Agnes Parsons

Agnes Parsons
Born	June 4, 1861 Burlington, New Jersey, USA
Died	January 23, 1934
NSA member	Bahá'í Temple Unity 1917 - 1918 1923 - 1925
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Agnes Royall Parsons, (June 4, 1861 - January 23, 1934) was a prominent Bahá'í of the 20th century who served in a variety of capacities including: providing accommodations and transportation for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's journeys in the West, philanthropy and contributions, and was assigned the task of founding the Race Amity Conferences.

Parsons was born in New Jersey, raised in the West during the 1870s while her father served in the US Army, and married Arthur Jeffrey Parsons 1887 shortly after her father moved back East ending his military service. On both her mother's side and husband's she was placed high in Washington DC society which her husband carried on through the Corcoran Gallery of Art, working in the Library of Congress and other associations. The couple often circulated with presidential cabinet members, prominent ambassadors, and were occasionally guests at presidential receptions and events. They had three children, with one dying in infancy. In 1908 at age 47 Parsons, already having been a Christian Scientist and her husband in New Thought, heard of the Bahá'í Faith and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, sought pilgrimage where she was confirmed, and returned to America March 16, 1910, in the company of Lua Getsinger. While she continued her DC society activities Parsons sponsored several students of the Persian Tarbiyat School and was an officer of the Persian-American Educational Society. She hosted 'Abdu'l-Bahá in her homes, speaking at receptions, in both Washington, DC, and Dublin, New Hampshire. However, while in close proximity to many groundbreaking interracial efforts of 'Abdu'l-Bahá she usually did not attend nor record such events as she did others, used to the segregation of society in the perception of several scholars. On the other hand, she was somewhat abused by at least one Persian seeking monetary assistance. Meanwhile she helped found a women's clinic.

In 1913 the Parsons removed to their Dublin home where soon Arthur died and it was revealed, in 2021 terms, they were millionaires with Parsons and kin being beneficiaries of inheritance. She then stayed out of the limelight until 1919. That year she offered a compilation of Bahá'u'lláh's writings at the national convention and went on a second pilgrimage during which 'Abdu'l-Bahá took action in light of the Red Summer events including as reported by Zia Bagdadi by asking Parsons to hold the first Race Amity Conference. Several scholars feel she was well positioned to attract attention to the positive engagement across race lines while not a leader in race issues. This came to be in May 1921 with the assistance of multiracial Bahá'í and non-Bahá'í advisors and committee of women. The initial conference was followed by successive events across years and locations and Parsons was named to the National Spiritual Assembly's Committee on Race Amity and the next year was herself elected to the National Spiritual Assembly at the age of 63. After a brief period of retirement, she was again appointed to serve on the National Assembly's committee on race issues though its various incarnations from 1927 until 1934. In 1932 she attended the national convention during which there was a fundraiser called in the name of the Greatest Holy Leaf at which she took off an expensive necklace as a donation from the floor, a deed remarked upon by both Bahiyyih Khanum and the Guardian.

Parsons was the victim of an automobile accident about 6pm on January 19, 1934, and died late on January 23. She was then a member of the DC Local Spiritual assembly, and Chair of the National Interracial Committee and a member of DC's own interracial committee.

The Race Amity’s committee report of 1934 to the national convention included the comment: "She was faithful to the end, passing in the maturity of her powers and in such a way as we hope may indicate her acceptance among the martyrs. May we not also hope that from the higher worlds her gentle spirit still encourages those who strive to make a better world of this?" A message was published signed by Shoghi Effendi: "Greatly deplore loss distinguished handmaid of Baha'u'llah. Though her manifold pioneer services she has proved herself worth of implicit confidence reposed in her by 'Abdu'l-Baha. Advise American believers hold befitting memorial gatherings. Assure relatives heartfelt sympathy, prayers." Memorials were held and her wishes included a bequest for properties entrusted to the National Assembly associated with 'Abdu'l-Bahá which were realized and dozens of Tablets to her and her kin were donated to the national archives.

A hospital today carries on the women's clinic she helped organize and fund and Race Amity Conferences were reborn under the National Center for Race Amity in 2011 and the centennial conference held in 2021.

Born and raised

Agnes Royall was born June 4, 1861, in Burlington, New Jersey, to William and Elizabeth Royall, during the American Civil War which broke out in April. They had married October 6, 1857. Her father had been serving in Texas when he was granted leave from June 1860 to February 1861, during which Agnes was conceived, and then he returned to service in Texas. After the breakout of the Civil War, he led a unit out from Texas to the Union side. Then he served in the Shenandoah Valley during the summer and fall of 1861, seeing action at Falling Waters, Martinsburg and Bunker Hill and then was part of the defenses of Washington, DC, during the winter of 1861-1862 following her birth. Agnes would be the only child of the Royalls.

Her father William had been born in Virginia April 15, 1820. He had joined the Missouri Mountain Volunteers in the Mexican-American War and was recognized for gallantry in Pueblo de Taos in 1848. In 1850 Agnes's future father was the oldest of six children living in Boone, then of the Missouri Territory, where his own mother owned a plot of land worth $2000 (in 1850). In 1870 when Agnes was about nine years old her father was stationed, perhaps without his family with him, then named Fort D. A. Russell, Laramie, of the Wyoming Territory, (now named Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.) In 1875 William transferred between the Fifth Cavalry and the Third, rising to Lieutenant Colonel, in the Department of the Platte, and was visible visiting in New York in March 1876, and leading part of the military campaign against the Sioux as part of the Battle of Little Big Horn in June. In July 1878 he took part in a fort inspection. June 7, 1880, Agnes was with her parents in Sarotoga, Nebraska, living with a white servant, and a soldier living in the home, himself born in Kentucky. William was a Colonel in the US Army. Her father and his parents were from Virginia and her mother was either born in New Jersey or Pennsylvania and then her father was born in New Jersey. They lived among many homes with soldiers including then Major Thaddeus Stanton.

