Two Newfoundland Items
from 1914 on the Baha'i Faith
1. Extract from "The Daily News", St. John's,
Newfoundland,
Jan 12, 1914
Note: Scanned as printed: the
spelling in the
original is not corrected; and most names do not conform to
currently
accepted transliterations of Persian names. See the Notes at
the
end of this item.
Source: Microfilm in the MUN
Library.
Current Events Club
At Saturday afternoon's meeting of the Current Events Club a paper
on Bahaism(1), dealing with the philosophy of the Persian teacher
Baha(2),
was read by Mrs. J. A. Clift. It will be published later. Teas
were
served the large number present by Miss Macpheorson. On next Saturday
there
will be no paper read as the annual meeting is to be held.
_____
Notes: 1. The term "Baha'i Faith" is used, not "Bahaism".
2. The Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith is "Baha'u'llah".
2. Extract from "The Daily News", January 17,
1914,
page 6
Note:
Scanned as printed: the spelling in the
original is not corrected; and most names do not conform to
currently
accepted transliterations of Persian names. See the Notes at
the
end of this item.
Source: Microfilm in the MUN
Library
 |
__________ PAPER READ BY MRS. J. A. CLIFT, BAHAISM (1). |
The present women's movement is a tree
grown
now to such dimensions that it's branches extend to the remotest lands
where men and women live in any kind of ordered community. In every
land
the women are awakening from their age long sleep. Even in the most
reactionary
countries they are begInning to stir and shake off the apathy bred of
hopeless
centuries behind high walls. It needed but a match to set fire to
the smoldering spirit of revolt, the outraged sense of justice, the
bitter
suffering, physical and mental of crushed and mutilated womanhood all
the
world over. A little glimmer of education, an accidental
glimpse
of some other woman belonging to a more civilized country, a picture. a
song, or a modern novel from France or England, any one of these has
proved
enough to set the woman behind her frilled window, thinking, thinking,
till her heart was stirred within her and the fire kindled. The
Indian
woman. her body crippled by child.bearing before she has herself
emerged
from childhood; the Chinese woman. hobbling on her poor crushed feet,
the
veiled and purdahed women of Turkey and Persia and Egypt whose minds
have
been crushed like the Chinese feet; the sweated and underfed
European
women - all are forming into one great united army to fight for freedom
and the alleviation of their wrongs. Once awakened, she will never
sleep
that drugged sleep again for enough of her window has been opened to
let
in a ray of sunlight and a breath of the fresh life-giving air.
But
this great awakening like all other onward and upward struggles ot the
race, claimed its sad toll of martyrs and among them no name deserves
to
stand higher than Quarratu'l'aiu(2) - the Persian woman.
She was born in the year 1820 and married,
young to a Mahomedan priest, Muhammed, whose father, like her own. also
belonged to the priesthood. From her youth up she was therefore
enclosed
not only by the high walls of the woman's quarters but by a mental wall
of the strictest orthodoxy and tradition. Qurratu'l'aiu was however,
not
only gifted with exceptional beauty but had great intellectual gifts
and
a mind which refused to be moulded by external influences. Even the
barred
windows, the high walls of her garden and the still more impassable
barriers
of religion and ancient custom gave way before the force of her
personality.
Before her marriage, she achieved much In
the way of education, as she was able to read and write. For her
father who was both fond and proud of her saw that hers was no ordinary
intellect and permitted her great concessions in respect to books and
teachers
with the result that Quarratu'l'ain (2) became
a scholar
of no mean order and a writer of verse, showing great poetic gifts.
