Coverage of the Bahá’í Faith in Charlotte, North Carolina

Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in Charlotte, North Carolina covers more than a century of mentions. It begins with isolated mentions of the religion from affar - from New York in the early 1900s - followed by oppositional coverage in 1911, and then on to more positive if still from a distance ranging from 'Abdu'l-Bahá through to mention of the House of Worship, and Palestine. The 1940s mark a transition to including more local mentions with the arrival of the Greensboro community. The first Bahá'í to live in Charlotte comes mentioned in 1954-5: Philip Breitenbucher, who was a psychologist working with the school system. It uncertain when he left but the Curwin family moved into Charlotte in 1955 who had been Knights of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahamas. They were covered in news reports more often from around 1958 forming the first Spiritual Assembly along with the Edmonstone family who had lived nearer Asheville but moved to Charlotte. In addition there was African-American Coretha Lovell (kin of the Flack family.) There were regularized public meetings and there were also more frequent traveling speakers on the religion coming through. World Religion Day and other Bahá'í events brought interfatih activities, Race Unity Day brought race issues in a friendly atmosphere, along with Bahá'í specific events like Naw Ruz, conferences, and the like. Along the way more and more individuals are named, sometimes with their own activities - working for schools systems, actors, and pioneers from elsewhere or from the local areas to far off regions. By 1981 there were approaching 200 Bahá'ís in Charlotte itself, and over 500 in the urban areas around it, and there have been Centers used by the community.

Early 1900s before forming a Spiritual Assembly

Before there was a sustained community of Bahá'ís in Charlotte the local newspapers, including The Charlotte Observer and the later merged The Charlotte News did have early mentions of the religion if mostly from a distance. Later would come the first mentions of the Bahá'ís explicitly in the African-American The Charlotte Post in the available collection which is missing most editions between 1931 and 1971, missing the era of the founding of the community and first decade of the assembly, and what has been made available by a partnership with Johnson C. Smith University.

Sporadic and at a distance usually

Though relatively late in American and even North Carolina mentions, the first mention in Charlotte yet found on Bahá'í history is a piece mentioning the split of Kheiralla from 'Abdu'l-Bahá in May 1901, (after their return from the first pilgrimage of the West - see coverage via Lua Gestsinger for example and supplemental information from Howard MacNutt. Indeed New York Bahá'ís would again be mentioned in Charlotte coverage in December 1907 with the incorporation of their first spiritual assembly.

Ten years would go by when there was a brief mention in 1911 of the "Home Mission" of women in opposition to immigrant religions including the Bahá'ís. After objecting to Muslim presence, Bahá'ís are mentioned next:"The Babists and Bahaists hold their meetings regularly in several cities." This was followed by mention of the seemed-alarming presence of Buddhists, Hindus, Confucius-followers, before returning to the subject of "Babism" noting in 1906 some 1280 Bahá'ís and 24 communities (called "places of wohrship") in America and even foreign Christian groups. The tone was less sharp but in the same vein as a KKK newspaper of the 1920s, The Fiery Cross, which had an entry mentioning "Bahaists and Babist" from New York.

In late February 1912 there was mention of 'Abdu’l-Bahá arriving in America echoed from the Boston Herald covering a bit over a full column on page 4 albeit in friendly coverage reviewing the oppression in Persia to arriving in Akka, the universal principles of the religion and uniting peoples of the East, weekly meetings of the Boston Bahá'í community, the trip to America and the approach of friendly spirituality. However there is as yet no further coverage found of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's western journeys.

Skipping almost a decade, in July 1920 a model of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette was pictured in an article about it to be built in Chicago, plus another in New York through the estate of George Gray Barnard. Nothing is known yet of Barnard's attempted of founding of a House of Worship. But for the first time we have a second mention of the religion in the same year - in November the Charlotte Branch of Southern Association of College Women hosted a program on new religions and "Miss Terry will give the views of the Bahaists, and Mrs. Wilson will describe the new Bahai (sic) Temple in Chicago." It remains unknown who Miss Terry and Mrs. Wilson were and how first hand their knowledge of the religion was - perhaps just a visit to the Temple area as it was early in construction.

Now a decade or almost later the next mention related to the religion came in December 1, 1921, with the obituary message of the death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, echoed in late December again along with mention of a new book by Horace Holley. This was followed in late January 1922 with the short lived attempt at division by publication of claims of half-brother to leadership in the religion which did not succeed - see Covenant.

While the pace of articles had grown it remained largely in the distance when in November 1928 came mention of Bahá'ís in Palestine, and in 1930 came an update on the progress on the Bahá'í Temple, and then mention of it in the context of many construction projects going on.

1933 was a breakthrough year of relative activity although of cross-currents of good news mixed with bad. In February came coverage of the murder of US Consul to Iran because a mob thought he was a Bahá'í. Now comes another local mention when in March another women's club meeting with the Bahá'ís discussed by Mrs. Wylie Moore. Next in April there is a brief mention of a Bahá'í in a Tennis Club in Palestine. This was followed in July with an update on the Bahá'ís and the growth of the Bahá'í Temple, the role of the John H. Early Studio & McDaniel, and architect Louis Bougeois. Somewhat more than a year later came a piece highlighting the Bahá'í Temple as example of concrete use.

The coverage of Helen Clevenger's murder in nearby Asheville in 1936 had existed in Charlotte but it did not mention she was a Bahá'í.

Next comes April 1937 with coverage of the Bahá'ís of Chicago observing the 25th anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America, though the mention mistakes it for years of the religion in America. In June Bahá'ís were mentioned again, this time among the religions banned in Nazi Germany because it stood for "the establishment of the universal religion which will be the foundation of the inter-religious, inter-racial and international brotherhood of peace". See Bahá'í Faith in Nazi Germany.

In 1939 the Bahá'ís were included in an interfaith Bible noted in the Charlotte News.

