Clara Dunn (May 12, 1869 - November 18, 1960) was a Hand of the Cause of God for the Bahá'íFaith. appointed by Shoghi Effendi on February, 29 1952. She and her husband Hyde Dunn were the first Bahá'í's in Australia and among the earliest Bahá'í's to teach in New Zealand.
Clara was born on May 12, 1869 in London, England, but was raised in Ireland and moved to Canada while still a teenager. She moved to the United States in 1902. In 1907 she met Hyde Dunn in Walla Walla, Washington, when he and Nathan Ward Fitzgerald sought to place an advertisement for a Bahá'í meeting they were holding in the medical office she was working at. She attended the meeting and later became a Bahá'í.
Clara married Hyde in San Francisco in 1917, and in 1919 the couple resolved to travel to Australia to teach the faith after reading 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. As most of their income had been spent on teaching the faith, Clara suggested that Hyde travel to Australia alone to save money, however when asked about the matter via telegram 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed approval of their plan to go together.
They stopped for two months in Hawaii, and for a brief time in Samoa while en route to Australia and arrived in Sydney 20 April, 1920. Clara found work within a few months, but quit after Hyde found employment as a travelling salesman so that she could teach the faith. Clara often invited many people to weekend meetings in Sydney while her husband was travelling the countryside. The Dunn's found it difficult to attract people to the faith, but by 1922 two Australians has become Bahá'í's: Oswald Whitaker and Effie Baker.
Clara's husband, Hyde, passed away in 1941, and after his passing she was expected to speak in his stead by the Australian Bahá'í community. She often began speeches with a quote of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: "Do you know in what day you are living?".
In 1943 the National Spiritual Assembly asked for pioneers to teach the faith across Australia. Clara moved to Brisbane for several months, and then began travelling to many major cities and towns across Australia. She participated in summer schools held at Yerrinbool, a Bahá'í property south of Sydney, from late December to January most years. She was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi on 29 February, 1952.
She passed away in Sydney on 18 November, 1960 and was buried alongside her husband in Woronora Cemetery.
The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land cabled the following after her passing:
"Grieved announce passing (of) Hand Cause Clara Dunn, distinguished member American Bahá'í community who with Hyde Dunn, spiritual conqueror (of) Australia, responded Master's appeal Divine Plan, arose carried Faith Antipodes rendered unique, unforgettable pioneer service over forty year period. Advise hold memorial gathering Temple. Share message Hands (and) National Assemblies." HANDSFAITH.
Full Biography at Bahaipedia: https://bahaipedia.org/Clara_Dunn
Clara was born on May 12, 1869 in London, England, but was raised in Ireland and moved to Canada while still a teenager. She moved to the United States in 1902. In 1907 she met Hyde Dunn in Walla Walla, Washington, when he and Nathan Ward Fitzgerald sought to place an advertisement for a Bahá'í meeting they were holding in the medical office she was working at. She attended the meeting and later became a Bahá'í.
Clara married Hyde in San Francisco in 1917, and in 1919 the couple resolved to travel to Australia to teach the faith after reading 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. As most of their income had been spent on teaching the faith, Clara suggested that Hyde travel to Australia alone to save money, however when asked about the matter via telegram 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed approval of their plan to go together.
They stopped for two months in Hawaii, and for a brief time in Samoa while en route to Australia and arrived in Sydney 20 April, 1920. Clara found work within a few months, but quit after Hyde found employment as a travelling salesman so that she could teach the faith. Clara often invited many people to weekend meetings in Sydney while her husband was travelling the countryside. The Dunn's found it difficult to attract people to the faith, but by 1922 two Australians has become Bahá'í's: Oswald Whitaker and Effie Baker.
Clara's husband, Hyde, passed away in 1941, and after his passing she was expected to speak in his stead by the Australian Bahá'í community. She often began speeches with a quote of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: "Do you know in what day you are living?".
In 1943 the National Spiritual Assembly asked for pioneers to teach the faith across Australia. Clara moved to Brisbane for several months, and then began travelling to many major cities and towns across Australia. She participated in summer schools held at Yerrinbool, a Bahá'í property south of Sydney, from late December to January most years. She was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi on 29 February, 1952.
She passed away in Sydney on 18 November, 1960 and was buried alongside her husband in Woronora Cemetery.
The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land cabled the following after her passing:
"Grieved announce passing (of) Hand Cause Clara Dunn, distinguished member American Bahá'í community who with Hyde Dunn, spiritual conqueror (of) Australia, responded Master's appeal Divine Plan, arose carried Faith Antipodes rendered unique, unforgettable pioneer service over forty year period. Advise hold memorial gathering Temple. Share message Hands (and) National Assemblies." HANDSFAITH.
