Malcolm King
From Bahaikipedia
Malcolm King (1885 - October 19, 1966) was a pioneer and Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, named for pioneering to British Guiana.
Dr. Malcolm King made his declaration of faith as a Bahá'í in March 1931 and such was his capacity that he was elected a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 20, 1931. He served with distinction on the Milwaukee Spiritual Assembly for nine years during which time he stressed that the Bahá'ís must ever be on the alert, seeking, planing, consulting and praying that they might be illumined with the glorious and effulgent light of the Holy Spirit and that Bahá'u'lláh would guide and direct them so that they could blaze a new path and unfold new vistas of social, spiritual orientation for the American Bahá'í communities and hasten the realization of the Kingdom of the Most Great Peace. Dr. King left Milwaukee to pioneer in the first Seven Year Plan set forth by the beloved Guardian (1937-1944). He remained a pioneer for the rest of his life, serving also in the Second Seven Year Plan, the World Crusade and even the Nine Year Plan.
This stalwart pioneer concentrated his efforts on the Caribbean area. he taught the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh in Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua, British Guiana and Jamaica. The Guardian appointed him a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh in October 1953 when he set out for the British Guiana at the beginning of the World Crusade.
In Nicaragua Dr. King worked diligently toward the establishment of a Spiritual Assembly. Much time and effort were necessary in order to obtain official approval for holding public meetings and publicizing the Cause in that country. A statement of the aims and principles of the Faith was placed in the government records. This delicate situation was handled with tact and patiently by him. Weekly study classes were organized which interested and attracted all classes of people. Regular weekly broadcasts were given over a radio station that was heard throughout Central America.
Later Dr. King settled in Haiti to teach for an indefinite period of time. He held meetings three times a week and worked to enable the Spiritual Assembly to become very strong, virile and functioning. He worked diligently to have the Faith registered in that country. While in Haiti, Dr. King traveled to Santiago, Dominican Republic, to start a regional project there. He then went to Kingston, Jamaica, to help work out an extension project before returning to Haiti.
As a pioneer Dr. King frequently felt the frustration of a foreigner in a strange country who does not speak the native language. He feared that it would affect his teaching for he firmly believed that a professional interpreter lacked the motive to impart the spirit of the Faith in his translations. yet Dr. King's sincerity and great faith must have reached his listeners because he left behind him in each of his pioneering posts many believers and many assemblies which remained strong, active and pulsting with life.
Dr. King was distinguished for his knowledge of the Sacred Writings, many of which he could quote verbatim. He was an outstanding Bible scholar and so could relate his teaching work tot he background of his listeners. he firmly believed in expansion and consolidation taking place simultaneously. He followed all his lectures by a series of classes which were well attended. He was an advocate of a direct type of teaching for he stressed the importance and significance of this age, that Bahá'u'lláh is a Manifestation of God, that this is the Day of God and that Bahá'u'lláh has come to establish the Kingdom of God, and the Most Great Peace.
In 1961 Jamaica became his last pioneering post. he was inspired, despite his advancing years, by the spiritual and dynamic power o the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh to end of his life. Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Malcolm King having served Bahá'u'lláh for more then thirty years, twenty of them as a pioneer in foreign lands, passed to the Abhá Kingdom in Jamaica at approximately eighty-one years of age on October 19, 1966.
[edit] References
- The Universal House of Justice [1974]. The Bahá'í World - An International Record Vol XIV 1963-1968. Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England: Broadwater Press Limited.
