Hugh Chance
From Bahaikipedia
| Hugh Emery Chance | |
 |
|
| Born | December 28, 1911 Winfield, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Died | March 25, 1998 Winfield, Kansas |
| Resting place | Tisdale Cemetery |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| NSA member | United States, 1961 - 1963 |
| UHJ member | 1963 - 1993 |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Chamberlain |
| Children | Mary Ann |
Hugh Chance (December 28, 1911 - March 25, 1998)[1] was a member of the Universal House of Justice from 1963 to 1993.
Hugh Chance was born in Winfield, Kansas on 28 December 1911. The next year the family moved to a farm near Tisdale, just six miles east. There he lived the life of a typical farm boy for the next ten years. In 1922 the family moved to Davenport, IA so his father could attend Palmer Chiropractic College after a chiropractic session cleared up a headache that had plagued him for years.
After high school Hugh Chance attended Cornell then law school at the University of Iowa. He obtained his Juris Doctors degree in 1934. Just before graduation that year, he married Margaret Chamberlain, a school teacher he had met in college. He opened his own law practice while she taught school.
In 1943 he enlisted in the US navy. His father’s parting words were, “If you’re ever in Australia, look up the Boltons.” They were the only chiropractors in the country and he had attended school with them.
He was assigned to the South Pacific, was in Australia and did look them up. In their home he noticed an unusual inscription on their wall. When he asked what it was, they said, “Bahá’í.” They briefly discussed the Faith, gave him some pamphlets which he later read and dismissed. He did send them home to his wife.
After his enlistment ended he was offered the position of attorney for the International Association of Chiropractic. In those days chiropractors were sued by local doctors for practicing medicine without a license or malpractice. His role was to travel and advise local attorneys in their defense of the chiropractors. He eventually became CEO of the Association.
In April 1953 Boltons came to the U.S. for the dedication of the House of Worship and to attend the international teaching conference. They stayed as guests of Chances. Margaret asked if they were Bahá’ís. When Boltons left they put Chances in touch with local Bahá’ís.
Margaret and their daughter investigated the Faith and soon decided to join. It took him another year. He had taken Margaret and Mary Ann to a conference for Bahá’ís then sat in the back by himself. The words of the speaker convinced him that the Faith was true and afterwards declared his faith. A short time later delegates were elected for the National Convention and he was surprised to be elected. Soon after that he was appointed to the National Teaching Committee.
In 1961, in a bi-election, he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. He was re-elected at Ridvan, then elected Secretary. The previous Secretary had just been elected to the International Bahá’í Council. As they parted, Charles Wolcott remarked, “You’ll be in Haifa some day.” Hugh did not think so.
Two years later Hugh was in Haifa to elect the first Universal House of Justice. As the first six names of the members of this new institution were called out Hugh noted that he knew them. When the seventh name was called he thought, “That must be some other Hugh Chance!” The person sitting beside him later said that, as his name was called, all the color drained from his face. Never in his life had he imagined being a member of the House of Justice.
God had taken a Chance.
His first thought was that it was impossible. They had a home still in Davenport, they had not sold it thinking their time in Wilmette would be brief, and Margaret’s mother was elderly and needed their care. He would have to resign, but first the nine members called had to decide what to do. The World Congress in London was just a couple days away and the nine members didn’t know where they might meet to consult. Where was a room they could use? Was there a room with nine chairs? What were they going to do?
The nine men were told that there was a room at Bahji with nine chairs, so they met there. All had planned on going to London for the World Congress, so they decided to meet again there. In the next few days, before Hugh could resign from the House of Justice, his wife’s mother had died and the house in Davenport had sold. He spent the next thirty years in service on the House of Justice.
During this time the number of National Spiritual Assemblies increased from 56 to 165. The Seat of the House of Justice was designed, constructed and occupied. Plans were drawn up for four more buildings on the Arc surrounding the Seat and for the terraces above and below the Shrine of the Báb.
The constitution of the House of Justice was written and adopted. Bahá’u’lláh’s Most Holy Book of Laws was translated and published as well as three additional compilations of scripture. And the Second Bahá’í World Congress was held in New York City. The Cause of God had been transformed.
In the late 1980s, the Spiritual Assembly of Winfield, Kansas invited the Chances to retire there. They accepted and moved in 1993 becoming active members of that Bahá’í community, even serving on the local Assembly.
Declining health forced a reduction of their activities and Margaret died in 1996. The next year Hugh insisted in participating in the Kansas Bahá’í centennial, despite a broken collar bone. There he joined the other special guest, Dr. David Ruhe, also retired from the House of Justice. The two Kansas members of the House of Justice had not seen each other since both retired and left Haifa in 1993.
Hugh died in 1998. Both he and Margaret are buried in Tisdale Cemetery just east of Winfield, Kansas.
[edit] Publications
- A Crown of Beauty, George Ronald, Oxford, 1982.
[edit] Notes
- ↑ "Descendants of Chance". genealogytrails.com. http://genealogytrails.com/ill/putnam/Family%20Trees/Chance.html. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
[edit] References
- "Members of the Universal House of Justice". Beliefnet. 2002-09-13. http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?pageID=2&discussionID=182130&messages_per_page=4. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- Duane L. Herrmann, personal interviews, November 1994.
