Joy Munson a Shining Example of Steadfastness
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Baha'i Year 140 No. 630 ISSN 0195·9212 USPS 040·140 Agnes Alexander, Part 3: The completion of a life of service to the Faith .. 1 Baha'i teachers establish firm foothold for Cause in Oaxaca, Mexico. 8 A warm, loving tribute to the late Joy Munson, Baha'i pioneer to India. 1O Around the world: News from Baha'i communities all over the globe. 12 Bahli'i News is published monthly by the ational Spiritual Assembly of the BahA'is of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the BahA'i world community. Manuscripts submitted should be typewritten and double spaced throughout; any footnotes should appear at the end . The contriburnr should keep a carbon copy. Send materials 10 the Periodicals Office, Baha'i National Center, Wilmene, IL 60091 , U.S.A. Changes of address should be reported to the Ornce of Membership and Records, Baha'i National Center. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates: one year, Sl2 U.S.; two years, S20 U.S. Second class postage paid at Wilmene, IL 60091. Co pyri ght~ 1983, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'fs of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Biography: Agnes Alexander Golden years of service to the Cause Last of three parts In 1937 Agnes Alexander received the following message: "I would be pleased to meet you face to face at this Holy Spot. Your true brother, Shoghi." 1 Her dream had finally come true. As far back as 1914 'Abdu'l-Bahci had given her permission to visit the Holy Land, but world war had prevented it. 2 Shortly after the invitation arrived, Agnes received another cable from the Guardian asking her to "extend assis tance" to Saichiro Fujita's mother who was ill. Although she had no address, Agnes was confident she would be as sisted to find the woman. And of course, she was: "I know this is always true when we arise in His service and respond to His call." 3 Mrs. Fujita's hearty laughter explained much to Agnes about the joyous nature of her son. En route to Haifa, Agnes' ship stop ped at Port Said, Egypt, where two ex cited Baha'is came aboard with sur Agnes Alexander (right) in Haifa, Is the Cause of God William Sutherland prising news: "The Guardian is mar rael in April/May 1957 with Saichiro Maxwell, husband of Agnes' 'spiritual ried, and you'll never guess to whom." Fujita and Miss Adelaide Sharp. The mother,' May Maxwell. Without hesitating Agnes answered, photograph was taken by the Hand of "Mary Maxwell," which was exactly right. 4 Her answer is all the more extra ordinary when one considers that no Saichiro Fujita met Agnes at the mediate future in Japan is very dark. one had the slightest intimation that train station in Haifa and drove her to Japan is going to suffer.6 The time is the Guardian was planning to marry at the Western Pilgrim House where she not now for great headway. The Pa all. was greeted by her "spiritual mother," cific will become a great storm center May Maxwell, now a member of the in the coming war-great suffering. The last of a three-part series on the Holy Family through her daughter's What we require in Japan is the recog life of the Hand of the Cause of God marriage to Shoghi Effendi. nition of the Revelation of Bahci'u'llah 7 Agnes Baldwin Alexander was written Agnes was a favored pilgrim. The and of His station." by Duane Troxel, an assistant profes Japanese scroll she brought as a gift On the first night of her pilgrimage sor of educational technology at Lou was graciously accepted by the Guar the Guardian asked Agnes to record isiana State University, Baton Rouge. dian and hung in a place of honor at her Baha'i experiences. As a result, Dr. Troxel, who has a PhD. in educa Bahji. She was able to listen to his "Forty Years of the Baha'i Cause in tion from Temple University in Phila melodic chanting in the Shrine of the Hawaii: 1902-1942" and "History of delphia, served from 1979-83 as a Bab. "In his voice there was a power the Baha'i Faith in Japan: 1914-1938" member of the National Spiritual As which was different from all others," were completed during World War II sembly of the Bahd'fs of the Hawaiian she said. 5 and copies were gratefully received by Islands. The Guardian told her, "The im- Shoghi Effendi. (These manuscripts Baha'i News/December 1983 1 Left: A passport photo of Martha L. Root's resting place in Honolulu, Root (1872-1939). Above: Martha Hawaii. were not published