User:Smkolins/sandbox12

Places Louis Gregory was, did and said, and said about him 1922-1932

1922

Tour across the northern US to the West Coast starting in Montana at several locations: Butte Theosophical Society talk on "Seven Valleys" YMCA for the Pearl Federated Clubs on “The Equality of Men and Women" no longer stands. At the Helena Unitarian Church on “The Harmony between Religion and Science" a few days later. Ed and Mrs Miller home at 534 Hollins Ave talk on the Seven Valleys and last night at YMCA on "The Immortality of the Soul" at the YMCA. The talk on Seven Valleys was then summarized with about a paragraph per valley. A private home today (google maps). Ed Miller was a veteran. Butte & Helena was where he met Fred Mortensen and gave eight talks in six days as well as writing newspaper articles and his right arm became numb.

Announcement of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha… public declaration of the Guardianship January 1922 though details came slowly.

Spoke in Spokane, Washington, several times. First with the Spokane Baha'i Assembly at the Calvary Baptist Church and the Rookery Building and a third talk, followed another at the Spokane Hotel which talk was briefly quoted. Calvary Baptist Church, 2020, The Rookery Building A lost architectural gem By Logan Camporeale, thirteen meetings in nine days in Spokane.

In Seattle Gregory announced a week of talks including New Thought Centers, Baha'i Assembly meetings, Theosophical Society, YWCA, Methodist Church, and Mt Zion Bapitist Church. Twenty-four meetings in eight days in Seattle, one Sunday in Seattle he addressed five gatherings— one of the BaháTs, two at churches, one at the black Y.W.C.A., and a ban­quet attended by nearly fifty people.

Gregory went to Vancouver for give meetings - it isn’t said when exactly this took place or what specific meetings.

And in Portland for the First Divine Science Church on "religious and racial unity”, the Baha’i community meeting at the Bush & Lane Building, "Race Amity" at a luncheon meeting of the Social Workers' Club in the Seward Hotel, and the Bethel AME Church. -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Church_of_Christ,_Scientist_(Portland,_Oregon) -> https://www.bameportland.com -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seward_Hotel

Gregory was remembered and mentioned in another article in 1925 - he had given advice - “the science of sociability; nobleness of purpose; sweetness of speech” being suggested among ways to act against gossiping - which the writer thought he'd try. The article also mentioned that Gregory had been in town some months (years?) ago. Was this a late remembrance or a quiet visit briefly?

"In little more than a week he addressed fourteen di­verse gatherings. He lectured on the 'Unity of Religions' to the congregation of the First Divine Science Church, on 'The Seven Valleys' to the Psychology Club, on 'Interracial Amity' to the Oregon Social Workers, and on “The Harmony between Religion and Science' at the Metaphysical Library. A ‘beautiful re­sponse’ ” greeted his talk on 'The Equality between Men and Women' to a club meeting at the black Y.W.C.A. He also spoke on 'Universal Peace’ and 'The Abandonment of Prejudice' at two black churches. Aside from these formal meetings he attended smaller social gatherings, such as one hosted by Beatrice Cannady-Franklin, the editor of the local black newspaper, who was to remain an active Baha'i for many years to come.” and called upon sick friends and Baha’is.

Over a week later, Gregory was introduced for his talk at the YMCA of Pasadena, California, and then was visible at Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland, the next day. Spoke at a number of meetings in black churches, public halls, including the University of California at Berkeley under the joint auspices of the Cosmopolitan and Chinese Stu­dent’s Clubs, and private homes. He was still there in the beginning of March.

The fact of Abdu’l-Baha’s Will was published in March and timed with correspondence from Gregory about the Will.

Gregory was in Denver just days after hearing of Abdu’l-Bahá’s Ascension before late March. He spoke at 22 meetings in Denver in two weeks.

Then Oklahoma City, Tulsa where "his talks— in churches, public schools, to vari­ous organizations, and even to prisoners at the city jail— were given before integrated audiences.”

Late March and into early April 1922 in Topeka for the Kansas Educational and Industrial Institute, the Buchanan School and at St. John AME and Shiloh Baptist churches. Gregory spoke at St. John AME Church in Topeka KS.

Then Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. One meeting in Kansas City included later President Truman according to Gregory’s memory and he believed Truman remember this talk before 1949 still.

Gregory spoke at the Springfield Court House Apr 13, 1922.

Gregory spoke at a week of meetings in Champaign and Urbana approaching mid-April 1922 at the Baptist, Universalist, and CME churches as well as the Labor Hall. He had been to St. Louis, Seattle, and San Francisco.

Gregory gave a series of talks in Urbana starting 18 Apr 1922 at the Salem Baptist Church in Champaign on "The Power of the Holy Spirit", then at the Universalist Church in Urbana on "The Oneness of Humanity”. He was a guest of Jacob & Mrs Kunz at 905 South Orchard St. He then was sheduled to speak before an audience at Labor Hall on "The Solution of the Economic Problem, then at the Bethel ME Church of Champaign on "The Abandonment of Prejudice”. His talk on the Holy Spirit was somewhat quoted and summarized. The former Kunz residence still stands.

national convention inc talk by Gregory

In 1922 the officially re-organized National Spiritual Assembly under the direction of Shoghi Effendi took place and Gregory was among those elected. There were rumors at the time that perhaps his election had come at the expense of marking absences of delegates.

And Gregory spoke which was covered by news services and published in multiple cities. speakers inc Louis Gregory, Harlan Ober, Albert Vail,

Gregory took a trip into the South, certainly several cities in Virginia, after the convention before the next national assembly meeting in New York by later June.