Exchanges include neighboring areas and the first local Bahá'ís

Now approaching an active presence of the religion in the state there begins to be more mention of local activities among the one reported from afar. It begins in November 1941 with a profile of Bahá'ís and the continued building of the Temple. In 1947 came mention of the Edmonstone family of Fairview renting out a home advertising to the Charlotte area. In October 1948 with a Charlotte woman member of a national marketing association came mention of them visiting the Bahá'í Temple. In November came a critical review of religions including the Bahá'í Faith via a Westbrook Pegler column, to which came a critical response of by Mrs. J. Smith coming from Myrtle Beach but carried in the Charlotte Observer via a letter to the editor. In February 1949 came the first direct mention of a Bahá'í in the state with news that UNC-Chapel Hill student Mildred Danford would be the delegate to the national convention.

September 1951 came mention in Charlotte of the public presentation by Bahá'í Henry Broadhurst held at the Hotel Charlotte. In January 1952 and May 1953 came updates on the progress on Bahá'í House of Worship.

1954 appears to mark the beginning of local Bahá'ís living in Charlotte. Coverage begins with the Bahá'ís mentioned amidst religions with the Golden Rule, but in November came the next Bahá'í talk in the city with Philip Breitenbucher's, listed as a psychologist working in the school system, at a local Unitarian Universalist church as a new hire locally. He may be the first local Bahá'í and one to give a talk though lack of availability of the Charlotte Post limits mentions covered in the African-American community. His family was from Atlanta, though he was in Texas in 1940. In January 1955 Brietenbucher was still with the school system. He was a member of the De Kalb County Spiritual Assembly in Georgia in 1963, died in 1996 and is buried in Atlanta. The Curwin family was noted in Charlotte living on Diana Dr. from about October 1955, may have overlapped with Britenburcher's presence, though the Curwins were not mentioned in coverage of the religion until 1958 in two different pieces written by two different reporters. The Curwins had been Knights of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahamas, previously atheists and converted to the religion in about 1949.

In February 1956 Bahá'í Margery McCormick was noted the Charlotte newspaper giving a talk in Greensboro. This was followed by the first mention of a community in Charlotte observing the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh. Then came the news of the Bahá'ís holding the state convention at HBCU Bennett College, Greensboro. Gail Curwin began to write some letters to the editor mentioning the religion in late December 1956 and then February 1957. The next mention came in November again of observing the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh, followed by mention of Ronald Edmonstone now living in Charlotte going to some business training. Again in December Gail Curwin wrote a letter to the editor mentioning the Bahá'ís.

Now came two profiles of the Bahá'ís in Charlotte coming about as part of coverage of a talk by Bahá'í Ludmila Van Sombeek and her tour of talks this time for World Religion Day in 1958. One article began "A quiet, non-evangelistic religion, world-wide in scope, will be revealed publicly here next Sunday when the Charlotte followers of the Baha'i World Faith observer World Religion Day at Park Center." while the other put it this way: "In this stronghold of Calvinists, Wesleyans and autonomous Baptists, they are a minority among minorities. But if they persist they will prevail, they feel. And they feel they must persist because in the teachings of their leader, His Holiness Baha'u'llah, they know is the antidote for dissension and war and hate and religious divisions." The community was noted with growth of six additional people since 1956, starting at two in 1955, (perhaps forgetting Breitenbucher,) and 20 were attending study sessions at the time in 1958. This was among a national population stated as 80,000. There is a brief summary of community life of feasts and meetings, the broad history back to 1844, the interracial nature of meetings, and the mark of the ongoing Ten Year Crusade. An audience of about 30 attended Van Sombeek's talk and the second article summarized Van Sombeek's talk with the Bahá'í ideas of progressive revelation, the religion coming to America, and then summaries of its principles. This profile was echoed briefly amidst an article mostly on evangelist Billy Graham and the year of religion in Charlotte though it did note the rise of the Bahá'ís rising from 2 to 8 adults. In February there was mention of Bahá'í Katherine McLaughlin giving a public talk at the African-American Phyllis Wheatley YWCA. A second article noted Gail Curwin was the delegate to national convention.

From 1958 and forming a Spiritual Assembly

Though there was no coverage for the assembly formation itself in local newspapers or the Bahá'í News, from April 1958 comes mention of members of the assembly. Just approaching it came mention of regular meetings being held from March that would last the year with the address of the Curwin home mentioned about every two weeks or so.

First decade

Then begins the late April mention of Gail Curwin going to the Intercontinental Conferences for Mid-Point of Ten Year Crusade as an assembly secretary and delegate which also mentioned the event as part of the dedication of the House of Worship. Actually five Charlotte Bahá'ís were going to intercontinental conference in Chicago and returned with Gail Curwin. A week later came the news the Bahá'ís would observe the Declaration of the Báb and that Gerald Curwin was chair of the assembly, and then much the same with the upcoming observance of the Martyrdom of the Báb. A couple weeks later Ronald Edmonstone was noted as a blood donor among the donors of the city. In November came the notice of the observance of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh at the Curwin home. In December came mention that the Bahá'ís would hold the state convention in Greensboro, and then hold a Human Rights Day observance.

January 1959 mentions open with World Religion Day as a slide show by Terah Cowart Smith. Ronald Edmonstone was noted getting a sales honor, among the staff of Mutual of New York. Bahá'í meetings begun in March 1958 and given a brief lapse in mentions in the newspapers in January were resumed still at the Curwin home from February though the phone number advertised changed. These meetings ran through September 1960 and ramped up mention from once a month to weekly save for June of 1959. One of the phone numbers used for Bahá'í meetings had been used by a Bob Nelligan for car sale the year before.

In January 1959 came mention of a son born to the Edmonstones living on Roswell Ave. In March came mention briefly of the Bahá'ís admist comments of a bishop. The Bahá'ís held the New Year at the Curwin residence in March and were noted as fasting. A year later in March 1960 Ronald Edmonstone was listed giving a talk at a Unitarian Church on the religion.

Bahá'í meetings continued unabated in October 1960 though only with a phone number to call.

