Chicago House of Spirituality notes: 1903-1904

Chicago House of Spirituality notes: 1903-1904 Jump to:
Introduction
Notes, 1901-1902
Notes, 1903-1904
Notes, 1905
Notes, 1906
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YR 1903

Minutes of the House of Spir.
3 Jan. 1903

T. Chase present; 12 total, including one visitor. C. Scheffler writes to Rangoon.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
10 Jan. 1903

T. Chase present. Photo of the new New York Board of Counsel received. Nine
present, and two more as visitors.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
17 Jan. 1903

T. Chase present. Discussion of the preservation of tablets by `Abdu'l-Baha; how
can they keep a copy of them? Ten present, including one as a guest. An agenda of the
House of Spir. meeting is drawn up. A report from the committee on the weekly
worship services is given.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sat. 24 Jan. 1903

T. Chase is absent. Badi`u'llah has repented; the House of Spir. may call on
Kheiralla. Nine present. A letter will be sent to all Chicago Baha'is regarding the
Sunday meeting.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
31 Jan. 1903

T. Chase to draft a letter about the Fast to be sent to all communities. T. Chase
present, ten total. Thirty-six believers surprised Andrew Nelson in Racine with a
present.

Women's Assembly of Teaching to the House of Spir.
2 p. n.d. (Jan. 1903)

The letter is by Mrs. Roe. They are inviting the House of Spir. to their next
"nineteen day social" on 22 Jan. 1903. T. Chase and Fareed attended their last
meeting.
"We should work together as the right and left hand--for our Master, Abdul Baha
and for each other and the Cause of God."
The letter is in the minutes after 31 Jan. 1903.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sat. 7 Feb. 1903

The House of Spir. looks into the rental of two halls; at the Masonic Temple and the
Athanaeum. A letter was received from the Women's Assembly of Teaching on weekly
meetings, but there are no details.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
14 Feb. 1903

T. Chase absent; seven present, including Ioas, but not Doxsey and Lane. T. Chase
sent a letter to the House of Spir.
Racine wrote; they have elected officers. They say nothing about a consultative
body.
Report of the Sunday meetings committee given.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sat. 21 Feb. 1903

T. Chase present. Twelve total, including Doxsey, Lane, and Ioas. [Doxsey is
almost never at House of Spir. meetings; Ioas, Lane are there most of the time.]
The next Women's nineteen day social is on 1 Mar.
The House of Spir. heard from Ishqabad about the laying of the cornerstone of the
House of Worship. The letter was dated 29 Nov. 1902; it is in reply to their letter of
9 Aug. 1902.

Benjamin Taylor to the House of Spir.
20 Feb. 1903

"Your letter enclosing notice of the fast rec'd this morning. Our people are still
holding togeather [sic] some of the old ones are coming back and we are having a few
visitors with us at times."
That is 90% of the letter.

Charles E. Sprague to the House of Spir.
23 Feb. 1903

Thank you for the letter about the Fast. "A number of our people have been trying
to get this data but seemed unable to do so, but this letter straightens matters very
nicely for us. Mr. Harris, the Secretary of the Board, will make the formal
acknowledgment of the letter."
90% of the letter.

James Brittingham to the Chicago House of Spir.
22 Feb. 1903

He is writing on behalf of the Johnstown, N.Y. Baha'is. He includes a photo of the
community in the letter. The Johnstown believers meet every Sunday, in different
homes. They are studying Abu'l-Fadl's book currently at the Sunday meetings.

Mrs. R. Walters to the Chicago House of Spir.
26 Feb. 1903

She is writing on behalf of Kenosha.
"I am in receipt of your letter to the Assembly regarding the Fast; and I have
complied with your request and gave it to the Assembly and all those who possibly can
are going to observe the Fast days."
95% of the letter.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sat. 28 Feb. 1903

T. Chase present. He read a eulogy of Thomas Breakwell.
The Sunday meetings began in Chicago on 22 Feb. 1903. Sixty were present at the
meeting at the Athanaeum. Mrs. True wrote and said she was pleased.
A "Baha'i" hymn book was published by the Publishing Society; it had all
Protestant hymns [copy in House of Spir. Records]. Isaac Watts and others are
included.
Letters regarding the Fast have been received from Racine, Kenosha, Johnstown,
N.Y. and New York City.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
copy 7 Mar. 1903

