July 29. On this date in 1998, Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead, known as "O.Z." or "Zebby", an American film and stage actor who authored several volumes of biographical sketches of early members of the Bahá'í Faith, died in Dublin, Ireland.

July 29. On this date in 1998, Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead, known as "O.Z." or "Zebby", an American film and stage actor who authored several volumes of biographical sketches of early members of the Bahá'í Faith, died in Dublin, Ireland.

Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead was born on March 18, 1911, in New York City. As a child he was fascinated by films and the theatre and decided to make his career as an actor after his father took him to see Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in The Kid in 1921. After years in stage, film and television Whitehead struggled in the Hollywood Studio system due to being a pacifist in World War II and became dissatisfied with the roles he was given.

In his career he was a stage and film character actor, and was one of the longest surviving members of John Ford's "stock company" of character actors. His best-known part was as Al in Ford's 1940 adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. He was born in New York City and attended Harvard University.

O.Z. Whitehead first heard of the Bahá'í Faith in 1949, and at his first informational meeting on the religion he heard Marzieh Gail speak. He became a Bahá'í in late 1950, and began giving public talks on the religion throughout the 1950's, for example at World Religion Day observances. In 1955 Whitehead went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In 1963 he attended the first Bahá'í World Congress in London, after which he pioneered to Ireland which allowed him to take advantage of Dublin theatrical opportunities. Whitehead was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Dublin and in 1972, along with Adib Taherzadeh, he was elected to the inaugural National Spiritual Assembly of Ireland on which he served for fifteen years.

From about 1973 until the end of his life Whitehead devoted much of his time to the concerns of the religion including work resulting in publishing three books collecting biographies of early Bahá'ís while in his 6th decade but he also supported the Irish Actors' Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild and served on the executive of the Irish branch of PEN, the international writers' club.

Although he never married, he was in a long-term and very private relationship with actress Katharine Hepburn. The couple met through Dick Hepburn, who studied at Harvard University with Whitehead. After they agreed to part, Whitehead was never known to be in another relationship.

O.Z. Whitehead died of cancer in Dublin, Ireland, on July 29, 1998, at the age of 87.

May 4. On this date in 1954, Elizabeth Stamp became a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena. Born in Bagenalstown, Ireland on March 25, 1887, she emigrated to the United States becoming a US citizen and residing in New York City where she became a Bahá'í in 1939.

May 4. On this date in 1954, Elizabeth Stamp became a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena. Born in Bagenalstown, Ireland on March 25, 1887, she emigrated to the United States becoming a US citizen and residing in New York City where she became a Bahá'í in 1939.

Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown in Ireland on March 25, 1887 and was educated in Dublin. She emigrated to the United States becoming a US citizen and residing in New York City where she became a Bahá'í in 1939. She made travel teaching trips across the South and Midwest US while living in New York. Her husband passed while she was in New York.

In July 1953 at the opening of the Ten Year Crusade Elizabeth offered to pioneer to South Africa where her sister lived, however she ultimately decided to instead ask permission to pioneer to St. Helena, a virgin territory in the South Atlantic. She arrived there on May 4, 1954, and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. The island was isolated at this time, with monthly ship arrivals being the only contact with the outside world, and Elizabeth asked for the thoughts and prayers of the Bahá'í community to support her. The Bishop of the Church of England on the island was initially unhappy with her presence but she eventually earned his respect and presented him with some Bahá'í literature. The strong position of the Church of England on the island meant she made little progress with teaching the Faith, however by 1964 four locals had converted to the Faith. She visited Elizabeth Hopper in Madeira while living on St. Helena.

In April 1963 Elizabeth was injured in a fall and went to South Africa to recover residing there until returning to St. Helena in December 1963, however she had to move to South Africa at the close of 1964 due to circumstances in St. Helena. She served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Durban while in South Africa.

Elizabeth Stamp returned to the United States in June 1966 settling in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she died on November 11, 1970, and was buried next to her husband.

April 29. On this date in 1921, Adib Taherzadeh was born in Yazd, Iran. He served as a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe. From 1988 until his death in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh served on the Universal House of Justice.

 

April 29. On this date in 1921, Adib Taherzadeh was born in Yazd, Iran. He served as a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe. From 1988 until his death in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh served on the Universal House of Justice.

Adib Taherzadeh was born on April 29, 1921, in Yazd, Iran, into a family who had a strong association with the Bahá'í Faith since its inception. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Tehran, and then moved to Coventry, England in 1948 and pursued advanced studies. He moved to Ireland in 1950 working as the chief engineer of an industrial concern until 1988. He married twice, first to Zarin Moosezadeh Cohen with whom he had two children, a son Tahir Ronald and a daughter Bahiyyeh Vida. He married Belfast-born Lesley Gibson in the 1970s, and they had two children, a daughter Maryam (Baskin) and a son Bahhaj. At the time of his death, he had several grandchildren.

Taherzadeh served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971. He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland when it was formed in 1972 and was appointed in 1976 to the European Continental Board of Counsellors. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988.

A prolific writer and gifted public speaker, Taherzadeh wrote several books on the Bahá'í history and teachings, including The Child of the Covenant, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, and the four volume The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

His career is typical for individuals in the Bahá’í hierarchy, whether in an elected office or in an appointed offce from which the higher elected officials invariably come from.
At all levels, including the LSAs, Bahá’í leaders generally as if not more authoritarian than clergy from other religious faiths, which as Dale Husband points out, is one of the Four Ways to Create a Religion of Hypocrites:

1. State that religion no longer needs clergy……and replace them with leaders that are as authoritarian as the clergy ever was.
2. Claim that men and women should be equal……but then deny women membership in the all-powerful leadership council of the religion.
3. Condemn as heretics those who believe in your religion but dare to challenge the claims of your religion’s current leadership, while at the same time claiming to welcome as friends the followers of other religions.
4. Claim there is harmony between science and religion, but also claim that anything your leaders say is absolutely true, even if on topics science is expected to address. Any one of these makes a religion not worth following, but what do you do if you find a religion that has all four such contradictions

March 25. On this date in 1887, Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown, Ireland. She became a Bahá'í in 1939 in New York and on May 4, 1954, was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena.

