Excerpts from Bahá'í Magazine Star of the West related to The Netherlands (1910-1935)

compiled by Arjen Bolhuis
published in Star of the West
2002

The below items I have found using the Search Tool of the CD-Rom 'Star of the West', searching for the words 'Netherlands', 'Holland', The Hague', 'Den Haag' and 'Amsterdam'. There were more results, but they don't directly relate to relate to the growth and development of the Bahá'í Faith in The Netherlands. Those results refer to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablet to the Hague', a well-known Tablet, The Hague Tribunal, Esperanto etcetera.

To make reading more comfortable, I have adapted the words 'Abdul-Baha', 'Baha'o'llah', 'Bahai' 'Abha' and 'Allah'o'Abha' to the spelling currently used in the Bahá'í World. Other names I have left as in the original publication in 'Star of the West'.

Comments within square brackets are my own. [-A.B.]

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Vol. 2, No. 10, p. 4 (September 8, 1911):

Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

To Adolph M. Dahl, Pittsburgh, Pa.

He is God!

O thou servant of God!

Thy letter was received. Praise be to God, that the call of the Kingdom of Abhá reached Pittsburgh. Should the friends of God show firmness and steadfastness. the ray of the light of the Kingdom of Abhá will shine and that state and city will become illuminated.

Endeavor thou that thou mayest study the Persian language thoroughly, so that thou mayest read the Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh and comprehend their meanings.

In reality, if someone should go to the Netherlands and engage in teaching the Truth great results would follow. Although such a person cannot be found for the present, yet before long he shall be discovered.

I supplicate and entreat at the Kingdom of Abhá and ask heavenly confirmation for thee. Perchance, God willing, at some future date we may meet each other.

Upon thee be the Glory of God!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

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Vol. 5, No. 19, p. 293 (March 2, 1915):

THE PASSING OF DANIEL JENKYN

To the Editors of the Star of the West:

74 Sinclair Road, Kensington,

London, W., England, Jan. 1915.

Dear sister in the Faith, Miss Buikema:

It is with sincere grief I have to tell you of the "passing on" of our dear brother, Mr. Daniel Jenkyn, of St. Ives, in Cornwall. He died from the effects of a prolonged and serious attack of influenza. I had occasion to visit St. Ives during the month of November and I saw him during the latter part of the month. He was then better and we all hoped for a speedy restoration to health; but a short while afterwards he had a serious relapse from which he never recovered, and he passed away on December 31st.

He was a most spiritually minded young man, a very sincere, ardent Bahá'í and a most hard worker for the blessed Cause. Not long since he visited Holland for the purpose of meeting some of those attracted to the Movement and confirming their faith. He joined the Christian Commonwealth Fellowship and found that association brought him into contact with numbers of earnest seekers for the truth and reality of the Bahá'í teachings. He undertook a vast correspondence in connection with the Faith and by this means did a great amount of teaching.

We all most deeply deplore his loss, which will be much felt in all the English groups. I have asked Mirza Lotfullah Hakim, who was his close personal friend, to enclose a copy of the last letter he received from Mr. Daniel Jenkyn, for it breathes a most ardent and uplifting spirit of devotion which will prove an inspiration to us all. If you can find space in the Star of the West for this short account of him, we shall greatly appreciate it.

Believe me,

Yours, in the Center of the Covenant,

Ethel J. Rosenberg,

Honorable Secretary of the

Bahai Society in London.

LETTER FROM LOTFULLAH S. HAKIM

13 Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush,

London W., England, Jan. 1915.

Alláh'u'Abhá!

My dear spiritual sister, Miss Buikema:

I am enclosing Miss Rosenberg's letter about our dear brother, Mr. Daniel Jenkyn, who has passed into the wider and more peaceful life.

Am sending you, also, a copy of the last letter which I had from him, which he wrote me during his illness. His letter will show what a wonderful spirit he had and how firm and steadfast he was in our beloved 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Center of the Covenant. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in a Tablet to me, which was received in 1912, wrote: "Convey to Mr. Daniel Jenkyn the utmost greeting of Abhá. I ask God that he may become subject of great grace. Continue correspondence with him." He and I had corresponded with each other since 1911. In another Tablet to me, which was received in 1913, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote: "Also write to Mr. Daniel Jenkyn that, 'Always I am expecting, from the confirmation of the Kingdom, holy breaths and the attraction of ecstasy, that thou mayest become so joyful and happy that thou mayest raise the heavenly song'."

