Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Robert Gregory Shaw, Uncle Bill: A Personal Memoir, bahai-library.com.
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Uncle Bill
A Personal Memoir
R. Gregory Shaw
A FORTUITOUS ENCOUNTER

I was 17 in August of 1968, with one last year of high school darkening my Timonium, Maryland
horizon. At school, I was an experienced malcontent, ever looking for new ways to amuse
myself at the expense of the elders of education. Vietnam was widening the chasm between the
“say you want a revolution” young and the reeling older generation that would soon vote for a
Nixon-Agnew ticket of white-collar criminals to pilot the Silent Majority’s ship of state. Though
agitated by the recent televised mess of Chicago’s political convention with accompanying riots,
I agreed to accompany my girlfriend to the Maryland State Fair, where she had volunteered to
stroll the crowd and hand out political literature. If I remember correctly, we were given classic
straw boater hats to wear. I wish I had a picture - the idealistic, fresh-faced young woman and
her scruffy boyfriend, still cultivating his first beard. In straw boater hats.

It was hot, and I was likely dragging my feet, looking for an excuse to cut out of the crowds.
Among the food stands and horse barns, I saw a smaller booth with one attendant, an older
gentleman. Dutifully, I offered him one of the pamphlets we carried. His response surprised me:
“I’ll take one of yours, if you’ll take one of mine.” How could I have suspected, with those few
words, the course of my life had just been altered?

Albert Edwin Dorrida, Jr. - “Uncle Bill” to his friends - was the first Bahá'í I met. Let me share my
story of a quiet man, a select soul, whose many decades of stalwart service deserve a place of
honor in the annals of the Bahá'í Faith in Baltimore.

The writer and Ms. C. Fremd, 1968 Maryland State Fair, 1968
FROM PUBLIC RECORDS

Bill was born May 15, 1901. He died March 11, 1972, and is buried in the Baltimore National
Cemetery. His gravestone is carved with a nine-pointed star at the top, and it notes he was a
trumpeter in the WWI U.S. Armed Forces. Buried with Bill is his wife, Martha Josephine
Campbell Dorrida, who died in 1966.

He was the youngest child of Albert, Sr. (1868-1937) and Eusebia Day Dorrida (1871-1948). Bill
had three sisters and a brother. His paternal grandparents were William (1827-1890) and
Elizabeth Curfman Dorrida. Maternal grandparents were John Anthony Munnekhusen Day
(1839-1908) and Mary Ellen Barnett (1845-1881). Most, if not all of these family members were
born in Maryland, many in Harford County. In the 1910 census, Albert and Eusebia were living
at 2548 West North Ave., Baltimore, Ward 15, now the site of Coppin State University.

At age 16, in March 1918, he enlisted in the Marines. After applying to learn trumpet and drum,
he spent a few weeks ill in a Charleston SC hospital before completing his training and
proceeding to join ​Fifty-Second Company, Third Provisional Regiment​ at Paris (now Parris)
Island SC. His company was sent to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, departing Charleston
on the USS Kittery. In September of 1919, Bill was honorably discharged from service. No
background information could be found to explain a note on his record that he was one of 19
Americans to be decorated with the Serbian government’s Order of St. Sava.​1

Bill shared an incident that occurred during his military service. Traveling by ship, one night he
decided to sleep on deck. A great wave broke over the ship and Bill was swept towards the sea.
At the last moment, a hand reached out to grab him and a tragic end was avoided. He later
learned that on that very night his mother had dreamed that a wave had threatened his life.

In the 1920 census, Bill has returned to Baltimore, living with his parents, working as a clerk for
Financial Services Co. In 1922, still with his parents, he is living on Frederick Rd, near North
Bend. In 1926, he is listed as a “compto mech.” Bill and Martha Josephine Campbell
(1903-1966) were married in 1930 in Wheeling, WV. She was the daughter of John A.
Campbell, a physician. ​(An aside: I was pleased to learn that Dr. Campbell was a native of
Fairmont, WV, my hometown.)​ In 1932, with Martha, Bill is in Wheeling, a manager with Felt and
Tarrant Mfg. on Oak Park Ave. A 1941 draft registration lists Bill and Martha living at 401 Chapel
Gate Lane in west Baltimore. He is employed with the General Baking Company. He is noted as
5’5”, 135 lbs., brown hair.