March 25. On this date in 1887, Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown, Ireland. She became a Bahá'í in 1939 in New York and on May 4, 1954, was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena.

Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown in Ireland on March 25, 1887 and was educated in Dublin. She emigrated to the United States becoming a US citizen and residing in New York City where she became a Bahá'í in 1939. She made travel teaching trips across the South and Midwest US while living in New York. Her husband passed while she was in New York.

In July 1953 at the opening of the Ten Year Crusade Elizabeth offered to pioneer to South Africa where her sister lived, however she ultimately decided to instead ask permission to pioneer to St. Helena, a virgin territory in the South Atlantic. She arrived there on May 4, 1954, and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. The island was isolated at this time, with monthly ship arrivals being the only contact with the outside world, and Elizabeth asked for the thoughts and prayers of the Bahá'í community to support her. The Bishop of the Church of England on the island was initially unhappy with her presence but she eventually earned his respect and presented him with some Bahá'í literature. The strong position of the Church of England on the island meant she made little progress with teaching the Faith, however by 1964 four locals had converted to the Faith. She visited Elizabeth Hopper in Madeira while living on St. Helena.

In April 1963 Elizabeth was injured in a fall and went to South Africa to recover residing there until returning to St. Helena in December 1963, however she had to move to South Africa at the close of 1964 due to circumstances in St. Helena. She served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Durban while in South Africa.

Elizabeth Stamp returned to the United States in June 1966 settling in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she died on November 11, 1970, and was buried next to her husband.

March 25. On this date in 1957, George Townshend died. A former Irish Anglican clergyman and Hand of the Cause of God, Townshend's "Christ and Bahá’u’lláh" is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death.

March 25. On this date in 1957, George Townshend died. A former Irish Anglican clergyman and Hand of the Cause of God, Townshend's "Christ and Bahá’u’lláh" is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death.

George Townshend was born on June 14, 1876.

On June 10, 1919, George Townshend wrote his first letter to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and received a reply six weeks later. He became a Bahá'í a few months later, but only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church.

Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and once said of George Townshend that he feels "Mr. Townshend's services to the Faith can best be rendered by his writing about it, as he obviously has an outstanding ability in this direction..."

Of the books that Townshend wrote, Christ and Bahá’u’lláh is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death. For example, a statement about the "first and present Guardian" has been removed and a section discussing "the lineage of succeeding Guardians" has been replaced with a section discussing "divinely guided institutions" in general.

On March 25, 1957, George Townshend died secondary to Parkinson's disease.

March 18. On this date in 1911, Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead, known as "O.Z." or "Zebby", an American film and stage actor who authored several volumes of biographical sketches of early members of the Bahá'í Faith, was born in New York City.

March 18. On this date in 1911, Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead, known as "O.Z." or "Zebby", an American film and stage actor who authored several volumes of biographical sketches of early members of the Bahá'í Faith, was born in New York City.

Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead was born on March 18, 1911, in New York City. As a child he was fascinated by films and the theatre and decided to make his career as an actor after his father took him to see Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in The Kid in 1921. After years in stage, film and television Whitehead struggled in the Hollywood Studio system due to being a pacifist in World War II and became dissatisfied with the roles he was given.

In his career he was a stage and film character actor, and was one of the longest surviving members of John Ford's "stock company" of character actors. His best-known part was as Al in Ford's 1940 adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath.

O.Z. Whitehead first heard of the Bahá'í Faith in 1949, and at his first informational meeting on the religion he heard Marzieh Gail speak. He became a Bahá'í in late 1950, and began giving public talks on the religion throughout the 1950's, for example at World Religion Day observances. In 1955 Whitehead went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In 1963 he attended the first Bahá'í World Congress in London, after which he pioneered to Ireland which allowed him to take advantage of Dublin theatrical opportunities. Whitehead was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Dublin and in 1972, along with Adib Taherzadeh, he was elected to the inaugural National Spiritual Assembly of Ireland on which he served for fifteen years.

From about 1973 until the end of his life Whitehead devoted much of his time to the concerns of the religion including work resulting in publishing three books collecting biographies of early Bahá'ís while in his 6th decade but he also supported the Irish Actors' Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild and served on the executive of the Irish branch of PEN, the international writers' club.

Although he never married, he was in a long-term and very private relationship with actress Katharine Hepburn. The couple met through Dick Hepburn, who studied at Harvard University with Whitehead. After they agreed to part, Whitehead was never known to be in another relationship.
O.Z. Whitehead died of cancer in Dublin, Ireland, on July 29, 1998, at the age of 87.

January 26. On this date in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the Universal House of Justice since 1988, died. He was previously a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe.

January 26. On this date in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the Universal House of Justice since 1988, died. He was previously a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe.

Adib Taherzadeh was born on April 29, 1921, in Yazd, Iran, into a family who had a strong association with the Bahá'í Faith since its inception. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Tehran, and then moved to Coventry, England in 1948 and pursued advanced studies.

He moved to Ireland in 1950 working as the chief engineer of an industrial concern until 1988. He married twice, first to Zarin Moosezadeh Cohen with whom he had two children, a son Tahir Ronald and a daughter Bahiyyeh Vida. He married Belfast-born Lesley Gibson in the 1970s, and they had two children, a daughter Maryam (Baskin) and a son Bahhaj. At the time of his death, he had several grandchildren.

Taherzadeh served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971. He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland when it was formed in 1972 and was appointed in 1976 to the European Continental Board of Counsellors. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988.

