Chicago House of Spirituality notes: 1909-1912

Chicago House of Spirituality notes: 1909-1912 Jump to:
Introduction
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Notes, 1907
Notes, 1908
Notes, 1909-1912

YR 1909

Minutes of the House of Spir.
5 Jan. 1909

There was no House of Spir. meeting on 29 Dec. 1908.
The convention will be on Sat. 20 Mar. 1909; that is the most suitable time.
Invitations will go out.
Mrs. Br-ham write about international correspondence between the Baha'i women
of the East and the West. She informs the House of Spir. of her efforts; the House of
Spir. decides to place the letter in the archives (where is it?).

Edward C. Gets. to G. Lesch, Sec. of House of Spir.
copy 83 25 Dec. 1908

After the inauguration [of the President of USA] money will ease up.
The convention should be after the Fast, not before. April would be good.
Mrs. True says many delegates should go from each city. He doesn't like that; some
communities will send only one and representation won't be equal.
Sohrab translated Bethlen's tablet about the Temple dependencies.
Gets. complains that Baha'is dilute the Faith with other ideas. He says New York
has a lot of trouble with this tendency.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
12 Jan. 1909

A list of persons invited to the convention was drawn up earlier, modified, and
approved.
Chicago delegates will be chosen later; we will wait to see how many are appointed
from other cities.
The preface for Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas was read and considered.
Feast will be next Tues, so there will not be a House of Spir. meeting that night
(19 Jan.).

Chicago circular letter
copy 83 Chicago, 12 Jan. 1909

It is typed on T. Chase's typewriter. The convention will be on 20 March. Give us
the names of your delegates.

Minutes of Joint Meeting of House of Spir. and [?] Temple Committee
copy 83 26 Jan. 1909

The Temple committee seems to be all women.
Convention is planned. There will be a reception at Mrs. Foster's. Feast will be
that night too. The Sunday morning service will be held on 21 March; all will be
invited.
Miss Tyckson of the Young People's Society and Mrs. Waite will look after the
music.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Tues. 2 Feb. 1908 [1909]

Replies have been received from Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Spokane,
Sandusky, Walla Walla, Goblesville, Paoli, Racine, Duluth, Farmingdale, Newport,
Hudson, Washington [Wash. D.C.], Laurance [sic], and Kenosha.
Mr. Remey will be asked to describe the Ishqabad Temple at the convention.
`Abdu'l-Baha sends a tablet for Tablets of Abdul Baha Abbas.
"After due consideration, it was deemed advisable to ask Mr. Remey to be with us
during Convention to impart information regarding Mashrak-el-Azkar in Ashkabad,
etc."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
9 Feb. 1909

Ober's letter about New York City prompts a letter to the New York Board of
Counsel stressing the desire for more unity. We are "expressing our desire for a
closer bond of unity and understanding" the House of Spir. says.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
16 Feb. 1909

A letter from Khurasan was received; its from the Baha'i women.
Mrs. True wants to have another joint meeting.
A letter to New York is approved.

House of Spir. to New York Board of Counsel
copy 83 Chicago, 19 Feb. 1909

It was signed by all eleven members, but by T. Chase, not by each man.
The House of Spir. is united after years of tests. Consultation is the key. We
rarely use parliamentary forms and hope there are no majorities and minorities. We
go around the circle and consult. Rarely do we have to vote; unanimity usually
results. Chicago has growing confidence in the House of Spir.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster;s home at 35th St. is central to the Baha'is, so unity feasts
usually are held there. The meeting is under the auspices of the House of Spir. and
business is done.
There were 100 at the meeting last Sunday. A children's school meets before the
service.
Meetings with seekers are held Sunday night at Russell's and Moody's; A. Agnew
usually speaks. An "industrial class" meets sat. afternoons. There are group
meetings all over the city every day.
The convention is for the Temple, but it is for unity also.

Minutes of Joint Meeting of the House of Spir. and the Temple
Committee
23 Feb. 1909

A list of convention delegates is drawn up. Baha'i homes will be opened to
delegates.
Chicago will choose its delegates for the convention a week from this Sunday; it
will choose three delegates.
They will rent a hall for the business sessions of the convention.
At feast a credentials committee will be appointed (on 20 Mar). The Advertising
Committee will be A. Agnew and C. Scheffler. The program committee will be T.
Chase, Windust, and Waite.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
2 Mar. 1909

MacNutt is present as a guest. He spoke at the end.
Remey suggests that Chicago correspond with the Reunion Marattebe; a Baha'i
group in Tehran.
Henry Goodale is made an honorary member of the House of Spir.; this will be
discussed later.

