Jessie Revell
Jessie Revell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 23, 1891 |
| Died | April 14, 1966 Haifa |
| IBC member | 1951 - 1963 |
Jessie E. Revell (March 23, 1891 - April 14, 1966) was an American Bahá’í who served as a member of the International Bahá’í Council serving as Treasurer.
Background[edit]
Jessie's father passed away when she was very young. Her sister Ethel and her mother were introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by Annie McKinney in 1906 and attended firesides held by Isabella D. Brittingham. After becoming a Bahá’í Jessie spent her evenings typing copies of Tablets of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in order to distribute them to the Bahá’í's. When ʻAbdu'l-Bahá visited Philadelphia in June, 1912, Jessie visited newspaper offices to secure press coverage, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá visited the Revell home. She traveled to New York to see ʻAbdu'l-Bahá again before He departed the West.[1]
In 1921 Jessie received a Tablet from ʻAbdu'l-Bahá granting her permission to go on pilgrimage, however she had to delay her departure and He passed before she departed America. She instead met Shoghi Effendi. The Revell sisters taught the Faith throughout the 1920's and 1930's, and Jessie served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Philadelphia.[2]
In 1950 Shoghi Effendi summoned Jessie and Ethel to the Holy Land. During their travel they held a World Religion Day event on the ship. After arriving Jessie was made responsible for collecting and sending correspondence to and from the Guardian, and in 1951 she was appointed as treasurer of the International Bahá’í Council by Shoghi Effendi. She also undertook miscellaneous duties for the Guardian and greeted pilgrims.[3]
Before his passing Shoghi Effendi had directed Jessie to attend the Chicago Intercontinental Conference of 1958, which she did. In 1961 she accompanied Ruhiyyih Khanum on her visit to Australia for the dedication of the Sydney House of Worship, and visited New Zealand alone when Ruhiyyih Khanum was too ill to travel after their time in Australia. She also continued to manage correspondence to the Holy Land after Shoghi Effendi's passing, and she served on the International Bahá’í Council until it was dissolved in 1963 and succeeded by the Universal House of Justice.[4]
In 1965 Jessie visited Turkey and Iran, and was able to visit the Holy Places associated with the life of Bahá’u’lláh.[5]
She passed in 1966, and the Universal House of Justice cabled the following message:
| “ | WITH PROFOUND GRIEF ANNOUNCE PASSING JESSIE REVELL HER TIRELESS STEADFAST DEVOTION FAITH SINCE BEFORE MASTER'S VISIT AMERICAN CONTINENT EARNED LOVE TRUST ADMIRATION SHOGHI EFFENDI CROWNED BY APPOINTMENT INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED BY SERVICE TREASURER BOTH APPOINTED ELECTED COUNCILS. URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS TRIBUTE UNFORGETTABLE EXEMPLARY SERVICES FAITH.[6] | ” |
References[edit]
- Obituary published in Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, pp 300-303
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, p 300
- ↑ Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, p 301
- ↑ Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, p 302
- ↑ Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, p 302
- ↑ Bahá’í World, Vol. 14, pp 302-303
- ↑ Universal House of Justice (1996). Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986. p. 76. ISBN 0-87743-239-2.
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