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Urbain J. Ledoux (August 13, 1874 – April 8, 1941), later known as "Mr. Zero", referring to his not wanting his own name to be prominent, was motivated early in his quest of service to humanity. He sought to become a Catholic priest at 15 but witnessed a case of priest abuse and soon quit the priesthood about the age of 17. He began to work for law and business interests as a means of progress for humanity. He then sought to serve in diplomatic service for the United States with this approach and earned a few promotions. His approach of advocating for business development as a means to promote the interests of humanity was challenged, that it would be fruitless for higher aims unless personal transformation were brought to bear. He quit the diplomatic service and sought to work with non-governmental organizations for both business and peace interests. Soon he was working with the Bahá'ís and present during the conflict over the status of Sarah Farmer. He led the efforts to free her from involuntary confinement in an insane asylum, ultimately gathering a chief of police and a judge to accompany a court order to effect her freedom. He then began to found institutions seeking to aide humanity, making news first with the unemployment after the First World War among workers and veterans with a breadline in 1919. He advocated for the Bahá'í Faith albeit with a limited understanding of the principles of the religion and proceeded to set up events aimed at raising awareness of the suffering of the unemployed in New York and Boston. His efforts were seen as too confrontational and his events were repeatedly shut down even when he sought to be less confrontational and have discussions with leaders. The work was renewed with greater intensity during the Great Depression but he was in his 60s already and died soon after. Some of his work and antics were recorded in pictures and newsreels. ==Biography== Born August 13, 1874 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Bagot, Quebec, his family soon moved to Biddeford, Maine. He had limited schooling and began to work to support the family at age nine. He was also an alter boy and read French religious books. At 15 he sought the Catholic priesthood at a seminary in Marieville, Quebec.〔 Two years later he witnessed a case of priest abuse of an alter boy,〔 quit the priesthood and soon began work at a law firm back in Maine. He also began to organize political clubs, became Republican ward leader, and launched the first French language publications and newspaper stories in Maine.〔 In 1895 Ladoux sought an open consulate position with the US Government at the age of 21 and was assigned to Trois-Rivières〔 where he engaged in promoting business interests, French language and culture in an anglophone situation as well as seeking balance in that advocacy. He was promoted in 1903 and sent as consul to Prague〔 and served business interests. In 1907 he was promoted again but chose not to accept appointment to Brazil.〔 He had been challenged that his goals required a means to transform human nature. He returned to the States in 1910 and was involved in Boston area peace initiatives the same year. In 1912 he was working with peace activist Paul Otlet. In 1915 Ledoux was working with Bahá'ís, especially at Green Acre, and would later credit much of his actions to the motivations he perceived in the Bahá'í Faith.〔 He was perhaps the third francophone Bahá'í born out of Canada. At the time Sarah Farmer, founder of Green Acre, was ill and had been involuntarily committed to an insane asylum. Ledoux led the effort to free her〔 which, though it was confrontaitonal, included the local chief of police and judge in the attempt with a court order. `Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, praised his work freeing Farmer. That year Henry Ford financed the Peace Ship mission to attempt to end WWI, setting sail in December 1915. Ledoux attempted to join the expedition but wasn't accepted. Instead he jumped off the pier and made a spectacle swimming after the ship - an act that got notice in the newspapers and entered him into public awareness. As his actions became more pronounced he convincingly protested that his aims were apolitical, nor to be an agitator, or Bolshevist - that his aims were religiously based.〔 He claimed he was trying "to awaken the slumbering conscience of the people." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Urbain Ledoux」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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