Lady Sara Louisa Blomfield (1859 – 1939) - “Sitárih [star] Khánum”, named by 'Abdu'l-Bahá; “dearly beloved”; “outstanding co-worker”; author of “Chosen Highway”; compiler of "Paris Talks"

“Profoundly grieve passing dearly beloved outstanding co-worker Sitarih Khánum. Memory her glorious, services imperishable. Advise English community hold befitting memorial gathering. Assure relatives, my heartfelt sympathy and loving fervent prayer.” (Cable from the Guardian, 1939; The Baha'i World 1938-1939)

In her inspiring, richly informative book about certain phases of Baha'i history, ‘The Chosen Highway’, Sara Louisa, Lady Blomfield, named Sitarih Khanum by 'Abdu'l-Baha, has given an account of the first time that she and her daughter Mary, called Parvine by Him, heard the Baha'i Faith mentioned. At a reception given by Madame Lucien Monod at her house in Paris in 1907, an attractive young guest, Miss Bertha Herbert, after seating herself between them, said to the Blomfields, "We have been taught to believe that a great Messenger would again be sent to the world: He would set forth to gather together all the peoples of good will in every race, nation, and religion on the earth. Now is the appointed time! He has come! He has come!"[1]

Lady Blomfield wrote, "These amazing words struck a chord to which my inner consciousness instantly responded, and I felt convinced that the portentous announcement they conveyed was indeed the truth. Great awe and intense exaltation possessed me with an overpowering force as I listened." [2]

Assured by Lady Blomfield that she and Mary were deeply interested in her remarks, Miss Herbert soon made an appointment for them to meet a gifted miniature painter, Miss Ethel Rosenberg, the second woman in the British Isles to enter the Faith, and a distinguished scholar, Hippolyte Dreyfus, the first French believer. These two remarkable people gave the Blomfields much information about the Faith.

On their return to London, they became acquainted with Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper, the first Baha'i in the British Isles. She and Ethel Rosenberg held meetings with the Blomfields to make plans for spreading the message. After hearing about the Revelation of Baha’u’llah, Lady Blomfield's foremost aim became to serve His Cause.

Mary has described her mother: "At this time she had the beauty of a mature soul. The moulding of her face was lovely .... Her facial expressions, ever changing, reflected the spiritual harmony within .... She wore garments with long flowing lines which made her seem taller than her natural height ...."[3]

Early in August 1911, when 'Abdu'l-Baha was still in Egypt, but preparing to leave for Europe, she sent Him an invitation to stay at her house at 97 Cadogan Gardens in London. A few days later, she received the following telegram in reply: "'Abdu'l-Baha arriving in London 8th September. Can Lady Blomfield receive Him?" [4]

Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898-1954) – “distinguished Hand (of the) Cause, eloquent exponent its teachings, indefatigable supporter its institutions, valiant defender its precepts”

Cablegram from the Guardian:

Hearts grieved (at) lamentable, untimely passing (of) Dorothy Baker, distinguished Hand (of the) Cause, eloquent exponent its teachings, indefatigable supporter its institutions, valiant defender its precepts. (Her) long record (of) outstanding service (has) enriched (the) annals (of the) concluding years (of the) Heroic (and the) opening epoch (of the) Formative Age (of the) Baha', Dispensation. Fervently praying (for the) progress (of her) soul (in the) Abha Kingdom.

Assure relatives profound loving sympathy. (Her) noble spirit (is) reaping bountiful reward.

Advise hold memorial gathering (in the) Temple befitting her rank (and) imperishable services

Haifa, Israel,

January 13, 1954.

-Shoghi

Mystery of mysteries is the tragic British jet plane disaster near the island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea, which, on January 10, 1954, deprived the Baha'i, Cause of Dorothy Baker's spiritually intelligent services in this world. Distinguished in her life as a Hand of the Cause, an administrator, a remarkably gifted teacher, she was lifted out of her lofty position at the time when she was in the full tide of her capacities for service to our beloved Faith. Mere words cannot express the quality of grief which afflicted Baha’is on every continent. But a life of genuine Baha'i service so pure and beautiful had its effect on many lives, and, even in this sudden passing to her Heavenly Home, she proclaimed the Baha'i Faith. The news of the disaster went round the world, and undoubtedly millions of people heard the word "Baha'i" for the first time.

