORRIS ... head of Music Dept. at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Tx., under the ministry of  Dr. J. Frank Norris ... was also founder and director of The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra! 

Nice story coming SOON.

Let The Prophet Speak

Lap Dog Journalism

The Bright Side of Fundamentalism

John Barleycorn's Coffin

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Lowering John Barleycorn's Coffin

And Jesus said: "RISE, LET US BE GOING"

We are in the "going" business.

Now here is the thing that presses hard on my soul right now.  I want the attention of those who are thinking of giving their lives to religious work.

In the first place we have got to have a revolution in our own life.

In your life you have probably been working.  You had to punch the clock.  You had that superintendent down there to make out your program.  Now you haven't had anybody to tell you what to do.

I have noticed a lot of young preachers.  They will come in and say, "I met a fellow over yonder and led him to Christ .... or down on the street .... or in the beer garden."

Now the devil has got him.  He runs around and asks people, "Are you a Christian:" ... and then comes back and reports how many people have been saved.  The devil has had him and he is just running loose, and you hear a lot about his soul winning, but you never see the string of fish ... not that we should not win souls, but when you just go out here and ask a fellow you meet on the streetcar some questions .... and that is the last anybody ever hears about it, I wouldn't give a snap of my finger for ten thousand such results.

You say, "Well, isn't that fellow worth saving?" 

Sure.

Now, let me say this.  The devil invented this word "Contact."  He wants you to be contented with "contacts."  I wouldn't give a dime a car load for "contacts."  Imagine one of the deacons at the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem in New Testament times coming in and saying, "I made a contact down yonder with an Ethiopian."

No, he got out of his chariot and got down on his knees and was saved, and then he put him under the water.  That is what he did.

Imagine Paul and Silas when they get back to Philippi saying, "I made so many contacts today."  No, he put that one under the water.

And the next morning after he got out of jail imagine Paul saying, "Silas, put down that we made contact with a jailor last night."

Imagine Jesus saying he "made contact" with Nicodemus last night.

Can you imagine the next day Jesus coming in and saying "I made contact with the Woman of Samaria."

Let's go to Gethsemane, and then go through Gethsemane, and then "Rise and be going," and lead souls to Christ and lead them to church.

~ J. Frank Norris

How I Handle Hostile Crowds (#2)

"WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU ANY PROTECTION.  THE MOB SPIRIT IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL."

That's what the sheriff the Chief of Police of Waco and McClendon County told me in my room in the Raleigh Hotel in October 1923.  I had rented the city auditorium, paid for it myself, and it's still paid ....no collection (OFFERING) was taken ... and I went to Waco to deliver an address on evolution, and announced that I was going to "hang the apes and monkeys on the faculty of Baylor University."  The evolution fight was red hot among Texas Baptists.  I just thought it would be a quiet, peaceful, harmless address.

When I got to Waco I found the President of the University had called a mass meeting of everybody in town, including all the hoodlums, boot blacks.  They went out with bells, and tin cans and packed the Chapel, while they "hung Norris in effigy."

The University adjourned all classes and it was like onE of Hitler's meetings at Nuremburg.

A bunch of students is not an easy thing to handle.  They are like cattle, they are very easy to stampede.  They came early and took possission of the auditorium, even before sundown.  The excitement was running high.

The Sheriff and Chief of Police came over to my hotel and said, "We cannot guarantee you any protection ... the mob spirit is beyond our control."

I repliedk "Gentlemen, I have not asked you for any protection."

I remembered some 20 years or more before when the Brann riot was on in Waco several years ago and it centered around the University, four or five men were killed and there were 23 widows and orphans.  I confess it looked a little squally after what the Sheriff and Chief of Police told me.

~ Roy Falls

Where The Law Ends, Grace Begins

The law ended with the sealing.  Grace began with Him raised.

The law says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die."  The law says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

The law says, "The wages of sin is death."

The law says, "Ye are dead in trespasses and sins."

But grace says, "The gift of God is eternal life."  The law says, I am doomed, damned, helpless and cannot save myself.  The law tells me my condition, and then grace comes; and though I was conceived in sin and brought forth in inquity and my sins as multitudinous as the sands in the seashore ... yet, "Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound."  Therefore, the law ends in my death, and grace begins with my eternal life.  The law writes the epitaph out yonder on the grave stone.  "It is appointed unto man once to die." ... no way in the world to avoid that law.

But grace says, "In the morning of the Resurrection the dead in Christ shall rise first."

The law ends in the tomb, "If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable" ... "But now is Christ become the firstfruits of them that slept."

~ J. Frank Norris

40,000 Attend Detroit Revival

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Photo from Roy Falls' personal collection

Coming Home From World Tour

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J. Frank Norris, wife and three sons.

Photo from Roy Falls' personal collection.

What Norris Was Like

John Birch ... My Brother's Buddy

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After college, John Birch came to Fort Worth and attended the seminary at First Baptist Church of Ft. Worth. Visitation was his passion.  My brother Lloyd Falls and John Birch were buddies ... together they knocked on doors all over Fort Worth.

Under the auspices of J. Frank Norris, John Birch was sent as a Baptist missionary to China...and ultimately was shot execution style by the Communist party.

See JUNE 3, 2011 post for complete story.
Roy Falls

"Mother Sweet" ... 50 Year Service

"Mother Sweet" ... as she was affectionately called, became a missionary to China through the support of the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, under the ministry of J. Frank Norris.

In the mid 1930’s, “Mother Sweet” severed relationship with her home missions support (up north) due to the encroachment of modernism that was infiltrating the churches during this period. She then became aware of the ministry of J. Frank Norris from whom she received support, joining forces with two young missionaries, who joined her in the mid 1940’s.

See JANUARY 5, 2011 post for complete story.

Click photo to enlarge.

Jesus and the Wine Bibbers

Evolution ... Food for Thought

There are too many quantum leaps for evolution to make sense.

Roy singing "LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING" and "JESUS SAVES"

Roy singing LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING" (in memory of the father of Mike Schepsis, author of latest book on J. Frank Norris) .... and ..... "JESUS SAVES" (which was the theme song of the radio broadcast The Old Fashioned Revival Hour, which was broadcast out of Los Angeles, which past years recordings are on the internet, pastor Charles E. Fuller - his peak years were the 1940s)

A Friend To The 'Down and Outers'

J. Frank Norris ... a friend to the 'Down and Outers.'


Honest biographers .... take note, and come forth!

~ Roy Falls

God Leads His Dear Children Along