Baha'i Association at First Emmanuel Church; Mary Hanford Ford and Louis Gregory talks in New York.

A profile of Louis Gregory as a graduate of Fisk University at some length, present in Chicago, includes mention he was a gues of Mrs. Lundberg, 3937 N. Clarendon Ave and attended a Chicago Fist Club at the home of Mrs James A. Parker, 6816 Langley Ave.

Gregory was at Green Acre in later July.

She applied for migration out of the US Sep 18, 1922 intending to travel to France, Belgium, England, Luxemborg, and Germany to visit her brother and friends. Her witness was William H. Randall. Gregory himself wrote a letter in support of her application for travel. At the time their address was 1017 P. St NW, Washington DC Today it is a private residence and might date back to the period.

Spent several weeks with Louise at Green Acre then went to DC "‘The Underlying Unity of All Reli­gions’; and the second on ‘Proofs of Immortality of the Soul’”. Gregory at Studio Hall at 1219 Connecticut Ave in DC amid tour. Gregory talk "Proof of the Immortality of the Soul" at Studio Hall, rear of 1219 Connecticut Ave in DC. Gregory to spoke on "Proof of the Immortality of the Soul" at the Studio Hall in Chicago near 1219 Connecticut Ave building might be reconditioned original, now a commercial district

Gregory talk at Chauncy Hall at 585 Hoylston St

Until Louise sailed back to Europe but stayed on in DC some of the winter and some in New England. Early November he was at St. Johns in Springfield, MA, and by the 18th was back in Texas. (the collection ends in 1922 so it is not possible to trace the Dyson’s or their home subsequently at present.) which was replaced by a series of brick apartments)

1923

Gregory talk at the Art Center Hall on 1106 Connecticut Ave on "The Mashreq'ul-Azhar (Universal House of Worship)”. now an office building

Gregory gave a talk at the Miner Normal School in DC in February 1923 [1] and "Harmony between Science and Religion" offered to Secular League meeting at 1101 E. St. NW in DC on the next day. location is now a commercial district. The next day he gave a talk "What is a Bahai (sic)?" at the Art Center at 1106 Connecticut Ave.

March 1923 talk at the Second Baptist Church The address today is 424 Forster St, Harrisburg, PA. Not sure in 1920 but seems like, old stone church.

Gregory was at the National Convention and spoke one night.

He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly.

In Muskegon. Fadil Mazandarani holds series of meetings, then another series of speakers - Louis Gregory, Albert Vail, Henry Burt. Talks by Fadil Mazandarani and M R Shirazi, Louis Gregory, at observance

Gregory did a brief tour to the South before heading back for a June NSA meeting in New York."He traveled as far south as Atlanta, stopping enroute in Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the summer he spent some time in the peaceful environment of Green Acre. The fall and winter seasons, like those of the previous year, were taken up with ex­ tended visits to major Bahá’í centers in the East—Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Worcester—where intensive teaching efforts did not interfere with his responsibilities as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.”

Gregory in Baltimore at 19 West Chase St on "Light of God” which is today an business building

1924

Gregory was a co-officiant at the funeral of Mary Alexander in Washington DC in January.

Gregory was part of a series of meetings in New York with a set held in Bethel AME Church in Harlem. It was a two day convention - first meeting at Free Synagogue with talks by Rabbi Stephen Wise and Mountfort Mills, then at Bethel AME church with Rev MR Thornton and Louis Gregory, Hooper Haris and Zea Bey, third at Baha'i headquarters.

Late March the third Race Amity conference was held in New York and included NAACP and Urban League participation and expanded beyond black-white issues. In May a committee was appointed that began to assist further conferences happening which included Agnes Parsons, Elizabeth Greenleaf, Mariam Haney, Alain Locke, Mabel Ives, Louise Waite, Louise Boyle, Roy Williams, Philip R. Seville, and Mrs. Atwater.

Gregory spoke at the national convention public meeting in Hotel Bancroft in Worcester, MA.

National Teaching Committee highlights Gregory’s work and reasons for his success: "no doubt about the importance of continuing the work that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had given him. … whole-hearted devotion and 'absolute attention' to Abdu’l- Bahá, and the third was Mr. Gregory’s humility as a teacher.” (and had no trouble "accepting the authority of Shoghi Effendi, no trepidation about the future progress of the Cause.”) And characterized his work as the greater effort since the religion’s arrival in America. He served 1922 into 1924. not reelected to the Assembly in 1924. He looked at this with relief to return to his travel teaching effort and, broadly, racial amity events picked up in New York and Philadelphia.

Gregory spoke at the Maxwell home in late May 1924.

Gregory speaks of this time of talks in Worcester & Montreal, adding Toronto.

He returned to Buffalo where (after Mills death in 1916) Gregory spoke at the Lloyd Memorial Congregational Church in June 1924. merged to become New Covenant United Church of Christ

Gregory arrived in Idlewild Michigan early in the beginning of August for a separate Memorial Day observance. Then in late August Mrs. Turner introduced Gregory for his next presentation at Idlewild. His talk was summarized in the newspaper. moved to Somerville between 1921 and 1924. possibly 6466 Idlewild Blvd, Idlewild, MI 49642, “Tabernacle Church” but could be many places.

Gregory talk on Seven Valleys at the Theosophical Society meeting at 709 South High Street and YMCA on Spring St on "The Abandonment of Prejudices" for the Business Men's Club. 709 South High St is a rear-of-lot building that probably doesn’t exist any more

Gregory attended Idlewild services and spoke up during one of the meetings.

