Bahá’í World/Volume 8/Pioneer Introduction of the Bahá’í Faith to the Netherlands
14.
PIONEER INTRODUCTION OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH TO THE NETHERLANDS
BY LOUISE DRAKE WRIGHT
IN THE late winter of 1932 an inspiring letter from Shoghi Effendi, the revered and beloved guardian of the Bahá’í Cause, reached me in Brookline, Massachusetts, saying, “I trust that your health is sufficiently restored to enable you to resume with enthusiasm and vigor your services to the Cause in Europe. Central and Southeastern Europe are the fields to which I would like you to direct your attention.”
On April 13th, after saying goodbye to my beloved sister, Mrs. George Lewis Nelson, and all my friends, I sailed on the S.S. Bremen for France, and proceeded immediately to Geneva where I found pleasant hospitality and met persons of interest at Maison Internationale. Attending some sessions of the League of Nations, frequenting the Bahá’í Bureau where activities were directed by dear Mrs. Emogene Hoagg, and telling the Bahá’í Message, occupied the time while awaiting further instructions from Shoghi Effendi. A letter soon arrived informing me of a new arrangement regarding his plans for the spread of the Faith. He had been able to provide a sufficient number of teachers to take care of the work in Central and Southeastern Europe, and therefore I was instructed to "Concentrate on North Germany and Holland. . . . Holland is a totally new country to the Cause, so it will be true pioneer service,” he wrote.
This change of plan was very welcome as it would allow me to meet again some of the dear friends in Germany, made during a previous teaching journey through that country in 1930.
As to Holland, the land of peace, glorious paintings, windmills, and tulips, I had no affiliations whatever. However, knowing that Bahá’u’lláh would "pave the way” for those in His service, high hopes arose that assistance would be at hand, and soon doors began to open.
A most interesting English woman had a room near mine at Maison Internationale, Miss Mary Eaton, well known in European countries through her compassionate prison reform achievements. She had heard much of the Bahá’í Cause through Lady Blomfield, whose devotion to the Faith and to the establishment of the “New World Order” on earth, is well known in England.
Miss Eaton, upon hearing of the change in my immediate future plans, took a lively interest in introducing me, by letter, to a clever young friend, Miss Hildtsant Kastner of Leipsig, the city selected as my first destination after leaving Geneva. This young lady spent part of each year in Holland and therefore could inform me of all things, religious, social, or financial important to know, in order to avoid awkward situations. This friendly aid along an unknown path was heartening, and dispelled all care as I started on my northern journey—speaking of the Cause to groups of persons at Leipsig, Berlin, Rostock, and Hamburg—then on to Amsterdam, arriving July 27th.
As was my custom in foreign lands, I first sought the American Consul to make known my purpose in coming to Holland, toward which he showed a kindly interest. Through his advice, it became possible to become a member of the only woman’s club in Holland, the beautiful, centrally-placed Nederlandsche Vrouwenclub on Keizersgracht, which was bordered on either side with immense trees, broadly branched, that added charm and grace to the reflections in the canal of the stately old houses.
Because the Vrouwenclub was closely
associated with the Lyceum Club of London,
to which I had belonged when living in
[Page 878]
England for several years,
I was admitted to
the club with no further questioning.
It soon became evident that staying in this well known place was helpful to my work in every respect as well as less expensive than living in hotels.
Being a stranger with no letters of introduction to anyone in that country, and having come to present a totally unknown, all-inclusive religious movement, made progress very slow.
However, before long I became acquainted with some kind and delightful young Quakers who, having heard that a world peace movement was being introduced for the first time to Holland, came to the club several times and brought some of their acquaintances to investigate the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and were much impressed with His ideas of bringing to pass the unity of mankind and the establishment of world peace and federation of nations.
Eventually an invitation came to attend a meeting, held in the drawing room of one of these ladies, and I was cordially invited to give to them the message I had come to Holland to deliver.
