Bab, the: The title meaning “Gate”, assumed by Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad (1819-1850), after the declaration of His Mission in Shiraz, Persia in May, 1844, A.D. He is the Prophet-Founder of the Babi Faith, and the Herald and Forerunner of Baha'u'llah. The Bab proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam – the Qa’im and the Mihdi -- and announced that His mission was to alert the people to the imminent advent of "Him Whom God shall make manifest," namely, Baha’u’llah. Because of these claims, the Bab was executed in Persia by the order of Nasiri’d-Din Shah on 9 July 1850.
Bagdadi, Dr Zia: (d. 1937) Medical doctor from Iraq who settled in the United States in 1909 and was a prominent member of the Chicago Baha’i community. He represented the Arab Baha’is at the laying of the corner-stone of the Wilmette Mashriqu’l-Adkar.
Baha’u’lllah: Title, meaning “Glory of God,” assumed by Mirza Husayn-‘Ali Founder of the Baha’I Faith. Born on 12 November 1817, He declared His Mission as the Promised One of All Ages in April 1863 and passed away in Acre, Palestine on 29 May 1892 after 40 years of imprisonment, banishment, and house arrest. Baha'u'llah’s writings are considered by Baha’is to be direct revelation from God. Baha’u’llah’s title is recorded in the Persian Bayan of the Bab. Baha’is refer to Him with a variety of titles, including the Blessed Beauty, the Blessed Perfection, the Ancient Beauty..
Bahiyyih Khanum: (1846-1932) The saintly daughter of Baha’u'llah and Asiyih Khanum who beseeched her father to allow her to remain unmarried in order to devote herself to the service of His Faith. Baha’u'llah gave her the title of "the Greatest Holy Leaf," and she was designated as the outstanding heroine of the Baha’i Dispensation.
Balal: An Ethiopian slave in Mecca, illiterate and despised, but transformed by his recognition of Muhammad. The Prophet gave him the task of calling the Faithful to prayer, and he became the first Mu’adhdhin of Islam. As he stammered and mispronounced the Arabic letter 'Shin' as 'Sin', he could not give the call correctly, but the perfection of his heart atoned for the fault of his tongue.
Bani-Hashim: The family to which Prophet Muhammad belonged.
Bell, Alexander Graham: (1847-1922) ‘Scottish inventor and teacher of elocution and speech correction. He went to live in Canada in 1870. He developed a method of teaching speech to the deaf and in 1873 became professor of vocal physiology at Boston University. In 1876 he obtained a patent for the telephone, which he developed during long evening sessions with the mechanic Thomas Watson. His other inventions included the photophone, a device that transmitted sound on a beam of light, and the graphophone, which recorded sound on wax discs.’ At the time of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit he lived in Washington DC.
Beloved of Martyrs, the: Title given to Mirza Muhammad-Husayn, who was martyred along with his brother Mirza Muhammad-Hasan-known as the King of the Martyrs -- at the order of Shaykh Muhammad-Baqir of Isfahan.
Bosch, John: (1855-1946) California vintner who became a Baha’i in 1905 and subsequently changed his profession. His property at Geyserville, California, was used as a permanent Baha'i summer school from 1927 and was deeded to the American National Spiritual Assembly in 1936.
Bourgeois, Louis: (d. 1930) French-Canadian architect who became a Baha’i in the winter of 1906-7 and moved to West Englewood, New Jersey, to assist in the development of the Baha’i community. His design was chosen for the Mahriqu’l-Adhkar in Wilmette.
Breed, Alice Ives: (b. 1851) Well-known society and club woman of Boston and one of the early Baha’is in the United States. She was the wife of Francis W. Breed and the mother of Florence Breed, who married Ali Kuli Khan.
Brown, Professor Edward Granville: (1862-1926) Distinguished British orientalist from Cambridge who studied and published many books and articles on the Babi and Baha’i religions and who had four interviews with Baha’u’llah in 'Akka in 1890. He is best known to Bahi'is for his pen-portrait of Baha'u'llah.