Louis Gregory and Corrine True talk at meeting in Pittsburgh in the Keenan Building for the Baha’is.

Gregory was a recent speaker at the Columbus, Ohio, on the Baha'i Faith for the YMCA Business Men's club.

Gregory talk at the Club Forum in Pittsburgh October 19.

The fourth Race Amity conference was held late October in Philadelphia, organized partly by Roy Williams, and to which Gregory and Leslie Pinckney Hill contributed as did others from the original DC convention. It was covered in the Chicago Defender.

Oct 24 Gregory spoke at a follow up meeting on Inter-racial justice and then both Albert Vail and Louis Gregory spoke at Bahá’í meetings on 25 and 26 Oc­tober.

Gregory contributed to the Race Amity Convention of Nov 1924 held in Philadelphia.

In mid-late November Gregory wrote a letter upset at conditions in DC and that a ongoing interracial committee was needed particularly in DC and that the city at large was deeply segregated in multiple ways and no one was successfully bringing the races together.

Gregory, along with Leslie Pinckney Hill, noted in Philadelphia for Race Amity Conference.

"In the fall he headed south, stopping in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. In his home city of Charleston he gave thirteen talks in eight days. One of the high points of the journey was a return visit to Tuskegee Institute,…. This time, in addition to addressing the entire student body, he dis­cussed the Bahá’í teachings with George Washington Carver and the widow of Booker T. Washington. At Fisk, however, the atmo­sphere that he had described as joyful in the spring of 1923 had been transformed. The school was, in his words, 'about tom to pieces' as a result of student protests against an administration that they perceived to be highly conservative.”

December 1924 Gregory was mentioned giving a talk at St. Ambrose Church in Raleigh NC.

1925

Dec-1924-Jan 1925 Gregory known in Wilmington, NC.

Gregory talk at meeting at Butler St YMCA, and Allen Temple AME Church, Atlanta.

There were hopes of a DC hosted Race Amity conference developing since December continued into April but were delayed that Gregory continued to mention by letters. However two facts also played a role: Gregory not being re-elected to the NSA seemed to indicate a low tide of interest in effecting race issues, and there were economic limits affecting the community local communities were asking the national fund to cover expenses which wasn’t going to work.

Talk at Fifth St YMCA on the way to National Convention.

Gregory talk at DC Playhouse 1814 N St on "The Greatest thing in the world: Truth". it’s a residential location today

Talk in Pittsburg at home of Mrs Henry Payne, 2701 Wylie Ave, coming up. might be a empty lot today. In mid-June Gregory gave a talk about Green Acre at the studio on Main Street in Springfield, MA.

Gregory presided at the public meeting of the National Convention held at Green Acre at which Ali Kuli Khan was the key speaker along with Mrs Harlan Ober. Gregory attended the National Convention held at Green Acre in July. Broadly most cities that had Baha’is in the South had “no more than one or two” Baha’is. In Charleston an individual had gotten a letter in response to Gregory and he had taught and been jailed many times and been advised to teach in a more moderate way.

Reunion with Louise at Green Acre

August Horace Holley and Agnes Parsons as chair of the ill-fated DC Race Amity conference initiative of 1925-6 exchanged several letters about public appeals Baha’i institutions might make about the lynchings making the news; she was not in favor of it thinking it unconstructive which at least some members of the committee agreed with over the degree it sounded like a protest. Gregory observed her over pattern of engagement more favorably than did some others on the committee.

Gregory replied to a letter from Parsons on a personal matter and observed “ ‘Abdu’l Baha once told you that you would attain to the Abha Kingdom, giving you absolute assur­ance. For this servant and others he has gone no further than to ex­press hope.”

Gregory talk at Fourth Unitarian Church, Bevery Rd and E. 19th St, Brooklyn. The E. 19th St address might be residential or commercial.

Headed South by October focused on Florida including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Miami, where an assembly was elected. Horace Holley observed: "The conditions of danger and sacrifice under which you are teach­ing, seem to me to approximate more closely the early days of the Revelation in Persia than can be found anywhere else in the West at this time. God bless you!”

1926

African American journalist/author J. A. Rogers, and Gregory, are spoken of both in Richmond VA, at the same time in early February, and spoken of both as “keen, astute students of race relations and their views on the Racial Integrity Bill and the Massenberg Segregation Bill”, though speaking at separate circumstances - Rogers at an NAACP meeting and Gregory at the Third Street Bethel AME Church. However it is possible they were in contact. By late February Gregory talk at DC Playhouse 1814 N St on "Unity of Religion”.

Gregory talk at the Playhouse on 1814 N St NW on “Cooperation and World Peace"

Gregory spoke at a World Unity conference in Worcester, MA in March 1926.

There were hopes again for a DC based Race Amity conference for April 1926 but it was delayed an instead of an interracial amity committee there was a World Amity Conference Committee (an initiative related to Horace Holley.) The national interracial committee had been based largely in DC

National Convention held in San Francisco inc Gregory among speakers at public meeting. Attendance from East and Midwest was low but total attendance was up and apportionment was based on membership rolls for the first time.

A re-organization of the national budget and its relation to the local community was crystalized in early 1926 with the Plan of Unified Action: “to revitalize the local assem­blies and groups while at the same time producing a fund sufficient to build the first permanent unit of the Temple.” though this plan did not immediately change conditions through January 1928. There was also a “general stagnation of growth” of the community; communities could successfully grow to a certain point but fail to grow beyond that. In 1926 World Unity Conferences and a committee were adopted to enliven growth again.

