Mildred Clark

From Bahaikipedia

Mildred Eileen Clark (May 24, 1892 - May 27, 1967) was a pioneer and Knight of Bahá'u'lláh, named for pioneering to the Lofoten Islands. She died at another pioneering post in Turku, Finland in 1967.

Born in Manchester, Illinois, Mildred Clark choose pioneering as her field of service from the earliest days of her association with the Bahá'í Faith, and she never relaxed in her service.

In the first Seven Year Plan (1937-1944) assigned to the United States she pioneered to Denver, Colorado, and there married Mr. George Clark. In 1946, at the inception of the second Seven Year Plan (1946-1953), she offered to go to Europe and was requested by the European Teaching Committee to settle in Norway where, in 1948, she assisted in the formation of the first Spiritual Assembly of Oslo. In January, 1950 she pioneered to the Netherlands and in 1952 she was asked to go to Luxembourg to assist in making the necessary arrangements for the European Teaching Conference held there in September, 1952. Following this she returned to Oslo and actively resumed her service there.

While attending the European Intercontinental Teaching Conference held ni Stockholm in July, 1953, Mildred Clark volunteered to serve in Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands. She was one of the first to arise in the Ten Year Crusade, arriving at her post in August, 1953. For this service she was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh by Shoghi Effendi. She remained at this distant post for more then ten years, later returning to Norway. When the need for pioneers became apparent, she moved to that country, her final pioneering goal.

After her passing, messages expressing appreciation of the services of Mildred Clark reached the World Centre from the National Spiritual Assemblies of the United States, Norway and Finland. In cabling the American National Assembly the Universal House of Justice described Mildred Clark's services as "adding lustre" to the "overseas annals American Bahá'í community."

The National Spiritual Assembly of Finland at the time of her passing, received the following message:

“

DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHA'U'LLAH MILDRED CLARK HER VALIANT SERVICES PROMOTION FAITH CONSTITUTE NOTABLE CHAPTER HISTORY ITS ESTABLISHMENT EUROPEAN CONTINENT STOP URGE HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICES ALL COMMUNITIES FINLAND PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER SOUL ABHA KINGDOM

”

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

[edit] References

• The Universal House of Justice [1974]. The Bahá'í World - An Internationl Record Vol XIV 1963-1968. Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England: Broadwater Press Limited.