1. Decoration: Order of St. Sava (Serbian) - The Order of ​Saint Sava​ was established originally to recognize ​civilians​ for
meritorious achievements to the Church, to arts and sciences, the royal house and the state. In 1914 a change was made
permitting military personnel to receive the honor for military merit. 19 Americans were awarded by Serbia.
A directory found in the December 1944 ​Bahá'í News​ lists the officers of the Local Spiritual
Assembly: “Albert E. Dorrida, Chairman, 3315 Woodland Ave., Baltimore 15; Annamarie
Honnold, Secretary; Mrs. F. W. Hipsley (​Bill’s sister, Marguerite)​ .” (See Appendices.)

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS

On that August day at the state fair, Bill gave me a pamphlet with the basic principles of the
Bahá'í Faith, and my interest was immediately sparked. I asked questions, and his patient
explanations were so “​far out,​ ” as we would say in those days, so far out that I felt like I’d
stumbled upon a secret fountain of truth. I could feel new vistas opening before me. Like many
of my age, I had a vague notion that ending the Vietnam war would somehow right the troubled
world. But Bill was talking of much broader solutions - the equality of men and women, a
universal auxiliary language, the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, the harmony
of science and religion. ​“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”

Could I really be hearing this from an old guy wearing a tie? My generation’s mantra was:​“Don’t
trust anyone over 30!

As our conversation stretched out over the better part of an hour, from time to time Bill would
hand me another pamphlet or booklet with more information. All of this, I took away with me to
read and re-read over the next few weeks.

The Bahá'í Faith became all I wanted to talk about with friends. I carried one booklet with me at
all times, and this proved the key to actually encountering the Bahá'í community. The school
year had begun, and, as usual, I was lounging on the sidelines, ignoring my gym class. I spotted
a fellow goof-off and strolled over to make his acquaintance. My opening line was: “Would you
like to read something interesting?”

He asked to keep the booklet. A few weeks later, he told me that he’d written away to the
published address, had received a reply and an invitation to a local introductory fireside. He
insisted that I had to meet these “amazing” people, and he gave me the meeting information.

Over the next seven months, I came to admire and love these amazing Baltimore County
Bahá'ís. My interest was so intense that I would attend every gathering I heard about, even in
other cities. I brought many friends along and the firesides were often overflowing with barefoot
teenagers sitting on the floor. I am eternally grateful to the small band of believers who nurtured
my belief, especially Clarke and Betty Langrall, who were ever ready to help me overcome all
hesitation until I openly declared myself a believer in Bahá’u’lláh.

In these years, 1968 to 1972, Bill Dorrida was a widower, with no surviving children, living in the
home of Iraj and Mary K. Radpour. He suffered from lung disease and was hospitalized several
times, but remained an active participant in the Bahá'í community. I enjoyed every opportunity to
visit and hear the stories he would relate of earlier days when the Faith was sparsely scattered
across America, when a relative handful of awakened souls took up the task of spreading the
Word to millions rooted in their hidebound beliefs.

Bill told me that he counted his days as a Bahá'í from an event in 1912. His mother, Eusebia,
was one of the first few Bahá'ís in Baltimore, perhaps as early as 1902. Towards the end of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s historic trip across the United States and Canada, He visited Baltimore, giving an
address at a Unitarian church, then gathering with the believers for a dinner in the home of
Howard Struven. (See Appendices.) Young Bill Dorrida was at that dinner and met the Master.
When I asked Bill about his memories of the event, 60 years had erased most of the details, but
the spiritual impression could be seen on his face. He told me that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appeared
radiantly happy - “He giggled” throughout the meal.

In those early days of the Faith in America, only a small fraction of the Writings had been
translated into English, and the friends were greatly focused on what they knew of the Master’s
words and His living example. Bill joked, “We were ‘Abdul-Bahá'ís!” He said every meeting
included a serving of tea, “Because that was what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá drank.”