T. Chase present. The House of Spir. discussed building a Temple. Several
committees were appointed. One will write a supplication to `Abdu'l-Baha. Another
will find a site. T. Chase will interest other communities. Each of the eleven
members present pledged $100, for a total of $1100.00
T. Chase is preparing a letter about Ridvan.
House of Spir. read a letter acknowledging their letter about the Fast from Mrs.
Mary Morton of Baltimore. Another one was read from Charles T. Jones on behalf of
Hoboken. They also received photographs of the laying of the cornerstone of the
Ishqabad Temple, and sketch of the Temple in a letter from Ahmad Yazdi. They
received a letter from Asadu'llah also urging them to build a Temple.
They printed the "Tablet of Love"; Baltimore thanked them for sending them copies.
Dr. Bartlett acted as chairman in the absence of Mr. Bender, who was ill.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
14 Mar. 1903

No notes. T. Chase wrote the House of Spir. from Detroit on 12 Mar. 1903. He
may be home in time for the Feast on 22 Mar. He missed the 14 Mar. meeting.

Songs of Prayer and Praise

The first Baha'i hymn book printed; all Protestant hymns. By the Bahai
Publishing Society.

House of Spir. to `Abdu'l-Baha
copy 82 about 7 Mar. 1903

The supplication of the House of Spir. to build a Temple.

North Hudson Board of Counsel to the Chicago House of Spir.
West Hoboken, 8 Mar. 1903

Written by Chas. T. Jones, sec'y.
The letter acknowledges the communication of the House of Spir. "in regard, to
keeping the great Feast Day."

Hoboken Board of Counsel to House of Spir.
31 Mar. 1903

Signed by "C.T. Jones sec'y."
The Hoboken Assembly has grown little in the past year, but it is deeper.
"I received your circular regarding the commands for Fasting and I think most of
our people are keeping it."
New York asked them to teach in Newark, "which had been allowed to lag. So we are
holding regular weekly meetings there now, and the Cause is progressing very
nicely." He hopes Newark soon will have an "Assembly" and a "Board." This month
the New York Board is responsible for the Newark meetings.

Charlotte Colt to the House of Spir.
Wash. D.C., 19 Mar. 1903

She writes on behalf of the Wash. D.C. friends. Please send future communications
to Mrs. C. C. Dixon.
Thank you regarding the fast: "We feel sure a great spiritual blessing will come to
all who have observed it in the true spirit--" She goes on to talk about physical and
spiritual fasting; both together is "light upon light."
Colt is in Wash. D.C. only temporarily.
Thank you regarding "the feast" [Naw-Ruz] also.

Chas. E. Sprague to Mr. G. Lesch
20 Mar. 1903

"The Ladies Board held an election last Friday night, so we presume there will be
no official Feast on the 21st. The Hoboken Assembly will have a social and we have
been invited to meet with them. I presume a great many of our people will go."
90% of the letter.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
21 Mar. 1903

T. Chase present; eight total. A letter from New York City thanking them for
notification of Naw-Ruz was received. Letters of thanks from Cincinnati, Hoboken,
Johnstown, N.Y. also.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
28 Mar. 1903

T. Chase absent; nine present, including Doxsey and Lane, but not Ioas. Lane is
visiting Kenosha every other week; A. Agnew, C. Scheffler visited Racine last week.
Various committees were appointed.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
4 Apr. 1903

T. Chase writes from Detroit on 3 Apr. 1903, a letter of encouragement to the
House of Spir. "And, also, the heavy obligations and responsibility that is laid upon
the shoulders of those burden-bearers, God's `House of Spirituality,' looms like a
mountain before us."
Only five members of the House of Spir. are present.
The photo from Johnstown, N.Y. arrived; eight Baha'is are in the picture.
A letter from Milwaukee was received, and one from Kenosha, Mrs. Harman sec'y.
Miss May Allen has moved from LaGrange to Akron, Ohio; she will spread the
Message there. [She is later Mrs. May Allen Brooker; see her Historical Record Card.]