William was promoted again in November 1882. By March 1884 William was stationed in DC, and was taking sick leave from August.

Marriage, DC life, and deaths of parents

At some point in her young life Agnes had been a Christian Scientist. While her father was sick on leave, the marriage of Agnes Royall, advertised as the niece of Admiral Howell, and Arthur Jeffrey Parsons of Boston was advertised. Arthur had been born to William and Georgiana Parsons on May 3, 1856. Georgiana had been born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When Arthur was 9 through 14 years old and the 5th child of the family, they were living with two servants from Ireland, in Brighton, Massachusetts. By 1880 Arthur was employed as a clerk while living at home with the Parsons family in Newton, Massachusetts, while his father had retired and an older brother employed.

Their honeymoon to Europe was itself still carried in the news back in Nebraska. She/they had lived in France and England some of 1887. In October 1887 Agnes' father William Royall retired on disability, and the first Parsons child, Royall, was born April 23, 1888. In September William Royall applied for military pension for service in the Mexican-American War.

In January 1889 a dinner party of the Parsons was noted in the DC news, and in January 1890 Arthur was a floor manager at a hospital benefit. In between Parsons had birthed a daughter Georgiana that lived only one year. Parsons herself was visible in December 1894 aiding at a social event. January 1895 Arthur assisted at another benefit, and in May was visible playing golf in local a newspaper. December 1895 Agnes' father William Royall died with a final promotion to Brevet General at 818 Eighth St NW at 75 years old.

In November 1897 Parsons served at a club event, and in January 1899 was visible at another club event of DC. In February the Parsons were visible at a ball. In the 1900 US Census listed the Parsons living with one son and a servant; Arthur had been employed as a government clerk. In April 1901 Parsons served in a social relief club event.

After a period of these occasional appearances in public, the next year Agnes or the couple were much more visible in DC society. In February Parsons was serving among a committee on tickets, programs and printing, for a society event. The following April Parsons was serving in a benefit, and in May Parsons was visible at a club meeting. That December the Parsons were again visible among the many at a major social event in DC. January 1903 the Parsons held a tea party for Bostonian visitors and others. That April Parson's mother died. Honorary pall bearers were John Witherspoon Williams, then Secretary of the Interior, General Andrew S. Burt, General George A. Forsyth and others. An inheritance was noted in May. A second surviving child, Jeffrey, was born in New Hampshire about July 1903.

Rising in society, Bahá'í pilgrimage

In January 1905 Arthur was recognized as a trustee of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which position continued some years, and Parsons' collection of block prints had been previous shown at the Gallery. Later Parsons would complement this focus with initiatives at the Library of Congress. In April her work of compiling engraving prints of plants by Gardiner Greene was published. In May Arthur was recognized as a new life member of the just organized DC chapter of the American Red Cross. A couple weeks later the Parsons were among an extensive list of White House guests. In November Arthur was listed on the control board of the National Society of Fine Arts.

In March 1906 Arthur was named a member of a committee presenting a forthcoming Corcoran exhibition. A week later Arthur was part of an initiative to accept a donation by Charles L. Freer to the Smithsonian. In April that Parsons were part of a diplomatic reception with American, Russian, and Norwegian attendees. A few weeks later Parsons was a patron of the of National New Thought Center.

During 1908 in an encounter, otherwise undocumented, Parsons heard of the Bahá'í Faith. That December came the next Parsons public appearance at a concert with Edith Roosevelt, wife of the president, several members of Congress, ambassadors attending as well as Herbert Putnam among the guests of the Parsons in particular. In January 1909 the Parsons were again on an extensive list of White House guests for a reception. In May Parsons was visible attending a recital with Alice Clifford Barney also among the many attendees. In September early Bahá'í Lua Getsinger was in correspondence with Parsons writing from New York but not able to wait until March to see her. In early December the Parsons were visible at a French embassy reception. A January 7, 1910, passport was issued to Parsons which she had filled out January 4, then living at 1818 N. St. DC with her husband, who was her primary witness on the application, and intended to return to the US within six months; the resulting passport was to be shipped to be received by Ahmad Yazdi in Port Said, Egypt. She went to Ottoman Syria January 5 to March 1910. Many years later Parsons spoke of this as her first Bahá'í pilgrimage experience in early 1910 - of seeking with curiosity and hope but annoyed at being made to wait. But on being admitted to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá "a beam of light shot from His eyes" and she fell to the ground. He helped her to her feet and sit down. The next day they visited the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and had another miracle. She felt confirmed in her faith. Parsons arrived back through New York on March 16, 1910, along with Getsinger and Dr. Fareed via France on the RMS Oceanic.

On the April 1910 US Census the Parsons family owned the home at 1818 N. ST NW. Arthur was employed at the Congressional Library. In DC society Parsons was described as occupied much with her "own immediate circle."

Parsons in society and Bahá'ís

That summer the Parsons were again visible in DC society at a diplomatic dinner with Latin American and European leaders. That fall Parsons sponsored her first Bahá'í student at the Tarbiyat school in Tehran, Iran. In November Arthur was in a reception with Cabinet members and associates, and European ambassadors, and again in mid-December, with guests from Baltimore coming up in January, 1911, at the Alibi Club and with Parsons with then President and Mrs. Taft as well. Meanwhile a cousin of Parsons performed in DC which she attended. Activity continued to pick up for the Parsons with Arthur visible at theatre with guests. Soon the Parsons were on a vacation in Dublin, New Hampshire.

