Agnes Baldwin Alexander was an American writer and a member of the Baháʼí Faith. Apart from this, she was an internationalist proponent of universal friendship and language, Bahá’i leader who spread message of universal peace, equality of men and women, a world court to Hawaii, Japan and Korea, and an Esperanto teacher.
Background
Agnes Baldwin Alexander was born on July 21, 1875, in the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was the youngest child born to William De Witt Alexander and Abigail Charlotte (née Baldwin) Alexander. The Alexanders were the descendants of two of Hawaii's most illustrious Christian missionary families - the Alexanders and the Baldwins. Though her family was not wealthy she lived comfortably and enjoyed a close-knit family life that included many uncles and aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces who lived on the various islands that make up the Hawaiian archipelago.
Education
At age 20 Agnes Baldwin Alexander graduated from Oahu College (Punahou School) in a class of seven students. After that, she did her undergraduate work at Oberlin College and Berkeley University.
Career
In 1900, Agnes Baldwin Alexander joined a group of Island peers who were going on a trip to America and Europe. On December 26, 1901, she returned home to Hawaii. She was a Baha’i missionary in Hawaii during the period of 1901-1913. During the winter of 1913-1914 Agnes lived in Brooklyn, New York where she received a Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Bahá directing her to take the Bahá'í teachings to Japan. Agnes was also active in promoting the Bahá'í teachings through Esperanto in Korea and China.
As early as 1921 a China-born Korean who was living in Tokyo asked Ms. Alexander if she would teach Esperanto to a group of Chinese at the Chinese Young Men's Christian Association. She accepted and taught the sixteen students Esperanto conversation. Following the great Japanese earthquake of 1 September 1923, which took place during the Esperanto convention, Agnes left Japan with her sister and teamed up with the famous Bahá'í, Martha Root, in Peiping (Beijing) China. On a number of occasions, they spoke of the Bahá'í Faith at an Esperanto school in Peiping where Martha had been assisting in the teaching of English. In 1954, Agnes Baldwin Alexander became a member of Baha’i Auxiliary Board for Asia. In 1956, she was named Hand of the Cause. After that, in eight years, she became a representative of the Universal House of Justice at the National Spiritual Assembly.
Religion
Agnes was born in Honolulu, on July 21, 1875. But her real life, as she saw it, did not begin until she was reborn as a follower of Baha'u'llah. "Until one has been awakened by the Breath of the Holy Spirit, one is asleep," she said, "for the only reality is that of the spirit. For twenty-five years I was asleep." She said that immediate acceptance of the Bahá’í Message was not a mystery to her; that her own instantaneous recognition as a “gift” to her from God. Without books, without being taught, she had recognized her Lord. Just three shining faces in a Roman pension, a little handwritten prayer, and the true seeker had found her spiritual home.
Views
One of the most striking things about Agnes was her complete submission to the Will of God. Anyone who knew her would soon become aware of her complete reliance on what she called her "guidance" and her unqualified obedience to it once she had prayed for and received it. She was so fully confident in the outpouring of guidance that would come as a result of earnest prayer, that she never worried about the consequences of following it, never wavered in the face of opposition to it, never questioned or doubted or rebelled against it. Many who tried beforehand to get a decisive answer from Agnes would be frustrated by her reply, "If it is God's plan." But the moment she received what she felt was guidance in answer to her prayer, the action was decisive. All through her life Agnes's sensitivity to the Divine Will was to be confirmed by messages or cables from both the Master and the beloved Guardian; it may have seemed uncanny to others, but to Agnes it was routine.
Quotations:
“His [Christ's] life seemed far away from me, and I always felt that something was lacking, that I had never been reborn.”
Personality
Though of delicate physique and gentle and timid by nature, Agnes was nevertheless to fall full heir to the courage of her ancestors. From childhood there was a special quality about her which her father recognized as unique; and possibly this insight led to his sending her abroad on a trip which was to change her whole life and bring to the Hawaiian islands the light of a new Faith.
Quotes from others about the person
Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan: "At this time, in the island of Hawaii, through the efforts of Miss Alexander, a number of souls have reached the shore of the sea of faith! Consider ye, what happiness, what joy is this! I declare by the Lord of Hosts that had this respected daughter founded an empire, that empire would not have been so great! For this sovereignty is eternal sovereignty and this glory is everlasting glory."
'Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan: “Consider ye, that Miss Agnes Alexander, the daughter of the Kingdom, the beloved maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection, traveled alone to Hawaii... and now she is gaining spiritual victories in Japan! Reflect ye how this daughter was confirmed in the Hawaiian Islands. She became the cause of the guidance of a gathering of people.”
