History of the Bahá'í Faith in Reno and Northern Nevada

1. Introduction to the History of the Bahá'í Faith

Overview

This is a work in progress. Index added March 17, 1998. Corrections made to the first epoch of the Apostolic Age, April 10, 1998. Corrections and additions made to the second epoch of the Apostolic Age, August 17, 1998.

The Apostolic or Heroic Age:

Bahá'í History can be divided into seven periods thus far. The first three periods form the Apostolic or Heroic Age. The First Epoch centers around the youthful and gentle Báb [meaning the Gate, also known as the Forerunner of the Ancient Beauty], Whose brief tumultuous Ministry prepared the way for the long-awaited coming of the promised Messenger of God. The Second Epoch is centered about the majestic, powerful and awe-inspiring figure of Bahá'u'lláh [meaning the Glory of God, also known by the titles: The Blessed Perfection, The Ancient Beauty], the Promised One of all religions. Having given up a life of extreme wealth and ease, He promoted the Message of the Báb, only later to learn that He Himself was the Promised One foretold by the Báb and by the religions of the past. Enduring 40 years of exiles and imprisonments, and under nearly impossible circumstances, surrounded by enemies and their plots, lies and intrigues, He revealed God's Message for this Day. The Third Epoch revolves around the ministry of 'Abdu'l-Bahá [meaning servant of the Glory, i.e. of the Glory of God] and eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh. Sharing His Father's exiles and imprisonments, 'Abdu'l-Bahá became the perfect example of His Father's Teachings and today is known as the Exemplar and Interpreter of the Bahá'í Faith, The Most Great Branch, The Master, and The Center of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant.

The Formative Age of the Bahá'í Faith:

The last four periods comprise the Formative Age. The First Epoch of the Formative Age "witnessed the birth and the primary stages in the erection of the framework of the Administrative Order of the Faith". "That epoch was characterized by a twofold process aiming at the consolidation of the administrative structure of the Faith and the extension of the range of its institutions." --Citadel of Faith, p. 5. The Second Epoch extended that twofold process, extending the range of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Divine Plan and culminating with the election of the Universal House of Justice. The Third Epoch, characterized by rapid growth, concluded with the beginning of the Faith's emergence from obscurity into the larger arena of public notice, fueled in no small part by the persecution of the Bahá'ís in the land of It's birth. The Fourth Epoch began with the increased maturation of the administrative institutions from the local spiritual assemblies up to and including the Universal House of Justice which is now engaged in a vast expansion of the World Center. During the Fifth (and present) Epoch, the world has witnessed the complete emergence of the Faith from obscurity and its vastly greater involvement in the social and economic development of the world.

This brief guide provides a chronological view of the more significant events in the history of the religion. The chronology has been pieced together from a broad array of historical sources which will one day be listed at the end.

Pronunciation Guide: Shoghi Effendi's system of transliteration is used throughout to most accurately display Persian and Arabic names. HTML does not permit full accuracy in this regard, as it does not support all the necessary characters. Here is a brief pronunciation guide to assist the reader:

Bahá'u'lláh is pronounced:  Ba (as in back) - haw - o (as in short) - law.  Wherever you see á, think a as in arm. ' indicates a pause. Mírzá is pronounced: Meerzaw. Whenever you see í, think ee as in meet. Bahá'í would therefore be Ba - haw - (brief pause) - ee; in this context the í means of, as in follower of. Quddús is pronounced: Khodoos. Whenever you see ú think oo as in moon. Don't worry too much about the Q - it is a guttural sound that doesn't come naturally to Anglophones . Unless you have heard Arabic or Persian, just treat it like a K.

Other Information: This is a work in progress. More details on the development of the World Center will be added when I can do so. For further information on the religious persecution of the Iranian Bahá'ís, check out Religious Persecution of Iranian Bahá'ís. Also, hyperlinks cross-referencing the Writings will be included at a future date.

It is my hope that this chronology provides you with an overview which will aid your understanding of the extraordinary circumstances in which the Bahá'í Teachings have been revealed. This is by no means an exhaustive work; myriads of details have been left out for the sake of brevity. As a suggestion, try viewing this chronology when you pick up one of Bahá'u'lláh's works. Look at His trials and tribulations and peruse the words from The Pen of Glory. How else could such outpourings of wisdom and love have emanated under such circumstances from an uneducated Man except through the Power of God? This is the first and foremost proof of the Manifestation of God: His Revelation. --J. Thomas Pawlowski

2. Introduction; Development of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada

(Original article by Janice McGourty, 1978; edited and updated and submitted to the Reno Bahá'í Faith Website by Genevieve Metro-Corbin, 2001)

In April, 1993, the members of the Bahá'í Faith in Northern Nevada celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í Faith in Reno, Nevada. Part of the memorable public commemoration was a celebrative program held on April 25, 1993 at the Jot Travis Student Union Building at the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition to the program, a month long public educational display was highlighted at the Public Library on Center Street, detailing the tenets of the Bahá'í Faith, and tracing the history of the Bahá'í Faith worldwide as well as detailing the history of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada.

Much of the details of both the commemorative program and the library display were made possible through the research and the end result - a paper written by Janice L. McGourty for a college project in the fall of 1978. Most of Ms. McGourty's sources were through oral interviews with members of the Bahá'í Faith and through a research of the Reno Bahá'í Faith Spiritual Assembly archives.⁽¹⁾ While added details, such as pictures, time lines, etc, have been added for more thorough historical and media appeal, the original paper by Ms. McGourty is the foundational basis for this project. We are therefore grateful and thank Ms. McGourty for her excellent research completed in 1978 for this project to be made available to our worldwide web audience and researchers.

Genevieve Metro Corbin

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Reno, Nevada, Ridván 1977

[photo missing] From left to right, back roll: Steve Young, Catherine Parr, front roll: Richard Francis, Janet McGourty, Leonard Schmael, Judith Schmael, Dorothy Stephens, Kenneth Stephens and Allen Bryson.

Bahá'ís Attending Fireside in 1985

[photo missing] A few of the Bahá'ís attending a fireside about March 10. 1985 at the home of Hooshang Aflatooni. Back; Christi Bonds, Front: Right to left, Anita Abraham, unknown "possibly Barbara's daughter", Frank Esposito, Barbara Esposito. The person in the far background is Roya Galata. At the time of this photo the Espositos were visiting after pioneering to Bermuda where Frank served on it's first National Spiritual Assembly.

These regular firesides hosted by Hooshang Aflatooni and his late wife Bahia started in 1979 and were hosted on a monthly basis until the spring of 2004.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this project is to trace the development of the Bahá'í Faith in the State of Nevada, and specifically, Northern Nevada.

The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion that is a little over 150 yrs old. (157 in the year 2001). Bahá'ís (members of the Bahá'í Faith) believe that the message of the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh, (The Glory of God), has a profound effect on the world, which will become even more meaningful when viewed in retrospect.

In order to get a more thorough understanding of the growth of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada, it has been necessary to simultaneously trace a brief history of the Bahá'í Faith worldwide, as well as clarifying the Bahá'í administrative teaching plans which were in existence at the time. This aspect will help to define chronology, as well as help to explain the active stimulation that members of the Bahá'í Faith receive from certain specific teaching goals shared by the Administrative bodies of the Faith.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH FROM A TEACHING AND BAHÁ'Í PERIOD PERSPECTIVE

The Bahá'í Faith can be divided into Faith-based historical periods and one way to trace the Faith is to view it from this perspective. In viewing the history of the Faith this way, one can witness the growth of the Bahá'í Faith in a particular area due, in part, to the spiritual outpourings from what the Faith was asking it's believers to achieve on a local basis.