The rest of 1960 goes by without a mention of the Bahá'ís until January 1961. At that time the Charlotte Assembly was noted holding its third World Religion Day - hosted by African-American Charlotte native Coretha Lovell (Flack kin) at her home and now chair of the Assembly Ronald Edmonstone. In early March Terah Cowart Smith, pictured and profiled, returned for a talk for Bahá'í New Year observance and comment of the Fast. Most of the year goes by until in November came news from a distance of the Bahá'í Temples around the world and newest in Australia, is followed noting Ronald Edmonstone, pictured, and having taken over address of old Curwin home though not speaking of the Faith.

In March 1962 came mention of a talk by Baha'i Walter Wooten at 2118 Amboy Ct now listed as the Edmonstone home. An article profiling the history of the community in August mentions the first assembly was in 1958 with Ronald Edmonstone moved from Ashville, Coretha Lovell, and pioneers Gerald & Mrs. Curwin. Lovell was listed as an LPN at the Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital. A Bahá'í conference was noted in September, again with a talk by Wooten, at the Edmonstone home with Ron listed as chair of assembly.

In January 1963 the Bahá'ís held a World Religion Day with a talk by Bill Tucker. In February a Charlotte interfaith meeting included mention of Bahá'í Ronald Edmonstone. In June came the Bahá'í notice of holding Race Amity Day with a talk by Assembly chair Edmonstone. A profile of the event afterwards mentioned an attendance of 10 Bahá'ís (four white, six black,) plus 6 visitors including Edmonstone mother Mara O'Malley, plus children attended. The host of the meeting was L. H. Justice. Mrs Justice had died in 1955, and Lewis died in 1965 buried by the First Baptist Church. News came of the next Edmonstone birth, this time of a girl in June. In July Bahá'í meetings resumed noting a phone number as contact information, which ran pretty continuously through August 1964. Amidst those ongoing meetings the Edmonstones hosted the Wingreen Garden Club at their home; by 1964 the Curwins were living in Stamford, Connecticut.

In January 1965 Bahá'ís David & Mrs. Hauck moved from Indianapolis to Charlotte. There was soon an echo of the profile of the Bahá'ís published view the AP by George Cornell. In March came news of the submission of a state bill to allow Bahá'í Assemblies to perform weddings presented by Senator Ruffin Bailey. The next child of the Edmonstones came in April, and there was mention of Bahá'ís in Israel in May. A single Bahá'í meeting was noted in July with the Edmonstone home address as the contact info. The same month David Hauck wrote a letter to the editor on traffic challenges. In September Edmontone was noted having donated 2 gallons blood during the year so far. In December came mention the Bahá'ís were holding World Peace Day and cooking. In November 1966 Ronald Edmontone was among the individuals listed personally endorsing Charles Raper Jonas, (not mentioning Edmonstone's Bahá'í affiliation.)

Advertised Bahá'í meetings resumed approaching mid-December 1966 with phone numbers as the only contact inforomation. These ran regularly through March 1968, closing out the first decade of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Charlotte.

Second decade

Meetings may have been held at a Center on East Blvd from June 1966, and continued through August 1970. Florence Mayberry came for a talk at the Edmonstone home in December, 1966.

In June 1967 the Bahá'ís held a Race Unity Day with a talk by William Jackson. In October the Jacksons & Hauches families went to the Intercontinental Conference in Chicago. A couple weeks later the Bahá'ís observed the centenary of the public proclamation of the religion in the United States with Fereydoon Jalali giving a talk and mention Ron Edmonstone was the chair of the assembly.

In January 1968 an echo via the AP was published with an interview with Hand of the Cause Tarazu'llah Samandari for the centenary of the arrival of Bahá'u'lláh in Palestine. In April a notice included mention of several members of the newly elected assembly: David Hauck (chair), Samuel Brodie(vice chair), Bonnie Hauck(secretary), Fred Anvary(treasurer.) A week later a general profile of the community noted it had 18 adults in Charlotte. In June Bahá'í K. K. Kalantar (pictured) gave a slide show at the Hauck home as well as the Mint Museum of Art's Golden Circle Theater. In August an article noted the Bahá'ís among the diversity in the county, while a followup letter from David Hauck pointed out how that meant there were three religions represented including the Bahá'ís.

January 1969 there was mention of Bahá'í entertainer Vic Damone, followed by the Bahá'í-sponsored World Religion Day with speaker Little Rock AMEZ Rev. Leake at the Edmonstone home. A couple days later came the news that Jack & Mrs Betty Cathey Scott and children were going to Uganda. Continuing the busy month of January David Hauck sent another letter to editor lauding and responding to an article on Christian virtues but in a divided country and the need for divine institutions. February began with coverage of Eulalia Barrow Bobo giving a talk at the Edmontone home, Johnson Smith University, and UNC @ Charlotte. In July, the next mention, the Bahá'ís observed the Martyrdom of the Báb at the Edmonstone home; in the mean timem the assembly and re-elected and Robert Rea was chair, Ron Edmonstone vice-chair, Mrs Hauck secretary, and Fredoon Amvary treasurer. In September the Bahá'ís held Youth & World Peace Day. In October the the Bahá'ís announced a meeting series; Daniel Jordan, Jack McCants, William Allison would give talks at Temple Beth El, UNC @ Charlotte, the Second Baptist Church, the Rae home, the Little Rock AMEZ Church, and the the Edmonstone home. In November the Bahá'ís observed the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh at the Sykes home with a talk by Herb Turner of Asheville. A few days later religion journalist for the Charlotte News Rita Simpson noted the Bahá'ís among diversity of the wider community in advertising for the newspaper and again in June 1970.

Inbetween the Bahá'ís held World Religion Day in the Hauck home with a talk in January 1970. Also in June a Q&A was asked on the Bahá'í Faith answering there were about 30 Bahá'ís in Charlotte by then though unclarified if the count included children. A week later came a notice that local Bahá'í youth were going to the national convention: Russell Matthews and Clay Jordan. A few days later came news of Bahá'ís from Georgia and the Carolinas meeting in Dunn SC and activity in Mississippi and a Raleigh librarian said that the Bahá'ís “actually putting into practice what they believed.” This was related to the fast growth of the religion especially in South Carolina over the last year.

