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Bahá’í Temple Unity

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Bahá’í Temple Unity
National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’í Temple Unity
National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’í Temple Unity
First Bahá'í Temple Unity Convention, 1909.
Membership
History:
 -  Established 1909 
 -  Preceded United States (1922-1925) 

The Bahá'í Temple Unity or Executive Board of Bahá'í Temple Unity was a body formed by the American Bahá'í community at its first National Convention in 1909. Its purpose was organizing and coordinating efforts to build a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in the United States of America.

In 1922 the body was renamed the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on the instructions of Shoghi Effendi,[1] and it became the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada in 1925. A Temple Committee was then appointed by the NSA. The Temple Committee was sometimes referred to as the Bahá’í Temple Unity.[2]

Conventions[edit]

The delegates to the annual convention were assigned by the existing community administrative bodies normally designated as boards and later Assemblies. There was usually a delegate and optional alternate. Since Bahá'í community boundaries at the time were not well defined, there were often isolated believers that were associated with the community and the delegate and alternate were normally chosen from the area. In some cases the delegate or alternate might be assigned from anywhere. Some delegates represented multiple communities.

The Conventions normally started with a Breakfast for the Executive Board or a Unity or Ridván Feast on the evening before the business meetings began. The business meetings were usually held in the mornings and afternoons with public or social meetings in the evenings after the business meetings. In latter years, the meetings were divided between Convention Meetings which were public or social and Congress Meetings which were the business meetings.

The elections did not follow the Bahá'í procedures we use today[3]:

  • Delegates and optional alternate from each Assembly area (not proportional to Bahá'i population).
  • The alternate could vote if the delegate was not available.
  • Delegates and alternate were appointed by local communities but did not have to reside in the Assembly area or take part the Assembly activities.
  • Delegates and alternates could represent multiple Assemblies.
  • The nominees for election to the Executive Board were nominated with a straw pole to trim the number of candidates.
  • There was electioneering.
Convention Dates and Location
Date City Location Room
March 20-23, 1909[4] Chicago, IL Masonic Temple Corintian Hall
April 25-26, 1910[5] Chicago, IL Masonic Temple Corinthian Hall
May 1-2, 1911 [6] Chicago, IL Masonic Temple Corinthian Hall
April 27 - May 1, 1912[7] Chicago, IL Masonic Temple Corinthian Hall
April 28-29, 1913[8] New York City, NY Masonic Temple French Ionic Room
April 25-28, 1914[9] Chicago, IL Masonic Temple Corinthian Hall
April 29 - May 2, 1915[10] Chicago, IL Auditorium Hotel
April 29 - May 2, 1916[11] Chicago, IL Auditorium Hotel
April 29 - May 2, 1917[12] Boston, MA Hotel Brunswick
April 27-30, 1918[13] Chicago, IL Auditorium Hotel
April 26-30, 1919[14] New York City, NY Hotel McAlpin
April 24-28, 1920[15] New York City, NY City Engineering Societies
Auditorium and Convention Hall
April 23-27, 1921[16] Chicago, IL Auditorium Hotel Banquet Hall

Development of the Temple[edit]

The Executive Board oversaw the collection of funds and distributions. During their time, the Purchased the original land selected for the temple, plus an additional lot as requested by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to provide a clear view of Lake Michigan. They raiseda the $75,000 for the purchase of the two properties which was completed in 1913.[17] By 1916 they had raised about $57,000 toward the $200,000 required to clear and level the properties and start initiate the constructions of the pilings to support the the building itself which would extend to a solid rock level. [18] [19]

The selection of the design was the main business of the 1916 convention. Selection of the Temple design would allow construction of the foundation of the Temple to begin. They had hopes of raising $200,000 by November 12, 1917 so that they could lay the cornerstone within a year.[20] This was not to be. In 1921 work was started on the borings to reach the rock foundation to assure support of the structure and arrangements were made for the removal of all trees on the Temple site so that the leveling and grading of the property could begin.[21] The development of the temple would then be passed to the NSA to be elected. By the time the efforts were passed to the NSA, the construction of the basement of the Temple was well underway.[22]


(left to right) Some of the proposals for the temple: Temple design inspired from the Roman Classic, Temple design inspired from the Arabian and Moorish, Temple design inspired from the Byzantine Romanesque, Temple design inspired from the Indian style, Temple design inspired from the Persian, Accepted design for the Wilmette Temple


















Executive Committee Membership[edit]

The Executive Committee was elected each April or May by the delegates to the annual convention. They executive board was to oversee the purchase and maintenance of the property, the construction, collection of contributions for the Temple, and organize an annual convention.