More details about the time periods can be found at History Section of this website.

INTRODUCTION OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH IN NEVADA: Part I

To date, the history of the Bahá'í Faith is said to have embraced eight periods (epochs) within a period of two ages. The Heroic or Apostolic Age (1844 - 1921) & the Formative Age (1921-today)

The first three epochs comprised the Heroic or Apostolic Age.

The Bahá'í Faith was birthed in Persia in the year 1844, and the first epoch centers around Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad, the Báb (The Gate), Who proclaimed Himself as the Promised One and the forerunner of One even greater. His brief, tumultuous Ministry prepared the way for the long-awaited coming of the promised Messenger of God. Over 20,000 martyrs gave their lives in the name of this new Faith, including the Báb Himself in 1850.

The year 1863 birthed the second epoch of the Bahá'í Faith and is centered about the majestic, powerful and awe-inspiring figure of Bahá'u'lláh (meaning the Glory of God, also known by the titles: The Blessed Perfection, The Ancient Beauty), the Promised One of all religions. Having been born of nobility, and given up a life of extreme wealth and ease, He promoted the Message of the Báb, only later to learn that He Himself was the Promised One foretold by the Báb and by the religions of the past. Enduring 40 years of exiles and imprisonments, and under nearly impossible circumstances, surrounded by enemies and their plots, lies and intrigues, He revealed God's Message for this Day. Bahá'u'lláh's message was one of unity. The volumes He revealed (which comprise over a hundred), outline the foundation for a new world system based on the Oneness of Humankind. His teachings include the independent investigation of truth; the common foundation of all of the world's religions; the harmony of religion and science; the equality of men and women; the elimination of all prejudice; universal education; a spiritual solution to the world's economic problems; and world peace upheld by a spiritual and cooperative world system of government.⁽²⁾
 

The first public mention of the Bahá'í Faith in the West was on September 23, 1893.⁽³⁾ In the closing hours of the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, the Reverend George A. Ford, a Syrian missionary, read a paper talking about Bahá'u'lláh.

Thornton Chase became the first American Bahá'í in 1894. Many more Americans became Bahá'ís, including Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, the wife of Senator George F. Hearst, who in 1898 organized an historic pilgrimage of 15 early American Bahá'ís to meet 'Abdú'l-Bahá. By 1898 there were hundreds of Bahá'ís in America and several Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assemblies, the governing bodies of the Bahá'í Faith in local communities. 'Abdú'l-Bahá also wrote many volumes, expanding upon His Father's work. After 'Abdú'l-Bahá was released from prison, He traveled abroad to proclaim His Father's teachings. In 1912 He traveled to the United States to visit Bahá'ís, and while in the U.S. He spoke at numerous public meetings, churches, halls and homes on many topics, such as the basic principles of the Bahá'í Faith, as well as many philosophical , moral and spiritual topics. He also spoke to church congregations, peace societies, trade unions, university faculties, etc. The talks were later published as "The Promulgation of Universal Peace". Arriving in New York City, 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited many cities in the U.S., including Chicago, where He laid the cornerstone for "the Mother Temple of the West". ⁽⁴⁾

When he returned to the Holy Land (Haifa, Israel), He revealed the "Tablets of the Divine Plan", which is the mandate for the global expansion of the Bahá'í Faith, and which outline the spiritual heritage of America.

Bahá'u'lláh laid down guidelines for the administration of the Bahá'í Faith which have protected it from dividing into sects as has happened to other religions. He named 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the sole interpreter of His Writings and during 'Abdú'l Bahá'ís lifetime, the Faith revolved around Him. Before His death, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote His "Will and Testament", which appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as His successor, and further safeguarded the Bahá'í Faith from division, giving specific instructions for the worldwide development of the administrative institutions of the Bahá'í Faith.

The death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in 1921, ushered in not only a new epoch, but also a new era of the Bahá'í Faith: that of the Guardianship of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's grandson, Shoghi Effendi, and the first epoch of the Formative Age of the Bahá'í Faith.

Shoghi Effendi at age 20

In 1935 Shoghi Effendi initiated the first systematic teaching plan in the Bahá'í world, the Seven Year Plan, and assigned it to the American believers. This marked the beginning of the unfolding of the Divine Plan as outlined in the "Tablets of the Divine Plan" This plan covered the last seven years before the culmination of the first Bahá'í century (1937-1944). The chief objectives of the plan were threefold:

1) To establish at least one local spiritual assembly in every state of the United States and every province of Canada;

2) To make certain that at least one Bahá'í teacher was residing in each Latin American republic; 3) To complete the exterior design of the first Bahá'í house of worship in North America.

The plan was successfully completed in 1944, the centenary of the Báb's declaration. It was also during this period that the first Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly in Nevada (Reno) was elected on April 20, 1943.

As the Seven Year Plan got underway in America, several other National Assemblies adopted a Six Year Plan, beginning in 1938, under the direction of Shoghi Effendi.

The Seven Year Plan culminated in 1944, the centennial anniversary of the declaration of the Bahá'í Faith and the declaration of the Báb. In honor of the occasion the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, published "God Passes By",  a detailed historical account of the development of the Faith over the first hundred years.

In 1946, the Guardian outlined another teaching plan for the American believers and the second Seven-Year Plan was launched. Some of the goals were consolidation and expansion of the Bahá'í Faith with special focus on Europe, which only had national spiritual assemblies in Great Britain and Germany, and which had greatly suffered during the war. It also called for the formation of local spiritual assemblies in Latin America and a vast increase in assemblies in North America, including Canada.

The plan was successfully completed in 1953, the centenary of Bahá'u'lláh's Intimation. During this period (1946-1953), ten other nations adopted teaching plans under the guidance of the Guardian. This Second Seven Year Plan witnessed the appointment of a number of Hands of the Cause of God by the Guardian to assist in the promulgation and protection of the Faith. The State of Israel was formed in 1948, during the time of this plan, an historic event important to Bahá'is because Bahá'u'lláh's mission ended in Akká., and the Bahá'í World Center is in Haifa, Israel. 1953 saw also the formal dedication of the Bahá'í House of Worship at Wilmette, Illinois.

The Second Epoch of the Formative Age of the Bahá'í Faith was ushered in in 1947 and spanned to 1963.

During this period, Shoghi Effendi outlined the World Crusade, the first worldwide teaching plan which was to culminate in the centennial anniversary of Bahá'u'lláh's declaration in 1863. This ten year period (1953-1963) doubled the number of countries and major territories opened to the Bahá'í Faith to over 250 and increased the number of National Assemblies from 12 to 51.

Shoghi Effendi died unexpectedly in 1957 and the Hands of the Cause of God administered the Faith until 1961, when an International Bahá'í Council was elected. This was replaced by the Universal House of Justice which was first elected in 1963. 1961 saw the Dedication of the House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda and the Dedication of the House of Worship in Sydney, Australia.

Since 1963 the worldwide Bahá'í Faith teaching plans have been under the direction of the Universal House of Justice.

The Universal House of Justice is the supreme institution of the Bahá'í Faith today. It is an institution composed of nine men elected by the National Spiritual Assemblies in the world that is invested with authority to legislate on all matters not covered in the Bahá'í Writings, and is assured of Divine guidance. The Bahá'í Faith is administered by spiritual assemblies composed of nine elected persons at the worldwide, national and local levels. Local Spiritual Assemblies are the bedrock of Bahá'í community life and the source of guidance at the local level. Many teaching goals are aimed at establishing Local Spiritual Assemblies.

To assist these elected bodies are persons appointed in advisory capacities. Appointed institutions include the Hands of the Cause, the International Teaching Committee, the Continental Board of Counselors, with Counselors assigned to each continent, the Auxiliary Board with members assigned to particular areas of a continent and the Regional Council.

