Susan Moody
Susan Moody | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 20, 1851 Amsterdam, New York, USA |
| Died | October 23, 1934 (aged 82) Tehran, Iran |
Dr. Susan I. Moody (November 20, 1851 - October 23, 1934), granted the title Amatu’l-A‘lá by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was an American Bahá’í who moved to Iran where she worked at a hospital and co-founded a school for girls in Tehran.
Biography[edit]
Moody was born in Amsterdam, New York, in 1851. Her parents were Scottish-Covenanters, a Presbyterian sect, and she received religious instruction in her youth and attended the Amsterdam Academy. After graduating she became a teacher before studying medicine at the Women's Medical College in New York City. Her parents passed before she completed her medical studies and she moved to Chicago to live with her brother and studied music, painting, and sculpture. She later studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and then moved to to Paris briefly to continue studying art. She completed her medical degree in Chicago after returning to America from Paris.[1]
Moody discovered the Bahá’í Faith around this time attending study classes facilitated by Isabella D. Brittingham and she declared in 1903 and the first Summer School of Chicago was held in her home.[1] In 1908 Charles Mason Remey and Sydney Sprague visited Iran and some Persian Bahá’í doctors asked them if there was a female American doctor who could be sent to Iran to provide medical care to women. Remey and Sprague went on pilgrimage after their time in Iran and consulted with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá coming to the conclusion that Moody was a suitable candidate and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent a request for her to move to Iran. Upon receiving it Moody immediately made travel arrangements and she visited the Holy Land during her journey to meet with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who advised her that she would need patience while serving in Iran.[1]
After arriving in Iran Moody was greeted by Bahá’í delegations at sixteen of nineteen train stations on her journey to Tehran finally arriving on November 26, 1909. She began practicing medicine in particular treating gynecology, obstetrics, and women's diseases opening a private practice and practicing at the Sehat Hospital.[2] She also taught Bahá’í study classes for girls and canvassed support among the Bahá’í community for the foundation of a girls school which enabled her to found the Tarbíyat School for Girls which provided secular education.[3]
In 1925 Moody returned to the United States as persecution of the Bahá’í community made it dangerous for her to stay in Iran. She stayed with the Revell family in Philadelphia while in America and studied Esperanto. In January 1925 the Bahá’í community of New York City organized for her to deliver a talk at the Waldorf Astoria and she spoke on her experiences in Tehran and she achieved a small degree of fame in the wider community allowing her to speak on her experiences. She used opportunities to speak to promote the Tarbiyat School for Girls in order to garner financial support for the school and planned to return to Iran.[3]
In 1928 Shoghi Effendi asked Moody to return to Iran and in November she moved back to Tehran accompanied by Adelaide Sharp. They went on pilgrimage during their journey to Iran and met with Shoghi Effendi. She taught at the girls school, which had been renamed the Kappes Memorial School after Lillian Kappes, until her passing in 1934.[4]
Shoghi Effendi conveyed the following message after her passing:
"Passing dearly beloved Susan Moody deprives Bahá’í world (of the) far-famed pioneer who, through her indomitable spirit, ceasless services, earned unique distinction. (She) forged first link in (the) chain uniting (the) spiritual destinies (of the) cradle of our faith (i.e., Persia) and (the) community (of its) stalwart defenders in (the) great American Republic. (I am) instructing Persia rear monument perpetuating memory (of) her noble mission. (I) am gladly defraying whatever expense incurred as token (of) my admiration for community (ie., America) to which she originally belonged and on which her sacred life shed imperishable lustre. Advise hold befitting Memorial gathering (in) Temple Foundation Hall."[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. New York City, NY. Volume 6 (1934-1936), Pg(s) 483. View as PDF.
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. New York City, NY. Volume 6 (1934-1936), Pg(s) 484. View as PDF.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. New York City, NY. Volume 6 (1934-1936), Pg(s) 485. View as PDF.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1937). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. New York City, NY. Volume 6 (1934-1936), Pg(s) 486. View as PDF.