After I had finished speaking, all showed intelligent interest through the questions that were asked, and some of them wished to know where Bahá’í books could be found and I directed them to Miss Lena de Beer’s delightful and choice little book shop on Lange Voorhout, The Hague.
Several persons whom I met remonstrated with me, in a kindly manner, for bringing such a thought-inspiring movement to Holland at that time of year, “when all people of capacity seek the country, the sea, the sand dunes, the forest, to rest completely from all serious considerations of life.” They urged me to return to Holland when those who were internationally minded would have come back to their winter activities.
* * *
In the spring of 1933, before I left America for a second attempt to promote knowledge of the Bahá’í Revelation in the Netherlands, a letter from Shoghi Effendi arrived containing this encouraging and welcome message: The New Era is being translated into Dutch and ere long will be printed. It will serve as a splendid ally to you in your pioneering endeavors in that land.”
Shortly after this I was favored by receiving two letters of introduction to Holland which opened doors of opportunity in many directions. One from the “National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada” which stated, “We learn that at the request of Shoghi Effendi you are going to Holland to render service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. As the country of Holland had important political ties with the United States in the days of New Amsterdam, so we hope that spiritual bonds will join these two free, independent, and democratic countries for common service to international peace and world order.” Mr. Horace Holley, the secretary, wrote and sent me several names of internationally minded persons and societies that might be of service, particularly at The Hague.
There also came a letter of introduction to all librarians of the Netherlands from a much valued family friend of many years standing, Dr. Herbert Putnam, the head of the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., who wrote that although he was not personally affiliated with the Cause I was undertaking to proclaim, he had great respect for it.
Fortified by all this thoughtful assistance, I sailed away on the S.S. Ile de France, caught the "North Star Express” train for Amsterdam, and was once more happily established at the Nederlandsche Vrouwenclub on March 27th.
After inquiry as to the manner of presenting a letter of introduction in Holland, the first venture was made in this direction by telephoning to the head of the Universiteit Bibliothecaris, Prof. Dr. J. S. Theissen. Upon hearing that I wished to present a book to his library concerning a world peace movement little known among his people, also that I possessed a letter from Dr. Herbert Putnam, head of the Library of Congress of Washington, introducing me to the librarians of Holland, he responded enthusiastically and in perfect English, “I know all about Dr. Putnam’s notable library achievements. Will you not come to see me? Can you come now? I am at leisure.”
Taking the English edition of the book,
[Page 879]
then being published
in the Dutch language
by Nijgh & Von Ditmar, which I hoped to
place in his library, and calling a taxicab,
I was soon in the presence of an elderly man
of noble aspect, cultivated and courteous
manner, to whom I offered my two letters
of introduction.
He sat opposite me at a large desk and listened with rapt attention to an outline of the history of the sacrificial lives of the three great Founders of the Cause, of its principles and universal aims, of its world-wide expansion through the wealth of Bahá’í literature, through the effect of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s extensive missionary journeys in Europe, England, and throughout the United States, from Boston to San Francisco, and through its present day consolidation under the direction of Shoghi Effendi, who is the interpreter of Bahá’u’lláh’s Word and is adjusting His laws of world unity to the needs of humanity through Bahá’í institutions that are functioning all around the world.
From time to time, Dr. Theissen expressed his approval and interest in what was being said through exclamations such as “How extraordinary! How timely these principles!” After which he telephoned to Miss A. C. Gebhard, the director of the large public library on Keizersgracht, saying he had just been listening to a world peace message in which he felt she would be interested, and arranged for me to meet her at her library.
As I arose to depart, Dr. Theissen said, very quietly and earnestly, “That a movement so important, of which I have never even heard, could have arisen, spread its influence throughout the world, flourished since the year 1844 and become established to an acknowledged degree that warrants a letterhead such as that upon this letter of introduction, amazes me! (It was the letter from the National Spiritual Assembly.) Thank you for bringing me so beautiful a message this morning. What may I do to assist in making it known to Holland?”
Pausing a moment to consider this generous and unexpected offer, it occurred to me to ask if it would be possible for him to give me a list of the names of the persons to whom so universal a movement would appeal.
