The Bahai Revelation

The Bahai Revelation

THE BAHAI REVELATION

By Thornton Chase

Thornton Chase (1847 — 1912) is commonly recognized as the first convert to the Baha’i Faith
of Occidental background. During his life he organized many Baha’i activities in Chicago and
Los Angeles and was considered a prominent Baha’i. In 1894, Chase met Ibrahim Kheiralla, a
Baha’i from Beirut who had recently come to the United States. Chase and a small group of
Chicagoans began to study the Baha’i Faith with him. In 1907 Chase was able to go on
pilgrimage. Though Chase was able to be with ‘Abdu’|-Baha in Akka for only three days, the
experience transformed him. ‘Abdu’!-Baha, highly impressed by Chase’s qualities, conferred on
him the title Thabit, “steadfast”. On returning home, Chase wrote an account of his pilgrimage,
which was published under the title /n Galilee in 1908. Chase then turned his thoughts to an
introductory book on the Baha’i Faith. Published as The Bahai Revelation in 1909, this work
was one of the most comprehensive and accurate introductions to the Baha’i Faith written by an
early American Baha’i. It continued to be reprinted until the 1920s. The work emphasized the
Baha’i Faith and its teachings as a vehicle for personal spiritual transformation. Shoghi Effendi,
the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, later honoured him as one of the Disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
(also termed “Heralds of the Covenant”). For more information on the Baha’i Faith, visit
bahai.org

Cover illustration is a photograph of the International Baha’i Archives Building in Haifa, Israel.
This image has been released into the public domain by its author, Cunado19 at the English
Wikipedia project. This applies worldwide. Cover design by Nicholas Bridgewater. This design
is in the public domain and may be reproduced, distributed, or modified without permission.
Read by Nicholas James Bridgewater. This recording is in the public domain and may be
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