The delegates to the annual convention would usually elect the executive board for the following year on the last day of the convention. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

Board Member 1909
-
1910		 1910
-
1911		 1911
-
1912		 1912
-
1913		 1913
-
1914		 1914
-
1915		 1915
-
1916		 1916
-
1917		 1917
-
1918		 1918
-
1919		 1919
-
1920		 1920
-
1921		 1921
-
1922
Mr. Arthur S. Agnew X X
Mr. Willard H. Ashton X X X
Frances Carre.
Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi X X X
Louise D. Boyle X X X
Mrs. Ella G. Cooper X X
Mr. Frederick W. D’Evelyn X X
Mrs. Helen S. Goodall X
Mr. Louis G. Gregory X X
Mr. Albert H. Hall X X X X X X X X X
Mr. Joseph H. Hannen X X X
Mrs. H. Emogene Hoagg X X
Mr. William H. Hoar X X
Mr. Bernard M. Jacobsen X X X X X X
Eshte’al-Ebn-Kalanter
(Ali Kuli Khan)		 X X X
Mr. Edward B. Kinney X X X
Mr. George O. Latimer X
Mr. Alfred E. Lunt X X X X X X X X X X
Mrs. May Maxwell X X X
Mr. Mountfort Mills X X X X X X X X
Mr. Harlan Foster Ober X X X X
Mrs. Anna L. Parmerton. X X X X X X
Mrs. Agnes S. Parsons X
Mr. William C. Ralston X
Mr. William H. Randall X X X X X X X X X
Mr. Charles Mason Remey X X X
Mrs. Corinne True X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Mr. Albert Ross Vail X X X X
Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm X X X X X X X

Interim National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (1922 to 1925)[edit]

Unites States (1922-1925)
Membership
History:
 -  Established 1922 
 -  Succeeded Bahá'í Temple Unity 
 -  Preceded United States and Canada (1925)

In 1922, Shoghi Effendi initiated steps toward forming "Secondary Houses of Justice," or National Spiritual Assemblies in countries where the local administrative institutions had advanced in number and influence. As a step in this direction, the Bahaá'í Temple Unity Executive Committee was renamed the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. The newly formed Assembly was given authority over several ongoing functions including the publication of Star of the West.[36] The newly formed Assembly would not meet all of the requirements of a National Spiritual Assembly until 1925 when it would become the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada.[37]

The convention 0f 1922, marking the beginning of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, was held at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago, April 22-26. It was the first convention to receive a letter from Shoghi Effendi to the convention. The construction of the basement for the Temple was well underway. The convention would visit the construction site on Sunday morning following the convention.[38] [39]

The first meeting in the basement auditorium of the future Bahá'í Temple took place on July 9, 1922 observing the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb. On August 1 the Bahá'ís held a Feast in the basement auditorium.[40]

The membership of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States from 1922 to 1925 are listed in the table below. [41] [42] [43]


Name 1922-1923 1923-1924 1924-1925
Zia Bagdadi X
Ella G. Cooper X X
Elizabeth Greenleaf X
Louis Gregory X X
Horace Holley X X
Alfred E. Lunt X X X
May Maxwell X
Mountfort Mills X X
Florence Morton X
Agnes S. Parsons X X
William H. Randall X X
Charles Mason Remey X X
Siegfried Schopflocher X
Corinne True X X
Roy C. Wilhelm X X X