Meanwhile meetings and contact information in Charlotte back from 1968 continued, into May 1971 before breaks were observed. In addition to those there was also a listing in the personal notices section in October 1970. A week later the Bahá'ís held UN Day with mention of George Frye, Chogollah Maroufikhah, and Derald Henry for the community. Another couple days later came a notice the state convention was going to be held in Charlotte with Bahá'ís also coming from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In December there was a report of an encounter of a church group with the Bahá'ís.

1971 opens in February with profiles of Bahá'ís with mention of Roger Roff and Shanta Murday, though Ronald Edmonstone wrote a letter to the editor correcting Covington article, listed as chair of assembly. In May came mention of a Bahá'í wedding of Alison Reed and Russ Matthews with mention of David Hauck, Jessica Shene, Wendy Chenoweth, Frances Hunter, Dawn Haucks though a week later someone wrote in asking if it was a fully legal marriage and it was. Inbetween came news of Bahá'ís Mrs. William Pharr Hunter, and Mrs. Joe Gruber were going to the Caribbean Conference. After a small break in advertised meetings in Charlotte the singular series returned with three contact phone numbers. These continued into spring 1973. Meanwhile the first mentioned Bahá'í Summer School was noted in July 1971 being held at Camp Dorothy Walls with 7 families from Charlotte going. In late November mention came of the Bahá'ís holding the Day of the Covenant and Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

January 1972 opens with mention of World Religion Day with individuals Elizabeth Martin, Gazzal Towfiq and Derald Hendry mentioned and that the event was co-sponsored by HBCU Johnson Smith University. The Bahá'ís held a spot mid-January on local PBS television station 58, WUNG-TV. There was brief mention of the Bahá'ís in the diversity of Charlotte in March, and in April there was some Biblical period filming in Israel that avoided the Bahá'í Gardens for authenticity. In May the Bahá'ís were next on PBS channel 42. In August cam mention of the growth of the religion, Hand of the Cause William Sears in the area, the next summer school, and individuals Anne Respess and Fereydoon Jalali. Hand of the Cause William Sears was interviewed and again there was mention of the summer school.

January 1973 opened with Bahá'ís noted in Haifa, Israel. In March came news of the Edmonstones winning an award at work and choosing to go to Caracas. Regular advertised meetings of the religion picked up again mid-April 1973 with three contact phone numbers. That series of meetings ended in November with a couple interrupted moments. Meanwhile Bahá'ís Russ Matthews & Alison Reed, recently wed and mentioned in the newspapers back in 1971, above, were profiled again in the Charlotte News back mid-May. They had moved around some living in different places, and did a pilgrimage to Haifa, a conference in Switzerland, and other places, but now returned to Charlotte. In June David Hauck was interviewed and pictured; the report says there were 45 adults in Charlotte plus children, that Hauck had joined religion in 1967, and profiles the religion in general and notes the writer as a copy editor working for the Charlotte News: Jack Bowers. That month there was also a profile of Seals & Crofts published. This was immediately followed with news of the Bahá'ís going to the Oklahoma Youth Conference including: Wendy Chenoweth, David Huntley, and Patricia Hough. There was also brief mention of Diana Varga as Bahá'í and Scientologist. In July TV Channel 42 had a showing of "Give me that new-time religion" of Bahá'ís. In August David Hauck wrote a letter to the editor responding to another article on problems by suggesting sometimes things get worse by trying to blame problems on people rather than solving them - trying to figure out and blame a forest fire while surrounded with the fire. And again someone asked certain kinds of marriages were allowed an example was given that Bahá'í marriages were.

Advertised regular meetings were then advertised from late January 1974 on through August with occasional interruptions but also multiple phone numbers. Meanwhile in March a teenage Bahá'í girl wrote letter to editor. In April there was mention that honor students included Bahá'í Anne Chenoweth. Someone again asked who can perform marriages and again the Bahá'ís are one of the examples noted. Still in April a piece covers the local Bahá'ís attending the national convention and that David Hauck was a delegate. (should include devision of state into sections in 1971) Seals & Crofts were again profiled in May. Locally the Bahá'ís again were noted for holding a Race Unity Day picnic in June. A few articles by Jack Bowers mostly on business issues were published in the summer of 1974. A teenage Bahá'í girl again wrote a letter to editor now in July. In August came news of Bahá'ís going to the St. Louis Bahá'í Conference. Articles by Jack Bowers appeared through the fall and into the spring of 1975 mostly on sports coverage. Advertised regular meetings of the religion picked up through the fall of 1974. November also saw a notice of Derald Hendry giving a slideshow talk for Birth of Bahá'u'lláh observance. Coming into view in December 1974 comes the first mention of the Bahá'í Faith in The Charlotte Post, an African-American newspaper, though it had been operating since the late 1800s. The article covered the 26th Human Right Day observance of the community held at the American Bank And Trust Co on Hickory Grove Rd with guest speaker George Frye of the National Bahá'í Publishing Trust and former business editor of the Charlotte Observer. Frye was profiled among his work in Missouri, South Carolina, and Michigan.

January 1975 opened with mention of the Bahá'ís holding World Religion Day at UNC-C with Marshall Ledbetter & Larry Newsom giving talks. In March Jack Bowers presented a sports award. In April Bowers was one of the two delegates from Western NC to national convention. In June the Bahá'ís held a Race Unity Day at a park with Fran Eury and Marshall Ledbettergiving talks. In July Seals & Crofts were mentioned, and in September Bahá'í actor Alex Rocco was profiled. In November Derald Hendry talk for the UNC-C Bahá'í club, followed by news the Bahá'í UNC-C Club was holding a Human Rights Day meeting.

