--Issue No. 4 April 1925:
The Community Church at Fruitport, Michigan, was the scene of an impressive Baha’i service held on January 12th for one of the beloved members of the Fruitport Assembly, Mrs. Emmaline King, who passed away on January tenth requesting with her last breath that at her funeral the words of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha be read, and that the Baha’i teaching concerning the immortality of the soul be explained to those attending the funeral. This service was conducted by Mr. Albert Windust of the Chicago Assembly, who states that it was a most remarkable experience. Those present were deeply moved by the spirit of conscious faith which they felt in the reading of the Baha’i words.
The Community Church at Fruitport, Michigan, was the scene of an impressive Baha’i service held on January 12th for one of the beloved members of the Fruitport Assembly, Mrs. Emmaline King, who passed away on January tenth requesting with her last breath that at her funeral the words of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha be read, and that the Baha’i teaching concerning the immortality of the soul be explained to those attending the funeral. This service was conducted by Mr. Albert Windust of the Chicago Assembly, who states that it was a most remarkable experience. Those present were deeply moved by the spirit of conscious faith which they felt in the reading of the Baha’i words.
On the morning of January 27th our beloved brother Thomas
Copeland, of Duluth, ascended to the life of reality after nearly three years
of suffering. He was attracted to the Cause in 1918 and was among the first to
open his home for the Assembly meetings in Duluth.
Mr. Copeland was a man of loving character, with a heart
that drew to him many warm friends. He was a humble and faithful servant in the
Cause of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and served to the limit of his powers in the Path of
Unity.
The Seattle Assembly has had the sad duty of announcing the
passing of their dear Baha’i brother, Mr. J.H. Hougen, as the result of a very
painful accident in which he said to those attempting to extinguish the flames
by which he was killed, “Never mind me, go see about the others!” A Baha’i
service was held by the Seattle Assembly, on Tuesday, February 17th. Mr.
Hougen’s life exemplified Abdu’l Baha’s definition of spirituality: -- “Love in
action.”
O my God! O my God! Verily, this is a servant of Thine, who
did believe on Thee and in Thy signs; verily; he hearkened to Thy summons,
turned to Thy Kingdom, humbled himself at Thy Holy Threshold, was possessed of
a contrite heart, arose to serve Thy Cause, to spread Thy Fragrances, to
promote Thy Word, and to expound Thy Wisdom.
O Lord! O Lord! Submerge him in the ocean of Thy Glory. O
Lord! O Lord! Usher him into Thy delectable Garden. O Lord! O Lord! Usher him
into Thy Lofty Paradise and cause him to be present in Thy Meeting of
Transfiguration. O Lord! Submerge him in the ocean of Thy Lights.
Verily, Thou art the Clement! Verily, Thou art the Merciful,
the Precious, the Omnipotent!
– ‘Abdu’l- Baha