This request was fully complied with in a few days, and upon the list were found names of the directors and members of peace societies, heads of international bureaus, lecturers and writers, some of the librarians, Theosophists, Esperantists, and private persons devoting their time and energies to the bettering of human conditions and furthering peace relations. In a good many cases the attitude of mind to be encountered was given—religious, scientific, philosophical or atheistical. As the Bahá’í Revelation speaks to all phases of life, this knowledge made an easier approach to strangers.
When I went to see Miss Gebhard at her library I found a woman of great sincerity and unusual capacity of heart and mind. After hearing to some degree the principles and aims of the Cause, she asked if I would come with her a short distance to include a friend in all that she was hearing, Miss Clara Nayers, head of the women’s department of the Rotterdam Bank, “one of Holland’s most brilliant women, very influential in all kinds of progressive movements and clubs, and devoted to the education and advancement of women.”
Miss Nayers was ready to receive us and there followed a highly animated conversation during which Miss Nayers made known that she specially desired to learn what solution for the economic problems Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings held.
I had taken with me Shoghi Effendi’s The Goal of the New World Order, and Mr. Horace Holley’s World Economy of Bahá’u’lláh were given to her, and later she received The New Era.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament,
proclaimed that after His own departure,
a succession of Guardians would
for a period of one thousand years direct
and administer the Bahá’í principles and
teachings of Bahá’u’lláh for the needs of an
evolving mankind. He named His grandson,
Shoghi Effendi, as the one who would first
occupy this station of high service to
humanity, to whom all the believers must turn
and whom they must obey as the inspired
interpreter of the Word, the focal point
through whose interpretation the House of
Justice will come into being, and the true
federation of nations be established on earth,
[Page 880]
erected upon the pillars
of divine love and justice.
This Will and Testament is a document known as the most unique of its kind in all history. None of the past Divine Prophets has safeguarded the pristine purity of His Revelation and its institutions by so definite an arrangement to protect its teachings from man-made interpretations which have in the past obscured the Word uttered by each Manifestation of God.
Our mighty Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, gives to the Bahá’í Faith the sign of its present vitality, the assurance of its steady advance; and through him shines the living flame of its celestial power, “As the embryonic World Order of Bahá’u’lláh takes shape and unfolds,” before our vision.
When traveling in various countries, where Shoghi Effendi had sent me to make known the Faith, I became aware that there were in the world some misguided persons, who were announcing the Bahá’í Cause, but for selfish purposes of their own, were denying the need of Guardianship. This great error has caused confusion in certain places, and I began to look about me to ascertain if any of this disloyalty had shown itself in Holland and prayed that I might find any who had been misled by so crippling an omission.
Presently I met separately and talked at length with six truth-seeking persons who, when taking their summer holiday in another country, had there heard Bahá’í lectures wherein all information put forth concerning it ended in the death of the three great Founders. This cessation of truth concerning its further progress left those who had heard the lectures with little inclination to investigate deeply the Bahá’í literature, as it seemed to hold no more assurance of fulfillment on earth than the prophetic dispensations of the past had displayed. The great ideals, principles and laws seemed to be left hanging in mid-air awaiting practical application from some master builder.
Upon learning that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, as His successor, the Guardian of the Faith and the interpreter of the sacred writings, and that he was living at Haifa, Palestine, erecting an administrative structure applicable to the entire world through which Bahá’u’lláh’s design for a New World Order could become a reality, these earnest men and women began to catch a glimmer of the future stupendous possibilities lying within Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.
During this second visit to Holland, through using my letters of introduction and through the kindness of those whom I had previously known, I met and talked of the Cause with many delightful and thoughtful persons who showed varying degrees of interest. Most of them were too much occupied with their own demanding undertakings to have time for further investigation, although a few who were looking for the appearance of a new star in the East, approached the Cause with great reverence and began to study the Teachings and inquire into their meaning.
