Lady Blomfield
Encyclopedia
Lady Sara Louisa Blomfield (1859–1939) was a distinguished early member of the Bahá'í Faith
in the British Isles
, and a supporter of the rights of children and women.
Lady Blomfield was born in Ireland
and spent much of her adult life in London
. She was married to the noted Victorian era architect Sir Arthur Blomfield
. An accomplished writer and humanitarian, Lady Blomfield assisted in founding the Save the Children Fund and was a supporter of the adoption of the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child
by the League of Nations
.
Lady Blomfield joined the Bahá'í Faith
in 1907 and soon became one of its outstanding proponents and historians. During the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Paris, she took copious notes of His public meetings which were used in preparing the volume called "Paris Talks
". As a tribute to her, 'Abdu'l-Baha bestowed upon her the name "Sitárih Khanum" (in Persian, "sitárih" means "star", and "khanum" means "lady"). After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, Lady Blomfield traveled to Haifa
and, while there, interviewed members of Baha'u'llah
's family. Those recorded recollections, together with her account of the days when she hosted 'Abdu'l-Baha in London, make up the contents of her book, "The Chosen Highway."
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, and a supporter of the rights of children and women.
Lady Blomfield was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and spent much of her adult life in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She was married to the noted Victorian era architect Sir Arthur Blomfield
Arthur Blomfield
Sir Arthur William Blomfield was an English architect.-Background:The fourth son of Charles James Blomfield, an Anglican Bishop of London helpfully began a programme of new church construction in the capital. Born in Fulham Palace, Arthur Blomfield was educated at Rugby and Trinity College,...
. An accomplished writer and humanitarian, Lady Blomfield assisted in founding the Save the Children Fund and was a supporter of the adoption of the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child
Declaration of the Rights of the Child
The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is the name given to a series of related children's rights proclamations drafted by Save the Children founder Eglantyne Jebb in 1923....
by the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
.
Lady Blomfield joined the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
in 1907 and soon became one of its outstanding proponents and historians. During the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Paris, she took copious notes of His public meetings which were used in preparing the volume called "Paris Talks
Paris Talks
Paris Talks is a book transcribed from talks given by `Abdu'l-Bahá while in Paris. It was originally published as Talks by `Abdu'l-Bahá Given in Paris in 1912. `Abdu'l-Bahá did not read and authenticate the transcripts of his talks in Paris, and thus the authenticity of the talks is not known...
". As a tribute to her, 'Abdu'l-Baha bestowed upon her the name "Sitárih Khanum" (in Persian, "sitárih" means "star", and "khanum" means "lady"). After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, Lady Blomfield traveled to Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
and, while there, interviewed members of Baha'u'llah
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
's family. Those recorded recollections, together with her account of the days when she hosted 'Abdu'l-Baha in London, make up the contents of her book, "The Chosen Highway."
Works
- The Passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (coauthored with Shoghi EffendiShoghi EffendiShoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
). - Blomfield's copious notes are the basis of much of Paris TalksParis TalksParis Talks is a book transcribed from talks given by `Abdu'l-Bahá while in Paris. It was originally published as Talks by `Abdu'l-Bahá Given in Paris in 1912. `Abdu'l-Bahá did not read and authenticate the transcripts of his talks in Paris, and thus the authenticity of the talks is not known...
.