Edward Kinney

Edward (right) with Carrie Kinney.

Edward "Saffa" Beadle Kinney (March 9, 1863 - December 15, 1950) was a Bahá’í who lived in New York City. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at his home several times during His visit to America in 1912.

Biography

Edward was born in New York City. He was interested in music as a child, playing the organ and composing music. At fourteen he got his first job which was as the organist at St. Luke's Church in New York City. After a year he began studying under Dr. Leopold Damrosch, a Polish Conductor, who he studied composition with for a total of eight years. He then attended Richmond College in Richmond while working as choirmaster and organist at Monumental Episcopal Church.

After completing his studies in Richmond he returned to New York and studied under Edward MacDowell at Columbia University. He won a scholarship via a competition sponsored by the American National Conservatory of Music and was able to study under Anton Dvorak. He then worked for several churches, composed some religious music, and taught singing.

In 1893 Edward met Helen 'Carrie' Morette and they married in 1895, against the wishes of Carrie's parents. In 1895 Howard MacNutt, who was an old friend of Edwards, invited them to a fireside in the Bronx. After the fireside Edward accepted the Faith and wrote a letter to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. After a month he received a Tablet in reply. Carrie later accepted the Faith as well.

In 1906 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá invited the Kinneys to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and they went with their two sons Sanford and Howard and were able to stay for eight months. Carrie fell ill while in Haifa, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advised the Kinneys to cancel their plans to go to India from Haifa for her health, advising them to instead go to Alexandria and assist Zia Bagdadi in establishing a tuberculosis hospital. The Kinneys invited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to visit America and stay in their home before departing the Holy Land for Egypt. They returned to New York City after a year. In 1909 they made a second Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, this time with Juliet Thompson and Alice Beede.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá with the Kinneys in their home, 1912.

In New York City the Kinney's large home at 780 West End Avenue hosted many Bahá’í events, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Tablets to the American Bahá’ís were sent to their home. In 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited America, and Edward was invited aboard the Cedric when it first arrived to meet with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. After disembarking he informed the others at the dock that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would meet with them at the Kinney's home that afternoon. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed with them for nine days, covering their expenses during His stay. At the end of His American tour ‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to New York and again spoke at the Kinney's home, with the second last talk He gave in America before departing taking place there.

During ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's visit to America He bestowed the name Saffa on Edward, Vaffa on Carrie, ‘Abdu’l-‘Alí on their son Sanford, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on their son Howard. The Kinneys later had a son named Donald who ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave the name Vahid.

The Kinneys later moved from New York City to a small cabin in Eliot, Maine. By 1919 they were living in Wallaston, Boston. Their son Sanford passed in 1919 due to illness, and they received a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá commending him. They returned to New York City after a time and resided in an apartment at the Woodward Hotel. In 1938 their son Howard passed.

Edward passed away in 1950 and Shoghi Effendi conveyed the following message after his passing:

"Grieve at passing of dearly loved, highly admired, greatly trusted, staunch, indefatigable, self-sacrificing teacher, pillar of Faith, Saffa Kinney. His leonine spirit, exemplary steadfastness, notable record of services enriched annals of closing period of Heroic Age and opening phase of Formative Age of Bahá’í Dispensation. Beautiful reward assured in Abhá Kingdom beneath the shadow of the Master he loved so dearly, served so nobly, defended so heroically until last breath."

Notes

References

• You Have Been Chosen: The story of Carrie and Edward Kinney by O.Z. Whitehead, article published in Bahá’í News, No. 512, pp 10-15.
• http://bahaichronicles.org/edward-kinney/