A prolific writer and gifted public speaker, Taherzadeh wrote several books on the Bahá'í history and teachings, including The Child of the Covenant, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, and the four volume The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

His career is typical for individuals in the Bahá’í hierarchy, whether in an elected office or in an appointed offce from which the higher elected officials invariably come from.
At all levels, including the LSAs, Bahá’í leaders generally as if not more authoritarian than clergy from other religious faiths, which as Dale Husband points out, is one of the Four Ways to Create a Religion of Hypocrites:

1. State that religion no longer needs clergy……and replace them with leaders that are as authoritarian as the clergy ever was.
2. Claim that men and women should be equal……but then deny women membership in the all-powerful leadership council of the religion.
3. Condemn as heretics those who believe in your religion but dare to challenge the claims of your religion’s current leadership, while at the same time claiming to welcome as friends the followers of other religions.
4. Claim there is harmony between science and religion, but also claim that anything your leaders say is absolutely true, even if on topics science is expected to address. Any one of these makes a religion not worth following, but what do you do if you find a religion that has all four such contradictions

January 26. On this date in 1949, Denis MacEoin was born. A former Bahá'í who was active from about 1966 to about 1980, he left the religion after clashes with the Bahá'í administration mostly due to his research works on Babism. He is a pro-Israel activist in Britain who writes for The Jerusalem Post and is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

January 26. On this date in 1949, Denis MacEoin was born. A former Bahá'í who was active from about 1966 to about 1980, he left the religion after clashes with the Bahá'í administration mostly due to his research works on Babism. He is a pro-Israel activist in Britain who writes for The Jerusalem Post and is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Denis MacEoin is a former Bahá'í who was active from about 1966 to about 1980, lecturing at Bahá'í conferences and summer schools and writing in support of his religion. He left the religion after clashes with the Bahá'í administration mostly due to his research works on Babism. He is a pro-Israel activist in Britain who says he has "very negative feelings" about Islam. He writes for The Jerusalem Post and is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

From his profile page at The Jerusalem Post...

Denis MacEoin
Danis [sic] MacEoin is a former lecturer of Arabic/Islamic Studies, the former editor the Middle East Quarterly, and is currently a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. MacEoin authored several books and reports on Islam, the Middle East, and Israel including 'Dear Gary, Why You're Wrong about Israel', and blog 'A Liberal Defence of Israel.MacEoin is an active supporter of Israel in the UK.

From his profile page at the Gatestone Institute...

Denis MacEoin
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Gatestone Institute
Denis MacEoin is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. He first graduated with a B.A. and an M.A. in English Language and Literature from Trinity College, Dublin, followed by a second 4-year M.A. in Persian, Arabic, and Islamic Studies from Edinburgh and a PhD in Persian/Islamic Studies from Cambridge (King's College).
He has lectured in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Newcastle University, and written several academic books and numerous articles, as well as many pieces of journalism. Recently, he has written reports on hate literature, Shari'a Law, and Islamic schools.
He has worked as a writing tutor as the Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Newcastle University, where he has also taught a short course in creative writing ('Writing in Genre'). He was for some years the editor of a US-based journal, The Middle East Quarterly. In 1992, HarperCollins published a volume of his journalism under the title New Jerusalems: Islam, Religious Fundamentalism, and the Rushdie Affair.

In 2003, Juan Cole described in a message on the Talisman mail list the pressure placed on Denis MacEoin by the Bahá'í Administrative Order...

Denis MacEoin did not withdraw from the faith, he was chased out by powerful Baha'i fundamentalists who were deeply threatened by the implications of his historical work. Denis became a Baha'i in North Ireland around 1965 and quickly emerged as a Baha'i youth leader. He was chosen to come to Haifa to commemorate the 1968 anniversary of Baha'u'llah's Letters to the Kings.
He then wrote the House saying he did not know whether to serve the Faith by becoming an academic scholar of the Middle East or by going pioneering. They wrote back that either path would be praiseworthy. (They later stabbed him in the back about this). He therefore entered graduate school at Edinburgh in Middle East Studies, then went on to Cambridge University for his Ph.D. He was the first academic to study the Babi movement with all the tools of modern scholarship, and his findings were groundbreaking.
Denis made the mistake of continuing to be an active Baha'i. Since the community is so heavily dominated by aggressive fundamentalist fanatics, if a genuine academic wants to be a Baha'i s/he has to keep a low profile. Denis did not. He gave summer school talks. He was once viciously attacked by Abu al-Qasim Faizi. His new ideas were upsetting the conservative British community. He objected when the Baha'i authorities supported dictators like Pinochet and Bokassa. He corresponded with the Los Angeles Study Class and some of his letters were published in their newsletter (a newsletter that the Baha'i authorities later closed down, for all the world like Tehran ayatollahs pulling a publishing license).
Around 1980, fundamentalist UHJ members Ian Semple and David Hoffman called Denis to a meeting and told him he would have to fall silent (rather as the Vatican did to Leonardo Boff). Hoffman was especially harsh. Denis declined to fall silent, and ultimately withdrew from the Faith. He was pushed out by anti-intellectual bigots who had risen high in the Baha'ihierarchy and become Infallible. Denis's works on the Babi and Baha'i movements are some of the few pieces of solid scholarship that exist.
Instead of being grateful to him for sacrificing all those years living in penury as a graduate student, studying Arabic and Persian, traveling to a dangerous Middle East, all for the service of Baha'u'llah, the community could think of nothing better to do than viciously attack him and throw him in the gutter of infamy.
Denis's story is the story of most thinking people who have anything serious to do with the Baha'i faith. Either they adopt a cult-like mindset of true believers and covenant breakers, in which case they gradually cease being thinking persons, or they get chased out by the wild-eyed. A few people manage to avoid either fate by not drawing attention to themselves. The Baha'i Extreme Orthodox are like the Borg in Star Trek. They want to assimilate you, but might leave you alone if you stay quiet.
cheers
Juan Cole
https://www.juancole.com/

Juan Cole would continue on subsequent posts...

He wasn't saying anything polemic. He was just discovering who the Babis really were from solid historical sources. The powerful Baha'is, who have all the open-mindedness of Wahhabis, did not like it. It did not look like the fireside talks everyone grew up with, so they shoved Denis out of the community with threats of sanctions echoing about his ears.
cheers Juan

and later...

Denis's works were mostly published in Middle East or Religion journals or as academic books, and most could be gotten on interlibrary loan. There may be some things at www.bahai-library.org, and there certainly is a bibliography there.
I apologize that I am off to a conference, so cannot go into depth but there are others here who can discuss Denis's findings.
As to why they should have angered anyone, I suppose you'd have to pass them by a Baha'i fundamentalist and they would tell you. You could just ask about MacEoin at e.g. soc.religion.bahai or about his ideas on Babis. Or at beliefnet. I presume you will get an earful. One of them once more or less threatened to cut my head off with a sword, so they can be an irritable bunch.
cheers Juan
https://www.juancole.com/

March 25. On this date in 1957, George Townshend died. A former Irish Anglican clergyman and Hand of the Cause of God, Townshend's "Christ and Bahá’u’lláh" is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death.