Louise Boyle summarized Gregory’s work: “The value of the services of dear Louis Gregory in the South during past years cannot be estimated; they have paved the way for much of the later accomplishment, and his spiritual influence is plainly felt by all those following in the path of this severed servant of the Cause.”

Gregory gave a series of talks in the Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove communities at the request of Mrs. R. B. Thudichum in Carmel. He spoke at the Carmel Community Church introduced by Rev. Fred Sheldon, went directly to the Southern Cooking Tea Room, then the Thudichum home in the afternoon before the Carmel Restaurant Dining Room that evening - all on Sunday previous. The Mother's Day services held that the Pacific Grove Methodist Church had Gregory introduced by Rev. G. E. Irons, then a home in Monterey, then in Salinas for oriental groups before leaving for Los Angeles and Pasadena. Thudichum seems to be. The address would have been 127 7th St., Carmel which today is the City Hall building.

Gregory and Horace Holley helped the Baha'is observe the Declaration of the Bab at 405 Yamhill Ln. this address is a commercial district now

Gregory set to give a talk at the regular Baha'i meeting at 405 Yamhill St. in Portland

Louis Gregory's review of the national convention was published in The Advocate that was held in San Francisco for Spring 1926. Hundreds of diverse delegates showed to Gregory, he said, a rectitude of conduct "to abandon the lower world of hatred, prejudice and rancor, and to ascend into the higher zones of love, appreciation and life.” He outlined many Bahá'í principles. Portland delegates included Ella Meissner, Latimer and Cannady each of whom addressed a session including Cannady's welcome from the NAACP. Lakota Albert Freeman also addressed the attendees. Business sessions keynote speakers were Roy Wilhelm and Horace Holley. Greetings were also sent from Bahá'ís from their home communities in other countries or otherwise unable to attend. One of the public meetings was chaired by Leroy Ioas and Ella Cooper while the other was chaired by Horace Holley. Other speakers were listed by Gregory. Also, and Mrs Gregory.

It turned out that Gregory had been in Seattle for 10 days by mid-June, was back to Portland staying in the Latimer home and already gave a talk with Cannady at a local High School, the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and had been a dinner guest at the Cannadys' followed by talks at the Latimers' and then at the Center before leaving bound for Denver.

Gregory was a guest of Mrs Lundberg, 3927 N. Clarendon Ave and a reception for him was held at the home of Mrs. James A. Parker, 6816 Langley Ave for the Chicago Fisk Club. area seems semi-residential today

A Green Acre Summer School World Unity conference in early August along with Gregory, Albert Vail and Howard MacNutt.

Gregory was one of the speakers at the Baha’i cosponsored World Unity Conference in Buffalo

November 1926 the NSA invited people to a meeting in DC (Louis Gregory, Agnes Parsons, Louise Boyle, Alain Locke, Leslie Pinckney Hill, Roy Williams, Zia Bagdadi, Mariam Haney, and Coralie F. Cook) to a special consultation on race issues as an initiative towards awakening efforts on race in the community though Gregory’s work with the World Unity conference of Dayton conflicted (which was held in January 1927, see below). Hill also was not present (cf school work at Cheney University.)

Gregory was among the speakers at the new Baha'i Center at 116 W 49th St in New York.

Gregory schedule to speak at the Chauncey Hall in Boston on "World Unity”. Baha'i Louis Gregory at First Emmanuel Church

Gregory had been a a visitor at the Lincoln Temple Congregational Church in DC the previous week.

1927

Gregory had been a resident of Sutton New Hampshire where he owed taxes by Jan 1927.

January 1927 Gregory took part in a Dayton Ohio World Unity conference that made particular mention of race amity work. However progress with World Unity conferences tended towards minimizing their Baha’i relationship and these were competing for funds which were locally sourced, but paid through the national fund while black participation in the community was also waining.

January a national Race Amity Committee was re-appointed. Parsons was chairman, Gregory executive sec­retary, though reluctantly (feeling privately more white leadership was appropriate as it could look self-serving to be visible on the issue in leadership because it could look like wanting leadership for himself), and other members were Louise Boyle, Miriam. Haney, Coralie. Cook, Zia Bagdadi, and Alain Locke. They had three tasks: "preparing a compi­lation on race amity for general distribution; holding race amity con­ferences in cooperation with Local Assemblies; and bringing the Baha'i teachings to the attention of other groups working for unity.”

In it’s February letter the committee announced including the compilation eventually named "The Oneness of Mankind: Teachings Compiled from the Utterances of Bahá’u'lláh and ’Abdu l-Bahá, editors Mariam Haney and Louis G. Gregory”. This letter coincided with Sadie Oglesby’s pilgrimage and Shoghi Effendi took the moment to endorse the idea of a convention returning as a step in the mission "toward personal transformation by the individual Bahá’í, then an attempt to influence society.” and Parsons grew with the project and efforts rather than retreating to the sidelines. Parsons wondered about race amity conferences without being visibly a Baha’i-participant meeting.

Gregory, sometimes as ‘Lewis’, spoke on "The Evoluiton of the Soul - Seven Stages of Growth" at the home of Mrs. H. A. Harding, 704 W. Nevada, St, Urbana, on Feb 10 and then on "A Plan of World Unity" at Lincoln Hall on Sunday - mentions another account of Gregory at embassy reception in DC before WWI. He returned to Lincoln Hall on Sunday to talk on "A Plan of World Unity". Nevada St address might be a private residence from the period.