She was 28 and the mother of two children
when that happened which changed the world for Quarratu'l'ain. At heart
she had always rebelled against the condition of. her country-women,
but
stifled the voice within her and forced herself to submit in silence,
believing
that this evil condition was decreed by Allah. But one memorable
day, while staying with relations at Kerbala, she heard a new message
from
"Allah." Standing behind a curtained window Qurratu'l'ain
listened
to a voice. Who the speaker was she did not know but he was
addressing
a crowd of men who sat in a circle round him listening intently. His
mission
was not only to Persia but to all the world, proclaiming the universal
brotherhood of mankind - the unity of all religions - as having but one
centre, God the Father of all; and the absolute equality of the sexes,
sons and daughters alike, of God. Qurratu'l'ain behind her barred
window felt her soul stirred within her. That the teacher was the
messenger of Allah, she recognized beyond any shadow of doubt, for he
made
all dark and perplexing things clear to her. No more war. No
rnore
race hatred. No more sex slavery and oppression. For woman
was to be free. Allah had so created her and man alone had willed
it otherwise.
The "Bab" commenced his mission about the year 1844 but the
foundtion
of the new doctrine had been laid as early as the 17th century. Through
one of her uncles who had become a follower of the "Bab" Quarratu'l'ain
learnt more of the new religion. With his assistance she even managed
to
hold a conversation with the "Bab" (3). He saw
in
her from the first a rare spirit and a powerful acquisition to him in
his
work and he eagerly welcomed this new discIple with her eloquence and
personsal
charm. He told her that hers was the voice to rouse her sister
women,
preaching to them the Gospel of Freedom and light, that she must
hencerorth
devote heself to this work for it was Allah Himself, who had called
her.
She began at once teaching what she had learnt to the women around her.
They listened at first in doubtful wonder, which slowly turned to
wondering
joy as Qurratu'l'ain's glowing words found the way to their hearts.
Everywhere
she spoke she gained converts. It did not occur to her at first that a
teaching of such lofty beauty could excite the wrath and bitterness or
any true servant of Allah. But she had a rude awakening on her return
to
her husband's house. Hitherto Muhammed had found Quirratu'l'ain a
model wife. She had shown herself obedient and submissive to his will.
But now, here was a change, no longer was the approval or her lord and
master the touchstone of all her actions. Allah and his spirit,
as
revealed within her own heart was the supreme court to which she now
appealed
-- just as though a mere female could have direct access to the
highest,
even as a God-created male. The soul of the priestly husband was filled
with righteous indignation. Nor did she restrict her ideas to her
own four walls but acted and spoke as if all men and women were her
brothers
and sisters. Muhammed had, of course heard of the mad "Bab"
but little had he thought to hear of him in his own home. He was
bewildered and beside himself with wrath.
Nothing would move Qurratu'l'ain from her new
outlook
on life. Allah had called her through his prophet and she dare not
disregard
his voice. She even tried to persuade her husband to accept the
revolutionary
doctrines of the "Bab" but Muhammed would have none of it. In the end
he
divorced her. From his point of view he could not do otherwise.
Qurratu'l'ain
went back to her father, who was more easy going and seems to have felt
a sneaking admiration for his strong minded daughter. The
"Bab"
in the meantime was in prison, from which death alone was to release
him.
Qurratu'l'ain, although restricted in her
sphere of action, never ceased preaching and teaching the new doctrine
until an event occurred which caused the hatred of the Mahomedan
priests
to flame into active persecution of the followers of the "Bab". The
father-in-law
of Qurratu'l'ain was assassinated by a crazy fanatic, who unfortunately
had joined himself to the Babs. Though he at once confessed and
declared
he alone was responsible for the crime four others were arrested as
accomplices
and after being tortured, were executed. This was the
signal
for a fierce persecution, led by the Priests and many of the hated
Babis
were handed over to be first tortured and then either killed ori
mprisoned
under conditions of renewed suffering. The "Bab", who knew his
own
days were now numbered, sent word to his followers to be of good cheer
for soon another and greater prophet than himself would come forward as
their leader one for whom he had but paved the way. That other
was
to be Baba Ullah (4), already a distinguished
follower
and teacher of the Babi doctrines. Meanwhile, Qurrati'l'ain found that
her father's house was no longer safe for her and her presence there a
danger to her people. So in accordance with orders received from
Baba Ullah she silently left her home one night while all the household
slept, with the aid of a rope scaled the city wall and joined a
faithful
follower who had chariot and horses in waiting for her. They travelled
to Badasht, where Baba Ullah was holding a great assembly.