Malietoa Tanumafili II - the Head of State of Western Samoa.

During this epoch, many milestones were achieved, including the Dedication of the Mother Temple of Europe, Latin America, and Western Samoa, and the declaration of Faith of the First Ruling Monarch, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II - the Head of State of Western Samoa.

But growth of the Bahá'í Faith worldwide also brought knowledge of severe persecution against the Bahá'is of Irán due to religious fanaticism.

Despite imprisonment, hardship and even death of members and disbandment of the Local Assemblies in Irán, the knowledge of the persecution brought worldwide media coverage, and throughout the rest of the world, the Faith grew, adding nine new National Spiritual Assemblies, bringing the number to 143.

To top off the third epoch, in 1985 The Universal House of Justice publishes "The Promise of World Peace". This statement on peace is formally presented to virtually all rulers, whether individuals or parliaments, of the world and to the leading thinkers of the world.

1986 ushers in the fourth epoch of the Formative age

As the new Bahá'í year opens, in April, 1986, The Universal House of Justice launches a Six Year Plan, quickly followed by an historic visit to by the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands for a consultation with the Universal House of Justice on world peace.

Christmas Eve, December 24^th, 1986, announces the dedication of the Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi, India.

April 1992 witnesses another milestone: The Bahá'í Holy Year begins, in commemoration of the centenary of the passing of Bahá'u'lláh. The Bahá'í Faith is now represented in every nation on earth. To celebrate, the Bahá'í International community attends the Second Bahá'í World Congress held in the City of the Covenant (New York City) - attended by 30,000 Bahá'ís, followed by the first English publication of The Most Holy Book (Kitáb-i-Aqdas) in 1993. Throughout the excitement of the growth and expansion of the Bahá'í Faith, sadness is also present because the persecutions of the Bahá'ís continue in Iran.

In 1996, The Universal House of Justice launches a Four-Year Plan highlighting the growth of the Bahá'í Faith World Center in Haifa, Israel, followed in 1997 by The Universal House of Justice designating the establishment of the Regional Bahá'í Councils. The National Spiritual Assembly of Rwanda is reformed, bringing the number of National Spiritual Assemblies to 175.

In 1998, three new National Spiritual Assemblies are formed: Sabah, Sarawak, and Slovakia and the National Spiritual Assembly in Liberia is re-established, for a total of 179 National Spiritual Assemblies.

On January 1, 2000 the presentations of the Bahá'í World Center are televised as part of the new millennium celebrations and are viewed by over one-billion persons around the world.

2001: The Universal House of Justice announces to the Baha'i world the beginning of the Fifth Epoch of the Formative Age, accompanied by the dedication of the seat of the International Teaching Center, and the launching of a Five Year Plan that includes an ever progressive expansion of the Bahá'í Faith throughout the world, along with the expansion of facilities at the Bahá'í World Center, and the erection of the Mother Temple of South America in Santiago, Chile.

This is a view of the Bahá'í Terraces as seen from the Shrine of the Báb. Ben Garon Boulevard, the city of Haifa and harbor are shown in the background. Photo is courtesy of the Bahá'í World News Service.

May 22-23, 2001 The Grand Opening of the Baha'i Terraces on Mount Carmel was celebrated with a symphony orchestra, a 70-voice choir. 3,500 Bahá'ís and guests from 180 countries attended in person along with 650 dignitaries from Israel and international embassies and another 100 representatives of the news media. The service was watched by millions around the world via satellite and Internet webcast. The Universal House of Justice, in a statement read during the ceremony, offered the project, the celebration surrounding it, the golden-domed shrine of the Báb, as a source of hope against the "turmoil and crises of our time."

Toward the end of the program, and just as dusk was falling, the lights on the 19 newly constructed terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up the slope of the mountain's north face, were gradually turned on, illuminating the mountainside in a dramatic climax. The 19 garden terraces have been described as the new eighth wonder of the world and along with the Shrine of the Báb, comprise a structure so grand that it can be seen from outer space.

The Bahá'í Faith has just recently entered a new epoch in the year 2001 (the fifth epoch of the Formative Age). This epoch began with the increased maturation of the administrative institutions from the local spiritual assemblies up to and including the Universal House of Justice, which is now engaged in a vast expansion of the World Center in Haifa, Israel. With the recent celebration of the grand opening and expansion of the Bahá'í Faith World Center, one of the benchmarks for this current epoch will witness the complete emergence of the Bahá'í Faith from obscurity and vastly greater involvement in the social and economic development of the world.

INTRODUCTION OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH IN NEVADA: Part II

With so much emphasis placed on the growth of the Bahá'í Faith worldwide, especially in the previous Introduction, it seems belittling to detail what is known about the birth of the Faith in Nevada. However, it is also exciting to trace the history of the Bahá'í Faith locally and to acknowledge first hand the touch of the spirit of the Bahá'í Faith on past and current Nevadan citizens.

Nevada was first touched with the physical presence of the Bahá'í Faith by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. On October 1, 1912, he passed through Nevada in a train on His way to San Francisco and again on his return sojourn to Denver from Sacramento on the 26th of the same month. ⁽⁶⁾  (Also see "The 90 Year Commemoration of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Travels Through America"). While He was in California, He had spoken to large audiences in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento. As previously mentioned, when He returned to the Holy Land (Haifa, Israel), He revealed the "Tablets of the Divine Plan". Two of these tablets are addressed to the Bahá'ís of the Western States, which includes Nevada. The first tablet, revealed on April 1, 1916 at Bahjí, includes the following:

"yet in the states of New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada, the lamp of the love of God is not ignited in a befitting and behooving manner, and the call of the Kingdom of God has not been raised. Now, if it is possible, show ye an effort in this direction. Either travel yourselves, personally, throughout those states or choose others and send them, so that they may teach the souls. For the present those states are like unto dead bodies: they must breathe into them the breath of life and bestow upon them a heavenly spirit. Like unto the stars they must shine in that horizon and thus the rays of the Sun of Reality may also illumine those states."

The second tablet, revealed on February 15, 1917 by 'Abdu'l-Bahá at Akká., compares California and the other Western states with the Holy Land (Haifa), noting the physical similarities and encouraging those states to achieve a spiritual similarity by becoming a source of spiritual illumination to the Western world.  Within this tablet is the prayer revealed to the Bahá'ís of the Western States:

"O GOD! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow--assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs of guidance.

O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thine angels, make me victorious in the promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the helper of the weak and the defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained."

(1). Janice McGourty, "The Development of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada", Report for University of Nevada teachers J. Edwards and N. Ferguson.Fall, 1978.

(2). I.E.. Esslemont, "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era",

(3). Reno Bahá'í Faith Website, History Section: Third Epoch Heroic Age.

(4). H. M. Balyuzi, " 'Abdu'l-Bahá", George Ronald, London, 1971

(5). Eunice Braun, "From Strength to Strength; The First Half Century of the Formative Age of the Bahá'í Era", Bahá'í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, 1977.

(6). Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

3. Early Bahá'í Teaching

An account of this sojourn is described in The 90 Year Commemoration of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Travels Through America.

