Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City
City in the United States
Loading map...
Click the map to see nearby articles
History:
Firsts
 -  Local Assembly 1907 
How to contact:
 -  Phone (551) 261-1595 
 -  Address 323 Danforth Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07305-1904 
 -  State New Jersey
 -  Country United States
Official Website Community Facebook Page
Related media

Jersey City, New Jersey is part of the New York metropolitan area lying just across the Hudson River from New York City. It is the county seat of Hudson County. The city was part of the North Hudson, New Jersey consultative body, one of the earliest Bahá’í communities in the United States. The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Jersey City, New Jersey was first formed in 1907, and incorporated in 1939.

Early Organization[edit]

Edward C. Getsinger (1866-1935) with two ladies, Anton F. Haddad (1862-1924), and Isabella D. Brittingham(1852-1924), Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá


The American Bahá’í community grew rapidly in the mid to late 1890s. Beginning with 4 Bahá’ís in 1894, 5 in 1895, 55 in 1896, 887 in 1898, and 1467 in 1899. Northern Hudson County, New Jersey was one of the larger Bahá’í communities with membership in several larger and smaller communities in northern Hudson County. Membership was primarily middle class Americans, but there were also some blue collar workers.[1]

In February of 1898, Ibrahim George Kheiralla visited New York City and taught classes on the Faith and mysticism. There was close interaction between the Bahá’ís of New York City and Northern New Jersey in the first several years. James and Isabella Brittingham, probably living in New Jersey, attended the classes and enrolled in the Faith.[2]

Frederick G. Hale may have been one of these first students or enrolled soon afterwards. He was a miller and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey where he married Emma Louise Haas in 1893.[3] In 1896, his first son, Dudley A. Hale, was born in Jersey City.[4]

Communities were beginning to elect chairmen and secretaries as in a traditional American organization. It was at this time that Edward Getsinger returned from pilgrimage with a copy of Kitáb-i-Aqdas in Arabic. Antone Haddad began translating it. The Bahá’ís of northern Hudson County asked Edward Getsinger to help them organize. With his assistance, they formed the “Northern Hudson” consultative body. The members of the original Board of Council were James Brittingham, Arthur James, Charles T. Jones, Henry Ackerman, and H. C. Rhoads. A prominent and capable woman in the Bahá’í community, Isabella Brittingham, was made the body’s corresponding secretary but was not officially a member. Since most of the Bahá’ís resided north of Jersey City the organization was generally referred to as “Northern Hudson”. Thus the first “Bahá’í” organization was formed which had a significant impact on the future development of American Bahá’í communities.[5]

On August 18, 1900, the Board of Council started to keep minutes. The minute book is the oldest minute book known in the Bahá’í world. The purpose of the meeting of August 18 was to replace James and Isabella Brittingham as chairman and secretary since they were moving out of town. Arthur James became chairman and Charles T. Jones became secretary and would continue in those positions for five years.[6]

Frederick G. Hale moved to Stanford Connecticut before the census of 1900[7] and then worked as a salesman in Wichita, Kansas from 1901-1902.[8] His second son, Frederick W. Hale, was born on 25 October 1901 in Wichita.[9] While in Wichita, he was an active teacher and enrolled at least three other Bahá’ís.[10] Contact with them was lost when he moved back to Jersey City.

The community seems to have avoided any serious effects from Kheiralla’s disaffection. The minute book does not indicate any issues with Kheiralla’s attempts to take power. The establishment of the council may have protected the community from ill affects.[11]

In April 1901 the Board drew up its rules and bylaws which again were the oldest in existence. The document defined the organization’s membership as the Bahá’ís living in Hudson County and any Bahá’ís affiliated with the community that were not affiliated with any other Bahá’í community. The size of the Board was set at 9 also. Although it would later be increased, changed to 6 and finally returned to 9. Another duty of the Board was to formally own any property, maintain membership lists, notifying community members of meetings, arranging meeting locations, distributing literature, and corresponding with other communities.[12]

The Board was maintained up until January 1902 by appointments by the Board when required. In January the bylaws were changed to establish an annual meeting of the community every February at which the community would elect the Board members for the next year.[13] Frederick G. Hale returned to Jersey City probably returned to Jersey City in 1902 but certainly before 1904[14]

In December 1903, the North Hudson group changed the name of their council from “Board of Council” to “Board of Counsel”.[15] In February 1907, the Bahá’ís of Newark, North Hudson, and Jersey City collaborated to form the Bahá’í Assembly of New Jersey.[16]