In March Parsons renewed her scholarship for Tarbiyat School students. In April Arthur attended a dinner with Cabinet member and diplomats. A couple weeks later Parsons was noted as a patron for a Parsifal recital. A week later the Parsons were at a dinner with Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and others. In June Parsons was part of a Persian-American Educational Society meeting and served as one of the vice-presidents, and Parsons was one of many names listed with the area communities at a devotional meeting in honor of a member who was set to go to Iran to offer services. The organization continued to communicate its presence and action in the summer and fall. In November the Parsons hosted a fundraiser, to which the President's wife, Mrs. Taft, attended, encouraging many others to also support the initiative. In December the Parsons attended a social event in Baltimore. Again the Persian-American Society spoke up amidst the international tensions on the prospects for Iran, noting Parsons as an officer. The year closed out with Parsons hosting a "Tea" at which Alice Buckton read from her play Eager Heart to a small audience. In January 1912 the Parsons home hosted a series of lectures from the Women's Welfare Committee including a representative of the American Association for Labor Legislation, John J. Esch, and others. A couple weeks later the Parsons were among the guests of a small dinner including several congressmen and their wives, followed by another one in mid-February. And a couple weeks later Parsons was a patron of theatre. This was timed also with news of 'Abdu'l-Bahá coming to America and would give a talk to Persian-American Educational Association. In March the society's speaker Ahmad Sohrab continued to speak out against a western take on the situation of Iran. In April the Parsons home loaned their home ballroom for repeated benefits for a nursery.

'Abdu'l-Bahá in America

See 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Journeys in the West

Earl Redman listed Parsons among 35 of the “bright lights of Western Bahá'í history (that) had their lives changed by meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on His travels.” Several books and websites are dedicated to a close examination of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's stay in America.

After 'Abdu'l-Bahá's arrival in America there was correspondence between Edward Getsinger and Parsons in mid-April exchanging news of the successes in New York just before his trip to DC, though Parsons had written to Getsinger seeking clarification on when 'Abdu’l-Bahá would come to Washington. 'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in DC April 20 with bare notice to which a few Baha’is were able to be there to greet him - Parsons sent a horse-drawn carriage to be at his disposal, as well as the Parsons’ home over some initial reluctance on his part. He gave a talk on disasters and death at the Parsons’ home in DC being among his remarks about the sinking of the Titanic.

April 20 in the evening 'Abdu’l-Bahá spent a half hour talking with Parsons’ son Jeffrey and then accepted the suggestion of Arthur to look at the Library of Congress and looked around the rotunda as well as Parsons’ office. Parsons’ was worried how long the tour was to last, that the lights would be turned off, and on meeting Bernard R. Greene, Library Superintendent, he ordered the lights be left on for the tour. He also met Herbert Putnam, Librarian of the Library of Congress who was very impressed with him. The next day, what would be in Bahá'í practice Ridván, 'Abdu'l-Baha as reported in the newspapers several times attending a meeting with Bahá'ís Ali Kuli Khan, Mirza Sohrab, Hermann Schoenfeld and William Hoar. Parsons was listed as a patron among many of a Pennsylvania theatre. There was a review of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's talk in Washington, mentioning various names. 'Abdu'l-Bahá (pictured), was noted then going to the Persian-American Educational Society meeting, following which he was profiled in the newspaper.

After speaking at HBCU Howard University, also noted in the newspapers, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had a diplomatic sponsored luncheon and reception by the Khans, the charge d’affairs for Persia, at which Agnes and others were present including the then Turkish Ambassador as well as others of DC society. At the luncheon before the reception Abdu’l-Baha insisted that Louis Gregory join them and rearranged the table placements for Gregory to sit at his side. Parsons mentioned the incident in her diary but only generally and not the historic moment of placing a black man at the head of a table amidst white segregated society in DC. After the luncheon the reception hosted others including Admiral Robert Perry, Alexander Graham Bell. Juliet Thompson was present when 'Abdu’l-Bahá was introduced to Robert Perry and spoke of the astounding effort to find the North Pole and that there was nothing there to make much about.(p97-8) Parsons does note that on the evening of April 24 'Abdu'l-Bahá "went to a meeting of colored and white people at Mrs. Dyers and later to Mr. Alexander Graham Bell’s." That evening 'Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at the African American Bethel Literary and Historical Society complimenting the audience. Redman comments: “At that time, Washington was the most racially and socially mixed Bahá’í community in America, but it had deep racial unity problems” in that upper class Bahá’ís upheld the social norms of applied segregation and were afraid to host integrated meetings in their homes as were blacks of fears of insults and instances of treatment because of their skin color, or that if they simply remained segregated awkward situations would not arise. During the time of his stay at the Parsons, Arthur said, as reported by Redman, “he wished all the blacks would return to Africa, to which the Master{aka 'Abdu’l-Bahá} wryly replied that such an exodus would have to begin with Wilber, the trusted butler of the Parsons household.” In DC and the people coming to meet 'Abdu’l-Bahá at the Parsons' Juliet Thompson also saw old friends even from her childhood and from which came the opportunity of being invited to paint a portrait of Abdu’l-Bahá.

A few Bahá'í sources maintain that then ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, deep in a re-election campaign, came to the Parsons home to visit 'Abdu’l-Bahá on the evening of April 25. However, though he had planned to stop in DC on a trip north from Greensboro, North Carolina, April 23, his train did not in fact stop, and he planned to be on a tour across Massachusetts immediately following a brief rest in Oyster Bay.

April 26 'Abdu'l-Baha's met with the Daughters of the American Revolution and reception made the newspapers as his final talk in DC. April 27th there was a reception for 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Parsons home. 300 people attended with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and he held individual private meetings with many of them. Admiral Wainwright, then Secretary of the Treasury Lee McClung, and an unnamed member of the Supreme Court, were among those present. 'Abdu’l-Bahá called the guest Mrs. Sherman Niles as having Parsons as another mother. There was coverage after the reception.

In May Parsons was in reception line for a benefit held by Mrs. Taft.