The organizational meeting of the renewed Race Amity Committee took place in February and publicly announced in March 1927, and Gregory to be a steadying presence in DC. He continued to work for the Committee 8 years save one. Parsons, chair, was stunned at the committee’s audaciousness. Gregory was there in later March giving a talk on the "City of Immortality".

Gregory returned to speak at 19 W. Chase St on a Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. It’s a business location today, possibly a private residence too.

Gregory talk at the Playhouse in DC on "The evolution of the Soul -or- The Seven States of Growth” and again "The City of Immortality". and was back and forth from Boston in between.

The first Race Amity convention in three years began in early April with Gregory listed among the National Interracial Committee in support of the convention held at the Mt Pleasant Congregational Church and at the Playhouse in DC where he was among the speakers and who’s talk was partly quoted.

National Convention held in Montreal and Gregory among the speakers at the Windsor Hotel.

Gregory also spoke at a follow up meeting after the convention at 745 St Catherine St W. now a commerial district Gregory’s election to the NSA commented on. The Montreal Convention also had feedback from two pilgrims on Shoghi Effendi’s directives on advancing race amity and personal transformation work among both black and white and the under the focus of intensity on race issues initiatives returned. Gregory was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. Gregory was also appointed to the National Interracial Committee. and long served on the committee including as an officer (Chair, Secretary) many years. Shoghi Effendi later wrote warmly of him and upholding his influence and position in history.

Race amity shown when majority white delegates electing Gregory to NSA.- profile of Gregory and priorities on race in the religion.

Meanwhile in July news was headlined of the election of Louis Gregory to the National Assembly (mistakenly calling it a committee), along with profile of Gregory, and the religion's position on the urgency of race issues.

The Age editors cited the Washington Sentinel mention of the Baha'is being elected to the national governance of the religion and a brief profile of Louis Gregory.

Green Acre hosted a Race Amity Convention in summer with others held in Geneva, New York, and back to Portsmouth, then Boston later in November where meetings became monthly about the same time as another in DC.

Green Acre meetings has race amity conference - speakers: Rev Samuel McComb, Ruhi Afaita(??) Effendi, Devore Allen (editor of World Tomorrow), Rev William Safford Jones, Rev Albert Vail, Leslie Pinkney Hill (??) Cheney institute, William Randall, Alfred Lunt, Louis Gregory, Mrs Edwin Powerll, Rev Frank Powerll, Rev Frank W. Powerll, Mrs SEJ Oglesby of Boston. Previous conferences in DC, NY, Philadelphia, Sprinfield MA, and Dayton OH. Planners were Agnes Parsons, Coralle Cook, Louis Gregory, Zia Bagdadi, Alain Locke, Elizabeth Hooper and Isabel Rives.

Gregory spoke at the Pierce Building at 12 Huntington Ave Oct 16, 1927 on "The World of One Home: Let it be Unity”. the area today is highly commercial inc parking decks

The NSA voted to end its official support for the World Unity conferences in later October and it reformulated as an independent organization.

Gregory felt he was unable to travel and make presentations as much as he wanted by December.

Gregory gave a several talks across three weeks for the Nazarene Congregational Church, Grand Ave and Lefferts Pl, Brooklyn regional meeting and talk summarized. the church seems to have moved since that address

1928

Gregory gave a talk at the Boston Center at 12 Huntington Ave (aka the Pierce Building.)

In Chicago the second Race Amity Convention was held at the Masonic Temple at 32 W. Randolph St on the twelfth floor and included Gregory and Albert Vail with others. It’s now part of the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop and holds various establishments like….

Gregory was among the speakers at the Montreal and Detroit, Race Amity meetings of Feb early 1928. Feb 11-12 Gregory spoke at the Urbana Race Amity Conference. By early March he had been back to Baltimore, and then Gregory and Mrs Harlan Ober were scheduled to speak at the Brooklyn Baha'i Center 119 W 57th St.

April Gregory wrote to Parsons crediting her with idea "that people of one race should avoid approaching those of other races in a spirit of patronage and condescension.” in his words.

Gregory gave a talk "How to Remove Prejudices" at the March 23 "big meeting" at the YMCA in Harlem.

He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly at the convention.

Gregory visited offices of The Defender and had given a talk at the convention and was off to Urbana.

May 8 Gregory returned to Urbana to talk at a Race Amity Conference held at the University of Illinois campus with 11 sociology class presentations

Coming through Michigan. Gregory talk at 219 S. Cedar St., Lansing, Michigan. The address belonged to Harvey McLean months earlier. The location later opened as a Tea room. Later May, Louisa made an appearance speaking at Portland, OR. Gregory himself is not listed.

Gregory gave a talk in Portsmouth.

Gregory spoke at the conference held at the Teaneck properties in West Englewood, and which also served as an occasion for the NSA meeting, (said to be living at Green Acre.)

Gregory speaks at People's Baptist Church in Portsmouth NH

Gregory was among the speakers at memorial meeting at Green Acre of Abdu'l-Baha's visit 15 yrs ago. which was followed by a Race Amity conference Aug 24-6 from which the national contribution for the meeting was returned to the national assembly to be a donation towards the Temple work while local contributions covered expenses. It was about $400.