Mrs. Harman, sec'y, to the House of Spir.

She is the "sec'y" and mentions the Assembly appointing a committee for a task; so
Kenosha is still functioning as a community.

T. Chase to House of Spir.
Detroit, 3 Apr. 1903

Cross reference of a letter that is found in the T. Chase Papers.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
11 Apr. 1903

T. Chase telegrammed, he's out of town. Six House of Spir. members present. T.
Chase wrote a letter for the House of Spir. dated Chicago, 5 Apr. 1903.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
18 Apr. 1903

T. Chase present; eight total. He had been in Zanesville, Cincinnati. Met the
Wilhelms in Zanesville; they're firm believers.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
25 Apr. 1903

T. Chase present. Letter from Andrew J. Nelson on behalf of the Racine Baha'is,
dated 23 Apr. 1903 (see record below).
The House of Spir. received several thank yous for their notice about Ridvan; six
communities wrote: New York, Kenosha, Racine, Johnstown, Oakland, Wash. D.C.
The House of Spir. dedicated the evening to planning for Ridvan celebration.
Nine present, including T. Chase.

Helen S. Goodall to Mr. G. Lesch
Oakland, 21 Apr. 1903

Thank you for the announcement.

Mrs. R. Walters to Mr. G. Lesch
Kenosha, 22 Apr. 1903

The song book has arrived, and "Before Abraham Was I Am" also. Please send
more. I have taken the announcement about Ridvan over to our meeting place.

Andrew J. Nelson to G. Lesch
Racine, 23 Apr. 1903

"Many Thanks for Your Kindness and to the House of Justice in Chicago in General
they are as a Parent to us, advising Us and informing us in fact teaching us like a
Mother does a child and if You did not we would remain ignorant of much, that we
should know regarding `El Abha.'" [sic]

Charles Sprague to G. Lesch
28 Apr. 1903

Thank you for the Ridvan notice.
The letter is written on stationary that says: Charles E. Sprague / Publishing
Agent / for / Behai's Board of Counsel / 191 William Street / New York / Where
"/" means a new line. All the lines are centered.

E. C. Dixon to G. Lesch
Wash. D.C., 30 Apr. 1903

Thank you for the announcement about Ridvan.

Mirza Asadu'llah to the House of Spir.
copy 82 Haifa, 4 May 1903

The first House of Justice was in Chicago. He is clear about it!

Andrew J. Nelson to Mr. A. Agnew
7 May 1903

Please ask Mrs. Br-ham to come up from Chicago on Sunday to Racine.
Nelson has moved into a new house and has a new baby girl.

Mrs. Charlotte Morton to the House of Spir.
11 May 1903

Milwaukee celebrated Ridvan "one week ago yesterday." She now lives in West
Allis, WI, 7 or 8 miles from Milwaukee.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
2 May 1903

Rufus Bartlett is in New Orleans; he visited with Dealy. T. Chase has been called
away on business [he is in Denver]. Four members of the House of Spir. are present,
plus Mr. Farley, a proxy for Mr. Lane.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
9 May 1903

T. Chase wrote from Denver that he could not be present. Good news from Denver.
He describes the community. The letter is dated 7 May 1903. He has been in Denver
since 1 May. Mrs. Bryant, apparently, is a Baha'i there. The House of Spir. is still
getting Ridvan thank you notes.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
16 May 1903

T. Chase present; seven total.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
23 May 1903

T. Chase present; ten total. They celebrated the birthday of `Abdu'l-Baha; the
Ladies Assembly did on 23 May and the whole community on Sunday, 24 May.

T. Chase to Frank Osborne
Chicago, 18 May 1903

Osborne is in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cross reference; the letter is in the T. Chase Papers.

Mirza Asadu'llah to the House of Spir.
Haifa, 4 Safar 1321 (1903)
trans. 23 May 1903

"A year ago this day I left Chicago en route to Acca."

