The national Haziratu’l-Quds of the Baha'is of
the United States is located in Wilmette, Illinois, directly across Sheridan
Road from the House of Worship, overlooking Lake Michigan. Construction of the
building was begun in 1923 by Louis Bourgeois, architect of the House of
Worship, who intended to use it
as a private studio and residence. However, Mr. Bourgeois died before the
structure was completed, and it was purchased by the National Spiritual
Assembly in September 1930.
For nearly a decade the building was used to assist the temple construction and
maintenance. In June 1939, at the Guardian's direction and in an effort to
consolidate its internal functions and symbolize its responsible character, the
National Spiritual Assembly decided to
move its national office from West Englewood, New York, to Wilmette,
Illinois, and thereby establish a national Haziratu’l-Quds. The Haziratu’l-Quds
, whose name means literally "the Sacred Fold," is
complementary in its functions to those of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar (Baha'i House
of Worship, whose name in Arabic means "Dawning Place of the Praise of
God"). The Guardian envisioned a time when the Haziratu’l-Quds will encompass
at both local and national levels a wide spectrum of social institutions
including a secretariat, treasury, archives, library, publishing office, assembly
hall, council chamber, and pilgrims' hostel.
In October 1939 the secretariat of the National Spiritual Assembly was transferred from New York to Wilmette. Shortly thereafter the treasurer's office moved into the property. On January 20, 1940, the National Spiritual Assembly met on its premises for the first time, holding a special gathering to dedicate and commemorate the conjunction of the institutions of the Haziratu’l-Quds and the Mashriqu'lAdhkar….
Today, while the structure on Sheridan Road still serves as the
seat and council chamber of the National Spiritual Assembly, it struggles to shoulder
the demands placed upon it by our growing community. When the building was occupied
in 1939 there were less than one hundred local Baha'i communities in the United
States and Canada. Today there are over three thousand Baha'i communities in
the United States alone, and that number is growing. Furthermore, the growing
prestige of our National Spiritual Assembly and its involvement in the affairs of
the world require a facility that reflects the worldwide prominence of the
Baha'i Faith and our national community. As people increasingly turn to the Baha'is
for counsel, an appropriate facility must be available in which to welcome
dignitaries wishing to consult. The current structure is inadequate. The
National Spiritual Assembly has set a long-term goal of eventually redesigning
the Haziratu’l-Quds to ensure that it will be able to serve
as an appropriate meeting place for leaders of thought and other dignitaries.
(From
162 B.E. 2005-2006 Wall Calendar)