Bahá'í literature was scarce in the early decades of the last century. Few books were available because little had been translated from the Arabic or Persian languages in which the Bahá'í Holy Writings were written.^[6] Tablets (Letters) from 'Abdu'l-Bahá were anxiously awaited by Western believers.^[7] The Star of the West, first published in 1910, was a magazine for the early Bahá'ís which included articles on the Faith by many now well-known Bahá'ís, Tablets from 'Abdu'l-Bahá, some of the few translations of prayers and other Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, stories about  'Abdu'l-Bahá, and later, letters from the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

The first five Tablets of the Divine Plan were published in the September 8, 1916 issue of Star of the West. (The remainder of the Tablets were not communicated to the Western world until the end of the first World War). The American Bahá'ís were inspired by these Tablets, and probably some of the earliest teachers to Nevada arose after receiving the first Tablet to the Western States. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was highly revered by the Bahá'ís and there were a number of devoted believers who longed to serve in whatever way He suggested. Therefore, such a call for travel teachers as was in the first Tablet to the Western States would be answered.

The October 16, 1916 issue of Star of the West listed Mrs. Helen S. Goodall, a Bahá'í from San Francisco, as the contact for Nevada teaching^[8] and the Sept.27, 1916 issue published a letter mentioning the proposed teachings in Nevada, including Reno, Carson City and even Virginia City.^[9]  

Mrs. Isabella Brittingham, an active early Bahá'í teacher from San Francisco, mentions traveling to Reno shortly after 1917 to teach. In a letter memorialized in an issue of the Star of the West , her comments regarding her teaching is quoted in a published letter: “For two years Mrs. Brittingham has been giving her time to seed sowing with beautiful devotion. When asked for some words concerning her work, she writes: "I feel I have never done anything and the page of report must be empty. Every new year I realize with deepened awakening my sense of nothingness in trying to advance in that Path." But she adds: "Since January 1917, I have raised the call of the Kingdom in Arizona, Southern California,  Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah and very briefly in Reno, Nevada."" [10]  

Undoubtedly, others followed. Someone stimulated such an interest in the Bahá'í Faith that the University of Nevada, Reno library requested literature around 1926. The Bahá'í Library Committee in Washington, D.C. sent at least one book, The Bahá'í Year Book, Volume One of the Bahá'í World.^[11]

Interestingly, The University of Nevada was also mentioned in an article in the Star of the West, entitled “Educating for Peace”, by Stanwood Cobb, highlighting Colleges and Universities which took an active role in international life in the early 1920’s. Mr. Cobb lists the courses given at the University of Nevada at the time (1924) which taught these topics. In Cobb’s article for the Star of the West, he writes: “At the University of Nevada, a course is given on the Institutions of International Life, covering such topics as; "The  Historic Development of the World  Neighborhood of States, International  Justice, The International Mind , Systems of Education for World Federal Citizenship, The Need of a Universal Language, and Empire, Nationality,  Federal Internationality." This course is an excellent approach to the subject of universal peace.”" [12]

Research to publish the program for the 50^th Anniversary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Reno, NV has noted that a Gertrude Frazier and a Kathryn Frankland visited Reno as Bahá'í traveling teachers in 1936.^[13]

Florence Mayberry who had recently moved to Reno and had previously heard about the Bahá'í Faith,  began to read a few of the Bahá'í books as a result of her contact with friends she met while living in California, especially Mrs. Carpenter, whom Florence had met while working as a writer for a newspaper. Florence Mayberry, who became a well-known mystery writer, and her husband, David, a Postal Service employee, was intrigued by the Faith that she had mysteriously been attracted to and which had touched Florence’s spiritual outer perimeters since a small child.  Florence Mayberry's fascinating and intriguing auto-biography The Great Adventure, [online here] highlights her life and her memories of her life as a Bahá'í. In the Introduction of her fascinating auto-biography, Florence states that: "The Great Adventure is not only the story of her life, but within its core lies a pattern of search and struggle shared by all human creatures as we are nudged by instinctive yearning into discovery of who and why we are. Quickening that quest is a deeper mystic urge to comprehend that incomprehensible Power which brings us into existence and is cognizant of the abilities implanted within us......... The Great Adventure takes the adventurer three times around the world, plus zonal ventures from the Arctic to the Equator, encountering multi-varied backgrounds of race, climate, culture, and spiritual foundations. Best of all, those adventures provided constant, realistic proof that all of us, every individual, no matter where or who we are, share one world, one humanity and one God."^[14]

One of  Florence Mayberry's first opportunities to help her newly found Bahá'í friends who would travel from California to visit with her, was to secure a meeting hall for Mrs. Mamie Seto, a gifted, world traveling speaker of Bahá'í Teachings who was coming to Reno to speak. With her husband David's help, Florence secured a hall in downtown Reno. The talk was well attended and connections with the various religious, metaphysical and social groups were established. The event was advertised in the local newspaper and many enjoyed Mrs. Soto's talk. The talk surprised Florence, who felt a connection with both the speaker and the Source of the speaker's topic. Florence also held many gatherings in her home for those wishing to learn more about the Bahá'í Faith. She is remembered as dressing in white and wearing pants, unusual attire for women in that day. ^[15] 

In response to the goal of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the formation of a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in each state,^[16] Miss Helen Griffing of Los Angeles moved to Reno as a homefront pioneer in 1937 or 1938.^[17]

Interested individuals gathered around Ms. Griffing, whom Florence described as a “smiling pixie of a woman in her forties, hair clipped boy-style, and her eyebrows peaked over lively blue eyes”[18],  including the Mayberrys and their family members, studying the few available Bahá'í books and Tablets. The seekers met regularly for many months, usually at Ms. Griffing’s home, hosting other traveling teachers and speakers and Baha'is who had just returned from pilgrimage to Haifa, Israel.

Shortly after Mrs. Soto's visit, an event catapulted Florence to civil action. In her our words, Mrs. Mayberry Amarched herself to both the Reno mayor's office and the police chief's office to defiantly defend the unfair and prejudicial treatment of a young black couple whom she knew. 

Mrs. Mayberry tells the story in her aforementioned auto-biography, and was surprised that the officials not only treated her courteously, but efficiently handled the situation with the city employees who were involved. As a result of her spontaneous "Atour de force", as she describes it, Florence was contacted by the Reno African Methodist-Episcopal Church (AME) and invited to be a speaker at their Sunday worship service. Florence's resultant presentation afforded her the revelation that she not only realized that she enjoyed public speaking, but the opportunity to talk created such a transformational change in her which led her to announce to her husband and family that, indeed, she was a Bahá'í. Within one day, her husband, her brother and sister-in law, Richard and Mariejeanne Walton (Morton),  and her mother, Myrtle Robinette, all declared their belief in Bahá'u'lláh, and became members of the Bahá'í Faith. That was in May, 1941.^[19]

Mariejeanne Walton-Morton, around 1990

Mariejeanne Morton, Florence Mayberry's sister-in-law, is of Basque heritage, and was, thus, the first Basque Bahá'í Nevadan, probably one of the few Basque believers in the world at the time. Mariejean grew up knowing other Basque families in Nevada, including the well known Laxalt family. When the Mayberry's visited the Holy Land, Florence told The Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, about Mariejeanne, and He suggested that she consider pioneering to the Pyrenees. Mariejean responded to His call and went by herself to teach the people of her cultural heritage. Although she also reads Basque, very few European Basques were able to read or write their own language since it was outlawed for so many years. Mariejean traveled through the area in her own automobile and became very popular with the local inhabitants. Mariejean helped by providing transportation for the sick or expectant mothers to the nearest town or hospital. She lived in the Pyrenees mountains for several years before returning to Nevada. Mariejean has owned her own ad agency and is a professional artist known for her portraits and Impressionistic style. Her gallery is located in Verdi, Nevada.^[20]

The first group of Bahá'ís in Nevada included David and Florence Mayberry, Myrtle Robinette, Richard Walton, Mariejeanne Walton, Catherine Parr and Helen Griffing.^[21] Early records of the group are not available, unfortunately, and detailed information about their activities can only be gathered through old newspaper advertisements and the memory of individuals, many who are no longer with us. We do have Florence Mayberry's wonderful autobiography to help fill us in a little. Florence's autobiography (Chap. 31) not only recreates some of the most important events of her life, which she entitles "First Steps", but the chapter also chronicles the First Steps of the World War we were heading into and the precious first years (1941-1945) of the Bahá'í Faith in Reno, Nevada.

