Roy Fernie
Roy Fernie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 20, 1922 Ancon, Panama Canal Zone |
| Died | October 21, 1964 Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Spouse(s) | Elena Maria Marsella |
Roy Fernie (January 20, 1922 - October 21, 1964) was an American-English Bahá’í who pioneered to the Gilbert & Ellice Islands with his wife, Elena, for which they were named Knights of Bahá’u’lláh.
Biography[edit]
Fernie was born in Ancon in the Panama Canal Zone in 1922 where his father, Cyril, owned a steamship company but spent most of his youth in England with his grandparents. His father intended for him to inherit the steamship company and arranged for him to be enrolled in a business college in England. Fernie was uninterested in business school, being more enthusiastic about music and drama, and wanted to study medicine.[1]
At the beginning of the Second World War Fernie enlisted in the Royal Air Force however he was discharged due to illness.[1] After being discharged he moved to the United States where he successfully joined the military and after the war he received U.S. citizenship and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. After a few years he moved to Panama to assist his father with the steamship business and he was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith by Elena Maria Marsella through his sister in Panama City.[2]
In March 1953 Fernie declared and in May he married Elena Marsella. The Ten Year Crusade was launched that year and he and Elena volunteered to pioneer to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands to establish a Bahá’í community which resulted in Fernie's father disinheriting him. They settled in Abaiang however on the advice of Shoghi Effendi they did not actively teach the Faith instead focusing on establishing friendships with the locals and Fernie began teaching English classes.[2]
Some missionaries in the area became opposed to the Fernie's presence and someone falsely reported to the Colonial authorities that Fernie was under investigation by the FBI and Scotland Yard. A Catholic priest in the area saw the word "Bahá’í" on mail addressed to the Fernie's and began writing articles criticizing the Faith in a major magazine circulated throughout the area.[2] Around this time a native named Peter had become the first Gilbertese Bahá’í and as a result of Catholic opposition both Peter and Fernie experienced constant harassment from missionaries and government officials which prompted 325 local Gilbertese residents to sign a petition expressing sympathy for the Faith.[3]
Fernie was ultimately detained and deported in November, 1955, with his wife being allowed to remain in the Islands.[4] He moved to Hawaii where he attempted to secure permission to return to the Islands however he passed away in Honolulu in 1964 before he was able to do so. While Elena was making arrangements to depart the Islands a Catholic delegation visited her to apologize for their actions expressing that they had not intended for Fernie to be deported from the country.[3]
In October, 1957, Fernie had received a letter from Shoghi Effendi which included the following passage:
"May the Almighty abundantly reward you for your vast, unforgettable and historic services in so remote an area of the globe; to graciously assist you to return to that field and there enrich the record of your splendid and enduring achievements."[3]
Further Reading[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 308. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 309. View as PDF.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 310. View as PDF.
- ↑ Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, George Ronald Press: Oxford, 2017, p 205