For a time 'Abdu'l-Bahá was away elsewhere in America and the Bahá'ís from California wrote the Parsons of their desire to have 'Abdu’l-Bahá visit them. In the meantime 'Abdu’l-Bahá returned to DC May 8 at an apartment to which Parsons visited to leave flowers and chocolate sweets, and the next day and accepted her suggestion that he rest that day. The next day, May 10, Parsons joined 'Abdu’l-Bahá and some of his translators on a drive to the Capital and visited inside the building and then to the Washington Monument riding the elevator.

Parsons later invited 'Abdu’l-Bahá to her home while she was staying in Dublin, New Hampshire, and he agreed and left New York city joined at the last minute by Juliet Thompson. Around this time Redman mentions that 'Abdu’l-Bahá “remarked repeatedly on her(Parsons') spirituality”. When he arrived in Dublin he stayed three weeks at their home during which he only gave one public talk though many small gatherings were held He instructed only people who asked about the religion should be invited to meetings, since the environment was thick with the rich and high society in their summer retreats. She accepted a task from 'Abdu’l-Bahá to mention the religion to the father of Nancy Bowditch though warning her he would only laugh - results of this contact came later in life. On July 27 'Abdu’l-Bahá insisted on any bills related to his journey are his to pay, not accepting money from others. As the stay was seemed to be fitting into Dublin society well enough Parsons arranged for three meetings a week and later these became daily and some of these talks and meetings were recorded. The Hannens and Knoblochs came and were greeted on their arrival by 'Abdu’l-Bahá and Parsons at the train station and they talked about the travel schedules and if an airplane would be a good idea. One of the entertainment was playing golf on the lawn at which 'Abdu’l-Bahá remarked “It is customary in Persia to say…if many people attempt something, and one is successful, it will be said ‘He carried the ball.’ Today all of the women of the world are striving to raise the banner of equality and establish the fact that woman is the equal of man. But, God willing, the American women will ‘carry this ball’ and thus demonstrate that God has created all humanity equal.” On the arrival of a friend loaning her car for his use she remarked that she might inspire more thought that about automobiles and he said “One must often bring serious discussions through jokes, and then they will give happiness and rejoicing. Some people have frowns and are always serious. This is because of the narrowness of their thoughts. All should be openhearted and smiling.” and then later she remarked how she was dissatisfied with herself and 'Abdu’l-Bahá complimented her on her spiritual growth to recognize it. On another occasion people expected to hear about Bahá’u’lláh but instead 'Abdu’l-Bahá told many funny stories and jokes and got all the participants to add their own funny stories. Alice Breed wrote of the audiences being cold hearted too often. Some people in town warned others not visit lest they ‘fall in a trap’. A racially integrated audience was gathered August 4 and he spoke of the wedding plans of the Gregorys and the both white and black in the audience were much amazed. Another that was there was Charles McVeagh, brother of the Secretary of the Treasury but years later met Agnes Alexander who was astounded to hear he had already encountered the religion. Philip Tussing observed that all these interactions affected Parsons Later on driving past a heard of cows a rider joked about philosophers and 'Abdu’l-Bahá laughed so hard he got tired. One early morning 'Abdu’l-Bahá was seen walking the streets by Howard Colby Ives dictating a letter to a secretary when they came upon a man dressed shambly, perhaps homeless, and 'Abdu’l-Bahá took off his trousers in an alcove from under his robes and gave them to the man, and then continued their walk and dictation. August 14 'Abdu’l-Bahá attended a performance of John Linden Smith performance play and Nancy Bowditch played a part in it - he walked across some of the lawn and sat by a tree and after the play a line formed to greet him. August 15 he attended a reception at Raphael and Mrs. Pumpelly which again had the audience roaring amusement - two of their children later joined the religion and one married a black boxer, John Bates. At one day 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke with the black staff of a [lake club held at Parson's boathouse on the lake.

From there 'Abdu’l-Bahá went to Green Acre, by late August. In October Parsons was updated on 'Abdu’l-Baha’s travels in California.

Dr. Hollinger summarizes: "Her outlook and concerns were firmly rooted in the conservatism and elitism of the capital city's upper classes.” "On this subject, the silences of this diary are perhaps more telling than what is recorded. For example, there is scarcely a mention of any of `Abdu'l-Bahá's talks at the homes of Andrew Dyer and Joseph Hannen, both of which were sites of racially integrated meetings for the Washington, D.C., Bahá'í community, or at African-American venues, such as the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, presumably because Mrs. Parsons did not attend most of these events. Such activities were not part of the social world in which she lived. It is remarkable, then, that `Abdu'l-Bahá subsequently chose Agnes Parsons to spearhead the Racial Amity campaign initiated by the Bahá'í community and as remarkable that she transcended her social milieu in order to carry out this mandate."

When he eventually returned east, 'Abdu’l-Baha returned to Washington DC at which Parsons and the Hannens met him at the train early morning of November 6 and took him in her carriage to the house he rented then later for another drive around Washington. 'Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at the Eighth Street Temple Synagogue with Parsons in the audience November 8 which was a challenging presentation on Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, and the prophets to a Jewish audience - some left the meeting and many acted disturbed in the audience and even the Rabbi attempted to intervene at one point but the talk went on, and afterwards there were reports some thanked him for the talk and the next day the Rabbi greeted him with great kindness. Meetings were held at Parsons’ home and occasional drives in a carriage in one incident a window came loose and fell on Parsons from which she was not injured but nevertheless 'Abdu’l-Bahá blessed her three times for it. The last talk of the stay in DC, that evening, included these public comments recorded as a pilgrim note: “O ye revered people! I leave you in charge of Mrs. Parsons. Let her be your advisor. Just as I have been kind to you, she will be kind to you. She will be tender to you. As she is a very busy person, she will not be able to associate and meet with you as often, but she can be looking after you. She can think of you and exercise kindness toward you. And bear testimony to the effect that she is ideally kind; and you must be most grateful for having such a benefactress to your city.” recorded by Marion Haney.