Remey to Windust
Wash. D.C., 30 May 1909

Enclosed are two copies of tablets.

Remey to A. Agnew
24 Feb. 1909

He has received a letter from the Reunion Marattebe giving an account of their
work. They especially correspond with other groups.
Remey met Taere [Ta`irih] Khanum in Tehran. Mrs. Br-ham is corresponding
with her and other women in Iran. p. 3: "In response to her [Ta`irih] greetings and
remembrances, on behalf of the Bahai women of Tehran, some of the Maidservants in
this Country, through the initial efforts of Mrs. Brittingham, have entered into a
regular system of corrispondence [sic] with the women of the various Assemblies of
the East."
Tehran is the center of Baha'i activities in Iran; news, letters go out from there to
the entire country. There are thirty meetings weekly in Tehran.
Mirza Azizollah Khan at the Russian bank, Tehran, is the man to write to for the
Reunion Marattebe.

Votes for Chicago delegates, Sunday 7 Mar. 1909
T. Chase -- 20 Mrs. Harrison -- 10
Windust - 15 Miss Jones -- 5
Mrs. True -- 37 Mrs. Russell -- 1
Woodworth -- 1 Ioas -- 3
Mr. Foster -- 11 Sprague -- 2
Currier -- 3 Kirchner - 1
G. Lesch -- 14 Waite -- 1
Dr. Moody -- 20 Hoffman -- 1
A. Agnew -- 21 C. Scheffler -- 1
Mrs. Brush -- 2 19 total received votes

House of Spir. to ?
Chicago, 11 Mar. 1909

It may be to Mrs. Bartlett. Her mother died; a condolence letter.
She's not active; they tell her of the growing unity in Chicago and the USA resulting
from the Temple effort.

Minutes of Open Meeting
copy 83 17 Mar. 1909

The meeting is at Mrs. True's. The complete convention plans are listed. Monday
is for business; Sat., Sun. for other things. There will be a public meeting Mon.
evening. The children will recite the Baha'i alphabet. Miss Masson will publicize the
convention.
The Young People's Society will organize a talk by Mr. MacNutt on Tuesday evening.

Photo of the Convention
20-23 Mar. 1909

Wallace A. Busselle, Treas., Seattle Circular letter
Seattle, WA, 9 Mar. 1909

They are publicizing the financial straits of the Bahai Publishing Society. They
ask that money be sent to A. Agnew, 1379 Smalley Court, Chicago.

J. R. Price to Friends
22 Mar. 1909

His address is 87 Canal St., Chicago. A Quaker, he was moved to speak at the public
meeting last night but didn't so he writes in stead. "I must write you good people and
tell you that I love you" Windust notes on the bottom this "speaks well for the
presence of the Spirit at the open meeting" for the Temple at Northwestern
University.

Dr. Pauline Barton-Peeke to House of Spir.
Cleveland, 27 Mar. 1909

Her's was the first Baha'i marriage in Cleveland ever; between her and E. C. B.
Peeke on 4 Feb. 1909. They used the "blessed words of Baha-U-Allah." Fourteen
Baha'is witnessed the wedding, which was after the regular meeting.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sunday 28 Mar. 1909

Mrs. Davis of Walla Walla, WA, went insane from fasting; what would the House of
Spir. advise? We must not fast if it will be physically harmful.
Teachers are badly needed in the Pacific northwest.
C. Scheffler will turn over the funds to the Bahai Temple Unity treasurer.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
6 Apr. 1909

Jacobsen wrote for the BTU about confirmation of Chicago members of the BTU.
We will meet at Mrs. True's to plan the celebration of Ridvan and will rent a tent
[for the Temple grounds?].
We will retain the hall for another year.
A. Agnew read the proceedings of "First Bahai Convention."

BTU to A. Agnew
4 Apr. 1909

By B. Jacobsen, secretary, on BTU stationary.
Please have the Chicago Assembly confirm the selection of True and A. Agnew on the
Executive Board.

BTU to House of Spir.
5 Apr. 1909

Please have the Chicago Assembly confirm Agnew and True on the Executive Board.

