Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: unknown, In Memoriam: Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, bahai-library.com.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

536 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi.

DR. BAGDADi's WORK ON THE STAR OF from the Chicago College of Medicine and
THE WEST Surgery in May of this year (191 1). He
intends to practice in America and be en-
Mr. Windust, who was one of the found- gaged in serving the Cause of Baha'u'llah.
ers and editors of the Star of the West, spoke We are confident the Star of the West has
of Dr. Bagdadi's services to that magazine, in him an able and willing associate."
as follows-Dr. Bagdadi became associate In the Star of the West, Volume III, No.
editor of this Baha'i publication, June 5, 15 issue, we find the following: "A word of
1911 , beginning with issue No. 5, Volume explanation is given regarding the re-appear-
II, wherein we read : "It gives us pleasure to ance of our Persian section after many
welcome to the editorial staff of the Star of months. As the editor, Mirza A~mad
the West, Dr. Zia Mabsut Bagdadi ("Zia Sohrab, accompanied 'Abdu'l-Baha on most
Effendi"), the youngest son of the late M. of His journeyings throughout America, it
MUHaf:i Bagdadi. Dr. Bagdadi received was almost impossible for him to look after
his early education in the Orient at the the Persian section, and now that he has
Arabian Literature school, Turkish Govern- returned to the East, it has become necesment school and the American school. His sary to place that department in other hands.
childhood was blessed by seeing and being Dr. Zia Bagdadi, who has been associated
with the Blessed Perfection Baha'u'llah, and with him in this work, has consented to
in every year of his youth he visited the render this service. He is located in Chi-
Center of the Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Baha. He cago."
came to America in September, 1909, to Throughout the remainder of the issues
complete a course in medicine, graduating of Volume III, and all of Volumes IV and V
IN MEMORIAM 537

-there were 19 issues in each volume-Dr. line with Haifa from the center of the build-
Bagdadi compiled and wrote the manuscript ing. In this photograph Dr. Bagdadi is seen
in the form of pages, which were photo- digging the first shovelful of earth-the
graphed, reduced to page size, etched on other friends present following him in breakzinc, which became the printing plates for ing the ground. It was indeed fitting that
the Persian sections of the Star of the West Dr. Bagdadi should have this honor, and his
-a total of 262 pages. His beautiful style association with this great event 1 is suffiof writing was distinctly Arabic in char- cient evidence of the esteem his fellowacter. Th:s labor was accomplished by Dr. believers had for his valiant and devoted la-
Bagdadi in addition to translating Tablets bors for the Temple and the Cause of
of 'Abdu'l-Baha and speaking on the Cause Baha'u'IIah.
wherever the opportunity arose-all this
aside from his practice of medicine and sur- NOTEWORTHY QUALITIES OF DR. BAGDADi