Zella H. Mulvane, sec'y, to the House of Spir.
29 May 1903

"At the last meeting of the Bahai Young People's Society it was decided to change the
next monthly meeting into a `moonlight picnic' at Lincoln Park June 20th."
They want to invite the whole Assembly; please announce their plans on Sunday.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
30 May 1903

T. Chase absent; seven present. `Abdu'l-Baha endorses the building of the Temple.
The Baha'i Young People's Society plans a moonlight picnic. Mrs. Br-ham is in
Chicago.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
6 June 1903

T. Chase present; nine total. Some Temple business is discussed regarding the
buying of land. A letter from Asadu'llah in Akka suggests that he suggested the idea in
the first place. Dr. Bartlett asks regarding his regular Wednesday meeting.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
13 June 1903

T. Chase present; ten total. Also, Mrs. Br-ham. She will visit inactive Baha'is.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
20 June 1903

T. Chase present; nine total.

House of Spir. to Mirza Asadu'llah
Chicago, 19 June 1903

There is a vacancy on the House of Spir.; how do we fill it? "whether the House of
Spirituality has the privilege to invite and elect a new member; whether such an
election, if made, should be submitted for approval to those who gather in the general
weekly meeting; or whether some other method is described by our Master (Rouhi
fedah!)." They ask Asadu'llah his advice.

House of Spir. of the Behais Zoroastrian of Tehran to House of Spir.
Tehran, 29 June 1903

The original is in slightly broken English. Another letter from the Zoroastrian
Baha'is of Tehran has nine signatures and nine seals; there is a signature over each
seal. The beginning of the letter, which is in Persian, says:
az ma,h,zar-i-raw,h'an'i-i-zardusht'i'an-i-bah'a''i dar te,hr'an 'ir'an
ma,h,zar-i-raw,h'an'i-i-bah'a''i'an'-i-'amir'ik dar sh'ik'aghu [Chicago]

Minutes of the House of Spir.
27 June 1903

T. Chase absent; eight present.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
2 July 1903

T. Chase absent; seven present. They discuss the Temple only.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
11 July 1903

T. Chase present; eight total. T. Chase had been in Cleveland. He mentions two
Baha'is there.
T. Chase apparently was absent for meetings of 15, 22, 29 Aug. and 5 Sept. 1903

Telegrams to the Persian Ministry
Sarah Farmer sends one for "Beha"is of Green-Acre."
G. Lesch sends one, 8 Aug. 1903, "Bahais of Chicago beg His Majesty's protection
for Bahais in Persia."

E. Voelz to G. Lesch
Kenosha, 14 Aug. 1903

We would have sent a cable to Persia, but couldn't afford to. We should have done it
jointly with Racine, but didn't.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
15 Aug. 1903

No notes.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
22 Aug. 1903

Letters were read, and there was general discussion.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
29 Aug. 1903

Lane gave a report of teaching efforts in Michigan [MI]; it was read by Mr. Hayes
and Mr. Anderson (of Muskegon?].

Minutes of the House of Spir.
5 Sept. 1903

A letter to be sent to Ishqabad was read and approved.

House of Spir. to Ishqabad
5 Sept. 1903

Ishqabad wrote to Chicago on 25 May; it wa received and read at the 18 July
meeting.
We received your letter and one from Asadu'llah at the same time. Both of them
prompted us to decide to build a House of Worship. Please send us a detailed
description of your Temple.

Account of Martyrdoms in Iran

by Haji Mirza Haydar `Ali, translated by Yunis Khan on 19 Sept. 1903. 26 p.

Chicago House of Spir. to Baku
Oct. 1903

The regular meetings in Chicago are well attended, "even during the excessive heat
of midsummer." The older believers are becoming firmly grounded.

House of Spir. to the Assembly of Teaching
23 Oct. 1903

The letter is written to Mrs. Frances Roe, corresponding secretary. It asks for
their help in planning the Master's Day.

Minutes of the House of Spir.

Windust writes on the inside cover of the book that during the latter part of 1903
and the latter part of 1904 minutes were very erratic.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
25 Oct. 1903

T. Chase present. He just returned from a long trip to Denver and Cincinnati. He
took the minutes.

House of Spir. to `Abdu'l-Baha
Chicago, 29 Oct. 1903.

