Coverage of the Bahá'í Faith in Washington, DC

Sustained community

Among the community members that were more visible, because of their public services not specifically because of their status as Bahá'ís include:

• Coralie Franklin Cook (nearly 90 mentions) because of her position on the DC School Board most of the period and mostly in relation to that service and black community activities she then supported, and a few times in relation to the Bahá'í initiative of Race Amity.
• The Khan family (some 50 plus mentions) because of Ali Kuli Khan's position as a Persian diplomat for some of this period though occasionally specifically at Bahá'í events.

After those two specifically non-Bahá'í consequences of notoriety a couple of people were active mostly or exclusively because of their service in the Bahá'í community:

• Louis G. Gregory appeared over 40 times in articles even when he wasn't in town, usually at Bahá'í activities, was the most visible DC Bahá'í but often amidst his travels elsewhere, adding his involvement in local the Race Amity meetings.
• Joseph Hannen or his wife Pauline Knobloch Hannen, appeared over 30 times, usually specifically for their Bahá'í activities though there were other individual initiatives too. About the same number of appearances was also noted for Stanwood Cobb and frequently again for Bahá'í initiatives.

Then there were several people in some mix of more than a few appearances and public notability:

• Agnes Parsons, visible because of her position in society and economic position, who in the previous era had aided 'Abdu'l-Bahá coming to and traveling in America, by providing accommodations and would go on prominently to server in the Race Amity movement directed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and appears, keeping most of that coverage in another article, over 20 times here, as did Edward Young, often speaking among non-mainstream religious groups about the religion.
• Charles Mason Remey was active in the community appeared nearly as often as Parsons and Young in the period though he was also usually traveling away from DC.
• William Randall, from New York and Boston areas, would appear near 10 times as would a few others: Howard Colby Ives, Edward Getsinger, Mountfort Mills, Juliet Thompson, Albert Vail, Horace Holley, Harriet Gibbs Marshall, Howard MacNutt, Arnold Belmont, Mary Hanford Ford, and Louise Dixon Boyle. These were often in relation to traveling Bahá'ís stopping to give talks on the religion, though Belmont, Marshall, and Boyle, were local, just visible to a limited extent though above that of the general population of the community which, for example in 1919, was at least 66 adults, and by 1936 was still less than a hundred. In 2021 it was about 270 adults.

1915

In 1915 the period opens with a notice of a Bahá'í meeting at Pythian Temple, an association that started in DC in 1864, led by C. C. King on Saturday evening with the title "The Light of the World through the revelation of Bahai-o-llah(sic)". The next day, in his capacity as a diplomat from Persia, Ali Kuli Khan addressed political comments in DC about his country. The Khans were known Bahá'ís, if keeping their professional and religious activities somewhat separated. A couple weeks later the Khans hosted a diplomatic dinner, and then Mme. Ali Kuli Khan was among those invited to a reception for Mrs. Havelock Ellis, aka Edith Ellis, an English writer, with attention to her social uplift projects. The next day Arnold Belmont gave a talk at Pythian Temple. Belmont would be vice-chair of the DC executive committee, precursor of the Local Spiritual Assembly, in 1917 had been a officer of the Persian-American Educational Society, and was a faculty of a DC Friends Select School. Coralie F. Cook was named on a board of education for colored schools; she had first started office in 1914. Closing January an evening Saturday talk was held at the Pythian Temple again.

In February the Khans were noted traveling to New York. A week later the Pythian Temple hosted the next Bahá'í talk that Saturday evening. DC Bahá'ís Joseph & Pauline Hannen were visible supporting government assistance for the jobless, and Joseph was in a "Peace on Earth" tableaux performance. Another Bahá'í meeting held at the Pythian Temple was noted with the subject "The Oneness of God and Unity of the Spirit", while other coverage mentioned Ali Kuli Khan was a cultural consultant on Persian dance for another tableaux this time arranged the Barneys as a fundraiser for the unemployed in DC. Closing February Mme. Ali Kuli Khan was profiled among the American wives of diplomats,

In March the Khans hosted their mother and visitors, and Mme. Ali Kuli Khan gave a talk at an Anthony League club meeting on women in Persia. The semi-regular Bahá'í meeting was held that Saturday evening with the title "The Coming Universal Kingdom" and a quote of Bahá'u'lláh's in the text. News also came that the Khans were going to Panama-Pacific International Exposition, traveling along with her mother. Approaching mid-March there was mention of Edward Getsinger giving the Bahá'í talk at Pythian Temple, a bit of which was quoted, and there was the next week's Bahá'ís meeting mentioned as well entitled "Spiritual Unity and Universal Peace". W. Gibson gave the next Bahá'í talk at the Pythian Temple titled "The Readjustment". Gibson could one of the 66 signers from New York on a mass letter to 'Abdu’l-Bahá from DC, and was counted as one of the African-Americans of the DC community as early as 1914.

Come April the next Bahá'í talk hosted at the Pythian Temple was mentioned, and Mme. Ali Kuli Khan was visible giving a talk at the DC branch of the Congress of Mothers convention about parenting in Persia. This was followed with mention of the Khans holding a reception. Approaching mid-April came the news that the Bahá'ís in general were gathering at the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exposition, with a brief profile, and recalling 'Abdu'l-Bahá statement at Leland Stanford University, and noting talks by DC Bahá'ís Ali Kuli Khan, Charles Mason Remey, and Joseph Hannen. Back in DC the semi-regular meeting at the Pythian Temple was held. Two weeks later Edward Getsinger returned to give a talk at the Pythian Temple.

In early May Harold Davis was noted scheduled to perform at the Bahá'í meeting at the Pythian Temple during the next talk again by Edward Getsinger. Then came news that Mme. Ali Kuli Khan herself was leaving for West Coast with the household. The mid-May Bahá'í meeting at the Pythian Temple was set, Coralie Cook spoke at a black school on a community "Peace Day" observance, and then came mention of the DC Bahá'ís observing birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Declaration of the Báb with Edward Getsinger and John P. Meakin giving readings/talks, and a general social held. Joseph Hannen reported to the audience on the Panama-Pacific Exposition meeting that the Bahá'ís held, and some of this words were quoted in the newspaper. Closing May came mention of Coralie Cook amidst a colored school board meeting, and mention of Mme. Ali Kuli Knan in San Francisco.

