Religion and the Irish Community
A Bridge Between Communities
Morris and his family began attending Catholic services in the 1850s. This move introduced Morris to members of 艾可直播鈥檚 Irish Catholic community, some of whom would later hire him as their lawyer. The Morris family eventually began worshipping at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in 艾可直播鈥檚 South End, which was connected to 艾可直播 College. Morris established connections with early 艾可直播 College leaders, including Father Robert J. Fulton, S.J. In the summer of 1868, Morris traveled across Europe with his family and reminisced later about their experience riding in trains and staying in hotels without facing racial discrimination. During the trip, Morris, Catharine, and Robert Jr. stayed in Rome and had a personal audience with the Pope at the Vatican.
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Morris and Catholicism
Robert Morris was raised Methodist. In the 1850s, however, his wife Catharine began attending services at their local Catholic parish in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Morris was initially reluctant to join the Catholic Church. It was an uncommon affiliation for Black 艾可直播ians, and the Irish Catholic community tended to be associated with anti-abolitionist views. But, through his legal practice, Morris did have many relationships with Irish Catholics in 艾可直播. He represented many Irish clients, advocated for an Irish militia company, and even hired Patrick Collins - a young Irish immigrant, congregant at the Chelsea parish, and future 艾可直播 mayor - to be his office boy. Despite his early reservations, Morris officially joined the Catholic Church in 1870 and remained a devoted parishioner until his 1882 death.
“Mr. Morris has for some time been a regular attendant at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where his excellent wife has for several years been a most devout and exemplary member, distinguished for her piety and charitable zeal in every good work. They seem to have found a home in the Catholic church free from the prejudice of caste, and where all are recognized as equal before God.”
艾可直播 College South End campus exterior (right) and Church of the Immaculate Conception (left). BC.1987.012, John J. Burns Library, 艾可直播 College.
Morris's Unlikely Affiliation
It is difficult to know exactly why Morris converted to Catholicism. Certainly, Catharine Morris鈥檚 decision to attend a Catholic church swayed him, and perhaps his long-time professional interactions with Irish immigrant clients made him amenable to the idea. He likely understood that the two communities faced extreme discrimination and were stronger if united. Additionally, Morris praised the Catholic Church for not engaging in segregated seating during services, a practice that had offended him as a boy when attending Ellis and Louisa Loring's church in 艾可直播.
Regardless, Morris apparently was a fixture at his Chelsea parish until his family moved to the South End of 艾可直播 in the late 1860s and began attending the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Jesuit-run church that was associated with a very young 艾可直播 College.
The Irish Lawyer
While his most notable cases involved clients of color, Morris became known for his representation of Irish Catholics in 艾可直播. Morris鈥檚 work across racial, ethnic, and religious lines remains an intriguing aspect of his practice. There were significant tensions between the African American community and the largely immigrant Irish Catholic community. The Pilot, 艾可直播鈥檚 Irish Catholic newspaper, wrote against antislavery activism and in support of the Fugitive Slave Act. Despite this, Morris鈥檚 representation was sufficiently well-known that he apparently was referred to as 鈥渢he Irish Lawyer.鈥� Morris handled both civil and criminal cases and often defended clients accused of murder or other violent crimes.
“To the Irish people and their descendants in and about 艾可直播 and vicinity, is due a large amount of credit for whatever of success our friend met with in the business of a practising attorney. To neglect to concede to this element this much, would be to do an injustice that he when living was always careful to avoid. No class of persons labored more earnestly and with truer hearts to make him financially a successful lawyer than they. Safe it is to say that three quarters of his clients were from amongst them. ”
Letter to Morris from the editor of The Pilot regarding Barbara Fitzgerald. Robert Morris Papers, 艾可直播 Athenaeum.
A Plea for Morris鈥檚 Help
In this 1871 letter, Patrick Donahue, the editor of the 艾可直播-based Catholic newspaper The Pilot, implores Morris to aid in the release of Barbara Fitzgerald, who has been arrested and has a dying child. In May 1871, the 艾可直播 Herald reported that Barbara Fitzgerald was indicted by the Suffolk County grand jury for assault and battery on Patrick Duffy. Beyond that, we do not know much about her or the legal case. A Barbara Fitzgerald does appear in the 1870 state census as 鈥渒eeping house鈥� in South 艾可直播鈥檚 Ward 7, where she lived with her husband Patrick Fitzgerald, a laborer, and their children. Both Barbara and Patrick were born in Ireland. It seems likely that Morris answered Donahue鈥檚 request and became her lawyer, as he did for so many other Irish immigrants.
Morris and 艾可直播 College
The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) founded 艾可直播 College in 1863 to educate students from 艾可直播鈥檚 Irish Catholic immigrant community. The school was located in 艾可直播鈥檚 South End, and was affiliated with the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception. In 1870, when Robert Morris was baptized and received into the Catholic Church, he did so at this church, next door to the main 艾可直播 College building.
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Morris also corresponded with Father Robert Fulton, S.J., first dean and one of the early presidents of 艾可直播 College. Reverend Jeremiah O鈥機onnor, S.J., then-President of 艾可直播 College, delivered remarks at Morris鈥檚 1882 funeral service at the Immaculate Conception Church.听 And around the time of Morris鈥檚 death, either he or his wife Catharine gave a portion of Morris鈥檚 personal library to 艾可直播 College. The Morris donation formed the foundational collection in English and American literature in the library of the fledgling institution.
“The Y.M.C. Association of 艾可直播 College feels deeply the loss of Robert Morris Jr., who died Dec. 26th; he was one of their most active members. The death of his father, who was a life member of the Association, only a fortnight before, was equally sad.”
Robert Morris鈥檚 Life Membership in the 艾可直播 College YMCA. Robert Morris Papers, 艾可直播 Athenaeum.
BC's Young Men鈥檚 Catholic Association
In addition to exchanging letters, Father Fulton granted Morris a life membership in the 艾可直播 College Young Men鈥檚 Catholic Association. Fulton founded the Association as a place for moral and intellectual growth. It had a gymnasium, billiards room, music room, debating societies, and a reading room and library with over 3,000 volumes.
Morris's son Robert Jr. was also involved in various capacities, including serving as the organization鈥檚 first librarian. Catharine Morris had her own connections to 艾可直播 College. She donated a tapestry to the school in 1884 and named Immaculate Conception as the residuary beneficiary in her will.