1907-1912[edit]

In the 1907 to 1908 period, three individuals seemed to be serving on both the New York and the North Hudson Boards. Frederick G. Hale was listed as a member of the New York City Board and as treasurer for the North Hudson and Jersey City Board. Charles T. Jones moved to Rutherford, New Jersey outside of Hudson County and was quickly elected to the New York Board. Finally, Paul T. J. Marshal served as secretary of both Boards during this time.[17]

In 1908, regular meetings were being held at 550 Newark Avenue to which the Bahá’ís of New York were asked to support the meetings.[18]

By 1909, some of the Bahá’ís in the smaller towns had moved to Jersey City and additional Bahá’ís had enrolled there moving the center of the community to Jersey City. Since most of the Bahá’ís lived in Jersey City the community was then generally referred to as “Bahá’í Assembly of North Hudson and Jersey City”.[19] A new series of meeting were started Sunday evenings in November which lasted until May of 1910.[20]

Bergen Avenue, Odd Fellows’ Hall, Jersey City, NJ and Howard Colby Ives (1867-1941)

When the Sunday meetings were not held in public venues from 1908 to 1911, they were rotated among the believers in Hudson County. These meetings began by reciting the Greatest Name in unison and the reading of tablets and selections from the Bahá’í writings and the Bible. This was followed by a talk on the Faith, some songs and closed with the repetition of the Greatest Name again. The names of those attending the Sunday meetings was recorded in the Assembly minutes from which it can be estimated that there were 35 to 40 community members.[21]

In January of 1912, The Jersey City Bahá’í community started a series of Sunday evening meetings at the Odd Fellows Hall in Bergen Square[22] titled “Universal Divine Commonwealth”. This series of meetings was advertised in the newspapers and lasted until April. One attendee was to become important to the future of the Faith. He was the minister of the Brotherhood Church in Jersey City, Mr. Howard Colby Ives. He subsequently enrolled in the Faith and resigned as minister of the Church. Howard was to become on of North America’s best known travel teachers.[23]

'Abdu'l-Bahá in New Jersey[edit]

12 May 1912: AB gave talk at Unity Church, Montclair, New Jersey.[24]

19 May 1912: AB gave talk at Brotherhood Church, Bergen and Fairview Avenues, Jersey City, NJ.[25]

31 May 1912: AB gave talk at the Town Hall, Franwood, New Jersey.[26]

5 June 1912: Mr. Walter Goodfellow, alt., Mr. William H. Hoar, del: 4th Annual Convention of the Bahai Temple City.[27]

23 June 1912: AB gave talk at Montclair, NJ[28]

29 June 1912: AB gave talk at Unity Feast, Outdoors, West Englewood, New Jersey.[29]

Bahá'í Temple Unity[edit]

William H. Hoar (1857-1922), Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Roy C. Wilhem (1875-1951), Hand of the Cause of God

In 1909 the Bahá'í Temple Unity convention was established with the first convention to be held in Chicago at the direction of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.[30] The Bahá'í Temple Unity Conventions were held from 1909 to 1921. The North Hudson and Jersey City community was usually represented at the Temple Unity Conventions. Representation often included both a delegate and an alternate. These were often times individuals who lived outside the community represented. One deligate might represent multiple communities.

Delegates to the Baha'i Temple Unity Conventions for North Hudson and Jersey City
Year Location Delegate Alternate
1909 Chicago, IL[31] William H. Hoar[32]
1910 Chicago, IL[33] William H. Hoar[34]
1911 Chicago, IL[35] William H. Hoar[36]
19112 Chicago, IL[37] William H. Hoar[38]
1913 New York City, NY[39] William H. Hoar[40] Frederick G. Hale[41]
1914 Chicago, IL[42] No delegate listed[43]
1915 Chicago, IL[44]
1916
1917 Boston, MA[45] Roy C. Wilhelm[46]
1918 Chicago, IL[47] William H. Hoar[48] Roy C. Wilhelm[49]
1919 New York City, NY[50]
1920 New York City, NY[51] Frederick G. Hale[52] Mrs. Mary C. Moore[53]
1921 Chicago, IL[54]

William H. Hoar was elected to the Executive Board for the Baha'i Temple Unity for 1909 to 1911. Roy C. Wilhelm was elected for 1910 to 1914, 1917 to 1918, and 1919 to 1921.[55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62]


The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1922 on the instruction of Shoghi Effendi,[63] and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada in 1925. After 1921, the Temple Committee was appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly but was sometimes referred to as the Bahá'í Temple Unity.[64]