In June came more general coverage of the Bahá'ís at the Panama-Pacific Exposition mentioning DC Bahá'ís Joseph Hannen, Ali Kuli Khan, and Charles Mason Remey, along with the medallion struck in honor of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The regular meeting of the Bahá'ís at the Pythian Temple was listed, Approaching mid-June Edward Getsinger and Mrs. Fosselman gave a talk at the Bahá'í meeting. Fosselman was also a co-signer of the Supplication to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. A week later came a description of the situation early Bahá'í Marie Watson had fallen into; widow of real estate dealer and Civil War veteran in New York Robert G. Watson, who had been teaching English to Japanese and Chinese children of diplomats at offices on U street but on outset of War was down to one student and had moved to modest offices. Her one German language student had referred her situaation to a reporter of the Evening Star who then interviewed her. Over the last 3 years she had helped 42 women with monitary support though one did steal an heirloom watch. Yet she is much of a spirit of wanting to help the world. She was available to give talks and capable of teaching English, German, French, Spanish, Persian and Esperanto while the nine years she had been giving free talks on the Bahá'í Faith. Some time before she had been injured in a street car accident, spent 11 mths in Garfield Hospital and didn’t walk for three years which cut her off from her income as a teacher with some 80 students which she was now trying to rebuild when the War came along. She was presently 54 years old, had been born in New York daughter of a French mother and German father. She got a job in the Agricultural Department of the federal government on seeds and re-stablished her language schooling. Watson was one of the earliest Bahá'ís in Paris, and was of whom Ali Kuli Khan mentioned to 'Abdu'l-Bahá who, inspite of being physically handicapped and almost without funds, rendered services that astonished the rest. The Master said, "This is one of the conditions for a teacher of the truth: he must be severed from the world, so that his words will influence his hearers to such a degree that even if they do not become believers and accept the truth, they will be moved by his sincerity and devotion, and acknowledge the fact that he has no attachment whatsoever to the world, and that his one and only goal is truth." She also left pilgrim notes, and was one of those that led Louis Bourgeois to the Faith, as well as others. Watson spoke that day before the (Susan B.) Anthony League about women and the vote. The Khans were noted away at a summer cottage, Cook led a school board meeting, with the closing of the school year, and Hannen was listed as treasurer of the Washington Peace Committee. Cook was amidst a school services debate closing June.

In July Hannen was principle speaker at Peace League of the World branch meeting. And the next mid-July Bahá'í meeting was listed for inquiries, there was news Cook and her husband were going to the Panama-Pacific Exposition for another association's meeting, and July closed with mention of the Bahá'ís hosting George Shibley Sr. of the Peace League giving a talk, and Edward Getsinger filing for divorce.

August opened with mention of Ali Kuli Khan attending a reception at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, and then the DC centenary meeting of the Peace Society. In September Bahá'ís Hannen and a Mr. Mayo gave the community talk at the Pythian Temple. Though it wasn't included in public notice, a letter from Lua Getsinger of September 26 pointed out a network of leading women in America who were to have assistants to guide their communities - Agnes Parsons, assisted by Charles Mason Remey, was the "mother" for DC, and others in other cities. This practice was replaced in stages developing the Local Assembly. Mayo may have been Arthur D. Mayo of the DC community who died in 1933. With the school year starting up Arnold Belmont was hired from a temporary position to a permanent one. The next visible activity of the Bahá'ís came in October into November with mention of successive meetings held at the Pythian Temple, the most regular they had been to date. Amidst these there was news that Coralie Cook and Harriet Gibbs Marshall assisted and attended a black history review performance, and Parsons was noted as a contributor of a woman's medical clinic. Closing October there was notice that the Parsons were delayed in their vacation home due to illness of Arthur, and within two weeks came mention of his funeral. Then came notice of the Bahá'ís observing the Birth of Bahá’u'lláh. Cook was at a PTA meeting as a member of the colored school board, and Arthur Parson's will was being settled. By mid-November there was a funeral for Arthur, and Hannen among the speakers at a Anti-War League meeting. Cook gave comments about parenting at a PTA meeting, and news came of the estate settlement for Agnes Parsons from her husband, following his illness. Cook followed up her previous comments on parenting as part of a kindergarten presentation at a meeting sponsored by the Bethel Literary and Historical Society. Pythian Temple meetings of the Bahá'ís appeared next in December for inquirers, Amidst these Cook spoke at a school club meeting. Then came mention of Parsons' guardianship of son Jeffrey, soon Bahá'í Rev. Albert Vail's talk, and Remey's talk closing the year.

Developing towards an Assembly, 1916-1920

General meetings at the Pythian Temple without a specifically named speaker returned from January 1, 1916, into February, starting with "Into the spirit of the Bahai (sic) teachings", amidst which Cook was noted missing a school board meeting, though she was also named honorary president of Atheltic League of the Public (colored) Schools, and attended a public lecture at an industrial training school as a member of the School Board. Horace Holley was noted given an additional talk separate from the Pythian Temple events late in February on "The New World". Regular Pythian Temple meetings were mentioned punctuated by William Randall who's talk was at a new location - the "Studio Hall" at 1219 Connecticut Ave. on "The Bahai(sic) Movement", who was also part of a presentation with Charles Mason Remey and Joseph Hannen, with the next ones by Corinne True and Mrs. Palmerton coming through raising money for raising the Bahá'í Temple near the end of March. At that time Belmont gave a talk at another meeting. Regular meetings at the Pythian Temple return in April with readings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and it was mentioned that Cook spoke to the Home and School Association of Banneker School, a precursor to the modern schools of the same name. Charles Mason Remey was going to the national convention by late April, along with Mrs. M. C. Hotchkiss, Hannen, as alternates, and additional attendees including Louis Gregory. Hotchkiss was among the elected “Working Committee" precursor to the Local Spiritual Assembly of DC in 1919, was an alternate delegate in 1917 along with Gregory, and had hosted Nawrooz in 1911. Meanwhile regular Pythian Temple hosted meetings returned in May. News continued of the convention, aiming to set foundation of the Bahá'í Temple by 1917, and noting that Hannen was elected to the precursor of the national assembly, the executive board of the Bahá'í Temple Unity. Back in DC Ali Kuli Khan changed the diplomatic office to New York.

