John Mott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Raleigh Mott
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Mott circa 1946
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| Born | May 25, 1865 Livingston Manor, Sullivan County,
New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1955 (aged 89) Orlando, Florida, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Cornell University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Organization | YMCA, World Student Christian Federation |
| Spouse(s) | Leila Ada White (m. 1891) |
| Parent(s) | John Mott, Sr. Elmira (Dodge) Mott |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (1946) |
John Raleigh Mott (born May 25, 1865 – died January 31, 1955) was an important leader of Christian organizations. He helped lead the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) for many years.
In 1946, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He received this award for his efforts to build and strengthen international Christian student groups. These groups worked to promote peace around the world. He shared the prize with Emily Greene Balch.
From 1895 to 1920, Mott was the General Secretary of the WSCF. He also played a big part in forming the World Council of Churches in 1948. This organization later made him an honorary President for life. His most famous book, The Evangelization of the World in this Generation, became a popular saying for missionaries in the early 1900s.
Contents
About His Life
John Mott was born in Livingston Manor, New York, on May 25, 1865. His family moved to Postville, Iowa, in September of the same year.
He went to Upper Iowa University where he studied history. He was also a very good debater and won awards for it. Later, he transferred to Cornell University and earned his bachelor's degree in 1888.
In 1910, Mott led the 1910 World Missionary Conference. This was a very important event for Christian missions and for bringing different Christian groups together.
A Close Call with the Titanic
In 1912, Mott and a friend were offered free tickets to travel on the famous ship, the Titanic. An official from the White Star Line, the company that owned the Titanic, was interested in their work. However, they decided to take a different, smaller ship called the SS Lapland instead.
When they heard the news about the Titanic sinking, they realized how lucky they were. They said to each other, "The Good Lord must have more work for us to do."
Traveling for Peace
After traveling around Europe to promote unity among Christian churches, Mott went to Asia. From October 1912 to May 1913, he held many conferences. These meetings took place in countries like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, China, Korea, and Japan.
From 1920 to 1928, Mott was the Chairperson of the WSCF. Because of his hard work in missions and promoting peace, many historians see him as one of the most trusted Christian leaders of his time. He traveled more widely than almost anyone else.
Family and Lasting Impact
John Mott was married twice. His first wife was Leila Ada White, a teacher. They got married in 1891 and had two sons and two daughters.
- One daughter, Irene Mott Bose, became a social worker in India.
- One son, John Livingstone Mott, received a special medal in 1931 for his work with the YMCA in India.
- Another son, Frederick Dodge Mott, worked on healthcare planning in Canada. He also represented Canada at the World Health Organization.
After Leila Mott passed away in 1952, John Mott married Agnes Peter in 1953. He died in 1955 in Orlando, Florida, when he was 89 years old. His important papers are kept at the Yale Divinity School Library.
Honors
The Episcopal Church (USA) honors John Mott with a special day on their calendar, October 3.
The high school in Postville, Iowa, where his family moved, is named after him.
His Books
- The Evangelization of the World in This Generation (1900)
- The Decisive Hour of Christian Missions (1910)
- World Student Christian Federation (1920)
- Cooperation and the World Mission (1935)
- Methodists United for Action (1939)
- The Larger Evangelism (1945)
See also
In Spanish: John Mott para niños