January 1976 opens with a Bahá'í advertisement in The Charlotte Post on the teaching of the oneness of humanity - it was a cut out form one could fill out for getting further information. In February came mention that Lola Washburn was hired by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. In March David Hauck wrote a letter to editor about drug abusers being taxed for what they seek instead of supported in prison. That month also saw a profile of Bahá'í Dizzy Gillespie's performance in South Carolina. In May there were brief comments of Bahá'ís amidst religious diversity in Charlotte. Someone asked contact information for the Bahá'ís which is answered and mentions David Houck. In June a showing of the Bahá'í film "A New Wind" is held at the American Bank and Trust Company. In July came a bit of an update on Lola Washburn working for the schools. She also gave a tald for the religion and & showing of Bahá'í film called "Have you heard the news, my friend?” In August she was part of a professional panel on reading in the schools, and other coverage for her work with the start of the fall 1976 school year. In November a piece covered the Bahá'ís among diverse Charlotte Thanksgiving services. In December came the filing of a wedding license for Lola Washburn.

In May 1977 came the obituary of Baha'i William Jackson Jr. The next day a profile of Bahá'ís and teachings was published and mentioned 40 Charlotte Bahá'ís including Eileen Norman, Sara Baker, and Larry Newsom. There had been a family issues conference of Bahá'ís at Queens College Sunday with attendees from Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. Larry was a school teacher. Sara was an office manager from Fort Mills, SC, and joined the religion 6 yrs ago after encountering “Fred” working for a bank and offered a quote: "I'm more of a Christian, in the true sense of the word, as a Bahá'í than I ever was as a Chrstian.” In July a Bahá'í advertisement series began with a quote and a contact phone number. That ran into September. Meanwhile there was coverage of the Bahá'í hostage situation at Bosch School. In September a letter to editor by David Hauck, noted a conflict on disobeying God’s, vs man’s, laws, A week later came the news that Bahá'ís were among those religious groups banned in Uganda. In October there was mention of Bahá'í Jenabe Caldwell among those held hostage on an international flight and interviewed, followed by another David Hauck letter to editor - advocating that the US should give up Panama Canal and address our own problems and not criticize other countries for theirs. In November a piece again noticed the Bahá'ís among thanksgiving service diversity and mentioned particularly Jerry York and David Hauck. Another mention came in December about Bahá'ís among the diverse views on Christmas and updating that there were not about 50 Bahá'ís in the arear.

Third decade

The third decade of the Spritual Assembly of Charlotte begins in February 1978 with a David Hauck letter to editor about free will and examples of good and evil. In May came mention fo the Bahá'í New Year and about 30 Bahá'ís in Charlotte. Bahá'í were noted with an observance of Ridvan at the Dolly Crow home - Dolly would have an occasional guest column and letters to the editor in the 1980s - she had moved to Charlotte around 1974. Dolly died Aug 8, 1988. In April Bahá'ís England Dan and John Ford Coley were profiled for their music. In June an unnamed Bahá'í father was mentioned playing Santa in Christian School that closed. A week later was a piece mentioned the Bahá'ís held Race Unity Day at a park. In July a Bahá'í advertised series of quotes and a contact phone number began. These ran the rest of the year. In August a Bahá'í slideshow at hotel was given by an unnamed individual. In August came news that Lola Schappell had a new job for the Harding Olympic area schools centered on Olympic High School of Charlotte which would continue with occasional mention into the mid-1980s. In November began mention of mass riots in Iran and persecution against Bahá'ís which continued into December. The end of November 1978 came mention of the marriage of Connie Stephens and Jerome Glassman who had met July 1977 at a natural foods and healing dinner and were now married at the Schappell home. She was a graduate of UNCC working for Belk Stores. He was from Brooklyn and then attending the Mankato Technical College working in a Holiday Inn in Mankato, MN and would move back there. They chose to pioneer to Paraguay for the religion after 79-80 world tour. The article noted the Charlotte area Bahá'ís numbering 150. Connie’s Methodist family had moved to Charlotte during her high school days and she had converted in 1977 after learning of the religion from Jerry. Glassman was from a Jewish background and converted in 1971 when working in Augusta, Georgia, after encountering it via a friend. He moved to Charlotte about 1977 and was elected to the Local Assembly. Another article on the couple and their plans appeared in The Charlotte Post (which is systematically mispelled 'Daha'i'.) The Glassmans had returned home from a 15 country world trip and decided to go promote the religion. The American national community was briefly profiled adding Charlotte had its own Spiritual Assembly. In Paraguay the Glassmans hoped to run a resturant business. Jerry had joined the religion in 1971, leaving the Jewish faith from New York, and native Connie in 1977, she leaving the Methodist Church, and finding the Bahá'ís a more diverse community by age, education and race.

Bahá'í meetings advertised from January 1979 at a Center on East Blvd, with a contact address and new phone number began. These continued through December 1980 with occasional interruptions and changes. In February Bahá'ís were again noted amidst diverse wedding types and the laws covering it. That month also saw a brief mention of Bahá'ís in Iran amidst Islam cultural norms. In March a Bahá'í advertisment spoke to the persecution in Iran and listing local contact information. In June a news piece covered the Bahá'ís persecuted in Iran again. In July an article reviewed the community its history including remembering the Curwins and that the area community included 80 people including Larry Newsom, Ann Braton, Minoo Hauck, Lola Chappell(sic - Schappell), Dave Hauck, and Bonnie Hauck. In August came news of the Bahá'í wedding of Emily Kramer & Steven Greer. Greer had been mentioned occasionally as far back as some high school coverage, the death of his father and followup, the beginning of some UFO themes of his life, the death of his mother, and both his work as a physician and in UFO issues by 1999. Meanwhile there was a showing of a Bahá'í program on Cable Access #3 in September 1979, as was comments of the Bahá'ís and the situation in Iran. The month and available coverage in 1979 on the religion came with an article on Hand of the Cause Rahmatullah Muhajir's visit to Charlotte at a Western District meeting of 75 Carolinians.

