September 30. On this date in 1912, Thornton Chase, the first American convert to the Bahá'í Faith to remain in the religion, died. Thornton Chase was also named a Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Hand of the Cause of God.

 

September 30. On this date in 1912, Thornton Chase, the first American convert to the Bahá'í Faith to remain in the religion, died. Thornton Chase was also named a Disciple of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Hand of the Cause of God.

Born on February 22, 1847, Thornton Chase converted to the Bahá'í Faith in 1894 after attending "Truth Seeker" lessons taught by Ibrahim George Kheiralla in Chicago. Although not the first Bahá'í convert chronologically, Thornton Chase was the first to remain a Bahá'í and is therefore often referred to as the first American convert to the Bahá'í Faith.

In 1898, Kheiralla undertook a Bahá'í pilgrimage to Palestine to meet 'Abdu'l-Bahá with other American pilgrims, including Phoebe Hearst, Lua Getsinger and May Boles. In Akka, Kheiralla witnessed first hand the conflict between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and his brothers. Ultimately, in the conflict between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Mírzá Muhammad 'Alí, Kheiralla sided with the latter for which he was declared a Covenant-breaker.

Chase was able to go on pilgrimage in 1907, by which time he had emerged as the principal organizer of the Chicago Bahá'í community until moving out of Chicago in 1909.

Thornton Chase died on September 30, 1912 in Los Angeles, of complications following unsuccessful surgery. 'Abdu'l Bahá was on a train en route to California at the time and went to visit Chase's grave on arrival. There he praised Chase's qualities highly, instructed the Bahá'ís to hold a commemoration of Chase annually at his grave, and encouraged Bahá'ís to visit the gravesite.

From Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 187–8.

TO THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT: ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.

May the Souls of all Mankind be a Sacrifice to Him!

O THOU David of the Promised Kingdom of GOD!

Thou Princely Leader of all Humanity!

Thou Warrior against the Tribes of Infidelity!

Thou Conqueror of Darkness and Radiator of Light!

Thou Bearer of the Banner of Divine Peace and Prosperity to the Nations!

Thou First Born in the Kingdom of Baha! Beloved of GOD and Men!

Thou First Citizen of the Royal and Holy City!

Thou Branch of the LORD, Beautiful and Glorious!

Thou Greatest Branch from the Ancient Root!

Thou Fruit-bearing Branch of the Divine Tree!

Thou Host of the Divine Table!

Thou Cup-Bearer of the Divine Knowledge!

Thou Diffuser of the Holy Fragrances!

Thou Interpreter of the Revealed Word!

Thou Liver of the Bahai Law!

Thou Establisher of the New Jerusalem descended from the Heaven of the Will of God!

Thou Builder of the Temple of the LORD!

Thou Light of the City of GOD!

Thou Brilliant Moon reflecting the Sun's full Disc of Splendor!

Thou Enlightener of the Spirits of Men!

Thou Heart of the World, sending the Blood of Truth through the arteries of Humanity!

Thou Physician of Souls, raising the dead to Life by the Elixir of the Word!

Thou Possessor of the Philosopher's Stone!

Thou Master of Transmutation!

Thou Kindler of Love and Life in the Heart of Humanity!

Thou Ambassador of Heaven and the Manifestation of Righteousness!

Thou King of servitude and Defender of the Faith!

Thou Temple of the Divine Testimony!

Thou Witness and Aim of THE COVENANT!

Thou Prince of Peace and Ensign of United Humanity!

Thou Guide of mortals to Immortality!

Thou Pathfinder of the Right Way, and Conductor of man from Earth to Heaven!

Thou Lover of GOD and Man; Exemplar of the New Humanity!

Thou Shepherd of the Sheep, and Shelter of the Birds of the Air!

Thou Keeper of the Vineyard, and Trainer of the Children of GOD!

Thou Servant of the Highest, declared by Isaiah!

Thou Right Arm of the Mighty, proclaimed by Israel!

Thou Holy One in the Hand of GOD!

Thou Lord of the Sabbath of Ages!

Thou Unique One of the Millennial Age!

Thou Lion of the Tribe of Judah!

Thou Lamb of the sacrificial Love!

Thou Baptizer of Evanescence!

Thou Sum of Spiritual and Human Perfections!

Thou MYSTERY OF GOD!

Reveal Thyself to those who can bear the Knowledge!

This grain of human dust, stirred by the Breath of the Spirit, longs for Thy

Presence, for the Life-giving touch of Thy Glorious Love. These captives of

Love yearn for Thy Nearness! These ignorant ones seek Thy instruction. These isolated ones hope for the Unity of Thy Meeting. These helpless ones trust in Thine Attraction to awaken the hearts of their friends and relatives.

O my Beloved! What can we say but to praise Thee; to thank GOD for Thee, His Greatest Gift to man; to implore Thee to pray for His Mercy upon these impotent ones, His Strength for these powerless ones, I-lis Guidance for those erring ones, His Guard to protect us from ourselves!

Teach us to serve. Guide us in the paths of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Unite us in mutual purpose and aim, and grant us the favor of Thy personal Presence and Voice.

(SIGNED) THORNTON CHASE.

August 9, 1912, San Francisco, California.