Also, he remembered a time when every meeting began with all attending each repeating the
Greatest Name - “Allah’u’Abha” - 95 times before any other business was conducted.

One night, I sat with Bill in his room and he showed me a few photographs and some
memorabilia he still possessed from past decades. One item that interested me was a tiny
booklet, less than 2 inches square, with the number 9 on the cover, with relevant principles but
no direct mention of Bahá'í inside. Bill said he and his mother used to carry these and “slip them
into people’s grocery bags when they weren’t looking.”

He also showed me an invaluable possession, a set of prayer beads that had belonged to
‘Abdu’l-Bahá. These beads, as I recall, were of a light color, perhaps white, arranged in a group
of 9 beads, with a separator, followed by 19 beads, a separator, then the remaining added to
make a total of 95, tied to make a circle, with a tassel attached. Bill told me his wish was to
donate this treasure to the Evergreen cabin on the Bahá'í property in Teaneck, New Jersey.

As noted earlier, Bill served on the Baltimore Local Spiritual Assembly. For many years, the
Bahá'í Center on 5301 Gwynn Oak Avenue was the central meeting place for community
activities. Bill recalled days when he would clean trash from the front lawn, dumped by unhappy
neighbors to show their displeasure with racially integrated gatherings in the white
neighborhood. By the late 1960s, he had seen the city change and “white flight” had brought
diversity to the surrounding streets.

Bill told me of another dramatic change he had witnessed that involved Bahá'í property. He
showed me a picture of himself as a young man, standing before the foundation construction of
the future Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. During the lean Depression years, the
completion of the beautiful architectural design was greatly delayed. Bill said the village was
annoyed at the eyesore along the shoreline: “They said it looked like an oil tank.” He lived to see
the day when Wilmette came to adopt the finished Temple as the symbol of the city, a landmark
attracting thousands of visitors in a week.

One night at a Bahá'í 19-day feast, my sister, Cilla, and I sang a musical arrangement of
Bahá’u’llah’s Tablet of the Holy Mariner. Afterwards, I noted Bill sitting alone, obviously
distracted. I sat and asked him what was affecting him. With great emotion he said, “The
Guardian wrote that one day there would be believers in cities all across America. We thought
he meant in the Golden Age, centuries from now. I didn’t expect it would happen in my lifetime.”

There was another special opportunity to sing in a meeting, this time directly for Uncle Bill. The
Bahá'ís were holding an areawide conference, with a number of well-known speakers, including
Javidukht Khadem, an Auxiliary Board Member and wife of the Hand of the Cause. The
organizers wished to honor Bill for his long and faithful service and asked Cilla and I to sing as a
part of the tribute. We sang a Peter, Paul and Mary song, ​Day Is Done.​ Bill was touched and
when we finished he sweetly said, “You guys are really something.”

From an earlier generation, Bill wasn’t a fan of the pop music of the 60s, though I remember
there was an exception. He liked the Beatles’ record, ​Let It Be.​ He said it sounded like religious
music, and he liked hearing it come on the jukebox while he was at work at Double-T Diner. 2​

When I knew him, Bill worked part-time as a bookkeeper for this diner on Baltimore National
Pike. Having retired some years before, he had some funds for living expenses and now worked
to earn money to contribute to the Bahá'í Fund. Remarkably, he gave all of his salary to the
Bahá'ís! This attracted the attention of the tax authorities. As Bill wasn’t well, the IRS sent a man
to his home to interview him. Bill explained that he gave away 100% of the money he made.
The tax man told him, “That may be true, but you’re not allowed to do it.” Bill had to pay a fiscal
penalty for his generosity. An insight into his detachment from material matters can be seen in
that he laughed as he told me this story.

2. In recent years, I’ve eaten a few times at the Double-T, remembering my friend. I recall him giving me insider information:
“The pumpkin pies are really squash pies.”
His generosity extended to me personally. While I was in South Carolina attending college,
there was a dramatic surge in the growth of the Bahá'í community in the rural area where I lived.
Though I had arrived as the only Bahá'í in my county, in a few months there were scores of new
believers, most with only an introductory knowledge of Bahá’u’llah’s Teachings. My only income
was from 10 hours a week as a student library aide, but I was ordering as many booklets and
materials as I could, trying to get information into the hands of new Bahá'ís. When word filtered
back to friends in Maryland that I was leaving myself broke, I got a check in the mail with a short
note: “For your ​personal​ expenses. Bill.”