In 1925, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States transitioned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada. [44][45]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Star of the West, Vol. 13, No. 4, May 17, 1922
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ no byline. "Tag "National Spiritual Assembly, formation"".
  4. ↑ The Bahai Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 6, Bahai Publishing Society, New York, Page 4-6.
  5. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1910). Bahai News Service. Volume 1, Issue 4. Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  6. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 4. Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  7. ↑ Star of the West (June 5, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 3, Issue 5. Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  8. ↑ Star of the West (August 1, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 8. Pg(s) 130. View as PDF.
  9. ↑ Star of the West (September 8, 1914). Bahai News Service. Volume 5, Issue 10. Pg(s) 147. View as PDF.
  10. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 2. Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  11. ↑ Star of the West (July 13, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 7. Pg(s) 52. View as PDF.
  12. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 1. Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  13. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 2. Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  14. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1919). Bahai News Service. Volume 10, Issue 2. Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  15. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 1. Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
  16. ↑ Star of the West (March 21, 1921). Bahai News Service. Volume 12, Issue 1. Pg(s) 18. View as PDF.
  17. ↑ Star of the West (July 13, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 7. Pg(s) 61. View as PDF.
  18. ↑ Star of the West (June 24, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 6. Pg(s) 1-2. View as PDF.
  19. ↑ Star of the West (July 13, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 7. Pg(s) 49-50. View as PDF.
  20. ↑ Star of the West (July 13, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 7, Issue 7. Pg(s) 61. View as PDF.
  21. ↑ Star of the West (October 16, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 12. Pg(s) 204. View as PDF.
  22. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1922). Bahai News Service. Volume 13, Issue 4. Pg(s) . View as PDF.
  23. ↑ The Bahai Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 6, Bahai Publishing Society, New York, Page 4-6.
  24. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1910). Bahai News Service. Volume 1, Issue 4. Pg(s) 23. View as PDF.
  25. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1911). Bahai News Service. Volume 2, Issue 4. Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  26. ↑ Star of the West (June 5, 1912). Bahai News Service. Volume 3, Issue 5. Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  27. ↑ Star of the West (August 1, 1913). Bahai News Service. Volume 4, Issue 8. Pg(s) 145. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ Star of the West (September 8, 1914). Bahai News Service. Volume 5, Issue 10. Pg(s) 150. View as PDF.
  29. ↑ Star of the West (January 19, 1916). Bahai News Service. Volume 6, Issue 17. Pg(s) 132. View as PDF.
  30. ↑ Star of the West (August 20, 1915). Bahai News Service. Volume 6, Issue 9. Pg(s) 132. View as PDF.
  31. ↑ Star of the West (August 20, 1917). Bahai News Service. Volume 8, Issue 9. Pg(s) 116. View as PDF.
  32. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1918). Bahai News Service. Volume 9, Issue 4. Pg(s) 74. View as PDF.
  33. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 4. Pg(s) 72. View as PDF.
  34. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1920). Bahai News Service. Volume 11, Issue 4. Pg(s) 72. View as PDF.
  35. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1921). Bahai News Service. Volume 12, Issue 4. Pg(s) 90. View as PDF.
  36. ↑ Star of the West (April 9, 1922). Bahai News Service. Volume 13, Issue 2. Pg(s) 46. View as PDF.
  37. ↑ Note from US National Bahá'í Archives: Shoghi Effendi sent a letter dated March 5, 1922 to the Bahá’ís, which first discussed the need for National Spiritual Assemblies and their nature. The letter was read at the 1922 National Convention and was discussed. I’ve attached a portion of the Convention transcript: the Guardian’s letter begins on page 8 and the first reference to National Spiritual Assemblies appears on page 12. In June, 1922 they continued to use the Bahá’í Temple Unity letterhead, but changed the heading “Executive Board” (followed by a list of members) to “National Spiritual Assembly” with a list of members. By 1925 the letterhead had been changed, first to “National Bahá’í Assembly” and then “National Spiritual Assembly”. The earliest letter we have found from Shoghi Effendi to the National Assembly, addressing them as such, is dated December 23, 1922.

    In a letter dated March 12, 1923 to North America and seven other regions, the Guardian outlined how the delegates ought to be elected: by proportional representation by the communities with Local Spiritual Assemblies. He used the United States as the example of how to divide up the delegates. The text of this letter was published in Bahá’í Administration, beginning on page 34. This procedure required an up-to-date membership list for each Local Spiritual Assembly community. However, the National Spiritual Assembly did not have such membership lists in 1923 or 1924. It was not until 1925 that the Local Spiritual Assemblies were first asked to send their membership lists in advance of the National Convention. We don’t know the exact reason for this delay, but it might have been due partly to the fact that Alfred Lunt was a less efficient secretary than Horace Holley, who replaced him in 1924. In a March 17, 1925 letter from Horace Holley to Shoghi Effendi the last issue relating to the election of delegates was resolved for the 1925 National Convention election call. And as you pointed out, in God Passes By page 333, Shoghi Effendi gives the United States National Assembly’s date as 1925.
  38. ↑ Star of the West (March 3, 1922). Bahai News Service. Volume 13, Issue 1. Pg(s) 14. View as PDF.
  39. ↑ Star of the West (May 17, 1922). Bahai News Service. Volume 13, Issue 4. Pg(s) . View as PDF.
  40. ↑ Star of the West (September, 1922). Publications Committee of the Bahai Temple Unity. Volume 13, Issue 6. Pg(s) 132. View as PDF.
  41. ↑ The NSA membership for 1922-23 has not been verified.
  42. ↑ Star of the West (June, 1923). Committee for the National Spiritual Assembly of America. Volume 14, Issue 3. Pg(s) 78. View as PDF.
  43. ↑ Star of the West (May, 1924). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 15, Issue 2. Pg(s) 49. View as PDF.
  44. ↑ The transition of the National Spiritual Assembly name may in effect be more of a simple name change rather than a change in the regions covered by the Assembly as indicated by the inclusion of May Maxwell and Siegfried Schopflocher in the membership of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.
  45. ↑ This section was left here because Bahaipedia did not allow the creation of a separate entity by the name of "NSA:United States (1922-1925)".
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