March 25. On this date in 1957, George Townshend died. A former Irish Anglican clergyman and Hand of the Cause of God, Townshend's "Christ and Bahá’u’lláh" is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death.
George Townshend was born on June 14, 1876.
 
On June 10, 1919, George Townshend wrote his first letter to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and received a reply six weeks later. He became a Bahá'í a few months later, but only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church.

Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and once said of George Townshend that he feels "Mr. Townshend's services to the Faith can best be rendered by his writing about it, as he obviously has an outstanding ability in this direction..."

Of the books that Townshend wrote, Christ and Bahá’u’lláh is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after Shoghi Effendi's death. For example, a statement about the "first and present Guardian" has been removed and a section discussing "the lineage of succeeding Guardians" has been replaced with a section discussing "divinely guided institutions" in general.

On March 25, 1957, George Townshend died secondary to Parkinson's disease.

March 25. On this date in 1887, Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown, Ireland. She became a Bahá'í in 1939 in New York and on May 4, 1954, was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena.

March 25. On this date in 1887, Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown, Ireland. She became a Bahá'í in 1939 in New York and on May 4, 1954, was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she arrived in St. Helena.

Elizabeth Stamp was born in Bagenalstown in Ireland on March 25, 1887 and was educated in Dublin. She emigrated to the United States becoming a US citizen and residing in New York City where she became a Bahá'í in 1939. She made travel teaching trips across the South and Midwest US while living in New York. Her husband passed while she was in New York.

In July 1953 at the opening of the Ten Year Crusade Elizabeth offered to pioneer to South Africa where her sister lived, however she ultimately decided to instead ask permission to pioneer to St. Helena, a virgin territory in the South Atlantic. She arrived there on May 4, 1954, and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. The island was isolated at this time, with monthly ship arrivals being the only contact with the outside world, and Elizabeth asked for the thoughts and prayers of the Bahá'í community to support her. The Bishop of the Church of England on the island was initially unhappy with her presence but she eventually earned his respect and presented him with some Bahá'í literature. The strong position of the Church of England on the island meant she made little progress with teaching the Faith, however by 1964 four locals had converted to the Faith. She visited Elizabeth Hopper in Madeira while living on St. Helena.

In April 1963 Elizabeth was injured in a fall and went to South Africa to recover residing there until returning to St. Helena in December 1963, however she had to move to South Africa at the close of 1964 due to circumstances in St. Helena. She served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Durban while in South Africa.

Elizabeth Stamp returned to the United States in June 1966 settling in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she died on November 11, 1970, and was buried next to her husband.

January 26. On this date in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the UHJ since 1988, died. He was previously a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe.

January 26. On this date in 2000, Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the UHJ since 1988, died. He was previously a member of the NSA of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971 and later of the NSA of the Republic of Ireland from 1972 to 1976, when he was appointed a Counsellor for Europe.

Adib Taherzadeh was born on April 29, 1921, in Yazd, Iran, into a family who had a strong association with the Bahá'í Faith since its inception. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Tehran, and then moved to Coventry, England in 1948 and pursued advanced studies.

He moved to Ireland in 1950 working as the chief engineer of an industrial concern until 1988. He married twice, first to Zarin Moosezadeh Cohen with whom he had two children, a son Tahir Ronald and a daughter Bahiyyeh Vida. He married Belfast-born Lesley Gibson in the 1970s, and they had two children, a daughter Maryam (Baskin) and a son Bahhaj. At the time of his death, he had several grandchildren.

Taherzadeh served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles from 1960 to 1971. He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland when it was formed in 1972 and was appointed in 1976 to the European Continental Board of Counsellors. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1988.

A prolific writer and gifted public speaker, Taherzadeh wrote several books on the Bahá'í history and teachings, including The Child of the Covenant, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, and the four volume The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

His career is typical for individuals in the Bahá’í hierarchy, whether in an elected office or in an appointed offce from which the higher elected officials invariably come from.

At all levels, including the LSAs, Bahá’í leaders generally as if not more authoritarian than clergy from other religious faiths, which as Dale Husband points out, is one of the Four Ways to Create a Religion of Hypocrites:

1. State that religion no longer needs clergy……and replace them with leaders that are as authoritarian as the clergy ever was.
2. Claim that men and women should be equal……but then deny women membership in the all-powerful leadership council of the religion.
3. Condemn as heretics those who believe in your religion but dare to challenge the claims of your religion’s current leadership, while at the same time claiming to welcome as friends the followers of other religions.
4. Claim there is harmony between science and religion, but also claim that anything your leaders say is absolutely true, even if on topics science is expected to address. Any one of these makes a religion not worth following, but what do you do if you find a religion that has all four such contradictions

November 11. On this date in 1970, Elizabeth Stamp, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for St. Helena, died.

November 11. On this date in 1970, Elizabeth Stamp, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for St. Helena, died.

June 14. On this date in 1876, George Townshend was born. George Townshend was an Irish Anglican clergyman. Only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church.

 





June 14. On this date in 1876, George Townshend was born. George Townshend was an Irish Anglican clergyman.  Only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church. 


Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and once said of George Townshend that he feels "Mr. Townshend's services to the Faith can best be rendered by his writing about it, as he obviously has an outstanding ability in this direction..." Of the books that Townshend wrote, Christ and Bahá’u’lláh is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after the passing of Shoghi Effendi. For example, a statement about the "first and present Guardian" has been removed and a section discussing "the lineage of succeeding Guardians" has been replaced with a section discussing "divinely guided institutions" in general.


During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had the following interaction with a Christian...

A student of the modern methods of the higher criticism asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if he would do well to continue in the church with which he had been associated all his life, and whose language was full of meaning to him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answered: “You must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this; the Kingdom of God is not in any Society; some seekers go through many Societies as a traveller goes through many cities till he reach his destination. If you belong to a Society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán. The number nine contains eight, and seven, and all the other numbers, and does not deny any of them. Do not distress or deny anyone by saying ‘He is not a Bahá’í!’

During his tour of North America in 1912, coverage in news stories would report this comment.

