Llewellyn Scott

by Anne Fullerton

Llewellyn Scott was born in Washington, DC in 1898. His mother was a masseuse and his father was a day laborer. The family was very poor and Scott suffered from rickets and did not walk until he was 10 years old.

A Baptist by birth, Scott was converted to Catholicism by one of his mother's clients, Surgeon-General John Moore, who took the young Llewellyn in. Thanks to the Moore family's generosity, he was able to pursue an education. Scott graduated from Howard University with a degree in sociology. He also studied at Amherst College and Catholic University.

In 1935, Llewellyn Scott founded the Blessed Martin De Porres Hospice in Washington. In its history the hospice would be at many different addresses, including 7th St. NW, Eye St. NE, and 12th St. NE. Scott named his house of hospitality after the 17th century black South American priest who was since elevated to sainthood -- a ceremony which Scott witnessed.

Scott was inspired to start his house by his experiences as a social worker with the District of Columbia's emergency relief program and by a talk given by Dorothy Day in DC. He visited the New York Catholic Worker. When he spoke of his dream to open a house, Day told him to begin immediately and gave him her last $5 to start the project.

Llewellyn Scott financed his hospitality work by holding down a regular job while receiving some additional assistance from the church and concerned individuals. It is somewhat ironic and humbling, in this day of Catholic Worker pacifism and nonviolent resistance, to recall that for most of his life Scott earned his living (and that of his homeless brothers and sisters) as a clerk-typist with the Department of Defense.

At the Blessed Martin De Porres Hospice, Scott offered meals to approximately 30 homeless people a day and shelter to an additional 20-100 who shared his house. He did all the shopping and cooking. The homeless men made their beds, did the cleaning, and washed the dishes. Clothing and counseling were also offered at his house of hospitality.

Llewellyn Scott was very concerned about the pervasive racial segregation in his hometown. In 1937, he wrote to Dorothy Day that he hoped his example of taking in white and black people off the streets would have an impact on the problem of segregation in DC.

When he "retired" in 1967 due to ill health and following 32 years of service, it is estimated that over 10,000 people had passed through his doors to be fed, housed and comforted for periods ranging from one day to two years.

For his service to the poor, Llewellyn Scott was often honored. Steubenville College gave him the Poverello Medal in 1954 for "exemplifying in our age the Christ-like spirit of charity which filled the life of St. Francis of Assisi." In 1976, the Secretariat for Black Catholics conferred on Scott their Award for Community Service. He also appeared on the TV show, "This Is Your Life."