-Shoghi
December 24, 1951
In the history of the Baha'i Faith during the first half of
the twentieth century, Roy C. Wilhelm occupied an important place. The firmness
of his faith, the purity of his devotion, his self-sacrifice and his untiring
activity enabled him to make a unique contribution to the establishment of the
Faith in North America and indirectly, through his generous aid to Miss Martha
Root, and his distribution of Baha'i literature in many languages, to its
spread in other continents. Essentially humble, he carried heavy administrative
responsibilities with a winning charm which endeared him to a host of friends.
Roy Wilhelm was first and foremost a man of integrity who
applied the high Baha'i standards of conduct to himself before he applied them
to others. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 17, 1875, Roy Wilhelm and his
parents moved to West Englewood, New Jersey, and opened their import firm in
New York City, which he actively conducted until the last few years of his
life. It was on this property in West Englewood that 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1912,
during His North American visit, held a unity feast for the Baha'is of the New
York metropolitan area at which He announced that on that date the Faith of
Baha'u'llah was truly established in America. The site of that gathering will,
in the future, mark the only public Memorial which the American Baha'is are
permitted to construct in reverent observance of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit from
April to December, 1912.
From a Baha'i who was also associated with a group which met
in the Dodge home, New York City, for many years after 1900, has come this
description: "The meetings were intensely interesting and full of fervor.
It was a happy group, and there was an apparent spiritual intelligence, one
might say, even if our knowledge of the Teachings was limited. A baptism of the
Holy Spirit must have been the pure bounty of the Lord to this group. Without
exception everyone had a great and sincere desire to serve the Cause in the way
he or she seemed to be guided. Roy (Wilhelm) attended these meetings regularly
. . ."
At that time the available Baha'i literature was slight, and
copies of prayers and tablets were typewritten and distributed from friend to
friend. One of the earliest efforts to make the sacred texts more widely
available was voluntarily initiated and sustained by Mr. Wilhelm. His
compilations, successively translated into a number of languages, were widely
used at fireside (home) and public meetings conducted more and more frequently
as Baha'i centers increased in number in North America. To this one devoted
worker may be attributed the great service of printing and making readily
available hundreds of thousands of Baha'i pamphlets in the course of his
lifetime. In addition, his business advertisements in trade journals became
notable for the use of a brief Baha'i text in each.
Much could be written about his visits to Baha'i centers on
his business trips throughout the country, carrying the great Message to
countless inquirers and strengthening the ardor of the active Baha'i workers
themselves.
"The Baha'is everywhere looked forward to his coming,
and prepared meetings for him ... " one of his contemporaries has written.
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| Roy with his mother |
The following year Roy Wilhelm prepared and distributed a
booklet recounting his pilgrimage, which he entitled "Knock, and it shall
be opened unto you. (Matt. 7: 7)." On the front cover was reproduced a
photograph of the door leading to 'Abdu'lBaha's room. Quoting from the text:
"That which most impresses the pilgrim to the 'Most Great Prison' at
'Akka, is the spirit of sacrifice. Nowhere have I witnessed such love, such
perfect harmony. The desire of those in that prison was to serve one another.
In our Western liberty it is difficult to realize the bitter antagonism and
hatred which exists in the East between the followers of the several great
religious systems. For example, a Jew and a Muhammadan would refuse to sit at
meat together: a Hindu to draw water from the well of either. Yet, in the house
of 'Abdu'l-Baha we found Christians, Jews, Muhammadans, Zoroastrians, Hindus,
blending together as children of the one God, living in perfect love and
harmony ...
"At the house of 'Abdu'l-Baha, in 'Akka, we met many of
these peoples, but they had lost all trace of the discord and hatred which has
been inbred and cultivated for centuries, and now they are as members of one
Household. They sacrifice their lives for one another. To what shall we
attribute this miracle of unity? ... We had heard much of the love and kindness
shown by the Oriental brothers to the pilgrims from the West - after our visit
... we understood ... In the meeting of the West with the East is fulfilled the
prophecies of the Books . . . During our last meal 'Abdu'l-Baha broke a
quantity of bread into His bowl; then asking for the plates of the pilgrims He
gave to each of us a portion. When the meal was finished, He said: 'I have
given you to eat from My bowl - now distribute My Bread among the
people.'"
The Baha'i message of the oneness of mankind and the
essential unity of Revelation brought its own severe tests to the followers in
all countries, that the sincere might be separated from the insincere. The
storm of bitter controversy raged around the calm and radiant Presence of
'Abdu'l-Baha, Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant to humanity. Victim of official
persecution and confined to prison quarters until 1908, 'Abdu'l-Baha was also
assailed by the unfaithful within His own family, and these enemies attempted
to create the basis for general disloyalty within the Baha'i communities of
East and West. With other stalwart souls of his generation Roy Wilhelm stood
above a frequently bewildering and subtle controversy and radiated the spirit
of firmness in that Covenant.
He was very dear to 'Abdu'l-Baha and received many evidences
of his Master's trust and esteem. For a long period the cablegrams and letters
(tablets) sent by 'Abdu'l-Baha to Baha'i groups and individuals in North
America were addressed in Roy Wilhelm's care and forwarded by him to their
destinations. In 1909 the American Baha'is, under the initiative of the Chicago
group, elected a national Baha'i body to represent all the Baha'is of North
America in their united effort to purchase land and plan the construction of
the House of Worship recently completed in Wilmette, Illinois.
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| NSA of USA & Canada 1933 |
After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, the Guardian who
was appointed in His Will and Testament summoned two American Baha'is for
conference in Haifa – Roy Wilhelm and Mountfort Mills.
The Guardian's cablegram lamenting the passing of Roy
Wilhelm from this world on December 20, 1951, is cited at the beginning of this
article. In conclusion it is appropriate to quote from letters addressed to him
by 'Abdu'l-Baha. They illumine the essential worth of this man, and his service
as a steadfast pillar of a new and world-wide Faith.
"Verily thou art serving in every respect; thou art
striving more than thine energy permits, and thou art rendering self-sacrifice.
I am pleased with thee to the utmost."
"Verily thou art Baha'i, thou art godly and heavenly.
Thou art self-sacrificing in service to the Kingdom. Even a minute thou dost
not neglect. Thy heart is overflowing with the love of God. Be thou assured
that thou wilt receive great Confirmations!"
"The sight of your portrait brought joy to My heart,
because it is luminous and celestial, and looking at the photograph of your
house, I saw the charm of the spot, the beauty of its environment, and the
perfection of its building.
"I am extremely pleased with you because you are a true
Baha'i. Your house is My house; there is no difference whatsoever between yours
and Mine."
- Horace Holley
(The Baha’i World 1950-1954)