For example, on February 18, 1912, an article in "The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Press" featured an article stating "In some respects the Bahá’í movement is the most remarkable of modern times. It isn’t a religion, in the sense that Christianity and Mohammedism and other faiths are religions. Its followers belong to many diverse sects, remaining Christian or Mohammedan or Brahmin as the case may be, and still being thorough going Bahis." During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had stated that "You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán."

And on February 28, 1912, the "SFO Daily News" of San Francisco featured an article stating "In some respects the Bahá’í movement is the most remarkable of modern times. It isn’t a religion in the sense that Christianity and Mohammedism and other faiths are religious. Its followers belong to many diverse sects, remaining Christian or Mohammedan or Brahmin as the case mya be, and still being thorough going Bahá’ís" During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had stated that "You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán."

Similarly, on September 1, 1912, "The Oregonian" of Portland, Oregon carried an article about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, introducing him as the "Leader of Religions Movement Which Claims Three Million Followers" and quoting his statement "When in London he was approached by a student of higher criticism who asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if he should continue in the church. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied: “Yes, you must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this: the Kingdom of God is not in any society. If you belong to a society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, Bahá’í-Mohammedan.”


In fact, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had encouraged the Bahá’ís of Manchester to emulate the freemasons...

October 1921
In the Name of God! O Sincere Servant of the Blessed Beauty! 

Your detailed letter has been received, and has been the cause of the utmost joy and gladness. Praise be to God! The loved ones are all astir and active, but prudence is necessary. You have rent the veil too widely asunder. Explain to the loved ones that the rending of the veil to such an extent will be the cause of great agitation, and the harm thereof will reach to the Holy Land. Great caution is necessary. Discourses in churches and great public gatherings are in no wise permitted as in this place enemies, within and without, are lying in wait and are bent on aggression. Prudence requires that activity should, for the present, be concealed and carried on with the utmost moderation. Convey to the loved ones, one and all, on my behalf, the greatest longing, love and kindness. Give a spiritual message from me to Mr. Healds and say unto him: “Peruse the Gospel, how His Holiness Christ – may my life be a sacrifice to Him – says, ‘Conceal it, that the Pharisees may not be informed thereof.’ Now the same condition prevails.”

This matter is of the greatest importance. On no account let them contribute articles to the newspapers, and so long as they are not sure of any soul, let them breath no word to him. Consider how the Freemasons have for two hundred years carried on their work, and unto this day they have not openly declared it to any soul. Not until they find a hearing ear will they speak. The loved ones too must proceed with the greatest prudence, lest serious difficulties be created. If any one should travel to the Holy Land, he must on no account declare to anyone by the way that his purpose is to visit us. The loved ones must, in the presence of strangers, speak forth simply the teachings of the Blessed Beauty and mention no word of the belief concerning Him. Should anyone inquire, “What is your belief regarding the Blessed Beauty?” let them answer: “We regard Him as the foremost teacher and educator of these later ages and Abdu’l-Baha as the Centre of His Covenant.”

The original scanned document can be found at http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/docs/vol13/Barstow_600-623.pdf , where it is labeled BC#608. It was published through H-Net's Documents on the Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Movements

Numerous statement by Shoghi Effendi would later contradict these statements, with Bahá’ís being explicity prohibited in associating with any other faiths.
For example...

1387. Bahá'ís Belonging to Churches, Synagogues, Freemasonry and the Like
"As regards the question of Bahá'ís belonging to churches, synagogues, Freemasonry, etc., the friends must realize that now that the Faith is over 100 years old, and its own institutions arising, so to speak, rapidly above-ground, the distinctions are becoming ever sharper, and the necessity for them to support whole-heartedly their own institutions and cut themselves off entirely from those of the past, is now clearer than ever before. The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Bahá'ís, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions wholeheartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary.
"There is another aspect to this question which the friends should seriously ponder, and that is that, whereas organizations such as Freemasonry may have been in the past entirely free from any political taint, in the state of flux the world is in at present, and the extraordinary way in which things become corrupted and tainted by political thought and influences, there is no guarantee that such an association might not gradually or suddenly become a political instrument. The less Bahá'ís have to do, therefore, with such things, the better."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, August 5, 1955)

And also...
1389. Why Bahá'ís Are Requested to Withdraw from Membership in the Church, Synagogue, etc.

"The point is not that there is something intrinsically wrong with Masonry, which no doubt has many very high ideals and principles, and has had a very good influence in the past.
"The reasons why the Guardian feels that it is imperative for the Bahá'ís to be dissociated from masonry at this time, and I might add, other secret associations, is that we are the building blocks of Bahá'u'lláh's New World Order ... the Bahá'ís should be absolutely independent, and stand identified only with their own teachings. That is why they are requested to withdraw from membership in the church, the synagogue, or whatever other previous religious organization they may have been affiliated with, to have nothing whatsoever to do with secret societies, or with political movements, etc. It protects the Cause, it reinforces the Cause, and it asserts before all the world its independent character.
"Another reason is that unfortunately the tremendous political influences in the world today are seeping deeper and deeper into men's minds; and movements which in the past were absolutely uninfluenced by any political tinge of thought now in many places are becoming infiltrated with political side-taking and political issues; and it becomes all the more important for the Bahá'ís to withdraw from them in order to protect the Faith.
"The Guardian believes that you, as an intelligent man, a Bahá'í, will see the need for this. It is only by all living according to general principles that we can knit the fabric of the Faith all over the world into a closer unity.
"He is fully aware that certain individuals are struck much more forcibly by such requests than others. This has been the case with some of the old Bahá'ís in England, who have been Masons from their boyhood on; but, as it is his duty to protect the Faith, he can only appeal to the Bahá'ís to assist him in doing so; and to consider the general good, rather than their personal feelings, however deep they may be, in such matters."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 12, 1956)

Numerous statements by Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice would later contradict these statements, with Bahá’ís being explicity prohibited in associating with any other faiths.