Bryan, William Jennings: American politician who became Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. He had tried to visit ‘Abdu’l-Baha while on his travels near ‘Akka but had been unable to do so. 'Although he was defeated three times for the presidency of the United States, William Jennings Bryan was for many years a leader of the Democratic Party and it was his influence that won the Democratic presidential nomination for Woodrow Wilson in 1912. He . . . negotiated treaties with 30 countries, representing three-fourths of the world's population, for investigation of disputes before resorting to war. He published a paper called The Commoner and gave lectures advancing the cause of prohibition, of religion and of morality. Because of his opposition to war, he resigned from offce in 1915 in protest against the sinking of the Lusitania. After the war he moved to Florida and worked to advance moral and religious causes.' Compton’s Encyclopidia, America Online edition, January 1, 1993.
Buddha: Literally Enlightened One: title given to Siddhartha Guatama (c. 6th- c. 4th century B.C.), Whom Baha’is consider to be a Prophet, or Messenger of God. He is recognized as the founder of Buddhism.
Chase, Thornton: (1847-1912) Called by ‘Abdu'l-Baha 'the first American believer', Chase became a Baha’i in 1894 in Chicago and was the principal organizer of the Chicago Baha’i community. He founded the Behais Supply and Publishing Board in 1900, which was incorporated as the Baha’i Publishing Society in 1902. He wrote a number of pamphlets about the Baha’i Faith, an introductory book, The Baha’i Revelation, and an account of his pilgrimage in 1907, In Galilee. He was given the name Thabit (Steadfast) by ‘Abdu'l-Baha and was named a Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Baha by Shoghi Effendi. His grave site in Inglewood, California, is visited annually by the Baha’is.
Christ: (c. 6-4 B.C.-A.D. 30) Recognized by Baha’is as a Prophet, or Messenger of God, and the founder of Christianity. The Baha’i writings often refer to Christ as "the Spirit of God" and "the Son."
Cooper, Ella: (1870-1951) Prominent American Baha'i teacher who accepted the Faith in 1898 and, with her mother Helen Goodall, helped establish the first Baha’i community on the American West coast, in Oakland. She was among the third group of Western pilgrims to visit 'Akka, in March 1899. After her second pilgrimage in 1908 she and her mother published a small book, Daily Lessons Received at Acca.
Dayyan, Mirza Asadu'llah-i-Khuy: A Babi on whom the Bab conferred the designation 'Dayyan' (lit. 'conqueror' or 'judge'). After the martyrdom of the Bab, a number of His followers turned to Dayyan for guidance. He claimed to be 'He Whom God shall make manifest' but after meeting Baha’u’llah in Iraq he retracted the claim. Mirza Yahya instigated the murder of Dayyan in Baghdad, 'whom he feared and envied'. Dayyan was the third to recognize Baha'u'llah's true station before His Declaration.
D'Evelyn, Dr Frederick: Learned and staunch San Francisco Baha’i, elected chairman of the local community in 1911. He was encouraged by ‘Abdu’l-Baha to plan the first International Baha’i conference, in 1915.
Diya Pasha, Yusuf: Turkish Ambassador to the United States at the time of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit.
Douglass, Frederick: (1817- 95) An African-American political leader who was at the forefront of the abolition movement and the women's rights movement.
Dodge, Arthur Pillsbury: (1849- 1915) Lawyer, publisher, inventor and self-made man who became a Baha’i in 1897. He was named a Disciple of ‘Abdu'l-Baha by Shoghi Effendi.
Dreyfus, Hippolyte: (1873-1928) Prominent French lawyer and the first Frenchman to become a Baha’i, in 1901. He wrote a number of works on the Baha’i Faith and translated several of Baha’u’llah’s writings into French. In 1911 he married Laura Clifford Barney with whom he had worked on a French translation of Some Answered Questions. He was named a Disciple of ‘Abdu'l-Baha by Shoghi Effendi.
