# In Memoriam *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.* --- > Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: unknown, In Memoriam, Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Committee, 1952, bahai-library.com. > ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── > > A BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL RECORD > > Prepared under the supervision of the National Spiritual Asgembly > o f the Bz~hi'iaof the United States and Canada > with the approval of S h v h i Effendi > > VOLUME XI > 103, 104, 10.5 AND 106 OF T m BAHA'I ERA > RPML 1961950 A.D. > > B A H A ' ~PUBLISHING TRUST > W~lrnctte.Illinocs > CONTENTS xiii > > Prn > 46. Princess Marie Antoinette d e Broglie Aussenac .............. 456 > 47 . David Starr Jordan. Late President. Leland Stanford University .................................................. 4 7 > 48. Prof . Bogdan Popovitch. University of Belgrade. Yugoslavia . . 457 > . > 49 Ex-Governor William Sulzer .................................. 457 > 50. Luther Burbank ............................................... 457 > . > 51 Prof. Yone Noguchi .......................................... 451 > 52. Frof . Raymond Frank Piper .................................. 431 > 53. Angela Morgan .................................. ... . . . 457 > . > 54 Arthur Moore ............................................... 458 > . > 55. Prof . Dr Jan Rypka. Charles University. Praha . Czechoslcvitkia ......................................................... 458 > . . > 56. A L . M NicoIas .............................................. 458 > . > 57 President Edrrard Bene5 of Czechoslovakia .................... 459 > 58. Sir Ronald Slorrs. N.V.C.. M.G .. C.R.E.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459 > 59. Col. Raja Jai Prithvi Bahadur Singh. Raja of 13ajang (Nepal) 460 > . > 60 Journal of the RoyaT Asiatic SocieZy of Great Britain and Ireland ....................................................... 462 > . > 61. Rt . Hon. M . R Jayakar. Privy Councillor. Londen ............ 462 > 62. Prof. Benoy Kurnar Sarkar. M.A.. Ph.D. ...................... 463 > 63 . Mrs . Sarojinu Naidu .......................................... 463 > 64. Jules Bois ................................................. 463 > 65. The late Slr John Martin Harvey. D.Litt. ..................... 41il > . > 6fi. Dr Hewlett Johnson. Dean of Canterbury .................... 465 > 67 . Won . Arnold 5 .Toynbce. D.Litt.. Oxon ........................ 4 G > 68. Sir A . Ramaawami Mudaliar. K.C.S.1. ........................ 465 > . . > 89 B r Bhagavnn Das ........................................... 466 > . > 70 . S. Eitrem. University of Oslo Norway ........................ 466 > TI1. In Memoriam ..................................................... 469 > Fannie Leech ...................................................... 469 > Walter Olitzki .................................. ... > .......... 470 > Fanny A . Knobloch ................................................ 473 > Marta Brauns-Forel ............................................... 476 > Fred Mortensen ................................................... 483 > Haj Taha EbHarnamsi ............................................ 486 > Friedrich Schiveizer ............................................... 487 > John David Bosch ........................... . ................... 488 > 'Ali S a b m i ........................................................ 404 > Orcella Rexford ................................................... 495 > Abu'l-Fetouh Battah ............................................... 4% > 'Ali Said Eddin ........................ . > . > ..................... 499 > Mubarnmad-Taqi X~fahini ........................................ 500 > H a j l MahmQu Q a s ~ a b c h i.......................................... 502 > Beulah Storrs Lewis ............................................... 5113 > Hasan Mar'i Tantiwi .............................................. 5115 > Nuri'd-Din 'Abbiu ............................... ....... > . . . . . . 506 > Julia Culver ....................... . > .. > ........................... 507 > Mountfort Mills ..................................... ... > . . . . . . . . . 509 > George Om Latimer ............................................... 511 > Mani Mehta .................................................... 512 > Maulvi Muhammad 'Abdu'lllh VaRn ...................... . > ... 515 > P A R T THREE > I . BahL'i Dicccto~y184&1@55.............. ............................ 519 > 1. Bahi'i National Spiritual Assemblies ......................... 519 > MEMORIAM > MRS. FANNIE L E X H > January 15, It%&-February 22, 1948 > By the Sp4rituhrd A$setnblu > of the Bahi'i'is of Chkago > > Mrs. F ~ I Lesch > C camc into the > BahB'I Fgth m B96.When quite y m ~ > she married a very promising young > lawyer, Mr. Frank Collier. The couple > had one son, Mr. John Colher. Later, > belng widowed, she met through her > BahB'I associatwns, Mr. George Lesch, > whom she married in 1895. Mr, Lesch > was the brother of Miss Mary Lesch, > deceased, and Mrs. Rose C. Robinson > of Chicago. > As her husband, Mr. George Lesch, > was secretary of the Spir~tualAssembly of Chirag0 from its incdion-it > was hown first as the Council Board, > then the House of J u s t i e , and later > the Hmse of Soiritual~tv-Pannv Lesch > made typewrliten rep& of the minutes of the meetmgs, which were sent Fanny Eesch > to 'Abdu'lBahL a t 'AkkA, and mpies > were preserved in what became the > nuclws d the BahB'i Archives. These > are prlccltss historic docurncnte of tho '*bd~'l-~aMgave V f i i t ~Feast > Faith, not only in Chicago, but in $he for fie friends d Chicago at the b e > Western World. She was the first ta Lesch. the first > make typewritten mpies the ~ ~ b Ofl those~ t meetings, > ~ now called firesides, > of ' ~ b d ~ * l -mrn~ ~ h > be~ original > , per+ her home. 'AWu'l-Eaha gave her > elan and Arabic, nnrl shared them with to have them a Wular > the friends. She also made copies of day each m e & at the same Iwur. > the ta&s of M i r ~~ b n ' l - ~ a d lthe > , begimlng was with m e soul, and in > great oriental scholar and disciple of due time grew to great p r o ~ o r h n s . > ~ ~ h ~ n ~ + sent , * ~ b d ~ v l - to > l 1 f iby ~ ~ dShe > * continued these meetings for forty > America to enlighten and strengthen ypaW- > the earlier believers. Through the wm- Mrs. Fannle Lesch served the Cause > pilation of these r w ~ r d sof the Tablets of Baha'u'llhh into her eighty-eighth > and talks, was established the Publ~sh- year, passing into the Abhh Kingdom, > ing Smiety, now h o w n as the Pub- February ZZ, 1948. The SpintuaI Aslishiig Committee, through which sembly of Chicago, cooperating with > Bahi'i Ilteratura is being published and the Chicago Bahii'i Community held a > dlstt~butedto all points of Dahb'I ac- Memorial Service for their departed > tivity throughout the world. sister, at Wc request of her son, Mr. > 470 T H E BAIIA'f W O R L D > > John Collier, April 23, 1W at the Jor- Assembly of the National SpintuaI Asdan Chapel in Chien@ Mr. Albert Win- scmbly of U l t Baha'is oP Ihe United > dust, a member of the Chicago Spirit- States and Canada. . , .*' > ual Assembly, was requested to con- m e s t quotahong are taken from a > duct the service. Selections from the handful of programs, typical of many > Words of Bahi'u'llih and 'Abdu'I-BahB,,,,, pouvmirs many > approprlate to the occasion, were rearf. thousands of inquirers that w a l k r > No note of sadness waa sounded, and o ~ i t ~ k i ' ~ drew to the ~ ~ h i b i > the splrit manifested by the assembled ~ ~ ~waiter t h . olitzki did only > guests was one cf rejoicw that our for people, he awakmed their minds > beloved sister had ascended to the man- ,d hearts. H~ those rare > sions of the Most GIorlou~. creativc gcraonulitics wllo dedicate > A Cablegram from our beloved Guar- their a r t to something that transcends > dim, Shonhi Effend~, was received, it: his voice was his contribution to > which read: world peace. > ''Ueeply symphathke loss loyal d f 5 Walter Olitzki was born March 17, > tingush& maid-servant Baha'u'llah, 1899, in Hamburg, Germany, and grew > Fannie Lesch. Present w ~ t hyou in up In Berlin. Both his parents were > spirit memonal services. Psaylng ar- Jewish, his father of Russian, his > dently progress her soul Abhb Brig- mother d Polish descent. Both his > dom.-Shoghl" grsndfnthers were well-known cantors > -- of orthodox congregations. An aunt, > Madame Rosa Olitzki, was a famous > contralto and one t ~ m eMetropolitan > WALTER OLITZPEI Opera star. > Ln 1986 Walter Olitzki was the leading baritone at the Jewish Kulturbund > 159sI949 in Berlin. On Decembcr 14 of that year, > BY M m m m GAIL he marrled b 1 Mana Olitzki, whom he > > ,,The Bahi,ls oi Near York take had met when the twa were scheduled > tor a joint recital, and with whom he > in presenting a recital by had sung at thc opera in monte Carlo > Walter Olitzki, .Opera and at the Jenlsh Kdturbund. In > Baritone , , .,, > present Palo > Peninsula Bahh,is > Bahi,i Concert June, 1939, after SeemingIy endless mcia1 and religious persecuticns, the > OlitzRi, left lor the United States' > member of ~ e t r o p o l l t a n Opera Cornpmy and sari Francisco Opera corn- The Olitzkis reached N c W York City > pany. ~t the piano. Ludwig Altman, with a total capital of two dollars. Lilf > offieid Organist of the sari pranciseo ~ U P P O N herself and her husband by > . > symphony orchestre . " 7 1 "under the sew'"&, working mrnc erghty hours a > auspices of the publie ~~~i~~~ corn- week. In September, a t the morning > mittee of thr Nntionnl Spir~tualAs- Where lhey liwA, met > sembly the Bahhlfs + , M T ~ Madelahe > ~ Humbert, who told them of > Bahh'is of Allentown request the honor Bahi'u'llgh. Walter knew no English > of your presence . . ." "The Bahl"is oi and Lili only a little, but they under- > Los Angeles present . . ." "The Bah$'is s h o d that * great, new Prophet had > of Berkeley, California, present . . ." come Who promised peace. and that > "The San Francism BahA'i Assembly Hitler would not invade America as > mrdially invites you and your was then generally feared. > friends... ." "The Annual Bahi'i Sou- On December 2, 1939, Walter made > venir of New Jersey invites . . ." "The his debut at the Metropolitan Opera > ." > Bahi'is of Syracuse present . . "Un- House as Beckmesser 1n "Die Meisterder the auspices of the BahP'is of singer." His success was immediate, > Wa!3hhgton, U.C. . . ." "Under the the critics being unanimws in their > auspices of the National SpMtual nrrtairn, and O l ~ nDome., muaic edi- > IN M E M O R I A M 471 > > tor of the New York Times, stating: > "in details of brrainezq, dlction. song. > Mr. Ol~tzkiproved himsclf an artist " > The couple. their way of life now > changed, soon left for Caliiomia where > they spent the summer months studying Engl~sh.When they returned for > Ihe nc.w Opera season In October. their > f ~ sconcern > t was to look up Madclaine > Humbert to learn more about the new > Prophet. Through Madelatne they attended classes at the home of Mildred > and Rafi Mottahedeh, Lili translating > fur Walter, whose English w a s still undeveloped. What attracted him most > to rlie Far& was, as Lili hns sincc > written, "the friendliness . . . and the > absence of discr~minetionto which we > had been subjected for quch a long > time and w h ~ c h had been the cause > of so much sulTertng." In March 1941. > although not yet a declared Baha'i, > Walter gave a recital a t the New York > Baha'i Center. > That April thc couple returned t o Walter Olitzki > California with a letter of introduction > to Virninia Orbison. thrcueh whom thev > met many believers andattendad the > annual picnic held in Santa Paula. The in the days to come. You have found > hospitality of the frlends made t h ~ one > s nuw your true hornethe Faith of > of the happiest summers of their life, God--and this is why you are so > and the lnok Portais to Freedom now much happier than before. The > laid the foundation of Walter's love f o r Guardian hopes you will. l x able to > 'Abdu'l-Bshh and the Guardian. As Lili guide other souls to It, who, like > has written, "More intuitively than yourselves, have ruffwed and are > through studying, h e felt the security seeking the Light. He advised you > for which Bahb'u'llih has provided, the to both study the Teachings and > indivls~bilityof the Causa. . ." In September 1931, at the Penst of Mashiyyat > teach others. The need is so great, > the suffering so acute m the world > In Lo8 Angeles, the Olitzkis became today, that the Bahh'is cannot be > declared Bahb'is. still, but must, in every way they > can, seek to open the eyes oi their > Walter always carried w ~ t hhim, in fellow-men. He sends you his loving > his prayer book, tbe following letter greetings, e r d will remember you in > : > of welcome, sent them by the Guard- > -- > 1*11: > the Holy Shr~nes. .". > The Guardian aclded. in his own hand. > Haifa, May 4th, 1942 " ~ athe i Spirit t h i t guides and anii > "Dear BahH'i friends. mates t h ~ sFaith be your shield and > guide, and enable you to deepen your > Your most welcome letter of April understandmg of its essential verities > 1st was received by the Guardian, and and to praclalm far and wide its lifehe has i n s t ~ c t e dme to answer you g ~ v m gprmclples. Your true brother, > on h ~ behalf. > s He welcomes v w into QL-4.: > o"u6''L. > rr > > the world-wide Faith of ~a<~'w'llih. > and assures you that h e will Walter OIitzki remsined with the Ye%- > for you both that you m a y rchder ropMltan Opera Cuniys~lylor eight sea- > His Cause many valuable services sons, also singing with the San Francis- > T H E B A H A'f WORLD > > co Opera Company and that d Sari these institutions overnight. he would > Antonic, md sppearing with Ule never be pamitlcd to ~419in any 04 > Charles Wagner Opera Production of the wbite colleges of the South. Walter > "La Bohemc." H e was best known in answered "That's tw bad for them." > the United States for his portrayal of He loved Negro Spirituals and always > Beckmesser in "Die Meistersinger," ~ncludedthem on his programs. Crib > Alberich in "Der Ring des Nibelungen," ics pra~sedthe rare simplicity of manand Klingsor in "ParsFtal." In addltion ner and purity of feeling of these rendih e had mastered about m e hundred tions. > and fifty operatic roles of the Italian. In addition to traveling, teaching, > French and Russian reperbery, and had and contributing freely of his voice, > appeared m these at the Municipal O p Walter served on many Baha'i adminiera House in Komigsberg, East Prus- strative agencies, such as the New > sia, nnd the Berlin State Opera. He York Regional, New York BahP'i Lialso scored successes for his origlnal brary and Bahb'i Feasts, and European > intmrpretatimr of F U C ~ Modcmists 88 nelicf Cornniitteeri. On this last com- > Richard Strauss, AIban Berg, Hinde- mittee he collected, made up and permith and Kreneck He had appeared sonally malled packages to Europe > in Strauss' "Der Rcsenkavalier" and over a period of years. > Berg's "Wmzeck'" in performances Walter Olitzki was invited to smg at > conducted by the composers thcm- the BahB'i House of Worship for the > selves. He sang in five languages. Convention of 1M8. He regarded this > Besldes his operatic work, Walter evening as the highlight of his life. It > OIitzki sang m numerous recitals, ora- took place during his last, happy year > torios and radb performances In the on earth, a year when, Lili said after- > United States and Europe. A crit- ward, all his dreams were realized. > ic wmte, "The qushv of voice is never Oli, as his intimates called him, wes > hard, always meIodious, with a r a r e ternpermmtal: before singing that > richness." night, he m l d speak t~ no one except > From the day he accept4 the Faith, Lili. As h e paced the corridor outside > Walter gave the Neanage wherever he the auditorium, he p e s t u d to Lili. She > went. Whether he was singing to the conferred wfth him and then relayed > hundreds of gersons he attracted to bls requesk to the speaker of the eve- > Green Aore, Maine, Bahh'f School; o r ning: He desire$ the speaker to inin Harlem. at a BahV1-sponsored bene- clude some element from the Biblical > fit for the United Negro College Fund; song he was about to sing. The followor a t the New York T ~ m e sHall for a ing Iine was accordingly incorpomted > Bahb'l Pence Meeting; o r at the Bahi'i- i n k the t a l k ''This is the generation > sponsored Wcodrow Wilson Anniver- of them that seek the Lord." > sary Program; or in Chicago a t the The last time WaIter sang at the > great Bahi'i Centenary Banquet, or to a Opera House in San Francism - as > large public audience a t the Bahi'i Beckmesser in "Dle Meistersinger" - > House of Worship itseU4is purpose seventeen of hIs Bahi'i friends were in > was always the same: to further the the capacity audience. The last time > oneness of mankmd. he sang for the BahL'ls was on the > Everyone knew he was a BahP'f. He Birthday of BahB'u'llBR a t the Los Anwrote about the Causc to all his friends geles Bahh'l Center in 1948. On this > -in Sweden, Holland, Emland, Pales- occasion he sang the prayer, admirtine. Traveling throughout the United ably set to music, at Walter's request, > States on concert taws, h e invariably by Charles Wolcott: "From the sweet > met the Baha'is and spoke and sang for scented streams of Thine eternity give > them. On a tour through the South, he m e to drmk, 0 m y God . . " . > stayed overnight on the campuses of all He was ill of cancer seven and a > the Negro Colleges which h e visited, half months. Much of this time he was > and in each one t a w h t the Faith. When in agony. K s voice wan destroyed. > h e returned home h ~ sagent assured Meanwhile his spiritual stature greatly > him that because he had remained in ~ncreasrd,and thoge d n were close ta > hi recognized his ever-dwening love later explained, "came one broufit up > for God and man, and his great long- in the Mulpmmadan Faith %nd reing to serve both. He died in Los An- vealed this jewel of wlsdom conceall-i: > g ~ l r s8 t the Cedars of Lebanon EIospi- in the parable of wr New Teshment." > tal, August 2, 1949. From that time she attended the BahPl > Althsugh Walter Olitaki'n Bahk'I I& meetings, eager for more light, and > on earth was wlativeFy brief, he rose finally became a Bahh'i after two years > through his own merit to national prom- of struggle. Eventually their entire > ~nenceas a servant of the Faith, and family became ardent BahB'ls. > in these still.early years of the Faith in So brilliant was the flame ignited > the United States, his dedication of his within Mks Fanny by the Teachings, > voice to Baha'i communities was a par- that she made it possible, out of her > ticularly valuable gift. He seemed own earnings, to send her sister, Alma, > much younger than his age; as an a r b to Germany as a pioneer in 19W nnd t o > ist h e had not yet reached his prime. help her remain there until 192W, firmly > His fellow-Bahh'is who laved him can establishing the Faith in that country. > only compensate their loss in redoubled (See The Bah6'i WorM, Vol VII) She > service to the Cause h e loved s o well, herself, traveled to Southernmost Africa > remembering that while the singer is as a pioneer, bringlng the light to thst > gone, the song remains. f at-off country ! > h 1908 the three Knobloch slstets > and Joseph Hannen (Pauline's husband) received permission from 'Abu'l- > FANNY A. F3TOBLOCH Bahfi to make a never-bbe-forgotten > pilgrimage to the pnson city of 'Akkh. > - > 1859 1949 Bccauso d the death of their belwed > BY V m h 1- Twnm mother, Mrs. Amalie Knobloch, it was > Miss Fanny A. Knobloch was born decided that Fanny should go first, acin Bautzen, Saxony, Germany on J k companied by Mrs. Ida Finch, a Bahl*i > e m b e r 22, 3859. irom