Bill’s health was deteriorating, but the stays in the hospital opened a door to memorable
moments for some of us. ​Dozens of high school kids had joined the Faith at the end of the 60s,
and it had made an impact on the community. The small group of quiet professionals leading
steady and focused lives was suddenly challenged to open their living rooms and embrace a
gang of hyperactive, adventure-hungry, fad-following, ill-kempt, naive, and often lovesick young
folks, who had yet to grasp the depth of commitment required to create the spiritual world they
did indeed long to see. But, their footloose lives meant they were the ones with the free time to
make hospital visits.

One of the older (over 30!) Bahá'ís shared with me that Bill had been anxious at the thought that
the Faith for which he had dedicated his life might now be left in the hands of a happy-go-lucky
generation unsuited to continue the work. Then, when faced with lonely days lying in a hospital
bed, he found a daily stream of newly-blossoming Bahá'ís appearing at the door to cheer their
Uncle Bill. Reassured, he now proudly announced, “These young kids are great!”

“O God, my God! Thou seest me… supplicating Thee in the dead of night and at the
break of dawn, entreating and invoking Thee at morn and at eventide to graciously aid
me to serve Thy Cause to spread abroad Thy Teachings to exalt Thy Word throughout
​ bdu’l-Bahá
the East and the West.” - ‘A

These bedside visits were important to me. As I drove into the city to the hospital, I would select
a topic to discuss. On one occasion, I decided to ask about prayer. Having reached the point
that I regularly said a daily prayer, and would even add one or two others from time to time, I
was somewhat impressed with my spiritual development. So, I asked my friend to tell me about
prayer.

Bill pointed to his bedside table and told me to hand him his prayer book. I noticed it was an
older edition that I hadn’t seen. This, I thought, is where the expression, “well-thumbed pages,”
was born. He looked through the book and gestured at various points. “Every day, I say all of
the ‘healing’ prayers, and all of the ‘forgiveness’ prayers, and the ‘teaching’ prayers. I say the
Tablet of Ahmad, And, of course, the obligatory prayer. Then, on special occasions, I say the
others. I say them out loud; Bahá’u’llah says, to ‘intone’ the prayers.”
Whew! I was learning that the spiritual path was a life-long endeavor. It was my great fortune to
have known someone who had walked the long road.

I stepped into Bill’s hospital room one day and greeted him, but he didn’t answer. His eyes were
open and focused on the wall. Thinking he might be near sleep, I sat down and waited and was
startled when he suddenly turned and said hello. He explained that he had been looking at the
wall of painted cinder blocks and repeating the Greatest Name for each block. Surely, the
nurses must have learned that this was an unusual man in their care.

Sadly, the health struggles would have an end. Bill’s condition deteriorated. I visited and found
him very weak and struggling to breathe. I held his hand and told him that the community was
planning a welcome party for some newly-enrolled members. Shaking, he pulled his oxygen
mask aside and managed a single word: “Beautiful.” Later that afternoon, at least two others
came to visit, but he wasn’t awake. That night, he passed away.

Some time earlier, Bill had joked with me, saying, “We Bahá'ís don’t die; we ascend!”

AFTERWARDS

I attended the funeral, though the only detail clear in my mind is that I was asked to bring the
community’s flowers to the funeral home.

In the months afIer, I would often remember in prayer this friend who held a unique spot in my
life’s journey. Thinking of the restraints that poor health placed on his Bahá'í activity, I asked
that I might be given the opportunity to carry out some task he’d been forced to forego. A year
later, as I wearily endured another jolting all-night bus ride across the Andes, another leg in a 13
week trip through South America to play music carrying a Bahá'í message, I looked out at the
unfamiliar landscape and thought, ‘Uncle Bill, you must have harbored some big dreams.”

