Mott (Mott), John

May 25, 1865, Mr.. - 31 January 1955
American public figure, John Raleigh Mott was born in Livingston Manor (New York). He was the third child in the family and the only son of John Stitt Mott and Elmira Dodge. When the boy was two years old, the family moved to Postvill in northeastern Iowa, where his father opened a flourishing trade in ironmongery and even became mayor. From his childhood surrounded by books, M. grew up in a pious atmosphere of Methodism, and at age thirteen announced his treatment.
When M. age of 16, he enrolled in a small Methodist college preparatory in Fayette. He carefully studied the history and literature, received the award for oratory and polemical skills. Outlining a career in politics and jurisprudence, M. entered the second year at Cornell University in 1885. Here he took part in the Youth Christian Association (YMCA). In 1886. he accidentally got a lecture by the English preacher D. Kaynastona Studd. 'Looking for a vain blagopoluchiyaN - asked Studd audience. - Do not look for it. Seek first the kingdom of God '.
After meeting with Studd on the next day M. wrote to his parents, and announced his intention to serve the ideals of Christian Students. Elected president of Cornell Branch YMCA, he used his oratorical skills to expanding the community and raise funds for the construction of the YMCA building on campus. M. graduated in 1888. with a bachelor's degree in history, political science and philosophy.
M. was elected national secretary of Inter-University Committee for the YMCA, which remained for 27 years. Travel to the U.S. and Canada, he has attracted new members and establish branches in the YMCA college. The merit of it is voluntary and foundation of the Student Movement for Foreign Missions. Thousands of American and Canadian volunteers went to spread their views among students all over the world.
In 1891, Mr.. M. married an English teacher Leila Ada White, they had four children. In the year of weddings M. made his first transoceanic travel: he visited England and met with a youthful Christian Movement. The next four years brought the YMCA of the major successes: the number of associations in the colleges has doubled, under the direction of M. bring young Christians of Great Britain and Sweden have created the World Student Christian Federation, in 1895. at its first conference in Vadstene (Sweden), was attended by representatives of 10 countries.
In 1895, during a two-year trip, M. organized a national student organization in India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and Europe. How to tell one of his colleagues, M. 'had an unsurpassed gift to feel the mood of listeners. When he spoke with the initiative, almost everyone was willing to accede to it '. M. also wrote books, articles, pamphlets, in which Christian ideals and promoted missionary work.
M. presided at the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1910. As chairman of the Standing Committee, which guided the organization's activities between conferences, M. 1912 ... 1913. went to Asia to attend the regional meetings, created a student organization and spoke before large audiences. Despite conservative opposition, M. insisted that access to the missionary work was open to students of all races and nationalities. Dedication M. movement was so great that, when President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. invited him to become U.S. ambassador to China, he refused.
Since the beginning of World War M. tried to maintain communication between groups of YMCA Europe. Having failed, he turned his energies to assisting prisoners of war and refugees through the Standing Committee. In 1915, Mr.. M. was elected leader of the American branch of the YMCA and the Secretary General of the National Council of Military Assistance. With his participation, the Council has collected nearly 200 million. dollars to the YMCA event. M. worked in the Mexican Commission President Wilson, and in 1917. with a special delegation left for Russia. After the war, M. attended the Paris Peace Conference, which protects freedom of religion.
The World Missionary Conference in 1921. was transformed into the World Council, and M. became its chairman. In the 20's and 30-ies. He traveled extensively on behalf of the Council and the World Committee of the YMCA. In 1926, Mr.. M. American leadership has left office to head the world organization.
Since the beginning of the Second World War, despite the age (he turned 74), M. tirelessly organized a campaign to raise funds for YMCA programs help prisoners of war.
Nobel Peace Prize 1946. M. shared with Emily Greene Balch. During the visit M. Oslo was welcomed by crowds of West Germany. At the ceremony, the representative of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Herman Smith Ingebretsen said about M. thus: 'He was never a politician, not take an active part in the peace movement. But he always remained a driving force, a tireless fighter in the service of Christ, opening young minds to the light, which, in his view, could lead the world to stay calm and people's understanding and goodwill '.
In his Nobel lecture M. spoke about the need to send 'positive force for peace' in the transitional. He outlined a plan for 'more aggressive and more successful war against the secular enemies of mankind - ignorance, poverty, disease, discord and sin'. In conclusion, he cited the words of Christ: 'He who would be the greatest, will be the servant of all'.
The last 10 years of living M. spent in retirement in Orlando (Florida). In 1952, Mr.. his first wife died, and in 1953. He married Agnes Peter. M. died in 1955
Elihu Root spoke of Moscow: 'His powerful personality and selfless devotion to the cause of peace, I think, is unmatched. His influence came not from the posts which he held: rather, he traveled by land to build and strengthen commitment to the fundamental ideas upon which the world '.