John Esslemont

John Ebenezer Esslemont M.B., Ch.B. (1874-1925), was a prominent British Bahá'í from Scotland. He was the author of the well-known introductory book on the Bahá'í Faith, "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era", which is still in circulation. He was named posthumously by Shoghi Effendi as the first of the Hand of the Cause he appointed, [http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/relstud/uk.htm#early Early British Bahá'í History (1898-1930)] ] and as one of the Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá. He was also an accomplished medical Doctor and linguist becoming proficient in western and eastern languages.

Background

John Esslemont was born in Aberdeen on 19 May 1874, the third son and fourth child of John E. Esslemont (1859-1927), a successful merchant, and Margaret Esslemont (née Davidson). [http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/relstud/esslmnt.htm Esslemont, John (1874-1925)] by Moojan Momen, London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1975. Baha'i World 1:133-6.] He came from an eminent family and was educated at Ferryhill School, Robert Gordon's College, and the University of Aberdeen. John E. Esslemont is related to 19th Century Liberal Member of Parliament Peter Esslemont - John's Great-Grandfather [ [http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=esselmont&id=I0513 John Esslemont's Pedigree] ] is Peter's Grandfather. [ [http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=esselmont&id=I0430 Peter Esslemont's Pedigree] ] He graduated in medicine in 1898 with honorable distinction. Unfortunately, Esslemont had contracted tuberculosis during his college days and this caused him to give up his promising career in medical research. He traveled internationally and married Jean Fraser to whom he was drawn by their mutual interest in music. On return to Scotland Esslemont took the position of medical superintendent of Home Sanitorium for tuberculosis in Bournemouth. Esslemont became a Baha'i in early 1915 after hearing of it in December 1914 from a co-worker's wife. News of Esslemont's declaration of faith, and his forthcoming book, played a role in establishing the beginning of the Australian Baha'i community. [ [http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/sbn/sbn33/sab3.htm William Miller (b. Glasgow 1875) and Annie Miller (b. Aberdeen 1877) - The First Believers in Western Australia] The Scottish Bahá'í No.33 – Autumn, 2003]

Esslemont was proficient in French, German, and Spanish, and was an Esperantist [ [http://www.bahaindex.com/documents/The_Principle_of_a_Universal_Auxiliary_Language.pdf Making World Peace Real: The Principle of an Universal Auxiliary Language] by Paul J Desailly, p.18] and later learned Persian and Arabic well enough to assist in translation. In 1916 he began work on a book which became "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era" which became perhaps the foremost introductory volume on the Baha'i faith which eventually was published, and revised and reprinted and translated into dozens of languages. [ [http://library.bahai.org/gc/bne.html "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era" editions and printings held in Bahá'í World Centre Library Decade by decade 1920 - 2000+] ] The Head of the religion of this period, `Abdu'l-Bahá, reviewed parts of it and specifically encouraged Esslemont. Following the passing of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the new Head of the religion, Shoghi Effendi, vacationed in Esslemont's familiar area of Bournemouth, and later Esslemont took permanent residence in Palestine to assist Effendi who then also helped further refine Esslemont's book.

Esslemont is buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery in Haifa along with several other well known Baha'is. [ [http://www.baral.net/Israel/Haifa/haifa.html Other Sites in Haifa] ] [ [http://www.btinternet.com/~iain.s.palin/heritage/pictures/dis07.htm U.K. Bahá’í Heritage - Picture Display Seven] ]

There is a Bahá'í school named after Esslemont, "The John Esslemont School", in the Grampian region of North East Scotland since 1987. [ [http://www.bahaijournal.org.uk/BJ200302/article1.htm The John Esslemont School Transforms Itself] Journal of the Bahá'í Community of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Volume 19, No.7 – January, 2003] There is also a "John Esslemont Memorial Lecture" held annually in June in Aberdeen, where speakers from medical backgrounds present research to fellow peers. [ [http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/sbn/sbn39/notices.htm John Esslemont Memorial Lecture] The Scottish Bahá’í, No.39 – Spring, 2005]

Publications

*cite book
author= Esslemont, J.E.
year= 1980
title= Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era
edition= 5th ed.
publisher=Bahá'í Publishing Trust
location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA
id= ISBN 0-87743-160-4
url= http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/je/BNE/ :Esselmont's "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" was originally published in 1923 and has been translated into numerous languages and remains a key introduction to the Bahá'í religion. More than sixty years later, it remains in the top ten of cited Baha'i books. [ [http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/abs/bsr05/52_fazel_citations.htm Bahá'í scholarship: an examination using citation analysis] by Seena Fazel and John Danes, Table 4: Most cited Bahá'í books, 1988-1993.]

*Esslemont performed the first review of the worldwide progress of the Bahá'í religion in 1919. While unpublished it was identified and reviewed by recent scholars and was intended to be a chapter in "Baha'u'llah and the New Era". [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=x7wyJdyE60oC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=&source=web&ots=3-KnL_zoWp&sig=8RlusFSKxNUggbMwDY8yAwXQ9gg#PPA63,M1 Esslemont's Survey of the Baha'i World 1919-1920] by Moojan Moomen p.63, "Bahá'ís in the West" Ed. by Peter Smith, published by Kalimat Press, 2004, ISBN 1890688118]

References

*cite book
first=Shoghi
last=Effendi
authorlink=Shoghi Effendi
year=1944
title=God Passes By
publisher=Bahá'í Publishing Trust
location=Wilmette, Illinois, USA
id=ISBN 0-87743-020-9
url=http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/GPB/

*cite book
first=Barron
last=Harper
year=1997
title=Lights of Fortitude
edition=Paperback
publisher=George Ronald
location=Oxford, UK
id=ISBN 0-85398-413-1

Notes

External links