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J ULIUS HENSELER
1901—1982
Julius Henseler left this material world on 30 April 1982 after a short illness. The German Bahá’í community has lost a steadfast believer who was an example until his last breath. Doctors, nurses and attendants who treated him during his last illness considered him their favourite patient. He bore his suffering with patience and always had a smile as an expression of thanks for everyone who cared for him.
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IN MEMORIAM
Julius Henseler
Julius Henseler heard about the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in 1921 through a friend who told him that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had passed away. Julius was then twenty years old and was known as a seeker among his friends. He attended many Bahá’í functions in Esslingen and Stuttgart and embraced the Cause, developing an unbounded love for Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.
With a saddened heart, but obedient to the Bahá’í institutions, he suspended his teaching activities during the period of proscription under Hitler. These were years of crucial importance when he was confined to living the Bahá’í life within his family circle consisting of his wife and two children. Cut off from the World Centre and without the guidance of the National Spiritual Assembly, he and his wife Anna remained loyal servants of the Covenant of God. After the war, when the Bahá’í institutions had to be rebuilt, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to this task. From 1949 to 1954 he was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria, and served as its treasurer from time to time. He extended a special love to Bahá’í youth. Himself the father of two youth, he enkindled in them a love of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and fostered their spiritual growth.
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At age seventy, in response to the call of the Universal House of Justice, he arose to pioneer for one year in Innsbruck, Austria, where he was reunited with Dr Ahmedzadeh and Mrs. von Werthern with whom he had served on the National Spiritual Assembly many years before. This was a highlight of his life for he was once more in a position to devote all his energies to the Faith which he loved above all else.
‘I am leaving this world in peace. I am at peace with everyone and hold no grudge against anyone. I have already seen ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Master.’ These were some of the last words he spoke to his family.
On 3 May 1982 the Universal House of Justice cabled Anna Henseler:
EXTEND LOVING SYMPATHY YOURSELF AND FAMILY PASSING YOUR DEAR HUSBAND. HIS SERVICES CAUSE GOD GERMANY UNFORGETTABLE. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM.
In a cablegram sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany on the same date the House of Justice expressed its sorrow at the passing of this DEARLY-‘LOVED STALWART SERVANT of the Faith. The German Bahá’í community will always remember him.