An account of this time is quoted from "First Steps": Chapter 31 of  "The Great Adventure" by Florence Mayberry [partly online here]:

"On December 7, 1941, a radio news commentator excitedly announced that Pearl Harbor had just been attacked by Japanese planes and that President Roosevelt was in the process of declaring war on Japan.

Like the rest of America our family was stunned by the knowledge that war was at our very doorstep with possible imminent attack on the Pacific Coast. Even more disturbing than the physical concern was the spiritual shock to our deeply held belief in the oneness of mankind with its corollary necessity for world peace. The Japanese, so soon to be allotted public castigation, were fellow human beings, creatures of God as we were. No doubt the Japanese were praying right now in their temples, worshipful in their own way of Creative Power. Both attacker and attacked were headed toward mutual slaughter........

David and Richard were within age brackets for military service. As Bahá'ís, they were bound to serve their country with loyalty and obedience. In addition, as Bahá'ís, they were obligated not to take the life of another human creature.

"ye Beware lest ye shed the blood of any one, said Bahá'u'lláh, and for emphasis added, Spread not disorder in the land, and shed not the blood of any one....."^[22]".....War is destruction while universal peace is construction; war is death while peace is life; war is rapacity and bloodthirstiness while peace is beneficence and humaneness...war is the destroyer of the edifice of humanity...war is the struggle for existence while peace is mutual aid and co-operation among the people of the world....^[23]

The two men were called up by the Draft. To my brother's surprise the Army doctors discovered he had a physical disability of which he was unaware which prevented military service. For the duration of the war he put paints and brushes on hold to serve as health investigator for the government. For his part David informed the Draft Board that in no sense was he a conscientious objector but requested non-combatant service, because of his religious convictions, in whatever other duty the Army desired to place him. He was assigned to Army Postal Field Service. Since at that time he was a Foreman of the Reno Post Office, it was the duty for which he was eminently qualified.

Myrtle left the dress shop to work at an Army Post and I eventually became Senior Interviewer for the U.S. Employment Service.

Near the end of the war a marvelous, long hoped-for event of life's great adventure came to us. At last David and I were parents. ......on March 24, 1945 Michael David Mayberry was born. A frustrated nine-year wait had preceded this gift and inevitably his parents and grandmother viewed him as possessed of every talent known to man, and perhaps a few not yet discovered.

Despite the delightful distractions of this remarkable child, our fireside gatherings grew larger. Local seekers were joined by lonely spiritually hungry individuals temporarily located in Nevada ............A number of black friends also participated.

Especially close to our hearts was a cultured, sweet-spoken Japanese family of Christian background who had escaped from California a mere day before that state began transporting resident citizen Japanese to concentration camps. In time this family's elder son, Robert Imagire, then later his charming mother, became Bahá'ís. Further delight was when a close friend from the African-Methodist-Episcopal membership, Ray Cheatham, accepted Bahá'u'lláh as the Christ-promised Spirit of Truth. Some years later, during one of my eighteen teaching visits to Alaska, so did his beautiful wife, Estelle.

Reno Bahá'í membership expanded to nine, the requisite number required to elect a Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá'ís, the first such institution to be formed in Nevada.

Public meetings were frequently held in a downtown auditorium. When visiting speakers were not available local members presented the program in turn.....it forced us to study harder.

To strengthen our neophyte efforts, visiting speakers came often to contribute their wisdom and eloquence to our programs, not only serving us as role models but educators in the early history of the Faith in America." ^[24]

Florence and her husband, son and mother returned to Santa Paula, California, to the place where she had first heard of the Bahá'í Faith. [25]

 During the 5 years that spans this Chapter of Florence's Mayberry's auto-biography, recapturing her life in Reno, Nevada during those years, a most prestigious event occurred, the formation of the first Spiritual Assembly in Nevada at Ridván ^[26], 1943, in Reno.^[27]

References:

4. Early Reno Bahá'í Assembly (1947-1973)

Members of the Spiritual Assembly were David Mayberry (Chairman), Ray Cheatham (Vice-Chairman), Robert Takashi Imagire (Secretary), Florence Mayberry (Treasurer) and Members Mary Bode, Margery Dixon, Gladys Bodmer, Myrtle Robinette and Helen Griffing. Margery Dixon, Mary Bode and Gladys Bodmer had moved to Nevada from California to help form the Local Spiritual Assembly.^[28]

The blend of races represented in the first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in Reno is noteworthy since the Bahá'í Faith teaches the equality of the races and the unity of mankind. It is especially remarkable in light of the degree of prejudice at the time. African Americans were not allowed in many public places, few were even allowed to work in the casinos, while prejudice against the Japanese population was at a peak because of the war. The cosmopolitan nature of the first Nevada Spiritual Assembly was an important progressive step to race unity in Nevada.

Of  additional importance was the service of Robert Imagire on the Local Spiritual Assembly. It is highly likely that Robert (who was elected to the position of Secretary) was the first Japanese individual to serve on a Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in North America.^[29] Robert had learned of the Bahá'í Faith through Myrtle Robinette, Florence Mayberry's mother, who owned a dress shop where his mother was a seamstress. Robert pioneered to Japan to teach the Bahá'í Faith in the mid Forties. He lived in Japan for over ten years before returning to the United States, taking up residence in Washington, D.C.

Racial equality was, thus, a natural principle for Nevadan Bahá'ís to concentrate on. In fact, even before the Local Spiritual Assembly was formed, while the Bahá'ís were still considered a group, the Bahá'ís had organized a Race Amity Convention in 1921 to promote harmony between the races. And in 1944, a youth committee of the Spiritual Assembly founded an inter-racial club at the YWCA. The club was supported by a number of African-American young women and two Bahá'ís served as their advisors. The club was responsible for petitioning and winning permission for African-American Nevadans to use the public skating rink for one afternoon a week - a privilege that had been formally denied them. Pastor Faust of the Bethel AME church personally thanked the club members and advisors for their work to achieve Bahá'í ideals of racial equality. ^[30]

The early Forties were a time of great excitement and activity for the infant Bahá'í community in Nevada. Bahá'ís are required to teach and to share the principles of the Bahá'í Faith which are for the purpose of unifying mankind and promoting a harmonious life on earth. Yet the Bahá'í Faith prohibits proselytizing and requires an independent investigation of Truth, making teaching the Faith a skillful process. But teaching work flourished. Bahá'ís held small weekly firesides, (informal introductory discussions on the Bahá'í Faith) which were advertised in the local newspapers and announced on the radio. Besides the weekly sponsored community gatherings, individuals held additional intimate gatherings in homes and larger, public meetings were also held in rented halls. Guest speakers were invited from out of town to present programs on topics of contemporary interest in relation to Bahá'í principles. Again, radio and newspaper ads advertised the events, along with handmade posters and personal invitations which were also posted and mailed out to individuals.^[31]

The formation of the Bahá'í Spiritual Assembly fulfilled a goal of the Seven Year Plan and created a sense of pride in the local community. Completion of the exterior of the National Bahá'í Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, on the of Lake Michigan, also added to the pride of the northern Nevada Bahá'ís, as well as an heightened interest in the Temple by the local community. The Reno Bahá'í community purchased a plaster model of the Temple for display purposes and used it in many occasions around the area. 1944 witnessed the Centenary of the Bahá'í Faith, the culmination of the first 100 years of the Faith and the completion of the Seven Year Plan. The Reno Bahá'í community observed this sacred occasion by placing a book in the Reno Library, entitled The Bahá'í Centenary - 1844-1944, which was prepared by the Bahá'í Publishing Committee. ^[32] Robert Imagire represented the Reno community at the Centenary Commemoration in Chicago in May, 1944.