Seattle, Wash~ngto~l.These two > She received the BahB'i m@ssage mct Miss N m a Knobloch a t Naples, en > from MlreA Abu'l-Fadl in Washington, rout@ to 'Akki. An hour's shore leave > D. C., and through her sister, Mrs. at Messlna, half an hour at Port Said, > Pauline Hannen, accepted the Teach- and then Alexandria. There in the harings in 1934, after having attended bor flags of a11 nations fluttered &om > classes for two years. the various shlps. On the wharf was > Previously, ahe relabed, she had h e n e multitude of faces uplifted ta the > an ardent Christian. Her marrled s r i s deck of the vessel. As they looked d m > ter, Mrs. Hannen, with her two boys. at these faces, Miss Alma said, "No+ > would come to visit Miss Fannie's home tice the man almost in the middle of > every Sunday afternoon and would dis- the f i f t h row with a green scarf around > cuss the Bahb'I interpretation of the his turban. Now count seven to the > Scripture6 with thelr beloved mother, right. What do you see?" Mrs. Fhch > who was well versed in the Bible. The replied, "I see a very friendly face." > constant conversation dealing with They counted Pour friendly, Illumined > religion became quite trymg to Miss faces among that vast mass of men, > Fanny, and she r i q i i ~ - t ~ her > d sistcr and when they landed 9 gpntle mice > to discuss anything but religion. The close to M i- shoulders said the Greatturnzng point came when one day Paul- est Name, hllih-u-Abhl, in an underme, returning from a BahB'i meet~ng, tone, repeating it several times. Joygave Mlrzb Abu'I-Fall's explanation of ously they responded, but in an equalthe m ~ r a c l eof the loaves and fishes, ly low tone, for in those days It was > for it was ao different from the me very dangerous to be k n o w as a > given by the members of Miss Fanny's Bahb'i. > Bible class, many of whom were re- Among these four Oriental brothem > tired ministers wha had taught the who had come to meet the steamer > Bible for many years. "Yet here," she was Prince UurBsinI. A visit was I > made to the home of Muhammad > Yazdi, the brother of &mad Yazdi of > Port S a ~ d where > , a meeting was held, > first w i h the ]]let>,auld thnl with the > wornen on the s e m d flwr. From these > Bahi'is the three pilgrims carried a > supplication to 'Abdu'l-Bah& that He > wmrlrl bleeq P.eypt with I visit A t thut > trme no one thought He would ever bc > outside the prison walls of ' A k a . When > they delivered the message to 'Abu'l- > BahB, He said, "Inshi'llAh," meanlng > "God willing," and true enough, He > d ~ dbless Egypt with His presence not > long after His liberation. > In describing Haifa, Miss Fanny > wrote, "In our small hotel, we occup~ed > a second story front room, one door of > which opened on to a small balwny. > mat night the glorious rays of a full > moon revealed the w h t e crested wevetl > of the sea, rolllng upon the sands of > the Valley of Achor. The minaret of > the mosque gleamed white akmve the > walls of the prison city. In the distance was Mt. Carmel, illumined, while Fanny A. Knobloch > close at hand great rows of tall palms > cast weird shadows upon the road." > She spoke of her great happiness in BahP'u'Uhh." Following are His words: > metrng Munirib K-hhnum, the wlfe of > 'AWu'l-BahA, who toM her on one oc- "Vmly, We have elevated thee to the > casion that personal nearncns to the rank of one of the most distinguished > arnang thy sex, and granted thee, in > Manifestation of God does not in itseFf > imply a high spirttun1 station, for Jesus My court, a station such as none > had sisters and brothers and there is other w o m a n hath surpassed. Thus > no mentlon of them; that His Holiness, have W e preferred thee and raised > Baha'u'llih, had a brother who was thee above the rest, as a sign of > f a r from God; likewise 'Abdu'l-Bahb grace from Kim who b the Lor8 of > had a brother who became an enemy the throne on high and earth below." > Only one who had visited 'Akkb durof the Faith. > What joy to meet Shoghi Effendi mg the days of 'Abdu'l-Eahb could un- > (later to become Guardtan of the derstand what ~t meant to be with > Faith) and his l ~ t t l e sister, and Him. For nine days the three pilgrims > experienced a happiness beyond ex- > Bahiyyih KbAnurn, thc Greatest Holy > Leaf, a s well a s the other mcmbers pression because of their close contact > Him. When they were leaving, He > of the Holy Household. Of Bahiygih with > Khhnum, she wrote, "A strange and said tn them, "You are not weeping? > unhoum feeling possessed me w h ~ l e > Do not weep! Many friends weep because they wish to remain longer." > in the presence of Bahiyyih Khsnurn, > Miss Fannie replied, "No, we have r s > the Greatest Holy Leaf. Possibly it can > ceived so many blessings and are eager > be described as a feeling of awe, a to go out and share them with all who > feeling very unfamiliar t o me. However, later, I realized that I had been are ready to listen." > in the presence of tho greatest. the N d d i n g His blessed head, 'Abdu'lmost holy woman in the history of the Bahb replied, "The general does not > world-the Greatest HoIy Leaf! the I w e most the man in the back of the > daughter of the Manifestation of God, ranks. He loves most the man in front. > IN M E M O R I A M > > If you but knew t h e value of these gart, Germany, to recover her health > days, you would not cat, you wouFd and at the same time to assist Miss > not sleep, you would not walk. You Alma in her work in that country and > would mn and give to all the Qlad in Switzerland. While there, she re- > Trd~nga!" ce~veda telegram inviting her ta Pans > After leaving 'Akkb, t h e three t r a wa s the guest of 'Abdu'l-Bahb. In Paris. > lers went t n Cairo, Egypt, to see once she, in company w ~ t hMadam Holbach > more their beloved teacher, Mirth of Br~ttany. Mrs. Beedp nnd Mndnm > Abu'l-Fad], then living in that clby. Blumenthal of New York, attended > Upon them departurc, he gave ta Miss the meetings wherever 'Abdu'l-Bahi > Fannie his most precious possession, spoke, In clubs, in large salons, In the > his prayer bends, saytng tn hcr, "My homes of those interested, and else- > Lord gave them to me." where. She mentioned one particular > Their steamer t h a took them evening when 'Abdu'l-BahB addressed > Marscillex. From there they sped on a group of some eighty pmple. Monta Z u r ~ c h , Switzerland, an$ then to sleur Hlppolyte Dreyfus a d d as in- > Stuttgart, Germany, where Miss Alma terpreter for the Frcnch people, and > had labored for two years and contin- 'Abdu'l-BahA, upon the conclusion of > ued for y e t another twelve, serving His address, unexpectedly called upm > the Cause of Bahi'u'llhh. The two sis- Miss Beatrice Irwin l a young lady > ters addressed a large m t i n g , bring- pwsent) to repeat His address in Engto the German friends 'Abdu'l- l ~ s hfor the benefit of the American > BahiYs message nf love. friends. The immediate obedience of > After several days Miss Fannie then Miss Irwin, although she was startled, > hastened to Paris, according to 'Ab was indeed beautiful t o behold! > du'l-Bahi's wish, then to London, to In 1923, Miss Fanny, dauntleas and > convey His greetings, and back again full of hope, went to Capetom, %uth > to America, after an absence of three Africa, to carry the light of BahB'u'llAh > months. to that countr~r. From Capetoran, she > Upon her return to America, she traveled to Kirnberley, Johannesburg, > shared her exgerimces with the friends Pretoria and other parts of South Aiin Washington, Baltimore and New rica, bringing the m e s s a e of broth- > York, always working for the estab- e r h d and peace. F o r three years she > lishment of the Faith. When 'Abdu'l- worked steadfastedly for the promotion > Bahh camc to America in 1912, Fanny of the Faith, giving many talks at tea8 > and her sister Pauline and husband and large public gatherings, enkindling > were invited to Dublin, New H a m p m a n y souls with the fire of the Teachshire as HIS guests. rmhiIe there they ings. > met Mrs. E. Hoagg end Mrs. Kline of In 1926 it was necessary for her to > California, who had come fox the privi- come back to America because of ill > lege of W i g near 'Abdu'I-Bahh. The health, but in 192.928,at the age of sixtylast morning of their stay, 'Abdu'l- elght, she found the courage ta return > Bahh, speaking to George Latimer and to Airica, where she rcmained an adgrnciously including Miss Fanny and dit~onaltwo years. Thus she was able > her sister Mrs. Hannen, said, "I will to give a fresh impetus t o the Faith, > reveal a prayer which you shall use encourage the groups already estabwherever you go." That proycr la now 11shed and awakon many more people > known as the "Peaycr of the Cove- ta the fact that a New Day had dawnnant." ed. She worked tirelessly and devoted- > The two sisters werc blessed with ly, ever having in mind the words of > thc privilege of bid din^ ioreweI1 to 'Abdu'l-BahA a t their parting in ' A M : > 'Abdu'l-BahB aboard the steamer upon "IF you but knew the value of these > His departure from America. Other days, you would not eat, you would > Rahl'ie were there, t o o , and as &cy not sleep, y o u would not wnllr. You > waved goodbye to their Beloved, many would run and e v e to all the Glad > eyes were wet with tears. Tidings!" > In 1913 Miss Fanny returned to Stuti- In later years, Miss Knobloch lived > 476 T H E BAHA'f W O R L D > > . -- her > with .. . > -- nenhew. Carl Hannen. in Wflrnette, Illinois, I; sight of the b e a u t i 1 > MARTA BRAUNS-FOREL > Zum 18, August 1948 > BahB'i House of Worship, which was > always an inspiration to her. Carl's > wife, Minneola, gave her much lwing > care. To the last, Miss Fanny was ever B A H A ' U Z t A H sprichb: ,,Mein erster > praying for an 0 p ~ f l ~ i to W render Rat ist: besitee an gutes, tin wines, > humble service t o the Cause. ''W -,ineleuchtetes Herz, damlt du das > spjrit is eager," she would say. "but Kiinigreich, das ewig, unsterblich und > the physical, body Is weak." ohne Ende ist, besiben m6gest!-0 > When X visited her at the nursing ~ ~ u n d , Herz ist der Sitz des > dein > home on her eighty-ninth birthday, she ewigen Geheimmsses, rnache es d c h t > said, among otha things, "if You zum G d i s s sterblicher Gedanken und > thanked God on your knees w e r g vergeude den Sfhatz delnes kostbaren > m a k i n g hour of Your ]if@,You mid Lebens nicht! Du gehorgt der WeFt der > never thank Him enough \ ~ v i n g Heiligkeit zu, hafte nicht an dern > allowed you to live a t this t h e . And Stnube! DU bist ein B m h n e r des Aofes > again, "Now when the pa? fn mY der Nihe, erwihle keine irdiache Wohn. > back becomes severe, I say I t is mlY unp! - ~ g t dm Wanderer die H6hen > for a little while, and then I shall leave dicger Erkermtnis erstiegen, so mag er > this b* and me our Lord d , ~~ a dml wahren Armut und den > face. So will you and all Your famib, &Uigen vergehens beketen. Dies kt > and all these earls believers. It is won- die Stufe, auf ~ c l c h e das > r Ich stirbt und > derful, isn't it?" msterblich in Gott, arm aus slch selbst > She held mY left hand and ~ n ddurch den Ersehnten reich wird. > did not h,mthat I Was writing down We, dlese Stufe erreicht hat, ist fiber > with W right hand what she said. alles, was in der Welt fst, gehqgt, > her sight was almost gone. W m darum die, welche m diesem > Her release came on December 9. Meere der Vereini~ung hingefund~n, > 1949. A little less than ninety years nichts "on den vergSngliehen > old at the time of her Pas&% she D i n ~ e nin dieaer derblichen Welt, sei > was the ftwt born of the three f k s - .s su;usseres ~ u dt e r eigene hluleinung > LOUS US Knobloch sisters, Fanny, Alma besitzen, so 1st &rim kein Harm, denn > and Pauline; the last Pass away- immer der Mensch auch besitzt. > Funeral services were held in wash- ist begrenat durch seine eigene Begrenington, D.C. Her m y was be- mng, doch was Gottes Ist, ist dariiber > side her sisters, as well a5 Pauline's geheiligt, wmn du diese stufeerrei&t > husband, Joseph Hamen, and their b* hast, wirst du dm Freund schauen und > loved mother, Mrs. *malie Knobloch. alles andrre vergessen. Dann hast du > It was upon the death of her mother deines U b m a Tropfen geopiert und > Mrs. h a l i e mobloch, that 'hbdu'l- das Meer Gottea gewomen. Das ist das > Bahk had written* are those Ziel, naeh dem du gefragt hast. hliiehte > souls who visit thy luminous resting ~ , , t t dir zu ihm gelangcn. > place, and through thy commemora- we= 3n dm Hirnrnel der Einheit ernpor- > Uon receive and acquire spiritual Pow- ,teigt und zu dem Meer der Vergeistiers." gung hidand, dem ward die Stufe dea > At the time of Mi136F a m ' 3 ~as3inlZ, , > the Guadian cabled: > - > Lebens In Gott m m let- Ziel ffir > die mit Wissen begabten m d zum blei. > "Grlwe passing dearly beloved di- - > benden Heim fir dle, welche lieben. > tinguished exemplarg pioneer Faith Su verbleibe denn 1s deiner Liebe zu > Fanny Knobloch. Memmy her n e Mir, damit du Mich i m Reiche des > table services imperishable, her re- Lichta findest"' > ward Abhi Kingdom bmntitul, a* Liebe Freunde, wir sind hier, urn > surcd, cvcrlaating." Abschled zu nehmen von einem gellebten, von einem fiebenden Menschen, > - den Gott die Stufe zu Seiner Ebene hat > Iiberschreiten lassen. Dieset geliebte > IN M E M O R I A M 479 > > innerhalb des Geiatigen Rates h- Krsft gegebpn. > und legte rnit einem Hinweis auf die Eine A u f m u n g ihrer Tatigkeiten > Bedeutung einen Kranz nieder, der oua innerhalb der offentlichen Feier w i r e > Blumcn ihrcs HBude-Grunstilckm in ihrcm Wunachc entgegengewesen. Dur- > Ettlingen gewunden war. Mach Herrn urn sei eine kurze Zusammenfassung > Wcber legte Umel Kohler aus Stuttgart ~ h r e sLebens hler angefiigt. > eirren Heidekranz nieder, den die Am 23. September I888 in Ziirlch als > Freunde aui dcr Baha'iSommerschule Tochter d ~ damnlieen 4 C h ~ l s r 7 t r adm > in Esslingen gewunden hatten. Als Irrenanstalt Burghiilzli, des Psychiaters > Leiter des Kreises der Kronacher- Prof. Dr. Auguste Forel ~eboren, > Freunde Iegte Herr Dr. NBldecke einen wuchs sie im Kreise von £ h i Geschwi- > Krarv. aieder, der aus Blumen der stern vm der besonderen Liebe ihrer > Garten aller Freunde des Kreises Mutter, Emma Forel, geb. Steinhed, > gewunden war. Und im Auftrage des umsorgi, in der dewtschsprachigen und > Aufsichtsrates der Gartenstadt sprach spzter in der franssischen Schweiz auf. > Herr Hlls die Griisse der Gartenstadt Die Umwelt ihrer Jugend prigte ihr > aus. I n besonderen erwshihrtte er, wie Wesen: Die Verbundenheit rnit den > Marta Brauns in $en Ki-icgsjahcen die Bergen, d ~ sie e als Sehnsucht f i r ganzes > pffegelm gewcrdenen Vorgartea der Ceben hindurch begleitete, die gliihende > Sledlung in ihre Betrewung genommen Freiheitsliebe und die Selbstverstiindd > hattc und dass sie am 23. Mai 1948 l i r h k ~ i t des iibernat~analdenkenden > (einem Bahb'i-Feiertage:) zum Mitghed Weltburgers, das waren die Erbnnlagen > des Aufslchtsrates und dea Prdmga- ihrer Heimat. Untrennbar verbanden > ausschusses gewahlt worden war als slch rnit ihnen die Grunddtze ihres > erste Frau in der Geschichte der Gar- Vaters: Die Gnmdanschauung, dass > tenstadt. Leben Aribeit bedeutet, die fanatische > Umrahmt von 2 Liedern des Kron- Wahrheitsliebe und die Klarheit des > acher Singkreiaes klang die Feier mit Denkens. Diese Erziehungsprinzipien > dern Musikstiick aus, was die Tote a m verein~gtens ~ c hrnit dern Erbteil der > ~11~1lz1eibletl > paliebl Iwllt:. d e ~ > Badrnrit: Mutter: Der alles umfassenden Liebe > ,,Mein gllubiges Herze, frohlocke, sing, und der angeborenen Giite. > scherze", gespielt van FIGte, Violine Als sie S e h e t i r i n ihres Vaters h > und Cello. Ywme war, lernte sie ihren Mann ken- > Nach Beendigung d a Feier wurdc nen, den darnaligen Medizinstudenten > der Sarg vm sechs d a Freunden, unter Artur Brauns, der als Stuaienfreund > ihnen ihrem Sahn Sven, und firern ihres iiltesten Bruders Eduard seine > Schwiegersohn herausgetragen. Auf dec Fcrien dort verlebt. Mit diesem m a m - > Bahrt m dem von ihr selbst aus- men griindete sie die elgene FarniIie, > gewihlten Ruheplatz in Hohenwetters. zun8chst in Milnchen. > bach begTeitetes sie ausser ihren Kind- W a r e n d sie mit *en vier Kindem > ern nur die sllerniichsten Freunde. ber ihren EItern in der SchweIz dl@vier > Nachdem an dem oircnen Grab das J a h r e des ersten WeItkrieges wr- > Totengebet gcsprochen war, schaufelten brachte, war ihr Mann als Militkarzt > die Angeborigen und Freunde das an der deutschen Ostfront. Unter > Grab sclbst zu. Als der Grabhdgel diesem Zwiespalt zwischen Deutsch > rnit den Krinzen und Blumen bedeckt nnd Schwelzer Empfmden, mischen > war, nahmcn dic Frcunde rnit cin- f i i e y und Frieden, hat ste in jenen > em Gebet von der Toten Abschied. Jahren vie1 gelitten, und es reifte in > Auf ihrer Grabplatte werden die Worte jenen Sahren zagleich der Entschluss > Bahi'u'llihs stehen: ,,Du bist mein wo immer es niigllch war, fiir den > Licht, und Mein I.icht wird niernals Fdeden m arbeiten. > vergehen. Warurn fiirchtest du sein Er- 1919 liess sich ihr Yann als praklbschen? So verbleibe denn in deiner tischer Arzt und Psychiater in K a r b > Liebe zu mir, clantit du Mich i m ncichc ruhe nteder. I n der noch im Entsltehen > des Lichts Andent". Diese Work hatten begriffenen Gartenstadt4iedl~ngfand > der Vexstorbenen in den schweren die junge Arztfarnilie eine gefstesver- > Kriegsjah~en a m meisten T m t and wandte Ijmgebung vor, die ihr bald mr > 482 THE BAHA'f WORLD > member of the National Spiritual As- the young girls, she herself served the > sembly of Germany. She was active in officers at the Casino. One can only > the fight of the Guttempler Association m e s s at the self-control such functions: > against alcohd; she cooperated with imposed on this French-speaking Swisp; > the Esperantists; she served in the who had constituted herself the guard- > "Women's League for Peace and Free- ian of the German populace, and whose > dom"; she was an indispensable cw main task in life had been the fight > worker of the Kmnach friends in their against alcohd. > promotion of a garden-city. To this The direst sorrow of Marta Brauns' > was added actual work on the garden life was when she was not allowed a > and estate of her husband in Ettlingen, permit to go to the bedside of hcr dying > and she met these demands as if gar- mother in 1946. > dening were her real vocation. In addi- After her r e t m to Karlsruhe in the > tion, many patients of h e r husband late summer of 1945, she tried t o contransferred their confidence to her and centrate all her powers, beyond her > came for advice, and the correspond- home, garden and social duties, on a c > ence which she carried on with all tivitles for the BahB'i Faith. The r e > parts of the world would in itself have newal of the Bahb'l group in Karlsruhe > been enough ta keep one person busy. was due ta her initmtwe. From this > With d l this she was an exemplary group the Bahi'l community arose in > mother to her five children. the spring of 1941. As a member of the > The years from 1931 to 1939 were a National Spiritual Assembly, re-elected > high point in the life of Marta Brauns, In 1948 following the eight-year suspenfor during this period her mother I~ved sion of BahA'i activity, and as a delewith her in Karlsruhe. Anyone who was gate to the National Convention, she > fortunate enough to be a guest in the was an inspiration to all the Bahh'fs of > Brauns household at that time never Germany, whle her correspondence > forgot its atmosphere of happiness and with friends in Palestine, Persia, 'lriq, > self-sacrilicing love. The separation Africa, Argentina, the United States, > from her mother, brought about by the Canada, England, Holland and Switzer- > Second World War, added to many new land, made her known to Bahh'is > sorrows, not the least of which was an throughout the world. > ever more torturing