In 1980, I was on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. At the house of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, I met Ethel Revell,
a distinguished Bahá'í of many years. In 1912, the Master had visited her family home in
Philadelphia. The number of American believers was so small in those long-ago days that it was
not surprising that she remembered Bill. “We always called him ‘Split-peas Bill.’ I don’t
remember why.”

I plan to ask “Split-peas” about that when next we meet.

That pilgrimage brought another connection to Bill, a mystical experience to ponder. Well before
that trip, I had a vivid dream in which I had passed into the next life. Here, I saw Bill Dorrida
sitting on a bench. He waved for me to come and sit with him. When I did, he turned and looked
me directly in the eyes and said, “That was quite a time, wasn’t it?” As he said this, he smiled
and patted me on the knee.
So, in 1980, I was on the slope of Mt. Carmel, in the heavenly atmosphere of the gardens
surrounding the Shrine of the Bab. We visitors from around the world were gathering in the
small building that served as a Pilgrim Center with the dear Hand of the Cause, Mr. Furutan.
With devotion and great love, he addressed the friends, reminiscing about Shoghi Effendi and
his own pilgrimage many years before. His audience was squeezed tightly into the padded
benches - Persian mandars - along the walls of the room. When he finished speaking, the Hand
of the Cause walked over to where I was sitting and, with a motion of his hands, indicated to
make room, that he would sit by me. Without a word, he sat down and turned his aged face to
look me directly in the eyes. He smiled and patted my knee.

Instantly, the dream of my other-worldly encounter with Uncle Bill Dorrida came back to my
mind.

“Know thou that the souls of the people of Bahá, who have entered and been
established within the Crimson Ark, shall associate and commune intimately one with
another, and shall be so closely associated in their lives, their aspirations, their aims and
strivings as to be even as one soul. They are indeed the ones who are well-informed,
who are keen-sighted, and who are endued with understanding. Thus hath it been
decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”​ - Bahá’u’llah
APPENDIX I

'Abdu'l-Bahá in Baltimore
by ​Allison Vaccaro​ and ​Edward E. Bartlett
published in ​Bahá'í News
1982-02

The Bahá’í Faith was introduced in America at the Columbian Exposition in 1893,
shortly after the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh. The early pioneers to the U.S. were
dispatched by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and it was under His guidance that the American Bahá’í
community was nurtured.

Aware of the threat that Covenant-breakers posed to the fledgling American community,
and acceding to the imploring requests that He visit the western hemisphere,
'Abdu'l-Bahá finally decided to make such a trip. At the time of His western sojourn in
1912, there were approximately 30 Local Spiritual Assemblies in North America. One of
these was in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh was brought to Baltimore around the turn of the century. Its
close proximity to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia made Baltimore a logical target
area for many early Bahá’í teachers.

According to the archives of the Baltimore Bahá’í community, Mrs. Isabel Brittingham
had visited that city in 1900 in what may have been the first traveling teaching trip to
Baltimore.​1

Letter to the Master

Later, Col. Nat Ward Fitz-Gerald of Washington, D.C., and Mirza 'Abu'l-Fadl, who was
sent to the U.S. by 'Abdu’l-Bahá, spoke at a public meeting in Baltimore attended by
about a hundred people in February 1902.​2​ The number of Bahá’ís in the city grew, until
in May 1909 the "Bahá’í Assembly of Baltimore" was formed. A constitution and by-laws
were drafted and approved, and a letter was sent to 'Abdu'l-Bahá informing Him of the
accomplishment.

There is little doubt that the Bahá’ís in Baltimore were ecstatic about the news of
'Abdu'l-Bahá's imminent arrival in their region. They were even more fortunate to have
Him stop in their city; although He earlier had spent several weeks in nearby
Washington, 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not visit Baltimore until near the end of His American
sojourn.

The news of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to America prompted lengthy and generally accurate
newspaper articles in the Baltimore newspapers. In a city noted for its quality
journalism, having spawned such outstanding talent as H.L. Mencken, the Baltimore
Sun​ made only one major error in its reporting. That was with respect to the expected
date of an address by 'Abdu’l-Bahá in Baltimore.