On July 24, 1954, a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of Japan stated that "So far as non-Bahá'ís affiliating with the Bahá'í Faith is concerned, either a person becomes a Bahá'í and accepts Bahá'u'lláh as the divine Manifestation for this day, or he does not...they can only become Bahá'ís on the basis of accepting Bahá'u'lláh as a divine Manifestation, and of course, with this goes the acceptance of the Bab as the Forerunner, and Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant, and the present Administrative Order. When a person has reached the sea of immortality, it is idle to keep seeking elsewhere."

1384. Affiliation with Faith Alone is Insufficient
"So far as non-Bahá'ís affiliating with the Bahá'í Faith is concerned, either a person becomes a Bahá'í and accepts Bahá'u'lláh as the divine Manifestation for this day, or he does not. The tenets of the Bahá'í Faith are simple as outlined by the Guardian, but they do not permit of any variations. In other words, if any members of the ... Movement wish to become Bahá'ís, they will be most welcome; but they can only become Bahá'ís on the basis of accepting Bahá'u'lláh as a divine Manifestation, and of course, with this goes the acceptance of the Bab as the Forerunner, and Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant, and the present Administrative Order.
"When a person has reached the sea of immortality, it is idle to keep seeking elsewhere...."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of Japan, July 24, 1953: Japan Will Turn Ablaze, pp. 76-77)

For example, on August 5, 1955, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter to an individual believer...

1387. Bahá'ís Belonging to Churches, Synagogues,Freemasonry and the Like
"As regards the question of Bahá'ís belonging to churches, synagogues, Freemasonry, etc., the friends must realize that now that the Faith is over 100 years old, and its own institutions arising, so to speak, rapidly above-ground, the distinctions are becoming ever sharper, and the necessity for them to support whole-heartedly their own institutions and cut themselves off entirely from those of the past, is now clearer than ever before. The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Bahá'ís, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions wholeheartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary.
"There is another aspect to this question which the friends should seriously ponder, and that is that, whereas organizations such as Freemasonry may have been in the past entirely free from any political taint, in the state of flux the world is in at present, and the extraordinary way in which things become corrupted and tainted by political thought and influences, there is no guarantee that such an association might not gradually or suddenly become a political instrument. The less Bahá'ís have to do, therefore, with such things, the better."

And also...

1389. Why Bahá'ís Are Requested to Withdraw from Membership in the Church, Synagogue, etc.
"The point is not that there is something intrinsically wrong with Masonry, which no doubt has many very high ideals and principles, and has had a very good influence in the past.
"The reasons why the Guardian feels that it is imperative for the Bahá'ís to be dissociated from masonry at this time, and I might add, other secret associations, is that we are the building blocks of Bahá'u'lláh's New World Order ... the Bahá'ís should be absolutely independent, and stand identified only with their own teachings. That is why they are requested to withdraw from membership in the church, the synagogue, or whatever other previous religious organization they may have been affiliated with, to have nothing whatsoever to do with secret societies, or with political movements, etc. It protects the Cause, it reinforces the Cause, and it asserts before all the world its independent character.
"Another reason is that unfortunately the tremendous political influences in the world today are seeping deeper and deeper into men's minds; and movements which in the past were absolutely uninfluenced by any political tinge of thought now in many places are becoming infiltrated with political side-taking and political issues; and it becomes all the more important for the Bahá'ís to withdraw from them in order to protect the Faith.
"The Guardian believes that you, as an intelligent man, a Bahá'í, will see the need for this. It is only by all living according to general principles that we can knit the fabric of the Faith all over the world into a closer unity.
"He is fully aware that certain individuals are struck much more forcibly by such requests than others. This has been the case with some of the old Bahá'ís in England, who have been Masons from their boyhood on; but, as it is his duty to protect the Faith, he can only appeal to the Bahá'ís to assist him in doing so; and to consider the general good, rather than their personal feelings, however deep they may be, in such matters."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 12, 1956)

On November 21, 1968, a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland stated that "If a person is registered as a member of a church or similar religious organization he should withdraw from it on becoming a Bahá'í...one cannot be a Bahá'í and also a member of another religious organization...For a Bahá'í to be a member of a community which holds such beliefs is disloyalty to Christ and hypocrisy towards the Christians."

532. On Becoming a Bahá'í Should Withdraw from Church
"If a person is registered as a member of a church or similar religious organization he should withdraw from it on becoming a Bahá'í.
"In the case of new believers, it should be made clear to them in the course of teaching them the Faith that one cannot be a Bahá'í and also a member of another religious organization. This is simply a matter of straight-forwardness and honesty. A great part of the teaching of Jesus Christ concerned His Second Coming and the preparation of His followers to be ready for it. The Bahá'ís believe He has come. No Christian Church believes this; on the contrary, they either look for Him still, or have ceased to believe that He will come. For a Bahá'í to be a member of a community which holds such beliefs is disloyalty to Christ and hypocrisy towards the Christians.
"You should not formalize the method by which the withdrawal from the church is to be made, and certainly nothing should be added to a declaration form, if you use one. It should be left to the Local Spiritual Assembly which is accepting the declaration to satisfy itself, as it deems best in each case, that the new believer has already resigned from the church, or does so within a reasonable time of his declaration.
"In regard to the old believers, your Assembly should tactfully, and in a kindly way, make the Bahá'í position clear to them and gently persuade them to resign from their former churches. This is a matter for great tact and discretion. If such a believer remains adamant you will have to consider depriving him of his voting rights."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland, November 21, 1968: Canadian Bahá'í News, Special Section, March 1973, p. 6) 

June 10. On this date in 1919, George Townshend, an Irish Anglican clergyman, wrote his first letter to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and received a reply six weeks later. George Townshend became a Bahá'í a few months later, but only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church.

 

June 10. On this date in 1919, George Townshend, an Irish Anglican clergyman, wrote his first letter to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and received a reply six weeks later. George Townshend became a Bahá'í a few months later, but only in 1947, at the age of 70, did Townshend renounce his orders to the Anglican Church.

Shoghi Effendi designated him a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and once said of George Townshend that he feels "Mr. Townshend's services to the Faith can best be rendered by his writing about it, as he obviously has an outstanding ability in this direction..." Of the books that Townshend wrote, Christ and Bahá’u’lláh is notable for the changes made from the original publication to subsequent editions published after the passing of Shoghi Effendi. For example, a statement about the "first and present Guardian" has been removed and a section discussing "the lineage of succeeding Guardians" has been replaced with a section discussing "divinely guided institutions" in general.


