Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Eberhard K. Friedland
EBERHARD K. FRIEDLAND
Knight of Bahá’u’lláh
1902—1991
O Son of Being! Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I may remember thee, thus shall Mine eyes and thine be solaced.
Many Bahá’ís and non—Bahá’ís will remember Eberhard Friedland as a man with a smile for everyone and whose passionate aim was to share his knowledge with others. He was a man who continuously encouraged children and youth by saying “enlarge your horizon”. He took this advice to heart himself, as the many books he left behind as an inheritance to his friends and admirers testify.
Eberhard was born in Germany on 23 June 1902. With the outbreak of the first World War he immigrated to the United States where he became a citizen after some years. There he learned about the Bahá’í Faith and for the rest of his life he chose to be guided by its principles.
During an animated conference in the United States, he was inspired to help establish his beloved Faith in French Guiana, an act which earned him the title of Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. After some time of service in French Guiana, he went to Suriname in
1 The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic No. 43.
Eberhard Friedland
1954, where he spent the remaining years of his life.
In the beginning he rented a room in the capital city, Paramaribo, and held firesides regularly. Bahá’ís of those early times still remember the warmth, cordiality and serenity of those evenings, which sometimes caused participants to remark that they did not feel like going home. The spiritual atmosphere which prevailed during those meetings worked like a strong magnet.
Assisted by Eberhard Friedland’s devoted and tireless efforts, the first local Bahá’í institution was established in 1966. Afterwards the Faith grew rapidly, and within a few years became a community with a few thousand believers and sympathizers. As a result the first Spiritual Assembly of Suriname and French Guiana was established in 1977.
Eberhard was not only active directly on behalf of the Faith. Many non—Bahá’ís will gratefully remember the hours during which he tried to teach them the English language. He assisted many medical doctors, booksellers, teachers, and students in keeping abreast
of the latest editions and developments in their respective fields of study.
Eberhard was blessed with a long life, and frequently remarked that he “was living on credit”. Finally, at the age of 89, his soul winged its flight to the Abhá Kingdom.
O my God, Thy Trust hath been returned
unto Thee. It behooveth Thy grace and Thy bounty that have compassed Thy dominions on earth and in heaven, to vouchsafe unto Thy newly welcomed one Thy gifts and Thy bestowals, and the fruits of the tree of Thy grace! Powerful art Thou to do as Thou willest...
Eberhard, we will always think of you With warmth in our hearts.