On April 6, 1912, five days before 'Abdu'l-Bahá's steamship berthed in New York
harbor, the ​Sun​ papers declared,

'Abdu'l-Bahá Coming. Son of Founder of Bahá’í Movement to Lecture Here
— Seeks Unity of Religions — Persian Savant Also Maintains That There
Should be Equality of the Sexes.​3

The article stated that 'Abdu’l-Bahá would speak on Sunday, April 21, at the First
Independent Christ's Church (Unitarian).

Six-month delay

In his book ​239 Days,​ Dr. Allan L. Ward suggests that 'Abdu'l-Bahá's itinerary was
sometimes planned on a day-to-day basis and that no official schedule was given to the
American friends prior to His arrival in New York on April 11, 1912. Since 'Abdu'l-Bahá
spoke in Washington, D.C., on April 21, it can only be assumed that the enthusiastic
Bahá’ís in Baltimore had acted somewhat presumptuously in their advance planning
and press releases.

From Washington, 'Abdu'l-Bahá departed for Chicago and points west, and was not
destined to reach Baltimore until more than six months later. On November 12, 1912,
the ​Baltimore American​ heralded the long-awaited arrival:

To Speak in Unitarian Church — Abdu'l-Bahá, the Persian peace advocate,
who is making a tour of the United States after having been incarcerated in
Acca, Syria, where he had been exiled by the Mullahs for antagonizing the
religious beliefs of his country, will visit Baltimore tomorrow and deliver an
address at noon at the Unitarian church Charles and Franklin Streets. Abdu'l
is now in Washington after having completed a trip through the West and
Southwest. He will leave Baltimore tomorrow night for New York.​4

'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived by train in Baltimore's Camden Station at 11 a.m. on November 11.
The entourage that accompanied Him included Dr. Ameen Fareed and Mirza Ahmad
Sohrab (interpreters), Mirza Mahmud, Mirza 'Ali Akah, Mirza Valiollah Khan, Dr. Zia
Bagdadi, and Saya Assadollah.​5
Press interviews

They went at once to the Hotel Rennert at Saratoga, and Liberty Streets, where
'Abdu'l-Bahá granted press interviews. Mahmud recorded in his diary, "Among those
who were honored with interviews was a press representative who heard a detailed
discourse regarding universal peace and the capacity of the United States of America
as a nation and government to enforce it, which was noted for publication."​6​ In all
probability this interview was the basis for an article that appeared the following day in
the ​Baltimore American.7​

The chapel of the Unitarian church where 'Abdu'l-Bahá was to speak was packed with
Johns Hopkins University faculty members and many local professional men.
'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived promptly at noon and began His address in Persian without any
introduction. His translator was Dr. Fareed, who had studied previously at Johns
Hopkins. 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on the unity of religions and the oneness of God:

We declare the foundations of the divine religions to be one; and if we
forsake these accidental imitations — by imitations we mean the teachings
that have crept in, dogmas which have crept into religion, and which have
nothing to do with the foundation — then we have a basis for unity amongst
the religions, then we have a cause or source of illumination of all humanity.​8

Undaunted in his enthusiasm, a ​Sun-papers​ artist captured the animated delivery of
'Abdu'l-Bahá's talk in five unique sketches that appeared in the paper the next morning.​9
Among several poses, they showed 'Abdu'l-Bahá with upraised palms, stroking His
beard in meditative thought, and forcefully expounding a truth with a sculpted left hand.
The accompanying article observed:

In appearance the Persian teacher is a striking-looking man of about 70
years. He is of the average height, with a strong rugged face covered with a
short white beard. His cheekbones are high, his eyes bright and flashing.

At the lectures he wore a robe of black with a triangular insert of light tan in front
reaching from the hem to the neck. The long sleeves of the garment were turned back
from the strong hands. Distinguishing him from his escort was a white turban which he
wore, from beneath which gleamed locks of iron gray. Members of his escort wore black
turbans.

