Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morris, John Brande

by William Alexander Greenhill

MORRIS, JOHN BRANDE (1812–1880), theological writer, born at New Brentford in Middlesex, 4 Sept. 1812, was son of the Rev. John Morris, D.D., who was formerly Michel fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, and afterwards kept a high-class boarding-school. His mother, Anna F. Brande, was sister of the chemist, William Thomas Brande [q. v.]. After being educated at home, Morris matriculated from Balliol College, Oxford, 17 Dec. 1830. He graduated B.A. with a second class in classics 20 Nov. 1834, proceeding M.A. on 8 July 1837. On 30 June of the same year he was elected fellow of Exeter College, where he acted as Hebrew lecturer, and devoted himself to oriental and patristic theology. Eccentric in appearance and manner, he was brimful of genuine and multifarious learning, but so credulous that he seriously believed in the existence of the Phoenix (see Notes and Queries, 1888, p. 48). At the time of the Oxford movement he joined the extreme section of the so-called Tractarian party. Though an Anglican priest, he was always fond fof ridiculing and finding fault with the English church, so that no surprise was felt when on 16 Jan. 1846 he followed Newman's example and joined the church of Rome. He resigned his fellowship 24 Jan. 1846, and finally left Oxford a few days later (cf. Newman, Letters, vol. ii.; T. Mozley, Reminiscences, chap. lxx.; Church, Oxford Movement; Mark Pattison, Memoirs, pp. 184, 222).

Ordained priest at St. Mary's College, Oscott, in 1849, Morris was for a short time one of the professors at Prior Park, near Bath, in 1851, and was nominated canon of Plymouth Cathedral by Bishop Errington on 6 Dec. 1853. He was domestic chaplain to Mr. Bastard of Kitley in Devonshire in 1852; to his former pupil, Sir John Acton, of Aldenham Hall, Shropshire, in 1855; and to Mr. Coventry Patmore, at Heron's Ghyll in Sussex, in 1868. For a time, too, he had charge of a small mission at Shortwood in Somerset. He was latterly chaplain to a convent of nursing-nuns at Hammersmith, where he died on 9 April 1880. He was buried at Mortlake. His health was always weak, and probably accounted for much of the peculiarity of his character.

During his residence at Oxford he published, 1843, an 'Essay towards the Conversion of Learned and Philosophical Hindus,' for which he obtained the prize of 200l., offered through the Bishop of Calcutta. It displays both learning and ability, but was not successful in its object, as it had no circulation in India. For the 'Library of the Fathers' he translated St. Chrysostom's 'Homilies on the Romans,' 1841, and 'Select Homilies of St. Ephrem,' from the Syriac, 1846. He published, 1842, 'Nature a Parable,' a poem in seven books, mystical and obscure, but containing passages of much beauty (cf. Mozlet, Reminiscences, vol. ii.)

He also wrote:

1. 'Jesus the Son of Mary, or the Doctrine of the Catholic Church upon the Incarnation of God the Son: considered in its Bearings upon the Reverence shown by Catholics to His Blessed Mother,' dedicated to Cardinal Wiseman, 2 vols. 1851.
2. 'Taleetha Koomee: or the Gospel Prophecy of our Blessed Lady's Assumption,' a drama in four acts, in verse, London, 1858.
3. 'Eucharist on Calvary': an Essay upon the Relation of our Blessed Lord's First Mass to His adorable Passion,' London, 1878.

[C. W. Boase's Registr. Coll. Exon.; George Oliver's Hist, of Catholic Religion, &c., London, 18,57, p. 358; Times, 12 April 1880; Tablet, 17 April 1880; personal knowledge and recollection; information from family. In G. V. Cox's Recollections of Oxford, 2nd edit. p. 328, J. B. Morris is confounded with his younger brother. Thomas E. Morris.]

W. A. G.