LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE


though it frequently meant giving up his recreation time to
drive miles away to preside at some meeting or to deliver some
message to an organization of his church.
 It was no doubt due to the influence of his mother that Al-
bert Murphree embraced the Baptist faith. As has been men-
tioned previously, the Murphree family was for the most part
Methodist in its denominational affiliation, but the Cornelius
family of his mother was Baptist in its leanings, and his
mother sent her children to the Baptist church. Jennie Hender-
son Murphree was a member of the Episcopal church, and
their children embraced the Episcopal faith.
 During Albert's schooling in Nashville he was a regular
attendant at Sunday school and church services at one of the
Baptist churches at Nashville. When he moved to Tallahassee
he joined the first Baptist church there and was soon made
superintendent of the Sunday school, a position he occupied
during most of his life in the capital city.
 It was his custom to read the Bible, especially the Sunday
 school lesson, each Saturday night. Whether he was serving
 as an official in the Sunday school or as a teacher in the Sun-
 day school class, he believed in being prepared with the lesson.
 When he removed to Gainesville he brought his letter of
 membership and placed it in the First Baptist Church in this
 city. Almost at once he assumed a position of leadership in
 the many departments of religious activity of this church. He
 was made moderator or chairman of the Baptist District
 Association, and served for many years in this capacity. Dur-
 ing the three days that the Association met each year he would
 put aside his work and enter enthusiastically into the task of
 directing the deliberations and activities of this body.
 He also served for several years as president of the State
 Baptist Convention of Florida, and was considered one of
 the outstanding laymen of his church, not only in his own state
 but throughout the south. He was honored with the position
 of vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He at-
 tended the meetings of this great religious group whenever
 he could do so.
 Dr. Murphree's interest in the education of young min-
 isters prompted him to serve as trustee of the Southern Baptist