Enclosed you will also find a copy of two Tablets which he received from 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

I enclose a photograph of Mr. Jenkyn and me together, which was taken about two years ago.

Truly he was my closest friend and our loss is his gain.

I will close now with the deepest grief and sorrow and no doubt all the friends will be sincerely mournful because of his departure.

With best Bahá'í love and greetings to you and all the friends there,

Yours very sincerely in the service of the Prince of Peace, the Center of the Covenant,

(Signed) Lotfullah S. Hakim.

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Vol. 5, No. 19, p. 294 (March 2, 1915):

DANIEL JENKYN'S LETTER

3 Bowling Green,

St. Ives, Cornwall, England,

Nov. 22, 1914.

Alláh'u'Abhá!

My dear Lotfullah:

I feel sure you have excused me for delay in answering your kind letter of the 10th. I have had an attack of influenza from which I am quickly getting better and looking forward soon to be in much better working order than I have been of late.

Thanks for news of Remey and Latimer and am delighted to hear of their mission in America. How one longs to have been in Acca during the two weeks they were there. Would it not build one up to be strong against the war forces that impregnate the atmosphere of Europe! "The wrong side of human character is up." "The world is topsy turvy!" as 'Abdu'l-Bahá says.

It is cheering to know that the friends in Persia are progressing well and that they are thinking and praying for us here in Europe.

Oh! if the Bahá'ís were more in number and more powerful in spirit so that they could have prevented this carnage! We are not yet a great influence in the world, as the beloved 'Abdu'l-Bahá wants to see, and yet be says: "A weak man can, through assistance, become a strong man, a drop can become a sea… through the assistance of God any one of us can perform wonders."

Are not the words very fine in the Tablet to Mr. Joseph H. Hannen: "The members of the Bahá'í Assemblies must be infinitely kind towards each other and all their deliberations must be concerning the Kingdom of Abhá… The candles of all the meetings must be the mention of God, the propagation of the Cause of God, the exposition of Divine Proofs and the elucidation of the principles of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh." I thank you very much for sending me this further installment of the Diary which contains so many things to encourage and inspire us to work and to follow the example of the beloved 'Abdu'l-Bahá who labors night and day for the cause of Peace and Unity.

I have a postal card from the Rev. Wormhout, saying that he is in America.

Dr. Cheyne's book is very interesting and I am in the course of reading it. Am delighted to read his mention of you on page 164. I enjoyed his reference to Bahá'u'lláh on page 5, "a true image of God and a true lover of man." I will write other points that strike me, another time.

But I must refer to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's words in the Diary, for they are very beautiful: "In prayer one must turn his face towards the sanctified Reality of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh – that Reality which surrounds all the phenomena. During the time of prayer His Holiness, Bahá'u'lláh, must be singly and alone the center towards whom all the faces are turned."

As you no doubt know, Miss Rosenberg is here in St. Ives, but I have not been able to see her yet. 1 hope to tomorrow or Tuesday, if she can then call. Am also expecting a visit from Mr. Wright tomorrow.

We join in love to you and to all and may the Feast of the Appointment of the Center of the Covenant, on the 26th, be a blessed one for all the friends. May we all on that day resolve to follow him more closely and lovingly!

Sincerely your brother in His service,

(Signed) Daniel Jenkyn.

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Vol. 5, No. 19, p. 295 (March 2, 1915):

TABLETS TO DANIEL JENKYN

Through his honor Mirza Ali Akbar Rafsanjani,

to his honor Mr. Daniel Jenkyn.

Upon him be Bahá'u'lláh-El-Abhá!

He is God!

O thou who art confirmed by the Divine Spirit!