Minutes of the House of Spir. Open Meeting
13 Apr. 1909

Held at Mrs. True's. The Ridvan celebration is planned. Tents and seats will be
rented. The women will provide refreshments. All Baha'i assemblies will be invited.
A program committee is appointed, and a few others.

Orient Weekly
15 Jan. 1909

Several articles follow; one entitled "Bahai Feast" says that over 80 were present
at feast at the Kinney home. 56 names are listed. There is a photo of the gathering
too.
Meetings are held at the Genealogical Society Hall each Sunday.
Mr. Hoar is the treasurer of the "Bahai Society."
Regular meetings are listed in New York City, Brooklyn, and Jersey City.
News Clipping: On 11 Mar. 1909 an election was held in the General Hall. Over 60
were present at it. Elected were: Mr. Mills (Chairman), Mr. [Paul] Marshall, Mr. A.
P. Dodge, Mr. Hutchingson [sic], Mr. Kinney, Mr. Seeley, Mr. Rich, Mr. Baker, Mr.
Lincoln.
There were 70 guests at the Dodge's for Naw-Ruz on 21 Mar.
undated clipping from the Orient: There was a musical evening for the Temple fund
in New York City; $25.00 was raised. 50 guests were present, including Mr. Ed. B.
Kinny [sic], Miss Wuledge, Mrs. Cory, Mrs. von Lilienthal, Miss Phillips, Mr.
Conrad, and Miss Annie Boylan.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Tues. 20 Apr. 1909

They have received a letter about the condition of Mrs. Davis in Walla-Walla.
Ida Finch writes to ask about nineteen day feasts.
Remey notes that Edward Gets. received a tablet about the Temple.

Ida A. Finch to House of Spir.
Seattle, 9 Apr. 1909

Can non-Baha'is serve in the Baha'i community? [The House of Spir. said yes, but
not in teaching the Faith.]
Mrs. Finch sends out notices, listing all the feasts in the entire year. If people
aren't reminded, "there is a decided lack of interest" in feast.
We would like to print up cards with all the feast days; they could be useful
elsewhere [The House of Spir. said yes, a good idea.]

Minutes of the House of Spir.
11 May 1909

A letter received from Frank Osborne of the Brooklyn Board of Counsel.
Remey suggests a translation fund and support for Ameen Fareed.
Remey also submits designs and blueprints; they are examined [on the Temple?].
There will be a business session at the regular assembly meeting the first Sunday
of the month.
The Women's Assembly of Teaching is to be reorganized on 15 May. Mrs. Agnew
will tell us who the officers are. The women should not have a separate treasury
though; it will complicate matters.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
25 May 1909

Miss Jean Masson is the secretary of the Women's Assembly.
"After due consideration, it was agreed that an Occidental presentation of the Baha
[sic] Revelation should be the feature of our Sunday service."
Remey suggests that architects should gather on 1 Aug. to discuss the Temple.
Mr. Sykes gave a discourse on Sunday, 16 May; they discuss his case.

Frank E. Osborne, Secretary, to House of Spir.
copy 83 Brooklyn, 4 May 1909

The letter is not on stationary, and is handwritten, with words scratched out.
A Board has been elected in Brooklyn of men, with a separate Board for the women.
I guess for the first time.

Albert Hall to Miss Jeanne Masson
Minneapolis, 30 Apr. 1909

It is snowing in Minneapolis now, so I can't come down for Ridvan!
The martyrs in Iran must be our example. We must build a Bahai Temple Unity
[BTU] that is united.

Executive Board of the Assembly of Teaching to House of Spir.
Chicago, 22 May 1909

By Miss Jean Masson, recording secretary.
The women met on 8 May at Mrs. Russell's and Dr. Moody's to reorganize. `Abdu'l-
Baha said to the delegates, "Now is the commencement of organization."
They have elected an executive board of nine women, patterned after the BTU: Mrs.
Ida Brush, Mrs. Mamie Agnew, Mrs. Luella Kirchner, Mrs. Louise R. Waite, Mrs.
Mary Keller, Mrs. Julia Elizabeth Diggett, Mrs. Christine Loeding, Miss Laura E.
Jones, and Miss Jean Masson. At their first executive board meeting on 15 May the
following officers were elected: Mrs. Brush, President; Mrs. Agnew, Vice President;
Miss Masson, recording secretary; Mrs. Waite, corresponding secretary; Mrs.
Kirchner, treasurer.
The women organized seven committees for: organization; education; program;
philanthropic; visiting; sick; the press.
The title of the women's body will be the "Assembly of Teaching." They will write
to `Abdu'l-Baha for confirmation.

