Corinne True and the Temple Petition

When Corinne True was on pilgrimage in 1907, she brought with her a petition from the Chicago House of Spirituality (an early form of what would become a Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly), with the list of signatures of those who wish to build a Bahá’í House of Worship, the Mashriqu'l Adhkar. It was a rather audacious proposal from such a small group who really had no idea how audacious the idea actually was . . . After Mrs.

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True described the countryside around Chicago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told her that the Temple should be located away from the busy center of the city, but close to the shore of Lake Michigan because of the beauty of a lakeside location. He told her, first the building, with nine sides, in the middle; then a circular court about that; leading from the circle would be nine avenues; between each a garden, and in the middle of each garden a fountain of water.

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá also told her that the project would cause her to suffer and be misunderstood, and that she would have to pray for strength. When she asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá what He wanted her to do upon her return, He replied, "I wish you to live in Chicago. I wish you to work for the Mashriqu'l Adhkar." The Master then took her hand and she felt as though a great power was pulsing through her.

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