Martha Louise Root

Martha Louise Root (August 19, 1872 – September 28, 1939) was a prominent traveling teacher of the Bahá'í Faith in the late 19th and early 20th century. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith called her "the foremost travel teacher in the first Bahá'í Century", and named her a Hand of the Cause posthumously. Known by her numerous visits with Heads of State and other public figures. Of special importance was her efforts with Queen Marie of Romania, considered the first Monarch to accept Bahá'u'lláh. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice, governing body of the Baháís, in Haifa, Israel The Baháí Faith is the religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... The last photograph of Shoghi Effendi, taken a few months before he died. ... The Hands of the Cause of God are a select group of Baháís, appointed for life, whose main function is to propagate and protect the Baháí Faith on the international level. ... Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Marie Alexandra Victoria; later Queen of Romania; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938) was a member of the British Royal Family who became the queen consort of Ferdinand I of Romania. ... Shrine of Baháulláh Baháulláh (ba-haa-ol-laa Arabic: Glory of God) (November 12, 1817 - May 29, 1892), born Mírzá usayn-`Alí (Persian: ), was the founder of the Baháí Faith. ...

Early life

Martha Root was born on August 19, 1872 to Timothy and Nancy Root in Richwood, Ohio. She had two older brothers, Clarence and Claude. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Cambridgeboro, Pennsylvania, where her father ran a dairy farm. Martha, known as Mattie, was not a typical girl, since her interest lay in books rather than the usual domestic pursuits, and when she was 14 she earned enough money from writing to pay for a trip to Niagara Falls. She distinguished herself in high school and college, attending Oberlin College, where she designed her own program; she then continued to the University of Chicago and earned her degree 1895. Richwood is a village located in Union County, Ohio. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... For other uses, see Niagara Falls (disambiguation). ... Oberlin College is a small, selective liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, in the United States. ... The University of Chicago is a private university located principally in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. ...

Writing career

While she started teaching after her degree, she gave that up to start writing for different newspapers. In the summer of 1900 she worked at the Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph as the society editor, and then in the fall she worked for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. She then starting writing about automobiles, which took her to France and then back to Pittsburgh. Nickname: Motto: Benigno Numine (With the Benevolent Deity) Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Allegheny Founded November 25, 1758 Incorporated April 22, 1794 (borough)   March 18, 1816 (city) Government  - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area  - City 151. ... The Pittsburgh Dispatch was a newspaper for which Nellie Bly worked. ... Car redirects here. ...

Picture of Martha Root
(Detail from a larger photograph)

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Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith

In 1909 she met Roy C. Wilhem who introduced her to the Bahá'í Faith by giving her some literature. While researching the religion for several months she met several members of the Bahá'í community, including Thornton Chase and Arthur Agnew in Chicago, and she, later in that year, declared her faith in the Bahá'í teachings. During this time, she kept on writing and in 1909 she wrote a detailed article for the Pittsburgh Post about the history and teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. She also participated in the first annual Bahá'í convention, which took place in Chicago in 1911. Thornton Chase (February 22, 1847 – September 30, 1912) is commonly recognized as the first convert to the Baháí Faith of Occidental background. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ...

Visit of `Abdu'l-Bahá to the United States

During 1911 and 1912, `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, visited the United States and Canada. Martha Root attended many of `Abdu'l-Bahá's talks, and arranged his talk in Pittsburgh. During this time Martha Root developed breast cancer, but it went into remission for many years. `Abdul-Bahá `Abdul-Bahá `Abbás Effendí (May 23, 1844 - November 28, 1921) commonly known as `Abdul-Bahá (abdol-ba-haa Arabic: ‎), was the son of Baháulláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baháí Faith. ... Shrine of Baháulláh Baháulláh (ba-haa-ol-laa Arabic: Glory of God) (November 12, 1817 - May 29, 1892), born Mírzá usayn-`Alí (Persian: ), was the founder of the Baháí Faith. ...

World travel and teaching

After meeting with `Abdu'l-Bahá, Martha Root began a world trip where she would spread the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. She left the United States on January 30, 1915, and after visiting some countries in Europe, she wanted to visit Palestine to visit the Bahá'í holy places, but she could not go due to the First World War. So instead, she travelled to Egypt, and stayed there for six months. During that time she wrote newspaper articles. She then travelled to Bombay, Rangoon, Japan, and Hawaii. She arrived back in the continental United States when she reached San Francisco on August 29, 1915. is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Map of the British Mandate of Palestine. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

After staying in the United States for five years, she then travelled to Canada in 1920, visiting Saint John, Montreal, London and Saint Thomas where she arranged teaching programs. She then travelled to Mexico and then Guatemala where she was going to meet with the president, but due to a political revolution, the meeting never happened. By 1921, her breast cancer had spread and she was in frequent pain; her father's health was also failing, and thus her travels become more limited. Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Nickname: Location of London in relation to Middlesex County and the Province of Ontario Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Ontario County Middlesex County Settled 1826 as a village Incorporated 1855 as a city Government  - City Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best  - Governing Body London City Council  - MPs Sue Barnes (LPC) Glen Pearson...