House of Spir. (per. T. Chase) to Women's Assembly of Teaching
copy 83 Chicago, 27 May 1909

We appreciate the women's "spirit of endeavor."
We see that all need a chance to work; but all have a special fitness for some work
or another.

Remey to Windust
22 May 1909

A quick letter. He's still working on Temple drawings.

Minutes of Joint meeting of the House of Spir. and the Temple
Committee
1 June 1909

We'll ask out of town speakers to come talk on the Temple.
All Chicago Baha'is will help support the Kappes fund, once current expenses are
met.

Bahai Women of Isphahan to Bahai Sisters of America
Isphahan, 24 Mar. 1909
received Chicago June 1909

Mrs. Br-ham received the letter first; she wrote to them. Its a nice letter, almost
quotable.
[p. 2-3] "The female education in Persia is in a very low degree and we the Behais
women much depend upon our American sisters in obtaining the means of education."

Frank E. Osborne to G. Lesch (House of Spir.)
Brooklyn, 27 May 1909

One member of each board should correspond with the other. Our member will be
Mr. MacMechan. The person would be an "at large" member of the other's Board.

G. Lesch to Osborne
14 June 1909

We won't follow your suggestion because there are too many Boards. But we've
acquired a lot of experience a a body and would be honored to advise you.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
15 June 1909

The funeral service of Mrs. Johnson is arranged.

BTU Designs Committee circular letter
n.d.

The letter describes the grounds of the Temple and invites the submission of
designs. It describes the Temple too; a good description. For now, they will just build
the basement. Architects will meet on 1 Aug. 1909. Remey and Hall are the
committee who drew up the letter.

Frank J. Phelps to Albert Windust
Wash. D.C., 17 July 1909

Sohrab has been commanded by `Abdu'l-Baha to write a history of the Faith in USA.
He wants to go to Chicago and examine the archives. Wash. D.C. supports Sohrab; they
give him $45/month. Thank you for agreeing to pay his train ticket to Chicago.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
20 July 1909

T. Chase present. Letter from Mashhad received. Sohrab is coming to Chicago.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
27 July 1909

T. Chase present. The next meeting will be 24 Aug. 1909. They met with Mr.
Farnsworth.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
24 Aug. 1909
T. Chase present. They discussed the publication of a "monthly booklet, or
magazine."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
31 Aug. 1909

T. Chase present. Mrs. True received a tablet about the "rights of women to serve
in consultative bodies." "It was the opinion of those present that some
misunderstanding might be incurred by circulation of said Tablet."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
7 Sept. 1909

"Mirza Sohrab stated that he had secured original of recent Tablet to Mrs. True
regarding woman's rights and that he considered translation of same good, but that he
would submit to Abdul Baha certain subjects which do not seem perfectly clear, for
our information."
Miss Lillian James was Chicago's pianist.
Mirza Munir Zayn wrote about capitalization of pronouns referring to the Bab,
Baha'u'llah, and `Abdu'l-Baha.

Asher R. Gluck to the Officers and members of the Bahai Society
22 Aug. 1909

He offers a vacant lot as a place "to introduce the philosophy of the Bahai religion."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Thurs. 16 Sept. 1909

We will give to the Denver newspaper [which wrote an inaccurate article on the
Faith] the article on Bahaism from the Nouveau Larousse Illustre.
Sohrab will write to `Abdu'l-Baha about the main uses of the Temple.
The House of Spir. will write to `Abdu'l-Baha and ask Him to ask Sohrab to relocate
to Chicago.
"It was decided that Mr. Thompson be asked to meet with us next Wednesday and
become better acquainted."
T. Chase present.

Mrs. A. M. Bryant to House of Spir.
Woodland Park, CO, 12 Sept. 1909

She writes about an article about the Faith in the Denver Post that's inaccurate.
She doesn't know who instigated it.
Remey and Struven spoke to the Theosophical Society (in Denver?) in spite of the
society's strict rules.
Please reply to the article.

House of Spir. to Mrs. A. M. Bryant
21 Sept. 1909

We will write the editor of the Denver Post about its inaccurate article.