December 3 Parsons joined a group in New York attending 'Abdu'l-Bahá who pointed out that Parsons and Grace Krug should become friends and correspond. On the 5th Parsons joined in a car trip to see the Cedric which was to take 'Abdu'l-Bahá away from America.

Though the timings are unclear, Dr. Fareed had asked for money from Parsons and Phoebe Hearst during 'Abdu'l-Bahá journeys in America and eventually such tensions led to his and his father's expulsion from the religion.

Parsons and DC elite

After hosting 'Abdu'l-Bahá in her homes she was said to be more forthright in presenting the Faith in her social circle and hosting traveling speakers. Parsons assisted in ball a couple days after 'Abdu'-Bahá left the US. She had also already committed to hosting a dance for a newlywed in a few more days, who's guest list included the Tafts and many leaders in government, and would host a recital in a series later. A week later the Parsons attended a theatre dedication, and then Arthur attended a New York based exhibition. Closing out the year there is mention of the Parsons at a diplomatic dinner.

January 1913 opens with mention of Parsons attending a New Year eve concert at the Corcoran, and a week later the Parsons attended another diplomatic dinner, and then another given by the then Secretary of Commerce and Labor. The Parsons then hosted a meeting of their own on DC art and general development in the city. amidst which a dispute arose about the Lincoln Memorial which was brought back to Parsons' home for followup. After that Parsons herself was visible hosting recitals across into February, and then hosting a social dinner while recitals were attended to elsewhere. Closing out February there is mention of Arthur hosting a diplomatic event with the DC Chamber of Commerce and at which the British Ambassador James Bryce spoke. A couple weeks later the Parsons hosted a demonstration of organized playground games and a talk on charitable work going on int he city. Closing March and into April was notice of Parsons patronage of, and hosting recitals. In mid-April the Parsons attended a social dinner with Franklin D. Roosevelt, and many others. Arthur was next visible in later May being named joining club who met at a YMCA. Later May Arthur was then named assisting a committee on improvements to some city roads that would be introduced to Congress for passage. A week later Parsons hosted a committee on the same issue following a philanthropic event. In early June the British Ambassador used their Dublin home for a vacation. Late in June Arthur was part of a Chamber of Commerce announcement for a "vocational bureau” which would provide free training if the funding were found - a project separate from the school system or the YMCAs.

War Years

All mentions of diplomatic and leading government figures in social events with the Parsons disappeared. In July the Parsons themselves used their Dublin home for the summer. Months go by without found mention of the Parsons until in November Parsons herself was noted sponsoring three students, including one girl, in Tarbiyat School then under the management of Dr. Susan Moody. Then Arthur was noted in December hosting a committee on Washington development and book, which closed the year.

In April 1914 a Woman's Clinic benefit has Parsons as treasurer. Again most of a year goes by when it was mentioned in October that the Parsons had leased out their DC home. Again a gap passes in found mentions until Parsons work as treasurer of the Women's Clinic again surfaces in January, 1915. In February Arthur was mentioned for the incorporation of the Ellen Wilson Memorial Homes, named after the first wife of President Wilson, which an affordable housing project, herself known for intervening in black housing challenges. For Parsons' part she was still focused on the Women's Clinic which had expanded its services and its network of support. The Committee on the development of Washington DC published a book and an excerpt of comments of Ambassador Bryce had at the Parsons home was published in August. In September the Maryland state government was seeking the condemnation of the Parsons' property in Baltimore to be used for a state armory. A letter from Lua Getsinger of September 26 pointed out a network of leading women in America who were to have assistants - Parsons, assisted by Charles Mason Remey, for DC, Mrs. Goodall assisted by the Ralstons and Mrs. Cooper for the West Coast, Mrs. Krug assisted by the Kinneys for New York, and Corinne True for Chicago to be assisted by Dr. Zia Bagdadi. This practice is no longer used. In October Arthur was mentioned recalling the Mrs. Wilson housing initiative, and then Parsons was mentioned among the patrons of Women's Clinic which was now in a larger facility and associated with the Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Arthur Parsons died

Having retreated from most public activity since 1913, news came in October 1915 that the Parsons were delayed leaving their Dublin, New Hampshire home back to DC by reason of an illness of Arthur's. He died in November. Obituaries began to appear - Arthur was a division head in the Congressional Library after fifteen years of service, father of two sons. Further memorializations and the funeral were held. The estate, worth some $350,000 in 1915, settled by mid-November, would be over $9 million in 2021 dollars. Parsons would receive $3000 immediately, ($80000 in 2021 dollars,) and be the primary beneficiary of a trust to grant her income the rest of her life along with various gifts and income for their kin. Elections replaced Arthur on the Corcoran Gallery Art board in December. The estate trustee was noted handling its future investing. Three years would pass before Parsons was visible noted as a guest at a reception of Women's Clinic in March 1918. In March 1919 Parsons and son Jeffrey were guests at a hotel in DC. In April Parsons was visible as a charter supporter of the Washington chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Progressive Education with Stanwood Cobb as secretary. Parsons offered quotes of Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings as known then for the April-May Bahá'í 1919 national convention.