The letter is by T. Chase. It is the minutes of the House of Spir. for their 25 Oct.
meeting.
The New Thought convention is in three weeks. Mrs. Br-ham will speak.
Sister Sanghamitta gives an account of how Mr. Phelps's book was written.
T. Chase was in Denver, Cincinnati. The Faith has small numbers, but they are
growing in their faith.
Chicago's Sunday meetings are well attended.

House of Spir. to `Abdu'l-Baha
Chicago, 26 Nov. 1903

The letter was probably composed by T. Chase; its in his style.
Should we spell it "Baha" or "Beha"? Please give us a ruling.
[Also see letters by T. Chase to Putnam's Sons, Publishers; E. G. Browne (2
letters); Myron Phelps; and Sister Sanghamitta all about this time, all in the T. Chase
papers.]

Frances Roe to the House of Spir.
736 N. Park Ave., Chicago, 5 Dec. 1903

The women have a "Board of nineteen."
Mrs. Br-ham wrote them and "has suggested to us the blessedness of a joint
meeting at least once a month for devotion." We'd like to do this with you. The first
proposed meeting time will be 2 Jan. 1904, at Mrs. True's home.
There will be a "Unity League" at the Saint Louis World's Fair. Perhaps we could
participate. We should ask `Abdu'l-Baha.
Roe is "Cor Sect"--I checked spelling on 2 June 1986, it is exactly this. There is
no period after "Cor" or "Sect".

Clarence Smith to the House of Spir.
Honolulu, 8 Dec. 1903

The letter is to Mr. Charles Greenleaf, c/o Illinois Trust and Savings Bank.
Honolulu has four believers; they are writing to introduce themselves and say
hello.
"At the first meeting of the four believers here... held last Saturday afternoon...."
[Honolulu]

House of Spir. to Frances Roe
Chicago, 16 Dec. 1903

The House of Spir. will meet with the Women's Board on 2 Jan. as arranged.
So far we're against working with the Unity League. We'll talk to you about it.
Miss Farmer, Mrs. Mary Ford may do so on their own; let's hope all will be the best
for the Cause.

House of Spir. to Baku
Chicago, 31 Dec. 1903

No notes.

YR 1904

Miscellaneous Newspaper clipping
Jan. 1904

It says: "Central Church of the Manifestation. Service at 3:30 PM 14 Crilly Court
near Eugenie St., conducted by Dr. I. G. Kheiralla." Sunday Tribune, 1 Jan. 1904

H. B. Reynolds to Albert Windust
copy 83 Jan. 1904

Reynolds in "Chairman of Committee" of the Central Church of the Manifestation;
Kheiralla's followers. He writes asking the Baha'is to join them.
Windust adds to the letter that they never replied.

T. Chase to C. Scheffler
copy 83 2 p. Denver, 9 Mar. 1904

T. Chase complains about a deplorable translation of a tablet to Dodge; it must not
be spread around. Fareed should see the original.
`Abdu'l-Baha's fallibility and infallibility are clearly understood. T. Chase says
`Abdu'l-Baha does not know of material acts unless informed.
Denver is doing well. There were 27 at the last Sunday afternoon meeting. Last
night there were 30. Baha'is only attended the meeting Friday night. Next Sunday is a
gathering for all.

T. Chase to House of Spir.
Denver, 10 Mar. 1904

Cross reference; see T. Chase papers.

House of Spir. to Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Ort
26 Mar. 1904

We are sorry that no women read at the recent Sunday meeting. We didn't notice.

House of Spir. to Tiflis
23 May 1904

`Abdu'l-Baha's birthday; we unite with you. It is His 60th birthday.
Please send us news.

Bernard Jacobsen to House of Spir.
Kenosha, 2 June 1904

"I want to ask some advice in regard to having a Men's Board established here we
have had a meeting of the male believers and it is their desire that we form some sort
of Board for the transaction of the business end here, the House of Spirituality you
have is it for the American believers or are we to have same in each city? ....or should
it be called by some other name?"
He asks about the Baha'i marriage ceremony. A couple is to be married soon. Has
`Abdu'l-Baha told us how to do this? He's never heard. They do not want ministers;
Jacobsen suggested a Justice of the Peace.
"I must thank you for all your kind and comforting words spoken at the Memorial
of my Beloved Sister, Mrs. Thime; she was truly a most firm believer: she was the
first student I had in Chicago and she was always desirous of spreading this Holy
Cause..."
"Our little Assembly here is prospering quite a little and we have and [sic]
number of new students on the way. I am going to send you a roster of the believers
here as soon as I get it more complete I have been working on it since I came here and
have visited and [sic] number of those who became a little careless in attending
meetings, but am having fair success..."