gery. Mr. Windust spoke of the time when his
family met 'Abdu'l-Baha in an upper room
DR. BAGDADi WITH 'ABDU'L-BAHA
at the home of Mrs. Davies in Chicago.
IN CHICAGO When He saw the youngest child, He took
Reference was made to the photograph of her upon His lap and called for someone to
'Abdu'l-Baha, together with five of the Ori- bring candy for the little one. Dr. Bagdadi
ental Baha'is, taken by Mr. Killius in Lin- instantly responded, leaping down the stairs
coln Park, Chicago, in 1912. Standing di- two or more steps at a time, obtained the
rectly behind 'Abdu'l-Baha, on the right, is candy, and sprang up stairs with it, handing .
Dr. Bagdadi. In looking at this photograph, the bowl to 'Abdu'l-Baha as a courier would
one is impressed with the thought that our present an urgent message to a king. It was
beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, has, in an impressive demonstration to many who
his cablegram, perfectly described the quali- witnessed it, of the divine qualities of "inties of Dr. Bagdadi. stant, exact and complete obedience" Dr.
This photograph was taken directly across Bagdadi so remarkably possessed.
the street from the Plaza Hotel. In this Mrs. Grace Ober also testified to this outconnection, it is interesting to note that standing characteristic of Dr. Bagdadi, by
when it was taken, no one dreamed that in telling the following experience: "I was
this same part of Lincoln Park, the Chi- keeping house in New York for 'Abdu'lcago Historical Society would erect the Baha and His party of interpreters at the
splendid museum which stands there today. time when He attended the Peace Conference at Lake Mohonk. Late at night, the
DR. BAGDADi'S DEVOTED LABOR FOR THE bell rang furiously and at the door stood Dr.
T EMPLE
Bagdadi, no hat upon his head, his hair
Shoghi Effendi, in his cablegram request- disheveled, and his clothes covered with dust.
ing the holding of this memorial gathering He rushed into the house saying 'Abdu'lfor Dr. Bagdadi, states : . . . "Advise Baha'i Baha had sent him to bring a rug to Lake
Communities of Chicago and surrounding Mohonk at the earliest possible moment. I
regions hold befitting memorial gathering in begged him to have something to eat, to
Temple for which he so valiantly and de- bathe and rest for a little while. But quickly
votedly labored." . . . finding what he wanted he rushed away with
In this connection we were reminded by it. During the short time he was in the
Mrs. True, of the photograph taken on this house I learned that 'Abdu'l-Baha wished to
Temple site March 21, 1921, and published present a gift to the Secretary of the Peace
in the Star of the West, Volume XII, No.2. Conference, Mr. W . H . Short, Sec'y of the
It was the beginning of actual work for the
1 This breaking of ground for the actual construcconstruction of the first Mailiriqu'l-Adhkar tion of the caissons to bed rock should not be
in America; that is, the breaking of ground confused with the boring oper atio ns begun on Sepfor the digging of the first of the nine tember 24, 1920, to obtain a core of soil strata
before beginning the diggi ng of the caissons, which
caissons to bed rock-the one directly in began March 21, 192I.-Editors
538 THE BAHA'i WORLD

Friends assembled on Mailiriqu'l-Adhkar grounds, Chicago, March 21, 192!.
Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi digging first shovelful of earth.

New York Peace Society, before the close During these years Dr. Bagdadi was a
of its sessions next day, and that it was nec- pillar of strength to the Baha'is of America
essary that some one of His party go to the manifesting firmness in the Covenant and
city for it and return at once. Dr. Bagdadi all that it implies. He alone seemed to unhad instantly volunteered. He discovered derstand the deep meanings of this most
there was no passenger train at that great characteristic-that is: through the
hour and boarded a freight train, arriving power of the Covenant no one can create a
in the condition I described. I learned sect or division in the Baha'i Faith; through
later that in returning he again rode on a this most great characteristic, the Center of
freight train as there was no other trans- the Covenant will protect the Cause from
portation at that early morning hour. Dr. now until at least qne thousand years, and
Bagdadi was the embodiment of the perhaps until thousands of years have passed
quality of "Instant, exact and complete away.
obedience." Those who attended the eighth session of
The chairman expressed the thought that the Baha'i Congress at Hotel McAlpin, New
everyone present at this memorial gather- York City, April 30th, 1919, will never foring, who knew Dr. Bagdadi, no doubt cher- get Dr. Bagdadi's presentation of this most
ished in his heart and memory some par- important matter. Although he had been
ticular remembrance or many remembrances ill for three days, he arose to astonishing
of our dearly beloved Dr. Bagdadi. heights and depths of understanding in this
address, unfolding all the qualities Shoghi
FIRMNESS IN THE COVENANT, AN OUT- Effendi mentions in the cablegram prompt-
STANDING QUALITY OF DR. BAGDAD! ing this memorial gathering--of "exem-
When 'Abdu'l-Baha came to America in plary faith, audacity, unquestioning loyalty,
1912, He awakened and began to educate indefatigable exertion"-combined with a
the Baha'is to the Most Great Characteristic dramatic appeal that was arresting and soul
of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah, namely, stirring. This outstanding address of that
The Center of the Covenant-that which remarkable Congress was taken stenographithe previous Divine Manifestations did cally and printed 'in Volume XI of the Star
not bring. From that time until the day of the West.
of His ascension in 1921, He stressed its
importance with ever increasing emphasis, DR. BAGDAD! WRITES OF SEEING AND BEING
thus preparing them for the hour when WITH BAHA'U'LLAH
His Will and Testament was brought to In the year 1929, Dr. Bagdadi wrote a
light. book telling of his birthplace and travels in
IN MEMORIAM 539

