Harold Collis Featherstone
Born: May 15, 1913
Death: September 29, 1990
Place of Birth: Quorn, South Australia
Location of Death: Kathmandu, Nepal
Burial Location: Baha’i Cemetery, Kathmandu, Nepal
Mr. Featherstone was an Australian Bahá’í from Adelaide. He studied accounting but took up engineering in 1932 and worked for a large engineering firm until 1936. By the time he married in 1938 he was already a partner in an engineering business making pressed metal parts. He and his wife Madge joined the Bahá’í Faith in 1944 as the first of “young people” to enter in the Adelaide community (see Bahá’í Faith in Australia).
He exchanged some 20 letters and cables on all manner of subjects with the then head of the religion, Shoghi Effendi. In 1946 the Featherstones helped establish the Woodville Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assembly. Featherstone served in the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia from 1949 to 1962. [1]
In 1954 he was appointed to a new institution for the religion as an Auxiliary Board member for Australia by Clara Dunn and was able to rearrange his business affairs to allow him flexibility and freedom to travel widely by becoming a co-owner of an engineering company.[2]
In October 1957 he was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi. From 1957 Featherstone maintained an 18-member Auxiliary Board (nine for propagation, nine for protection), spread throughout the Pacific, until that function was assumed by a three-member Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia in 1968.
In 1976 Featherstone sold his business interest and the family moved to Rockhampton, Queensland, and devoted their
time to the interests of the religion. He and his wife traveled widely among the countries of the Pacific and beyond.[3] He died in Kathmandu, Nepal, while visiting the Bahá’ís there.
Source:
1 Rabbani, R. (Ed.) (1992). The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963. Bahá’í World Centre. p. xxiii. ISBN 0-85398-350-X.
2 “In memoriam – A loving tribute to Mr. Featherstone”. Bahá’í News (714): 2–3. October 1990. ISSN 0195-9212.
3 Hassall, Graham (October 1990), “H. Collis Featherstone”, Bahá’í World News
Images:
David L. Smith
Cemetery photo courtesy of Candace Moore Hill
Bahá’í World Archives
I met Mr Feathestone aa a young Baha’i in Los Angeles where he was speaking at a Fireside. Afterwards, he was sitting outside and I took the opportunity to chat with him. What I remember was that he was so open and kind hearted and had a wonderful sense of humor.
What I remember about Mr Featherstone was his openness, kindheartedness and wonderful sense of humor.