The 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 and President of Edward Waters College and a Mason. Founder Morse founded and chartered numerous Sigma chapters, especially in Florida.
Founder Morse was a student of the Greek language; he is responsible for naming our Fraternity. In addition, he wrote Sigma’s first constitution and was the first president of the Alpha Chapter. In the 1915 Howard University yearbook entitled “The Mirror”, Founder Morse had listed by his name the following: Director of Social Service, YMCA, 1913-1914; Organizer and President of Phi Beta Sigma, 1914-15; President, Young Men’s Progressive Club, 1914-15; tutor of languages and history.
Founder Morse was married and had five children, two of which are Brothers in this fraternity. In the 1915 Howard University yearbook, Founder Morse left us with “Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.”