E. C. Morris was born a slave on May 7, 1855 in Murray county, Georgia. He was largely self-educated, and was regarded as a very well-learned man. In 1874, he converted to Christianity and began preaching. In 1877, Morris moved to Helena, Arkansas. Eventually, he earned the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the State University in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1884, Morris founded the Arkansas Baptist College. In 1894, Morris was elected President of the National Baptist Convention. He was active in promoting Baptist Christianity through his founding of the National Baptist Young People's Union, and his establishment of a cooperative relationship with the American Baptist Missionary Union and with the Southern Baptist Convention. Morris remained President of the National Baptist Convention until 1915.

Karen Ruffle