Dorothy Ferraby
Dorothy Ferraby | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1904 London, England |
| Died | March 22, 1994 Nottinghamshire, England |
| NSA member | British Isles 1941 - 1959 1963 - 1965 |
| ABM | Europe 1954 - 1959 1963 - 1968 |
| Counsellor | Europe 1968 - 1985 |
| Spouse(s) | John Ferraby |
| Children | Bridget |
Dorothy Ferraby (1904 - March 22, 1994) was an English Bahá’í who served as a National Spiritual Assembly and Auxiliary Board member and a Continental Counselor.
Biography[edit]
Ferraby was born Dorothy Cansdale in London, England, in 1904. Her family were members of the Church of England and she was christened but did not confirm in the Church in her youth instead studying Judaism and Islam.[1] In her professional career she became a secretary working for the Lever organization.[2]
In April 1934 Ferraby became a Bahá’í in London. She was an active member of the communities youth group after declaring and studied as much Bahá’í literature as she was able to find. She was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of London and in 1937 she became joint secretary of the body alongside Hasan Balyuzi.[1] In 1939 she became the registrar and treasurer of the British Bahá’í Summer School and helped develop the school for several years.
In 1941 Ferraby was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles and utilized her skills as a secretary to ensure the Assembly continued to function throughout the Second World War.[1] She married fellow National Assembly member John Ferraby in 1943 and they had a daughter named Bridget.[3]
In 1944 Shoghi Effendi gave the National Assembly of the British Isles a Six Year Plan to expand the Bahá’í community in the region with Ferraby assisting the body in pursuing the goals of the Plan.[1] In 1950 Shoghi Effendi launched the African Campaign aimed at establishing the Faith on the continent and in 1952 Ferraby was appointed as secretary of the British Isles Africa Committee and she attended the Intercontinental Teaching Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, in February 1953.[4]
When the Ten Year Crusade was launched in 1953 Ferraby and her husband volunteered to pioneer internationally however Shoghi Effendi advised them to remain in England as he felt their departure would be detrimental to the functionality of the British Isles National Assembly. In the winter of 1953 Ferraby went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land shortly after her husband made his pilgrimage.[4]
In 1954 Shoghi Effendi established the institution of the Auxiliary Board to assist the institution of the Hands of the Cause and Ferraby was appointed to the inaugural Auxiliary Board for Europe in addition to continuing to serve on the National Assembly. In December 1954 the Ferraby's moved their residence to the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of the British Isles in London. In 1957 her husband John was appointed as a Hand of the Cause and Shoghi Effendi passed away in London resulting in the Hands assuming responsibility for stewardship of the Faith establishing the Institution of the Custodians.[5]
In January 1958 Ferraby represented the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles at an Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Kampala, Uganda, to mark the midpoint of the Ten Year Crusade. In 1959 her husband was elected to serve as one of the Custodians and they moved to the Holy Land, settling in Haifa, for him to serve in the role.[5] During her residence in the Holy Land Ferraby was appointed to the Committee responsible for organizing the First Bahá’í World Congress to be held in the Royal Albert Hall in London. The Congress was held in 1963 and she assisted with the running of the event and was only able to attend the final session.[6]
The Universal House of Justice was established in 1963 with the Institution of the Custodians being disbanded and the Ferraby's returned to England settling in Cambridge. Ferraby resumed her position as an Auxiliary Board member and was appointed the Executive Board member for Europe, being responsible for additional duties than other Board members in support of the Hands of the Cause.[6] In 1968 the Universal House of Justice established the Continental Boards of Counsellors with Ferraby being appointed an inaugural Counsellor for Europe, with the position superseding that of the Executive Board member.[7]
During her service as Counsellor Ferraby travelled internationally despite suffering ill health, breaking her hip during a visit to Holland, and receiving eye surgery.[8] In 1973 John passed away and Ferraby moved from Cambridge to Nottingham. In 1980 the Universal House of Justice introduced five year terms to the Continental Boards and Ferraby was appointed for one term that year.[9]
In her later years Ferraby lived with her daughter, Bridget, and her family in Nottinghamshire. She passed away in 1994 and the Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message:
HEARTS GRIEVED PASSING DEARLY LOVED STALWART MAIDSERVANT BAHA’U’LLAH DOROTHY FERRABY WHOSE DISTINGUISHED SERVICES CAUSE GOD EXTENDED OVER MORETHAN HALF A CENTURY. SHE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY ADMINISTRATION FAITH AS MEMBER NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BRITISH ISLES AND FIRST AUXILIARY BOARD EUROPE, PLAYED VITAL PART HISTORIC AFRICA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI, SERVED WORLD CENTRE DURING CUSTODIANSHIP HANDS CAUSE, AND LATER As MEMBER CONTINENTAL BOARD OF COUNSELLORS EUROPE. THESE SERVICES, AS WELL AS HER [NDEFATIGABLE LABOURS AND STERLING QUALITIES, HER TENACITY, PERSEVERENCE AND UNFLINCHING LOYALTY HAVE ENRICHED THE ANNALS FAITH BRITISH ISLES AND SET WORTHY EXAMPLE.
ARDENTLY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER NOBLE SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS COMMUNITIES UNITED KINGDOM. REQUESTING NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF GERMANY HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE MOTHER TEMPLE EUROPE. ALSO ADVISING EUROPEAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HOLD COMMEMORATIVE GATHERINGS COMMUNITIES THEIR COUNTRIES.
CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY HER BELOVED DAUGHTER, OTHER MEMBERS HER FAMILY.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 136
- ↑ Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 137
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 510. View as PDF.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 138
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 139
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 140
- ↑ Baha'i News (August 1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 449, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Baha'i World: In Memoriam 1992-1997, p 141
- ↑ Baha'i News (February 1981). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 599, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