As frequently happens, this event was accompanied by an anecdote, completely
unsubstantiated, that has nevertheless been passed down through the oral tradition of
long-standing Bahá'ís. According to the story, two Catholic priests arrived late and took
a position behind the speaker's platform to listen to the speech through a half-opened
door. 'Abdu'l-Bahá is said to have noticed them and closed the door!​10
Mahmud wrote of the address:

The Beloved delivered at the Unitarian Church of Baltimore an address
regarding the oneness of the world of man, the immutability of the principles
of the divine religions and the changing of the social laws according to the
demands of the time.​11

At the conclusion of the address, women kissed His hand and others tearfully greeted
Him at the door of the chapel. Pressed by a busy schedule, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and His
traveling companions hurried by car to the home of Howard Struven at 1800 N.
Bentalou Street for a mid-afternoon meal.

Globe-circling trip

Present among the Baltimore believers at the luncheon were Mr. and Mrs. Struven and
Mrs. Maude Thompson Amendt. Mr. Struven is credited in ​God Passes By​ with circling,
"for the first time in Bahá’í history, the globe visiting on his way the Hawaiian Islands,
Japan, China, India, and Burma" with Charles Mason Remey.​12​ In an interview given in
1966, Mr. Struven related that the trip took place in 1902 and was financed by money
that had been set aside for his college education. He did not attend college, but later
became a successful businessman.​13

Mrs. Amendt had spent the morning walking out to a farm east of Baltimore to get fresh
chicken for 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and thus had missed His talk at the Unitarian church. Mrs.
Amendt was described as a stout, corseted woman. After the meal, 'Abdu'l-Bahá
motioned her out of the kitchen and invited her to sit by Him on the floor in the tiny living
room. One can only surmise that there was a twinkle in His eye as He extended the
loving invitation to Mrs. Amendt who declined to attempt such an improbable feat of
agility.​14

Ursula Shuman Moore was living at the Struven home at the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit,
and it was she who provided the most extensive account of that interlude spent in the
Struven home:

Yesterday, the 11th, he came over to our house in Baltimore and had dinner
with us at our table! Did you ever dream that this would come to pass. He
came to Baltimore about twelve o'clock and spoke at the Unitarian Church,
and then they came out to our house and we had dinner for him. Many of the
Washington believers came over too and many of the Baltimore believers
came up. We had about 55 or 54 to feed. Had a grand chicken dinner, with
rice and celery, peas, ice cream and cake, and vegetable soup. He said we
had given him a ​good​ dinner, a ​fine​ dinner, and that he ate much. When I
brought in the big platter of chicken and set it before Him at the table he
said, "Oh, chicken!" and seemed to be much pleased with it. He said
everything was cooked well. We had him and the Persians in his party sit
down first, 12 at the table, and served them, and then we had four relays
and every body had something. They all seemed so glad to be there and
enjoyed themselves so much. I was so glad for Mother could be near him
and see him. I introduced Mother to him, and he took her hand and said "Oh,
your Mother!" and looked at her very kindly. I told him she had been and was
sick, and that we asked that she might be well. He said "In Shalah" ["if God
be willing"]. So I hope she will get well soon now. They did not stay very
long, as they left on the (3 o'clock) train. It surely was a great privilege to
have him in our house, and something that we will always remember.​15

It was reported by another observer that after the dinner, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had a brief nap
upstairs at the Struven house before the public meeting.​16​ Mahmud penned the Master's
comments during that post-prandial discussion:

"Praise be to God! I see that you may become more enlightened and
spiritual. When I reach the Holy Land I shall lay My head on the Threshold of
the Blessed Tomb and with tears in my eyes I shall supplicate heavenly
favors, eternal honor and everlasting happiness for you."

He then left for the station. On the way to the station the Beloved embraced Mr. Struven
as a kind father embraces a son and with utmost kindness He mentioned his services to
the Cause of God.​17

'Abdu'l-Bahá departed from the Camden Station on the 3 o'clock train for New York City,
having spent four hours in Baltimore. During that brief interlude He gave interviews to
the press, delivered a public address, and shared a luncheon with the friends in the
Baltimore area. For a man of 68 years, His energies seemed endless, and His
dedication to teaching the Bahá’í Cause was absolute. So much could be gained for the
Faith of Bahá’u’lláh if each of us were to teach tirelessly after the example of
'Abdu'l-Bahá.

