In Memoriam 1992-1997/Daniel Haumont

In Memoriam 1992-1997 Daniel Haumont

Proofread once

DANIEL HAUMONT

Knight of Bahá’u’lláh 1925–1993

Daniel Haumont, who was born in Paris, France, arrived in Tahiti from Morocco in February 1954. He then lived in the Marquesas Islands and became a Bahá’í there in 1955. He later returned to Tahiti before moving to New Caledonia.

During this time of the Ten Year Crusade, the French government controlled the Loyalty Islands and considered it a Message from God just as the Christians reserve for the indigenous people of the area. Historian Graham Hassall notes: had done.

Entry to French territories was particularly difficult. French government policy denied non-French citizens long-term residency in French Overseas Territories, and both New Caledonia and the Society Islands had been assigned to the Australian Bahá’ís, none of whom were eligible for permanent residency. Consequently, pioneers to New Caledonia and French Polynesia were itinerant rather than domiciled, and traveled between colonies when their visas expired. Access to the Loyalty Islands was even more challenging, as at first the Australian Bahá’ís did not know they were designated off-limits to all Europeans, including French citizens.42

Since Daniel was considered to be a French Tahitian, he was able to enter. He arrived at Maré Island in the Loyalty Islands on October 11, 1955, and remained for a few weeks. However limited his stay, he succeeded where others were unable and became a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for the Loyalty Islands. Shortly afterward he went back to Tahiti and eventually returned to New Caledonia where he lived for seventeen years. In 1989 Daniel moved back to France.

Toward the end of his life he drew nearer to Catholicism but without leaving the Faith. Being very sick he had few contacts with the Bahá’í friends, and in the Holy Year of 1992, he was too feeble to join the other Knights of Bahá’u’lláh in Haifa for the centennial ceremonies. He died in Bourges, France, on August 12, 1993. His

42 Graham Hassall, "Pacific Bahá’í Communities 1950-1964," in Pacific History: Papers from the 8th Pacific History Association Conference, ed. Donald H. Rubinstein (University of Guam Press & Micronesian Area Research Center, Guam, 1992), pp. 73-95.

[Page 81]family, who are not Bahá’ís, had his body returned to New Caledonia. All his life Daniel was a seeker of truth, interested in history and in exegesis. On learning of his death the Department of the Secretariat wrote on August 22, 1993:

The Universal House of Justice has received your fax informing it of the passing of Mr. Daniel Haumont, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for the Loyalty Islands. We have been asked to inform you that the House of Justice will offer ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his soul.

This article draws from the research of Graham Hassall and from Lilian Alai’s, "A Frenchman introduced the Faith in the Loyalty Islands," Herald of the South, no. 32, and from Lilian’s collaboration with Jean Sévin