January 1980 opens with mention of Iranian Bahá'ís among refugees coming to America. In March came mention of the Bahá'ís holding Naw Ruz at a park wit a showing of a slideshow. In July came mention of a Bahá'í regional conference with Wilma Brady, Soo Fouts, and 200 Bahá'ís from 10 states at Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina. There was also more coverage of the persecution in Iran, followed by more news of the conference a few days later and with mention of Sarah Pereira, Sam McClellan, and Ann Carpenter. In August was again mention of conditions in Iran and accusations Bahá'ís faced on into September and a local memorial on the dead given too as part of a nation-wide observance. In November Unitarians hosted an interfaith Thanksgiving dinner including the Bahá'ís which closed out the year's mention.

Opening January 1981 are the next Charlotte Post articles on the religion. The editor remarked there would be a 3 part series on the Baha'is - history, persecution, and teachings. The of first of this series was an overview of Bahá'í Central Figures and briefly of the suffering in Iran. The second coming out a couple weeks later outlines the history and current persecution of the religion in Iran. In February David Hauck wrote a letter to the editor replying to a Jewish experience of Christian culture while underscoring the promise each had of a promise of return inherent in both. In March came a review of Jim Jones, with a brief mention of Bahá'ís amidst his claims not in keeping with the views of Bahá'ís. In April through August there was more coverage of the Iranian persecutions and executions. A deeper review came then with mention of Mesiah Farhangi's uncle executed in Iran without a trial. George Frye vice chair of assembly and Sara Haymond was noted treasurer. There was about 1500 adult Bahá'ís in the state, 134 in Charlotte and between 8 and 10 thousand in South Carolina according to Parks Scott of the US national Bahá'í public affairs office. Sarah Haymond was much mentioned over the coming decade, and recalling she had joined the religion in about many years earlier. She was profiled in 1996 saying she had been then working in Cherokee some 20 yrs, born about 1945, raised Methodist, changed to Episcopalian, then heard of the Bahá'í Faith from a bank co-worker in 1966, then converted in 1970, and now 19 years on interfaith Clergy Association, with about 200 Bahá'ís in Charlotte, and her interfaith actions for the Bahá'ís continued. more recently calling her a “mother of the Charlotte interfaith movement".

Meanwhile in September 1981 David Hardin pioneered to Japan and there was mention of over 150 Bahá'ís in the Charlotte area. A couple weeks later there was a mention of Triad area Bahá'ís holding World Peace Day. In later October a 7am TV show on religion was on channel #4, probably (VHF Channel 4), the NBC affiliate out of Greenville. In November Bahá'ís were noted amidst the Charlotte area Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Closing out the year and the beginning of the next came mention of an execution of Bahá'ís in Iran.

January 1982 continued with mentions of Bahá'ís and travel to and from Iran - the story of Mohi Sobhani and family. A couple days later came a profile of Bahá'ís in Rock Hill: Helen & Charles Thomas, Elwin Howard, and Lenzy Woodard. A couple weeks later came mention of the Bahá'ís being part of the interfaith Greenville Ministerial Association amidst breakfast by then Mayor Jesse Helms. In May came mention of Denise Humphries, niece, and Bahá'í prayer book, and the obituary of the nationally known Bahá'í Amoz Gibson. In July came news of the Bahá'ís present in the Falkland Island conflict with pioneers Jeanne and Duffy Sheridan being 6.5 yrs there. The family later moved to Sedona, Arizona. In August came the latest update on things in Iran. In later October, The Charlotte Post carried an advertisement of the Bahá'ís, along with an article that Bahá'ís were marking the 37th UN Day with a slideshow by Marian Beane, chair of the Coordinating Council for International People, held at the YWCA on Park Road. There was a profile of the aims of the UN and the history and teachings of the Bahá'í Faith and its status with the UN. The next day came coverage in the Observer of the murder of Danial Jordan, National Assembly member. In November came an article of The Charlotte Post in which Sara Haymond was interviewed and the history and persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran was summarized. A film of the testimony at the Congress on the persecution was going to be shown at the Belmont Community Center. That meeting would be moderated by vice-chair of the Assembly Bob James, pictured, and there was mention the chair of the Assembly was Bonnie Hauck and that there were about 100 Bahá'ís in Charlotte. A couple weeks later the Bahá'ís were listed among the Charlotte area interfaith Thanksgiving service which closed out mention in the year.

The next mention came in May through the summer of 1983 with comments from the US government on the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran and local memorial services including an article by Dick Hauck. Meeting information was published sporadically summer and fall. Meanwhile again the Bahá'ís were mentioned this time in August-September amidst the atomic bombing interfaith memorial and other interfaith events. September closed with another profile of Bahá'ís, mention of the persecution in Iran, and naming Mahtah James, Celeste Hicks, and Dick Hauck among the 100 Bahá'ís in Charlotte and now an estimate 500 in the region. In November came the traditional observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh.

January 1984 again opens with mention of the US on the situation in Iran amidst international relations summaries through the year. Meanwhile in June came mention of the Race Unity Day in a park, in July a brief mention of Bahá'ís in India, and being part of the interfaith Atomic Bombing Memorial being held in August. In September the Bahá'ís were mentioned among the diversity in Charlotte on the question of a shared space vs owning one's own spaces. In October the Bahá'ís were co-sponsors of the Universal Children's Day in the area. A couple weeks later the community initiated a talk series; Lola Schappell was first up with a talk & slides. Come December came the news of the return of Sarah Pereira and being honored at UNC-C and Johnson Smith University.

January 1985 opens with WNSC Carolina Journal journalist Mike Collins visiting Bahá'í Radio WLGI. In March came mention of Bahá'ís holding Naw Ruz, local contact information, and a talk by Alberta Deas. In July came a letter to editor which decried another fundamentalist Christian letter to the editor and mentioned Bahá'is in the broader community. In July came mention of Bahá'í meetings at Wrightsville Beach along with contact information. There was also mention of the Cabarrus County Bahá'ís holding a unity picnic. In September came mention of Bahá'ís being present in a northern Idaho fair, and an obituary of Bahá'í William Lupowho had been a community member in Orlando. In October a mention was made of Bahá'ís cosponsoring Universal Children's Day in a library, and that Bahá'´ʼs giving a talk/performance at the Unitarian church in Hickory. Sometime in October the UU Catawba Association hosted the Bahá'ís at their church.