 World peace was another principle of interest to the Bahá'í community in 1945, one which it shared with Bahá'ís around the world. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, had commanded mankind to establish world peace and offered constructive proposals to achieve that state, one of which is a world tribunal council. To honor the occasion of the formation of the United Nations, the Reno Bahá'í community placed a copy of the Bahá'í Peace Program, which had been passed out at the United Nations meeting in San Francisco, in the University of Nevada library. ^[33]

Earlier the same year (1944), the Reno Local Spiritual Assembly had sponsored a symposium entitled the Foundations of World Peace. Speakers for the event were Dr. John O. Moseley, President of the University of Nevada, Reno, Samuel Platt, a prominent Reno attorney; and Leroy Ioas, San Francisco railroad executive, noted Bahá'í speaker, and member of the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly. The chairman of the program was David Mayberry, who had recently been named liaison officer in the Reno area for the American Command United National Legion, a United National legion of World War II veterans. The symposium attracted an audience of 150.^[34]

SECOND SEVEN YEAR PLAN (1946-1953)

 The Second Seven Year Plan saw even more growth of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada and work continued to establish Bahá'í principles. Ms. Bennett Dorn was a devoted member of the Bahá'í Faith who moved into Nevada in 1946. Bennett, half African and half Native American, wanted to serve those populations in Northern Nevada.^[35]  Bennett made many friends in the small black community in Reno and often spoke at the Bethel AME Church. She was a strong member of the Reno Bahá'í community for many years and a very courageous woman.^[36]

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States encouraged every Local Spiritual Assembly to form Race Unity Committees, which Reno did, additionally sponsoring an annual Brotherhood Week. To celebrate Brotherhood Week, large public meetings, often held in the Reno Chamber of Commerce Room, were held, represented by panel participants from various races and faith based groups and churches.  Local members of the Bahá'í Faith as well as Bahá'í guest speakers were also represented at the popular events.^[37]

Catherine Parr became the first Nevadan member of the Bahá'í Regional Teaching Committee, comprised of members from Nevada, Arizona and California, and established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Catherine regularly traveled to San Francisco to attend Regional Teaching Committee meetings. Catherine was a native Nevadan and worked for Nevada Bell for many years. She is distinguished as being the first woman engineer for Nevada Bell. Catherine was the first Bahá'í in Hawthorne, Nevada in 1943.

Catherine Parr brought her friend, Jane Ward, into the Bahá'í Faith in 1948, making Jane the first Sparks, Nevada Bahá'í. Then Mary Shirley became the second Sparks, Nevada Bahá'í.^[38]

The Bahá'í Regional Teaching Committee sponsored a series of illustrious Bahá'í speakers who addressed public meetings and firesides during the 1940-60's. The list includes: Amelia Collins, appointed Hand of he Cause in 1951; Mamie Soto, later a member of the Bahá'í National  Spiritual Assembly; Charlotte Linfoot, a member of the Regional Teaching Committee and Assistant Secretary to the National Spiritual Assembly for many years; Leroy Ioas, appointed a Hand of the Cause in 1952; Holloywood actor O.Z. Whitehead; Dwight Allen, later a member of the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly and a Professor of Education; Musa Banani, appointed a Hand of the Cause in 1952; Feruz Kazemzedeh, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and a Professor of History at Yale University; Nairne Forsythe Ward, who was working in atomic research for the U. S. Navy and was later a caretaker of Bahá'u'lláh's house at Bahjí; Vinson Brown, a native of Reno, well known as a biologist and for his studies of Native American culture; Florence Mayberry; Dr. Mildred Nichols, a San Franciscan dentist; Dagmar Dole, a pioneer to Europe during the Second Seven Year Plan; and Eleanor Holiaugh, another famous Bahá'í pioneer.^[39]

Many of the speakers mentioned came from California with it's strong Bahá'í communities. Several were students at Stanford University, with it's active Bahá'í college club. Others were teachers at the Bahá'í school in Geyserville. Founded in 1927 by John and Louise Bosch with the help of Leroy Ioas, Geyserville School was a western center of Bahá'í activity. It became a meeting place for future Nevada speakers and a place where Nevadans could visit with other Bahá'ís. Bahá'ís from all over the U. S. converged at Geyserville to fellowship and learn. Gatherings as large as 400 students convened under a large oak tree, famously known as the "Abig tree".

While Helen Griffing lived in Nevada, she owned a small retail business in Indian jewelry. Her friend Elizabeth Hay Smith moved to Reno with her sister, Blossom Hay, and the two strengthened the Reno Spiritual Assembly in the late 1940’s. Elizabeth Smith was an artist known for her portraits and landscapes. Helen Griffing moved to Carmel California and became very ill. Elizabeth took care of her until she died. Both Helen and Elizabeth are buried in the Monterey cemetery.[40]

Like Helen Griffing, who had moved into Reno to open it to the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith, other Bahá'ís moved to Nevada to open other goal areas. In 1950 Mrs. Zona Murdock moved to Fallon with her husband, Burnell, and helped in the northern Nevada teaching efforts.

TEN YEAR WORLD CRUSADE (1953-1963)

At the start of the Ten Year World Crusade, initiated by Shoghi Effendi, the American Bahá'ís were encouraged to teach the Faith to the native American peoples. 'Abdú'l Bahá had stressed the spiritual potential of the native peoples in the Tablets of the Divine Plan:

“You must attach great importance to the Indians, the original inhabitants of America…should these Indians be educated and properly guided, there can be no doubt that through the Divine teachings they will become so enlightened that the whole earth will be illumined.”[41]

At Ridván, 1953, there was an All-American Conference in Wilmette, IL, at which Indian teaching was stressed. The conference inspired Nevadan Bahá'ís and they were soon at work attracting other native Americans to the Faith.[42] The first Indian teaching in Nevada was at the Stillwater Indian Reservation near Fallon in 1953. Several books and a bookshelf were given to the reservation library and four meetings were held that year, introducing fifteen native Americans to the Bahá'í Faith. [43] Bennett Dorn and Zona Murdock were instrumental in the work done at Stillwater.[44]

Margery Torres was the first to teach on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. She was introduced to the Colony by Sun Bear, a local Indian who was known in Hollywood with some small production parts, and was highly respected by the local Indians. Margery met Billy and Pearl Astor (Washoe Trib) who became the first Native American Bahá'ís in Nevada (1954-55). When Margery left the area, her work was continued by Norma Gimlin and Charlotte Nelson, who spent much time visiting with the Indians and tutoring the schoolchildren.

The Bahá'ís hosted the annual Race Amity picnics during the Fifties that continued for many years. These were held at Geiger Grade lookout on the road to Virginia City. An outdoor kitchen was set up and staffed by Bahá'ís, and Indian ladies cooked Indian bread. “All persons interested in actively promoting interracial goodwill” were invited.[45] Many African American and Native Americans showed up for this annual breakfast. Besides this yearly breakfast, frequent breakfast gatherings at Crystal Peak near Verdi and parties for the children at the Indian Colony in Reno-Sparks were held. Frequent potluck dinners with members of the black community were popular, as well.