Middle years

After her father's death on November 3, 1922, Martha started her travels once again at the age of 50. She travelled to many parts of the United States, Canada, Japan and China to spread the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, and the Bahá'í Faith. She then travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Hong Kong, and helped Bahá'í pioneers to teach about the Bahá'í Faith. She then travelled to South Africa, and went on several radio broadcasts. She also studied Esperanto, and met Lidia Zamenhof, the daughter of Ludwig Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, who would later become a Bahá'í. is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Shrine of Baháulláh Baháulláh (ba-haa-ol-laa Arabic: Glory of God) (November 12, 1817 - May 29, 1892), born Mírzá usayn-`Alí (Persian: ), was the founder of the Baháí Faith. ... Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $16,114 (7th)  - Product per capita  $33,243/person (8th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  489,600 (6th)  - Density  7. ... For Baháís, the term pioneering refers to something similar to missionary work, but they use a separate word as proselytization is strictly prohibited in the Baháí faith. ...   is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. ... Ludvic Lazarus (Ludwik Lejzer, Ludwik Łazarz) Zamenhof (December 15, 1859 – April 14, 1917) was an eye doctor, philologist, and the initiator of Esperanto, the most widely spoken and successful constructed language in the world. ...

Meeting with Queen Marie of Romania

In 1923 she arrived in Bucharest and sent the Queen a copy of the book Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era. Two days after the Queen received the book she granted Martha Root an audience in the palace. The Queen then embraced the Bahá'í Faith, becoming the first monarch to do so. Status Capital of Romania Mayor Adriean Videanu, since 2005 Area 238 km² Population (2005) 1,924,959[1] Density 8,088 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ...

Visit to the Holy Land

In 1925 Martha Root travelled to the Bahá'í holy land, and met Bahíyyih Khánum and Shoghi Effendi. She then travelled to the British Isles, Germany, Greece, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, once again teaching the Bahá'í Faith. She then travelled to Iran, even though Shoghi Effendi recommended not doing so. She hoped to meet with the Sháh, Reza Khan Pahlavi, but did not do so. The last photograph of Shoghi Effendi, taken a few months before he died. ... The British Isles in relation to mainland Europe The British Isles (French: , Irish: [1] or Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa,[2] Manx: Ellanyn Goaldagh, Scottish Gaelic: , Welsh: ), are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe comprising Great Britain, Ireland and a number of smaller islands. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in the Latin alphabet, Југославија in Cyrillic; English: Land of the South Slavs) describes three political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... Reza Shah, also Reza Shah the Great, Reza Shah Pahlavi and Reza Pahlavi (Persian: , Rez̤ā PahlavÄ«), (March 16, 1878 – July 26, 1944), was Shah of Iran[1] from December 15, 1925 until he was forced to abdicate after the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in September 16, 1941 by British...

Later years

In 1930 she wanted to meet with Emperor Hirohito of Japan, but US officials blocked her access. Instead she sent the Emperor some Bahá'í books and some other gifts. She continued to teach, even while she was in ill-health travelling in 1937 to Hawaii, China and India. She returned to Hawaii in 1938 where she died on September 28, 1939. Hirohito (裕仁), the Shōwa Emperor (昭和天皇), (April 29, 1901 - January 7, 1989) reigned over Japan from 1926 to 1989. ...

Publications

• Root, Martha (1981). Táhirih the Pure. Los Angeles, USA: Kalimát Press. ISBN 1-890688-04-5. 

References

• Ruhe-Schoen, Janet (1998). A Love Which Does Not Wait. Riviera Beach, Florida, USA: Palabra Publications. ISBN 1-890101-17-6. 
• Effendi, Shoghi (1944). God Passes By. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-020-9. 
• Garis, M.R. (1983). Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-185-X. 
• (1983) in Kay Zinky (Compiler): Martha Root: Herald of the Kingdom: A Compilation. New Dehli, India: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ASIN B0007B5H28. 
• Harper, Barron (1997). Lights of Fortitude, Paperback, Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-413-1. 

The last photograph of Shoghi Effendi, taken a few months before he died. ...

External links

• Martha Root, Herald of the Kingdom, Lioness at the Threshold Biography by N. Richard Francis
• A biography of Martha Root
• Voice recording of Martha Root's farewell recorded in Auckland, New Zealand, May 1939
• Voice recording of a prayer said by Martha Root

Series on the Bahá'í Faith		Central Figures		Scripture		Key Figures		Principal Teachings		See also
		The Báb Bahá'u'lláh Abdu'l-Bahá		Kitáb-i-Aqdas Kitáb-i-Íqán Hidden Words Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Summons		Shoghi Effendi Martha Root · Táhirih Badí‘ · Apostles Hands of the Cause		Unity of humanity Unity of religion Gender equality Science and religion Auxiliary language		Symbols · Literature Teachings · Laws History · Administration Calendar · Pilgrimage Index of Bahá'í Articles v • d • e