Dreyfus-Barney, Laura: (1879-1974) Prominent American Baha’i who accepted the Faith in Paris around 1900. She made a number of extended visits to ‘Akka, asking- questions of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, the answers to which she later compiled as Some Answered Questions. She was twice decorated by the French government for her services to humanity.
Elijah: Hebrew prophet who taught that there is only one God.
Esslemont, Dr. John E.: Born in 1874
and accepted the Faith in early 1915, Dr. Esslemont was elevated to the rank of
Hand of the Cause of God after his passing on 22 November 1925 and linked by
the Guardian with George Townshend and Thomas Breakwell, on the passing of George
Townshend, as "One of three luminaries shedding brilliant lustre annals
Irish, English, Scottish Baha'i communities". He was
"Vice-President" of the first National Assembly from October 1923
until November 1924.
Farid, Dr Aminu'llah: Nephew of ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s wife and a member of ‘Abdu'l-Baha's entourage, serving as translator for many of His talks. He began to solicit funds clandestinely from the American Baha’is, using a seal of ‘Abdu'l-Baha's which he had stolen. He was later declared a Covenant-breaker for his disobedience to ‘Abdu'l-Baha.
Fath’u’llah: One of three Babis who together attempted but failed to assassinate the shah in 1852, leading to a wave of persecution against the Babis and resulting in Baha’u’llah’s arrest and imprisonment in Tehran.
Fath-‘Ali Shah: A shah of Persia during the Qajar dynasty whose reign lasted from 1798to 1834. He gave the title "Buzurg, "meaning "Great," to Baha’u’llah’s father.
Fatimih: The daughter of Prophet Muhammad and Khadijh. She married 'Ali, the cousin of Muhammad, and had three sons. One died in infancy and from the other two, Hassan and Husayn, are descended the posterity of the Prophet known as Siyyids.
Fujita, Saichiro: (1886-1976) Young Japanese man who became a Baha’i in Oakland, California, in 1905, the second Japanese in the world to accept the Faith. He was invited by ‘Abdu'l-Baha to travel with His entourage to California from Chicago. For a time he lived with the family of Corinne True and in 1919 was invited to serve ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land. He served the Master and afterwards Shoghi Effendi until 1938, when he went to Japan for the duration of the second world war. In 1955 he returned to the Holy Land where he served Shoghi Effendi and then the Hands of the Cause and the Universal House of Justice.
Getsinger, Dr Edward: (1866-1935) Early American believer who had become a Baha’i by 1897. He and his wife Lua were the first American-born Baha'is to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha, remaining in the Holy Land from November 1898 to March 1899.
Getsinger, Lua: (1871-1916) Born Louisa A. Moore; an outstanding early American Baha’i traveling teacher who accepted the Faith in Chicago in April 1897 and traveled widely in the United States, Europe, and India. She and her husband, Edward, played a central role in opposing Kheiralla when he began to question the authority of ‘Abdu'l-Baha. She was among the first Western pilgrims to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in Acre in 1898. Lua devoted nearly all her time to teaching the Faith, spending much time away from home. In 1914-15 ‘Abdu'l-Baha sent the Getsingers on a teaching trip to India. Lua went on to 'Akka and then Egypt, where she died of an illness she had contracted in India. She was given the title 'Herald of the Covenant' by ‘Abdu'l-Baha and was named a Disciple of ‘Abdu'l-Baha and 'Mother Teacher of the West' by Shoghi Effendi.
Goodale, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L: Baha’is from Kenosha, Wisconsin in whose home 'Abdu'l-Baha stayed for one night on September 15, 1912.
Goodall, Helen: (1847-1922) Prominent American Baha’i teacher who accepted the Faith in 1898 and, with her daughter Ella Cooper, helped establish the first Baha’i community on the American West coast, in Oakland. After her first pilgrimage in 1908 she and her daughter published a small book, Daily Lessons Received at Acca. She was named a Disciple of ‘Abdu'l-Baha by Shoghi Effendi.