1986 opened in February with mention of Bahá'ís gatherng to discuss the Promise of World Peace with K. Autry and contact information. March came with a Dick Hauck letter to editor about Doug Cameron’s "Mona with the children" music video and the persecution in Iran. Dick Hauk was a white member of the Board of Minority Affairs in 1987 who addressed Mecklenburg County Commissioners on the move to close the Minority Affairs Office. In April Bahá'í Brent Deal wrote a letter to editor on the Promise of World Peace presentations in Iredell County. In June Bahá'ís held Race Unity Day in Mooresville with a Nathaniel Witherspoon talk, noting Brent Deal and contact information. Witherspoon appeared variously earlier in newspapers occasionally in 1976.

Helen Thomas, pictured, was in group presenting the Promise of World Peace to South Carolina Governor Dick Riley in July. In August came mention of a peace meeting and talk by David Hauck at the Shaffer home in nearby Concord, followed by another by Holly Nevill. August close mentioning the Bahá'í club at the Central Piedmont Community College for the first time, and with advisor R. Schmid, which would continue through 1990. Meanwhile in October Bahá'ís held a peace forum including Lola Schappell and Sarah Pereira. There was even mention of the Bahá'ís among a papal conference World Day of Prayer for Peace. Charles Hicks was profiled in an article in October 1986. In it he says he joined the Faith at the University of Illinois about 1966, (was born about 1941,) went for a MBA at Wake Forest, moved to Charlotte after that and in 1986 was chair of the assembly. It also noted his wife Celeste and children Jackie, Angela, and Janeen. He highlights The Promise of World Peace message and that the Baha’is of Charlotte were holding the Forum on World Peace at the International House in the evening which Hicks chaired. Lola Schappell was also on the panel speaking for Women for International Peace and Arbitration and Sarah Pereira, representing the Baha`i Peace Program; (and Steve Argo of Beyond War.) This was followed in November by a sponsored seminar on the Promise of World Peace. About a week later Jerry York, pictured, was named a delegate to the national convention along with the first assembly of Hickory: Ted & Valeries Bookwalter, Mike Hubbard, Jim & Trudy Martindale, Robert Sherrill, Yvonne Washburn, Jerry & Peggy York A week later still came mention of the Bahá'ís persecuted in Iran. Bahá'ís were included with multiple others for an interfaith Thanksgiving service for liberty and justice shortly after a KKK march in Charlotte.

January 1987 opens with mention of the Bahá'í wedding of Pamela Harris Hardin and Phillip Brent Deal. Deal had been a photographer since 1983 at least and frequently published. mother died daughter teacher starts job In February a piece noted the Bahá'í International Community had submitted documentation on the situation in Iran to the UN. Charles Hicks was among the Chancellor`s Committee for Peace and Human Survival at UNCC as part of a panel discussion on “Diversity within the Charlotte religious community”. In April came a profile of Bahá'í, the holy day of Ridvan, Dick Hauck as vice chair of the assembly, about 100 Bahá'ís in the city, events celebrated in homes as there was then no Center but fund for one had started, and an ongoing initiative on peace. In May came a letter to the editor by Sara Haymond. In September came an update on the Bahá'ís in Rock Hill - about ten thousand Bahá'ís in South Carolina, 485 in Rock Hill of a community established 20 years ago, and mention of Amy Newman who converted 17 years ago and Terry Edwards (chair of the assembly) who converted 15 years ago - about 1972 when a youth. In November the Bahá'ís held a memorial in Rock Hill for Ahmad Bashiri of Iran. Bashiri was executed October 28, 1984, then 69, beaten with a wire cable. The memorial was held at the Country Club Arms Appts with attendees from Charlotte and Charleston. Mehrdad Bashiri, Bashiri’s son, was quoted and the article outlined the general persecution the Baha’is had suffered. In November an article noted the Bahá'ís appealing to UN about Iran. A Bahá'í Youth Guitar Choir joined in the observance of an interfaith Thanksgiving service. There was also a sign language “sing” with the Baha’i choir.

Succesive era

Going into the forth decade of the assembly in January 1988 the Bahá'ís were on a long list of co-sponsors of MLK Jr Day program of the city. In February a Rabbi commentator the need for and diversity of prayer issue mentioned the Bahá'ís. A few days later the Bahá'í Club held a musical program on race and peace written by Lynn Morgan and community contact phone number. In March came a profile of Bahá'í Enoch Scott, born in Marlington West Virginia and had been living in Charlotte 11 yrs, at 14 and played in two dramas at the Little Theatre of Gastonia. Scott played a number of roles in plays. Then came the New Year observance with Jean Scales' talk and music by steel drum band and Greg Meyjes. This was followed a week later by a regional Bahá'í Youth Conference. In April Baha’is held a weekend conference with several hundred youth who would also do clean up work in Biddleville and Belmont neighborhoods and a public meeting on the “Promise of world peace” held at the Grand Ballroom of the Charlotte Marriote City Center with music performances by John Ford Coley and Doug Cameron. and the next day came mention of Lola Schappell's work. In June the Bahá'ís held Race Unity Day, noting contacts Dick Hauck, Sara Haymond, and Roy Jones, and that the Bahá'ís were then holding a Peace Panel with Ella Scarborough, Bob Goodale, Jerry Kolo, Marian Beane, and Roy Jones. In July a letter to the editor on the Bahá'ís in Iran was sent by Ralph DeFrietas. A few days later came that news that Lola Schappell was going to move to a new job in Greensboro. September had a letter to the editor on the MLK Bahá'í march in Rock Hill and then in Florence written by Ralph DeFrietas. In October the newspaper covers the observance of the Birth of the Báb with a talk by James Sturdivant. In November the newspapers covered a potluck and meeting of the community with a talk by Betsy Haines entitled “World Citizenship 2000AD", and how the Bahá'ís via Sara Haymond were among the interfaith Thanksgiving Service, mentioned as co-chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews'(NCCJ) Interfaith Council. The Bahá'ís also announced the observance of the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a contact phone number. In December came the obituary of Bahá'í William Cooper Wachob Jr. and that they Bahá'ís were starting a peace award in his name.

