Honorable Founder Reverend Leonard F. Morse

Massachusetts’ native, the Honorable Founder Reverend Leonard F. Morse was the son of a distinguished New England family, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Morse of Boston, Massachusetts. Trained in the elementary and secondary schools of New Bedford, Massachusetts, he became the valedictorian of his integrated high school and entered Howard University. In 1915, he graduated from Howard University and was the first person to graduate in 3 years with two degrees, an AB and a B.Ed. degree.

Founder Morse earned the Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Payne School of Divinity at Wilberforce University, a Master’s degree from Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), and the degrees of Doctor of Metaphysics and the Doctor of Psychology from the College of Metaphysics (Indianapolis, Indiana). He received the Doctor of Divinity (honorary) from Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina) and the LLD at Edward Waters College (Jacksonville, Florida).

An outstanding educator, minister, and a prophetic voice of his time, Founder Morse served at several academic and religious institutions. He was Dean of Theology, President of Edward Waters College, and a Mason. Founder Morse founded and chartered numerous Sigma chapters, especially in Florida.

In 2019, Hon. Founder Morse was honored by his hometown of New Bedford, MA, with Leonard F. Morse Day which Falls annually on Hon. Founder Morse’s birthday on January 12th. City Councilor Scott Lima, speaking on behalf of Mayor Jonathan Mitchell and New Bedford City Council, presented Phi Beta Sigma with an official citation declaring January 12 Dr. Reverend Leonard Morse Day. Councilor Lima said about the Hon. Founder Morse:

He created an organization in the democratic spirit and viewed it as a part of the community, and not ‘apart’ from it. His legacy is as a vital contributor to the success of the Commonwealth as the members of Phi Beta Sigma have actively made it a better place to live.

The Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma’s Beta Alpha Chapter thank Bro. Richard Farmer, who was initiated into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., via Beta Alpha Chapter in 1998, for his efforts and energy to bring well-deserved recognition and appreciation to the Hon. Founder Morse.