Albert Schwarz
Albert Schwarz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 14, 1871 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
| Died | January 13, 1931 Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
| NSA member | Germany & Austria, 1922 - 1931 |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Schwarz-Solivo |
Albert Schwarz (December 14, 1871 - January 13, 1931) was an early German Bahá'í. He served the Faith on the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria as Chairman, and in his career served as a Councillor of Commerce and as Consul of the Kingdom of Norway in Germany.
Background[edit]
Albert and his wife Alice first heard of the Bahá'í Faith in 1912 when they met Edwin Fisher,a German migrant to the USA, who returned to Germany after learning about and accepting the Baha'i Faith there.He settled in the Stuttgart region of Southwest Germany.Many years later he again settled in the USA.
Albert extended an invitation for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to visit Stuttgart during his tour of the West in 1913, which was accepted, and Albert was able to meet with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá daily for the duration of his visit. During his visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the Pleidelsheim hydroelectric power station which Albert had founded in 1909, and a Bathhouse which Albert had established in Bad Mergentheim, a town about 60 miles from Stuttgart.[1]
A memorial of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's visit was erected in Bad Mergentheim in 1916. The memorial was removed by the Nazis in 1937, and was not replaced until 2007.[2]
Shoghi Effendi invited Albert to Haifa in 1921, shortly after the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Albert and his wife travelled to Haifa in 1922.[3]
Albert was elected as the inaugural Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria when it was established in 1922, and served on the body as Chairman up until his passing.
Shoghi Effendi cabled the following to his widow after his passing:
INEXPRESSIBLY SAD PROFOUNDLY DEPLORE PASSING GERMANYS OUTSTANDING BAHA'I PIONEER WORKER. MEMORY HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IMPERISHABLE. GREATEST HOLY LEAF JOINS ME ASSURANCE AFFECTIONATE PRAYER HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES. SHOGHI.
Further Reading[edit]
- 2018 - Konsul Albert Schwarz: Bankier, Bürger & Bahai in Stuttgart und Bad Mergentheim by Guido Ettlich
References[edit]
- In Memoriam article, Baha'i World, Vol. 4, pp. 264-266
Notes[edit]
- ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97880792
- ↑ http://news.bahai.org/story/524/
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 377. View as PDF.
