In Memoriam 1992-1997/Wilhelmina “Gwendolyn” Hird Willems

WILHELMINA “GWENDOLYN”

HIRD WILLEMS 1906—1996

We were grieved at the news of the passing of outstanding, steadfast early Chilean believer Wilhelmina Willems, and are offering prayers for the progress of her radiant soul in the Abhá Kingdom.

Universal House of Justice May 17, 1996

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orn in Canada on December 4, 1906, of

Anglo—Dutch extraction, Gwendolyn was still a child when she arrived with her parents in Punta Arenas, a small but strategic port on the Straights of Magellan at the southern extremity ofChile.182 English was the only language spoken at home, and her education was completed at the British School of the Anglican mission. After graduation she pursued studies in the arts in England.

Gwendolyn married, and her husband, a musician, died at an early age. From their marriage came three children: one boy, Luis, and two daughters, Helen and Cecilia.

In order to support herself and her children in a Spanish—speaking country after the passing of her husband, Gwendolyn gave private lessons in English—an activity that placed her in contact with many people of diverse ages—people who showed great respect for her and her talents.

The beloved Guardian, knowing of the strategic and spiritual importance of Punta Arenas, was particularly elated when he received news of the first pioneers to Visit there during the last year of the First Seven Year Plan:183 Mrs. Marcia Steward in 1943 and Mr. Artemus Lamb together with the first Chilean pioneer, Mr. Esteban Canales, in 1944. During the visits of the pioneers Gwendolyn and a few other residents were attracted to the Faith.

Artemus Lamb writes of this time:

Marcia Steward was still in Punta Arenas and it was decided, with the approval of the Guardian, that she would return to Santiago, and a young Chilean Bahá’í, Esteban Canales, would come to help me, as my Spanish was still not fluent. Punta Arenas was also

132 Punta Arenas claims to be the southernmost city

in the world.

”*3 19374944.

quite cosmopolitan, albeit still a bit primitive—some Spanish families, a good number of British, a colony of Yugoslavs who were descendants of the survivors of a Yugoslav shipwreck, an American Vice—Consul and a few other diplomats, temporarily a geophysical team from the U.S.A. in search of oil, and native Chileans. Punta Arenas, located on the Straits of Magellan, across from Tierra del Fuego, had been a former Chilean penal colony.

Teaching the Faith was not easy. Most of the population was there for material reasons. Neither the climate, the town nor the countryside were attractive, food was scarce, and entertainment totally lacking, except for one motion picture theater and two radio stations. After consultation and prayer, we decided to use radio as the people were almost always in their homes at night. We composed a weekly program entitled: “The City of Certitude,” in which Esteban Canales and four friends, including the director of the radio station, took part. The program soon became famous, with everyone waiting to find out the meaning of the title, which was not divulged for many weeks.

At Naw-Rúz, we sent a cable of greeting to the Guardian. On April 4, 1945, came a reply, which included the following words through his secretary: “You can be sure that his prayers will sustain you in your efforts to establish an Assembly there in April of this year.” I thought Esteban was going to have a heart attack. There were still no Bahá’ís there except for ourselves, and we had not even thought of the possibility of an Assembly at Riḍván. I tried to assure Esteban that when the Guardian said he was praying for something, all we had

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to do was make the necessary efforts. However, he remained very disturbed, and kept repeating: “But Artemus, it’s impossible!”

Seven days later, we invited all our eight contacts, including the four participants in the radio program, to explain to them the situation, and ask who would like to become Bahá’ís. All eight accepted. The Guardian had his Assembly.

This time I thought for sure that Esteban was going to have a heart attack from joy, and now he kept repeating, “but Artemus, you told me.” We cabled the Guardian and immediately received the following reply, “Loving appreciation. Greeting. Admiration. Delight. Gratitude. Fervent prayers. Shoghi Rabbani.”184

Gwendolyn Willems was among those declaring belief and becoming members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly in that distant outpost—the second Local Assembly to be established in Chile.“5 Such was the Guardian’s delight over this victory that he placed a photograph of this first Local Assembly of Punta Arenas in a hallway near the top of the stairway of the Mansion of Bahjí, 0n the wall facing the photograph of Aqa Jan-i—Qamsih—the colonel who carried out the execution of the Báb. By this gesture, Shoghi Effendi emphasized the truth that the will of God prevails over the will of man.

