Biography of William Morris.
In the Senate of the Nation it was said of him: “If we ever had a hundred men like Morris, the whole life of the Nation would change immediately.” Williams Morris settled in our country in 1886, in Buenos Aires province. He founded the First Methodist Church, worked as a painter and decorator and then as an office worker. He was an insatiable reader. His bedside book was the Book of Books, the Bible. Here he encountered God´s message for him, which made a profound impression. He had lost his mother at the age of four, and he felt a special compassion for disadvantaged children. This compassion was also a loving concern for people´s souls. In response to the lack of care and to the unsettled life of children and young people he acquired with his limited means a house where he brought them together and taught them to read… In the poor neighbourhood of La Boca he met twelve youngsters wishing to learn to read and write; thus began his task as an educator. Not long afterwards he was appointed pastor of the Methodist Church in this neighbourhood. From that point on his life took the course which was to last until God took him to Himself: preaching the gospel of redemption and founding schools. When the nation reached its centenary there were already eight schools in the poor neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires province. Immediately Hogar el Alba was founded to provide for the needs of abandoned children. To mark the twenty -fifth anniversary of his work he organized a parade in Palermo in front of the Argentine President Marcelo T. de Alvear: seven thousand pupils from all his schools! The Bible was his inspiration; for the Gospel´s sake he worked ceaselessly. He began to visit prisons and reform schools bringing the transforming message of the Gospel. He inaugurated the Industrial Institute of Arts and Business, colleges for telegraphy and music training, night schools for adults. His maxims give us a glimpse of the spirit which inspired him. Here are some of them: “May I be present so that when the teacher stops learning, I may stop teaching.” Of his pupils, the prime beneficiaries of his life´s work, he said: “The most precious treasure that the Nation has are its children.” William Morris was the living embodiment in many ventures of the old English saying: “ I shall pass through this world but one time, if I can say any kind word, if I can do any act of love, may I say this kind word, may I do this act of love; I may not pass this way again.” On the tomb of William Morris, in Soham, near Cambridge, England, is written a Bible verse which should serve to inspire anybody who wishes to accept the challenge of following unswervingly the path that God sets out for us in the message of the Cross of Christ: “The path of the righteous is like the dawn which beckons until the full light of day.” The Life and Work of William Morris.On the 16th February, 1864, William C. Morris was born in Cambridge. At the age of 4 he lost his mother. He then travelled with his family to Paraguay, settling later at Rosario, where in 1878 his father rented a country house. Here William looked after animals and made the best use of his free time by reading the Bible and commentaries. His prodigious memory ensured that he would learn from them with ease. In 1886 he left his familiar surroundings and travelled to Buenos Aires. There he pursued a career as a house painter, and much later as an office worker on the newspaper La Platense where he showed a high degree of responsibility.
In 1892 Morris sensed a strong desire to impart to others what he had learned, and he improvised a school hall in a modest part of the area called La Boca. Without delay he sought out children who wanted to take advantage of his teaching. Within a short space of time he added to his class a cooking pot big enough to feed them. He gave up his work and obtained financial means by visiting fellow countrymen, who responded to his requests.
He was ordained minister of the Methodist Church. About 1905 he was ordained into the Methodist organization called Rio Platense. He founded a sailors´ home at La Boca. Then he travelled to England to look for support. On his return he gave up all his responsibilities in the Methodist Church and left it. He was ordained priest in the Anglican Church. He left the mission at La Boca to devote himself to his pupils. He continued his work in Palermo in 1898, renting a house in Uriarte y Guemes, in which rural neighbourhood he founded Hogar el Alba. In February of that year he opened a school for mothers and later another one at Maldonado..
In 1902, amid controversial discussions among lawyers, an increase in his subsidies for his work was approved, from 200 pesos to 1,000 a month. By then his pupils numbered more than 1,400; by 1904 there were 2,700 pupils and 190 families benefiting from his work. His wish was always to provide practical activity for his pupils, while at the same time organizing books, clothing, footwear and medical care for them. By 1905 there were 3 boys´ schools, 2 girls´ schools and an infant and kindergarten for both sexes. In addition, a college to train telegraph operators and typists, and one for hairdressing, dress making, and for craftwork at home; also an industrial, artisan and office skills´ institute, and 2 evening class colleges. In this year the number of registered students rose to 3, 096. In June 1911 he changed the name of his work to PHILANTHROPIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF ARGENTINA. By 1913 the pupils numbered 5,000.
In 1914 the work went through many anxious times, although the authorities were still supportive. Morris´ involvement alone ensured the necessary influence over many people who in their daily dealings knew no other language than that of finance. His constancy, patience and tolerance managed to overcome whatever constraints there were. On the 29th May 1925 he founded Hogar el Alba for orphaned and destitute children; the President of Argentina attended in person.
In 1932 his health declined and he travelled to Europe; illness overcame him to such an extent that day by day his eyes were weakening and his tired heart was losing its frenetic rhythm.
The life of Jesus Christ showed itself through the gift of William Morris, and the profound impact that his life had upon others was reflected in the inscription placed on his tombstone to be found in the British Cemetery, which was as follows: “His life was one of those which gently obliges one to believe in God”. His epitaph was: “One passes through this world but once; if there is any word of kindness that I can utter, any noble act that I may be able to perform, then say now that word, do now that deed , for I may not pass this way again.”
Hogar el Alba today:
A local home for local children.
Integrated family style groups for boys and girls of all ages.
A development in its own grounds of 120 acres in Longchamps with its community atmosphere and activity.
A shift from the large “macro” institution of the past to its present cluster of 5 family homes each with 12 children in a family group.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK OF LOVE BY CONTRIBUTING.
Hogar El Alba –Main Building.
Hogar El Alba
Juan B. Justo, Republic of Argentina, (1854) Longchamps.
Telephone: (011) 4279-0045 Fax (011) 4279-0119 E-mail: albahome@ciudad.com.ar Web site www.hogarelalba.org
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On the 15th September, 1932, God called William C. Morris into His presence: evangelical pastor, educator, founder of schools and of Hogar el Alba. He freed souls from captivity. His life, so unknown by the people of his country, was not great through other great men of his day.