It was here that Qurratu'l'ain made her first definite public
appearance
and once and for all cast aside the symbolic veiI, a step requiring
even
for one of her undaunted spirit, exceptional courage, the courage which
is ready to endure not only martyrdom of the body but that of mind and
spirit. She stepped into the midst of this astonished assembly
and
thus addressed them:
"Yes, my brothers, the trumpet shall sound,
it is sounding today, it is my voice. Let us go forth into the
world
proclaiming far and wide the love of God the brotherhood of mankind,
the
equality and freedom of women. Even as I fling away from
henceforth
my veil, so I conjure you to fling away the old bonds and chains that
have
bound you. Arise and open the prison doors of the women of your
land,
living in slavery of body and soul. I proclaim to them this day their
resurrection."
But men who would have heartily assented to
all she said of woman's equality and man's brotherhood, could not
consent
to this first revolutionary step, the casting aside of the women's
veil.
The wife of a Mohammedan priest, showing her naked face unabashed and
unashamed
at a pubic meeting, outraged these worthy Persians as greatly as the
English
sufragette when she lifts up her voice at a public meeting.
Strangely
illogical is the working of the human mind! Even these
enlightened
and progressive Babis who had arrived at the point of accepting
teaching
the absolute equality of the two halves of the human race experienced a
shock of revulsion at the first sight of their theory converted into
practical
action.
From this time began Qurratu'l'ain's active
public life. Throughout the length and breadth of the land, she
went
teaching and preaching as though she bore a charmed life. She was
taken before the Shah and accused of dangerous and unorthodox
doctrines.
But called on to curse, like the prophet of old, he turned round and
blest,
remarking that he liked the look of the culprit and telling the
prosecutors
to "let her alone." So Qurratu'l'ain continued her mission
going from village to village attended by a small band of devoted
followers
and enjoying absolute liberty. On one occasion she even entered
the
Mosque at Kerman and addressed the worshippers. She possessed an
extraordinary power of drawing to her men and women of all classes,
scholars
and mystics alike were stirred and convinced by her words. She is
sent of Allah was the verdict wherever she was heard. They seemed
to recognize her influence as purely spiritual. Her fame grew and
many of the Persian Grandees received her as a welcome guest in their
houses.
For two years this went on and then the
priests
who had been watiching and biding tehir time, found their
opportunity.
The imprisoned Bab, himself, was taken out and shot while thousands of
his followers met a far less merciful fate. Before long
Qurratu'l'ain
was put in prison and for two years little is known of her but vague
rumors.
One thing only is certain, that even in the darkest dungeon her
dauntless
spirit burned bright and steadfast. Hardened ruffians sent to her
cell to torture and insult her hame out, it is reported, protesting
they
could not do this thing, they dare not lay hands on such an one.
Others left her the tears streaming from eyes unknown to weep,
declaring
she was a saint and spake such words as made all things changed for
them
from that day forth. At last, the people clamoured so loudly for
their beloved lady's release that it was decided to do away with her by
stealth. The authorities gave out that she was to be let out of
prison
and sent back to her father's custody. One night she was conveyed
secretly to an empty pavillion in a deserted garden and told to await
her
friends. The friend she awaited she well knew was death and that
friend she was ready to meet with joy, knowing that her particular task
on earth was finished and that the seed she had sown would be quickened
into such life that one day her sister women of Persia would shake off
their shackles and, their brothers helping them, would stand up to free
human beings, rejoicing, instead of deploring, that Allah had decreed
them
to be women. The new day was just dawning in the deserted garden
when the hired assassian ended the life of the beautiful, talented
Qurratu'l'ain
- the heroic woman who laid down her life for the truth - 1820-1852.
_____
Notes: 1. The term "Baha'i Faith" is used, not "Bahaism".
2. Quarratu'l-`Ayn ("Solace of the Eyes") is the accepted
transliteration
of "Qurratu'l'ain". She is more generally known as Tahirih ("The Pure
One").
3. Tahirih (Quarratu'l-`Ayn) never the Bab, but there was
correspondance
between them.
4. Baha'u'llah.