homesidoless. Marta's death was sudden; as her > Marta suffered from the many injus- son-in-law commented in his address > trces of the Third Reich and the gen- at the funeral, held August 18, 1948. > eral loss of freedom. The isolation of in the memorial hall of the Diaconirs > Germany from the rest d the world, Hospltal at Riippurr, there WAS no > the p e r m t i o n of the Jews, the pro- glace m her crowded life for a lin~ingerscription of the Bahi'i mmmunity - ing and meditative old age. Many > a11 these caused her much anguish. people gathered on that solernn occa- > The war demanded further sacrifices $]on to pay their last respects. The > from her. In 1942, her youngest son Bahh'i Assembly of Karlsruhe, the Es- > Jurg fell on the Eastern Front. The slingen Bahh'i School, her Konach > fortitude with which she bore the loss friends, the Board of the garden-c~ty > of thls son who was realIy the closest there (of which Board Marta had reto her showed her deeply religious na- cently been elected the flrst woman > ture. The serious war injury of her member), were represented. Nine > eldest son Wolf was a new calamity. candles, emblems of the nine lights of > In 1945 when the wlfe of this son, the Bahi'i unity, burned at the head of the > beloved Anne, died suddenly, i t was lavlshly beflowered d i n . > Marta who sustained him. These words from the funeral ad- > At the end of the war the French drew, which was accompanied by apoccupied the village of Hiidingen on grogri8t.e Bahi'i prayers and readings. > Lake Constance, to which Marta and summed up her life: > her daughter had been evacuated. Dur- "At a time when gaclficists were > ing the occupation she acted both as sneered at, she fought valiantly for > interpreter an8 med~ator. To protect peace. Disregarding the compassionak > IN M E M O R I A M > smile of the intellectuals, she spent you to have the funeral prweed quietthe days of h e r advanced years learn- ly with only you p r e m t . I would like > ing an international auxiliary langu- you so mu& to do what I have done > age. Nmost fanatically, she challenged aftcr your father's paasing: no mournthe moral degeneration of her t ~ m e s , ing, no wearing of black; rather being > in a place where a l m l and its a+ joyful and preserving the g o d and > tendant practices were considered edu- the positive, the spiritual heritage d > cational factors. She matched t h ~ crm- my uarents and of your father. You > quests of science with the conquests needn't forget my def~ciencics and > of religion. She fought for the triumph weaknesses, though they shouldn't enof her religion when the nuthorities tirely hide the positive. The best we > imaged they could destroy her spirib have glven you is the Bahb'f teaching. > ual treasure by conf~scatingher books. I needn't say more. It contains wery- > She suffered like a mother with all t h ~ n gthat I would want to tell you." > the victims of racial and religious p m > judlce; she tried to shield them; if one, > fearing to wmpromlse himself, t m e d > away h m her, he found her heart > st111 open to him when he came back FRED MORTENSEN] > again for help. If she knew that someone was withdrawing from her out of Fred Mortensen's youth was turbucoldness o r jealousy, she prayed for lent. His environment was not of the > him, seelung a way of reconciliation best, and he played with b y s grown > until she found it. She demonstrated hard and ruthless. Determined to be > the prlncipfe of woman's equal~tywith their match, he broke the law whenever > man by her own life. She had her rp h e had a chance. Inwardly he felt guilnowned father's incorruptible mtellect, ty, but he wanted to be Itke the others > her mother's Ioving heart, a sense of and went on from bad to worse. > respcnsiblrty and determination equal- Strange, that his very mnflict with the > ing that of her departed husband. lnw shmlrl hnve g i v ~ nhim the nppor- > Wherever she came, she brought with tunity which led him to embrace the > her the dear, bright mountain a i r of Baha'i Faith, and completely changed > her native Switzerland, chilling the the course of his Me. > languid and the weak, perhaps, but The secomt of his early days and > refreshing the strong. Her whole Iie his first contact with the Faith, and > was a restless struggle truly to become especially of his memorable experia Bahi'i-"a bearer of I~ght." ences when 'Abdu'l-Bahb v ~ s i t dthe > For her children, Marta Brauns- United States in 1912 i s given with feel- > Forel wrote out her last wishes in a ing and sincerity by Fred Mortensen > warm, human testament: himseu i n an articIe entitled: "When > "YGUknow that I h v e a great aver- a Soul Me& the Master." This article > sion to visiting cemeteries. For that was published in the March, 1924 issue > reason I have long decided that I would of Star of the West. In lt he writes: > like to be Interred in the small ceme- "My dear mother had done everytery of Hohenwettecsbach, a t some thing in her power to make me a good > small, hidden place and wtthout t h e boy. I have but the deepest love for > customary wreaths and flowers. How- her and m y heart has often btcn sad > ever, you could plant Lonicera on it when thinking how she muat have worwhich grow quickly to a green cover ried for my safety as well as my future > without permitting weeds to come up. well-being. Through it all and in a most > Never seek me there! Where I am is wonderful way, with godllke patience, > a t Ettlingen, m our stone garden, she hoped and prayed that her boy > gandmother's hill as she herself used would find the road which Teadeth to > k, call it, Oarl.c a, y u ~ iI ~ u u ~ L ' ~rjghtcauoncsn md hnppincso. But cn- > - - > merial m lace, and J u r ~ ' s s d t j , t a l vironment proved a g w a t barrier l o her > abode. don't want to trouble anyone nwwld by Mt,lal Aswith coming there. Therefore I ask b w f s oi m~fego. > d84 T H E BAHA'1 WORLD > > aspirations and every day in every way brought me from out the dark prison > I became tougher and bugher. Fight- house; it was he arha told me, hour > ing was a real pleasure, as welcome after hour, about the great love of > as a meal, and breding a grocer's 'Akdu'l-3ahB for d l His children and > window to steal his fruit or what-not that He was here to help us show that > was, as I thought, a great joke. love for our fellowmen. Honestly, I > It happened that one night the gang often wonderd then whvhat Mr. Hall > was strolling along, lust doing nothing meant when he talked so much about > in particular [looking for trouble I love, God's love, Bahb'u'llbh's love, > guess), when one of the gang said, "Oh, 'Abdu'l-BahA's Iwe, l o w f o r the Covelook at the swell bunch of bananas." nant, love for us, from us to God, to > "Gee, I wtsht I had some," another HIS Prophets, etc. I was bewildered. > said. "Do you?'' said I. About this time Stlll, I returned, to become more be- > 3 heard a dog bark~nginside the store, wildered, so I thought; and I wondered > and IDaking in, I saw a large bulldog. why. It was, as I now know, the power > That seemed to aggravate me and t a of the Holy Spirit drawing one, who > show my cantempt for the watchdog w~shedto be drawn. > . . . I broke the window, took the "Thus the Word of God gave me a > bananas, passed them around and wc new birth, made me a livrng soul, a > merrily strolled up the street . . . rwivliied spirit. I am positive that > "Making the Jews feel that they were nothing else upon the earth could have > back in Russia was lots d fun. I can't changed my character as it has been > begin to tell you how we enjoyed per- changed. I am indeed a new being, > secuting them, stealing their wine, changed by the power of the Holy Spirit > breaking their windows, in f a c t doing .. . 1 have been resurrected and made > everythmg but setting f i r e to their live in the Kingdom of A1 AbhH. > homes. I plainly remember that it cost "Again through the attraction, of the > me sixteen dollars to pay for broken Holy Spirit 1 was urged, so it seemed > windows to keep out of jail. to me, to go to see 'Abdu'l-Bahi. He > "The meat m i l that did so much to was at Green Acre, Maine, at this time, > make us hard, was the saloon with its and when I heard the rumor that He > attendant evlls. My! how tough I have might go back to His home (Palestine) > seen fine young fellows become under and not come west, I immediately dethe influenceof liquor. I could tell you termined to go and see Him. 1 wasn't > many things of a Iawless nature, but going to miss meetiig 'Abda'l-BahH > 1 wrltc these fenv to show what the after waiting po long to see Him. > power of Eahi'u'lIih can do in this day. "So I left home, going to Clevelad, > "I was a fugisve for four years, hav- where I attended a convention of print > ing walked out of jail while awaihng ers for a few days. But I became so > trial. Then, a youm felIow was being restless I could not stay for adjournarrested and I, of course, tried to take ment. How often have 1 thought about > him away from the wlieeman. WhiIe that trip of mine from Cleveland to > this was going on a couple of detec- Green Acre! The night before leaving > tives happened along and in my haste Cleveland I had a dream that 1 was > t o get away from them I leaped over 'Abdu'l-Bahl's guest, that 1 sat at a > a thirty-five foot wall, breaking my leg, long table, and many others were there, > vrhiw~ng > e$Cnpr the h i ~ l l ~ t~ grq(lnd ton, and of how H e walked up and > nbout and wound up in the 'garden at down tellbg stories, emphasizing wlth > the feet of the Beloved' as Bahb'u'U4h His hand. This, later, was fulfilled and > has so beautifully written in the Seven He Imked just as 1 saw Him in C l e w - > Vall~a. land. > "At this time I was defended by our "As my finances were IQW, I at needeparted, but illustrious Bahi'i brother, essity must holm my way to Green > Alhprt Hall, to whom I nwe many Acre. The Nickel Plate Railway was > thanks and my werlasttng good will m y cholce, for mveyance to Bufiala, > for helping O tree me from the prism New York. From Buffalo I again 'rode > of men and of self. It WAS he who the rods' to Boston, a long ride from > IN MEMORIAM , 485 > > around midnight until nine the next > morning. The Boston Maine Railway > was the laqt link between 'AMu'l-Bahi > arid Ule outside world, tio i l swmed tu > me, and when I crawled OH from the > top of one of its passenger trains at > Portsmouth, New Rampsh~re,1 was excwrlingly happy. 4 hoat ride, a strcch > car ride, and there I was, at the gate > of Paradise. M y heart beating double > time, I stepped ontn the soil of that > to-be-famous center tired, dirty and > wondering, but happy. > "I had a letter of introduction from > Mr. Hall to Mr. Lunt, and in searching > for h ~ mI met Mrs. Edward h e y , > who, dear soul, was kind enough tn > offer me a bed. She awakened me next > morning a b u t six o'clock saying I'd > have to hurry if I wished to see 'Abdu'l- > Bahk. > "Arrivhg at the hotel I found quite > a number of people there on the same > miasion, to s& 'Abdu'l-Bahfi. Being one > af the last arrivals, I was looking > around, t o make mgself comfortable, Fwd Mortensen > when someone exclaimed, 'Here He > . > comes, now.' . . After greeting several others and when about to go to "Answer: 'From Minneapolis.' > His room, He suddenly turned to me "Question: 'Do you know Mr. Hall?' > and sald in a gruff voice (at least I "Answer: 'Yes.He told m e about the > thought so), 'Sit down,' and pointed to Cause.' > a chair--which I dldn't care ta do, as "Question: 'Did yw have a pleasant > elderly ladies were standing. But what journey?' > was I to do! I meekly obeyed, feeling "Of d l the questions I wished to > rebelious over what had happened. amid this was the one! I dmpped m y > Such a welcome,after making that dif- gaze to the floor-and again He put > ftcult trip! M y mind was m a whirl. the question. I lifted my eyes to His > "The first man to receive an interview with 'Abdu'l-BahL was a doetor: > .. > eyes and His were as tnro . sparkling > jewels, which seemed to look into my > he had written a book on lwe. It very depths. 1 knew He hew and I > seemed but a minute until . . . ' 'Abdu'l- > BahA wishes to see Mr. Mortensen.' > must tell ... > "I answered: 'I did not wme as pe+ > Why, I nearly wilted. I wasn't ready. p1e generally do, who mme to see You.' > I hadn't expected to be called until > the very last thing. X had to go, and "Question: 'How did you come?' > it was a strange feeling In my htact "Answer: 'Riding under and on top > and wondering-wondering what would of the railway trams.' > happen next. He welcomed me with a "Buestion: 'Explain how?' > smfle and a w a r m hand-clasp, telling "Now as I loolted into the eyes of > me to be seated .. . His first wards 'Abdu'l-Bahh I saw they had chnged > were, 'Welcome! Welcome! You are and a wondrous light seemed to pour > very we1mme'-then, 'Are you happy?' out. It was the light of love and I feIt > -which wns rcpcatcd three timco. I relimed and vmy much happier. I cxthought, why do you ask m e that so plained to Him I rode on the trains, > many times? Of course, I am happy. . . alter which He kissed both my cheeks, > "Then, 'Where did you come from?" gave me much h i t , and kissed the > THE B A H'A'f W O R L D > > dirty hat I wore, which had become biographical a m t "When a Soul > soiled on my trip to see Him. Meets the Master" was read at the > "When He was ready to leave Green memorial services. Not long beiore his > Acre I shod nearby to say gwdbye, passing he had written to the Guardian: > and to my astonishment He ordered "1 a m happy that you chose to include > me to get into the automobile with IGm. the story of my visit to 'Abdu'l-Babi > After a week w ~ t hHim at Malden, at Green Acre in God Passes By.' > Massachusetts, I left f o r hnmp with 'Abdu'l-Bahi! wrote m e Pmm Ramnever-to-be-forgotten memories of a leh, Egypt, September 12, 1913 . . . > 'That trlp d thine f r o m M i a p o l i s t o > wonderful event-the meeting of God's > Covenant, The Branch of that Prc-Ex- Green Acre w11l never be forgotten. Its > istent FLoot . . . mention will be recoraed eternally in > "A few weeks later I again had that books and works of history. Therefore, > wonderful privilege to be near the Cove- be thou happy that, praise be to God, > nant for a fcw moments. thou hast an illumined heart, a living > "These events a r e engraved u p m the spirit, and a r t vivified with merciful > t a b k t of my heart and I love every breath.' " > moment ot them. The words of When the Guardian reeeivd the news > BahL'u'llBh are my food, my drink and of Fred Mortensen's death he cabled > my life. I h a w no other aim than to be the family: "Grieve passing beloved > of servlcc ta IIis pathway and to be Fred.Welwmc nsaurcd Abh5 Kmgdom > obedient to HIS Covenant. by- Master. Praying progress his wul > &'Thisis the Power of His Spirit, His HIS name forever inscribed Bah&'i > Love and His mercy to me." hlStQry." > Fred Mortensen was born February > 7, 1887, a t Fort Dodge, Iowa. He died > dune 13, 1946, at 6 3 0 p.m. of cerebral > hemorrhage at the Chicago Hospital, HAJ TAHA ELIIAMAMSII > Chlca~o.He spent many years teachlng On M y 8, 1946, the BahKis of Egypt > throughout the counlry: at one period and Sudan were grieved a t the passing > of his life, he pioneered in Montana, away of Haj Taha El-Hamamsi, a sinpersonally financing publicity for the ceTe believer of: Tanta. He was a > Faith In various newspapers thmugb Bah6'i who distinguished himself by the > out the state, particularly in Helena sacrifices he made ceaselessly thrwghand Buttc. In 1916 he wart the author- out his Iile of service. > i z e d representative of the BahB'i Ternple U n ~ t y ,and was its agent in carry- First awakened by the persecutions > of the BahB'is of Port Said in 1920 and > ing out plans for relief in Haifa, Syrm later impressed by the integrrty of the > and Turkey. For t w e n t y a e years he he began to inqulre lnto the > was a member of the Chicago com- persecuted, > BahL'i Faith. By 1923 h e was thoroughly > munity. His daughter, Mrs. Kathryn > attracted to the Cause and made his > Mortcnsen Penoyer, writes, "My father > lived and practiced the Baha'i Religion > f ~ r s pilgrimage > t to the Holy Shrines on > the second Commemoration D a y of > to a degree b y o s d possible explanation . 'Abdu'P-Bahh, subsequently making the > . . an the very eve before his same trip almost every year. He > death he spent his last time tcoching adapted himself to the development of > the Faith of Bahb'u'llah. His devotion > the Cause of Bahh'u'llih as i t evolved, > cannot be r n e a s u d in mere words, > they are not powerfd enough. It might and he made the adaptation in deeds > be of interest to know lhat he was also rather than in words. > preparing to depart f o r Austria w ~ t h Haj Taha dlstinguisl~edhimself parthe Guardian's blessings and wishes as trcularly by his generous contributions > his guide 'Abdu'l-Eahi truly named to every institution of the Cause, the > him well when He a a ~ d ,' M y son.' " rcea P m m E%, p m. > He was buried in Cedar Park Ceme- > National S M t u a l Asarmblv Id tfic > tery. A s he had scquested, his auk- ~ 1aB d Ule h > of m t . M a n and Awalna. > IN MEMORIAM 481 > -- immtant achievement for the Cause > in-khartoum-the first Spiritual Assembly was established in Sudan. Haj Taha > had enabled his daughter and her Ilutiband to cmierate to Khartoum, where > ~ e accorng?ished > y this wondeku~task > so desired by the beloved Guardian. > In Jwc, I046 Haj Taha fell ill w h i > in Port Sald, and on July 8, he passed > away at the age of fiftyeight. As there > is yet no BahB'I burial ground in Port > Said, his mff~n was transferred t o 1sm6'iIlyyih where it was buried next to > that of his wtfe. > - ..L His life of seervice and sacnflce > gamed him the title of "Zealous s e w > ant and symbol of faithtolness," which > the beloved Guardian conferred upon > him In his cable. > - > > FRIEDRICH SCHWEIZER 1 > Friedrich Schwebw, the husband of > Kaj Taha El-Hamamsi the well-known and active German > BahB'i teacher, Mrs. Annemarie > Schweizer, w a s born in Esalingen, S e p > last tlf w h i ~ hwna the plastering of the tember 12, 1884. He adupltd the career > interior of HaHrato'l-ds of Cairo, of a topographer. In 1910 he was intm > where his name appears in the records. duced into our Falth by MISS Alma > A sacrifice which places him among Knobloch, at that time a pioneer In > the pioneers was his immediate re- Germany. In November, 1911 our wellsponse to the promsal for emigration beloved Master invlted Mr. and Mrs. > introduced by the beloved Euard~anfall- Scbwelzer, who were then new believlowing the success achieved by the ers, to come to Paris. They were both > Baha'is of Egypt on the clccaslon of very anxious t o see Htm. Mrs.Schweithe Centenary celebrations In 1944: he zer tells about it: "During the trip from > emigrated to Tanta, the capital of the Stuttgart to Paris and the morning of > biggest province of Egypt. our visit we prayed that our hearts > At Tanta persecutions began and dis- and souls might be purified to recave > turbances broke out there. The few the blessings of the meeting with Him. > BahB'ls in that mty were exposed to Scarcely had we arrived when He sumreal danger and underwent many hard- moned us to His presence. Lady Blomships, but the presence of Hal Tahe field had entered the mom Before us; > seemed to assure them that the mercy we saw that she h ~ n her > t knees k e h ~ > of Bahh'u'lllh was with them. and 'Abdu'l-BahL. Friedrich said, 'That I > through hia steadfastness, sacrifice, and cannot do--heel down before a man!' > enthusiasm, they could remain firm We entered--and the first one to h i e d > and undaunted by the threats of their down was Friedrich, so greatly was he > enemles. Their reward from the Abha overwlrelmed by tbe majesty and glory > Kingdom was success in the formabon of His