the Orient under the title, Treasures of the MRS. LAURIE C. WILHELM
East. In it he describes the peerless pano-
By Roy C. W I LHELM
rama of the Plain of 'Akka surrounded by
mountains and sea, in the center of which Mother's strong religious tendency began
is the Mansion of Bahji, located about one with her mother who was religious fundamile from the Mediterranean and three miles mentally though I do not recall her ever
from the town of 'Akka, Palestine. It was having attended a church; and she did not
here Baha'u'llah lived the last few years of believe that a system in which professional
His exile until He departed to .t he Supreme religionists "reached for hire was in accord
World in 1892 . Dr. Bagdadi tells that here, with the admonitions and example of Jesus.
when he was a child, he had the great privi- During my early years Grandmother often
lege of seeing and being with Baha'u'llah. spoke to me of so many of the Bible prophe-
He wrote: cies being fulfilled and said she believed the
"I had the greatest honor and privilege to Promised Age was near and we must all be
see Baha'u'IIah and sit at His feet many days watchful to recognize the Great Day when
and nights in this Mansion. Here He used it came. Mother and father were members
to hold my hand while walking to and fro of a denomination to which they sent me in
in His large room, revealing Tablets, chant- my youth-though they were not orthodox
ing the prayers with the most charming and in their views, rather they shared Grandmelodious voice, while one of the attendants mother's beliefs that the Creator of all hutook them down. Here I saw Him teaching manity was interested in all humanity.
and blessing the pilgrims who came from all About 1890 Mother became dissatisfied
lands. On hot days He would take me with with the churches and began searching for
Him to the outer alcove of the Mansion reality. She investigated various teachings
where it was somewhat cooler. I would including the philosophies of the East, Chrisstand in a corner with folded arms, my eyes tian Science, etc. I sometimes wondered,
fixed on His incomparable countenance, "What next?" Mother also felt deeply that
while the gentle breezes blew on His soft jet the Great Day was near, that it might come
black hair which reached almost to the waist, even in our time-and how would we be
flowing beneath the taj, like a crown, that able to recognize its fulfillment!
covered His head and a part of His broad, Mother had a friend, kindred in thought,
full, high forehead. in Miss Laura Jones, also of our old home
"From His light-colored garments which town-Zanesville, Ohio: they often met towere· similar to those of all the ancient gether, and wondered if the Spirit might be
prophets, I had always inhaled the fragrance upon the earth at this time: how shall we
of the pure attar of roses. At times He find Him, etc. Shortly after the early 90's
would spend half an hour on the alcove, and Miss Laura moved to Chicago. There she
my eyes would remain fixed on His majestic heard of the Baha'i Faith, and wrote to
face. But whenever He glanced at me with Mother that she had found that for which
His brown, piercing, yet most affectionate they had been seeking. In her letter she ineyes, then I had to turn mine away and look cluded some pamphlets, among which was a
down on the floor. copy of the "Hidden Words." Mother read
"At my birth, Baha'u'IIah named me these, and accepted immediately. About
'Zia' (Light) and gave me the Turkish title 1898 or 1899, when I was a traveling sales-
'Effendi.' But on my first visit to Him, man, Mother mailed me a page from a newswhen He inquired about my health, I re- paper containing a photograph of 'Abdu'lplied in Arabic 'Mabsoot' (I am happy). He Baha and an article in which something was
questioned, 'How is your father?' I an- said to the effect that many regarded Him as
swered, 'Mabsoot'; and 'How is your a return of the Spirit. Having in mind
mother?' He asked. 'Mabsoot' was my re- Mother's various explorations I was not so
ply. He laughed heartily and after that He deeply impressed, but wrote upon the maralways called me Mabsoot Effendi (The gin, "Strange if true" and returned it to her.
Happy One)." In 1901 and 1902, Mother and Father vis-

Choose a second text to read in parallel — a translation, or any other text.