Four Baha'is to House of Spir.
16 Sept. 1909

A post card from four Baha'is en route to Akka: Gertrude Buikema, Harlan Ober,
Edna McKinney, and Effie Dixon.

Charles Ioas (House of Spir.) to Editor of Denver Post
Chicago, 21 Sept. 1909

Please keep the enclosed pamphlet; your article of Sunday, 12 Sept. 1909 was
mostly erroneous.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
22 Sept. 1909

T. Chase present.
The Denver article is dated Sunday, 12 Sept. 1909.
Capitalization of pronouns; doing it too often would be distracting, so we'll use our
judgment.

House of Spir. to Mr. Andrew J. Nelson
Chicago, 27 Sept. 1909

We hear Mr. John Peterson is very ill; how is he?

Andrew J. Nelson to House of Spir.
Racine, 9 Oct. 1909

He didn't know about Peterson, in Racine, is sick. He found him finally, and yes
he's very sick. He has "consumption of the lungs."
"The Cause is not growing very much in Racine that is we are not gaining any new
Believers although we try to spread the Message when we can get someone to listen.
But the trouble lies with ourselves I am sure and sorry to say we think we are too
poor, to do anything we are too lukewarm, it is a shame to acknowledge it..."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
29 Sept. 1909

T. Chase absent.
We have sent a report to `Abdu'l-Baha with advice requested about reelections.
The letter to `Abdu'l-Baha asking Sohrab to move to Chicago was read and approved.
Certificate and bond issue to finance the East and West Magazine was discussed. It
must be on a non-profit sharing basis in stead.
Harry C. Thompson is listed as a member of the House of Spir.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
5 Oct. 1909

T. Chase absent.
Mrs. Waite and Sidney Sprague are en route to Akka.
The BTU will meet on 9 Oct.
Plans are made to continue the work in the fall and winter. The House of Spir. will
meet with different Baha'is; Mr. Woodworth and Mr. Thompson are appointed a
committee to do this.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
12 Oct. 1909

T. Chase absent.
Various letters.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
copy 83 19 Oct. 1909

Feast is a private meeting for Baha'is only (essentially), while Sunday meetings
are open to all and designed to attract others. Baha'u'llah's and `Abdu'l-Baha's words
are the center of both. Food should be simple at both.
T. Chase absent.

House of Spir. to Andrew J. Nelson
Chicago, 18 Oct. 1909

A reply to Nelson's last letter. The situation in Racine is the same as elsewhere.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
26 Oct. 1909

T. Chase absent. He is in California and writes about conditions there.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
2 Nov. 1909

"After due consideration, it was decided that Mr. Lesch succeed Mr. Scheffler as
Treasurer."
Mrs. Ladd of Seattle offers to assist in a literary capacity.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
9 Nov. 1909

Mrs. Lua Gets. says she will come to Chicago to teach; she wrote to Miss Masson.
Miss Masson proposed a paid public meeting. The House of Spir. will not support it.
Mrs. Foster will be paid what she is due from the Fund.

Frank E. Osborne, Secretary, to G. Lesch of House of Spir.
Brooklyn, 10 Nov. 1909

The Book of the Covenant should be retranslated.
The letter is from the Brooklyn Board of Consultation.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
16 Nov. 1909

Sohrab, T. Chase both wrote about the magazine. Remey wrote about work in the
West.
Osborne writes for Brooklyn proposing a retranslation of the Book of the Covenant.

Denver Assembly to the House of Spir.
19 Nov. 1909

The Denver Baha'is have organized a Denver Branch of the Temple Association. Mr.
Clark is the treasurer.
Mrs. Josephine Clark and son, George Nathaniel Clark, are Baha'is; their home is
"headquarters."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
23 Nov. 1909

We'll send reports to `Abdu'l-Baha more regularly.
Feast is discussed; a central meeting place is necessary, or meetings in several
places in the city.

House of Spir. to Mrs. A. M. Bryant
Chicago, 30 Nov. 1909

Congratulations with Denver's organization; we hope your regular meetings will
continue.