1920 Pilgrimage

Parsons applied for a passport August 22, 1919, to go to what was still Ottoman Syria (which then included Palestine as part of the Ottoman Empire). She anticipated sailing September 20. She was 5'5", brown hair and eyes. She submitted a testimonial about why she was going which was a summary of the "Bahai Movement"(sic). She refers to the Declaration of the Báb in 1844, persecution, and execution in 1850. Then there is mention of Bahá'u'lláh being a noble of Persian society and joining the Bábí religion. Bahá'u'lláh in turn "excited the animosity of the priests" and was imprisoned, exiled and ended up eventually in Acca. She then quotes 'Abdu'l-Bahá saying "the people sent to the prison usually died in a few months, but our spirits were never imprisoned, so we lived." She highlights that through all this Bahá'ís obeyed the laws of the countries they lived in. She mentions Bahá'u'lláh sending letters to rulers of the world advocating international agreements and peace. She remarks on the inclusive nature of Bahá'í practice, of not repudiating "former loyalties" and all the religious founders are of the same kind of guidance and mission. At the same time, she observes that Bahá'í practice is "conservative" about "not in sympathy with the breaking down of all degrees and distinctions between men as taught by radical thinkers." She was submitting for four passports to Syria. Corinne True is the next application. Corrine attached a letter asking Edna True and Catherine Hooper who were in France to come along and refers to being "summoned" by "His Eminence Abdul Baha Abbas” anticipating a conference on the building of the Bahá'í House of Worship as well as the publishing trust under her purview via being on the Baha’i Temple Unity acting as Treasurer. Corrine was seeking to sail September 9. There is an inclusion of an article by Jean Mason explaining the understanding of the Bahá'í Temple.

A pilgrim note of Parsons' experience on pilgrimage was published in Star of the West for the American community in November 1920 gathered when she was in Haifa in about February. In later May Parsons and son Jeffrey hosted Fazel Mazindarani who also mentioned a return from pilgrimage. Parsons hosted Mazandarani at 1818 N St, NW, while he gave talks at various locations in town.

While it was not mentioned publicly at the time, when she went on her second pilgrimage 'Abdu’l-Bahá told her to organize a race amity conference which in her circumstance of privilege in segregated DC society which Redman described as deeply “tradition-breaking”. Given Parsons' social norms in DC society, Redman comments: “It is remarkable then, that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá subsequently chose Agnes Parsons to spearhead the Racial Amity campaign initiated by the Bahá’í community and just as remarkable that she transcended her social milieu in order to carry out this mandate.”

Mother of Race Amity Conference

Main article: Mother Race Amity Conference

During and after WWI racial tension had risen into violence in a period generally known as the Red Summer. Zia Bagdadi experienced some of these events himself and reported of them to 'Abdu'l-Bahá during a pilgrimage who then spoke of worse developments if nothing is done. The US national leadership invited Bahá'ís to consult on the issue including Louis Gregory, Joseph Hannen, Zia Bagdadi and others. 'Abdu'l-Bahá then asked the Bahá'ís to raise the Race Amity Conferences as a public good. 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote a letter initiating a public conference. He called for a series of well publicized interracial meetings and topics. He had already appointed Agnes Parsons to lead the first one which was to be held in DC. He chose her because of she was a willing if reluctant leader. She was on pilgrimage when she heard this command given to her: "I want you to arrange in Washington a convention for unity between the white and colored people." This was not anticipated by Parsons in the least - though she had led various programs of action she had no prior experience in race relations. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá then advised Agnes Parsons to ask for assistance. 'Abdu'l-Bahá confirmed it with a message via Mountfort Mills - "Say to this Convention that never since the beginning of time has one more important been held. This convention stands for the Oneness of Humanity; it will become the cause of the removal of hostility between races; it will be the cause of the enlightenment of America. It will - if wisely managed and conducted - check the deadly struggle between these races which otherwise will inevitably break out.” Dr. Richard Walter Thomas says: "She wasn't the most progressive person, she wasn't a Jane Addams, she wasn't a radical white woman." and Dr. Louis Venters adds "The call for blacks and whites to come together for a new effort to abolish prejudice needed to come from a well-to-do white person, not from African Americans who could easily be sidelined and disregarded."

Parsons' felt moved to the action and began a mantra of "I will, I must." Gregory confirmed the choice. Her prominence brought in a broader connection of society than those already convinced there ought to be racial cooperation. She first consulted Louise Boyle who arranged a meeting of former Senator Moses Clapp and he advised political extremism and alienation with protests be avoided and instead focus on positive influences. She asked for Gregory's advice who spoke of a change in heart, of moving the audience with the power of spiritual love, was the only way to succeed. He recommended the event also be held soon and to be a direct presentation. She also consulted with the DC Bahá'ís administrative institution. Black and white women formed a committee assisting Parsons - three other white women who were all Bahá'ís, one black Bahá'í woman, and one non-Bahá'í black woman - Gabrielle Pelham, Louise Boyle, Miriam Haney, Martha Root, Coralie Cook. It was set for May 19-21, 1921, at the First Congregational Church, historically known for opposing segregation, found by General Olive Otis Howard. 19 social leading ladies became patrons of the event. Gregory was also given a leadership role who, with Agnes Parson, led the planning - both fervent Bahá'ís, the former well-grounded in the history of issues and the other in prominent in white society of Washington DC, to lead the effort. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had been aware of the problem for many years and the threat of violence. Preparation extended into months.

Amongst the gathering efforts for the Race Amity conference, in April 1921 Parsons joined Stanwood Cobb on the executive committee for the education association for which Arthur Morgan was elected president. Also a niece of Parsons who was staying with her left for Dublin in early May.

May 15 advertising and news coverage of the Race Amity conferences began to appear including being co-sponsored by the Bahá'ís and some mention was made of Parsons publicly.