sanctity. "'Abdu'l-Bahh Idled > of the f ~ r s tSpfritual Assembly of h a t him up md embraced him HP WRU > c ~ t yin 1945. meatly moved. On another occasion > Through the sacrifice and zeal of Haj fie matron~l Srrbrlhal Aawmbb oi the > Taha, the same year recorded a very ~ % s eI mrmany stld > 488 THE BAHA'I W O R L D > > 'Abdu'l-Bahil called him to His side and > kept his hand during His speech. How > happy he was, and we aU with him! > All the friends present congratulated > hlrn on this honor." > In April, 1913, d e n the Master, on > His brig through Germany, stayed a > few d a y s in St1ttteav-t. Friedrich again > had the privilege of meeting Him. His > attachment to the Roly Cause grew, > and he became one of the early pioneers for our Faith in Germany. > Friedrich Schweizer aIwags put aside > his own desires when it was necessary > to sacrifice his interests to serve the > Holy Cause or to beIp a believer in distress. But he never uttered many > words. Silent, solid, and wholly reliable, he did his duty. In the same spirit > he perform4 good, accurate work d u r > ing the years he was the secretary oi > the National Spiritual Assembly (from > about 1930 to 1535) and as a member > of the local Spiritual Assembly in S t u t t > gart. > The 13th of July 1946, he sutfered an Friedrich Schweizer > attack of pneumonia and passed away. > All who were close t o our dear friend > will knm that when Re passed away gratitude for his abundant Iwe, howla life filled with labor, care, and the edge, and advice, for his generosity and > observance of duty comblned with af- his readiness to sacrif~ce,and for the > fection, love, and benevolence to ev- home we found with him. We h o w > e r y b d y , came to its earthly conclusion. what he would say to us: "do your > W h e n enumerating his high qualities, duty; work for the Cause d God." > we remember not only his profeaslonal > activity and all the concern he dlsplayed as a father for the welfare of > his family, but also we remember es- SOW DAVm BOGCH > pecially a work not so obvious to the > public: his labor lor peace, his strug- > 1855 - 1946 > gle far the conquest of national, mu- BY C ~ E X M T M. > E > cial, religious, and socfal prejudice and At the gate of the garden some stand > antagonism and his endeavors for the and look within, but do not care to enprosperity of aU mankind. Very early ter. Others step inside, behold ib beauhe was enlightened by the divine beam ty, but do not penetrate far. Still others > emitted by the eternal Light, the call > of BahB'iullhh sent down again to t h e encircle this garden, inhaling the frag. > world through His love to redeem hu- rance of the flowers, but having enman~ty.And it was this beam at the joyed its full beauty, pass out again > supernal Light which radialed from by the same gate. But there are always > our friend's heart. some who enter, and becoming intoxi- > His name will always be connected cated with the splendor oi what they > with the histow of the Bahi'i Faith in behold, remsin f o r life to tend the gar- > Germany. The German Bahi'ls, and don.-'Abdu'l-Bahh > those from StuttgartZuffenhausen in ,From materlol hrml&ed by Elh GmdalI > particular, o w him a great deal" d Wp~rsnd BUou Straun. > IN M E M O R I A M 489 > > Such a gardener was John David evidently Gad bad other plans for him. > Bosch. And the flowers he tended were One of several children, he was but > the men. women and children in whose eleven years old when his mother died. > heartn he had, ht one tIme ar anather, She hxd heti a woman of culture and > planted the s d s of spiritual truth. deep spiritual insight and ha felt her > When he spoke of spiritual things and loss wry keenly. His father married > of BahB'u'llkh, there was a light in his again. The second wife was a follower > clcar bluc cyeo t h d seemed to b a of Swe&nborg, antl h d o w long John > reflection of a splendor that few others became familiar wlth the books of that > have had the joy of beholding, and when renowned philosopher. Considering this > he looked into the eyes of a fellow hu- exceptional relig~ousbackground, i t is > m a n being a glow of friendliness lighted not yurprlsing that his impressionable > up his face, crinkled his eyes a t the young mind was influenced to want to > comers and brought a quick smile to know more about spiritual matters-a > hls lips. desire which was to be ultimately ati is- > Although there are many friends who fled years afterward in another part > remember him as a young man and of the world. > gossibly somewhat different in appear- Wls formal education, ended at the > ance, most of us who h e w him only age of fourken. He s m n left home, gw > in his later years were sure that he Ing to Germany where for a few years > must always have been a distinctive Ilc worked at and studied wine-making. > individual. I& was tall and straight. From there he went t o France and > His hair was white and he wore a well- spent f ~ v eyears in its famed wine dlstrimmed white beard. In the summer- trrcts; then to Spain to further acquaint > time, when be dressed in his spotless h~msclf wth lus chosen business. > white serge and Panama hat, he had In 163'0 he came to America with his > the look of a man of noble rank. sister Lorusa and her husband, Johann > He was a person of few words; he Zuberbiihler, who planned to farm in > did n o t need to speak. Hi8 handclasp Nebraska. For a while he wmked on > was warm and firm, and one was in- railroad construction. He began to learn > stantly s t ease ln his company. His ev- English, and having decided that > ery action was an expression of love America should be his permanent home > and lundliness, and he was never bag- he made applicatron for citizenship, > pier than when serving lun beloved which was granted in due time. > Faith and BahB'i friends. To hear him He did not rcrnain long In Nebraska. > tell of his precious experience3 with Like many other young men of that > 'Abdu'l-BahB was to feel that one had era, Re h e a d the call of the West and > inhaled a bit of the fragrance 01 the determined to wend his way to Cali- > Master's premce, and be drawn more fornia. In OkIahoma he worked for four > closely both to Him and the John He months oa a large ranch where he had > loved so dearly. charge of a thousand head of cattle and > John David Bosch (Johannea Davld had to ride the range. The ranch was > Bdsch) was b r n August 1,1855, in New owned by a Chickas~wIndian in whom > Sankt Johamn in the Kanton of St. Gaf- he found a true and lasting friend. But > the lure of California was too strong > leu, Switzerland. His parents and > Lra~~dparelta were iollawers of the re- to resist and so he set out again, finally > former Zwingali, r contemporary of reaching Sacramento in 1881. Durihg > M a r t i Luther, In the year 1621 twelve thc next ten years he was mcupied in > fathers of families in the Toggenburg various branches of the wne trade in > the southern part of the state. > of Swiberlahd had establinhed a fund > of two thousand florins to provide fi- In 1889 he paid a brief visit to his > nanclal assistance every year to any native land. Some time after his return > two malt descendants who c a x d t o h e moved ta northern California t o bestudy theology. John, a dlrect descend- come superintcndent of the large > ant of one of the founders, was enti- winery a t Windsor In Sonoma County. > tIed t o the benefits d this fund, but In 1 8 9 , under the direction of the > 490 THE B A H A ' I W O R L D > California Wine Association, h e super- Mrs. Helen GaodaU of Oakland, upon > inbznded the crection and eqdpment, whom he called three months later and > a t Geyserville, of the largest and most learned crf the history and principles > morlsrn ~ i n r t qin the oountry for thc of thc Faith. Having found what > manufacture of dry and sweet wines seemed to be the truth for which he > and brandies. He made his home there had been seeking, he endeavored to a t > but retained his position as superin- tend the meetings in her home at least > tendent of lwth wineries until his rp. once a month. AR t h s rnwtlnp6~ were > trrement from the business. He also of the afternoon tea party varietg. > orgamzed and managed the Cal~fornia there were seldom any men but him- > Grape Nectar Company for the pmduc- self present, and s m e t f m e s he would > tron, by an improved process of sterlli- stand with one foot on the ferry and > aation, of a supenor quality of unfer- the other on the wharf. hesitating > mented grape juice. T h i s company he whether to join the ladies or remain > eventually turned over to the Associa- in San Francisco; but always, when > tion. B e h e e n 1909 and 1836 he acquired the whistle blew, h e would be almard > extenslvc properties in Sonoma, Men- bcund for Oakland and the Gwdall > docino, and Contra Costa Counties, on horn e . > which were grown varied agrrcultural On May 29, 1905, he wrote bis first > crops. As there were many olive and letter to 'Abdu'l-Baha. The acknowlprune trees on his Geyservzlle land, he edgement, receivwl through Mrs. Godat one time experimented in the mak- all, enjoined: "0 thou John Bosch: > ing of high grade olive 011, and built a Raise the call of the Kingdom and > pIant for prune-drying on a commercial give the Glad-Tidings to the people; > scale; and a hobby of his had been the gurde them t o the Tree of L ~ f c so , that > raismg of pure breed Swiss goats. they m a y gather the fruits from that > Incidentally, it was m 1900 that he Tree and attain that great Bounty.'' > mmpIeted his progresg u! the Masonic That was the first of many Tebleta > Order, receiving the thirty-second de- from 'Abdu*l-BahB. Some were adgree and bcomlng s mcmber of San drcsscd t o him alone, aud surrle Lu him > Francisco Scottish Rite Consistory No. and another behever together. One was > 1. wrrtten dune 25, 1912, to hlm and his > Throughout all these years Mr. Bosch friend, the famous Mr. Luther Burbank > persisted In his ardent search for truth. of Santa Rosa. In this Tablet, 'Abdu'l- > Referring to his passing, a friend re- Bahj called them: "Ye two roses in > called that when he had first met him the Garden of the Knowledge of Gcd," > he was investigating the claims of and expressed the hope that: "In the > spiritualism and =cult sciences. "He utmost of freshness and benuby ye may > was an unusual seeker after truth," became manifest; that is, ye may > the friend wrote, "m that he w a s not arise to serve the Kingdom of God." > urged because of misery or dissatis- And in an earlier message 'AbduT- > lnction in his life, nor by curiosity. L Bshk wrote: "With the utmost humiliiy > s a w him grasp the fact of the Im- I pray at the Kingdom of Abhi that > mortaIity of man, and that seemed suf- that soul [Mr. Eoschl may become > ficient far him." holy, fkd capacity to receive the out- > Mr. B O Ahad not heard of the BahB'i pouring of Eternim and become a lu- > Faith until early in 1905 when, travel- minous stpr in the West." > ing by train from San Francisco to Upon learning that the use of alcoholic > GeyservilL, he chanced to meet an liquor as a beverage is forbidden in > old scguaintaace, a Mrs. Beckwith of the teachings of Bahikdl1Bh,Mr. Bosch > Chicago. She was reading the book. -a professional m e taster, though a > 'Abbds Egendi, His Life am? Teach- nondrinker of spirituous liquors-be > mgs, by Myron R. Phelps. H e p~cked came troubled about what he should > it up, glanced over a few pages. and do m regard t n h ~ swine business. > asked: "Where d ~ dyou get thls b w k ? Therefore, in a letter ta 'Abdu'l-BahL, > It is good enough for me and I want he asked for advice. In reply, 'Abdu'lto buy a copy." She referred him to Baha supcested that it would be better > IN M E M O R I A M 491 > > to engrgo m another business, but > gradually. Consequently he severed his > connection with the Association in 1916 > and. applied himself to the further development of his properties. > Mr. Bosch attended the first Bahh'f > Temple Unity Convention in ChicaBo, > in 1909, as a delegate from the Pacdic > Coast and Hawai~.Wile there he met > many of the early Bahi'is, and in a > short time his home became a point of > attraction f o r traveling teachers, including Mr. Thornton Chase, Mr. > Charles Mason Remcy, and Mrs. Isabella D. Brittingham; also Mrs. t u a > Getsinger, whme visit inspired him to > w r ~ t e'Abdu'l-BahP, December 1, 1910, > "May this simple place on the hills > be dedicated to the universal spirit of > the teachings of BahA'u'lFQb." > When thc news came that 'hbdu'l- > Bahi was on the way to America, Mr. > Bosch had such an 0~envheIminkdcsire to see E r n he started for New > York on April U , 1912. At Chicago, > hearing that 'Abdu'l-Baha was in Washington, he went there instead, only to John David Bosch > find that 'Abdu'l-Bahh had not yet left > New York. So hc humled on to that > city, arriving very early on a cold a i ~ d > snowy morning. As soon as he had partaken of it 'Abdu'l-Bahb said: "You > secured his mom in the Hotel Anrconia are now one of the family. You may > he stole to 'Abdu'l-Bahh's suite :'nd come and go as you please." > was a d m i t t d almost immediately. Re- I remained mth 'Abdu'l-Bahk while > lating his experience to a friend, Mr. He mceived many visitors. Then I > Bosch said: went for a walk, and when I returned > When I entered the room I had a after an hour I was amazed to see about > pocketful of questions to ask 'Abdu'l- two hundred people in the lobby. In a > Bahh, but when I saw Him I suddenly few minutes 'Abdu'l-Bahi passed > felt quite empty. I never took the ques- through. Noticing thc rcsped that these > tions out. Eventually 'Abdu'l-BahB told peoplc paid Him, the ass~ntantmanager > me all that I had wanted to ask Him. of the hotel, who was standing near > Foolishly I remarked that I had come me, remarked, "That must be a man > three thousand mlles to see Him, and Of God." > He smilingly replled, "I came seven Three automobiles were awaiting > thousand m~Tes to see you.'' I t o l d 'AWu'l-Bahi and His party to take > H ~ r n that I, bslng a foreigner, had then! lu IIIEllu~tir d Mr. a ~ dMrs. > not the capacity of a speaker and Edward K i e y for luncheon. 'Abdu'lthat my work so far had been to circu- Baha stepped inta the first one with > late books and a few pamphlets. two of the Persian friends. Thcre was > 'Abdu'l-Bahl said: "You are doing very a vacant scat and one of the attendwell; you are doing better than talk- ants beckoned me to come. As I reaching. With you it is not words or the cd the door, 'Abdu'l-Bahi seized me by > movement ot the lips; with you it is the Imnd and pulled me into the car, > the heart that speaks. In your presence seating me at His ripht. He s e e m 4 > silence speaks and rahates." Then tea very tired. Immediately He put His > was brought in and after we had both arm around my waist, dropped His > 49.2 T H E B A H A ' i WORLD > head on my left shoulder, and with taugRt for Rw months in Paditi. Cme > a deep sigh went to sleep. During the whom they met was a minister, and > entire hour's drive, while the fr~ends he later thanked 'Abdu%BahC for sendin the automobiles looked at the sights, ing these emissaries fa hi8 people. OR > 'Abdu'l-Baha slept. the day of thew departure, the island- > When we arrived at the Kinney home ers showered them with gifts and, in > a chair was placed in the center of accordance with a Tahltian custom, bethe room for 'Abdu'l-Bahi, but He did stowed upon Mr. Bosch a title meannot sit in it. Instead, He walked about ing "First king of the great f a r n i b of > among the people, shaking hands. BahA'is arrived among us." > When He came to me He panscd right In April of the next year Mr. and > by without seeing me, and for a rn- Mrs. Bosch left Geyserville for Haifa > m a t 1 felt hurt. Then I remembered to see 'Abdu'l-Bah6. After visiting and > that m the morning He had told m e teaching In France, Switzerland, Gerthat I was "one of the family," and many, and Italy, they reached Watfa > I h e w then that thcre had been no on November 14, 1921. Only their > need to sag anything to me. spoken words could adequately de- > 'Abdu'l-Baha departed for Washing- scribe the joy and happiness they had > ton five days later and Mr. Bosch went being with 'Abdu'l-Bahi f o r two > in the same car; ekght days afterward heavenly weeks. But no words m l d > he again traveled in the same c a r portray the depth of the sorrow that > with Him to Chicago. It was on thin descended upon them, and upon the > trip that 'Abdu'l-BnhA bestowed upon household, and upon all the BahC'is of > h~rnthe name "Nbrbni," writing it out the world, when 'Abdu'l-Bahi passed > in His own hand and explaining, away on Novembpr 28, 1921. > through an interpreter, that it meant Two days before His passlng, 'Abdu'l- > "full of light." Mr. Bosch humbly ex- Bahi had walked in khe garden with > p r e s s 4 the wsh that 'Abdu'l-Bahi Mr. Bcsch, giving him frult from the > might find time to vlsit his unpreten- orange trees. He was the last Westhoue home in Gcyscrville, to which erner to have this great blessing. Also > 'AMu'l-Bahb replied, "Wlth you,"-and to h ~ mwas given the sacred privilege > rcpeatiw-"with you, I would sleep in of assisting the family with the prepathe basement." rations for the burlal of the Servant > Mr. Bosch remained in Chicago for of God; and the shoulder upon which > the Annual BahA'l Convention and was "bdu'l-BabB had slept in New York, > present when IAbdu'l-BaM laid the helped in Haifa to carry His casket > foundation stone of the Baha'i House t o its final resting-place on Mt. Carmel. > of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, May At the request of Bahfyyih IWnurn, > 1, 1912, the sister of 'Abdu'l-BahA, Mr. and Mrs. > The story of the visit of 'Abdu'l-B& Bosch remained in Haifa for the cu% > to Califomla cannot be told here, but tornary forty days of mourning. Dursate it to say that Mr. Bosch spent lng this period, the grandson of 'AbduZ > every possible moment in His presence. B a h i , Shoghi Effendi, returned from > In San Francism, on January 19, EngIand to become the first Guard~an > 1914, Mr. Bosch married Mrs. Louise of the BahQ'i Faith. Wben Mr. and Mrs. > Sophia Stapfer of New York, being the Bosch took thc~r leave, he handed > sccmd marriage £or each of them. She, them the first copy of tBe Will and > too, was a native of Sw~tzerland,and Testament of 'Abdu'X-Babi to deliver > from that time forward, in all their to the Bahh'i Convention in Chicago In > activities, the names of "John and Apr~d 1922. > Louise" were inseparable. En route to the Unlted States they > When the Teaching Tablets of revistted Germany, and it was then > 'Abdu'l-Bahi were released, Mr. and that Mr. Bosch was instrumental in > Mrs Bosch were eager to respond at hrin~ineabout one of the first R n h i ' i > once. As both spoke fluent F'rench, they meetings fn Berlin. > chose Tahiti of the Society Islands in Upon their relurn to G e y s e r v f i they > which to pioneer, and in 1920 they were soon engrossed in teaching work. > IN M E M O R I A M 493 > > Frequently they made trfps to south. out &, and demonstrathg h t > ern California. In the winter of 192% unique spirit of hospitality which from > 1928 Mr. Bosch visited Portland, the very beghnlng they had poured > Seattle, and Vancouver, in the latter out in a veritable flood upon Bahh'is > city aiding in the formation of the first and non-Bahs'is alike. Particularly was > local Spiritual Assembly in 1928. this true a t the Unity Feasts, that > Wherever he went he carried to the each year marked the opening of the > friends the spirit ut luve arrd rlcvwhiul~ s c s s b s , at which they so warmly wclto the Faith that motivated his o m mmed everyone. F m 1927 on, the > life. Mrs. Bosch, meanwhile, was d* success of thc school became the alling her part, traveling from place to compelling p-se of their lives, and > place, striving to spread the Faith in