A thousand times bravo because thou didst forego the physical comfort and rest in order to proclaim the glad-tidings of the heavenly illumination. Thou didst gird up the loins of service and traveled to Holland to diffuse the Fragrances of God. Shouldst thou realize how blessed is this trip, unquestionably thou wouldst not rest for one moment, and uninterruptedly thou wouldst engage in the promotion of the Cause of the Almighty. Thou didst well to hasten from London to Holland.

With his heart and spirit Abdu'l-Bahá was thy guide and companion. Although in body he was far, yet in spirit he was near. I hope from the bestowals of the Lord of Hosts, His Holiness the Promised One, that this voyage may assume the importance of the voyage of Peter and Paul when the latter went to Antioch. Consider what important results that voyage had. Now the results of thy journey will be greater than that. Know thou this of a certainty.

Upon thee be Bahá'u'l-Abhá! I

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab,

Nov. 19, 1913, Ramleh, Egypt.

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Through Aga Mirza Lotfullah Hakim, London,

to Mr. Daniel Jenkyn.

Upon him be Bahá'u'lláh-El-Abhá!

He is God!

O thou who art attracted to the Truth!

Many of the philosophers of the world and the great men of different nations wished to attain the Truth, but they were deprived. Then praise thou God that thou hast reached to the essence of the Truth and thou hast heard the proclamation of the Kingdom and the teachings of the Lord of Hosts. Through this great favor thou hast prospered and become victorious.

I pray, on thy behalf, that thou mayest become the proclaimer of God in that city, that thou mayest awake the sleepers and warn the negligent; that thou mayest become lighted like a torch and bestow the light of guidance.

Upon thee be Bahá'u'l-Abhá!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

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Vol. 9, No. 11, p. 125 (September 27, 1918):

[Circa June 1914 – Author not mentioned, translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi]

In these days, Mr. C. Mason Remey and Mr. George Latimer visited Paris, Germany and Holland. They attracted many people in Europe and strengthened the souls in the great Covenant.

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Vol. 11, No. 19, p. 315-6 (March 2, 1921):

"How is it possible to imagine life after death?"

Recent Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to J. Isbrucker

To the maid servant of God, J. Isbrucker, Den Haag, Holland – Unto her be greeting and praise!

He is God!

O thou who art searching for truth!

Thy letter has been received. Thou has written that Agha Mirza Ahmed Khan (Yazdani) has given some explanation of the Bahá'í Cause to thee. What thou hast written is right, that the Bahá'í Religion is Truth and other institutions compared to the Bahá'í Religion are not reality and are without any great results. Although in the sight of the people they seem to have a true foundation, yet they are like unto a fruitless tree. There are so many trees that are apparently huge and cast a shadow, yet they are not productive of any fruit and so they will be ultimately uprooted, as thou hast observed and wilt observe. The Divine Institution is, however, a tree whose shadow is extended over the East and the West and every moment brings forth wonderful fruits, as experience has shown.

Thou hast written, "How is it possible that one should obey and submit to an unjust government?" By the government which should be obeyed is meant a just government which protects the rights of all its people. It is a constitutional government which is bound by stringent laws.

Thou has written, "How is it possible to imagine a life after death?" Verily, verily, life after death is not imaginable. But do thou observe that it is evident man has evolved from the mineral world. As long as he was in the mineral kingdom, he could not imagine the vegetable kingdom. He was transferred to the vegetable kingdom. In the vegetable kingdom he could not imagine the animal kingdom. Before he emerged from the animal kingdom he could not imagine the stage of human reason and intelligence, that is, it was impossible for him, he did not have any knowledge thereof.

Now this earth and these trees have, by no means, any knowledge of the animal and human worlds: they cannot imagine them, they deny existence absolutely. While the human world is helping the animal and assisting the vegetable kingdoms, the vegetable kingdom is ignorant of it. Similarly the human world cannot comprehend the world of the Kingdom: it is absolutely ignorant of it, while the heavenly spirits have influence in the human world.

Do thou observe how clear this point is and yet the professors and philosophers of the world are ignorant of this reality! The mediums are, however, speaking of the world of thought and not of reality. But a heavenly soul who is conscious of the Divine World: whose discerning eye is open: who is detached from the world of nature, and has attained to spiritual power is cognizant of the Divine World and those of the spirits. Reality is pure spirit, it is not physical: that is, it does not occupy space.