During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had the following interaction with a Christian...

A student of the modern methods of the higher criticism asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if he would do well to continue in the church with which he had been associated all his life, and whose language was full of meaning to him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answered: “You must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this; the Kingdom of God is not in any Society; some seekers go through many Societies as a traveller goes through many cities till he reach his destination. If you belong to a Society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán. The number nine contains eight, and seven, and all the other numbers, and does not deny any of them. Do not distress or deny anyone by saying ‘He is not a Bahá’í!’

During his tour of North America in 1912, coverage in news stories would report this comment.

For example, on February 18, 1912, an article in "The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Press" featured an article stating "In some respects the Bahá’í movement is the most remarkable of modern times. It isn’t a religion, in the sense that Christianity and Mohammedism and other faiths are religions. Its followers belong to many diverse sects, remaining Christian or Mohammedan or Brahmin as the case may be, and still being thorough going Bahis." During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had stated that "You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán."

And on February 28, 1912, the "SFO Daily News" of San Francisco featured an article stating "In some respects the Bahá’í movement is the most remarkable of modern times. It isn’t a religion in the sense that Christianity and Mohammedism and other faiths are religious. Its followers belong to many diverse sects, remaining Christian or Mohammedan or Brahmin as the case mya be, and still being thorough going Bahá’ís" During his visit to London in 1911, 'Abdu’l-Bahá had stated that "You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, a Bahá’í-Muḥammadán."

Similarly, on September 1, 1912, "The Oregonian" of Portland, Oregon carried an article about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, introducing him as the "Leader of Religions Movement Which Claims Three Million Followers" and quoting his statement "When in London he was approached by a student of higher criticism who asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if he should continue in the church. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied: “Yes, you must not dissociate yourself from it. Know this: the Kingdom of God is not in any society. If you belong to a society already do not forsake your brothers. You can be a Bahá’í-Christian, a Bahá’í-Freemason, a Bahá’í-Jew, Bahá’í-Mohammedan.”


In fact, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had encouraged the Bahá’ís of Manchester to emulate the freemasons...

October 1921
In the Name of God! O Sincere Servant of the Blessed Beauty! 

Your detailed letter has been received, and has been the cause of the utmost joy and gladness. Praise be to God! The loved ones are all astir and active, but prudence is necessary. You have rent the veil too widely asunder. Explain to the loved ones that the rending of the veil to such an extent will be the cause of great agitation, and the harm thereof will reach to the Holy Land. Great caution is necessary. Discourses in churches and great public gatherings are in no wise permitted as in this place enemies, within and without, are lying in wait and are bent on aggression. Prudence requires that activity should, for the present, be concealed and carried on with the utmost moderation. Convey to the loved ones, one and all, on my behalf, the greatest longing, love and kindness. Give a spiritual message from me to Mr. Healds and say unto him: “Peruse the Gospel, how His Holiness Christ – may my life be a sacrifice to Him – says, ‘Conceal it, that the Pharisees may not be informed thereof.’ Now the same condition prevails.”

This matter is of the greatest importance. On no account let them contribute articles to the newspapers, and so long as they are not sure of any soul, let them breath no word to him. Consider how the Freemasons have for two hundred years carried on their work, and unto this day they have not openly declared it to any soul. Not until they find a hearing ear will they speak. The loved ones too must proceed with the greatest prudence, lest serious difficulties be created. If any one should travel to the Holy Land, he must on no account declare to anyone by the way that his purpose is to visit us. The loved ones must, in the presence of strangers, speak forth simply the teachings of the Blessed Beauty and mention no word of the belief concerning Him. Should anyone inquire, “What is your belief regarding the Blessed Beauty?” let them answer: “We regard Him as the foremost teacher and educator of these later ages and Abdu’l-Baha as the Centre of His Covenant.”

The original scanned document can be found at http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/docs/vol13/Barstow_600-623.pdf , where it is labeled BC#608. It was published through H-Net's Documents on the Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Movements

Numerous statement by Shoghi Effendi would later contradict these statements, with Bahá’ís being explicity prohibited in associating with any other faiths.
For example...

1387. Bahá'ís Belonging to Churches, Synagogues, Freemasonry and the Like
"As regards the question of Bahá'ís belonging to churches, synagogues, Freemasonry, etc., the friends must realize that now that the Faith is over 100 years old, and its own institutions arising, so to speak, rapidly above-ground, the distinctions are becoming ever sharper, and the necessity for them to support whole-heartedly their own institutions and cut themselves off entirely from those of the past, is now clearer than ever before. The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Bahá'ís, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions wholeheartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary.
"There is another aspect to this question which the friends should seriously ponder, and that is that, whereas organizations such as Freemasonry may have been in the past entirely free from any political taint, in the state of flux the world is in at present, and the extraordinary way in which things become corrupted and tainted by political thought and influences, there is no guarantee that such an association might not gradually or suddenly become a political instrument. The less Bahá'ís have to do, therefore, with such things, the better."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, August 5, 1955)

And also...
1389. Why Bahá'ís Are Requested to Withdraw from Membership in the Church, Synagogue, etc.

"The point is not that there is something intrinsically wrong with Masonry, which no doubt has many very high ideals and principles, and has had a very good influence in the past.
"The reasons why the Guardian feels that it is imperative for the Bahá'ís to be dissociated from masonry at this time, and I might add, other secret associations, is that we are the building blocks of Bahá'u'lláh's New World Order ... the Bahá'ís should be absolutely independent, and stand identified only with their own teachings. That is why they are requested to withdraw from membership in the church, the synagogue, or whatever other previous religious organization they may have been affiliated with, to have nothing whatsoever to do with secret societies, or with political movements, etc. It protects the Cause, it reinforces the Cause, and it asserts before all the world its independent character.
"Another reason is that unfortunately the tremendous political influences in the world today are seeping deeper and deeper into men's minds; and movements which in the past were absolutely uninfluenced by any political tinge of thought now in many places are becoming infiltrated with political side-taking and political issues; and it becomes all the more important for the Bahá'ís to withdraw from them in order to protect the Faith.
"The Guardian believes that you, as an intelligent man, a Bahá'í, will see the need for this. It is only by all living according to general principles that we can knit the fabric of the Faith all over the world into a closer unity.
"He is fully aware that certain individuals are struck much more forcibly by such requests than others. This has been the case with some of the old Bahá'ís in England, who have been Masons from their boyhood on; but, as it is his duty to protect the Faith, he can only appeal to the Bahá'ís to assist him in doing so; and to consider the general good, rather than their personal feelings, however deep they may be, in such matters."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 12, 1956)

Numerous statements by Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice would later contradict these statements, with Bahá’ís being explicity prohibited in associating with any other faiths.