The event was held at the First Congregational Church of Washington. Louis Gregory produced a report of events and his appreciations including mentions of Rev. Jason Nobel Pierce, former senators Moses E. Clapp, and Samuel M. Shortridge, businessman Charles Lee Cook, then Howard University professor Dr. Alain LeRoy Locke, then serving congressman Martin B. Madden, national Bahá'í leader William H. Randall, George William Cook of Howard University and the NAACP, Howard University professor Coralie Franklin Cook, national Bahá'í leader Roy C. Wilhelm, leading scholar of the Bahá'í Faith Fádil Mazandarání, and then Lt. General Nelson A. Miles, then head of the American Army, and music programs arranged by Howard University director of music Gabrielle Pelham, and the university's dean of music Lula Vere, a period of rare presentation of black music shared with a white audience. 19000 programs were published and circulated and was reported to have been supported by then President Warren G. Harding. The act of the amity conference has been considered an example of Dr. Richard Walter Thomas' "The Other Tradition". 'Abdu'l-Bahá's response to the conference was: "The white-colored Convention produced happiness. Hoping will establish same in all America.” 'Abdu'l-Bahá termed it the "mother convention" of the movement.

The DC Bahá'í community observed the centenary of the conference initiative.

Post-Mother Race Amity Conference

The rest of 1921 is relatively unmarked by Parsons' mention though she would have taken part in the observances of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá between November and December, and the announcement of the appointment of the Guardian. Her next known mention comes early May 1922 when she was listed as a patron at a benefit. The following September son Jeffrey was visible going to college.

Successive race amity conferences took place in 1922, 1923, and sparked a discussion group led by Coralie Cook and Parsons in DC while further amity conferences were held in Springfield, Massachusetts, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Detroit, Pittsburgh, as well as small communities elsewhere across the 1920s and 1930s, and in 2011 NCRA committed to holding annual conferences again.

In March 1923 Parsons was part of a committee for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, as it was then organized, who, with Louis Gregory and Mariam Haney offered a compilation covering how the Bahá'í Faith is organized including recent statements of the Guardian from March 1922 and was published in Star of the West. By 1924 Parsons had taken residence in Dublin, and made a trip to visit Green Acre in August 1924. That year Parsons was also elected to the National Assembly, at the age of 63, serving 1924-1925. She was not elected to the national assembly at the convention of 1925. Parsons also resigned from the National Assembly's Teaching Committee for the Southern States and was replaced by June. That December Parsons hosted talks by Mary Hanford Ford in her home among other engagements of Ford in DC. In January 1927 Parsons was appointed to the National Assembly's Committee on Race Amity as chair. The committee drew up letters to assemblies calling for amity conferences which some had already done, including Philadelphia, Toronto, Yonkers, Geneva, Urbana, and one forthcoming in Boston, and more agreed. Meanwhile most of the committee was helping the DC assembly with their planned conference and looking forward to one in July at Green Acre. By November the committee summarized these activities:

• The national meeting held at Green Acre that summer of 1927 followed by supplemental meetings.
• Washington DC on November 10 & 11, chaired first day by Coralie Cook, with talks by Albert Vail, Dr. Mordecai, W. Johnson of Howard University, and then the next day chaired by Albert Vail and talks by Leslie Pinckney Hill of Cheyney and Siegfried Schopflocher with other participants.
• There was a meeting in Boston Nov 27 chaired by W. H. Randall and talks by John Herman Randall, William Stanley Braithwaite followed by monthly meetings.
• December 1927 the committee issued a letter addressed to all assemblies encouraging the work and gave advise to communities. Bahá'ís were encouraged to sponsor or co-sponsor meetings where there was an atmosphere of activity on the topic.
• A meeting was held January 22, 1928, in Chicago chaired by Albert Vail, with speakers Eustace Haydon of the University of Chicago, Gregory, and Rabbi Louis Mann.
• The Chicago and Wilmette Assemblies had also appointed committees and planning on meetings with some cooperation between them at which Ruhi Effendi had spoken though the event itself seems unadvertised. He was in the area around early to mid-February 1928 on his way west from California to the East coast.
• February 11-2 there were three events at a meeting in Montreal with chairs May Maxwell, Rev. Lawrence Clare MA, and Charles Este with speakers MP Agnes McPhail, Louis Gregory, May Maxwell, George Spendlove.
• February 14 in Philadelphia a meeting was held led by Coralie Cook.
• The New York city Bahá'í assembly appointed its own race amity committee who had scheduled a meeting for February 23 inviting Henry B. Duncun to talk of conditions in Liberia.
• A talk by one of the committee members had been given in Portland, Oregon.
• An Inter-racial committee had formed in Youngstown, Ohio, with only two members knowledgein able of the Faith. In 1928 Parsons was again named chair of the Race Amity Committee That year Doris McKay interviewed Parsons with Louis Gregory in Geneva, New York. She asked them what kind of love they thought highest: they answered in ways seemingly opposite to their demeanor, Parsons was known as formal but said she wanted personal love while the warm, personal, Gregory said he wanted universal love saying "It's safer”.

In 1929 there was a letter of Race Amity Committee published in the Baha'i News summarizing Race Amity meetings:

• Race Amity meetings had been held at Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, Montreal, Geneva, Wilmette, Urbana and Green Acre across 1928-9.
• The Green Acre meeting in particular was held in support of the Plan for Unified Action which marked the beginning of a singular national budget of the community coming into practice instead of each project having its own budgets people gave to directly, and two members returning all funds allotted for the work back to the national budget towards furthering the erection of the Temple.

