Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico
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Location of Puerto Rico
National AssemblyPuerto Rico
Statistics:
Total Population
 -  UN 2021[1] 3,256,028
Bahá'í pop.
 -  Bahá'í source  
 -  Non-Bahá'í source 2,058
Related media
Categories: Puerto Rico • People

Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and island organized as an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is in the Greater Antilles and consists of the islands of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and Mona and numerous smaller islands. The islands of Vieques and Culebra are technically part of the Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles sometimes referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands.[2]

History[edit]

Puerto Rico was mentioned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Tablets of the Divine Plan.[3] In 1925, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada was formed and Puerto Rico as a territory of the United States was a dependency of the National Assembly.[4][5]

In July 1940, Miss Ruhiyyih Jones and Mrs Katherine Didier arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico where they hoped to find teaching posts. This was Miss Disdier's second stay in Puerto Rico. They found many opportunities to spread the Faith including a comprehensive article on the Faith in El Mundo, an important newspaper in all of the islands of the Caribbean.[6]

In January 1942, it was announced that Mrs. Ella Guthrie, her daughter, Mrs. Edith Marangella, her daughter's son-in-lah Lucien McComb, Jr., and Mrs Ayned McComb had taken up residence in Puerto Rico to assist with the teaching work.[7]

At Ridván 1943, the Local Spiritual Assembly of San Juan, Puerto Rico was formed. It would now have representation at the future National Conventions for the community of North America as do the Hawaiian Islands.[8]

In 1945, the Local Assembly of San Juan started a monthly newsletter to maintain contact with the Bahá’ís across the island. The newsletter included, a few quotes, a calendar and articles noting that Miss Margaret Lentz had moved to San Juan and that Mr. Thomas S. Morales had visited Puerto Rico with his family.[9]

In 1945, Margaret Lentz pioneered to Puerto Rico.[10]

From 1925 to 1948 the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada was responsible for development of Puerto Rico but its ultimate organization was unclear as a territory of the United States. In 1947, the Declaration of Trust and By-laws of the National Assembly of the United States was defined, it specified that the Alaska, Hawaii and all United States trusts and territories, including Puerto Rico from their jurisdiction. When the National Assembly of the United States and Canada was split in 1948, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States retained responsibility for Puerto Rico. By 1968, only the Local Spiritual Assembly of San Juan (established in 1944) and two Bahá’í groups had been formed.[11][12]

In 1946, it was announced the the National Spiritual Assembly of Central America would be formed at Ridván 1947 and that it would include Panama, the Canal Zone, and Puerto Rico. (This seems different than other reports.)[13]

In February 1948, Edie and Margaret Swengle pioneered to Puerto Rico. Edie had acquired employment by the public health department before arriving and Margaret had a positions at the University of Puerto Rico just two days after their arrival. Their jobs fit perfectly into the needs of the public there and opportunities to teach the Faith. Most of their teaching was focused on youth and boys. They felt that helping youth was one of the best ways to resolve the needs of the country. They established a group of 12 boys that wanted something more from life than what the local society offered and saw the Bahá’í Faith as offering something greater. In time the group grew although not all were attending regularly. The first youth to enroll was Marcelino Alcala who joined the Navy and is spreading the Faith there. Their greatest joy was seeing the lives of the youth turning to Bahá’u’lláh.[14]

In November of 1949, a Regional Conference was held in Havana for the believers in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, only Cuba and Puerto Rico were represented. Two Bahá’ís for Puerto Rico were there, Natalie Chavez and Carlos Irizarry. Natalie carried the lessons for the conference to several other communities.[15]

In January 1949, Miss Margaret Swengel, who was teaching English as a second language at the University of San Juan, was in Chicago visiting family. She and Dr. Edris Rice-Wray were pioneering in PuertoRico. She visited a class preparing Temple guides and she remarked on how her training there was a great help when she first arrived in Puerto Rico.[16]

In 1953, Dr. Edris Rice-Wray attended a training to present of month-long deepening. Section one, :The Kingdom of God on Earth," includes "The Major Covenant of God," "The Laws and Institutions of the Most Holy Book," "The Twin Covenants of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá," and "The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh." The second section is on "Building the New World Order" and includes the topics "Your National Spiritual Assembly" and "The Divine Plan."[17]

In September of 1953, Miss Margot J. Messier and Miss Ruth Yancey arrived in Puerto Rico. In October, Miss Alice Hathorn and Miss Christine McKay arrived. In January of 1954, Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Barrett arrived in Puerto Rico. In April 1954, it was reported that Arecibo, Puerto Rico had its first settler (an instructor at the Nursing School) and that Ponce, Puerto Rico had its first Bahá’í resident.[18][19][20]