Minutes of the House of Spir.
19 June 1904

News of Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee; the last has 10-12 believers now. The
Duffields of Milwaukee are "firm believers." Milwaukee wishes to rent a hall.
Kenosha is growing. Several opposers have returned.
Racine is in good shape also ("good condition").
The nineteen day tea of the Chicago women was on 11 June; several men attended.
T. Chase read a paper, "New Heaven and New Earth" at the Unity League meeting at
the St. Louis World's Fair.
We will work with New Though as individuals--not as a body; Mrs. True wrote the
New Thought people to that effect. The decision was made in Jan. 1904.
The Winterburns have passed through town. They spoke of the unity they saw in
Paris and Akka.
T. Chase present.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
26 June 1904

T. Chase appointed chairman; Ameen Fareed secretary; Thime vice chairman; C.
Scheffler treasurer. A committee to draft a constitution for the House of Spir. was
appointed.

Minutes of the House of Spir.

30 June 1904

T. Chase absent; only four present. T. Chase was in the east during the summer,
visiting Green Acre and other places; so Windust notes on the bottom of the page.
Currier was present; I checked this document for his name on 2 June 1986.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
2 July 1904

T. Chase present; eight total. The House of Spir. decided to write `Abdu'l-Baha
about number of members on the body.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
6 July 1904

T. Chase absent, only six present. No notes.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
9 July 1904

T. Chase present; seven total. The constitution was modified and approved. They
held an election: T. Chase is President, A. Agnew is Vice President, G. Lesch is
recording secretary, Ameen Fareed is corresponding secretary, C. Scheffler is
treasurer, and Windust is librarian.
Committees were formally established also.
The librarian writes all the Baha'is in the USA asking for tablets for the archives.
No minutes until 3 Sept. 1904; there were only two to four members at each
meeting to handle emergency items.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
3 Sept. 1904.

T. Chase present; he had been in the east. Bernard Jacobsen present as a guest [I
checked this fact on 2 June 1986]. Tablets are coming in; 22 have already been filed.
No opposition to collecting them has surfaced. The circulars have just been sent out.

House of Spir. to Ahmad Yazdi
Chicago, 9 Sept. 1904

The letter is by T. Chase.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
10 Sept. 1904

T. Chase present; six total.
The House of Spir. has received an account of his pilgrimage from George
Winterburn.
Mrs. Benjamin Taylor has died in Cincinnati.
[I re-read the minutes to be sure I had been thorough as far as here; 1 Apr.
1983.]

House of Spir. to George Winterburn
12 Sept. 1904

"Your letter was read before the Chicago Assembly and was keenly appreciated by
the fifty or more who were present."
They stress the importance of firmness in the Covenant.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
24 Sept. 1904

T. Chase present; seven total. He was out of town part of the time to 15 Oct. 1904,
in northern Wisconsin [WI]. Meetings until then were informal [Windust must add
this].
Mr. Thime will not "be present for some time because of campaign work." [So--
he was involved in politics.]
Bender works at night; doing what?
Various items of correspondence are attached.
A. Agnew and Windust also were away for a month.

James Brittingham to G. Lesch, Secr, House of Spir.
New York, 30 Sept. 1904

Thank you for the get well letter. He has an enlarged heart.
James Brittingham went to meetings in Newark, Montclair, and New York City. At
the latter there were large gatherings; "a goodly number were present." In New York
City three meetings are held regularly; he attended all three of them several times;
they are at the homes of the Dodges, Spragues, and MacNutts. The last home is in
Brooklyn.
The letter was received in Chicago on 15 Oct. 1904.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
15 Oct. 1904

Seven present, including Ameen Fareed.
The Bahai Publishing Society submits a plan to publish the Hidden Words and a
compilation of tablets. The House of Spir. approved. [Windust adds a note--they
were published about 1 Mar. 1905.]
Plans discussed for a meeting of Women's Assembly of Teaching officers and House
of Spir. officers. T. Chase, as President of the House of Spir., will arrange the
meeting.