September began 4 month tour of the South spit around a late fall meeting of the NSA. The first leg included New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, D.C. and Durham. In Durham he spoke at churches and schools including one high school on “The Meaning of Bahá’i (Light)’’ attended by 540 high school students. Gregory spoke at Shaw in the Chapel through the YMCA. Oct 19 Gregory addressed faculty and students at Shaw University on "Prejudice" and four ways it can be abated - travel, trade, education, and religion. This was the Greenleaf Chapel. "In 1879, a third major building was erected – a chapel and dining hall called the Greenleaf Building. It was named for Orick H. Greenleaf of Springfield, MA, a yearly liberal contributor. The upper part of the building was accessible by stairs. Doors on either side of the tower provided entrance to the dining room. At the right of the chapel was a small room and at the left a library." It still existed in 1947, and 1958.

Gregory returned to the Nazarene Congregational Church in Brooklyn in late October 1928 speaking on "Religious Unity" with other Baha'is attending. A week later he gave a talk at Morgan College in Baltimore and was summarized in the Afro American.

The second leg of his Fall tour included Maryland and Vir­ginia, and Washington.

Gregory spoke to the Baptist Ministers Conference in Richmond held at the St. John Baptist Church in Ginter Park in Richmond VA.

Gregory was in Baltimore speaking at the YMCA early December and The Afro-American published a summary of his talk a week later. Amid this coverage he also spoke at an AME conference of ministers.

Mid-December, Gregory spoke at the Manhattan Baha'i Center.

1929

January 1929 a letter to the editor by Gregory, along with a period picture of him, was published in the Baltimore Afro-American wherein he was praising the coverage "championing Amalgamation" and raising the point that "racial inequality is a mirage." This was followed by Gregory and Mary Hanford Ford giving a pair of talks at the Center, About a week later, Gregory was among the speakers at the St James Presbyterian Forum meeting talking on "The Negro in Race Relations” in New York.

Gregory spoke at the Nazarene Cong Church on "The Equality of the Races" with refreshments served by Mrs. Arrington, Mason, and Wright

Early 1929 De­troit, Dayton, Columbus, Buffalo, and (in March) Rochester held Race Amity conferences and the Richestor events was considered the most successful event the community had ever held. A meeting took place in Rochester March 9 at which Louis Gregory spoke and Doris McKay followed up, and then was in Buffalo.

March 3 there was an event at the home of Watt & Mrs. Terry that had inc Louis Gregory, Alain Locke, Mae Hawes, Harry Burleigh, Mrs S. (May) Maxwell at 290 Convent Ave. This may have been a cooperative effort of Baha’is, Urban League, and or others. private residence today probably dates back to period

Gregory spoke at the Rochester Race Amity conference of Mar 1929

He made an appearance about March 14 in Detroit for a Race Amity Meeting.

Gregory was guest of I. G. & Mrs Lee in Rochester, NY in mid-March.

Meanwhile, the Great Depression began and began to curtail the national fund, severely noticeable from April.

Gregory appeared with Mrs Stuart (Helen aka Nellie) W. French and Albert Vail at the Baha’i Temple public meeting for talks during the convention. Gregory was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Gregory initiated another tour after the convention going to Milwaukee, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville, and Louisville. In later May he prepared and served a Persian meal at the Chapman home in Kansas City (though the articles says *Mrs* Gregory.)

Gregory was back in Memphis supporting George Henderson’s community work and development of a college though they had become relatively inactive, Henderson away, but they responded to his renewed presence. This time the student body sent a second student body letter, this time to Shoghi Effendi.

Louise had been in Europe, gone on pilgrimage, returned and they reunited in June back in New England after nearly a year apart(Eliot?). In June the summer 1929 Race Amity Conference at Green Acre was suggested be budgeted half that of last year - $200.

June was also when the wife and daughter of Oscar DePriest, the first black representative to serve in Congress since 1901, was received at a dinner. The NSA with Gregory on it wrote in support of the event.

Gregory sent a handwritten book copy of a compilation called “The Races of Men - Many or One” to The Advocate, the same week.

Gregory was among the speakers at the speakers at the Teaneck NJ meeting for Sep 6 Gregory stayed in the area or immediately returned to give a talk at Teaneck Cabin speaking on religious unity.

Mid-October his step-father George Greggory died in a motor-vehicle accident, aged 87, in Charleston, SC. Gregory read Baha’i prayers at the funeral and came to understand George had been distributing Baha’i literature and trying to arrange meetings in Charleston and the funeral garnered a thousand multiracial attendees.

The Interracial Amity Committee held few meetings but a large amount of correspondence to accomplish its work.

Gregory was one of the speakers at the Brooklyn Baha’i Center on “International Amity"

Gregory was noted as a guest of A. G. & Mrs Bechtold in Flatbush

1930 trips

At the beginning of February, Gregory appeared at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, and then was a guest of Thomas & Mrs Fleming in Cleveland for the duration of a Race Amity meeting. Mid-February, Gregory gave a talk at interracial meeting in Akron at the home Russell & Mrs Brooker home at 34 Castle Blvd. it’s still a home in the area.

1929-1930 some time there was a Race Amity conference in Philadelphia at which Gregory and Albert Vail spoke three times. There was also a NY Youth group that hosted interracial music and drama meetings in Harlem and the Baha’i Center.

Gregory talked at the Portsmouth YWCA for the Baha'is after his return trip from the "Mid-West'. There was also a third Race Amity conference at Green Acre.

Gregory spoke at Race Amity meetings at Harriette Schwartz home at 787 Franklin Ave and at the (Mormon?) Manhattan Temple amidst a series of speakers and other hosts of events. the original house may still be standing unused?

Gregory spoke to the Social Problems Club meeting on Sunday at 605 Daniel St. Urbana, IL Today it is part of the Psychology Buiding of the University of Illinois at Urbana. He spoke a couple more days.