Full Biography at Bahaipedia: https://bahaipedia.org/Clara_Dunn
Clara Dunn (May 12, 1869 - November 18, 1960) was a Hand of the Cause of God for the Bahá'íFaith. appointed by Shoghi Effendi on February, 29 1952. She and her husband Hyde Dunn were the first Bahá'í's in Australia and among the earliest Bahá'í's to teach in New Zealand.
Clara was born on May 12, 1869 in London, England, but was raised in Ireland and moved to Canada while still a teenager. She moved to the United States in 1902. In 1907 she met Hyde Dunn in Walla Walla, Washington, when he and Nathan Ward Fitzgerald sought to place an advertisement for a Bahá'í meeting they were holding in the medical office she was working at. She attended the meeting and later became a Bahá'í.
Clara married Hyde in San Francisco in 1917, and in 1919 the couple resolved to travel to Australia to teach the faith after reading 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. As most of their income had been spent on teaching the faith, Clara suggested that Hyde travel to Australia alone to save money, however when asked about the matter via telegram 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed approval of their plan to go together.
They stopped for two months in Hawaii, and for a brief time in Samoa while en route to Australia and arrived in Sydney 20 April, 1920. Clara found work within a few months, but quit after Hyde found employment as a travelling salesman so that she could teach the faith. Clara often invited many people to weekend meetings in Sydney while her husband was travelling the countryside. The Dunn's found it difficult to attract people to the faith, but by 1922 two Australians has become Bahá'í's: Oswald Whitaker and Effie Baker.
Clara's husband, Hyde, passed away in 1941, and after his passing she was expected to speak in his stead by the Australian Bahá'í community. She often began speeches with a quote of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: "Do you know in what day you are living?".
In 1943 the National Spiritual Assembly asked for pioneers to teach the faith across Australia. Clara moved to Brisbane for several months, and then began travelling to many major cities and towns across Australia. She participated in summer schools held at Yerrinbool, a Bahá'í property south of Sydney, from late December to January most years. She was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi on 29 February, 1952.
She passed away in Sydney on 18 November, 1960 and was buried alongside her husband in Woronora Cemetery.
The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land cabled the following after her passing:
"Grieved announce passing (of) Hand Cause Clara Dunn, distinguished member American Bahá'í community who with Hyde Dunn, spiritual conqueror (of) Australia, responded Master's appeal Divine Plan, arose carried Faith Antipodes rendered unique, unforgettable pioneer service over forty year period. Advise hold memorial gathering Temple. Share message Hands (and) National Assemblies." HANDSFAITH.
Full Biography at Bahaipedia: https://bahaipedia.org/Clara_Dunn
Clara was born on May 12, 1869 in London, England, but was raised in Ireland and moved to Canada while still a teenager. She moved to the United States in 1902. In 1907 she met Hyde Dunn in Walla Walla, Washington, when he and Nathan Ward Fitzgerald sought to place an advertisement for a Bahá'í meeting they were holding in the medical office she was working at. She attended the meeting and later became a Bahá'í.
Clara married Hyde in San Francisco in 1917, and in 1919 the couple resolved to travel to Australia to teach the faith after reading 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. As most of their income had been spent on teaching the faith, Clara suggested that Hyde travel to Australia alone to save money, however when asked about the matter via telegram 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed approval of their plan to go together.
They stopped for two months in Hawaii, and for a brief time in Samoa while en route to Australia and arrived in Sydney 20 April, 1920. Clara found work within a few months, but quit after Hyde found employment as a travelling salesman so that she could teach the faith. Clara often invited many people to weekend meetings in Sydney while her husband was travelling the countryside. The Dunn's found it difficult to attract people to the faith, but by 1922 two Australians has become Bahá'í's: Oswald Whitaker and Effie Baker.
Clara's husband, Hyde, passed away in 1941, and after his passing she was expected to speak in his stead by the Australian Bahá'í community. She often began speeches with a quote of 'Abdu'l-Bahá: "Do you know in what day you are living?".
In 1943 the National Spiritual Assembly asked for pioneers to teach the faith across Australia. Clara moved to Brisbane for several months, and then began travelling to many major cities and towns across Australia. She participated in summer schools held at Yerrinbool, a Bahá'í property south of Sydney, from late December to January most years. She was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi on 29 February, 1952.
She passed away in Sydney on 18 November, 1960 and was buried alongside her husband in Woronora Cemetery.
The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land cabled the following after her passing:
"Grieved announce passing (of) Hand Cause Clara Dunn, distinguished member American Bahá'í community who with Hyde Dunn, spiritual conqueror (of) Australia, responded Master's appeal Divine Plan, arose carried Faith Antipodes rendered unique, unforgettable pioneer service over forty year period. Advise hold memorial gathering Temple. Share message Hands (and) National Assemblies." HANDSFAITH.
Full Biography at Bahaipedia: https://bahaipedia.org/Clara_Dunn
