Theodore Durieux

Theodore Durieux
Born: 1888
Death: 1961
Place of Birth: Unknown
Location of Death: Unknown
Burial Location: Unknown

We tend to emphasize the high profile, very active Bahá’ís, but the foundation of the Faith is maintained by the 100’s of little known Bahá’ís quietly maintaining their allegiance.

One of these is Belgian Theodore Durieux, about whom I know very little. He reported that he first encountered the Faith in 1915 in California via the Griffith sisters. For years, Alice Griffith and her sister hosted firesides in Santa Rosa beginning in the early teens. He soon returned to Belgium where they kept sending him Bahá’í information.

At WWII, there were no known Bahá’ís in Belgium; but after the war, his name was given to the European Teaching committee. In early 1947, U.S. pioneer Melanie Humbert contacted him. In April, he sent a letter to Shoghi Effendi testifying to his Faith.

And on May 30, 1947, he was formally enrolled as the first native Belgian, perhaps 30 years after he had effectively accepted the Faith. And 12 years later, in Ridvan 1959, at the age of 71, he was elected to the first Antwerp LSA. [1]

Editor’s Note:

Here is Shoghi Effendi’s letter on April 24, 1947 responding to Mr. Durieux:

Dear Bahá’í Brother:

Your letter dated April 5th was received by our beloved Guardian and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.

He was very happy indeed to receive news of you, and to know that dear Miss Humbert has an active Bahá’í brother to lean upon in Belgium, and to assist her in her labour to promote the Cause of God there!

You may be sure he will especially pray for your health, that you may regain your strength and thus be able to not only pursue your work but assist Miss Humbert in her teaching efforts. He will also pray that some members of your family at least, if not all of them, will become spiritually quickened and receptive to the world transforming Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Please give his cordial greetings to Miss Humbert when you see her.

With warm Bahá’í greetings to you, yours in the Faith, R. Rabbání

Assuring you of my loving and ardent prayers for your spiritual advancement, for the expansion of your meritorious activities, and the realization of every hope you cherish for the progress of our beloved Faith and the establishment of its nascent institutions in that country. Your true brother, Shoghi” [2]

Source:
1 Calkins, Don, recollections of Theordore Durieux, Belgian Baha’i
2 http://www.bahaie.be/en-us/

Images:
Courtesy of Don Calkins