Morrin College
Encyclopedia
Morrin College, the first anglophone institute of higher education in Quebec City
, Quebec
, Canada
flourished between the years 1862 and 1902. It was founded following an important bequest from Dr. Joseph Morrin
, former city mayor and prominent doctor. The College initially occupied rooms rented from the Masonic Temple from 1862 to 1868. It then moved to its permanent headquarters in Thomas Baillairgé
’s 1808 city gaol at 44, Chaussée des Écossais (then Rue Saint-Stanislas) after architect Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy remodeled the building.
Although officially open to everyone, Morrin College was very much a Presbyterian
institution. It attracted some Protestants
of other denominations, but few Roman Catholics
. The school’s founder and Principal for 31 of its 40 years was the Reverend John Cook
, Minister of Saint-Andrew’s Church
across the street. A Faculty of Divinity within the school formed a total of 24 Presbyterian ministers. In addition to this, a Faculty of Arts and a short-lived Faculty of Law had a wider appeal. Morrin College was affiliated in Arts with McGill University
from 1863 to 1900. A total of 46 students graduated with a McGill B.A. The school was also a local pioneer in terms of women’s education, allowing female students to study for a B.A. in co-ed classes from 1885. A few people who later went on to illustrious careers taught at the College, namely Edwin Hatch
, James Douglas, Jr.
, and George Mercer Dawson
.
Morrin College struggled from the very beginning. In addition to persistent financial problems, the anglo-Protestant population of Quebec City was too small to justify an institution of its kind. It never had more than 9 paid professors and 28 full-time students. The institution discontinued regular classes around 1902. It continued to administer the college building and adjacent properties until 1988.
The Board of Governors of Morrin College still meets, and continues to administer a fund for the purposes of education. Past financial contributions have ensured the survival of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
at a precarious time in the early 20th century. The Society now manages the former Morrin College building, now known as the Morrin Centre
.
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
flourished between the years 1862 and 1902. It was founded following an important bequest from Dr. Joseph Morrin
Joseph Morrin
Joseph Morrin emigrated from Scotland to Quebec City at the age of four. Since there were no medical schools in the city at the time, Morrin worked as a surgeon’s apprentice. He returned to Scotland for a medical education at the University of Edinburgh...
, former city mayor and prominent doctor. The College initially occupied rooms rented from the Masonic Temple from 1862 to 1868. It then moved to its permanent headquarters in Thomas Baillairgé
Thomas Baillairgé
Thomas Baillairgé was both a wood carver and architect, following the tradition of the family. He was the son of François Baillairgé and the grandson of Jean Baillairgé, both men being termed architects under the definition of the time...
’s 1808 city gaol at 44, Chaussée des Écossais (then Rue Saint-Stanislas) after architect Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy remodeled the building.
Although officially open to everyone, Morrin College was very much a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
institution. It attracted some Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
of other denominations, but few Roman Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. The school’s founder and Principal for 31 of its 40 years was the Reverend John Cook
John Cook (clergyman)
John Cook was a Presbyterian Church in Canada minister and educator from Quebec.He was born in Sanquhar, Scotland, and educated at University of Glasgow and University of Edinburgh. He served as a minister in the Church of Scotland, and was ordained in December 1835 in Cardross, and designated...
, Minister of Saint-Andrew’s Church
St. Andrew's Church (Quebec City)
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in the Upper Town of Quebec City.The congregation's roots began with the British conquest of Quebec at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Under the leadership of Church of Scotland Chaplain Robert MacPherson...
across the street. A Faculty of Divinity within the school formed a total of 24 Presbyterian ministers. In addition to this, a Faculty of Arts and a short-lived Faculty of Law had a wider appeal. Morrin College was affiliated in Arts with McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
from 1863 to 1900. A total of 46 students graduated with a McGill B.A. The school was also a local pioneer in terms of women’s education, allowing female students to study for a B.A. in co-ed classes from 1885. A few people who later went on to illustrious careers taught at the College, namely Edwin Hatch
Edwin Hatch
Edwin Hatch was an English theologian born on September 4, 1835 in Derby, England. He is best known as the author of the book Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages Upon the Christian Church, which was based on the lectures he presented during the 1888 Hibbert Lectures and which were edited and...
, James Douglas, Jr.
James Douglas (businessman)
James S. Douglas was a Canadian mining engineer and businessman who introduced a number of metallurgical innovations in copper mining....
, and George Mercer Dawson
George Mercer Dawson
Dr. George Mercer Dawson F.R.S., C.M.G., was a Canadian scientist and surveyor. He was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, the eldest son of Sir John William Dawson, Principal of McGill University and his wife, Lady Margaret Dawson...
.
Morrin College struggled from the very beginning. In addition to persistent financial problems, the anglo-Protestant population of Quebec City was too small to justify an institution of its kind. It never had more than 9 paid professors and 28 full-time students. The institution discontinued regular classes around 1902. It continued to administer the college building and adjacent properties until 1988.
The Board of Governors of Morrin College still meets, and continues to administer a fund for the purposes of education. Past financial contributions have ensured the survival of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
-External links:*, managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.*, virtual exhibit on the history of Canadian learned societies.*, virtual library containing all publications from 1824-1924....
at a precarious time in the early 20th century. The Society now manages the former Morrin College building, now known as the Morrin Centre
Morrin Centre
The Morrin Centre is a cultural centre in Quebec City. It is designed to educate the public about the historic contribution and present-day culture of local English-speakers...
.
Notable alumni
- Salem BlandSalem BlandSalem Goldworth Bland was a Methodist theologian and was one of Canada's most important Social Gospel thinkers.He was born in Lachute, Quebec the son of H.F.B. Bland, a Methodist preacher. As a child he lost the use of one of his legs, likely due to polio. He had the useless leg amputated at age...
(1877), Methodist theologian and Social GospelSocial GospelThe Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
leader - Albert Joseph BrownAlbert Joseph BrownAlbert Joseph Brown was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in Windsor, Canada East, the son of Shepard Joseph Brown, a farmer, and Jennet Shanks, Brown was educated at St. Francis College and Morin College before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1883 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1886...
(1883), Canadian Senator - Robert Cassells (1866), first registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada
- Ethel Margaret Fraser (1894), Physician, Head of the American Women's Hospitals at La-Ferté-Milon, France during WWI
- Euphemia MacLeod (1889), Poet, First woman M.A. Philosophy in Quebec
- Henry James Morgan (?), Biographer
- George C. PidgeonGeorge C. PidgeonThe Very Reverend George Campbell Pidgeon was a minister first in the Presbyterian Church in Canada and then in The United Church of Canada, as well as the last Moderator of the Presbyterian Church before amalgamation, and the first Moderator of the newly formed United Church of Canada...
(1892), Minister, first moderator of the United Church of Canada - John T. Ross (1883), Businessman, Director of the Quebec Bank
- James Hossack Woods (?), Editor of the Calgary Herald