they liked nothing better than to share > Sonoma County. But the greatest of all with the friends, at four o'clock tea > testimoniaIs to their unremitting la- under the "Big Tree," their recollecbors is the BahVi School at Geyserville. tions of 'Abdu'l-BahB', and the believ- > On August 1, 1925, more than a hun- ers of former dayr;. > dred BmhA'is from the S m Francisco Mr. Bosch livcd to see the s c h d > Bay area, bsides other guests, con- grow from a small, informal gathergregated at Geyservllle to celebrate ing do an efficiently operating instituthe seventieth birthday of Mr. %sch. tion, from which many young people > It proved to be such a happy affair wwit Iurth lo lake Iht! leadlings tu > it was repeated the succeeding year, oountries in which he had once traveland at that time the idea of a western ed and taught. > s c h d for the training of Bahl'i tenth- HIS last appearance at the s c h l > ers began to take shape. was on the festive occasion of his > Jn the spring of 142'1 the National eighty-ninth birthday when students > Spiritual Assembly appointed a com- and invited guests assembled in the > m ~ t t e e of t h r e e - J o h n Bosch, Leroy evening at Bahl'i Hall to do him honor. > Ions, and G ~ n r g eLatimer--to find a An enormous cake, bearing eighty-nine > locatfon for a western states Bahh'i lighted candles, was b r o ~ g h tin and > summer ~chool. Mr. Bosch recalled placed upon the table at which Mr. > that he had written 'Abdu'l-Bahi in and Mrs. Bosch were seated. Then a > 1919, offering his Geysemlle property long line of children marched In, singfor "a Bahh'i community home or cc- ing "Happy Brithday" as they laid > operative institution and Baha't their handfuls of flowers on the table > schm1." Hence it was but natural that until it wns entirely covercd--evidence > he should again offer the facilities of of the love cherished by both old and > his ranch for this purpose. Thus the young for these two selfless souls. Mr. > first Bahi'I school in the Went came Bosch, a m ~ dmuch advice and laughinto being, the first session openina ter, a t last succeeded in blowing nut > on his seventy-second birthday, August the candles. After individual greetings > 1, 1927. In subsequent letters the Guar- and felicitations, the whole party movdian stressed the hope that this school ed down to the "Big Tree" t o partake > would "flourish and attract an increas- of the cake and elaborate refreshments > ing number of spiritually-minded, c a p the hostesses had prepared. > able souls" who would ''in time un- Following a Hngering illness, Mr. > reservedfp aceept the RahA'i Revela- Boseh passed quietly away on July > tion in rts entirely and thus reinforce 22, 1946, just at the end of the twenthe work that i s being achieved f o r tieth session of the BahL'I Schm1, and > our beloved Cause." ninc days before his ninety-first birth- > In 1 1 6 Mr. and Mrs. Bosch deeded day. > their property to the National Spiritual On July 24, a t two o'clo& In the after- > Assembly, thereby establishing the m,funeral rites were held in BahB'I > schoo1 as a permanent mshtution of Hall where the Mdy had lain In s t a l > the American Bahb'i community. In since midmorning. Masses O! floral > prwious s a r s they had been personal pieces bore silent witness ta the affachosts to the Mends, houhing them with- tion, esteem and respect of BahYis, > 494 T H E BAHA'f W O R L D > > neighbors, and buslnegs msociates. > During the impressive ceremonies canducted by Mr. Leroy Ioas, an intimate > Buhfi'i friend, the Village stores remained closed. The pallbearers were > neighbors and Bahh'is representing > several nat~onalities.A beautiful spot > in O l l w Hs11 Corneterg, o v c r l d r i n g > peaceful Sonoma VaUey and shaded by > the trees so dear to him, is now his > rest in^-place. > A cablegram sent by the Guardian > from Haifa was received by the National Spiritual Assembly July 29: > "Profoundly grieve passing dearlybelovd, greabhearted, high-minded, > distinguished servant of BahB'u'llAh, > John Bosch. His saintly life, pioneer > services. historic conbribution of institution of summer school, entitle him to > rank among outstanding figures of the > closing years of heroic, and opening > years of formative age of the Bahb'i > Dispensation. Concourse on high extol > his exalted services. Assure his wife > and valiant companion of my deepfelt > sympathy. Advise hold special gathering In Temple as tribute to his imper- 'All Saboor > ishable m-mory " > As befitting one of such lofty station, > . > the earthly chapter of his life closed Him, and loving Him . . For the cause > with a memorial service in the Bahi'i of God will they contend, and not fear > House of Worship at Wilmette, on Sun- the blame of the blamer." > day, November 24, 1946, to pay homage In his youth he decided to bear from > to his immortal memory. the enemies even a "rain of arrows," > a s he wrote from Ba&did ta his father > in Karbilb, who criticized him for hls > open declnrabon of his Faith and adm s e d him to conceal it. Sabaor remained firm and wrote 'Abdu'l-Bahb > Saboor, the patient, so a d d r e s s 4 by asking H ~ r nfor His Divine Confirmathe beloved Guardian, was a faithful tions. In His kind and encouraging rebeliever of Baghdad. He passed away ply, 'Abdu'l-Bahb alluded to his future > in Sulayminilryih on August 3, 1946. In and described "the absence of the bea letter of tribute and consolation from liever from his native land for the sake > nf Rd" as "the cause of divine mercy > thc Guardian dated October 27, 1948 w e > read these words: "He was a sincere and %he source of rest and delight in > servunt, gallant and faithfuL . . . pa- both warlda." Acwrdingly Saboor d.+ > tient in adversities, content with what voted himself to the difhsion of the > had been ordained for him by his d i ~ n efragrances in t h e Bahi'i meet > Creator." ings or whenever h e met a soul searchgaboor ha. recognized the ing after truth. He suffered insults and > of the Cause wl,m as a bgy he read evrn stoning irorrr U I ~memies, H e dethe following in a verse from the Qur'jn fended the interests of t h e Cause > (5:59): "0 ye who believe! . .. God notably when he was a member of the > d l 1 then raise up a people loved by Spiritual Assembly of B a a d B d , which > IN M E M O R I A M 495 > > remlled in 1922 the assaults of the ORCELLA REXMIR131 > ~ovenanbbreakers. > OrceUa Redon3 (Louise Cutt9-Pow- > Although S a b r had no high secular ell) wes born June 12, 1887 in Tracy, > eduualiun, h~ drank dcrgly of the dl- Minnesota. Planning in her youth to > vine outpourings. His only happiness become a mllege professor, she a& > was in extrading from the Holy Bocks tended the University of California a t > the Clad-Tidmg~:of "the coming of the Berkeley, where she studied four lan- > T ~ r r l " 9nrl in t ~ l l i n epeople ahout the > guage% and maJored in education and > new Revelation. He ~ I l e c t c d the domestic science. On receiving her > verses alluding to the "Lordship of Bachelor of Science degree, she took > Baha'u*116h*' becausc he was dazzled graduate work in philosophy and gsyby the signs of the greatness 0 6 chology, found her interests changing, > BahB'u'llhh. and bccame a writer and lecturer. > Between 1924 and 1934 S a h r was The name "Orcelle RexIord" is a > greatly distressed by economic circum- cryptogram, made up of letters chosen > stances and by the death of h ~ wrfes for her by an acquaintance in New > and children. He continually swght the York City. T o Orcella this name symprayers of the beloved Guardian, and bollzed her wish to link her personality > received several comforting replies to cosmic forces for g o d , which wouId > promising future blessings. These di- give her the grestest Y m W s for develvine promiacs were later fulfilled. opment. > Though old and weak h e gave the Orcclla Arst heard of the BaM'l > last yesra of his life to pioneering the Faith brom Mrs. Myrta Sandoz of Clwe- > Bahi'i Faith in new areas. He joined land, Ohio, and was later confirmed by > the pioneers in establishing the first Dr. Edward Getsinger In Boston, M a s - > local Assembly in firkuk in 1942. Then sachusrtts. She became a believer in > in 1945 the National Spiritual Assembly 191&1919. > of 'Iriq sent him to Amara in the south Since belief and action were hsep > to join the Bahh'i Gmup there. Here arable to her, while studvine the Faith > the people were fanatical. They stoned with Dr. Getsinger she brought along > him, and the police carled him for in- two students from her own classes. > vestigatim. Returning to Ba&ddd he Thcse, too, became BahB'Is. Soon she > was honored to receive his last letter began to organize classes far Dr. Getsfrom the Gnardian dated May 23, 1946 inger. In order to serve the Faith with > which alluded to his last days. A t this maximum efficiency, Oreella now took > tme, Saboor became radinnt and had stock of her educational equipment and > the beauty of a mature soul. capacities; she even investigated her > On d m e Z3,1946. he traveled to Sulay- genealogy, to appraise p s s i b l e inm5nfyyih to join the BahB'i Group. A herited tendencies and 'thus fully to > month later his life ended peacefully obcy the commandment, "Know thyon August 3, 1946. self". As a child she had often been > He is buried on a high rmky hill told of her second greatgrandfather, > everlooking the city, his grave m e r e d W~lliamJamis, appointed by Jefferson > with shadowy bougaimvillaes. The as consul and charge d'affairea a t Lis- > Cuardlarr's tribute is engraved on white bon, who gave his services without > marble a t his resting place, m that cost to the then young and impecunious > the friends will. read and remember t nine years > American G u v e r ~ i ~ n e nfor > that h e was the first BahQ'I pioneer to (18021811). Orcella felt that her tenddie in Sulaymhiyyih. ency to pioneer, and to contribute h a > services to a righteous Cause, might > have come down to her from this > ancestor. > 'AMu'l-Bah6's newly-revealed Tab- > Iets OF the Divint Plan ~ a l l e afor p i p > > - 3- Uu h . m I WBlrlId Assembly o t the > neers to spread the Faith. In respmse, > lmrn mnranal iumlshcd by W a r d P. Hatch > M Y S cd Tra. end OW. > 4% T H E BAHA'f WORLD > Orcella 6et out for Alaska in 1922. h m s , beyond the fmntler in Mexico-- > Some of her forbears had joined the the list seems endleas. > gold rush to the Yukon: she determined W i l e visiting Phoenix, Drcella was > to find the gdol d souls receptive to Injured In a fall, which ended her proher Message. The first Alaskan to ac- fessional career as n lecturer. In Hollycept the Faith through Orcella w a s wood to regain her health, she was > Gayne V. Gregory, who s m became active in teaching and administrative > the husband of his tcacher and within work. Then she left California on what > lwn years gave up his extensive dental was to be the last of so m a n y journeys > practice at Anchorage to serve as busi- for the Faith: alone, she attended the > ness manager of Omella's lecture tours. thirty-eighth Annual Bnhll'i Conven- > Rc@lla continued to be a lecturer by tion at Wilmette, teaching in various > profession; while conducting classes on cities and at the Geyscrville Bahk'i > various subjects (among other topics, School on h e r wav home. On Sundav > such as diet, she did much to popu- morning, August li, 1946, she died s u i - > larize the use of color in clothing and denIy in her bath. > in household furnishings and utensrls, > a t that time traditionally drab) she Messages Boon began to arrive from > would refer her students to a lecture many parts of the BaM'l world from > that would follow the paid series of the grieving spiritual children of Ortalks, and would b r ~ n gthem a horn- cella. Johanne Sorensen Hoe$ wrote > ledge that was beyond price. This final from Denmark, "It was through htartalk was on the advent oX RahB'u'll5h. ing her lecture about the Bahi'i Faith > Invariably, she left a Bah4'i study that I became a Bahi'i (in Honolulu, > . > 1925) . . I will always be thankful to > class, which was then conducbed by Orcella Rexford that she could not keep > other BahB'i teachers. That h e r meth- her great love of BahB'u'UQh by herod was successful is proved by the self but wanted to bring the loving meslarge number of Bahs'is who first sage of: God to her fellow men." And > learncd of the Faith through Omella. Ophelia B. Crum: ''I was among the > 5n Dcnvcr, for csemplc, cightccn hun- audience of about a thwsand who > dred people attended the Denham heard Orcdla say: 'I have been teach- > Theater on each of two nights to hear ing you about these outer subjects in > OrcelIa speak on the Cause, and a which you a r e interested, but now I > study class of four hundred and thirty- wlll tell you of the greatest truth that > five people resulted. When, toward the you should h o w today . .. ' The next > close of her life, a .serious accident night we met to form study classes and > ended her professional lecture career. f o r three months we would meet . . . > giving her the freedom she had longed At the end of that time some forty > for, she found that she had been de- students became members of the New > prived of her best teaching medium. York BaM'f communitv." Victoria E. > In 1925 the Gregorys left Ala~kafor Robarts, who introduced Gayne Greg- > Honolulu,and after teaching there, re ory to Orcellla, writes: "Orcella Rexturned to the mainland where they ford was an outstanding woman, m e > traveled from west to east and north of the few persons whom I ever met > to south; then crossing the Atlantic who never said an unkind or critical > . > and taking their car with them, they word of another . . her one great > motored through Europe. While here dcske war to establish the BahA'i Cause > ( ~ n19261, they received permission to over the world." From Boston, Helen > visit Shoghi Effendi in Haifa. Return- L. Archambault states, "In 1931 . . . > ing spir~tually reinvigorated to the she had been holding her Health Lec- > United States, Orcella continued her tures whereby many were helped phyconstant travels: at one time o r another sically and mentally . .. out of that > she taught in Oakland, Milwaukee, Dwr- group eleven became declared believvpr, N- Tork, Omnha, G n t t l r , S p prq . . . In 1lnJ Orrelln c a m e ngnin > kane, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Flint, to Boston . .. out of this group nine > Detroit, Butte, Phoenix, St. Paul, Win- have since declared their belief; . . . > neapolis,-in Florida, Texas, Okla- m y husband Vidor Archambault and I > IN M E M O R I A M 407 > > were among the first elwen and are > grateful beyond words to our 'spiritual > mother.' " Mrs.Wetzel lngold of Whitefish Bay, Wixonsin: "My lifo has beon > d ~ e p l y blessed by knowing her.'' > Martam Haney, Washington D.C., > early BahH'i teacher, says, "It was so > easy for her to make cantacts wlth > her fellow human beings . . . she bad > a precious and sweet sympathetic understanding of life and pmple. OEcella > . > was a born optimist. . . T h ~ soptimism > drew people to hey. She had an intense > desire to really know the BahL'i teachings. . . . A t one of our annual conventions there were twenty-two believers present who were the spiritual chlldren of OrcelIa." Mamie L. Seto of San > Francisco, one of the Bahb'i teachers > who assisted Orcella with follow-up > classes, writes of the study group which > Orcella left in HonoIdu, and adds, > "She maintained that we must meet > people on the personal plane, help > them w3th their personal problems, and > then take them to the universnI o r world Orcella Rexford > aspect of our Faith . . . she gave one > of the most convincine menint? talks > on the Fafth 1 have e k r ' h e a i . > She ~ n ~ l in > . .. > r l the eh0rtp-t time create, A letter from the Guardian, thmugb > and with the greatest ease devise and R6blyyih =Anurn, to the local Assemformulate plans for any project . . . was ofmLo$ > bly Angeles says in part: "She > m d no task seemed too difficult. . . . e of the most devoted teachers > She looked forward eagerly to the mm- of the Cause in the States, and respon. > Ing of each day as an opporbnity for sibIe for bringing it to the attention of > . > further development. . . I can think > of few people who loved a new idea > a great many people, aa well as for > the cnnfirmafion of many souls. Her > as much as OrcelTa did. .. . She was radiant devotion will, not be forgotten, > and her examp]@should certainly be > born to conquer and overcome those > obstacles which stand between one and an inspiration to her fellow believers. > his goal. I have seen her leave a nick It is a great pity th@ Cause should Iose > bed to speak at a public meeting." her services just as the new S e w n > OrcelIa RcxFord was laid to rest Au- Year Plan is getting under way. He > gust 14 at IngIewood Park Cemetery, asks you t~ particularly convey to dear > near the grave of Thornton Chase. Mr. Gregory his profound pympathy for > Friends filled the chapel; Paul S c h p the loss oi such a wonderful woman > eny, who learned of the Faith through and to assure h l m he will pray for her > brcella, traveled from Phoenix, Ari- happiness in the next world, a world > zona to sing at the memorial servicc, in which she will And many of her old > and Mrs. India Haggarty, Mrs. Flor- fellow teachers awaiting her. . . ." > ence IIoldnger, and Mrs. Emily Schie- A record of OrceIla'a's last day on > mann spoke. Winstan Evans read the earth was set down by her friend, Mrs. > prayer at the grave. The Guardian's > cable to Dr. Gregory was mad "Deplore loss Indefatigable, gifted promot- > Edith Weston: > That laat morning Mrs. Weston drove I > OrceIla and other friends up fmm > er Faith. Heartfelt, sympathy. Fervent Hollywood to the Fiesta in Santa Bar. > prayers. Shoghi." bara. Orcella, true ta her l o w of colors, > 498 THE BAHA'f W O R L D > was wearing a striped g r e w cotton I have missed, and 1have always wantdress and a dark emerald-green swea- ed to go." > er, and her hat and mat were two I t got dark and they started for > ahadca of purple: with her soft hair home. This was OrceUa's very last > and fresh skis, she looked radiant and journey; she devoted it to teaching her > youthful. friend: > They went up by the Coast mad; the "She talked Bahi'i, she radiated it; > wind blew, the smell of f i ~ h wns in ulc she s~emecllike some spiritual elf,tryair, the spray stung t h e t faces. In San- ing to share with us the ethereal joy > ta Barbara Orcella guided them to the of her relig~on. 'Bahi'is love peace,' > old Spanish misston-the "Queen of the she explained. 'They are hospitable. No > Missions"-and then took them to call one has too much, for all share. Chilon a resident BahA'I family, the Matte- dren must get the consent of both parsons, explaining on the way that ents before they marry. Those who > Bahl'b are hospitable and that t h ~ y come into thc Faith receive a special > could doubtless eat their picnic h u h outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This > in the Matteson home. Mrs. Weston dis- comes always with a new Manifestscovered that Mr. Matteson had built tion. Oh, if I could be your spiritual > hls house with his own hands, using mother, and bring you into the peace, > sections of old buildings, packing cases the hnppiness, the utter m t e n t m e n t , > and new lumber, Above thc mnntlc- that th* Faith ha$ given me.' > piece they saw a green, sculptured "Alter awhile she was silent. I asked > square of rosewwd, on which was if she was tired. 