In 1964, the Universal House of Justice established goals to raise the number of Local Assemblies in Puerto Rico to three and incorporate at least one of them. In addition, a goal of obtaining recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days and Marriage Certificates by the civil authorities.[21]

For Human Rights Day, December 10, 1966, the Bahá’ís of Mayaguez held a public meeting with a panel discussion and speaker. Posters were placed throughout the town and press releases sent out before the meeting. The speakers talk was given in Spanish, but copies of the talk in English were made available to the audience.[22]

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico formed at Ridvan 1969. With them are: Continental Board Counsellor from Mexico, Mrs. Carmen Burafato (front, second from right) and Jack McCants of the United States National Spiritual Assembly (rear, second from left). Members of the Assembly, left to right: Elipidio Arcaya de Jesus, Felix Ponce Laboroso (third from left), Norma Sunni DaVar, corresponding secretary; Luis Santaliz; Sylvia Centeno George, recording secretary; Gilbert Camacho; Alice Morgan Burke, chairman; Tom Burke, treasurer; Milton Rivera Sepulveda (extreme right).

In 1968, a Goals Committee was based on the island with members fluent in Spanish. This encouraged the Puerto Rican believers in their teaching efforts, the newsletter was enlarged, and fifteen youth enrolled at a meeting in Mayaguez. There were over 300 enrollments in the following year. This was followed up by visits of the Hands of the Cause and others helped to broaden the base of the community and deepen the believers. The enrollments continued. The Faith was spread to the inner parts of the island which sometimes could only be reached by foot.[23]

In late 1968, Mr. Artemus Lamb visited Puerto Rico. He most wanted to meet the friends directly. He was given a rigorous schedule including overnight visits to three major cities: Mayaguez where there was a fireside for college students in addition to meeting the Bahá’ís; Arecibo, where he visited with the friends; and finally San Juan, where the Bahá’ís were invited to the local center. Then on October 29, Dr. Sarah Martin Pereira and her sister Miss Lydia Martin arrived in Mayaguez. She attended a meeting with 28 guests and 8 Bahá’ís. Dr. Pereira spoke in both Spanish and English. She also addressed a group of 30 businessmen at the Rotary Club where she was one of several speakers. The meeting resulted in a newspaper interview and article.[24]

In 1969, Puerto Rico was able to establish the Local Spiritual Assembly of Mayaguez.[25] The goal to form a National Assembly was three.[26]

Encouraged by these developments, the Universal House of Justice called for the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Puerto Rico in 1972. By 1973, there were 8 Local Assemblies and Bahá’ís in thirty five localities including the islands of Culebra and Vieques. The community sent one pioneer to settle in Peru and one Bahá’í had been on pilgrimage. Five members of the National Assembly of Puerto Rico attended the International Convention in 1973.[27] In December 1973, the first Bahá’í School in Puerto Rico was held at the Girl Scout Camp outside Añasco. More than 60 attended. Continental Counselor Paul Lucas and Auxiliary Board member for Puerto Rico, Mr. Felix Gomez also attended. Classes were given in both English and Spanish.[28]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Puerto Rico". Wikipedia.
  3. ↑ Tablets of the Divine Plan, Tablets 6 and 14
  4. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 218. View as PDF.
  5. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 270. View as PDF.
  6. ↑ Baha'i News (1940). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 139, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
  7. ↑ Baha'i News (1942). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 150, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
  8. ↑ Baha'i News (1943). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 162, Pg(s) 2. View as PDF.
  9. ↑ Baha'i News (1945). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 174, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  10. ↑ Baha'i News (1945). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 174, Pg(s) 7. View as PDF.
  11. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 218. View as PDF.
  12. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 270. View as PDF.
  13. ↑ Baha'i News (1946). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 188, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  14. ↑ Baha'i News (October 1948). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. No 212, Pg(s) 10. View as PDF.
  15. ↑ Baha'i News (1950). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 227, Pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  16. ↑ Baha'i News (1949). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 217, Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  17. ↑ Baha'i News (1950). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 233, Pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  18. ↑ Baha'i News (1954). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 277, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
  19. ↑ Baha'i News (1954). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 277, Pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  20. ↑ Baha'i News (1954). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 278, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
  21. ↑ Ridván Letter, 1964, p.2
  22. ↑ Baha'i News (1967). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 431, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  23. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 218-219. View as PDF.
  24. ↑ Baha'i News (1969). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 454, Pg(s) 10. View as PDF.
  25. ↑ Baha'i News (1969). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 465, Pg(s) 13. View as PDF.
  26. ↑ Baha'i News (1970). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 477, Pg(s) 20. View as PDF.
  27. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 155. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ Baha'i News (1974). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 517, Pg(s) 4-5. View as PDF.

See also[edit]

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