George F. Winterburn to the House of Spir.
410 Temple St., Los Ang., 20 Sept. 1904

Thank you for your letter of appreciation.
He spells it Abdul Beha.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
22 Oct. 1904

T. Chase present; seven total, including Fareed.
Thirty tablets have been received because of the circular.
A meeting with the women is discussed. Funds are a major issue, especially
regarding the Temple.

House of Spir. to `Abdu'l-Baha
copy 83 Oct. 1904

The letter summarizes American Baha'i activity during the summer and fall.
Baha'i books in the Chicago libraries.
"Bahai Faith."
Chicago meetings are well attended.
Mr. Hoar visited; all publishing will be done by Chicago.
Tablets are being collected.
Cleveland is progressing well.
Kenosha is more united. The Nakazeen there are returning to the fold. Jacobsen is
its main stay.
Racine, Milwaukee, Muskegon are progressing.
A constitution and officers of the House of Spir. have been chosen.
Abu'l-Fadl will soon leave the USA.

Special Meeting of the House of Spir. and the Women
copy 83 25 Oct. 1904

Mrs. True, Shaffner, Lesch, Waite, Phillips are present; so are Messrs. T. Chase,
A. Agnew, G. Lesch, C. Scheffler, Fareed, and Windust.
Tuesday noon meetings; Mrs. Shaffner runs them.
Tuesday evening meetings at T. Chase's to study the Iqan with Fareed in Persian; its
purpose is to raise up a corpus of dedicated teachers.
A meetings committee will visit all the meetings in the city.
A finance committee will plan what to spend money on.
A publicity committee; C. Scheffler only is appointed to it.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
29 Oct. 1904

T. Chase present; the meeting is held at his house, as many recently have been.
Eight present. Three letters discussed.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
5 Nov. 1904
T. Chase present; at his house. Chase is asked by the chair of a New Thought group
to attend and offer a toast.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
12 Nov. 1904

T. Chase absent. The history of the Faith is discussed. They think it should be
compiled. Letters will be sent to all Assemblies about the upcoming Master's Day.

House of Spir. to Mirza Abu'l-Fadl
copy 83 29 Oct. 1904

A copy of the letter also exists in the T. Chase papers; I copied the copy there also.
Abu'l-Fadl is about to leave; it is a thank you note for his efforts to teach the Faith
in the USA.

Mr. and Mrs. Francis William Breed to House of Spir.

Marriage announcement of Ali Kuli Khan and Florence May Breed, to take place on
28 Oct. 1904 in Boston, Mass.

Charles Currier (for House of Spir.) to Ali Kuli Khan
14 Nov. 1904

Congratulations on your marriage.
Khan's address is 22 Marlborough St., Boston.

Chicago House of Spir. to all communities
copy 83 18 Nov. 1904

Circular letter regarding the Master's Day. It has a good treatment of the station of
`Abdu'l-Baha.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
copy 83 19 Nov. 1904

T. Chase absent. A list of Assemblies, secretaries and addresses to which to send
Master's Day notice is included; sixteen places in all: Honolulu, Cleveland, San Fran.,
Los Ang., New York City, Baltimore, Jersey City, Wash. D.C., Philadelphia, Kenosha,
Racine, Milwaukee, Muskegon, Denver, Cincinnati, Johnstown.

House of Spir. to Benjamin Taylor
19 Nov. 1904

Taylor's address is given as the Fourth National Bank, C=nti.
It is cover letter with circular letters to distribute to all Cincinnati Baha'is about
preserving tablets by `Abdu'l-Baha in the Chicago Baha'i archives.
A copy of the letter went to Remey too.
The Chicago Baha'is have already received copies of the circular, and are already
mailing in their tablets.

Mrs. Waite to the House of Spir. and to Mrs. Nash
rec'd 26 Nov. 1904

The letter apparently is undated. The first letter is the the House of Spir. and is a
cover letter only.
The second letter [attached to the first] is to Mrs. Nash, expressing grief that
there is disharmony between the two of them, and expressing gratitude to Mrs. Nash
for introducing her to the Faith.

