Florence Morton
Florence Morton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 12, 1875 Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Died | April 3, 1953 Worcester, Massachusetts |
| NSA member | U.S. & Canada 1925 - 1927 1928 - 1929 |
| Spouse(s) | Fred S. Morton (1865-1948) |
| Children | Stanley R. Morton (1912-1991) |
Florence Eleanor Morton born Reed (October 12, 1875 - April 3, 1953)[1] was an American Bahá'í who served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in its infancy and the National Teaching Committee of the United States.
Biography[edit]
Florence was born to Frederick E. Reed and Sarah Reed (born Sarah Wood) in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1875. She attended school in Binghamton, New York, and also studied abroad for two years, eventually earning a degree in Landscape Architecture. She first heard of the Faith from Sarah Farmer at Green Acre in 1907, and later saw, but was unable to meet, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Boston when he visited the United States in 1912.
She married Fred S. Morton in Worcester in 1911 and they had a son, Stanley R. Morton, in 1912. After having a dream about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá she engaged in in-depth study of the Faith with the Struven family in Worcester, and also with Amelia Collins who lived in Princeton, Massachusetts where the Morton's had a summer home. She became a Bahá'í in 1917 and was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. She helped have the annual Bahá'í Convention held in Worcester in 1924 at the Bancroft hotel by providing funds. The body changed its name to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada in 1925, and Florence served as Treasurer of the body from 1925 to 1926.[2] In October 1928 she received the following letter from Shoghi Effendi:
"My dearest co-worker: Your most welcome letter has brought joy, strength and relief to my heart. Your unquestioned faith, your unwavering constancy, your patience, tact and judgement, your vital and in many respects unique position as a connecting link between the direct and indirect method of teaching has endeared you to us all and earned for you increasingly our esteem and admiration. I pray that your valued efforts may be constantly and richly blessed by Bahá'u'lláh, that you may be aided to add to the number of those who have, through the World Unity work, been identified with the Cause, and thus demonstrate to every doubting and wavering believer the salutary and effective results of your arduous and noble enterprise. Do not, I entreat you, lose heart and continue with undaunted faith your great work. Your grateful brother, Shoghi."[3]
In 1931 she was appointed to the National Bahá'í Publicity Committee, and she chaired the 1931 New England Regional Teaching Conference which was held in Worcester.[4][5] In 1932 she was appointed to the National Teaching Committee as its New England representative, and she served on it until 1935. In 1933 she visited California and positively reported on the teaching activities of the Assemblies in the state to the National Teaching Committee. She spoke at Bahá'í meetings in San Francisco and Berkeley on teaching the Faith while in California.[6] In 1933 she was appointed to a Committee which was to investigate the logistics of merging World Unity Magazine with Bahá'í Magazine and also appointed to an Eastern Division of the National Teaching Committee.[7][8]
In 1937 Florence funded the construction of a new Bahá'í Hall at Green Acre, and she also helped remodel several building at Green Acre, especially the Inn.[9] As of 1937 she was serving as Secretary of the Regional Teaching Committee for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.[10] As of 1940 she was serving as Chair of the National Radio Committee.[11] She donated a significant sum towards construction of the U.S. House of Worship in 1940, and received the following commendation from Shoghi Effendi:
"Congratulate Florence Morton (on the) imperishable honor (of) association through magnificent donation (with completion of) last faces (of) remaining units (of) historic House (of) Worship. Inexpressibly rejoice (at) simultaneous evidences (of) astounding acceleration (of) ornamentation, vigorous prosecution (of) teaching enterprises, (and) visible expansion (of) newly-formed nucleus (of) Administrative Seat. Bahá'í world vibrates (with) emotion (at) phenomenal successes enabling, in (a) declining age, (the) high-minded, great-hearted champions (of) Faith (to) enlarge limits, reinforce fabric (and) insure future greatness (of) Divinely-ordained institutions."[12]
In 1941 Florence and a Mrs. Bowman held symposiums on World Citizenship in Montpelier and Rutland in Vermont.[13] She was appointed to the Bahá'í International School Committee in 1941.[14] By 1943 she was serving on the Regional Teaching Committee of New England.[15]
She passed away in 1953. Shoghi Effendi sent the following cable after being informed of her passing:
"Grieve passing faithful promoter (of) Faith. Praying (for the) progress (of her) soul."[16]
References[edit]
- Obituary published in Bahá'í World, Vol. 12, pp 708-709
Notes[edit]
- ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140740265/florence-eleanor-morton
- ↑ https://worcesterbahais.org/content/florence-r-morton
- ↑ Baha'i News Letter (1929). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 29, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1931). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 53, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1931). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 50, Pg(s) 4. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1933). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 72, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1933). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 73, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1933). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 74, Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1938). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 116, Pg(s) 14. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 107, Pg(s) 13. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1940). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 134, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1940). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 139, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1941). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 142, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1941). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 147, Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1943). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 164, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
- ↑ Baha'i News (1953). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 267, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
