Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Now that William Hoar has been mentioned, I must include some information on the Disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Not that Lua Getsinger and Joseph Hannen haven't been mentioned!  But somehow I think that we need to look at the whole group of individuals designated as Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, especially since a number of them are relatively unknown to most of us. 

It is so interesting to me that each of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith (the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) had a group of nineteen early believers associated with Him.

Nineteen Letters of the Living: These early believers were the first to recognize the Báb and were designated by Him. They were all from Persia (Iran); one was female, the rest were male. 

Nineteen Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh:  “Pillars of the Faith”

These individuals were identified by Shoghi Effendi in Volume III (1928–1930) of Baha'i World (page 80). They were all from the East and all were male. 

Nineteen Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: “Heralds of the Covenant”

These individuals were also identified by Shoghi Effendi in Volume III (1928-1930) of Baha'i World (page 84). They were all from the West; six were female, thirteen male.

Note:  The number nineteen has special significance in the Bahá’í Faith.  The Bahá’í calendar system is based on a solar year, with nineteen months of nineteen days comprising the year (with an additional four “intercalary” days, making a total of 365 days).   Nineteen is also considered a “vahid,” or special unit of measure, in the Bahá’í dispensation.

Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: 

Photo credit:  Dr. Duane Troxel

• John Esslemont
• Thornton Chase
• Howard MacNutt
• Sarah Farmer
• Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney
• Lillian Kappes
• Robert Turner
• Arthur Brauns*
• William Randall
• Lua Getsinger
• Joseph Hannan
• Chester I. Thatcher
• Charles Greenleaf
• Isabella D. Brittingham
• Mary Virginia Thornburgh-Cropper
• Helen S. Goodall
• Arthur P. Dodge
• William H. Hoar
• J.G. Augur  

Two lists naming the Disciples appear in Volume III (pp. 84–85) and Volume IV (pp. 118–19) of The Baha'i World. 

*Wikipedia notes that "the lists are not the same. The name of the person at #8 is different, but the photograph is the same. In Vol. III he is listed as Dr Arthur Brauns. In Vol IV he is listed as Albert Schwarz. Both are described as "pioneer worker for the Faith in Germany." [Duane Troxel gives his name as Artur Eduard Heinich Brauns]

Duane Troxel, whose 2004–05 calendar features the Disciples, says this: "All of the disciples were from the West.  Fifteen were born in the U.S.; most were from the east coast.  Of the remaining four, one was from Scotland, one from Canada, one from France, and one from Germany.  Four of the 19 had medical degrees. Six of the 19 were female, 13 were male.  Twelve of the 19 made their declaration of Faith in the 19th century." 


Guess who the Canadian was--William Hoar.  He was from Nova Scotia.  But he died in Fanwood, NJ. Anyone know anything about him? His dates are 1856–1922. Duane describes him as a "Prominent Baha'i Teacher."  Here's what the Master says: "Convey on my behalf the utmost affection to his honor Mr. Hoar. That person is my beloved. I have the greatest love for him, and am always engaged in his remembrance." (SOW, vol. 12, #19, 312) 

Wouldn't you love to be described as 'Abdu'l-Bahá's beloved? 

Clockwise from bottom left: Thorton Chase, Lua Getsinger, Isabella D. Brittingham, 
Lillian Frances Kappes, Robert Turner, Howard McNutt, Sarah Farmer, Dr. John E. Esslemont

Photo credit:  Dr. Duane Troxel