In 1929 Parsons served as a member, no longer chair, of the Interracial Amity Committee now chaired by Louis Gregory. The committee carried on most of its consultations via correspondence. Early in the business year of the committee the Milwaukee assembly hosted a speaker to reach out the leadership of the black community to build towards a future amity conference across several days. The Green Acre conference was held in summer and profiled. This was followed by another conference in Portsmouth, NH under Mrs. Henry l. Green assisted by the Assembly. Chair was Rev William Safford Jones and speakers included Gregory, Eleanor Sawtelle, Engign Fox, and Philip Marengella. In mid-May Leila Payne of Pittsburg remained in the Wilmette area assisting their race amity meeting after the convention. The Spiritual Assembly of Philadelphia held a conference of three sessions. At the first was led by Rev John R, Logan, and then Jessie E. Revell, Gregory and Vail spoke. Gregory led the second at which a representative of the United Center of Truth spoke, and Vail spoke. The third was chaired by Herbert E. Felton, and Vail and Gregory spoke. The Spiritual Assembly of Boston held two public meetings with Sadie Oglesby and Mrs. Walter Coristine spoke. Communities in California in Los Angeles and San Francisco had organized race amity committees along with Portland Oregon. Springfield IL had been opposed but found an outlet. The Cleveland community had held amity meetings at the Alexander and Mrs. Martin home in February to which Gregory spoke. Russell and Mrs. Brooker of Akron Ohio held two meetings which were followed by a luncheon offered by local prominent African Americans. Youth in New York built contacts among people of color and other nationalities and held weekly meetings at the Baha'i Center, plus an additional meeting at the home of Charles & Mrs. Philips in Harlem and then on March 8 a concert was put on. Activities took place in Chicago and DC, Pittsburgh, and Columbus, Ohio. The committee also wrote a letter to Mrs. Herbert Hoover encouraging contact with the family of black representative Oscar DePriest after others had spoken ill of her.

In 1930 the US Census had Parsons living at the 1818 address, living along and owning a home estimated value of $20,000, (over $325K in 2021.) Several black families lived next up the street one direction and white the other direction. In July 1931 Parsons received marginal support for election to the national assembly at the convention - she was 70 years old.

1932

At the age of 71 years old there was another marked series of moments in the life of Parsons. It began in DC in earlier November, 1931, because a couple of advertised events took place with Root: a her talk on WJSV radio and at a church late in the month, by February Parsons accompanied Root visiting dignitaries and diplomats. By the late-April/early-May National Bahá'í Convention Parsons spoke up during the consultation about race amity by underscoring 'Abdu'l-Bahá's talk at Howard University - that each side of the race question had to undertake: whites had to show kindness and acknowledge equality and the blacks had to show appreciation and gratitude. It was also known that Parsons was executor of Bahá'í Marie Watson's estate who saw to it that the report of her pilgrimage in 1921 was published. Parsons removed a valuable necklace at the convention at a call in the name of the Greatest Holy Leaf to contribute to the fundraising, an act singled out by Shoghi Effendi: "The expressions of zealous enthusiasm and hope, of genuine self-abnegation and love that the American believers and especially our precious sister Mrs. Agnes Parsons demonstrated in their last Convention meeting have greatly brightened the closing days of her life. Shoghi Effendi trusts that her memory will increasingly serve to cheer and hearten the friends in their ever-widening activities." These actions also was reflected in the newspaper coverage.

Death

Parsons died after another two years of no known newspaper or Bahá'í related coverage. She was the victim of an automobile accident about 6pm on January 19, 1934. This was followed by serious illness and she died late on January 23. She was then a member of the Washington DC Local Spiritual Assembly, Chair of the National Interracial Committee, and a member of DC's own interracial committee.

A message was published signed by Shoghi Effendi: "Greatly deplore loss distinguished handmaid of Baha'u'llah. Though her manifold pioneer services she has proved herself worth of implicit confidence reposed in her by 'Abdu'l-Baha. Advise American believers hold befitting memorial gatherings. Assure relatives heartfelt sympathy, prayers." Obituaries were published in Baha'i News, and memorials held variously in the institutional region of the Bahá'ís which included Canada and the United States. Another letter communicating more from Bahá'ís in Palestine about Parson's death was also sent; it was noted her death was near unto the time of the death of Keith Ransom-Kehler a few months before and underscored her personal devotion which was trusted. She was buried next to Arthur and ultimately both sons.

Posthumous

She supported national and local Bahá'í funds amidst charitable deeds. There was an anticipated bequest from Parsons on some real estate that would expand the assets of the National Assembly beyond a million dollars. which was confirmed in April 1935. The Race Amity’s committee report of 1934 to the national convention said "She was faithful to the end, passing in the maturity of her powers and in such a way as we hope may indicate her acceptance among the martyrs. May we not also hope that from the higher worlds her gentle spirit still encourages those who strive to make a better world of this?"

The bequest didn't completely settle the matter of the Dublin house - there was a letter along these lines but not an alteration of the will. The Bahá'ís of DC, via Leona Barnitz, requested information on the history of Agnes Parsons in 1935 on her service and properties to the Faith. Leona Barnitz had served as Parson’s secretary in the late 1910s to 1920s. Parsons had made alternations to her diary anticipating it might be made public. Parsons' Dublin home did become a Bahá'í property in trust by 1936. Barnitz contributed 51 Tablets to Parsons from her papers to the national archives plus original translations and a further 6 to other members of her family.

Biographer Doris McKay profiles Parsons' life: "Looking back over her life, the earlier experiences at the Shrines, the setting aside of her early patterns to be a Bahá'í, the acceptance of an overwhelming task, the dedication of her later years to detailed responsibilities, one grasps the meaning of 'Abdu'l-Baha's words - "God has elected you and led you to the Kingdom of Abhá.' McKay also commented on her "inherent dignity", "never familiar, certainly never demonstrative, yet beyond externals".

Bahá'ís gathered in 1975 in the Parsons home in DC where 'Abdu'l-Bahá had spoken to help initiate a plan goal of the Five Year Plan. The goals given to the DC assembly included: make the DC assembly secretariat full time position, that the community send 9 pioneers, that it publish a regular newsletter, develop regular classes for children, triple the size of the community, increase radio and television for proclamation, and use press and niche environments.

Another site in Dublin became the property of the National Assembly in 2005: the Dublin Inn.

Publications

• Agnes S. Parsons (1996). Richard Hollinger (ed.). ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in America: Agnes Parsons' Diary, April 11, 1912-November 11, 1912, Supplemented with Episodes from Mahmúd's Diary. Kalimat Press. ISBN 978-0-933770-91-1. OCLC 33899227.