'Oh no,' she replied, > painted the symbol of the Greatest and once again she became her old > Name. The visitors spread their lunch alert wonderful self. At IO:90 we said > out on the long dining-room table. TRhm good-by. m e doctor--my husband-' > they left, O r e l l a promised to come and she said reflectively, Was my only respend a weekend in the little guest gret on this perfect day. 1 wish he > house Mr. Matteson was hrlding. could have been with us.' " > After that they w a t c h 4 the Fiesta > parade, whphich depicts the city's history > from Indian times. Orcella and Mrs. > Weston sat in the curbing along the > line of march; they saw babies in flowerdecorated carts, young men and On October 15, 194. tht BahB'fs > women in the costumes of long ago, of Egypt received with sorrow the news > Spanish dons on Arab horse-bright of the gassing away of AM-Fetouh > colors, shiny harness, tooled-leather Battah, an early Egyptian BahQ'i, and > saddIes heavy with silver. Warner a true servant of the Faith. > Brothers was taWng pictures. Tl~esun He followed his father in embracing > was hot, but Orcella did not complnin. the Cause during the historic sojourn > Later they drove around a bit, started of 'Abdu'l-BahB in Egypt in 1QlC-1911, > to window shop, ended by shopping in and had the privilege of being in His > earnest-and Orcella was delighted Holy Presence. > with hex purchases. At six she suegesb- He devoted himelf to the service of > ed they go over to the Samarkand, the thc Faith, and was never daunted by > Persian hotel; here they w a l k d threats or persecutions, Bravery in dethrough the long twilit gardens with fendig the Cause was hi distinction, > their light-blue alabaster vases. They and his thorough study of the teachings > looked down across the city. ''See, be- mablcd him to meet the various argufore the Government took over this ments of the oppositionwith a dominant > hotel for the soldiers, water used to power, and to surprise his adversaries > flow down this broad decline clear bo with sound and convincing prnofs. > the bottom of thc dclI," Ormlla said. In 1914 and 1935, when psrseeutiome > "This is really Fenian, with its sunken raged in Port-Said and Alexandria regardens, its flowers, its running waters. myi7sbd Abprlnla. al Ew > u a lArscmW > ~ I tand > ~ m t & a l ~en > I'm going to Persia. It is the one glace > IN M E M O R I A M 499 > zeal and energy mt11 he p a s s d away. > His loss was deeply regretted by the > beloved Guardian. > > 'ALI SAID-EDDIN! > On Februaw 19, 1947 the BahB'fs > of Egypt were shocked at the irrep > arable loss of a staunch believer, and > a sincere servant of the Cause, 'Ali > Said-Eddi. > His knowledge of the Caus@ went > back M the e a r k days of the Belowd > 'Abdu'l-BaM, when at the age of sixtern he noticed in one of his school > teachers a t Beirut certain characteristics and vlrtues which he greatly admired. When he learned that that > teacher waa il Bah67, it m s suffltient > to attract him whoIb to the new Fa~th. > Later he was brought into the presence > of 'Abdul-BahP by his teacher, and > the moment his eyes fell upon the Holy > Abul-Fetouh Battah Countenance h e recognized at once the > Divine Resplendency shiningfrom the > Beloved Master and became d e w t c d > to Him. > spcctivcly, ho nccornpllshed much in Some years later he lived m Palee > behalf of the Baha'is by interviewing tint where he received the blessings > high off~ualsand giving sound state* of the Master. On various occasions > ments on the truth of the BahA'i he served the Cause under circum- > Faith. As a government employee, h e stances which for a long period of his > was transferred to Mag-Harnmadi, Up- life were very hard, as the hatred and > per Egypt, where in 1941 he attendpd enmity of the Covenantbrealcers were > a carrsc on civil defense against air raging. > raids, and made his first lecture on The ascension of 'Abdu'l-BahB was > Universal Peace a s ordained by a deep shock to him, but he soon i m d > gahi'u'llah. Observing the tumult his his consoIatim in the Guardian. Being > lecture caused, especialb among the wholly devoted, h e sought the advice of > Muslim clergy present, he published an Shoghi Effendi in every undertakin~, > invitation to them as well as to certain and so In 1931 he proceeded to Egypt > eminent persons of the town to hold to settle permanently in Port Said. > a meeting to dlscuss the Bahi'i Faith. Not only those fellow believers who > H e was soon transferred, however, to had the privilege oI seeing him at the > the more remote city of Lwror, and Holy Shrines on every commemoration > was warned by his chid, the dudgc and fcstival occasion, but the entire > of the Tribunal, againet continuing such Bahi'i community of Egypt d l 1 reactivities. In Luxor he resumed his member how great was his faithfulness > activities, delivering the Message to a and how amazlng was his love and > few souls and supplying one of thc devotion. > biggest hotels with BahA'i literature Although he was ill fmm l990 until > tor its reading library Feeling that ho his denth, he pdcipaM in all > could serve the Cause better as a free Baha'i activities, and indeed his sickagent, he retired and settled in Cairo. > Rc continued his service with great > T H E BAHA'f WORLD > > ness seemed t o give him greater > spiritual power. > His sacrdices a r e beyond calcutation. > "Villa Safwan," bequeathed hp him to > the National Spiritual. Assembly of > Egypt, stands as a monument to his > generosity, and his gift of land to the > Holy Shrines at Cnrmel ranks him > among those whose names and deeds > are imperishabIe. > The foIlowmg cable was received > from the beloved Guardian: "Deeply > grieve (the) passing (of the) beloved > staunch servant (of the) Faith, 'Mi > Effendi Said-Eddin. His exemplary > servlces enriched Bahi'l endowments > m both E g y p t and the Holy Land. > Advise friends hold memorial gatherlngs (mf memory (of) his imperishable > services." > > On necember 13, 1946, the BahL'is 'Ali Said-Eddi > of Egypt learned with deepest m w > and gricf of the passing of MNammad > Tau1 MBhBnn, the last survivor of 'UlamBs cursed and accused of heresy. > the age of BahB'ullbh. His loss is H e was horrified when hlullb Ilftilyrnirreparable,.not only to his Mend8 in mad B4qir (surnamed "the Wcl£" by > Egypt, who had received from him true the Supreme Pen), and ImimJum'Ih > fatherly Iove and luridness, but also do killed the two brothers, Muhammad > thosc innumerable friends in both the Hasan (surnamed the SuItin of > East and West who knew him well, Martyrs) and Muhammad Vusayn (surgreatly valued his services, and a p named the Beloved of Martyrs), not > preciated his help on their visits to and because they werc BAbis, nor because > from the IIoly Land they arere regarded as apostate, but > He grew up in Persia where he firat because ImAm-.Yum'ih was indebted > g11mpsed the light .of truth shining fmm to them for LE 8WO and sought to free > the horizon of BahB'u'llBh. This was himself from debt by this savage and > ~ I Ithe early days of His Declaration, brutal crime. > when the fire of hostility toward the In 1878 Muhammed Tag1 1qfhh-d > Faith was being lit by its enemies, left for Egypt. During this voyage he > who were drawn from among the met many believers m various counvarious classes and dignitaries of t r ~ e sand thus learned more of the new > Persia. Be heard the 'Ulambs (Mbs- Faith. He stopped at 'Akkd, the city > lem leaders) addressfng the masses of the Prison, where he was welcomed > from their pulpits, arousing them and In the friends of the Faith, and where > inciting them to rise against the be- the brothers' murder was much dislievers of the new Faith, to destroy cussed. The first day he had the honor > them. and to upmot their movement; of meeting 'bbdu'l-BahC, and the secr > and h e witnessed the patience, forgive- ond mornlug he was privileged to > n r h s , serenily, uprigl~lriush,nud alead- make hls flrst visit t o the Holy P r e s > fashess of those men whom the erne of BahB'u'Hlh, when the Tablets > * thc nauoual > Bahal$ 04 Em!, SUE",".\ Cd > revealed in hwor of the two martyrs > were being chanted by AqL JAn, > IN MEMORIAM 501 > > (surnamed the Servant of God). Atter > thirteen days stay he resumed his > journey to Egypt. Later, h e made four > more trips to the Huly Land: the second > one Initiated his career, because on > that viait BahB'u'llBh advised him to > settle in Egypt, and his last visit was > in 1991,just a year hcforr t h nnr~nsion > ~ > of the Blessed Beauty. > His devotion to 'Abdu'l-Babi, the > Center of the Covenant, wna very sincere, and he had the privilege of receiving His blessings on many visits > to the Holy Spot, the last being on > February 4, 1919. The historic vislt oE > 'AWu'l-Bahl to Egypt in 191h1912 > gajned Muhammad Taqi I ~ f i h Q n i > fresh mace as he devoted himself to > His service as well as to the service > of the p~lgrlms. > On Ncwembcr 28, Im, he was deeply > shocked by the news 01 the ascension > of the Beloved Master, announced by > the Greatest Holy Leal by a cablegram. > He proceeded to I3aifa immediately > and there he felt that the world had > become dwoid of life. On the fortieth > day he left Haifa, when the sighs of > sorrow and grief of the bereaved, both Muhammad TaqI &f&M > traht%'is and non-Bahfi'is. were suddenly transformed into delight and h a p > piness on reading the "Will and Testament,'* in which the Beloved Master mught through their agents in Egypt > directed His followers to turn their to mislead the beliwers. His steadfaces towards the light shlnlng from fastness and zeal discIosed their conthe Distinguished Branch, the Beloved spiracy and protected the Cause of > Guardian of the Cause of God, Shoghi God against their mischief. > Effendi. In the field 01 literature Taqi Effendi > The progress of the Caum in Egypt took a notable part. He knew by heart > is associated with the services of almost all the general Tablets of > Mfiammad Tag1 E,f&h&ni.There Bah$'u9U&hand of 'Abdu'l-BahA, and > only a few believers when he first he could r m t most of the outstandcame to Egypt, but through his adiv- ing histomcal wents as if they were > ities many soula came to embrace the yet fresh. As chief member of the > Cause, and many centers were estab Publishing Committee, he helped to > fished. translate into Arabic many bmka and > His house was dedicated to Babel Tablets, auch aa thc iqan and S m e > activities and many meetings were held A m w e d Questicns. He also w r o l > there. It was honored by the visit of articles demonstrating the h t h of the > the Beloved Master during His sojourn Cause and promoting its teachings and > In Egypt. Y h z i Abu'l-Fag md Mrs. principles. > L.M. Getsinger spent their last days > on earth in that house, receiving all Years did not dim the brightness of > Ilospitality and care. his ~pirit,althoueh they laid upon him > His spirit of faithfulness shone with and increasing burden of sorrows and > full brightness when the Covenanb disasters. The deaths d his sons, folbreakers began t h e ~ r activities and lowed by the death of his wife, left > THE BAHA'I WORLD > > him alone, but his spirit never faltered memorial gatherings to commemorate > nor felt lonelmess, as his true mmiort his hlgh achievements which Concourse > was found in his Beloved Bahh'u'llih. on High extol, for which I feel deeply > His kindness and hosgdalily were ek- grateful. . . .sho&i." > tended io everybody, and h ~ innurncrs H i j i Mahmud Qassabchi, who was > able services are graven upon the a descendant of a very old family of > hearts of the bellevers of the East and Baghdhd embraced the BahB'i Faith > West. m 1911 through reading The 51er o j the > As a Hand of the Cause of God, West which then publ~shedrewrts of > Mmammad Tsqi IsfBhAni served, 'Abdu'l-BahP's travels in Eurupe. His > underwent hardships, and passed away addresses, His photographs, and a o > w ~ t ha smile of peaoe. Memorial gath- counts of the dcep and widespread > erings were held by the believers in interest He created among the various > vanous centers, and a suitable resting classes of the Western world. The 1splace is in Mursc of construction in sues of this Bahi'i magazine were > the Bahl'i Cemetery. Nothing can presented to him by a certain BahP'i > better express the measure of this rich merchant of Yewlsh extraction, the late > Life and ~ t sblessed termination than Joseph M d u , who later gave > the following cablegram recelvcd from Qassabchi, at his request, a mpy of > the Beloved Guardian:- the Ktfdb-bAqdas, which served to re- > "Hcarts ( R ~ P )e w l stricken (by the) inforce and consummate his faith in the > passing (away of) heIoved, outstand- new Revelation. The Master, in a Tab > ing, steadfast promoter (of the) Faith. let revealed in his honor in this conhf*arnmad Taqi Tqf4hM. Inng record nection, b l e s s 4 him for having attained > (of) his magnificent, exemplary serv- the summit of being and believed in > ices (is) imperishable (and) deserves the revealed signs of the secret of exrank (him among the) hands (of the) rstence. From then on he contuuued to > Cause (of) God. Advine hold befitting offer to tblrsty s o d s the celestial Water > memorial gatherings (by) Egyptian of Life of which he had been eiven > centers. (I am sending a] contnbuhon to drink. > (of) two hundred pounds (for the) construetiopl (of a ) grave. Hhji Mahmiid Qassabchi's services > to the Cause of God started soon after > (Signed) Shoghi." World War I when, by permission of > 'Abdu'l-Bahi, he undertook the restoration of the blessed Houae of > BahA'u'lIdh. Although he had expressed > his readmess t o do this important work > at his own expense, the Master and a > On the morning of September IS, number of believers participated in > l947 the friendx of 'Irdq were deeply contributing to this end. > grieved by the news of the loss of the > w e l l - h o r n believer, QQJI Mahmird of InBahB*u'llih > 1925 when the case of the House > was being considered > Qassabchi, that faithful, steadfast and and decided u r n by thc law courts of > devoted Bahi'i who loved and served Baghdad, and the Shi'ih populace > the Faith of Baha'u711& until the last > were causing a great agjtation about > days of his llfe on earth. thc diaputcd casc, thus rendering the > The Guardian paid tribute to Aim in situation of the bellevers in Ba&d&d > the following telegram to the National very critical, pAji Mahrnird Qassab > Spiritual Assembly dated September chi not only stood firm and faithful to > 17, 1947: "Deeply grieved loss dearlybeloved, illustrious promoter Faith, the Cause of BahB'u'llhh but encour- > H A j i Mahmud Qassabchi. Fas pre- aged other friends to do Itkcraise. Meancious, historic servlces in 'Iriq, time, he expended freely t o defray the > Persia, HoIy Land, unforgettable, ex- fees of the lawycra who were engazed > e m. d a r y.. A d v ~ s ecenters hold befitting > - > ta defend the BahP'i case. > A few years later, he was privileged > .E;F1 Wr1- .4=-mwof the t0 play the leading part in the purchase > IN MEMORIAM 5W > > and establishment of the first > Ha&-atu'lQuds of BaghdM, and when > the friends undertook to m t r u c t the > present Notional KnzIrabu'tBuds his > cantributions were very g e n e r a . > Qassabchi was also among the first believers who participated in na small > measure in the erection of the Haziratu'l-Quds of the village of Avashiq, > the first of its kind to be built in 'Irhq. > Perhaps the most distinguished and > imperishable service he was privileged > lo render to the BahiiSIFaith was the > construction of the three additional > rooms adjoining the Shrine of the B i b > on Mount Carmel. These rooms now > contain the International Bahb'i Archives. The beIoved Guardian, who personally supervised the work, repeatedly > extolled this mcritorious service of > Haji Mnhmud. > With the approvak of the Guardian, > H4jl Mnhrnfid Qassalxhi participated > through his contribution, in the purchase of the land which ls to be t h e HAJI M a h m ~ dQassabchi > site of Persia's Maariqu'l-Aakkir. A > few years before his passing, HQji Mahmfid QassabdLi donated t o the Cause > three small. houses a d ~ o i n i nthe > of Bahi'u'llih. > ~ House ky ~ f 2 > , ~ W ~ ~ ~ > > to the Holv Land where he took mtf > Concerning one of his recent contri- in the funeral of Bahiyyrh ~ h ~ n u m . > butions to the Faith, Ruhiyy~hKhhum I n 1933 Qassabchi suf£ered a severe > writing to a friend ip BagbdAd, stated: attadt of paralysis which he narrowly > "Please inform Mr. Qassabchi when survived and as a result of which he > you give him the enclosed receipt that could hardly inove or speak for the > the Guardian has decided, in view of rest of his life. On September 11, lsf7 > his great affrction for h ~ m to , use this Qassabchi, who had already grown &ail > loving contribution of his to the Faith and weak, fell ill, and two days Iater > for work en completing t h e superstruc- wlnged his flight iu the Abhi Kingdom. > ture of the Bib's blessed Temple, when- He was buried at Salman Pak, about > ever circumstances p e r m ~ this > t hisboric thirty miles southeast of Baghdid. > enterprise to be c o m m e n d . " > I n 1931 Qassabchi with the a g > groval .of the G~unrdian traveled to > Bahbk'llah's native land, where he was > very delighted t o meet large numbers > of devoted and zealous beUevers in > p h r b , K_hurBssh, and other cities and > towns. There he lost no chance io eon- Mrs. Bedah Storrs Lewis was born > tribute to various Bahi'i enterprises of a well-known Mormon family in > and undertahngs. Springville, Utah, on January 21, 1&S1. > In 1932 QarsabJli had the honor to She died in Los Angeles, California. on > visit thc beloved Guardian a n d the November 9. 