Gregory at National Convention

He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. The Teaching Committee and Interracial Committees were merged with Gregory as “secretary for amity activities”.

Gregory spoke the evening of May 9 in Detroit at the Federation of Women's Clubs meeting at Second Blvd and Hancock Ave presenting the Faith.

Arrived back at Portsmouth end of May.

Teaneck meeting gathers 500 and Gregory among speakers.

Race amity conference at Green Acre - presentations inc Gregory.

Gregory co-presented with Mary White Ovington at the Brooklyn Baha'i Center Nov 2, 1930.

Three days of conferences and speakers: - Nov 2,Chicago Amity conference - speakers Ludmila Bechtold, Mary White Ovington (NAACP), Louis Gregory - Nov 8 NY Urban League with Doris of Geneva, JM Ragland (Urban League of Cincinnati), Rev Paul Baker (Fed Council of Church of Christ) and Jessie Harris - Nov 9 at NY Center - Eugene Kinkle Jones (Sec Nat Urban League), Hanford Ford, James Hubert (Sec NY Urban League), Lorenza Jordan Cole performed Nov 8, 9, 10 Gregory aided a set of meetings co-sponsored by the Urban League, the NAACP and the National Teaching Committee in the face of the Great Depressions hampering the organizations and being asked to cooperate and covered at length in the Chicago Defender and followup events.

Gregory gave a series of lectures starting at the home of Mrs. W. F. Handschin, 1101 South Orchard St, Urbana on "The Bahai (sic) Religion". Mrs. H. A. Harding hosted the second meeting at her home at 704 West Nevada St on "Religion and Business" and again the next night on "The World's Greatest Need - a Prophet". He also addressed several university classes and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. It’s a private residence.

Gregory spoke at the 'Monster Meeting' Dec 7 in Indianapolis, IN, on "How to Remove Prejudice".

and returned to Brooklyn again end of December 1930.

1931 trips

Across 1930-31 … "A trip through the South included two weeks in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area and a return to Charleston. He lectured twice at a white college in Bricks, North Carolina, and gave an ad­dress on comparative religion at a college in Lynchburg, Virginia. In the North he traveled widely in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, and New England. At a state normal school in Wisconsin he spoke directly on the Baha'i teachings to two hundred students. He was also invited to return to the University of Illinois to talk on race relations in the sociology department.” (There is no known white college at Bricks, NC. There is a *black* community center there.)

Gregory talk at Center again at 19 W. Chase St in Baltimore. (operated as a Baha'i Center into 1932 dating back to early 1920s.)

In later April, the Baha'is sponsored a Race Amity Conference in Atlantic City, inc Louis Gregory among the speakers.

Gregory among national assembly elected. Summary of national convention. Speakers inc Martha Root, Louis Gregory, Mr McDaniels (then chair of NSA.) Louis Gregory and dedication of Baha'i Temple - other delegates inc Roy Wilhelm, Mrs Stuart French, Mrs Thomas Collings, Carl Sheiller, Siegfried Schopflocker, Horace Holley and Alfred Lunt.

Teaching and Inter-racial Amity Committees appointed separately again. There was a diversity of activities with participation of other blacks Americans.

In June Gregory joined a regional conference held in Pecousic, MA. Profile of Faith and talk by Louis Gregory in ceremonies of opening use of Temple.

Gregory was part of a Green Acre hosted Race Amity meeting

Louis Gregory introduced William Hansberry of Howard U with music by Chauncey Northern accompanied by Ida Northern followed by Philip Marangella. Guests inc Ludmilla Bechtold. Louis Gregory spoke at Baptist church, music by Elizabeth Virgil, NC teacher - among other events

Gregory spoke at YWCA at New Castle on "Interracial Relations"

Gregory was among the speakers at the Race Amity Convention held at the Center Ave YMCA in Pittsburgh.

The Baha'i Interracial Committee and the New York Urban League held a meetings on Scientific and Spiritual Proofs including talks by Louilie Matthew and Louis Gregory first at the Urban League building Oct 31 and the second at the Baha'i Center at 119 W. 57th St Nov 1.

Just before Thanksgiving, November 1931, Gregory was the keynote speaker for the Sterling Brown Literary Society observance of Armistice Day at the Virginia Seminary in Baltimore on Wednesday, on an afternoon at German and Economics classes, and was the guest of honor at a reception at Mrs. A. T. Johns home and others. The first week of December, Gregory gave talks at Greensboro's A & T University chapel.

Gregory's (and Albert Vail’s) paid travels for promoting the religion was brought up for question/annual renewal in late 1931 and was asked of the Amity and Teaching committees

"December 1931 Louis Gregory and Willard McKay, … joined forces in Atlanta, where they established a Baha'i study class. Then they proceeded to tour the states of Alabama, Tennessee, and Ohio.… On their journey they concentrated mainly upon colleges and universities. At Tuskegee Institute they spoke seven times in three days. Their largest audience was a gathering of eighteen hundred at the regular Sunday evening meeting. Robert R. Moton, Booker T. Washington’s successor as head of Tuskegee, reportedly stated that 'he wanted his students to hear this message.' Both George Washington Carver and Booker Washington’s son indicated to the visitors that they held the Baha'i teachings in great esteem. At Fisk University five meetings were held; addresses were also given at the State Normal School and at a Nashville high school. After a stop in Louisville Mr. McKay and Mr. Gregory went on to Cincinnati. A public meeting was arranged by the Baha'is there, and a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati opened his classes to the travelers."