On July 24, 1954, a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of Japan stated that "So far as non-Bahá'ís affiliating with the Bahá'í Faith is concerned, either a person becomes a Bahá'í and accepts Bahá'u'lláh as the divine Manifestation for this day, or he does not...they can only become Bahá'ís on the basis of accepting Bahá'u'lláh as a divine Manifestation, and of course, with this goes the acceptance of the Bab as the Forerunner, and Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant, and the present Administrative Order. When a person has reached the sea of immortality, it is idle to keep seeking elsewhere."

1384. Affiliation with Faith Alone is Insufficient
"So far as non-Bahá'ís affiliating with the Bahá'í Faith is concerned, either a person becomes a Bahá'í and accepts Bahá'u'lláh as the divine Manifestation for this day, or he does not. The tenets of the Bahá'í Faith are simple as outlined by the Guardian, but they do not permit of any variations. In other words, if any members of the ... Movement wish to become Bahá'ís, they will be most welcome; but they can only become Bahá'ís on the basis of accepting Bahá'u'lláh as a divine Manifestation, and of course, with this goes the acceptance of the Bab as the Forerunner, and Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant, and the present Administrative Order.
"When a person has reached the sea of immortality, it is idle to keep seeking elsewhere...."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of Japan, July 24, 1953: Japan Will Turn Ablaze, pp. 76-77)

For example, on August 5, 1955, Shoghi Effendi addressed a letter to an individual believer...

1387. Bahá'ís Belonging to Churches, Synagogues,Freemasonry and the Like
"As regards the question of Bahá'ís belonging to churches, synagogues, Freemasonry, etc., the friends must realize that now that the Faith is over 100 years old, and its own institutions arising, so to speak, rapidly above-ground, the distinctions are becoming ever sharper, and the necessity for them to support whole-heartedly their own institutions and cut themselves off entirely from those of the past, is now clearer than ever before. The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Bahá'ís, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions wholeheartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary.
"There is another aspect to this question which the friends should seriously ponder, and that is that, whereas organizations such as Freemasonry may have been in the past entirely free from any political taint, in the state of flux the world is in at present, and the extraordinary way in which things become corrupted and tainted by political thought and influences, there is no guarantee that such an association might not gradually or suddenly become a political instrument. The less Bahá'ís have to do, therefore, with such things, the better."

And also...

1389. Why Bahá'ís Are Requested to Withdraw from Membership in the Church, Synagogue, etc.
"The point is not that there is something intrinsically wrong with Masonry, which no doubt has many very high ideals and principles, and has had a very good influence in the past.
"The reasons why the Guardian feels that it is imperative for the Bahá'ís to be dissociated from masonry at this time, and I might add, other secret associations, is that we are the building blocks of Bahá'u'lláh's New World Order ... the Bahá'ís should be absolutely independent, and stand identified only with their own teachings. That is why they are requested to withdraw from membership in the church, the synagogue, or whatever other previous religious organization they may have been affiliated with, to have nothing whatsoever to do with secret societies, or with political movements, etc. It protects the Cause, it reinforces the Cause, and it asserts before all the world its independent character.
"Another reason is that unfortunately the tremendous political influences in the world today are seeping deeper and deeper into men's minds; and movements which in the past were absolutely uninfluenced by any political tinge of thought now in many places are becoming infiltrated with political side-taking and political issues; and it becomes all the more important for the Bahá'ís to withdraw from them in order to protect the Faith.
"The Guardian believes that you, as an intelligent man, a Bahá'í, will see the need for this. It is only by all living according to general principles that we can knit the fabric of the Faith all over the world into a closer unity.
"He is fully aware that certain individuals are struck much more forcibly by such requests than others. This has been the case with some of the old Bahá'ís in England, who have been Masons from their boyhood on; but, as it is his duty to protect the Faith, he can only appeal to the Bahá'ís to assist him in doing so; and to consider the general good, rather than their personal feelings, however deep they may be, in such matters."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 12, 1956)

On November 21, 1968, a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland stated that "If a person is registered as a member of a church or similar religious organization he should withdraw from it on becoming a Bahá'í...one cannot be a Bahá'í and also a member of another religious organization...For a Bahá'í to be a member of a community which holds such beliefs is disloyalty to Christ and hypocrisy towards the Christians."

532. On Becoming a Bahá'í Should Withdraw from Church
"If a person is registered as a member of a church or similar religious organization he should withdraw from it on becoming a Bahá'í.
"In the case of new believers, it should be made clear to them in the course of teaching them the Faith that one cannot be a Bahá'í and also a member of another religious organization. This is simply a matter of straight-forwardness and honesty. A great part of the teaching of Jesus Christ concerned His Second Coming and the preparation of His followers to be ready for it. The Bahá'ís believe He has come. No Christian Church believes this; on the contrary, they either look for Him still, or have ceased to believe that He will come. For a Bahá'í to be a member of a community which holds such beliefs is disloyalty to Christ and hypocrisy towards the Christians.
"You should not formalize the method by which the withdrawal from the church is to be made, and certainly nothing should be added to a declaration form, if you use one. It should be left to the Local Spiritual Assembly which is accepting the declaration to satisfy itself, as it deems best in each case, that the new believer has already resigned from the church, or does so within a reasonable time of his declaration.
"In regard to the old believers, your Assembly should tactfully, and in a kindly way, make the Bahá'í position clear to them and gently persuade them to resign from their former churches. This is a matter for great tact and discretion. If such a believer remains adamant you will have to consider depriving him of his voting rights."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland, November 21, 1968: Canadian Bahá'í News, Special Section, March 1973, p. 6)