Inaugural Nakashima Foundation for Peace Award
May 4, 2014
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace Honors
The Very Reverend James Parks Morton
with the inaugural Nakashima Foundation for Peace Award
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace honored The Very Reverend James Parks Morton, Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (NYC), Founder of The Interfaith Center of New York, and Honorary Chairman of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 3:00 pm. He received the inaugural Nakashima Foundation for Peace Award. It was an honor and privilege for the Foundation Board to plan and participate in the day.
This champagne reception was held at the Foundation Arts Building, which has been named to the World Monuments Fund Watch List, at the Nakashima Studio, 1847 Aquetong Road, in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and included a concert celebrating peace and spring offered by “Mostly Motets” conducted by Timothy Carpenter.
Indeed, the sun shone brightly. Dogwood and cherry trees were in bloom. Everywhere the eye went there was harmony and beauty. It was all the more fitting as the Nakashima studio and compound including the Foundation property had been designated a National Historic Monument just a few days earlier!
The music added to the uplifting atmosphere and prepared the audience for the tributes given to a man whose life is devoted to peace, ecumenism and international understanding.
Messages from Dr. Karan Singh – the Indian statesman, chairman of the Auroville Foundation and the son of the last Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, of India; and the Noble Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa showed the depth of the Very Reverend Morton’s outreach.
UN Ambassador of the Philippines Libran Cabactulan and his wife had driven from NY to present their good wishes. Mrs. Fe Cabactulan is the President of the UN Delegations Women’s Club. The Honorable Ambassador gave touching remarks about the Very Reverend’s work and how he has influenced a whole generation in interfaith and peace work.
To close the event, the Board led the assembled guests in reciting the Blessing originally composed for the February 11, 2014 Global Connection II. With a few changes, it became relevant in New Hope on May 4th for the whole world. (see full text in Global Connection II)