Tom and Marion West moved to Sparks in 1957 and became active Bahá'í teachers. The Wests helped with the Indian teaching and held many firesides in their home. They were often speakers at public meetings. The Wests participated in many civic affairs and were co-founders of a Committee on Racial Equality, a non-political effort organized before the Equal Rights Administration came into being. In the early 1960’s, Governor Sawyer appointed Tom West the first executive secretary of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.[46]

Harry and Adele Sampson of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony came to attend firesides at the Wests’ after they heard Marion speak on Native Americans at a public meeting. Harry Sampson (Piute) joined the Faith around 1960 and was another of the first Native American believers in Nevada.[47]

During the World Crusade the Reno Spiritual Assembly made strides towards gaining recognition of the Baha’i as an independent world religion in Nevada. The Reno Spiritual Assembly became incorporated on April 20, 1954, largely due to the efforts of John and Ethel McAllister, a couple that moved into Reno in the Early 1950’s. Incorporation is urged not only for legal purposes, but required before being approved to perform marriages in the State of Nevada. [48] This process required a ruling in the County Judicial Court. Representing the Bahá'ís was the same lawyer who had helped the Bahá'ís to incorporate. The matter was sent to the Washoe County Ministerial Association, who then sent them to a State Senator and an Assemblyman, because as an independent religion, the Faith was not considered to be a part of the Christian Faith. Finally, many months later, another judge decided favorably on the case and granted the Bahá'ís the right to officiate at Nevada Baha’i weddings.

The licensing of the Reno Spiritual Assembly Chairman to perform marriages established a precedent for other Nevada Spiritual Assemblies to be licensed to officiate marriages. The first Baha’i wedding in the State was that of Margery and Albert Torres on May 12, 1956 in Sparks.[49] Catherine Parr was the state's first Baha'i marriage officiator and a copy of her certificate is displayed to this day in Bahá'u'lláh's house at Bahjí.

During the time of the World Crusade, Bahá'ís had also obtained recognition of their Holy Days in public schools so that excused absences could be obtained on religious grounds. Billie and Stanley Brackett moved into Nevada in 1954 because of it’s goal area status. They had visited the Holy Land where Shoghi Effendi told them to disperse from areas with large Baha’i populations.They moved into Sparks from Mill Valley, along with Margery Torres. Billie Brackett came from an illustrious Baha’i family. Her grandparents, Charles and Marie Ioas, were among the first American believers and joined the Faith in 1898. Her uncle, Leroy Ioas, was an important figure in western Baha’i activities and later appointed a Hand of the Cause by the Guardian.

At 14 yrs of age, her mother, Viola Tuttle, wrote to 'Abdu’l-Bahá asking permission to become a Baha’i. She remembers hearing Him speak in Chicago. For many years Viola lived in Riverside, Illinois and witnessed the building of the House of Worship in Wilmette. She led tours through it for many years. She once served on the National Children’s Committee. In 1960 she pioneered to Cuba with her sister and brother-in-law. They were only able to stay a few months, but before they left two groups had been raised to Assembly status.

Several months later Charlotte Nelson and Norma Gimlin moved in from Hollister, California. Billie Brackett was a teacher and often spoke at public meetings. Sparks formed their Spiritual Assembly in 1957, and when the Wests arrived in Sparks, there were already ten or eleven Baha’is. Zona Murdock moved to Las Vegas in 1955, where there was only one other Baha’i, Norman Osborne, an Aircorps pilot of both World Wars, who died shortly after the Murdock’s move. Zona helped form the first Spiritual Assembly in southern Nevada in Las Vegas in 1957. The Las Vegas Spiritual Assembly was incorporated in 1962. When Zona retired from teaching in 1976, she again moved to the Moapa Indian Reservation, where she tutored the Indian children. Eventually, Zona and her husband moved back to the Fallon, Nevada area were she resided until her passing in the year 2001.

FORMATION OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AND THE NINE YEAR PLAN (1964-1973)

The first elected members of the Universal House of Justice in the gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel. Starting from the left: Charles Wolcott, Amoz Gibson, Hushmand Fatheazam, Hugh Chance, H. Barrah Kavelin, Ian Semple, Lutfu'lláh Hakim, David Hofman, 'Ali Nakhjaváni.

The election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963 was an historic event in the Bahá'í Faith. The Universal House of Justice announced a new Nine Year Plan (1964-1973) with the widespread expansion of the Faith and universal participation of the believers being the main objective.[50]

The civil recognition of Bahá'í marriages was one of the goals set by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, and Nevada had already seen this goal met. Restrictions on incorporation by the National Spiritual Assembly and the State of Nevada’s restriction on only allowing the Chairperson to be able to license marriages, have both been relaxed.

The Bahá'í Faith gained official recognition in Nevada in another way on September 5, 1964, when it was included in the consecration of the Henry Kohl Memorial Chapel at Washoe Medical Center. [51] This inter-Faith chapel is one of the first of it’s kind, and the first in the State of Nevada. Seventeen Faiths are represented and open to all those who seek comfort and solace. Each religion represented at the consecration contributed a prayer for the ceremony. [52]

Indian teaching continued into the Nine Year Plan. Highlight of the Wests’ teaching efforts on the Dresslerville Indian Colony near Gardnerville was when Hank Pete, a blind Washoe Indian who called himself the "titular" chief of the colony[53] and his friend, whose name is not remembered, were enrolled in the Bahá'í Faith in a public proclamation. Over 300 visitors attended, including Bahá'ís from other states. The National Spiritual Assembly sent their Treasurer, Arthur Dahl, to preside over the event. Since there were no buildings on site, open covered areas were constructed to provide shade from the hot Nevada sun.[54]

Other Native American’s joined the Bahá'í Faith including Alice and Willy Key (Navajo), Mary and Franklin Kahn (Navaho),[55] and Alfreda Alverez (Shoshone). Many inclusive Bahá'í activities were held, including an honor picnic for Native believers in Geyserville, CA in 1966.[56]

In the late sixties, a Native American summer school was established for the children on the Reno-Sparks Indian colony. Remedial classes taught by local Bahá'ís whom were certified school teachers, assisted by Bahá'í youth were taught, and additional art, cooking and sewing classes also were offered. The summer remedial classes were an academic success, bringing lagging academic scores up to par with the rest of the school district after the summer classes.[57]

Active teaching, and expansion of the Bahá'í Faith in Nevada was accomplished during the Nine Year Plan. Public meeting to honor a Bahá'í Holy Day, or in remembrance of special remembrance days supported by the United Nations were held, (like Race Unity Day). Firesides were very well attended, sometimes gatherings numbering 70 or more participants.[58]

An Assembly on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony was formed in 1967, when 9 adult members were present.[59] Carson City formed an Assembly in 1969, and Central Washoe County in 1973 and latter reformed in 1980. [60]

In April 1972 the Reno Bahá'í Assembly was host to the Western Continental Counselors Conference, introducing Florence Mayberry's appointment by the Universal House of Justice in the capacity of the newly created station of the Continental Board of Counselors. As noted earlier, she was actually appointed as a Counselor in 1968.

The Sparks Spiritual Assembly incorporated in 1972, and in 1973, the Reno Spiritual Assembly observed its 30^th anniversary.

5. Reno Bahá'í Community 1972-Present

6. The Golden Anniversary of the Queen of Carmel

He described the completed Shrine in a cablegram as the "Queen of Carmel enthroned (on) God's Mountain, crowned (in) glowing gold, robed (in) shimmering white, girdled (in) emerald green, enchanting every eye from air, sea, plain (and) hill."

William S. Maxwell's drawing of the Shrine of the Báb, 1944 (BWNS photo)

The Shrine on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel, is the burial place of the Báb, the Martyr-Prophet of the Baha'i Faith, the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, the Faith's Founder. For Bahá'ís, it is a place of pilgrimage, and the holiest spot on earth after the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh.