In early June Cook was visible at a school board meeting talk, and Bahá'ís were visible opposing a march of military cadets including Edward Getsinger, Joseph Hannen, and Coralie F. Cook. From early June a series of events is published in the African-American newspaper Washington Bee. Four talks were scheduled in June in the DC area by the Baha'is of DC at 1607-09 Eleventh St NW. Rev. D. Samuel Tate, Edward H. Young and Joseph Hannen will be the speakers for the June 8 meeting on the topic of "The New Day”. Mid-June a play was produced for a call for peace that included the Hannens. There was no mention of Pythian Temple meetings yet found after May for several months. Cook continued with school board meetings, including a resolution to open school playgrounds to be used by the municipal department. Wilson's 14 principles are recapitulated on a broader universal basis in the Bahá’í teachings to be expounded at the ongoing series of meetings. A summary of the 28th meeting on "The Bahai (sic) Principles" was covered presenting a change in the age and the opportunity of spiritual principles to bring about a "Golden Age”, and briefly a preview of the next meeting on “Life after Death”. A direct follow up series of meetings was scheduled across July held at the Pythian Building. An article previewed the series starting with the subject "The Economic Question", promoting the meeting location as more central and a larger room for the expected attendance. There is a straight forward review of the core issues of Baha'i history and an appeal across religions. A letter to the editor by Louis Gregory reviews the Baha'i engagement with the riots having taken place in Chicago. In particular he holds up the deeds of Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi at risk of his life interceding in the lives of the Clark family of Grand Boulevard. Mrs Clark was the former Mrs Byron. Gregory speaks of some experience some years ago being hosted by Bagdadi who was himself a border with a Christian minister of a Congregational Church to which Gregory had been a member, but the minister had evicted Bagdadi for having hosted Gregory and reported the words of Bagdadi about another occasion when a Christian minister "would rather eat with an atheist of his own race than with the most Christlike Negro." Gregory then goes on to promote the religion as one that destroyes prejudice and offers a list of 12 of the teachings and its success bringing desperate people together. Gregory also states that he had visited 13 states over the previous five months and was present in DC for a brief stay.

In the fall Cook was again named to the Atheletic League leadership, and a series of Bahá'í meetings was held at the Studio Hall on Connecticut Ave. starting with Remey advertised in several DC newspapers. Gregory was mentioned giving a talk in Columbia South Carolina and Atlanta Georgia in November giving a talk "The Bahai (sic) Spirit and Universal Peace". The same date Horace Holley was the next speaker at the Studio Hall entitled "The Modern Social Religion", and then Stanwood Cobb on the traditional observance of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh. In November Cook helped dedicate a community center, and the next Studio Hall talk was on women but the newspaper mention didn't name who was present. The DC black school board was deciding about offering fraternity organizations that Cook was mindful of, and was present at a public lecture. The next presenter at the Studio Hall Bahá'í meeting was Mountfort Mills. Cook was mentioned a member of the school board as well as it's "central committee" that would arrange school committees to explain the benefit pension plan being proposed that would have to be approved by the US Congress to apply to DC schools. Hannen was among the speakers at the district Anti-War League meeting late in November. December opened with Hooper Harris talking at the Studio Hall meeting entitled "Universal Social Justice - the Reorganization of the World under a Spiritual Civilization". Harris would later be part of the Race Amity conference. News that Gregory had appeared at Tuskegee amidst his tour of the south was published too. In DC Howard MacNutt was noted next talking on "The Covenant", then Stanwood Cobb on "The Coming of the Kingdom". There was an topic for the talk next but no speaker noted on "The Unifying Power of the Bahai (sic) Teachings", and then Ali Kuli Khan spoke at the Studio Hall on the Bahá'í teachings. A meeting was then mentioned closing out the year of meetings at the Studio Hall entitled "The New Year ad the New Era".

Hannen spoke at the next one at the Studio Hall in early January 1917, who was followed by Howard Colby Ives on "The Spiritual Foundation of Humanity", Mary Hanford Ford on "The Spiritual Power of the Bahai (sic) Movement", and then William Randall returned giving a talk "The Bahai (sic) Teaching as a Factor in World Peace". Amid those Cook was visible at the opening of a new school. In February Ellen Beecher, grandmother of Dorothy Beecher Baker, appeared at the Studio Hall meeting giving a talk "The City of God is Here". Mme. Ali Kuli Khan was then noted at a patron of Bell Bridge Club benefit for Montessori Free Demonstration School. Roy C. Wilhelm appeared next at the Studio Hall meetings entitled "Bible Prophecies and Their Fulfillment", while many Bahá'ís supported a fundraiser hosted by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and then Mountfort Mills returned giving a talk "The Fundamental Unity of All Religions", followed by Juliet Thompson in March on "The Most Great Peace". Amidst these Cook on the school board was facing behaviors of school fraternities. The Bahá'ís held a prayer service upon the threat of World War with American participation. After skipping a week Cobb spoke next on "The Economic Principles of the Bahai (sic) Movement", and then the Khans hosted a Naw Ruz dinner named as a Persian cultural date. They then attended a reception, and Mountfort Mills gave the next Studio Hall talk entitled "The New Spiritual Day". Meanwhile a special presentation by the Bahá'ís was given for the African American Bethel Literary and Historical Society by Joseph Hannen, William Ripley, Juliet Thompson, Ellen Beecher, along with Louis Gregory and Caroline Harris. New Yorker Rufus Powell next addressed the Studio Hall meeting closing out March on "The Spiritual Service of a Common Language". A week later Cook was visible at the organizing meeting of a branch of the Red Cross, and New York Bahá'í Hillis Cole spoke and his presentation was also summarized about how nations were at brutal violence towards eachother ad peace movements had failed "because they started to build their structures at the top instead of the bottom" and that Christians were more at the center of the troubles than heathens. Then came Ellen Beecher's next talk "The Unification of the Nations" and it too was summarized saying that the Bahá'í religion was about non-resistance which therefore didn't call up enemies. Next came Howard Colby Ives talk "The Kingdom of God on Earth", and then there was mention of the Bahá'ís going to the national convention with Emily Dixon and Joseph Hannen delegates, Mrs. M. Hotchkiss & Louis Gregory as alternates. After a couple weeks off the next speaker was Remey at the Studio Hall on the topic of past methods of religious devotion facing the modern era and his talk was summarized. However then there is a break in the known meetings.

