Mariette Bolton
Dr. Mariette G. Bolton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mariette Germaine Roy 1900 Canada |
| Died | July 10, 1968 Australia |
| NSA member | Australia & N.Z., 1948-1951 |
| Spouse(s) | Stanley Bolton |
| Children | Stanley Bolton, Jr., Antoinette Bolton, Mariette Bolton, Jr., John Bolton. |
Mariette Germaine Bolton (1900 – July 10, 1968)[1] was a Canadian Bahá'í who served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand as Secretary and taught the Faith in the Pacific.
Life[edit]
Mariette G. Roy was born into a Catholic French Canadian family of farmers. In 1923 she married Stanley Bolton and the couple emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1924. She first heard of the Bahá'í Faith from the Dunn’s in 1925 and she and Stanley declared after meeting Keith Ransome-Kehler in 1931.
The Bolton’s moved to Detroit in the United States in 1931. Their son Stanley Jr. fell ill and was treated by a Chiropractor prompting the Bolton’s to move to Iowa and study Chiropractic at Palmer College in Davenport. They established a Chiroprachtic practice when they returned to Sydney in 1934.
In 1936 the Bolton’s purchased land in Yerrinbool and built the first Australian Bahá'í Summer School on the property. Siegfried Schopflocher visited the property shortly after the first building was completed and suggested it be named 'Bolton Place'. Mariette gave him a letter and a pin tray to deliver to Shoghi Effendi, and Shoghi Effendi wrote the following to her after receiving them:
Assuring you of my deep appreciation of your gift which I shall place on your behalf in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahjí in the close vicinity of His Shrine and wishing you success from all my heart. Your true brother, Shoghi[2]
The Bolton's moved to Yerrinbool in 1943 and both Stanley and Mariette served on the first Yerrinbool Local Spiritual Assembly. Mariette and Stanley managed the Yerrinbool School themselves before turning over administration to the National Spiritual Assembly in 1945. They continued to serve as caretakers of the Summer School property until moving to Orange, NSW in 1963.[3]
Mariette undertook a teaching trip to New Caledonia in February 1952.[4] Her knowledge of French allowed her to teach the Faith effectively, and at least one local became a Bahá'í during her visit.[5] In 1953 she travelled extensively with Stanley, attending Intercontinental Teaching Conferences in Stockholm and Delhi, attending the dedication of the American House of Worship, representing the Australian National Spiritual Assembly at the formation of the first Fijian Local Spiritual Assembly, and making Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
She taught in New Zealand, the US and Canada during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s and passed away in Australia shortly after a visit to New Caledonia in 1968.
The Universal House of Justice cabled the following after her passing:
SADDENED NEWS PASSING DEVOTED EARLY AUSTRALIAN BELIEVER MARIETTE BOLTON STOP HER OUTSTANDING SERVICES TEACHER FAITH MEMBER NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CO-DONOR YERRINBOOL SUMER SCHOOL INDELIBILY RECORDED HISTORY FAITH ANTIPODES PACIFIC AREA STOP ADVICE HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL SERVICE TEMPLE PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER SOUL EXTEND LOVING SYMPATHY FAMILY.
References[edit]
- Bahá'í World, Vol. 15, p 435-436
Notes[edit]
- ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=145281881
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/shoghi-effendi_messages_antipodes&chapter=1#n29
- ↑ Yerrinbool Baha’i School 1938-1988: An Account of the First Fifty Years, Graham Hassall, p 17
- ↑ Baha’i News, No. 255, p 10
- ↑ Baha’I News, No. 257, p 5
