Background
James Morrison was born in the rural village of Savage Harbour, Prince Edward Island.
James Morrison was born in the rural village of Savage Harbour, Prince Edward Island.
He attended the Urban College of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide in Rome from 1884-1889.
Although one of the last powerful and austere Roman Catholic bishops in Canada, Morrison presided over a diocese that created one of the most successful Catholic social movements in Canada. Morrison strictly adhered to the statutes of the Roman Catholic faith. Extremely skeptical of debt, he was cautious in all matters relating to church finances.
As Bishop of Antigonish he gained the ire of Review
James Tompkins and other priests for refusing to allow Saint Francis Xavier University to join a non-denominational university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Although highly respected by the Catholic community, his cautious and frugal nature did not always foster tranquility.
He was educated at the Charlottetown Normal College and at Saint Dunstan"s University from 1882-1884. Ordained for the Diocese of Charlottetown, Morrison held numerous positions, including Rector of Saint Dunstan’s University, 1892 – 1895, Vicar-general, 1904-1912 and formal diocesan administrator, 1911-1912.
Father Morrison had been Vicar General, in the diocese of Charlottetown, P.E.I, Canada, when in 1908, Bishop MacDonald became a complete invalid.
At this point Morrison assumed administrative control of the diocese until the latter part of 1912. When Review MacDonald died in 1912, Bishop O’Leary succeeded, whilst Fr Morrison was further ordained Bishop in September 1912. Consecrated as Bishop of Antigonish on 4 September 1912, Morrison took over a diocese that was riddled with economic and political turmoil and wholly unprepared for the challenges of the twentieth century.
He guided the diocese through two world wars, the challenges of economic decline, emigration and industrial unrest.
He supported and fostered the Saint Francis Xavier University extension department, which aspired to alleviate some of the economic and social problems of the Maritime Provinces. He was appointed Archbishop in 1944.
When he died in 1950 he was the longest-serving of all Canadian Catholic prelates. From a historical perspective Morrison was one of an extremely few native born, preConfederation (1867) Canadians to later become an archbishop.
1884 - Graduates from Saint Dunstan"s University
1889 - Graduates from Urban College with doctorates in Philosophy and Divinity
Lenti.
1891 - Joins the staff of Saint Dunstan"s University
1892 - Appointed Rector of Saint Dunstan"s University
1904 - Appointed Vicar-general of the Diocese of Charlottetown
1905 - Awarded an honorary degree by Saint Francis Xavier University
1907 - Parish priest, Vernon River, Prince Edward Island
1911 - Appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Charlottetown
4 September 1912 - Consecrated Bishop of Antigonish in Saint Ninian"s Cathedral, Antigonish
1944 - Appointed Archbishop "ad personam"
13 April 1950 - dies in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, aged 88.