The next mention of Bahá'ís comes in mid-June with the Khans taking leave of the city for the summer. Cook heard a critical presentation on the German school structure on her school board meeting, and helped signalized the close of the school year, though she missed the next school board meeting. In early July Cook helped oversee the women form support groups for the men that had been drafted, while in late July came a brief mention of the Faith amidst a fictional story character Julia. In August Cook was visible contributing to the fund to support summer schools. The break in meetings continued into October when James F. Morton Jr. gave a talk back at the Studio Hall. Cook was visible chairing a school board meeting, and a week later Cook was at another school board meeting, and also a presentation on the Báb timed about with the traditional observance of the Birth of the Báb. A week later Cobb gave a talk on Bahá’u'lláh. Opening November Hannen spoke on 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the next talk. Then Hillis Cole returned and gave two successive talks,"The Splendor of God - Baha'o'llah", and "The Ark of Deliverance", though none yet found fill out the end of November. In December Claudia Stuart Coles starts the coverage of talks with "The Emancipation of Women", and two weeks later an event is listed without a specific speaker on the subject of immortality.

The winter passes without known speakers or events; Louis Boyle was visible on a committee of the city garden club in early February, 1918, and then in late February when an exhibition was arranged by Remey of his designs for the Bahá'í Temple at National Gallery of Art. In March Ives gave a talk on "The Bahai (sic) Unity", and then there was a presentation based on the work of Abu'l-Fadl on Bahá'í, Biblical, and Persian prophecies and history was given though it doesn't say by whom. Then for the first time in the period there are two separated presentations; one by Mrs. Fosslemann returned but given at a "Bahai(sic) Hall of Columbia Heights," a neighborhood known for diversity and social mixing of races despite segregation laws, mid-Sunday afternoon and the other at the Studio Hall on Sunday evening. Today the address in Columbia Heights is under tennis courts of the Tubman Elementary School built in 1970 after the 1968 Washington, D.C., riots which followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1916 and earlier it had been the advertised address of licensed plumber Frederick C. Stelzer, and by 1921 it was not. Felzer, from Ohio, was a white man who had been the DC Master Plumbers' Association and had contracts with Howard University at least in earlier years. Closing March, 1918, only a talk at Studio Hall by Cobb was noted with "The Bahai (sic) Movement - the Logical Religion of the Future", but come early April there were again paired presentations - Sunday afternoon in Columbia Heights at the same address and evenings at the Studio Hall on "The Harmony between Religion and Science". Approaching mid-April the Columbia Heights location was the only one listed. Then three meetings were listed across three days at the two locations. Events continued to mix between the Studio Hall and Columbia Heights locations into May, between which Cook was visible in a school board meeting, and a Bahá'í meeting on the Divine Art of Living was given. Also in May came mention of black soldiers mobilized on school grounds with Cook present, and that the Khans were moving between residences. One final meeting at Studio Hall closed May with an Ives talk "The Bahai (sic) Freedom".

Another similar summer break in meetings appears punctuated by a few mentiones - Cook was on a committee with First Lady Mrs. Wilson for a July 4th event, Hannen was noted approaching mid-June among executive committee of an Angelus prayer campaign, and Cook was then part of the end-of-school-year excercises. In mid-July Remey gave a talk at the Columbia Heights address. Continuing the overall break in visible meetings there was a slower pace of meetings, mostly in Columbia Heights address, during the 1918-1919 so-called Spanish flu which had come in its second more lethal wave by August with returning troops. "By October 1, 1918, the D.C. Health Department had issued public health directives warning the public to wash their hands, "hold before [their] face a cloth" when sneezing or coughing and to "keep out of places where people congregate." By early October, businesses, shops and churches were closed, public hearings were postponed and physicians were told to keep influenza patients isolated. Cases rose throughout the month, but by the end of October, churches and schools reopened. By the end of November 1918, business hours had returned to normal. Residents continued to get sick at lower numbers throughout the winter." Amidst these developments the Khans were noted traveling as part of their move in September, and Ali Kuli Khan himself address the Anthropological Society at the Smithsonian Institution. Hannen was among those speaking at a discussion on a bill about human welfare in late November. Around then Bahá'í meetings in Columbia Heights returned once. In December Ali Kuli Khan held a re-exhibition of Persian art at the Corcoran Art Gallery. Amidst the winter of 1918-1919 news came that Ali Kuli Khan would be a peace delegate for the world leaders at the Paris Peace Conference.

Opening January 1919 news continued of the Khans: initially a vice-Consul was in charge of the Persian diplomatic presence in DC while Ali Kuli Khan was away. Cook's role on the school board continued its dealings. During these times again Bahá'í meetings were at the Columbia Heights address though sometimes at a church, though they also began at an apartment building by February 1919, still mixing with the Columbia Heights address. Meetings at the Studio Hall returned too, and then daily Bahá'í meetings were held at the apartment building through Naw Ruz. Ali Kuli Khan was noted at a reception of American diplomats in early March. The Feast of Naw Ruz was announced at the Center in Columbia Heights - the first public community meeting since late Feb, and general meeting since May 1918 led by Ives and announced in several newspapers. A couple weeks later Pauline and Joseph Hannen were noted as charter members of the Association of Progressive Education chapter in DC. The next meeting in Columbia Heights was advertised mid-April with a talk by Hannen on "The New Resurrection", and then came the news that Ali Kuli Khan had been replaced as charge de'affairs. At the same time it was noted that Ahmad Sohrab had arrived and was giving a talk at the Anthony League and was going to attend the national convention. This would be include the unveiling of the Tablets of the Divine Plan as a complete set. Bahá'ís in May were noted holding Ridván at the Center in Columbia Heights. Two weeks later Ahmad Sohrab was back and giving a talk at the Center. Another week later the Bahá'ís hosted a League of Nations talk by George K. George, who repeated it a week later. Closing the month Mrs. Greenleaf gave a talk at the Center on "The Bahai(sic) Revelation".

