Edward Struven

Edward Struven

Edward Struven (1875 - December 31, 1965) was an early American Bahá’í who assisted with the construction of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Illinois.

Biography[edit]

Struven was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1875 to Dietrich Struven, who worked as a ship's chandler, and Rose Klaus Struven, and he had a younger brother, Howard. In his youth Struven moved to New York where he studied engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca and in 1898 he was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by Lua Getsinger.[1] In the early 1910's he married and settled in Baltimore, Maryland.[2] In 1912 he was able to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York City during His visit to the United States.[3]

In 1923 Struven was asked to assist with the construction of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, and he moved to the city. From the late 1920's to the late 1930's he corresponded with Shoghi Effendi with Shoghi Effendi emphasizing the importance of the House of Worship and providing encouragement and praise for Struven's service.[3]

Struven retired from his service in Wilmette in the mid 1940's and moved to Arizona briefly before settling in Florida. He continued to teach the Faith up until the end of his life even after becoming almost blind due to age. He passed away in 1965 at ninety years old.[4] The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:

GRIEVED NEWS PASSING EDWARD STRUVEN DEVOTED SERVANT FAITH ASSOCIATED EARLY DAYS TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION PRAYERS SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM[1]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baha'i News (1966). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 419, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  2. ↑ https://bahai-library.com/mccants_notes_struven
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 380. View as PDF.
  4. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 381. View as PDF.
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