Ye should esteem Mirza Ahmed Khan (Yazdani) highly, because it was he who gave ye this great glad tiding. Through the graces of God do I hope that that country will be enkindled with heavenly Light: that the Divine verses will be chanted, and that such souls may be confirmed as to become like unto Paul and Mary Magdalene.

Unto thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

(Translated by Azizullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, October 15th, 1920.)

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Vol. 11, No. 19, p. 323-4 (March 2, 1921):

PETER BUIKEMA

Our faithful co-worker on the Star of the West, Miss Gertrude Buikema, has suffered the breaking of the tender ties of home through the death of her father, Peter Buikema, at Chicago, January 27, 1921.

Born in Province Groningen, Netherlands, January 15, 1835, he lived more than the allotted three-score years and ten in this limited world. With splendid vigor of soul, characteristic of his nationality, he entered the larger life with perfect trust in God.

The presence of the great number of friends who came to pay their respects to the departed, was a testimony to the spiritual life of this family. The warm tributes of the pastor of the Holland Reformed Church where Mr. Buikema attended, found a response in the hearts of the large gathering of Bahá'ís, Christians, and others present. The Bahá'í "Benediction," sung at the close of the service, calmed all hearts by its spiritual blessing.

In extending our sympathy to the bereaved, we realize our words are inadequate, and know that only the Words of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá express the comfort we would endeavor to express. From every hand, where the news has reached, have come letters of condolence to our co-worker, Miss Buikema. On behalf of the Bahá'ís everywhere, we extend to our esteemed sister heartfelt love and sympathy.

A.R.W.

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Vol. 12, No. 3, p. 57-8 (April 28, 1921):

GEORGE LATIMER.

To Mr. George Latimer, Portland – Unto him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!

He is God!

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

Praise be unto God, that thou wert confirmed to visit many of the Assemblies and see the attractive faces of the friends.

His honor Fazel is verily of the utmost sincerity, without any desire save service to the Cause of God. Miss Martha Root is a loved maid-servant of God. My hope is that Miss Martha Root and Mrs. Lucy Wilson will be assisted and confirmed to attain to perfect spirituality and enlightenment. Mr. Agnew is a truthful servant of God and Mr. Wilhelm self-sacrificial. Of course you see how they are, at every assembly, confirmed to deliver eloquent speeches.

Do thou always keep up thy correspondence with the friends in Germany, Japan and Australia. I am praying to God to enable some active teachers to arise and give light unto the horizons of America. The erection of the monument to the memory of his honor Agha Mirza Abul Fazl is very appropriate and advisable.

Convey the utmost love, on my behalf, to Mr. and Mrs. Weed and family. Verily they have done their best, with the utmost sincerity, in the formation of meetings. This service has been accepted in the Kingdom of Abhá.

His honor Mr. Remey, that luminous person and heavenly man, is occupied in service in Germany and Holland. He does not rest for a moment and does not breathe but to raise the call to the Kingdom of God.

Unto thee be the Glory of Abhá!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

(Translated by Azizullah S. Bahadur, Haifa, September 17, 1920.

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Vol. 12, No. 4, p. 72 (May 17, 1921):

[From a report of the Ridván Feast in Chicago, 1921, written by Louis G. Gregory]

…Miss Alma Knobloch was introduced as one who had answered that call, the little woman who went into Germany and captured the hearts. She said in part: "I thank you for the privilege of presenting the greetings of the German believers. It is indeed a great pleasure to mention the spread of the blessed Cause in Europe. It is the unification of the nations through the vital principles of prosperity. It thrills to hear of the efforts in Paris to study the Holy Words, also the efforts of some of these friends in European countries, such as the work of Miss Edith Sanderson and others in Switzerland, rejoicing the hearts. In England there have been new life and energy since the return of Dr. Esselmont from the Holy Land. Through divine favor a rich harvest will appear in time. Fervent calls have come from Holland for the establishment of centers. We pray that God may favor them. …