June opended with mention the Bahá'ís would hold a series of meetings at the Center usually advertised in the African American newspaper The Washington Bee and sometimes other newspapers. The series included talks by Rev. D. Samuel Tate, Edward H. Young, and Hannen. Cook was away during some of that time, though she was soon back to hand out high school diplomas. Closing June was Mary Hanford Ford's talk at the Center. Cook had been away from School Board duties was coming back. The series of Bahá'í meetings continued in July at a fourth location - Studio Hall, Columbia Heights, the Braddock Appts - and now one on Eleventh St NW was advertised in The Washington Bee, and there was a profile of the religion in Bee. There was then also an update on the situation with the Khans, while advertisements for the series of meetings continued into August with talk "The Abolition of Prejudices" and "The Oneness of the World of Humanity". Meanwhile Cook was dealing with a question of the effectiveness of an administrator, which dragged out into the fall. At the end of August an update in the Bee noted Gregory was in New York city, and Rev. Dr. William Tate who had given a talk with the Bahá'ís gave another at a church. In mid-September Cook was visible among women of the School Board. There was also a letter by Gregory about the Chicago riots, Bahá'í teachings, and the actions of Zia Bagdadi. This also marks the end of the more particular outreach through The Washington Bee. In fact there was something of a break in meetings until late October with a talk back in the Pythian Temple, which was after the election of a "Working Committee", as a precursor of the institution of the Spiritual Assembly. which furthered the organizational activity of the community. Charles Mason Remey was the Chair, F. J. Phelps was the Treasurer, Joseph Hannen was the Secretary assisted by Arnauld Belmont and Leone St. Claire Barnitz, Arthur D. Mayo was chair of the music committee, there was a Temple Committee of Claudia S. Coles, Mary Little, and Aseyeh Allen, and general members W. H. Bowman, W. P. Ripley, E. H. Egbert, and M. C. Hotchkiss, and Ahmad Sohrab as translator for the community. Additional commmittees and member of the Working Committee were assigned November 5: Little and Barnitz were of the Unity Feasts committee, Hotchkiss was chair of committee publishing the community's own local Baha'i News publication, and Eghert and Bowman operated the Question box for the community.

There was also mention of Remey Temple designs being shown in Boston later in October. In November James F. Morton Jr came back with an unnamed Paris Bahá'í who was back from pilgrimage giving a talk at the Pythian Temple on "The Distinguishing Feature of the Bahai (sic) Revelation". and a week later there was a joint meeting of Bahá'ís and the People's Church. Meetings at the Pythian Temple was mentioned again, and Cook made was a leader of fundraising for a black community a health clinic. Then in December there was a mentioned appearance of Louis Gregory spoke in Boley, Oklahoma talking at two sessions of that State Teacher’s Association. There was also mentioned a talk on the Hidden Words at a new location of 1012 Ninth St building. Ali Kuli Khan then held an exhibition of his collection now being given to the Persian legation. Then there was notice of another Bahá'í meeting at the Ninth Street location.

January 1920 opens with mention Cook on the school board active on policy, and then of the Bahá'ís meeting again at the Pythian Temple. At the end of January came significant coverage of the death of Joseph Hannen, the memorial held, and legal pursuit of the cause of death in a car accident closing out the month. In February meetings the Pythian Temple continued. There is a break of mention of meetings until the end of March when there was mention the meeting at the Pythian was closed for the season, but the start at the apartment building. Amidst that development Cook testified at Congress on the school management situation, while another situation also fermented.

Period of the Assembly

Years of the first Assembly, 1920-1930

Albert Vail gave a talk at the Center at Studio Hall just approaching Ridvan after his pilgrimage. In May Cook was visible in school board activity, and the marriage of Ahmad Sohrab and Juanita Storch was in the newspapers. A week later there was a profile of Louis Gregory, his talks and tour, published in The Washington Bee. A school board meeting with Cook failed to hold a quarum, while otherwise continuing. Cook was re-appointed to the board by the District Supreme Court. With the new year dawning a new Bahá'ís school teacher was employed, and administrative changes came to pass. The summer passes with no known mention of the Faith or Bahá'ís until August when Martha Root was mentioned, back from her own tour of the world briefly before setting off again. A few weeks later there was mention of E. M. Newman visiting 'Abdu'l-Bahá during his tour of the East. Approaching mid-September Bahá'í meetings were set on B Street in just a single announcement but saying a series would be held, by Aseyeh Allen speaking of the Temple. A couple days later New Thought leader Mary Robins Mead was the speaker at the Bahá'í meeting on B Street. The Washington Bee then published a profile of the Bahá'ís and mentioned a couple Bahá'ís in particular: William Randall and Fádil Mazandarání, Martha Root, and that New York minister Rev. Bolden called himself a Bahá'í. Gregory was, himself, in Wilmington, Deleware. A few days letter Aseyeh Allen's home onn B SW hosted a Bahá'í meeting. Allen had submitted some quotes of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the newspaper, some of which were published. In October Gregory was back from his most recent tour, publicly commented as joined by his wife, for the beginning of the Race Amity Conference though it was soon delayed spring 1921, himself first giving a talk series at 2822 Georgia Ave. In November Bahá'í meetings were again noted on B St SW. Louise Boyle was visible as a girl scout fundraising organizer, while on another matter Bahá'í Daniel Samuel Tate was amidst difficulties in post office budgets, and a school board meeting with Cook was disrupted. Cook also a speaker at a public class on black community service at Howard University, closing out the year of known mentions.