Dorothy Beecher Baker was born in Newark, New Jersey, December 21, 1898. Her father was related to Henry Ward Beecher, a liberal clergyman famous for his eloquence on the subjects of the abolition of slavery and prohibition, and to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Harriet Beecher-Stowe

Dorothy was graduated from the Montclair Normal College and thereafter taught in the public schools of Newark for two years. She was then offered a contract to teach in the Ethical Culture School in New York but declined the offer and, in the summer of 1921, she was married to Frank Baker. They had two children, Louise Baker Matthias and William, both of them comprehending and loyal Baha'is. Frank Baker deserves much gratitude, for he stood by Dorothy's side always, and, in his own magnificent services and his support of Dorothy's teaching activities, there was the element of true sacrifice.

Dorothy Baker with family 1923

In the early pioneering days of the Baha'i Cause in New York City (1900-1905), I was closely associated with Dorothy's grandmother, known to the Baha'is as Mother Beecher. We worked together, arranging the programs and meetings at Genealogical Hall and in many other activities. Mother Beecher was an elderly person even then. She lived near us, and I used to see her practically every day in connection with our Baha'i duties. I loved to hear her dwell on her religious experiences. Her stories were without end.

After Dorothy had grown to a little girl, Mother Beecher was full of anxiety, at times, about her. Dorothy's parents were not Baha'is then, although now they are both active in the Faith, and Mother Beecher would say to me: "I will train Dorothy; I will train her. She shall be my spiritual child. I would not be loyal to Baha'u'llah if my granddaughter did not receive the true Baha'i Teachings." She said this so many times that it has remained indelibly impressed upon me.

Haji Muhammad Tahir Malmiri (1852-1953) - Father of Adib & Habib Taherzadeh; first pilgrimage in 1878 for nine months; second pilgrimage in 1914 for four months; author of the book: ‘History of the Martyrs of Yazd’; very active teacher of the Cause; noble life of service; had memorized almost half of the Qur'an; extremely well-versed in the Bible and the books of other religions; received Tablets from Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and letters from the Guardian

Haji Muhammad Tahir Malmiri lived, labored, and passed away in the ancient town of Yazd, Iran, a town notorious for its religious fanaticism and its large number of mullas. He was born there about the year 1852 which witnessed the inception of the mission of Baha'u'llah, and lived there long enough to see the centenary celebration of that Holy Year.

Known to almost every citizen, no other Baha'i in Yazd was so dearly loved and admired by the friends, and so bitterly denounced and insulted by the foes. Fortified by his staunch faith, animated by his intense desire to serve the Cause, sustained by the guiding Hand of Baha'u'llah, undaunted in the face of dire sufferings, his life and conduct served to perpetuate the spirit of the apostolic age to which he belonged.

His life was wholly dedicated to the Cause. The idea uppermost in his mind allways was that of teaching. No power, no preoccupation, no conventional matter of daily life could ever deflect him from this high purpose. His teaching exploits were so intensive that today, a large section of the Baha'i community of Yazd owes to his lifelong effort its allegiance to the Cause.

Haji Muhammad Tahir was a brilliant debater and speaker. It is difficult to convey the pleasure one derived from his inspiring conversation which ranged from humorous trifles to weighty pronouncements. His knowledge of the history and literature of the great world religions was prodigious. He could recite almost half the Qur'an by heart, as well as hundreds of recorded Muslim traditions. Also he was extremely well-versed in the Bible and the books of other religions.

The source from which he drew his energy seemed to be inexhaustible. He could speak for hours about religious matters without either feeling tired himself or boring his listeners. Rather they were fascinated by the gaiety of his conversation and by the ripple of his ready and eloquent tongue. Even the enemies of the Cause were silenced and subdued by his charm and dignity.

On several occasions fanatical persons, intent on carrying out sinister plots against his life, came to his fireside meetings in the guise of seekers of truth, carrying weapons in their pockets. After coming in contact with his dominating personality, however, they changed their minds altogether, and strangely enough, a couple of them eventually became ardent believers.