House of Spir. to Osborne
Chicago, 30 Nov. 1909

Yes, the Book of the Covenant should be retranslated. But we don't have the
original.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
30 Nov. 1909

Miss McCoy is now the Chicago pianist and is paid. They will publish extracts
from tablets about the use of the Iqan.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
7 Dec. 1909

Mrs. Waite makes suggestions about the Sunday services.
Mrs. H. S. Moss, treasurer of the translator's fund [in Wash. D.C.?]. We will ask
her how much money she has.
T. Chase wrote to Windust.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
28 Dec. 1909

They received a letter from Mashhad. General discussion.

YR 1910

Minutes of the House of Spir.
11 Jan. 1910

A Persian American Educational Society [PAES] is proposed. Sohrab writes them
about it.
The treasurer reports. General discussion. No other letters.
No House of Spir. meetings were held on 18 or 25 Jan. 1910.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
1 Feb. 1910

General discussion. No letters.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
8 Feb. 1910

Lease on the hall.
Appointment of delegates for the upcoming convention.
General discussion.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
22 Feb. 1910

The New York Board of Counsel expresses approval of the idea that Chicago publish
Bahai News.
Mashhad writes.
Remey writes from the S. S. Bulow, with articles by Rev. Timothy Richards.
Letters in reply are approved.

B. Jacobsen to G. Lesch [?]
Kenosha, 27 Feb. 1910

A. Agnew and True did a good job last year, so I hope the Chicago Baha'is will
reelect them as their delegates this year.
The letter was read at the Sunday meeting to the Chicago Baha'is.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Tues. 1 Mar. 1910

Letter from Ida Finch; the secretary will reply.
This is the last set of minutes in the House of Spir. records until 1917.

House of Spir. to Mrs. E. G. Foster
12 Mar. 1910

Baha'is should not go into business in any way different from non-Baha'is; we
must be careful.
She is the wife of L. W. Foster, from other letters in this file.

Edward L. Parsons to Chicago Baha'i Assembly
Berkeley, CA, 9 Apr. 1910

He wants information on the Faith.

G. Lesch to Edward L. Parsons
Chicago, 16 Apr. 1910

He encloses literature. The Faith has "About fifty centers" in the USA. For more
information write T. Chase in Los Ang.

Louis Gregory to Mrs. A. S. Agnew
Wash. D.C., 5 May 1910

Please send this list of books.
Joseph Hannen just gave a speech on "The Race Problem in the Light of the Bahai
Revelation" to "our largest colored literary society. It would make an excellent
pamphlet. Would the `Household of Spirituality' like to publish it? [I never wrote a
closed quote mark.]
Hannen gave a glowing report of the convention to Wash. D.C. Gregory couldn't go
to Chicago because he was in Akka.

Oakshette to House of Justice
n.d.; must be May 1910

He has loaned money to a Baha'i and can't get it back.

House of Spir. to Dr. James C. Oakshette
Chicago, 7 May 1910

It is about a personal business matter. Baha'is can sue; you should strive to obtain
justice. A Baha'i must pay his debts. Don't tell us who owes you money; we don't need
to know.

Oakshette to House of Spir.
13 May 1910

Thank you for your advice.

House of Spir. to Louis G. Gregory
18 May 1910

The Bahai Publishing Society [BPS] has more than they can publish. The subject
is delicate; individual effort is important, but a publication could stir up prejudice.

L. Kirchner to House of Spir.
Chicago, 23 May 1910

A rather bitter letter. She feels crudely slandered. She never gives the details,
though!
She resigns from all community responsibilities. "I do not care to work with
people whose service is mainly lip-service." She double underlined every underlined
word except "do," "to,"
and "with."

L. Kirchner to G. Lesch
Chicago, 24 May 1910

She won't contribute to the fund any more. Nor will Mr. Kirchner.

House of Spir. to L. Kirchner
Chicago, 25 May 1910

We feel regret that you feel as you do. Thank you for your service. [She had
assisted the treasurer as the women's treasurer, I think.]

Oscar S. Hinckley to G. Lesch
San Diego, CA; received 20 June 1910

He is going blind; he can barely see. Everything has wavy motions around it. He
can barely read. [The letter is horrid; he couldn't see what he had written.]
Otherwise Hinckley says he's fine. "I was 71 the 18th of April."

F. M. Nichols, secretary of Board of Consultation, to G. Lesch
Kenosha, 4 July 1910

Have you any tablets saying that women can serve on boards of consultation?
He wrote the same letter to Windust.