New the end of January 1921 Edward H. Young gave a talk at the New Thought Temple. A few days later Albert Vail gave a talk at a church. From mid-February to mid-March the "Baha'i House" opens, listing at least three meetings per week, plus daily afternoon library reading hours, on 18th St NW. Amidst these advertisements Louise Boyle was visible in girl scouts activity the school board with Cook was seeking a new school site, while Cobb led a Progressive Education Association meeting and Gregory was noted in a Washington Bee short list of lawyers worth promoting. This was followed by Gregory offering an article himself to the paper on brotherhood, then another in April on equality of sexes, and in succeeding weeks on prejudice, and unity. Old business with the School Board and Cook resurfaced approaching Ridvan.

The Bahá'í national convention was noted and some of the speakers at the convention of Montfort Mills, Fazel Mazandarani, Pauline Barton-Pecke, Louise Boyle, and May Maxwell. In May Gregory was noted in town giving a talk.

First Race Amity Convention

Main article: First Race Amity Convention

Community activities continue

The spring of 1921 the DC School Board acted with Cook, Cobb's Chevy Chase school closed for the year in later May, and a newspaper article noted a talk by Ahmad Sohrab with William Randall, Albert Vail, Coralie Cook, Martha Root and Mrs. Fred Haight part of the reception. Cook also was in a community musical event, and the Cobbs headed away for summer vacation, spending it at Green Acre. Meanwhile Mazandarani and Vail also gave talks in town, and Cook was involved with the closing ceremonies of the public schools. As a followup to the Race Amity Conference in June, Parsons released a letter she had recieved from General Nelson A. Miles in support of the effort. Also in June Young and Gregory were in a land sale deal for Zeph Moore. In July Cook and the school board had a teacher scandal to face, and Gregory was mentioned in Boston. In August he and his wife were visiting in Ohio, where they were with Albertus Brown. In September Fanny Knobloch gave a talk at the Pythian Temple on "Independent Investigation of Truth", a book came out that Cobb contributed to, and his school started their academic year. News there was a delay in some public schools to be opened to relieve congestion came out noting Cook. In October Urbain Ledoux gave a talk at the Bahá'í House on 18th Street on "Service", who was then profiled, and gave others talks on "Spiritual Telepathy" and "Prophecy" in the coming days. The same day Edward H. Young gave a talk for the Secular League on "The Economic platform of Addul Baha(sic)". By November Gregory had gone west to Duluth, Minnesota. A few weeks later Edward Irvine wrote a letter to the editor of the Washington Herald comparing Bahá'í thought on issues to be similar, in his estimation, to Bolshevism. In December came the obituary mention of the death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Cobb offered some corrections to the obituary. A memorial for 'Abdu'l-Bahá was held by the Dyars. Mid-December Edward H. Young spoke at the Christian Science church on "What is the Bahai doctrine?", and then at the Secular League on "The Oneness of Science and Religion", between which Cook was part of a call for food relief assistance to the near-East and continued service on the Board.

A week later an informal study meeting was held at the 18th street hall starting events off in January 1922. There was then larger articles covering the funeral of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The next day Vail gave a talk in the Church of Life & Joy on "Universal Brotherhood" and at a second venue. By then the update was being circulated that Shoghi Effendi had been appointed to lead the Bahá'ís. Vail initiated a series of talks into February like "Lessons in truth for children" and "The new vision of immortality". Meanwhile late in January Young was giving a talk back at a Christian Science church on "The Great Spiritual Expansion in the New Age". Cook on the School Board saw a library erasure of the color line, and a Bahá'í architect Fred Woodward commented on a civic survey of apartment buildings in DC about their actual safety. In mid-February Agnes Parsons was among the high society at a Oriental art exhibition held in a high school. She was then also a patron for a presentation by Kedarnath Das Gupta, and a patron of studio theater for a play based on Rabindranath Tagore's letters. Late in February coverage of Young mixed the religion with other mysticisms in newspaper coverage. Opening March Ives was quoted though the date of the presentation wasn't disclosed. Mid-March came news of an inheritance including for Harriet Gibbs Marshall. while Cook was amidst a visit to a DC school and gave a talk to an association. In early April Cook was part of a black community YMCA funding drive. In mid-April Marshall was founding a music center for black heritage, and Bahá'ís held their national convention, with sharing happenings in Haifa and Shoghi Effendi via Mrs. Clarence Nourse and Charles Mason Remey. Approaching the end of April Parsons was visible among subscribers of the Travelers' Aid Society. In May Marshall was assisting in music activities in schools, which became a week long festival of music, and then in June Young and Gregory were visible selling a building, and Marie Watson gave a talk at a meetings in places. In July there was a brief portrayal of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Bahá'í teachings. The next mention of the Bahá'ís comes in September when a book by Holley was placed in a library. A week later Cobb was back giving a talk after going to the pilgrimage/funeral. Closing the month we have mention of a Urbain Ledoux talk, Lieut. H. W. Mason, and Gregory giving talks. Marie Watson and Mrs. Dyar gave a performance of music at a soup kitchen facility in DC approaching mid-October. Cook then visited schools, and was also part of the board policy. There was then coverage of the walking tour of Bahá'í Charles L. Greenleaf and his optimism in later November. Then it was in December Young gave a talk on 'Abdu'l-Bahá, while Cook attended a graduation ceremony.

January 1923 opened with Cook as part of the school board challenging the county commissioners on a budget item, and then by a Gregory by talk, then a member of the National Spiritual Assembly at an art hall on Connecticut Ave. Later in January Holley gave a talk "The Three Gates of Truth". In early Febuary Isabella Brittingham gave talks in town on "God and His Manifestations" and "Today", intermingled with Cobb on "The Bahai Movement(sic)", and Gregory at Miner Normal School on "The Abandonment of Prejudice", and back to Isabella Brittingham, Gregory in late February on "What is a Bahai(sic)?", and then Boyle giving a talk on the religion in early-March. The pattern continued mid-March with Cobb giving a talk at a conference. Now in April the Episcopal pastor John Queally decried various movements including that of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, to which Young responded. That was the last presentation or mention of Bahá'ís known until later October when Parsons' stolen car was returned. However Cook continued visibility in black community events the rest of the year.