1947. Her life had been a > BahA'i Holy Shrmes. Lnter in the year, tree that bore much fruit. As Miss Beuwhile spending the summer in Damas- lah Storrs, she married A l k r t E. > cus, Syria, he received the shocking Lewis. They had no physical children, > 504 THE BAHA'I WORLD > but Mrs. L e w ~ shad a spiritual family > that was indeed numerous. For Mrs. > Lewis was an elcquent speaker, a fluent writer and an octivc Bahh'i teacher. For approximately twentyeight > years she had devoted an increasing > amount of her time and her unlque capaelties to spreading the "Glad-Tidings" of the ccmlng of BahP'u'llah. > According to her brother, findrcd L. > Storrs, Beulah became a foIlourer of > the Bahi'i Faith in CaWornla. Be > writes: "As I remember It, Beulah first > became a BahB'i in 1919. I became a > Bahi" a h o s t instantaneously when I > iisst Iearned of it through Beulah. My > mother followed soon after that. My > father never declared hmself to be a > BahP'i, but talked BahA'i to practically > everyone he met. Beulah . .. > the Br&ham Youna Univers~ty at > attended > > Prow, Utah, and later studied in England. . . . She had a varied experience > in dramatics, and had been m the > movies in Hollywood in the silent days. > . > . . I do know that she gave up every- Beulah Storrs Lewis > thing, irrduding her arnbitm in the Rcld > of dramatics to serve Bah4'u'll6h.'" > Mrs. A. C. Platt relates that, while > Beulah was acting i r ~ille d e n t moving irlg ilre teachings of Bahi'u'll~h. After > pictures, she met with an accident and a lechre, one of the members of the > was taken for recuperation to the home audience who came tn speak to her > of Mother Wright, a Baha'i and a cnm- was Dr. Mayo, of the well-known Mayo > petent character actress. But it was at Brothers of Minnesota. He told her that > the home of MTS. PIatt that a Baha'i he wan impressed by her efforts to > study class was conducted. Two mem- serve humanity spiritually without Eibers who attended the class regularly nancial return. He said that he had > and expressed keen interest In the noticwl in her symptoms of a kidney > teachings were a 11ttle girl and her ailment, which If treated in time, could > mother. That girl was Carols Lombard be greatly benefited, if not cured. Then > who later became a world-famow ac- he added that he too was trying to aid > tress, and a close friend of Beulah mankind in the ffeld of physical health, > Lewis. In the spring of 1938, Carole and that he would like to offer her the > Lombard Gable, already a Bahi'l at facilities of the Mayo Brothers Clinic > heart, was encouraged by Mrs. Lewis without cost. Though his kind and unto appear before the Sp~ritualAssem- selfish offer was deeply appreciated, > bly of the Bahb'is of Los Atlp~lecand she decided she wuld not acrept it > to decIare her belief. She joined the It was also in New York City that > Baha'i World Faith and became a mem- an enemy of the Faith came to Mra. > ber of the Los Angeles community. Lewis and offered to establish her aa > ms.Lewis was active in civic ai- a minister m a church d her o m , > fairs. In 1930 she was president of the saying that from this position she could > Cadrnan CIub. She had also served as obtain both wealth and fame. Her represident of the Ciiy Wompn's Rrrak. fusal wan immediate and definite. > fast Club. A close friend of Mrs. L&is, Mrs. > When on a *it to New York City, Martin G. Carter, who Hved in Los > Mrs. Lewis devoted her time t o spread- Angeles, opened her hospitable home > IN M E M O R I A M 505 > > £or many years to classes that Mrs. > Lewis taught of the BahB'I Faith. MTS. > Carter ac.tively Interested hersel! in inviting thc opmminded and pmnressivc > among those she contacted to attend > and study in thcse classes. She states > that m her opinion possibly one hundred > souls became awakmcd and declared > themseIves Bahi'is thrw& the effective teaching of Mrs. Lewis. either dlrectly or indirectly, > As to the spirit which animated Mrs. > Lewis as a Baha'i teacher, her brothcr > has written from Salt Lake City: "She > was extremely humble and grateful to > BnhB'u'llLh for the ~nspiration which > she received and for the good that so > many people derived from it." > from Miss Clara E. Weir, a close > friend of Mrs. Lewis, mmes this statement: "I knew Beulah in the darn of > her robust vital~ty. . . . By her eloauence she could warm and inspire her > Cstencrs with the love of God and > stimulate them to rise to heights d > service . .. My earnest prayer for her > is that doors oi service may open to > her in all the worlds of God." > turning point in the history of the Cause > in Egypt. Thou& this charnpimship, > the Faith nf Bahi'u'U&h was for the > first time, declared by Mu~llrnreligioue > authorities to be an indeoendwt Faith. > The passing of our dear brother, so that a Bahi't could nit be regarded > Hasan Mar*[ Tantiwi on the twenty. as a Muslim, nor a Muslim as a Bahi'i. > e~ghthof August, 1940, terminated a pe- U p n the isauance of that historic > riod of heroism in the annals of the verdict, Hasan Mar'i moved born h i u > Cause in Egypt. He was one of the village and settled in Cairo. Ris hardfour heroes of Kawrnu78Sa'iyldih, the ships did not cease, but his spirit conhistoric village in Upper Egypt, w h , tinued to grow stronger. At last he wan > undeterred by the forces af terror, ap- appointed a teacher by the anistry ol > peared before the Muslim Court and Education, and was thus afforded a > courageously and unreservedly de- comparatively peaopfu1 life. > clared their faith in BahH'u'llHh.Taking > into consideration the times, and how As a graduate of the thousanb-year > great has been the evolutim in the old Mudim University, al-Azhar, he exthinking of their m t r y m e n in the erted his howledge, s m g t h and skin > course of the twenty-five years since in a~slstlngin translatiny inlo Arabic > that first charge was brought against many of the BahB'I Writings. > the BahB'is in Egypt, the championship In August, 1949, he visited the.friendu > of the Cause which he and his fellow- of Alexandria during his summer holibelievers displayed appear incompara- day. His regular attendance at their > bly greater than similar events record- meetings caused mutual delight and > ed later. happiness. > That championship stands in the an- On the evening of his pasdng be atnals closely assclciated with thefr sac- tended a local symposium of the BtrhB"1 > riflces and sufferings and marks the youth d Alexandria. It is said that his > 503 T H E BANA'f W O R L D > joy, happiness and thanldulness to > Bahi'u'llih werc so great that he > seemed t o feel as if it were the last > nrraeion for him to express his deep > affection, love and apprcc~atimlto his > beloved fellow-believers! dust as he > reached his home, he began to suffer > heart faiIurc and w i t h i fifteen minutes > h c passed away. % w a s fifty-six ycars > of age. > His body was interred in the Baha'i > burial ground in Cairo. > May his soul abide in eternal rest in > the Kingdom of AbhP! > (National Spiritual Assembly > of Egypt and Sudan) > > mritten by Robert GuXck from data > supplied by 'Abdu'fiRazzBq 'AbbBs.1 > Toward the close of 1949, vialent > death claimed luki'd-Dfn 'AbbBs, one > ut the most active and enthusinstlc in many trips, perhaps a dozen, to > Baha'is of 'Ir4q. He was born in Auguat Haifa. > 1902, the son of 'Abbhs Rid8 MaSbadi A teacher by profession, he spent > 'AAbbis who had four years earlier em- most of his life in the employ of the > braced the Cause. Mnistq of Educat~onof 'Iriq. TRe in- > Nhri'd-Dm w a s one of those blessed spectars knew of his allegiance to the > F a ~ t hand because of this sent him to > souls who thirst after righteousness. distant and uncowted places in 'Irlq. > Although Bahi'i literature was very This discriminatory treatrncnt enabled > scanty durmg the days af his youth, he him bo render unusual services ta the > loved to read whatever he could find Faith as a p m e e r settler and teacher. > r h t the Faith. He spared no effort During t h e last seven years of his > ta seek out every manuscript in his earthly existence, h e and his wde > eagerness to master the Teachingx. He taught school in Sulaymbniyyih, a town > shared his father's perseverance and in 'XrBqi Kurdisthn which will forever > devotion to the Cause. Attacks and per- be remembered because of the sojourn > secution only served to strengthen his there of BahB'u'IlAh. N9iri'd-Din'Abbfrs > cffoorta, end his loyalty and self-sacri- loved the Kwde, and his affection wus > fice ~.eachedtheir m i t h in the face of recipmcated. He performed the hisopposition. toric service of securing the translabon > into Kurdish by Mahrnhd Jawdat of Dr. > In his library he kept every available Esslemont's BahaW'Ildh a d the New > BahB'i book, including many published Era. Not mdy did he succeed in getting > in other parts of the world. His time the volume translated but he also disand money were oonsecrated to Bahi't trihut~dit widely smong the Kurds. He > service, his one consuming interest in personally translated into Arabic > life. His Iwe for the Cause and for George Townshend's pamphlet about > Shoghi Effendi was further expressed Qneen Marie's conversron to the Faith, > IN M E M O R I A M 507 > > publishing and distributing hundreds of > copies and presenting a gmdly supply > to the BahB'i library in Baghdid. > He was loved by his students and by > all who lmew him intimately. > > JULIA CULWER , 4 ,:.-.v , > > February 8, 1861January 22, 1950 > BY S m . r W~nor: > Julia Culver, after forty-seven years > of dwoted, generous and sacrificial > ~ e r v l c eto the Faith of BahQ'u'llBh, was > released from this world of limitations > m January 22, 1950 in East Oakland, > California, and passed to broader horiwns at the age of e~~hty-nine. > Born in 1831, Julia Culver spent four > yeara as a child in Germany. When > the family returned to the United > States, they lived in Chicago. At twen- Julia Culver > ty&, Julia returned to Europe. I t was > in M u ~ c h in , 1903, sixteen years l a w , > that she first heard of the BahB'i Falth > from gn Arner~can woman who was tlclrieve~ments. Together they faborcd > there at the time. in Europe for five years and did out > In those days there were few persons standlnR teaching work in Bredau and > in the United State$ or in Europe who in Budapest a t the Esperanto Congressknew s h u t BahPu'llhh, much less re- es held In those cities. Julia contributed > ognized Him as the Manifestation of large sums of money a t t h ~ stime so > G 4 for our time. J u l ~ eCdvcr, how- that the teaching work might go forever, was one of those r a r e souls who ward and throufiout the following > seemed to have been spiritually pre- ycars continued to aid greatly the acpared to recognize the Prophet on tivities of Martha Root and other Bahb'i > learning of His coming. No sooner had teachers. > she heard of His Messace and pcrused Early in 1927, the failing health of > what little was avallabte to the Western Mrs. Stannard, who had established the > world at that time of His Teachings, BahPl International Bureau in Gcneva > than she accepted their validity and at the request of the Guardian, made > dedicated her llfe to the promotion of lt imperative to find someone to take > His Cause. Back in the United States over the burden. Julia Culver, familiar > in 1904, wellt tu Qreeo Acre, in with the Continental pcopIcs an8 Ian- > Marne, where Sara Farmer, through guages, seemed the ideal choice and > her Green Acre Conferences, was was heartily approved by the Guardsmeacbna the Glad Tidinas of inn. > .... > ~ a h i ~ ~ ~coming. l i w s mere sh; deep- with M ~ m~ a. r d no longer a b e > -e a m g s . > ened..her knowledge of the Divine t, assume the expenses of > Julia Culver, by that October, was > beau, > > In about ls20 JUlta Culver juinerl raced with the d~ui~v u l seeing this in=- > forces with Martha Root, that intrepid portant, though embryonic,inknation- > BahB'i teacher who won such a crown a1 center closed. or of takine uoon herof glory by her tireless efforts and self the full reiprmsibility f o r it. She > > .- .- - > T H E BAHA'I WORLD > elccted the latter, and with a conbrk the Bahk'i Bureau will increase in > butron of six English pounds a month power and will gather round it the > from Shoghi Effendi, (later increased other movements represented there > lu nine pounds), Julia Culver supplied (all ob them less complete, less int h e rernain~ng und major share of the formed, less inspired than it) until > necessary funds to keep the Bureau it becomes, by the sheer force of its > functioning and expanding. own merit nnd character, the ac- > 111 tllr e a i r l y summer of 1928, Emo- hmvlcdgd Center uf nll the congcne Hoagg, a t Julia" suggestion, structive energies of that Internationcame to Geneva to help and together a l city. Thin of muse will happen. > thgr built the Bureau Library, initiated Nothing can stop it. May it be s m . > a bulletin and arranged lectures, teas How great a privilege is y o u s and > and other activtbes dcsigned to make Mrs. Hoagg's to be so bravely and > the Bureau n meeting ground for all successfully upholding there this > persons and groups who were w r k i n g great Cause through these difficult > for peace and the betterment of the times. . . ." > world. Many notable persons visited the Nor was the develqment of the In- > Bureau in those years and attended its ternational Bureau the only service that > functions. Among those who h a w open- Julia Culver offered h e r belwed Feith. > ly voiced their sympathy with and ap- It was she who arranged for the > preciation of th~?BahPi Faith and prb- French translation of Dr. Esslemonr's > claimed it as perhaps the greatest force Bahd'u'lkih and the New Era, and she > In the world f o r the unihcation of man- who shared her own Limited resources > kind, was the late Eduard Ben&, then t o help any and all who were in need. > Mimster of Foreign Affairs for Her d ~ a r ydiscloses but a few of the > Czechoslwakia. host of deeds and contributrms which > Under the direction of Julia Culvcr, flowed from her loving, generous heart > the Intematfonal Bureau thus cooper- and purse: a hundred dollars to help > atcd with all nrgnnlrntlons in Geneva educate a Persian youth: eighty dollars > that were striving towards goals siml- to aid someone else; a check to a mothlar to those of the Bahl'is, maintained er u,hose daughter had suffered the > contact with the activities a£ the Faith amputation of a leg; cheeks to Bahb'i > throughout the world and did all in her teachers in Europe whose means were > power to make it an a w r l l ~ a r ynerve too 11mited--everywhere the helping > center to Raifa, ax the Guardian wiah- hand. > ed, in all that pertained to the Faith. Small wonder that George Towfishend > Thls was no small task, but with the wrote st this period (July 1930) : "The > a ~ dof BahB'i travelers from all parts bugles of heaven are blowing strains > o i the world, both the Bureau and the of thankEulness for your faithful, > number of Swiss believers stcad~ly staunch and determined efforts to > grew. o b q the Center of the Cownent and > One of those Bahl'i travelers to visit keep the Geneva Bureau go^. Listen > Geneva in those days, was thc eminent t o the bugles and do not mind the > George Townshend, Canon of St. Pa$ . > yappngs of mortals. . . M y thoughts > and prayers will be with you and your > rick's Cathedral in Dubho and Archdeacon of Clonfert (aos~tionshe has re- brave, lonely and invaluable work for > cently renounced to devote his entire God and His Cause." > tlme to the teaching of the BahP'i In January 1B31, on the eve of her > Faith). On his return to Ireland in Oo- aeventleth birthday, her physical > tober 3929, Dr. Townshend wrote to Ju- strength failing, Julia C d w r wrote to > lia Culver: Shoghi Effendi asking permission to re- > "Geneva i s to me a havm of spirib turn to the United States. His answer > ual henrsty an echo of HaIfa. I camc *eying she might go home. EII~V. > have seen Geneva and felt there a gene Hoagg was to return ta Geneva > spirituaI power I had not felt else- to replace her. I n June, Julia wrote to > where. 1 hope that more and more her to say that she was putting aside > IN MEMORIAM > > funds to maintain the Bureau until the > following May. But due to unforscen > circumstancos Emogene Hoagg was not > able to leave f o r Europe, and the next > spring found Julia Culver still In Geneva, still hoping to k relieved and, > at that time, planning to arrive in Geyservdle, California, in g c d senson fox > the Bahfi'i Summer School sessions > there. In August, she was "hoping to > go in September." But it was Mag 1033 > before it was possible for Julia Culvcr > t a leave for California. > Even then she could not be idle. After > a short rest she was busy once more > promoting the Teach'igs of the Cause > sbe lowd s o well. In California she > spread the Divine Message in various > crtiea and in Chemeketa Park was planning to open a children's school. But > failing health and finances fruqtmted > her purpose and she rvns a t last forced > to sell her property and live quietly > with her sister in Berkeley until ik bp > came necessapy to glace her in a rest > home in East Oakland where she pass- Mountfort Mills > ed away. > Julia Culver, in her forty-seven years > of Ba?&'i servlce, gavc of her substance Before the end of 1909, Mountfort > until, she had no more t o grve, elther Mills had ma& lwu pilgrimages to > physically or materially. Surely as she 'Akkd. His third pilgrimage to visit the > entered the Abhi Kingdom she was Mastet was made early in 1921. In 1922, > greeted by "the bugles of heaven. .. . with Mr. Roy C. WilhePm, he was invited by Xhnghi Effendi to go to Haifa > blowing strains of thaMulness*' for her > "faithful, staunch and determined ef- for conference with the Guardian on > forts" for the Faith of Baha'u'llih. matters related to the new conditions > On receiving news of her passmg, the created for the Faith by the Ascension > Guardian cabled thls message: ol 'Abdu'l-BahB. > "Griwe passing devoted pioneer (of) > Dur~ng the Master's viaits in New > F a ~ t h ,Jdia Culver. Her exemplary York during 1912, Mr. Mills served on > the Bahh'i reception committee which > spirit, unshakable loyalty, generous > contributions unforgettable. Fervent- s r r a n g d public addresses for 'Abdu'lly praying (for) progress (of) her > Bahh in that clty. > soul (in) Abha Kingdom." First chairman of the National Spirit- > - us1 AssembIp of the BahH'fs of the U n i t > ed States and Canada when formed in > 1932 in accordmce with the pmvisiom > of the Will, and Testament left by the > NOUNTFOXT MXIA Master, Mountfort M ~ l l swas elected a > Bn HathcE m m e m b r of that body for seven terms > between 1922 and 1937. A8 trustee of > The pa~singof MOunkb* On Bahb'i Temple Unity hehad served an- > April 24, 194% d e ~ r i dthe American nually fmm its inception in 1905. > Bahh'i commun~tynf thp influence and mefinal draft of the hplnmXinn of > experience of a very distinguished be- Trust and &-Laws a d o u t 4 by the Na- > Liever. He had been a foUower of l ~ 19G was p r e p a d > tional ~ s s e & b in > BahP'u'IlHh since 1908. by Mills. > 510 T H E B A H A.'f W O R L D > It would be impossible in brief space He was a member of the committee > to report his activities for thc New York which appeared before the Wilm&te > BahB'I community throughout the years W l a g e Board to appIy for a building > of his r e s i d ~ n wthere, for the national pcrrnlt for the Hause of Worship, e t a > Bahi'I community, o r in E w p e . He time when the Bahi'is owned land and > was a wlnning public speaker and hts possessed Mr. Bourgeois' design but > permafib gained many influential from a worldly point of view seemed > friends for the Faith m some of its most incagable of carrylng mlt nn imprrssive > dlUlcult days in the West. His devotion and costly a shwcture. > to the Master was impressive. Characteristic of his bfluence upon > A few outstanding events will serve people was his d i s c u s s h with the late > tu Indicate the unusual scope of his Professor Edward Browne of Cam- > Bahl'i activities. bridge University, translator of A > At the Conierence of Living Religions fiat-elter's Xawatiue: the Episode of > W~thjnthe British Empire, held in Lon- the B i b , the Persian text of which had > don, Mills represented the Bahi'is on been presented to Professor B m e by > the public platform. 