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Articles

Vol. XXXIX, No. 1 Winter/Spring - Hiver/Printemps 2010

In Search of “Saner Minds”: Bishop James Morrison and the Origins of the Antigonish Movement

Submitted
September 15, 2010
Published
2010-01-01

Abstract

The 1925 United Mine Workers strike in Cape Breton was a crucial turning point in the thinking of James Morrison, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish from 1913 to 1950. Before the strike, Morrison had consistently opposed the education reforms promoted by his subordinate, Father J.J. Tompkins. The strike encouraged Morrison to fear radical labor unions, which encouraged him accept the creation of the Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University. This article, drawing largely on Morrison’s correspondence, traces the evolution of Morrison’s thought within the context of eastern Nova Scotia’s labor history. Résumé La grève des United Mine Workers du Cap-Breton en 1925 marqua un point tournant crucial dans la pensée de James Morrison, évêque du diocèse catholique d’Antigonish de 1913 à 1950. Avant la grève, Morrison s’était toujours opposé aux réformes de l’éducation préconisées par son subordonné, le père J.J. Tompkins. La grève incita Morrison à craindre les syndicats ouvriers radicaux, ce qui l’encouragea à accepter la création de l’Extension Department à la St. Francis Xavier University. Puisant abondamment dans la correspondance de Morrison, cet article retrace l’évolution de la pensée de Morrison dans le contexte de l’histoire ouvrière de l’est de la Nouvelle-Écosse.