In 1922, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States was established and the Bahá'í Temple Unity Executive Committee became a committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 7. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  2. ↑ Star of the West (March, 1924). Committee for the National Spiritual Assembly of America. Volume 14, Issue 12. Pg(s) 354. View as PDF.
  3. ↑ Ancestry.com. “New York, New York, Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937,” ancestry.com Operations, 2014, Provo, Utah.
  4. ↑ Ancestry.com. “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Provo, Utah.
  5. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 11-14. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  6. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 130. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  7. ↑ Ancestry.com. “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Provo, Utah.
  8. ↑ Staff. “1902 Wichita City Directory, 12th and 14th Editions, per Duane Herrmann.
  9. ↑ Ancestry.com. “U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current,” ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, Provo, Utah.
  10. ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “Tablet to Frederick G. Hale,” provided by Duane Herrmann.
  11. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 130. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  12. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 130-131. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  13. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 130-131. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  14. ↑ Ancestry.com. “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Provo, Utah.
  15. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 13. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  16. ↑ Hussein Ahdieh, Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá’í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932, p 10
  17. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 339-340, 505. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  18. ↑ ”Jersey City”, Bahai Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 2 and 3, October-November, 1908, Page 20.
  19. ↑ This may seem a little confusing since the Spiritual Assembly of Jersey City, New Jersey had been organized in 1907, but membership lines were not well defined and obviously members could be included in multiple Assemblies.
  20. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 340. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  21. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 341. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  22. ↑ Star of the West (March 2, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 19. Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  23. ↑ The Bahá’í Faith in America Volume 2. George Ronald Publisher. 1995. p. 340-341. ISBN 0-85398-388-7.
  24. ↑ Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 113-116.
  25. ↑ Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 129-132.
  26. ↑ Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 161-163.
  27. ↑ Star of the West (June 5, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 3, Issue 5. Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 210-213.
  29. ↑ Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 213-216.
  30. ↑ The Bahai Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 5, Bahai Publishing Society, New York, Page 7-8.
  31. ↑ The Bahai Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 6, Bahai Publishing Society, New York, Page 4-6.
  32. ↑ The Bahai Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 6, Bahai Publishing Society, New York, Page 4-6.
  33. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1910). Bahai News Service. Volume 1, Issue 4. Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
  34. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1910). Bahai News Service. Volume 1, Issue 4. Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
  35. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 4. Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  36. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 4. Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  37. ↑ Star of the West (February 7, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 18. Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  38. ↑ Star of the West (June 5, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 3, Issue 5. Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  39. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 2. Pg(s) 41. View as PDF.
  40. ↑ Star of the West (August 1, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 8. Pg(s) 130. View as PDF.
  41. ↑ Star of the West (August 1, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 8. Pg(s) 130. View as PDF.
  42. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1914). Bahai News Service. Volume 5, Issue 4. Pg(s) 51. View as PDF.
  43. ↑ Star of the West (September 8, 1914). Bahai News Service. Volume 5, Issue 10. Pg(s) 147. View as PDF.
  44. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 1. Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  45. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 1. Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  46. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 1. Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  47. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 2. Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  48. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 4. Pg(s) 50. View as PDF.
  49. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 4. Pg(s) 50. View as PDF.
  50. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1919). Bahai News Service. Volume 10, Issue 2. Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  51. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 1. Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
  52. ↑ Star of the West (September 27, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 11. Pg(s) 174. View as PDF.
  53. ↑ Star of the West (September 27, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 11. Pg(s) 174. View as PDF.
  54. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1921). Bahai News Service. Volume 12, Issue 1. Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
  55. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1910). Bahai News Service. Volume 1, Issue 4. Pg(s) 23. View as PDF.
  56. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 4. Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  57. ↑ Star of the West (June 5, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 3, Issue 5. Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  58. ↑ Star of the West (August 1, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 8. Pg(s) 145. View as PDF.
  59. ↑ Star of the West (September 8, 1914). Bahai News Service. Volume 5, Issue 10. Pg(s) 150. View as PDF.
  60. ↑ Star of the West (August 20, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 9. Pg(s) 116. View as PDF.
  61. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 4. Pg(s) 72. View as PDF.
  62. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 4. Pg(s) 72. View as PDF.
  63. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1922). Bahai News Service. Volume 13, Issue 4. Pg(s) 80. View as PDF.
  64. ↑ Baha'i News Letter (1928). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 26, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
Retrieved from "https://bahaipedia.org/index.php?title=Jersey_City,_New_Jersey&oldid=145885"