House of Spir. to Abu'l-Fadl
Feast of the Master; 26 Nov. 1904

Say hello to `Abdu'l-Baha for us, and to Asadu'llah and Yazdi.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
3 Dec. 1904

Various letters listed.
News from Mrs. Haney; there is a Bahai Unity League for Ladies in New York, also
a Gentlemen's meeting at Mr. Kinney's home. Maybe the ladies meet there too.
"Bahai Unity League for Ladies" is the exact title. I checked it 2 June 1986.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
29 Nov. 1904

T. Chase present; six total.
Mr. Remey has distributed 95 copies of the "First Commune" to celebrate the
"Master's Day." [It is the real "First Commune" too; its in the records.]
Various letters read [see notes following].

Bernard Jacobsen, Pres, Kenosha Assembly to House of Spir.
copy 83 1 Dec. 1904

We enjoyed the Master's Day.
Back in Sept. we held two meetings a week; one uptown, one at Mrs. Redeen's. Now
we have a second hall and meeting uptown each week. It can hold 75-80. "The Cause
is progressing most gloriously now and many Old Believers who had drifted away are
now attending the Meetings and New Converts are coming right along.
...on the Manifestation's Birthday we had 65 Believers and Visitors out a splendid
time and happy gathering it was. it so filled us with energy that on the Masters Day
our Hall was filled to its full capacity... there were about 90 People out." If things
keep going like this, we'll need a new hall.
Sunday meetings are well attended; many prominent people are coming, including
the head of the Christian Science church in Kenosha, last Sunday.
The Nakazeen are no longer giving trouble.
The Kenosha Baha'is are now as large as some local churches.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
3 Dec. 1904

T. Chase present.

House of Spir. to `Abdu'l-Baha
4 p. Chicago. 4 Dec. 1904

Five Baha'is in the east are trying to become in perfect unity; and this includes
sexual unity! The House of Spir. begs `Abdu'l-Baha for a tablet to clarify the matter.
The letter may be by T. Chase.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
10 Dec. 1904

T. Chase present. Discussion of Mrs. Waite's concert.

House of Spir. to Baku
Dec. 1904

No news.

Bernard Jacobsen to the House of Spir.
copy 83 Kenosha, 13 Dec. 1904

Dr. Kheiralla and Shua`u'llah came to Kenosha two Sundays ago. They were
interviewed in the newspapers; what should we do? Should we answer them?
Jacobsen will meet them, if necessary, to protect the Faith. He fears trouble.
At present, Kheiralla and Shua`u'llah are in St. Louis.
The Kenosha Baha'is will order a copy of the Iqan. They are ordering Unitarian
Song Books.
Mrs. Lesch is sending tablets all the time to them; thank you, and keep it up!

G. Lesch to Bernard Jacobsen
16 Dec. 1904

G. Lesch wrote back immediately, before the House of Spir. met. He said, just
ignore Kheiralla and Shua`u'llah.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
17 Dec. 1904

T. Chase present. Kenosha has troubles with the Nakazeen. Mrs. Waite's concert is
planned.

Chicago Assembly to the Kenosha Assembly
24 Dec. 1904

A description of the Chicago celebration of the Feast of the Master.
The station of the Master.

[Note: there is a series of thank you letters to non-Baha'is for performing at the
Bahai Temple Fund concert. I didn't take notes on them.]

Clarence H. Smith to the House of Spir.
Honolulu, 8 Dec. 1904

Thank you for the announcement about the Feast of the Master. Recently, the
number of Baha'is here grew from three to five.

House of Spir. to Clarence Smith
Chicago, [Dec.] 1904

Thank you for your letter. A beautiful, encouraging reply.

Minutes of the House of Spir.
Sat. 31 Dec. 1904

T. Chase present. The House of Spir. decides they won't talk about finances at the
Sunday meetings unless it is absolutely necessary.

Jump to:
Introduction
Notes, 1901-1902
Notes, 1903-1904
Notes, 1905
Notes, 1906
Notes, 1907
Notes, 1908
Notes, 1909-1912

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