The magnificent architecture of the Cause is too vast for anyone to grasp without deep and careful study of Bahá’u’lláh’s great writings and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s interpretations of His Word. Lacking this, men are unable to grasp the indispensable need of the Bahá’í plan for the establishment of a World Commonwealth, with laws that will solve the entire range of human problems in this latter day—religious, national, social, racial, economic.
* * *
When spending the winters of 1906-7 in Alassio, Italy, I often met the late Professor Lewis Campbell, professor of Greek in the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, for many years, who was an eminent pupil of Dr. Benjamin Jowett, late master of Balliol College and Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford, also Doctor of Theology of the University of Leyden, Holland.
Because of Professor Campbell’s profound spiritual and intellectual attainments he was highly honored as one who spoke with truthful authority and his noted translations of Greek poetry endeared him to all. From him I first heard of the Bahá’í Revelation, the significance of which had been indelibly impressed upon him by Dr. Jowett’s deep convictions concerning it, and I wrote down some very telling sentences which Professor Campbell quoted from Dr. Jowett’s words to him.
[Page 881]
"This Bahá’í Movement is the greatest
light that has come into the world since the
time of Jesus Christ. You must watch it and
never let it out of your sight. It is too great
and too near for this generation to
comprehend. The future alone can reveal its
import.”
During conversations with Professor Campbell upon the vital importance of this recent outpouring of the Holy Spirit from God upon mankind I became firmly convinced of its divine origin and high destiny.
* * *
Finding that there were a great many openings at The Hague for spreading the Bahá’í Faith and having been there a number of times to meet inquirers as to its meaning, on May 4th I left Amsterdam and settled into a pleasant pension on Sophiallan No. 2, in that city.
Upon my list of names was that of the Countess von Herdt, known in many lands as a writer and promoter of peace relations, her notable work for the advancement of youthful education and her able translations into various languages.
When I wrote asking if she would allow me to talk with her of the Bahá’í Peace Movement, an invitation to have tea at Bloemendaal was the response, and upon arriving at her house I was welcomed by one whose face was alight with high purpose and attainment. She opened the conversation by saying that long ago through her friendship with Dr. August Forel, the well-known scientist of Switzerland, she had become much attached to Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause. During years of correspondence he had tried to persuade her to put aside the lesser peace societies and center her entire attention upon the universal peace Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, as she was in perfect accord with His basic teachings. However, the work for peace that she had entered into had entirely engrossed her attention and energies as it included an enormous correspondence that was world wide. As she spoke she opened the doors of a cabinet which contained rows of letter folders completely filled.
It was a happiness to talk with one who had so great a knowledge of Bahá’u’lláh and His Divine mission. I came from the Countess von Herdt refreshed and grateful. She kindly gave suggestions that assisted in making the Cause known.
I owe to Madame H. J. Romeijn, who devotes much time to furthering humanitarian and peace activities, a debt of gratitude for her many kind attentions, friendship and helpful ideas as to spreading the Bahá’í teachings. She gave a pleasant dinner party at her house, where I met Dr. Romeijn and their gifted daughter, Miss Jean Marie, and others who desired to know more of Bahá’u’lláh’s great Message to the world.
Through my having an introduction to Miss M. L. Fleddérus, director of the International Industrial Institute, a meeting was arranged and I went to her at Scheveningen and found her to be a delightful and gifted person with comprehensive outlook who immediately showed appreciation of the Bahá’í ideals. She was exceedingly helpful on several occasions and showed sympathetic understanding of the difficulties to be encountered when introducing an unknown cause to Holland.
She was deeply engaged in work that had to do with Herr Dr. Otto Neurath’s great activities and extraordinary educational charts that make plain without words the industrial and other conditions of the world. So scientific and convincing are these charts that the most ignorant of men can understand them immediately. Dr. Neurath seems to have a mind similar to that of the late Sir Patrick Geddes, for years professor of botany at Edinburgh University, Scotland, whose selflessness, originality and creative ability in aiding humanity amounted to genius. He loved and reverenced ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. When England was honored by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s presence, Sir Patrick Geddes arranged for Him to deliver addresses in Edinburgh, and he later visited Him at His home in Haifa.