1932 trips

The Amity and Teaching Committees had highly praised Gregory (and Albert Vail) teaching trips being worth continued investment from the national Fund but which had a minority opinion against it from the Western Branch of the National Teaching Committee. There had been a rise of self-supporting travel teachers (see Ruth Moffett, Orcella Rexford, the Ives.) The question wasn’t *if* itinerant teachers were useful but how it was to be done.

“…an interracial banquet in New York on 27 February 1932. About 150 people attended the banquet, which was organized by the na­tional amity committee to honor the N.A.A.C.P. and the Urban League. The Baha'i co-chairmen for the evening were Loulie Mathews and Louis Gregory, the chairman and secretary of the amity committee. The Mathews family paid the expense of the meeting."

Gregory talk at Baha'i Center at Teaneck Brooklyn Center

Gregory participated in an interracial dinner in New York in cooperation with the National Urbane League with attendees including W.E.B. Dubois with Mrs. Loulie A. Matthews chairing the committee that brought it together.

Gregory was a guest speaker at a Portsmouth church Apr 1.

Gregory spoke for the Baha'is in room 202 in Lincoln Hall, University of Illinois on "The Baha'i Faith in Persia”.

In March 1932 the national fund was at a very low ebb.

A letter from the National Teaching Committee to at least some assemblies promoted that Gregory not be elected to the NSA so that he could focus on teaching work and the Committee was corrected by the NSA for doing that and word of this continued to circulate at the Convention.{{rp|pp220-1}

He was not elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. Simultaneously Alfred Lunt was replaced as Secretary by Holley and the two men had different styles. The new NSA met immediately and voted to end Gregory and Albert Vail as paid promoters of the religion - an employment they had had since around 1919 or so though there was resistance to calling them salaried as they had expenses of traveling covered, not saving up money. They were informed in May. They would continue on a stipend through January 1933. Some saw the decision exclusively based on finances. Vail had always been a clergyman before joining the Faith and Gregory had not practiced law in 15 years though he had been admitted to the Bar in New Hampshire in 1930 but had not had any employment come of it.

For 1932-3 the members of the national Race Amity Committee served to stimulate local activities rather than coordinate sponsoring events themselves partly because funding was required for the temple work leaving a budge of just $100 for all activities for the year for the nation; Gregory worked out of Eliot & Portsmouth. This was also when there was (again) a shift to local responsibility for events: "The day when local communities may passively await representatives of National Committees to initiate teach­ ing, racial amity and other activities has passed.” However the degree of interracial participation varied or was lacking.

Gregory was among the speakers hosted by the Baha'is of Milwaukee at the hotel and at the Baha’i Center at 1601 Washington Ave for May 23. Building site may no longer exist?

Gregory published a review of “The Goal of a New World Order” in the black community magazine Opportunity.

The NAACP and Urban League of Washington DC were honored by the National Interracial Committee at a banquet in 1932 in New York. Gregory…was there?

Gregory ultimately wrote a 6 page response to the NSA decision from home in Portsmouth in June without Louise around. He questioned the propriety of the decision, some logic of it, upon mostly glowing reviews, the emphasis placed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha on the work, and perhaps the conflict of the World Unity initiative vs the Race Amity initiative while also admiring Holley’s work; the next NSA meeting was postponed to Aug 20. During the time news was circulated that Vail had withdrawn from the Faith over the issue and Gregory become distraught.

The NSA kept its decision though this was also marked by a change from qualities of personal relationship and heart, accessibility to those of clarity and proficiency but perhaps autocratic. The NSA grew concerned the Lunt’s behavior was disloyal.

Shoghi Effendi intervened censuring any public discussion of the issue of Gregory and Vail’s situations while letting the NSA and individuals have their says directly and Shoghi Effendi directed that Lunt not censured by the NSA and Lunt and Holley worked many more years together.

Gregory still led a Race Amity Conference at Green Acre in late August along with Samuel Allen and Edward Adams again with newspaper coverage printing a picture of Gregory. Louise left for Europe in September after being home 4 months.

In Sept-Oct Gregory writes of considering employment as a paid lecturer and of advice from Shoghi Effendi. Explored diverse employment ideas and was in touch with Orcella Rexford who had her own methods to remain a traveling teacher.

Nov 5, Gregory writes of missing his wife away on a tour in Europe not to return until spring. Nov 17 Gregory writes to Holley putting the matter behind them. and received an encouraging letter from Shoghi Effendi who encourage the Dunns of Australia as economic models over that of Orcella Rexford.

(Vail did officially leave the religion and returned to being an active minister of a church after a period of heavy poverty and trying other professions like writing articles for an encyclopedia. But in later years he continue to promote relations with the Faith and to call out the example and teachings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He would just have nothing to do with Baha’i administration. He didn’t attack it. He just kept it at a distance. - see his Bahaipedia article.)

For a December conference in Detroit in his role on the Race Amity Committee Gregory reaffirmed that the local community should be the mainspring of activity while praising the sacrificial work and need to maintain stances against segregation. However a black assembly member was removed from assembly membership because of being unable to attend meetings which deepened differences.

“…an amity conference on 9-10 December 1932, held in cooperation with the Urban League and with Alain Locke, Samuel A. Allen, James H. Hubert, Dr. Genevieve Coy of Columbia University, and Louis Gregory as speakers.” Gregory co-presenter at Center in Brooklyn.

Dec 25 he writes of the economic suffering widening understanding of the suffering of many during the Depression.

Continued

See https://bahaipedia.org/User:Smkolins/sandbox13