In Memoriam 1992-1997/Stanley Theodore Bagley

In Memoriam 1992-1997 Stanley Theodore Bagley

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STANLEY THEODORE BAGLEY

Knight of Bahá’u’lláh 1912-1993

Stanley Theodore Bagley was born in 1912. Prior to his passing on April 15, 1993, he wrote about his first contact with the Faith:

I learned about the Bahá’í Faith from a young Bahá’í, Florence Johnson, in early fall of 1934. She invited me to attend a talk by Mr. Dale Cole, a teacher of Economics and Political Science, I think, in Detroit... I was especially attracted by [the principles of] progressive revelation and the unity of all religions. I was deepened through meetings at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, and particularly by the stories of the future Hand of the Cause Dorothy Baker.

I signed my membership card in March or April of 1935, but I had accepted [the Faith] in my heart before that. We were elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly shortly after at Ridván 1935.

The young Bahá’í who introduced Stanley to the Faith, and to whom he refers in his memoirs as his "spiritual mother," became his wife on March 2, 1935. Florence and Stanley were busy with such Bahá’í activities as teaching, offering hospitality, and serving on the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Flint, Michigan, until their departure to Sicily in 1953.

Stanley was often voted chairman or vice chairman during the intervening years, and he was a delegate to the National Convention several times. He was twice the chairman of the State Convention. From the very beginning, Stanley and Florence talked of pioneering in the future. Concern for the education of their three children—Gerry, Susan, and Carol—was a hindering factor until the Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Chicago at Ridván 1953 when the appeal of the beloved Guardian dissolved all their barriers. The children were included in the final decision, and they were eager to participate.

Stanley related, "We first chose to go to Africa, but the committee was so slow in responding to our offer, that we chose..."

[Page 64]another goal... We chose Sicily, an island where Italian was spoken. We did not speak the language; therefore we bought correspondence courses for Gerry and Carol. Susan had been attending Flint Junior College, so her formal education was put on hold.

After a year in Sicily, each member of the Bagley family was given the title of Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. During this time Stanley was unable to find work, and they began to run out of savings. Stanley asked the Guardian for permission to move to another post, and the Guardian cabled back, "PERMISSION GRANTED-PRAYING." Stanley immediately took a ship and train to Châteauroux, France, and soon found a job at the United States Air Force Base there.

Gerry remained in Sicily, but the rest of the family joined Stanley in France. With the exception of nine months spent in Belgium in 1959-60, the Bagleys lived in Châteauroux from October 1954 until August 1963. During this period Stanley was active on the Local Spiritual Assembly, utilizing his photographic skills to record Bahá’í events, and teaching at English-language firesides. He was on the committee charged with the preparations of the first National Convention and the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of France in 1958. He also served on the visual aids committee for several years.

Even when he could not communicate by language, his loving and outgoing personality radiated the Bahá’í life and attracted people.

Stanley faced several hardships as the provider for his family. However, each time Bahá’u’lláh made it possible for him to either keep his job, find another one, or provide a special period of service to the Faith. In 1959 he lost his job in France, forcing the family's departure to Charleroi, Belgium. This was only one of many hardships that later proved to be providential. During this period a strong Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Charleroi, and they avoided the catastrophic problems in France with Covenant-breakers. Nine months after losing his job, Stanley was called back to work in Châteauroux, and Florence was later able to assist the Hand of the Cause Mr. Faizi in visiting the French believers to secure their steadfastness.

In August 1963 Florence and Stanley returned to the United States. They served with the same dedication in Alabama and Georgia, teaching and serving on Local Spiritual Assemblies and committees.

In 1976 they pioneered to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. They remained there for four years and then pioneered to Fort-de-France, Martinique, for another year. At each of these posts, Stanley spent a good deal of his time as a member of the maintenance committee, repairing and building additions to the Hazíratu’l-Quds. He also recorded Bahá’í events through photographs and slides.

Upon reflection Stanley related that the highlights of his life "were the formation of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Palermo, with the help of our son, who was too young to be a member, and that of Charleroi, Belgium, of which we were members. I should include the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of France, of which Florence was a member. I believe that Sue helped form the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Orleans, France."

In 1981 they returned to the United States, settling near their daughter Carol in Alabama. Stanley's service continued in the Deep South. He provided photographs for one of the Bahá’í schools and for Mr. Faizi to share with the Bahá’í friends during his travels. And he continued to teach.

During the last years of his life, he shared [Page 65]the Bahá’í teachings with neighbors who attended the funeral in 1990 of his beloved wife, Florence," and with the nurse's aides who took care of him during his final days on earth.

The Universal House of Justice sent this message on April 19, 1993, upon hearing of his passing:

GRIEVED LOSS MUCH LOVED KNIGHT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH STANLEY THEODORE BAGLEY WHOSE NEARLY SIX DECADES UNSWERVING DEVOTION CAUSE GOD ACHIEVED HISTORIC DISTINCTION IN HIS OPENING SICILY, WITH HIS WIFE FLORENCE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN, DURING GLORIOUS TEN YEAR WORLD CRUSADE. GRATEFULLY RECALL HIS EXTENSIVE TEACHING ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BELGIUM, FRANCE, GUADALOUPE, MARTINIQUE AS WELL AS UNITED STATES. ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS NOBLE SOUL DIVINE WORLDS. KINDLY CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY MEMBERS HIS DISTINGUISHED FAMILY.

Stanley Bagley was buried in Ozark, Alabama.

Carol Jocelyn Bagley Payne