Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Charles Macdonald
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CHARLES ROBERTSON MACDONALD
1916—1991
At the British National Convention in May 1991, Charles Macdonald and his devoted wife Yvonne were invited to the platform by the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly and were each presented with nine red roses. Charles had asked to be relieved of his membership in the outgoing National Assembly because of severe ill-health. Neither the Convention nor his Wife knew that he was terminally ill (Charles himself knew), and so the nature of the friends’ farewell tribute was far more poignant than they realised. Charles spoke from the platform and, impassioned as ever with his love for Bahá’u’lláh, exhorted the friends to teach with unflagging vigour. In his own last months he seized every opportunity to speak of Baha’u’llah, and in a last letter he wrote:
Separation Will be painful but inevitable and a necessary part of the great cycle of existence for each one of us in the approach to the brilliant new Vistas which lie ahead. Ya Bahá’u’l—Abhá.
The Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend, in his essay “The Genius of Ireland”, described the “power of Vision (as) an Irish gift. It marked the Irish long ago and it marks them now.” Charles was sustained by an unshakeable and certain Vision, a vision expressed by the Romantic poet Tennyson for whose writings Charles had a particular respect: “One God, one Law, one element/ And one far—off divine event/To which the whole creation moves. . . ”
Charles was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on 31 December 1916. His father, Charles Robertson Macdonald, had only recently come from Ireland to South Africa to work as a journalist, but tragically died of tuberculosis before his son’s birth. His mother, Maude (ne'e Beattie), returned With her infant son to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she later married Samuel Beckett and bore five more children.
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Char1es received one of the very few City of Belfast Scholarships to the prestigious Royal Belfast Academical Institution. On leaving school he entered the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The threat of war made Charles decide to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and he was directly called up to the Royal Air F oroe in September 1939. Charles qualified for his wings in July 1940, the same month he married Yvonne, and went on to serve in Bomber Command with exemplary courage, leadership and skill. He achieved the rank of Squadron Leader and at the end of the war was awarded the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) and D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross) by King George VI.
He was hailed in one contemporaiy magazine as one of the most outstanding bomber aces of the war: “To every generation belong men whose deeds merit the highest praise their comrades can bestow on them.” Charles’ photograph appeared beside that of the legendary Leonard Chesire V.C. (Victoria Cross), D.S.O. and Bar, D.F.C. Such heroism was the stuff of others’ awe and respect and one of his crew once confided to Yvonne that “They would follow Mac to hell and back.” After his passing many letters and tributes magnified this quality to inspire devotion. Charles never ceased to be someone who made others feel secure, worthwhile and significant.
After the War, Charles was seconded to the fledgling British Overseas Airways Corporation (later British Airways) as an airline captain to assist in opening up new world airline routes. However, he decided to abandon this career for a more settled existence with his family, and he once again entered the Northern Ireland Civil Service. His clear intelligence and administrative abihties were rewarded with swift promotion.
It was Yvonne’s parents, William and Dora Kirkwood, who introduced Charles to the Bahá’í Faith in 1956. They had been constant seekers throughout their lives and Charles’ reaction to their latest discovery
THE Bahá’í WORLD
was to say, “What on earth have you found now?” The Kirkwoods introduced him to the dedicated English pioneer to Belfast—Lady Kathleen Homell.
After several months, both Charles and Yvonne accepted the Cause of God with a love and commitment that was to absorb and dominate the rest of their lives. Within months of declaring, they sold their comfortable and attractive suburban home to pioneer to Belfast to secure its Local Assembly. It was the first of many sacrifices they were to make for Baha’u’llah. Charles accepted much bemused derision from friends and colleagues, but his faith was absolute and he had always been his own man, never cowed or impressed by orthodoxy or convention.
He threw himself into teaching and serving the Faith with characteristic courage and vigour, reading the Writings extensively and opening his home for regular teaching and discussions. He soon brought his talents to a variety of Bahá’í committees including the Regional Teaching Committee and the British Bahá’í' Journal committee.
In the early days of his newfound Faith, he received a short letter from the Guardian concerning the teaching work in Northern Ireland. It was a deeply treasured letter, and when Shoghi Effendi passed away in November 1957, Charles was overcome with grief for one whom he had never met. He acted as one of the stewards at the Guardian’s funeral.
In July 1961, Charles was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles in a by-election to replace Mr. Ian Semple, who had been appointed to the International Bahá’í Council. His subsequent service to the National Assembly was distinguished and remarkab1e. He was elected the Assembly’s treasurer for several years before becoming its secretary in April 1970. He relinquished his senior Civil Service post and career, and he and Yvonne sold their home in Ireland to go and live in the top flat of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at 27 Rutland Gatean experience akin to moving into Piccadilly
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tube station! He served the British friends with great skill and love as an administrator, counsellor and teacher. He was an inspired communicator.
In 1974, Charles and Yvonne offered themselves as pioneers to the Universal House of Justice, which suggested they go to India. Charles was appbinted as Manager of the Indian Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Secretary of the National Teaching Committee for India. He and Yvonne travelled extensively to both teach and consolidate, enduring the inevitable privations and difficulties with great spirit. For the latter part of their stay in India, Charles was appointed an Auxiliary Board member, and he finally worked briefly with Fariburz Sahba, the architect of the Indian Temple, on the temple site in New Delhi. Charles contributed an article to the special section of Bahá’í News India in December 1985 entitled “The J ewel in the Lotus.”
Upon his return to Eng1and in 1981, after six to seven years in India, he was once again elected to the National Assembly of the United Kingdom. Again he served as its treasurer and then again as its secretary between 1985 and 1987. He and Yvonne also undertook a short pioneer move to Cyprus in 1990.
For most of his life Charles had been dogged by recurring illness and pain, a fact easi1y missed by those who seemed to always see a man who said he was “Fine!”.It was cancer that finally forced him to ask to be relieved of his Assembly duties in 1991, and he passed away on 12 September of that year.
In its response to Charles’ passing the Universal House of Justice referred to his life as “noble”. It was an apt word. He‘rwas both physically and spiritually noble, his character springing from the most unpretentious of natures and selfless service to others. He had great personal charm, Ciystal integrity, an outstanding sense of humour, and compassionate warmth. He had a wonderful smile and a bear—hug of an embrace.
Charles Macdonald
He was a man of absolute love: for Baha’u’llah, his wife, his family and his friends. After his passing the myriad letters Yvonne received testified to countless acts of kindness and of love; Charles was diplomatic, supportive and caring. Shakespeare provides the most appropriate quotation:
His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to ah the world ‘This was a man! ’
Soon after Charles’ passing the Universal House of Justice sent the following message:
Deeply grieved passing dearly loved stalwait servant of Baha’u’llah Charles Macdonald. His long record distinguished services teaching, administration fields over three decades notably enriched annals faith British Isles, India. His loving nature, sterling qualities, radiant spirit animated by his intense love for the Blessed Beauty endeared him to his fellow believers. Confident members United Kingdom community will be inspired by his noble life.
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Praying Holy Shrines progress his radiant soul Abhá Kingdom. Convey loving sympathy his dear wife and family. Assure prayers for their consolation.
IAIN MACDONALD