House of Spir. to F. W. Nichols, secretary
11 July 1910

We don't have such, but Mrs. True obtained a tablet three or four months ago; she
can send you a copy.

Windust to F. W. Nichols
copy 83 Chicago, 23 July 1910

Nichols lives in Kenosha. He seems to have written about organization. The House
of Spir. quotes all the tablets they have about the House of Spir. and spiritual
assembly. Spiritual Assembly is a correct translation; Sohrab uses it correctly.
Mrs. True has received a tablet which says women may be elected to spiritual
assemblies. The House of Justice must be elected by a general election. Cincinnati
should organize a spiritual assembly.
Contributions to the Baha'i fund is not obligatory.
The House of Spir. suggests that Kenosha take a vote whether to add women to the
Board or not.

YR 1911

Jacobsen to Windust
Kenosha, 16 May 1911

We wrote to `Abdu'l-Baha asking whether we should dissolve our Board of
Consultation; He said no. The tablet is attached.

`Abdu'l-Baha to Kenosha
translated 4 Mar. 1911

The tablet mentioned in the above letter.
The House of Justice cannot be organized yet. Spiritual Assemblies must be
organized in stead.
I am sorry to hear about the disunity between the men and the women. Organize a
separate spiritual assembly for women and one for the men. This is the best solution.

James C. Oakshette to G. Lesch
Houghton, MI, 9 June 1911

He signs his name with M.D. and Ph.D. after it. At this date apparently he is no
longer living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Albert [Windust] to George [Lesch]
July 1911

Please ask those elected to come to a meeting next Sunday.
The voting tally:

Dr. Zia Baghdadi 25 Mr. W. E. Kelly 11
______________________
Mr. Geo. Lesch 25 Mr. Chas. Ioas 10
Mr. Alb. Windust 25 Mr. Lars Johnson 9
Mr. Chas. Greenleaf 22 Mr. Louis Keller 8
Dr. W. F. Nutt 22 Mr. Peter D. Coyne 8
Mr. Arth. Agnew 18 Mr. Albert Kirchner 6
Mr. Jas. Woodworth 15 Mr. Chas. Scheffler 5
Mr. Jos. Johnson 14 Mr. Jas. Murphy 4
_______________________________
Mr. Chas. Currier 3 Mr. Herbert Anderson 2
Mr. Arthur Dealy 2 Mr. Geo. Loeding 1
Mr. Honore Jaxon 1 Mr. Holdt 1

Those above the line were elected to the House of Spir.

G. Lesch to Dear Bahai Brother
Chicago, 27 July 1911

You've been elected; come to the first meeting on Sunday 30 July at 10:30 AM in
the Corinthian Hall parlor.

BTU (Jacobsen) to House of Spir. (G. Lesch)
8 Nov. 1911

Agnew has resigned from the BTU as a delegate. Enclosed is his resignation. Please
elect another delegate.
A note below says Dr. Wm Fredk Nott [sic] was chosen as delegate. Ratified by the
Assembly on 1 Nov. 1911.

Mary E. Farrell to House of Spir.
Spokane, 9 Nov. 1911

Are there any Baha'is in Spokane? She read about the Faith in last Sunday's
Spokesman's Review.
The House of Spir. sent pamphlets and addresses.

YR 1912

Business Meeting of the Bahai Assembly of Chicago
Sunday, 18 Feb. 1912

The meeting is held in the Corinthian Hall of the Masonic Temple.
The Assembly discussed the upcoming convention. They chose various committees:
a Feast of Ridvan Committee, a Finance Committee (for the Feast), a Reception
Committee. All delegates will be invited to the celebration.
Dr. William F. Nutt and Mrs. C. True will be Chicago's delegates. Zia Baghdadi and
Luella Kirchner will be the alternates.
The Assembly extended the lease on the Corinthian Hall for another year. A
committee was appointed to look for other places.
Dr. William Nutt presided. He is on many of the committees.
The House of Spir. can't be functioning. Roger Dahl says no House of Spir.
correspondence exists in the BTU and Kenosha papers in the teens, not until the
Kirchner affair.

YR 1917

Minutes of the House of Spir.
9 Sept. 1917

Present were Lesch, Windust, Dr. Slater, Mr. Hanby, Mrs. True, Mr. Scheffler,
Mrs. Lesch, and Dr. Baghdadi. Three guests also.
They write a letter in reply to one from the BTU.

END

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