In January 1989 there was coverage of five co-winners of the award and mention that the Burke county Bahá'í community was founded in 1970 and had 20-25 members. In March the International students at Winthrop College were invited to an international dinner at the Baptist Student Center where there was a Persian dinner is being sponsored by the Bahá'ís in celebration of the Persian New Year. There was a profile of Bahá'í meetings in York/Landacester/Chester region and Fort Mill including mention of Helen Thomas of Rock Hill, (30+ yrs a Baha’i), Behrooz Sabet in Fort Mill, Mahshid Yousefian of Chester, Mojgan Riazati, Chris Wright, Glenn Rampersaid and Malcolm Cary. An article about a Helen Thomas centered in some photos that had gone unclaimed when a shop closed. New Chair of the Assembly of Charlotte for 1989 was Danita Brown who was inviting UU congregations of Charlotte and Concord to a Unity Feast. In July the Bahá'ís held a Race Unity panel at the International House: panelists were Mary Clark, president of the Charlotte chapter of the NAACP; Louise Sellers, a northwest Charlotte community leader; and Dick Hauck, vice chairman of the Charlotte Baha`is. Moderator was Fred Meyers of Columbia, Md., regional director of the Equitable Life Insurance Co.

February 1989 opens coverage of the religion in the year with mention that Bahá'ís would be attending a Columbia Promise of World Peace conference with talks by Sarah Pereira and David Hofman. There were comments in March by Rabbi Marc Wilson in a school prayer controversy at school that mentioned the Bahá'ís. In March the Bahá'ís held Naw Ruz with a talk by Jack Guillebeaux and a state conference. In April the Bahá'ís observed Ridvan, and in June there was announcement the Bahá'ís of Fort Mills were holding meetings and contact phone numbers. In July a Bahá'í profile with area meetings starting, contact phone numbers and mention of area Bahá'ís of Helen Thomas (Rock Hill), Mashid Yousefian (Chester), and Behrooz Sabet (Fort Mills) noted among the now 700 Bahá'ís in area counties around Mecklenburg. The meetings were advertised ffairly consistently into May 1990. Meanwhile in July 1989 the Bahá'ís were invited the Unitarians Universalists to a Unity Feast; Danita Brown was noted as chair of the Charlotte Assembly. A week later The Charlotte Post had an article covering the panel discussion sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Charlotte which hosted Mary Clark (NAACP), Louise Sellers community leader, Ralph (Dick) Hauck, vice-chair of the assembly, and moderator Fred Meyers of the Equitable life Insurance Company of Maryland. In August came a profile of Sarah Pereira, and then in October an obituary of Baha'i Glen Martin Mommsen, killed in a Boone accident. In November came the observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh at the Wooster home, and a contact phone number. Later in November came the Bahá'ís among the interfaith Thanksgiving service, and a Bahá'í advertisement listing the Charlotte area contact and a quote which continued regularly until March 1990. Meanwhile the Bahá'ís held the Day of Covenant & Ascension observances with mention of a contact phone number. Dick Hauck wrote a letter to the editor published in early December upon the decision of the Mecklenberg County Commissioners on re-adding the Office of Minority Affairs because they "need a mechanism by which to facilitate a renewed mutual spirit of cooperation and meaningful communication with the minority community."

February 1990 opened with mention of the religion by sponsoring a panel on major religions. In April the Bahá'ís presented the Promise of World Peace to then Charlotte Mayor Betty Jo Rhea by a delegation including Helen Thomas and Tracy Hollingsworth, and gave the community Peace Award was given to Richard Fox noting the Wachobs had initiated it in 1986. In July can a photograph with names of the Charlotte Assembly: Dell Campbell, Diane Nevill, Farzad Roberts, Danita Brown, Siggle Shaw, David Rosser, Pat Autry, Sarah Pereira, and Kent Autry. In October Sarah Pereira gave a talk.

Fragments approaching the modern era

Coverage past 1990 in this article has not been systematic. Some events and mentions have been gathered.

In 1991 the Peace Award event had talks by Nancy Dobbins, Sara Haymond, and Wachob son William Wachob Jr.

Helen Thomas was interviewed in Febuary 1992. She was introduced to the religion about 1959 in Waterloo, Iowa, and converted from Methodism. In December an article mention local Bahá'ís went to the Second World Congress including Lenzy Woodard, Helen Thomas, Jinous Lamphear, and Geral VanDusen. In September the Bahá'ís held a panel on race listing Harvey Gantt, amdist his runs for the US Senate, Jack Bullard, Kathy Lee, William Wachob, and Todd Ewing. Nominees were sought for the 1993 award, and Marvin 'Doc' Holladay performed at the event.

In January 1993 Bahá'í meetings for Fort Mill and Rock Hill were advertise through March and with contact phone numbers. Naw Ruz and meetings Meanwhile in late February came mention that the Bahá'ís had also tried a billboard with a phone number and mention of Helen Thomas. That December a Bahá'í Hidden Word was published in The Charlotte Post.

January 1994 the Bahá'ís were in the city MLK Day March with mention of Jerry Candeusen, Lenzy Woodward, and Helen Thomas. In April 1995 came the obituaries of Sarah Martin Pereira. In May the Bahá'ís were again among the Holocaust Memorial meeting with Sara Haymond. That month Dawn Hauck, (daughter of David & Bonnie Hauck) and William Heidenreich married.

In April 2003 the Rock Hill Bahá'í assembly members were named: Helen Thomas, Alice Knight, Robb Barvield, Crawford King, Diedre Walker, Mehrdad Yousefann, Marzieh Yousefian, Willies Phillips, and Doug Phillips.

In 2017 there was coverage of the community observance of the Twin Holy Birthdays of the births of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.

See also

• Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in the Carolina Times
• Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in Greensboro, NC, newspapers
• North Carolina in the ''Baha'i News''