January 1924 opens with mention the obituary of Mary Alexander, Joseph Hannen's mother, and Cook continued to be visible in black community fundraising, while a couple weeks later Young gave a talk for a psychology club. Young was then among several appearances closing January. Approaching mid-February a Bahá'í Circle meeting was held at the Christ Service Center by Florence Willard Day on "New Age". Young also gave a talk on "Bahai (sic) Prophecies Fulfilled". Later in Febuary Alfredo Warsaw, Louise Boyle, Alma Knobloch, and Emma Hughes were speakers for the community. A week later W. R. Strietelmeier gave a talk. March opened with gentlement Patzer and Marangello, and Mrs Barnitz, Miss Green, and Isabella Rives, followed a week later by a performance by Beatrice Seymour Goodwin on "O Divine Redeemer", and then a Mr. Harlow and Ursula Moore spoke at the Bahá'í Center. while a few days later a Christ Service Center hosted a Sunday evening venue. A week later Emily Dixon and Samuel Green were giving talks, and then the Bahá'í Circle at Christ Service Center hosted James Edgerton. Closing out March we have mention of Isabelle Rives, Emma Hughes, William Ripley at one meeting, and Agnes Parson donating to George Washington U. endowment. In April Fadil Mazandarani gave talks; Cook was visible in a school board controversy and graduation ceremonies, Pauline Hannen and George Miller, with music by Mrs Alfredo Warsaw, spoke at a Bahá'í meeting, followed by Fadil Mazandarai and Howard MacNutt in mid-May. The same day Young was giving a talk on radio WIAY. There were further black school graduation events attended by Cook as member of the school board.

Opening June a notice mentioned the community meeting at the Playhouse, which was continued intermittently through the summer, in between which Young continued to appear on radio WIAY. However mid-July Mountfort Mills sent a telegram also published publicly to the Secretary of State on behalf of the National Assembly on the murder of Diplomat Imbrie in Persia, and there was further coverage including comments from Ali Kuli Khan. In later August Allan McDaniel gave talk at meeting at 1814 N St NW at the Playhouse on "Universal Education". Closing August was a mention of a book of Bahá'í scriptures being donated to the public library. Meetings at the Playhouse continued including one by Joseph Clevenger on "The Solution of the Economic Problem". In October there was followup of the murder of Consul Imbrie who had been killed mistaken for Bahá'í in Persia, then there was a Bahá'í advertisement for a talk by Vail closing October on "The Most Successful Persons in Human History" and another in November on "The Greatest Thing in the World". Cook offered comments at a Howard University and other events in the black community the fall and winter of 1924-5.

January 1925 opens with mention of Young talking on the religion for the Secular League on "Ethnological and Present World Conditions, from a Bahai (sic) Viewpoint". The Khans were seen touring in February, while Cook toured a school amidst its new organization. A week later Arthur Agnew gave a couple talks at the Playhouse on "Eternal Life" and "Christ's Parable". Elizabeth Stewart and Jessie Revell were next "The History of the Baha'i Cause", while Young spoke at the Theosophist meeting in March on "Contacts between Theosophy and Bahaism(sic)". A month later there is notice Cook amidst a school board controversy, and of Ford talking at the Playhouse. followed by further meetings, amdist which Mme. Ali Kuli Khan gave a talk at the Playhouse Center on "Life in Persia and the Near East", and Cook on the School Board was part of an inspection of a new wing. In early May MacNutt came through giving a talk on "Christ in the Mosque and Synagogue", with continued meetings. The date of the Declaration of the Báb had a notice of Ali Kuli Khan giving a talk at the Playhouse Center talking about the condition of the world since the close of World War I. May closed with (and continued into June) on Cook's activities with schools, and a talk by Gregory talk on "The Greatest Thing in the World: Truth".

June opened more commencement activities with Cook, and with a talk by Hooper Harris at the Bahá'í Center on "Spiritual Economics". School Board business continued with Cook, and then news came in July of the election of Bahá'í National Assembly including Ali Kuli Khan, Allen McDonald, Aurelia Collins, and Carl Scheffler. After a break of summer activities, Cook was noted in a community conference, and Ford was among diverse religionists praising Judaism at an interfaith meeting in late October that was in the news. In November Remey gave a talk still at the Playhouse on "The Bahai (sic) Message". Three weeks later Hooper Harris returned for a talk on "Spiritual Modernism", and Cook was involved in a community Thanksgiving dinner. In December meetings continued, including one by Ford on "Alive in both Worlds".

Cook closed and opened the year with some school board business, as well as with a civic group, while Horace Holley and Ali Kuli Khan spoke at the Playhouse Center in later Januaryon "Religion; the World Issue" and "Our Duty Toward our Fellowmen" respectively, followed by Alfredo Warsaw on "The Day of Fulfillment". In February Ali Kuli Khan and family were noted in Detroit with a reception. Bahá'í meetings continued, between which Gregory was back for a pair of talks now into early March on "The Unity of Religion" and "Co-operation and World Peace", and then Alfredo Warsaw returned for talk for Nawruz on "The Bahai(sic) Springtime". In the meantime Parsons was among contributors for relief of American children in Philippines. In April Susan I. Moody spoke on "The Bahai (sic) Movement", followed by Ford on "Why Prayer is a Power", Cobb on "The Problem of the Near East, Solved", and there was a brief Q & A on the Bahá'í Faith in the Evening Star. Newcomer Ardesher Irani gave a talk opening May on "The Boyhood of a Zoroastrian", and a week later Mme. Ali Kuli Khan gave talk on "The Fine Arts of Persia" and was on radio WEAF. In May Cook was visible at various community meetings, Alfredo Warsaw spoke for the Declaration of the Báb, followed a couple weeks later by Cobb "Can Human Nature Change?", and then Ali Kuli Khan returned and gave a talk on "God in Nature - God in History" at the Playhouse. By then Cook had retired from the DC School Board - she had served 12 years and was among the longest serving board members in the history of the organization, though she appeared at a few more school functions. She was immediately suggested to a new Welfare Board.

