2012
Biography: Edward & Carrie Kinney
‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave the early New York Bahá’ís Edward (1863-1950) and Carrie Kinney (1878-1959) names that reflected specific virtues: Edward was named “Saffa” (rock, serenity) and Carrie became “Vaffa” (certitude, fidelity). Later on they also received the title “pillars of the […]
2012
Biography: Helen & Ella Goodall
It was during the summer of 1898 that Mrs. Helen Goodall and her daughter Ella learned of the Bahá’í Faith from a friend who was attending Lua Getsinger’s classes on the Faith at the home of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. Before Mrs. […]
Biography: Thornton Chase
Thornton Chase was designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as “the First American believer”. He was the first to embrace the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in the West after following a friend’s recommendation to meet Ibrahim Kheiralla, a Lebanese immigrant who claimed that God […]
2012
Biography: Lua Getsinger
I find the personal histories of the early believers fascinating as they inform us about historical events which are unique to a particular epoch. Above and beyond this historical value, the stories provide us with inspiration and solace during times […]
Hájí Mírzá Haydar-‘Alí and Joy During Suffering
In a quest to learn more about the Baha’ís in Egypt during the time of the Master’s travels I stumbled upon Stories for the Delight of Hearts, the memoirs of Hájí Mírzá Haydar-‘Alí. The connection is tenuous: Hájí Mírzá Haydar-‘Alí was […]
2012
An Unexpected Beginning
On April 11th 1912 the steamship Cedric arrived on the shores of New York City, marking the beginning of ‘Abdul-Bahá’s historic travels in the United States. Moved by the “outburst of systematic and sustained activity[1]” by the Bahá’ís residing in […]