The beauty of the Shrine, illuminated at night, is now enhanced by 19 garden terraces that stretch one kilometer from the base of Mount Carmel to its summit. The terraces, which were opened in May 2001, have attracted more than 1.5 million visitors.

The announcement by Shoghi Effendi in October 1953 of the completion of the Shrine's superstructure came five years after the beginning of a US$750,000 construction project paid for by Bahá'ís around the world.

The completion of the project was, in fact, the triumphant consummation of a process begun more than 60 years earlier by Bahá'u'lláh to provide a fitting resting place for His Forerunner.

In 1891, Bahá'u'lláh had indicated to His eldest son and appointed successor, 'Abdú'l-Baha, the precise spot on Mount Carmel where the Shrine of the Báb should be built. 

Shrine of the Báb, 1909 (BWNS photo)

'Abdu'l-Baha carefully carried out His Father's instructions. He overcame many difficulties to build a massive six-room mausoleum of local stone. Then, in 1909, He solemnly placed the sacred remains of the Báb in an alabaster sarcophagus within the vault of the edifice, which he called "the Throne of God".

Between 1928 and 1929 Shoghi Effendi added three rooms to the building.

In 1942, he commissioned one of Canada's leading architects, William Sutherland Maxwell -- his father-in-law, who was then living in Haifa -- to design the arcade and the superstructure, which was to embellish and preserve the stone building.

For two years, Mr. Maxwell consecrated himself to his task.

Shoghi Effendi provided overall guidance, including in the use of Western and Eastern styles, but left the artistic details to Mr. Maxwell.

On 23 May 1944, 100 years after the Báb declared his Mission, Shoghi Effendi unveiled in Haifa a 60cm (two feet) model of the superstructure. When built, it would rise 40 meters above ground level.

Crowning the majestic design, as anticipated by 'Abdú'l-Baha, was a dome, which was set on an 18-windowed drum. That in turn, was mounted on an octagon, a feature suggested by Shoghi Effendi. A stately arcade, in fulfillment of the vision of 'Abdú'l-Baha, surrounded the stone edifice. 

William S. Maxwell (BWNS photo)

Shoghi Effendi, who spoke of the work of Mr. Maxwell with delight and admiration, said the project to build the structure transcended in sacredness any collective undertaking in the course of the history of the Faith so far.

Construction began at the time of the establishment of the state of Israel, and as the world was struggling to recover from a devastating war. Building materials were in extremely short supply in the country, as were skilled stone masons.

Shoghi Effendi asked Sicilian Baha'i, Ugo Giachery, to acquire the required materials in Italy. Much of that country had been laid waste by the Second World War, and there too it was difficult to obtain the vast quantities of construction items necessary.

Skilled artisans, however, were looking for work. Dr. Giachery engaged them to cut, carve and polish Chiampo stone and Rose Baveno granite in accordance with Mr. Maxwell's designs. They produced 28 columns, eight pilasters and 28 arches -- as well as other pieces.

Using his skills in planning, administration and government liaison, Dr. Giachery ensured that ships transported the columns, panels, capitals, arches and other items for the Shrine from Italy to Haifa.

Overcoming electricity shortages, export restrictions, storms at sea, a fire on board ship, a cordon of warships, and even the dropping of 61 cases of stone into Haifa harbor, Dr. Giachery fulfilled Shoghi Effendi's requests to the letter.

He was to be accorded the honor of being named a Hand of the Cause, and one of the Shrine's doors was called after him.

The superstructure was said to be at the time the largest prefabricated building to move from Europe to any point in the world.

The colonnade under construction (BWNS photo)

The first contracts were signed in 1948, and the first threshold stone laid in 1949.

Such was the beauty of the completed arcade with its colonnade of rosy pink granite and its Oriental-style arches of soft, creamy stone that many local people thought the structure was finished in June 1950, long before the octagon and dome were erected.

The emerald green and scarlet mosaics on the balustrade above, the fire-gilded bronze symbol of the Greatest name, the Baha'i ringstone symbol at the four corners, and the multitude of intricate decorations and motifs elsewhere, were hailed as pure artistry.

The original plan of Shoghi Effendi had been to halt at this stage until conditions improved, but he changed his mind.

The next stage was to build a platform to support the proposed octagon, drum and gilded dome, which would combine to weigh more than 1000 tons.

Huge interlocked beams in the shape of an eight-pointed star -- cast in one day -- were placed about 30cm above the roof level of the stone building. 

The octagon superstructure and drum of the Shrine of the Báb under construction in 1952 (BWNS photo)

That star was supported by eight steel-reinforced concrete piers, which reached down to bedrock. The piers penetrated the thick masonry of the Shrine, a difficult task successfully implemented without damaging the essential structure or impinging on the Tombs.

The octagon rose from the center of the large platform. It was surmounted by eight elegant, golden-tipped pinnacles, which anchored wrought-iron railings suggesting a lotus blossom opening.

"Great happiness, many congratulations and much laughter" accompanied the completion of the installation of the railings, wrote Dr. Giachery in his book of recollections entitled "Shoghi Effendi".

"The whole edifice displays a great variety of architectural and artistic gems, products of the inventiveness and refined taste of Mr. Maxwell," he wrote. 

Leroy Ioas, 1952 (BWNS photo)

In 1952, Leroy Ioas, a Baha'i who had been closely associated with the construction of the beautiful Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, arrived from the United States. He was to become an able lieutenant of Shoghi Effendi in the construction process.

Mr. Ioas employed his considerable administrative skills and practical mind to supervise the building of the drum and dome, a task done without the availability of sophisticated machinery. He too was to be named a Hand of the Cause. Shoghi Effendi called the door on the octagon after him.

The drum, a perfect cylinder, was completed in March 1952. Rising 11 meters, it rests on a circular steel reinforced concrete ring on the top of the octagon.

In accordance with an idea of Shoghi Effendi's, it has 18 stained-glass lancet windows, representing the first disciples of the Báb.

On 25 March 1952, while the drum he had designed was being built, Mr. Maxwell died in Toronto, Canada. It was three months after he had been appointed a Hand of the Cause.

In a message expressing his intense grief at the passing of his friend and colleague, Shoghi Effendi announced that the southern door of the Báb's tomb would be named after him.

The building of the brim, and then the dome, called for all the ingenuity of the engineer of the project, Professor H. Neumann of Haifa's Technion University.

No heavy stone could be used because the weight-bearing capacity of the concrete stilts was limited.

The Shrine of the Báb and the 18 terraces from an aero-oblique view, 2003 (BWNS photo)

A solution was found for the brim using two slabs of stone anchored together and to the dome. Next, Professor Neumann used a recently-devised method for the dome in which cement, mixed with fine sand and water was sprayed upon a mold.

Meanwhile, 12,000 fish-scale tiles -- of 50 different shapes and sizes -- were being made in Holland by employing an innovative process involving fire-glazing over gold leaf.

On 29 April 1953, Shoghi Effendi climbed the scaffolding and placed  behind one of the tiles a small box containing plaster from the Mah-Ku prison cell, which once confined the Báb in Persia.

The lantern and finial were placed on top of the dome, and the tiling was finished.

The graceful structure was completed, the golden dome its crowning beauty.

Shoghi Effendi announced the conclusion of the project in a joyous cablegram to a Baha'i conference being held in New Delhi, India from 7-15 October 1953.

His message came as a triumphant climax to the Holy Year marking the centenary of the birth of the Mission of Bahá'u'lláh, and at the early stages of the successful Ten-Year plan to spread the Baha'i teachings throughout the world.

Copyright 2003 by the Baha'i World News Service. This story and photographs were reproduced on the Reno Baha'i Faith Website with permission from the Baha'i World News Service, Haifa, Israel, October 15, 2003. For more information, visit bahaiworldnews.org.