Playhouse meetings were intermittent in the summer until the later fall, amidst which Horace Holley messaged the Shah of Persia, and was echoed in the newspapers, about the treatment of Bahá'ís there. and Allen McDaniel came thought giving a talk on "The New Consciousness", followed by MacNutt on "The Ancient Covenants of Nations", Cobb on "The Need of Spiritual Training in Education", and Remey held an exhibition of Temple designs. Hallide Hourshed Bey's talk closed October on "The new Turkey and the Relation of Mohammedanism(sic) to Christianity". Remey spoke again in early November on "The Temple of God", followed by Henry Hetzel on "The need for a Universal Language as a Bond for Humanity", Ardeshir Irani returning for a talk again on "Unity of Religion will insure Peace on Earth", and Cobb on "A Bridge between the Orient and the Occident". Amidst these Cook reappeared in service to the School Board on a committee in November, and then was one of the guests at a pre-Thanksgiving reception; her final public appearance for alittle time.

Ali Kuli Khan then returned in early December to give a talk at the Bahá'í Center on "The Light of Persia", and then Pauline Hannen gave a talk on "A Bahai (sic) Traveler in South Africa". A week later Holley spoke on "The Foundation of World Unity", then Remey spoke on "The New Star in the East", and the year was closed out with the obituary mention of Howard MacNutt who had died in Miami, Florida.

January 1927 opened with the regular meetings at the Playhouse, and the return of Horace Holley, Ali Kuli Khan, on "The Ladder of Life" and "The Larger Life", respectively, then Boyle spoke on "Progress toward Peace", F. H. Newell spoke on "Science and Religion", and then Pauline Hannen returned and spoke on "How the Word was varried to South Africa". In February Juliet Thompson gave a talk on "Inter Stella Magnetism", and then Fanny Knobloch spoke on "How the Human Will is Moulded" alternated with Thompson on "The Universal Conception of Religion", and then Knobloch again this time on "The Spiritual Progress of South Africa". In March Gregory also returned speaking on "The Evolution of the South or The Seven Stages of Growth", then Hannen again on "Divine Instructions", Cobb on "What God Wants", and back to Gregory on "The City of Immortality". April opened with Remey on "The Temple of God", and then there was coverage of the next Race Amity Convention; Albert Vail, Agnes Parsons ("Mrs A. S. Parsons" 1818 N. St), Louis Gregory, Mountfort Mills, etc. Shortly after this coverage, Cook made a public appearance speaking in favor of playgrounds. Late in April the Khan family was part of a diplomatic reception, and the DC delegates to the national convention were listed as Allen McDaniel, Agnes Parson, Stanwood Cobb, Isabel Rives, Elizabeth Hopper, and Mariam Haney. In May Cook spoke in honor of Mother's Day at a church, and Parson was among the contributors for Red Cross relief for the Mississippi Valley flooding Meanwhile Walter Bowman gave a talk at the Playhouse Center on "Biblical Proofs of the Bahai (sic) Revelation", then James F. Morton on "World Understanding", and Hooper Harris closing May on "The Power of the Great Ether".

June opened with Walter Bowman giving a talk on "The Second Coming, or the Root of Jesse and the Branch", then Jessie Revell on "Divine Service", Alfredo Warsaw returned talking on "God, Man and the Manifestation!", and Walter Bowman during a busy June on "The Glorious Appearing", though that was the end of found coverage until the Fall. In October Parson was a patron for George Washington Memorial lectures, and another Race Amity Convention was held at Mt. Pleasant Congregational Church in November. Howard University president Mordecai Johnson and others, contributed their talks, hosted at the Bahá'í Center at a session led by Cook. Cook and Leslie Pinckney Hill also spoke at a literature association, Vail spoke at the Playhouse Center, It would be a year before Cook appeared again in public, so far known. The Khan family were noted at a diplomatic reception noting that Ali Kuli Khan had served in Georgia until he was offered the job to be in charge of a Persian Museum in New York City since about 1926. Meetings continued at the Playhouse, with Alfredo Warsaw in early December on "The World's Greatest Need", then Allen McDaniel closing out the year on "The Divine Art of Living".

Gregory opened 1928 with a talk at the Playhouse for the Bahá'ís on "World-wide application of the Bahai (sic) Principles", while Young spoke at the Theosophists meeting on "Pathway to the Divine Brotherhood". Playhouse Bahá'í meetings continued, amidst which Mrs. Harlan Ober spoke, Parsons was noted among many donors to Community Chest relief, and Keith Ransom-Kehler gave two talks across two weeks entitled "Good News" and "Seven Veils" respectively. In April Alfredo Warsaw continued the talk series at the Playhouse on "The Holy Spirit", while Young did so among the Theosophists in May on "The Bahai(sic) Movement". That was the close of Bahá'í commentary through the summer save a brief Q&A about 'Abdu'l-Bahá in August. There was no commentary specifically mentioning the religion in the newspapers through the rest of the year yet found. Cook did make an appearance as a judge of a high school essay contest in December a year since her last known appearance.

In January 1929 there was mention of a Bahá'í claim on Iraqi properties escalated, and then in May Cobb was noted giving a talk amid an interfaith group on Mohammad. Otherwise there were no mentions of Bahá'í community meetings; Cook appeared at a hygiene society meeting, appearing at the Minor School Woman's Day event, and at the Margaret Murray Vocational School graduation exercises. In September Cook was named to a Community Chest relief committee on character building, and in January 1930 she served on the budget committee itself.

In June 1930 Marshall's book The Story of Haiti was in circulation. In August there was a Louis Jean Bourgeois profile, comments on the progress on Temple, though he had died. That November Cook was named to an unemployment aid committee.

Whatever was the cause of the slowdown in Bahá'í meetings from spring of 1928, by now the Great Depression in the United States seems to have disrupted talks at the Playhouse as deeply or more than the 1918-1919 pandemic.