REFERENCES

1. Archives of the Bahá’í community of Baltimore, March 29, 1910.

2. The Sun,​ Baltimore, February 1,1902, p. 7.

3. The Sun,​ Baltimore, April 6, 1912.

4. Baltimore American,​ November 10, 1912.

5. Baltimore American,​ November 12, 1912, p. 13.

6. Mahmud-i-Zarqani, ​The Wondrous Annals.​ Entry dated November 11, 1912.
7. Baltimore American,​ November 12, 1912, p. 13.

8. Address by 'Abdu'l-Bahá delivered November 11, 1912, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Recorded by Jack Salomon, stenographer for the ​Baltimore Sun.

9. The Sun,​ Baltimore, November 12, 1912, p. 9.

10. Interview with Mr. Albert James of Jessup, Maryland, June 1980.

11. The Wondrous Annals.​ Entry dated November 11, 1912.

12. Shoghi Effendi, ​God Passes By​ Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1970, p. 261.

13. Interview with Mrs. Nancy Lee of Owings Mills, Maryland, December 1980.

14. Interview with Mr. Albert James, June 1980.

15. Letter of November 12, 1912, from Ursula Shuman Moore to Louise Shuman Irani,
available in the Baltimore Bahá’í archives.

16. Recollections of Mr. Howard Struven, audio tape recorded August 14, 1966, available in
the Baltimore Bahá’í archives.

17. The Wondrous Annals.​ Entry dated November 11, 1912.
APPENDIX II

Nov. 12, 1944, Charleston Gazette:

Regional representatives of the Bahá'ís of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia will meet In
Charleston this weekend at the Bahá'í center In Quarrier St. Attending the meeting will be Mrs.
Annnamaria Honnold. (?) Md., Miss Hannah Lohse, Chevy Chase, Md., Mrs. J. E. Rice,
Arlington, Va., ​Mrs. Martha Dorrida​ and Mrs. Hazel C. Langrall, Baltimore, Md., Miss Mildred
Elmer, Charleston, and Paul Haney, Alexandrla, Va. Haney will lecture at 3 p.m. today at the
Bahá'í center.. The (?) also will celebrate the 127th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the
faith. The celebration will close with a dinner this evening at the Village Grill.

March 1947 Bahá'í News, Public Meeting at Baltimore

The Baltimore Public Meeting was held in the Rainbow Room of the Pythian Hall. on January
21st at 8 pm. In spite of it being one of the coldest nights of the winter, the Baltimore friends
report an attendance of 325.

The hall was beautifully decorated with flowers. Attractive displays were arranged with Temple
pictures and literature. The speaker's fine compliment—“You are to be congratulated on the
perfect coordination. the smooth production. and the perfect taste and surroundings in which it
was held" express the result of the efforts of the Baltimore friends in a few words.

A four week radio program was used. on Sundays at 4:15 p.m., prior to the meeting. The
transcriptions used were. "A New Interpretation of History." "Meet Mr. Justice.“ “Mr. Justice
Returns," and "This is My Faith,“ over station WFBR. Spot announcements were also used.

Music was furnished by the Baltimore Fellowship Choir. an interracial group of soloists. singing
the “Song of Peace" by Sibelius with solo numbers by two of its members. Further
demonstrating “beauty in diversity" composed of an the ushers were interracial group of youths.
and this important phase of activity was executed perfectly under the capable direction of Mary
Jane Langrall.

Publicity was a bit disappointing to the friends, but the advertisements in the three local papers
were excellent. A large Temple picture was on display the week before the meeting in an art
dealer’s window.

Summing up, the report states: “The success of the meeting can be attributed to our excellent
speaker. William Sears. charming chairman. Annamarie Honnold. and fine Field Representative.
Marguerite Sears. The individual cooperation of the entire community, the fine teamwork of the
committees. and the sincere devotion of the prayer squads was a shining example of the true
Bahá’í spirit and loving unity." The National Public Meetings committee would be much amiss if
they did not add to this, the efficient manner in which the secretary of the Baltimore Public
Meeting Committee. ​Albert E. Dorrida​ handled his part of the work.

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