until the 1970s.) she wrote: of Baha'is mourn her!" 10 Agnes was away from Hawaii when "I am so near the shore of eter On March 1, 1940, Agnes' spiritual Martha Root arrived in Honolulu in nity ... I do not speak, so late tonight mother, May Maxwell, cabled her hus June 1939. For 20 years the Faith's of the glorious side of life after band from Buenos Aires, Argentina: "leading ambassadress" had taught at death . I am glad to go through this "SEVERE NEURITIS. BEG PRAY a pitch exceeded only by the Master terrible agony, for if it came it must ERS." 11 A few hours later she was Himself during His journey to the have come for a purpose ... If our dead. It was scarcely more than a West. Cancer had all but eaten the life love for each other has been deepened, month after she had arrived at her pio out of her wasted frame, but her spirit if this servant has been able to witness neering post. was indomitable. From her deathbed for her Lord, if the ties between India, Australia, New Zealand and the Ha 'Kindled with divine flame' waiian Islands are strengthened, then I May, whose tender love had been "a have not come in vain." 8 In her final guiding star" to Agnes; 12 whom Keith delirium she repeated often over and Ransom-Kehler called "a gift and evi over, "Shoghi Effendi, Shoghi Ef dence lent me by the Master''; 13 whom fendi." 9 'Abdu'l-Baha described as "pure in Martha Root is buried in Honolulu heart and attracted in soul,'' was now where she died-a symbolic spot where "gathered into the glory of the Abha East meets West, and an appropriate Kingdom." 14 resting place for one who devoted her Agnes penned a tribute to May Max life to the cause of world unity. well which is at once luminous and When Agnes learned of Martha soul-stirring. These are some lines Root's passing she wrote the friends in from it: Hawaii: "From the time May met her Lord in "She (Martha) was near and dear to 'Akka in 1899, and 'beheld the King in me ever since 1915 when she first came His Beauty,' her whole being was to Japan and we met there .... Sho kindled with the divine flame .... ghi Effendi said to me when I left Countless are the souls who have been Haifa, 'Keep in touch with Martha', so ignited through her divine love. In eternally I pray we may all be in touch every land which had the blessing of and helped by her spirit. her presence they are to be found .... "I long, though, from the human A precious gift from God to May was Agnes Alexander (left) and May point, to once more speak with her. It exquisite speech. One was always con (Bolles) Maxwell in a photograph is eight years now since we parted, or at scious that what ever she said was the taken in 1934. (Courtesy National Ba least it will be the last of December. truth. She had true spiritual humility hd'{ Archives of Japan) "Blessed Martha, the whole world and reverence which increased as she 2 December 1983/Baha'i News kindness." 17 From Germany came thanks for some Baha'i books: "O dearest, I know you can duly appreciate what this now means to me ... It is like entering a garden in spring and breathe (sic) the fragrance of the most exquisite flowers and feel the cool and refreshing waters watering that garden directly from the Source of Life itself." 18 Enforced absence After an enforced absence of 13 years, Agnes returned to Japan in May 1950. Incredibly, her entire Baha'i li brary, which "included hundreds of copies in Japanese of Dr. Esslemont's book, was found intact in a ruined part of Tokyo." 19 She transferred her resi dence from Tokyo to Kyoto, which abounds in magnificent temples and quaint gardens. In the midst of this splendor Agnes continued her habit of living simply. In her tiny apartment "she cooked and served ·meals to her guests in a kitchen no larger than a closet, and often on trips to Tokyo would astonish visitors by opening up a large suitcase filled with pots, pans, dishes and a hotplate" and proceed "to cook them a meal." 20 Another Baha'i recalls how Agnes once wore two suits of clothing aboard an airplane flight to avoid paying an ex cess baggage fee. Though moderate and thrifty in all that pertained to her personal life, she was quite generous where the Faith was concerned. Agnes Alexander in a photograph taken around 1945. In 1950 she was 75 ... old chrono logically, but not spiritually or men tally. She wrote to a friend at that time, became a member of the Holy House with you at the time of the raid on "You will see that I must take time off 16 hold ...