What I had been told of Madame W.
Wijnaendts Francken-Dyserinck’s capacities
and work, attracted me some time before I
met her. She had established the Girl Scouts
throughout Holland as well as the Soroptomist
Clubs and took part in international
affairs and peace activities. Her name was
upon that invaluable list provided me
through Dr. Theissen’s effort. She arranged
by telephone to visit me and expressed much
appreciation of what she heard of the Cause
[Page 882]
and kindly asked what
she might do to help
make it known. She was about to start for
America to attend the Century of Progress
Exhibition as one of the International Corps
and was to deliver speeches to large audiences.
Madame Wijnaendts-Francken took notes as I tried to make known to her the chief aims of the Cause and upon seeing for the first time a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a glow of surprised admiration swept over her face. The beauty of a picture of the Bahá’í Temple then added to her interest and she exclaimed, "I now see what may be done for this cause. I will go to the Temple, write an article about it which will come out in a Holland magazine, with reproductions of these photographs. Publishers always accept what I write of interest when in foreign lands.”
Madame Jacob Ter Meulen, wife of the director of the library at the Peace Palace, came to see me in response to a note I had written her husband telling him of the letter of introduction to Holland librarians that Dr. Herbert Putnam had given me.
Dr. Ter Meulen was ill and wished to see me as soon as his health permitted. Madame Ter Meulen told of their delightful friendship with Dr. Putnam when they were staying in Washington, D. C., some years ago, and of the work Dr. Putnam and Dr. Ter Meulen had done together in the library.
One afternoon Madame Ter Meulen asked me to meet a friend, Miss Dekker, who had, when making a visit in Philadelphia, the United States, become much interested in the Bahá’í teaching through a woman whose name had escaped her memory but whom she vividly remembered as a most lovable and remarkable person, and who had given her books about the Cause that were still in her possession. Miss Dekker made me acquainted with an American woman, Mrs. Cornelius van der Hoogt, living at The Hague, who invited me to have tea. The conversation first centered about dear Miss Juliet Thompson of New York City, who had aroused her interest in the Cause by taking her to hear an address given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at Ascension Church, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in America in 1912.
Mrs. van der Hoogt spoke of the beloved Master with loving reverence and heard with interest of the Administrative activities. When I arose to go she led me into another large room to see a graceful and beautiful portrait of herself that Miss Thompson had painted.
As midsummer approached the cities were so deserted that I felt inclined to return before long to America. The directors of the principal libraries in Amsterdam and at The Hague had listened with courteous attention to Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and accepted, with expressions of pleasure, the Dutch edition of The New Era, also Bahá’í booklets, with promises to place them on the book shelves where they would be accessible to the public.
On June 19th I sailed for home on the SS. Ile de France.
* * *
As the winter of 1934 approached a letter from Shoghi Effendi arrived asking me to resume my work of “service to His Cause in Holland.”
The first week in January found me ready and eager to carry out our beloved Guardian’s wishes and upon reaching The Hague my work proceeded much as it had before, going from person to person and at times speaking to drawing room audiences, where the Message received close attention and usually a few of those present asked to see me again to talk further about it.
Through correspondence I had promised to communicate with Madame Wijnaendts-Francken upon reaching The Hague, which I did, and an invitation from her arrived asking me to dinner, that we might have opportunity to talk quietly of the Cause.
Shortly afterward she arranged to have me speak at her house to a number of her friends and there followed a happy tea party during which I talked informally with a few at a time who wanted to ask questions, and all expressed satisfaction in having received so universal a message.
In a few days I received a note from a man whom I had met at Madame Wijnaendts-Francken’s and who had shown keen interest in all that he had heard, which said, "With renewed thanks for a thought-provoking speech and conversation.”
Madame Wijnaendts-Francken fulfilled her promise and wrote an article about the
The Bahá’í Summer School of Australia and New Zealand Community Picnic held during the 1939 session at “Bolton Place," Yerrinbool, New South Wales.
