Theodore Nevin Morrison
Encyclopedia
Theodore Nevin Morrison (February 18, 1850 - December 27, 1929) was a 20th century bishop
in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was Bishop of Iowa
from 1898 to 1929.
to the Rev. Theodore Nevin Morrison, Sr. and Anna Eliza (Howland) Morrison. He received a bachelor's degree
in 1870 from Illinois College
at Jacksonville
, and studied for the priesthood at General Theological Seminary
in New York
. He was made a Doctor of Divinity
by Illinois College in 1895, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology
by Western Theological Seminary
in 1905.
Morrison was ordained a deacon
in July 1873 and served his first charge in Pekin, Illinois
. He was ordained a priest
on February 19, 1876 and served as rector
of the Church of the Ascension in Chicago
from 1876 to 1899 when he was elected bishop. He married Sarah Buck Swazey, whose father was an Episcopal priest in Chicago, on October 28, 1879.
Griswold College in Davenport
was declared defunct in 1900 and the school property across Main Street from the cathedral
was sold to the Davenport School District for $53,000. St. Katherine’s Hall in Davenport was left as the only diocesan educational institution whose administration was transferred to the Sisters of St. Mary in 1902. During this time Grace Cathedral and Trinity Church were combined to form Trinity Cathedral
.
Unlike his predecessors, Bishop Morrison was willing to speak out about the social and political issues of the day. He was a strong supporter of US involvement in World War I
and after the Armistice
, the League of Nations
. While he did not support the passage of the 18th Amendment
to the US Constitution, after it became a part of the Constitution he said, “I am from now on a teetotaler and for the enforcement of the law as it stands.” He, however, was opposed to the Church Temperance Society and did not want it associated with the church.
Bishop Morrison suffered from ill health when he was bishop. In 1912 the Rev. Harry Sherman Longley
was consecrated suffragan bishop
and then in 1917 he was elected coadjutor bishop
. The two bishops divided the work among themselves. Morrison resided in Davenport and oversaw the self-supporting parishes. Longley resided in Des Moines and oversaw the missions in the Diocese, and deferred to Morrison on official matters. They generally communicated by letter, but they appeared to have a good working relationship. When either traveled he usually did so by train. When traveling by automobile Longley drove himself while Morrison was driven. It is not known if he knew how to drive or not.
in Davenport.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was Bishop of Iowa
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which covers all of Iowa. It is in Province VI. Its offices are in Des Moines, and it has two cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of St...
from 1898 to 1929.
Early life & Ministry
Theodore Morrison was born in Ottawa, IllinoisOttawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
to the Rev. Theodore Nevin Morrison, Sr. and Anna Eliza (Howland) Morrison. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1870 from Illinois College
Illinois College
Illinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church , and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree . It was founded in 1829 by the Illinois Band,...
at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
, and studied for the priesthood at General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was made a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
by Illinois College in 1895, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
by Western Theological Seminary
Western Theological Seminary
Western Theological Seminary is a professional and graduate school in Holland, Michigan affiliated with the Reformed Church in America....
in 1905.
Morrison was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in July 1873 and served his first charge in Pekin, Illinois
Pekin, Illinois
Pekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on February 19, 1876 and served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Church of the Ascension in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1876 to 1899 when he was elected bishop. He married Sarah Buck Swazey, whose father was an Episcopal priest in Chicago, on October 28, 1879.
Bishop of Iowa
Rev. Morrison was elected the third Bishop of Iowa on November 30, 1898. He was consecrated bishop on February 22, 1899 by Bishops William Edward McLaren, George Franklin Seymour and William David Walker. He was the 190th Episcopal bishop consecrated in the United States. He served the diocese as its bishop for 30 years. Bishop Morrison was from the High Church faction within the Episcopal Church. He was quoted as saying, “I have no hesitation saying that I wish we had at the beginning taken the name of the American Catholic Church. I love the word Catholic.”Griswold College in Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
was declared defunct in 1900 and the school property across Main Street from the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
was sold to the Davenport School District for $53,000. St. Katherine’s Hall in Davenport was left as the only diocesan educational institution whose administration was transferred to the Sisters of St. Mary in 1902. During this time Grace Cathedral and Trinity Church were combined to form Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Davenport, Iowa)
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the historic cathedral in the Diocese of Iowa. The cathedral is located on the bluff overlooking Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974...
.
Unlike his predecessors, Bishop Morrison was willing to speak out about the social and political issues of the day. He was a strong supporter of US involvement in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and after the Armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. While he did not support the passage of the 18th Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
to the US Constitution, after it became a part of the Constitution he said, “I am from now on a teetotaler and for the enforcement of the law as it stands.” He, however, was opposed to the Church Temperance Society and did not want it associated with the church.
Bishop Morrison suffered from ill health when he was bishop. In 1912 the Rev. Harry Sherman Longley
Harry Sherman Longley
Harry Sherman Longley was a 20th century bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He served the Diocese of Iowa as suffragan bishop from 1912–1917, coadjutor bishop from 1917–1929, and diocesan bishop from 1929-1943...
was consecrated suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
and then in 1917 he was elected coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
. The two bishops divided the work among themselves. Morrison resided in Davenport and oversaw the self-supporting parishes. Longley resided in Des Moines and oversaw the missions in the Diocese, and deferred to Morrison on official matters. They generally communicated by letter, but they appeared to have a good working relationship. When either traveled he usually did so by train. When traveling by automobile Longley drove himself while Morrison was driven. It is not known if he knew how to drive or not.
Later life & Death
Bishop Morrison worked until the day he died. He was killed in a car accident in Davenport on December 27, 1929. His funeral was held at Trinity Cathedral and he was buried in Pine Hill CemeteryPine Hill Cemetery (Davenport, Iowa)
Pine Hill Cemetery is located in north-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is in a section of the city that includes three other cemeteries: Mount Calvary, Davenport Memorial Park and Mount Nebo, which is in the back of Pine Hill. One of the cemetery’s more prominent markers is a memorial...
in Davenport.