'Abdu'l-Bahi at the time of hrs famous > visit to BahB'uYQh. After hearing Mr. > His appeal of the case of the House Mills' explanation of the evolution of > of Bahllu'll&h at Baghdad to the the Faith from the B i b to Bahi'u'Uih, > League of Nations, whose verdict was and i t s sitbsequent stages under the > iavorable to the F a ~ t h is > , historic. me Center of the Covenant and the terms > case is documented in earlier voTumcs of His Testament, Professor Browne > of this b i d a l record. Mllls made two realized that he had been veiled by the > journeys ta BaghdAd while studying the preomupat~onwith conPl~cting claims > facts pertaining to the BahA'i righta to and disturbances which foluwed the > possession of a sacred Baha'i shrine Martyrdom of the Bib. He expressed > confiscated by leaders of IslBm. During his desire to translate later Bahl'i > &I$ mission, acting on behalf of the works, but died before this conk~butinn > Guardian, Mountfnrt Mills had audi- to the Faith cuuld be made. > ences with the late King Feisal of 'Iraq, Mills brought into the BahB'i cornwho assured him that the government munity a trained mind, a gracious preswould carry out the terms of the df- ence, a rare quahty of friendly relaclslon rendered by the League, an in- tionship and a keen awareness of the > tent~onthe King's untimely death made need of our hme for the ~nspirationand > it lmpcssible f o r him to fulfill. Mysteri- guidance of a new Revelat~on. > ously attacked while in Baghdad, Mr. "As already inbmated," the Guardi- > Mills suffered a brutal assault the of- an wrote on October 18, 1827, "1 have > fects of which lingered for many years. read and *read most c a r m y the > Mountfort Mills prepared the Resw final draft of the By-Laws drawn up by > lution adopted by the National Spiritual that h~ghly-talented,much Ioved sarv- > Assembly for presentation ta President ant d Bah&'u'Ugh,Mountfort Mills, and > RooseveIt with an engrossed copy of feel Z have nothng substantial to add > the Tablet revealed by BahL'u'llah for t o this first and very cred~tableattempt > the heads of the Republics throughout at codifying the principles of general > America and a copy of the Master's Baha'i administration." > Prayer for America. This documcnt In hi# letter dated March 20, 19W, rewas reproduced in The Bahd'b World porting the favorable verdict pat the time. nounced by the League of Nations, the > In Geneva, Switzerland, Mills spent Guardian said: ''I must not fail in conmuch time during session8 of the clusion to refer once again to the de- > League of Nations, serving as an un- cisive role played by that distinguished > official observer and interested friend and ~nternationalc h a m o m of the Faith > of its p u h k procc&gs, and exerted of Babf'u'll'ah, our dearly-belovetl > a good influence among many of its Mountfort Mills, in the negotiat~onsthat > leaders on behalf of the Bahi'i prin- have paved the way for the signal s u e > ciples and ideals. cess already achieved. The text of the > IN M E M O R I A M 511 > > Bahl'i petition, which fie conceived and > drafted, has been recognized by the > members of the Mandate Commission > as 'a document welldrafted, clear in > its arguments and modernte in tone.' > He has truly acquitted himself in this > most sacred task with exemplary distinction and proved himself worthy of > s o noble a mission. I request you," (addressing the American Bahi'in) "to Jlon > rnc in my prayers for him, that the > Spirit of Bah2u1UBh may continue to > guide and sustain him in the flnal settlement of this most mighty issuc." > > GEORGE ORR LATIMER > BY HOWACE > H- > I > The Centenary of the Declaration of > fhm Bhb brnueht forth ~nNorth America > ;notable All-%m&ica Ccnvcntion. R e p > I > resentatlves chosen by the Latin George Orr Latimer > American comrnunlties assembled with > tho delegates elected for the United > States and Canada, and a Latin-bmerican co-cha~rman was appointed lo was BahB'i. Around him he could see > serve with the Convention chairman daily evidences d the working of an > during the sessions. indomitable spirit of faith. Here was > George Orr Latimer as chairman of no s t a t ~ cbelief in a past and f i s h e d > the National Spiritual Assembly con- revelatmi,providing slumber for souls > vened the Cmventmn and continued ta too fearful to confront reality, but a > preside when elected Convention chair- c m a d e undertaken by staunch and > man by the delegates. vigilant personalities who had to build > Perhapx in each active life there is their own path of progress from day > one e p i s d e which seems to stand out to day through the wilderness of the > as a culmination, a climax, in which > wor Id. > all the person's capacity and experi. His life-span cmncided with ,the unwrce are given their supreme fulfilY- precedented impetus which Abdu'lment. If that is so, many American Bah& gave to the concept of religion. > BahB'is will associate George Orr Lati- Rel~gicnhad been revealed truth, mamer with the Centennary Convention i n lentlc law, glorious hope and sublime > 1044, when the Latin American teaching sacrifice, but never m any previous > work had become firmly established, dispensation had religion been cornmuwhen a lmal Assembly had been formcd nlly, socialized In terms of civilization > in every State and Provmce of North attuned to a valid manifestation of the > Amenca, and when the completed ex- divine Will. This mighty transfarmaterior mamentat~onof the House of tron of religion from universal truth to > Worship made possible a floodlighted community was t h e providential mis- > Temple which impressed every ob- s i m of 'Abdu'l-Bahfi, fulfilling the aims > server with a sense of exalted beauty. and conveying the powers flowing h r n > Mr. Latimer was born into and grew Bahb'u'llah to rnanktnd. 'Abdu'l-BahB > up wlth a family of pioneer Bahl'is. Inspired In the understanding and prac- > His spiritual environment from youth tice of religion its final dimension in > $12 THE BAHA'f WORLD > human reTationships and the relation- application ot truths which could not > ships of social institutions created for be previws1y appl~edin the East; asan ordered world. sistance to the work of estabIish~nga > We did 11u1 k ~ ~ owhat > w 'AMu'l-Bah4 Bahi'i curuuratt body in Americe, first > wes domg in those years, but those who na BahB'i Temple Unity, later as Naheeded Him, rcmained faithful, to the tional Spiritual Assembly; aid in the > Covenant and following in His road work of the construction of the Bah2i > were partir~patinein the very miracle Hnunp of Wo~*shlp:trav01 to distant > of human experience. Of these was lands to teach the Behb'i principles and > George Orr Latimer, from his youth to to strengthen thc bonds of fellowship > hrs sudden and unexpected death in uniting the believers of all lands; pil- > June, 1948. grimage to 'Akknand Haifa for associs- > Latimer l i d deeply in the Baha'i tion with 'Abdu'l-Bahi and prayer at > community on many levels: as teacher, the Shrines consecrakl to the Herald > lecturer, author and administrator. His and the Author of the Bahi'i Reveladevotion expressed itself an work for tion; initation of orderly development > the BahL'i schools, in writing pam- of Bahb'I properties held in trust as > phlets and magazine articles, In the de- national endowments; personal servvelopment of local and nat~onalBahi'i ices a t the schools foundcd m Eliot, > inst~twtions,in extensive travel among Maine and Geyserville, California; concvmmunities In Amerxca and Eumpo, tribution of lpgnl k n o w l ~ d f tv > i ~ the imand In the legal work of the Cause. He portant task of incorwrahng fifty or > died while a member of the National more 1mal BahB'i cornmunitles in the > Spiritual Assembly, entering tus four- United States and Cnnada." > tccnth year of service In that capacity Through the Guardian's tribute we > s ~ n c e1922. can perceive the greut and lasling mon- > "Greatly deplore gassing of distin- ument which George Orr Latimer's acguished disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahk, firm complishments have raised up in the > pillar of the American BahSi wmmu- Baha'i community. > nily, George Latimer. His outstanding > services in the closing years of the IIerolc and first stages of the Formative > Ages of the Faith are imperishable," > the Guardfandeclared in his cablegram > to the Nat~onalAsscmbly received June On the morning of February 4, 1947, > 23, 1948. Mani Mehta, son of a leading indus- > From a brief memorial prepared for trialist of Bombay, was driving home, > the Portland Assembly, this summary t~redand sleepy, when his car crashed > is quoted:- into a lamp post. H e was taken to a > "His ftrmncss in the Covenant estab hospital, but m spite of the best medillshed with the BahB'is of all t h e world cal care, he died two days Iater withby Bahi'u'llfth in the Person of 'Abdu'l- out having regained consciousness. > Bahh, joined with that of the other M ~ N Mehta first beard accidentally > members of that company (dearly be- of the Bahb'i Faith but he was immelievers), constituted the axis around diately attracted to i t and delved into > which revolved the spiritual opening of a study of its teachings with intensity > thc Wczt to thc ncw Mcscs3ogc of thc and zeal. In 11942 he formnlly a c r e p w > oneness of God and the oneness of man- the Faith. Propelled by boundless de- > GinA votion, he launched with all the fervor > "Hence In our n v l d appreciation of of his sMll and the warmth of his heart > the value of George Latimer's faith and into carrying t o others the Glad-Tidwork, we gratefully recaU these salient ings he had received. His enthusiasm > events: development of n Iocal Bahh'i was unrestrsined. He would h a w the > community from the dms of the first whole world knuw of the Truth and > share with him the Priceless P t a r l he > pioneer teachers to the days of a world- had obtained. Disregardmg position, > wide BahL't religious socieb: cavacitv > to apprehend lthe social meanin; and r B , m h a r s haa.P M . ~a. > IN M E M O R I A M 513 > > wealth and even safety--which tradi- any preliminary ado plunge into a talk > tional and vested interests m his corn- oi thc Cause and give the Message. On > munity, apprehendmg the menace to onc occasion, five people were traveltheir strnnghnld implied in hic cham- log b a raaway car; m e , v n h m to > pionship of the Cause, were bound to the others, was a BahL'i. As they > threaten-he arose to demonstrate the passed a fadory which had been r e > truth o i the Cause with remarkable ccntly acquired by Mr. Mehta's father, > vigor. the talk turned to t h c family and the > Hc felt that the principles of the capacity of the sons to carry on the > Farth had but to be p r e s c n w to an vast Merests of the father. Mani came > audrence for its members to achowl- In ior his share of their comments. "He > cdge and accept their truth. Under such is all right, y w h o w , but he is so > an impression, he organized a public crazy. All his talk 1s about BahP'i". > lecture at Bombay where he invited Mr. d. S. Harper, who met Mr. Mehta > his former corellg~on~sts, the Zoroas on his Kashmir trip and participated > trims, to prove to them the validity of with him in h ~ teaching > s nctivitier; m > the claim of Bahi'u'IIBh t o be the that trip, writes irr his report: "Many > Prumise of a11 Ages. The meeting brokc English Bahb'is wrl1 know the great > up in confusion £or the majorlty of the N r . Mehta of Bombay, and of his fine > audience had come, not to listen, but and direct approach in teaching the > to oppose. The protection offered by a Cause. I. found him at my hotel after > few Bahi'ls and sympalhizers prevent- fEve days, havlng a k o mme for a holl- > 4 h~rn from falling a vrctim to the day from Bombay. It was no holiday > premeditated plan of assault on his per- though for Manl, for he had come soleson by the baser elements of the com- ly to set Srlsagar, the capital of Kashmunity who constituted a section of the mir, on 'fire' with the word Baha'i. I > crowd. was quickly to learn of his ambitious > &fore the intense, pers~stcntand or- and far-reaching plan and to learn to > ganized opposition which Mani Mehta my great surprlsc that I was to be a > had thereafter to face, a spirit less part of it. . .. > stout would have qunlled, but his did "We visited all sorts of people whom > not falter. His own relatives opposed I ncvcr knew existed, and from thc > him; thase within h i s ~mmediatecircle Prime Mlnister down; and we talkcd > of acquaintances called him bigoted; Bahi'i in cafes, in tongas and in the > those w~thoutthought him demented. street. We sought platforms a t several > But he went straight on in his path, schools and I helped to address the > swcrving neither to left nor right. Hrs girls at a convent a d the boys at a > attachment to the Cause was well ?em- Protestant school. . . . We gr~ntedand > onstrated d u r ~ n g this period. The distributed five thousand leaflets adstorms of trials that beat against him, vertising a public meeting. I had to > failed to subduc him. They tended but keep away from this, bcing subject to > to fan into a f ~ e r c e rblazc h ~ love > s for military law, but the high l c h t of this > the new Faith. Shortly after his en- experience was the Press Conference > ~*oIlmcnt,he r m i v e d a copy of The at the largest hoteI in Srinagar. All > Promised Day t s Come by our Guard- press delegates were present and also > ian. A study of its contents r a i d his sevcral Icading businessmen and > enthusmsm to fever pitch. He was in- schoolmasters. Mr MrRtn intrducpd > strumental in bringing out an cdition the meeting after tea and then called > in Bombay. He presented copies to the upon mc to outline thc principles of > eminent men in the country and re- the Cause, which I did in a talk lasting > ceived testimonies from a few a s to forty minutes. The meetimg was F;U+ > the greatness of the BahP'i Faith. cessful from the start and I would say > Mani Alehta's passion for s p e a h g to that 'tolerance' was the keynote of its > all, without exception, ahnr~tt h C~ m a r success." > 1s well known. To the general across In spite of f i t h e handicapx under > the bblc or the coachman whose car- which, due to his very position in life. > r ~ a g ehe has hired, he would without he had to labor, he was always m e r - > 514 T H E BAHA'f WORLD > > getie in service to the Faith. In fact, > the exuberance of feeling he had on > the matter often led him bo complain > nf b h ~11vv.r pmgTPcq we makine In > the Cause in this country, snd to suggest diverse ways and means for the > capture of the attenhon of the masses. > Mani Mehta went to Europe and the > Middle East during 1945 and he visitcd > the friends in London, Manchcstcr, > Beirut, Tlhrhn, Baghdjd and Egypt. He > was keenly dissppoloted that h e couId > not meet out beloved Guardian. He was > on the local Assembly of Bombay as > well as on the National Spiritual Assembly for two years, and was vicechairman of both these Assemblies st > the t ~ m eof his passing. > He was humble, and of a forgiving > disposition. He loved the truth and held > to it tcnaciouslv. He was frank and > simple. He was affable towards his s u b > ordinates. "We shan all be terribly cut > up if our m s t e r passes away," sobbed > hls chauffeur when Mani MeMa was > lying unconscious in the hospital. "He > never treated us who served him us > inferiors. Sometimes he used to get > angry with me and disclose to me what > was in his mind, and aornetirn~sit wee > the other way about. A t such times, > he would listen with patience and forbearance and never reply in a manner MEINMehta > as ~ remind me that I was his sub > ordinate." > A few passages from the press obit- ices, was awarded thc H.B.E. in 1945. > uary notices throat further light on his "Quiet and unassuming in manners > character. and abstemious in habits, Mr. Mani > "The death of Mr. Mani H. Mehta, Mehta had a genial disposition and was > eldest son of Sir Homi Mehta, the weU- charitably Inclined." > h o r n mdustrlalist, this morning fol- 04Mr. Mehta", writes the Bornbag > lowing injuries sustained in a motor SenhwT, "who leaves behind him a > accident on Tuesday removes a prom- w~dowand a daughter, was comparainent frgure from Bombay's business tively young, being only fiIty-two years > circles," writes The Evening News of d d , was wen-known in Bahi'l circles > India. It adds, "Mr. hlehta, after his of Bombay and other parts of India, > prl~~ratim jnined his father's busmens. for the active mterest he took 1n the > He was a partner in Mcssrs. H. M. movement. > Mehta and Co., and was a director of "Many journalists h e w him perthe MU Stores Trading (la. of Indla sonally, as a friendly, unpretentious and > Ltd., and several other companies. He humble man. In spite of the fact that > took keen interest in the Baha'i mow- h e was harnessed to multifarious busiment and was president of the BaM'i ness activities of his father, he always > Spiritual. Assembly of Bombay. He was remained a dreamy idealist, w3th an unalso associated wth the war effort and worldly look about him." > was Honorary Secretary of the Giftfta "Bombay lost one of its finest young > Fund, and in recognition of his serv- workers in the untimely and tragic > IN M E M O R I A M 515 > > death, aa a result of a motox accident, MAULVf KUI$AMMAD ' > of Mr. Mani H. Mehta,"' writes The 'ABDU'LLAX VAKfLl > Blitz on February 5, 1947. "Although > blessed with wealth, Mani was one of Ever since he accepted the Faith, > those few men of his claw who felt Maulvf M. A. Vakil was assiduous in > pain for the sufferin~sof the common its service. Simple in his ways, indif7 > people and worked towards their eman- ferent to worldly fame, detached from > cipation in m a n y different fields . . . . material things, he devoted the last > What really marked him out was Ms years of his llfe to teaching the Faith > honesb, independence, mnvictims- with a zeal that neither adversity, old > and the courage to implement those age nor infirmzties could diminish. Selfconvictions in his lite and work. A less and sfncere,his patienoe and percompetent organizer, convincing orator, severance were chiefly responsible for > writcr of rare literary merit. at home the formahon and consolidation of > equaIly in the business, social and several Assembl~es and grotlps in > splritua! world, Bombay will take long Rashmir. > to forget Mani Mehta." Despite the respect he mmmanded > And finally this warm trlbute from in his community by virtue of h i s > the pen o l a l i b r a r y figure in the lolowledge arra sinceA*, his letters > Rust Rahbat of February 9: to the National Spiritual Assembly > "Me- holds back the d m r and breathed a spirit d humility which was > I see your thin eager form oonsumed truly Bahl'i, and m a man of his age > by a m~ghtyfaith, courting persecution and position, worthy of remark. > and championlng a cause by which, Maulvi 'Abdu'llih VaM was indcfatiin a worldly sense, you had nothing gable in his labors for the Cause even > to gain and c v e r y t h i y to lcsc. . . > You hved your convictions. No man > .unto the last. His writings were constantly ,directed towards guiding his > can do more. Your faith was w i l e d dormer co-rel~gionists,thc QhdIyPnfs, to > as the stuff that dreams are made of, the truth. Among his published pambut yuu ware the stuff that martyrs plilets, lhe t e a l krlowrl ia Ille Maqbariyare made of. So to your home m the i-KbAnfyar. > falling daylight. . . . Maulvi 'Abdu'llbl~VakIl was takcn ill > "Your fine intelligence, your deep on the evening d the 9th of April, 1948 > capacity for hiendship, your warm a[- and on the morning of the 12th he > fiction and your social position, could passed away. The Guardian was inhave ensured for you a 11fC on velvet. formed of his passing and he replied > But ten years ago a great faith entered by cable: *'Grieve pnssing notable proyour ltfe. Then you could only perceive moter Faith Maulvi Vakil. Ardently > the heavens brightened and the mund praying progress his soul. Urge K a ~ h - > of a mshmg rn~ghty breath of fresh rnir friends persevere meritarious > a a that hUe$ all the world. Thence- labors." > forth life was f o r you no stage play As there was no Gulistan in S h g a r , > but a hard campaign. . . . You gave Maulvi Muhammad 'Abdu'llbh Vakil > u p all, sacrificed all, for what you was buried with BahB'i rites in his own > belleved to be a new civilisatirm of grounds at Srinagar. The friend5 a t > world-wide b r o t h e r h d of justice andSrinagar, and spedally Chaudhri > love," 'Abdu'l Rahman, are ra be thanked for > Mr. Mani Mehta attended the Na- the stea8fast stand that they took on > tional Spiritual Assembly meeting a t this matter and their reasoning which > Poona on the 26th of January, 1997. Icd the late Maulvi's wife arid son to > He presidcd at a public meeting in the agrec to such a burial. > Bombay BahB'i Hall on the 2nd of It speaks of the popularity oI our late > February when an editor of a local brother that in spite of his being an > Urdu paper spoke on the Cause. These avowed Baha'i, a group of the Lahore > were h ~ slast official acts for the Cause > 'BY lirs Netlwal Spddtual Assambw or iha > he loved so deeply and served so well. Bnhl'il cb I d l a . W l s t e n a M Burma. > 516 THE BAHA'f WORLD > > Ahmadlygrihs, the QAdiygnis of Srinagar leaves a gap which it will be hard to > and other Muslims as well as Hindus frll. HIS Ilfe will inspire other BahC'is > attended the burial ceremony. This in this country bo emulate hls examplt: > gave the BahB'is an opportunity to and serve the Cause with the same > speak on the oneness of religion and traits of selflessness, ardor and steadthe MessaRe of the Bah4'i F a ~ t h , fastness that Maulvi 'Abdu'llih Yakn > MaulvI 'Abdu'llAh Vakil's passing m conspicuously displayed. > > — *In Memoriam (Used by permission of the curator)*