Faith which was published by Nijgh & von Ditmer in Wereldkroniek April 7th, 1934, illustrated as she had suggested with a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and of the two Bahá’í Temples in existence, one at ‘Ishqábád, Russia, and another, now in construction, near Chicago, the United States.
Sometimes when I had been speaking, surprising comments followed. One man after listening to a talk given in his friend’s house, when introduced to me later in the afternoon, remarked with conviction and a humorous glance, "You were a brave woman to come to a stubborn country like this, to introduce a new peace movement. We are the greatest arguers in the world. We argue all day and all night, and for what? To learn the truth? Not at all! Each argues to prove to himself that his standpoint is correct and each feels himself justified.”
Another man said he never made efforts to try to convince a Hollander of views other than those he already held, that he had given it up long ago. These amusing remarks were made, I imagine, that I might not become disheartened.
Although there was no Bahá’í Assembly formed through my Holland endeavors, there was, however, what might be termed a network of the knowledge of its existence and aims spread out. Many were intellectually glad to be informed of its history and principles. A few caught the vision of its divine significance to all mankind as the fulfillment of the promise of all ages.
In April the Bahá’í Publishing Committee kindly responded to my request for books to present to the libraries, and when, just before my return to America on April 21st, I delivered several books into the hands of each director of the libraries, they were welcomed with words of cordial appreciation and interest.
The list of libraries in Holland where Bahá’í Literature is to be found is appended to this article.
LIST OF LIBRARIES IN HOLLAND CONTAINING BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE
Amsterdam
Amsterdam Gemente Universitait Bibliothecaris—Prof. Dr. J. S. Theissen, Singel 421.
1. Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era—By Dr. Esslemont (Dutch translation).
2. Book of Certitude—Kitáb-i-Íqán—Translated from Íránian by Shoghi Effendi.
The “Rose Garden” children’s class held during the 1939 session of the Bahá’í Summer School at “Bolton Place,” Yerrinbool, New South Wales, Australia.
3. The Bahá’í World—A Biennial International Record.
4. Dawn Breakers—Nabil’s Narrative—Translated from Íránian by Shoghi Effendi.
5. Promulgation of Universal Peace—Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His visit to the United States in 1912.
Openbare Leeszaal en Bibliotheck—Director, Miss Anna C. Gebhard, Keizersgracht 444.
1. Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era—By Dr. J. E. Esslemont (Dutch translation).
2. Bahá’í World (1930—32)—A Biennial International Record.
3. Some Answered Questions—By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
4. Divine Philosophy—From addresses delivered in Paris, 1910-11.
The Hague
Konimklijke Bibleotheck-Bibliothecares—Dr. Mohuysen, Lange Voorhout.
Promulgation of Universal Peace—Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His visit to the United States in 1912.
Some Answered Qnestions—By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Bibliotheck von het Vredispalais—Bibliothecaris, Dr. Jacob Ter Meulen.
1. Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era-—By Dr. J. E. Esslemont (Dutch translation).
2. Book of Certitude—Kitáb-i-Íqán—Translated from the Persian by Shoghi Effendi.
3. Dawn Breakers—Nabil’s Narrative—Translated from the Persian by Shoghi Effendi.
Dames Leeszaal en Bibliotheck—Lange Voorhout No. 3.
1. Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era—By Dr. J. E. Esslemont.
2. Bahá’í Revelation—By Thornton Chase.
3. Promulgation of Universal Peace—Discourse by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His visit to the United States in 1912.
4. Wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—From addresses delivered in Paris, 1910-11.
5. The Bahá’í World—A Biennial International Record.
Openbare Leeszaal en Bibliotheck—Bibliothecaris, Dr. H. E. Greve.
1. Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era—By Dr. J. E. Esslemont (Dutch translation).
2. Book of Certitude—Kitáb-i-Íqán—Translated from Iranian by Shoghi Effendi.
3. Bahá’í, The Spirit of the Age—By Mr. Horace Holley.
