Lua Getsinger
From Bahaikipedia
| Lua Getsinger | |
|---|---|
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| Born | November 1, 1871 |
| Passing | May 2, 1916 Cairo, Egypt |
| Title(s) | Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
| Appointed by | Shoghi Effendi |
Louise Aurora Getsinger (née Moore) (November 1, 1871 - May 2, 1916) was an early Western Bahá’í and Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Herald of the Covenant in the West. She converted to the Faith on May 21, 1897, just two years after Thornton Chase. Shoghi Effendi describes her as "the mother teacher of the West"[1]
Lua Getsinger was born to a farm family near the village of Hume in upstate New York. The environment was one of great religious excitement concerning the imminent return of Christ. From childhood she was recognized as an eloquent speaker and a beautiful singer. She was encouraged to develop these talents and eventually choose to study in Chicago. It was there where she attended a class on the Bahá’í Faith by Ibrahim Kheiralla, who earlier had taught Thornton Chase. It was after this class that she married fellow-student Edward Getsinger.
Following a trip home to share the Faith with her friends and family in New York she followed an invitation to California by Phoebe Hearst, wife of California senator George Hearst. It was during this time in 1898 that Mrs. Hearst accepted the Faith, including the first black American, Robert Turner who was serving as a butler for the Hearst's.
Desiring to see the Master Mrs. Hearst arranged a tour of Egypt for the Fall of 1898. Prior to their arrival in Egypt they stopped at Mrs. Hearst's apartment in Paris where they were met by two of her neices and May Ellis Bolles, the future mother of Rúḥíyyih Khánum. May accepted the Faith in Paris and was invited to participate in the pilgrimage of the group to ‘Akká.
Lua and her husband Dr. Getsinger were the first North American Bahá’ís to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This visit was December 10, 1898. Lua wrote later to Thornton Chase:
| “ | ...When I left America I thought I knew a good deal... but after seeing the Master... I am sure I know nothing... The Face of the Master is gloriously beautiful-His eyes read one's very soul-still they are full of divine love and fairly melt one's heart!' | ” |
‘Abdu’l-Bahá allowed the Getsinger's to remain in ‘Akká for five months to learn Persian and acquire a deeper knowledge of the Faith. When she returned to the States with her husband in May of 1899 she brought with her a number of gifts for the Friends in addition to her greater understanding of the teachings of the Faith. These were: the first photograph ever taken of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from when He was 24, a calligraphic design of the Greatest name, an Arabic copy of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and a wax cylinder recording of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá chanting which exists to this day.
Lua would make several more trips to ‘Akká throughout her life, including a stay of one-year to teach English. When, in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá journeyed to America he appointed Lua "Herald of the Covenant" and instructed her to proceed to California to teach the Faith. In an attempt to delay this departure from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Lua walked through poison ivy, though the Master proscribed her a remedy and the condition quickly healed.
Later, in 1914 the Master instructed Lua to proceed to India to acquaint the Maharajah of Jalowar with the Bahá’í teachings. Following her stay in India she stayed with the family of the Master for 7 months in Haifa. It was following this period in the summer of 1915 that the world war had started. Knowing the danger that would soon fall on Palestine ‘Abdu’l-Bahá instructed Lua to return to America. It was on this journey that she fell ill while disembarked in Cairo which prevented her return. She continued to teach the Faith and provide English lessons when her strength returned. On May 2, 1916 she awoke with severe pain in her heart and a doctor was called to the home. Before he could arrived she uttered three times 'Ya-Baha-el-Abha' and passed as a result of heart failure. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote in part:
| “ | O Lord, Grant her a palace in the neighbourhood of Thy Most Great Mercy; cause her to dwell in the gardens of Thy paradise, the Most High, illumine her countenance with the effulgence of Thy good-pleasure in the Kingdom of Thy Glory ... | ” |
[edit] See also
- Lua Getsinger Herald of the Covenant, by Velda Metelmann
[edit] Notes
- ↑ "A Brief History of the Bahá'í Faith". http://www.bci.org/boise/thirdheroic.htm. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
[edit] References
- Grace L. Shahrokh. "Some Early Believers in the West". http://bahai-library.com/wttp/PDF/SOME%20EARLY%20BELIEVERS%20IN%20THE%20WEST.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- Sears, William; Quigley, Robert (April 1972). The Flame. George Ronald. ISBN 978-0-85398-030-8. http://www.grbooks.com/show_book.php?book_id=73.
- Balyúzí, Hasan (January 1972). ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. George Ronald. ISBN 978-0-85398-043-8. http://www.grbooks.com/show_book.php?book_id=2.
- Stockman, Robert (1985). The Bahá’í Faith in America, Vol.1. Bahá'í Publishing Trust, Wilmette.
- The Baha'i World, Volume VI. Bahá’í World Centre.
- Star of the West, Vol. VII, No. 19. pp. 5-6. http://en.bahaitext.org/Star_of_the_West/Volume_7/Issue_19.