The history of the Faith is one of alternating crises and Victories. Artemus Lamb

continues:

184 7778 Beginning: of the 311/747 Faith in L/z/in America: Same Remembrances, Artemus Lamb, 1995‘

185 The First Assembly was elected in the capital, Santiago, on April u, 1943.

THE BAHA’I’ WORLD

W/i/lyelmina “Gwendolyn" Hird W/il/ems

The new Assembly began to function. Weekly “fireside” meetings were held, radio was continued, and all was going well. Then fell the blow. Five of the Assembly members departed on the same boat to return to their home towns of Santiago, Valparaiso and Valdivia. Through frantic prayers and teaching efforts, new souls were attracted, and the Assembly reinstated.

Many believers accepted the Faith in Punta Arenas, and a community soon developed. However, as in many ports, only a few were permanent residents, and the community suddenly found its number dwindling through migration. Thus the first believer to become established in Valdivia came from Punta Arenas, and the first believer to take up residence in the far northern city of Iquique also came from Punta Arenas. Others took up residence in Valparaiso, the main port of central Chile, where the third Local Spiritual Assembly was established in April 1946.

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Over the years all of the early believers either passed away, left town, or became inactive. Gwendolyn remained, and her home was ever the place for Bahá’í meetings, contacts with seekers, and a constant center for activities. Pioneers, traveling teachers, and Hands of the Cause would come and go, but she and her home were the stable rallying point for all. Her enthusiasm and encouragement were always ready for the offering.

Gwendolyn stayed in Punta Arenas, but her own steadfastness was not without tests. Despite the trials of Covenant-breaking, which involved the defection of her own daughter, Gwendolyn remained firm in the Cause she loved and was ever obedient to her beloved Guardian’s wish that she remain in Punta Arenas.

Shoghi Effendi had written:

Nor should the valuable and meritorious labors accomplished since the inception of the first Seven Year Plan in Punta Arenas de Magallanes, that far—offcenter situated not only on the southern extremity of the Western Hemisphere, but constituting the southernmost outpost of the Faith in the whole world, be for a moment neglected in the course of the second stage in the development of the Divine Plan. The assembly already constituted in that city, the remarkable radio publicity secured by the believers there, the assistance extended by them to the teaching work in other parts ofChile, should be regarded only as a prelude to the work of consolidation which must be indefatigably pursued.186

‘86 Citadel afFait/J: Menage: to America, 1947—1957,

pp. 1748.

In November 1962, during a critical period in the development of the Faith in Chile, the Hand of the Cause of God AbfilQasirn Faizi visited Punta Arenas and was inspired to write a short essay, Meditations on t/Je Eve ome/ember 4th. It was in part “a humble tribute to the pioneers and a poor description of the almost inexplicable conditions under which many of the new members of our world—wide Bahá’í family are living”‘87—a tribute to the qualities of those who, like Gwendolyn Willems, are “beacons built on solid rocks amidst the tempestuous seas. The waves attack them cruelly but only wash ofl: the dirt and the lamp remains shining more brightly than ever before.”188

Far from the usual routes of travel, this distant community passed through many difficult times. Notwithstanding adversities the Bahá’ís of Puma Arenas lived up to the expectations of Shoghi Effendi, who insisted that under no circumstance should the Local Assembly established there be allowed to lapse. In 1995 the community commemorated its fiftieth anniversary of uninterrupted existence—an achievement made possible, to a large extent, by the dedication, warmth, steadfastness, and love evinced by our very dear friend and co—worker, Gwendolyn Willems. It was she who reminded the friends ofAssembly meetings, Nineteen Day Feasts, and anniversaries; it was she who, year in and year out, called the believers to renew the election of the Local Spiritual Assembly.

In 1992, on account of age and ill health, Gwendolyn made a round of good—bye Visits to the resting places of her relatives and local believers and told her friends that “her ship was ready to unmoor.” She then left Punta Arenas to

187 Meditatiam (m t/ye Eve (fNoz/cfilber4t/I, pp. 16~I7. ‘88 Ibid., p. 13.

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live with her son in Santiago. That year, she was among the nineteen Chilean friends attending the centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’IIéh in the Holy Land. Later she went to Guayaquil, Equador, to see her grandchildren, and in 1996 she returned to Chile where, near Vina del Mar, she winged her flight to the Abhá Kingdom on May 13, 1996,3t the age ofeighty—nine.

Based on an article by Alexander Reid and information provided by Paula 5. Siege!