How I Became a Baha’i by David Meswarb
Submitted by David Springer, November 2022
NOTE: This is an excerpt from David’s memoirs, dictated to David Springer. Springer transcribed the narration and Meswarb approved the text. Search David Meswarb’s name for other pieces about David’s experiences in other locations on the website.
I joined the Faith of Baha’ullah in early September 1962. My primary influence, or I should say teacher, was Mr.Roger Roff. I first met Roger when he unexpectedly appeared at my home shortly after I graduated from high school. When he “showed up” at the door I surprised and he seemed a bit shy. He had difficulty speaking because he stuttered, but he did not let that dampen his enthusiasm for trying to help me on my way to Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa.
Roger, a member of the Baha’i Faith and a student at Palmer was from Waterloo, Iowa, the city right next door and adjoining my hometown, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Somehow Roger heard that I was thinking about enrolling in Palmer Chiropractic College. Unasked, he stopped in to see if I had any questions about the college and to offer any support I might need getting transitioned to Davenport. That meeting, ostensibly about Palmer Chiropractic College, was the beginning of a life-long journey on a new path – a path that is followed by increasing multitudes of friends from every walk of life and living every country and territory in the world. Each and every one of them dedicated to living a life of service to the world of humanity. The journey on this path, starting at Palmer Chiropractic College, has taken me throughout the Midwest and Southern parts of this country and Hawaii as well as to South America, the islands of the Caribbean, and to the Middle East.
Another person who influenced by acceptance of the Baha’u’llah as the Manifestation of God on this earth was Mr. Hugh Chance. At the time, Mr. Chance was a lawyer for the International Chiropractic Association living in Davenport. Later, I might add, Mr. Chance was elected to the Universal House of Justice and moved to its Headquarters in Haifa, Israel. The Universal House of Justice is the highest administrative body in the Baha’i Faith.
I should also mention another Baha’i, Amber Spahan. She lived in Davenport and owned a nursing home. Although Roger and I were roommates, I spent a good deal of time, “hanging out” in her basement – reading such books as, “Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah”, “The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys”, “Thief in the Night” and “Baha’u’llah and the New Era”.
Not all of my time was spent studying my new religion and studying Chiropractic. I still found time for romance in my life. I married my high school sweet heart, Sharon. We were soon attending regular “firesides” across the street in the home of Ed and Sharon Edwards. Douglas Luttrell was usually the speaker. Doug seemed to go very deep into such topics as “Pre-existence and Origination”. I must admit that it was sometimes difficult for me to understand much of what he was talking about.
It was not long before Helen and Chuck Thomas moved to the area from Waterloo, Iowa and Chuck enrolled at Palmer. Chuck was Cedar Falls’ most decorated soldier. He seemed a little “edgy” during those early days – probably because of his combat experience. Sometimes he would stop talking, mid-sentence, either to collect his thoughts or ask a question. In any case, we had to pay close attention. Actually, that technique helped me to learn to listen and therefore do better in my studies. Helen and Sharon became best friends. In fact, they were both born on September 28th.
Soon, I was ready to embrace the Cause of Baha’u’llah and formally join the Baha’i community as a member. Therefore, I met with the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Davenport to express my intention. The Assembly asked me a few very basic questions about the Central Figures of the Faith, its principles, and laws. I am sure the Assembly wanted to be sure I understood the “basic” tenets of the Faith that I was about to join. The Assembly also asked about Sharon and what she was thinking. I said I thought she hadn’t studied much and was probably not ready to join the community officially. I could tell the Assembly was not sure I should make such a judgement. So, they invited her to their next meeting and she declared her belief in Baha’u’llah – over her mother’s objection.
I remember one evening when I was trying to change the transmission in my car. Sharon, being seven months pregnant was trying to help me. She crawled under the car and I rested the transmission on her belly so I could tighten the bolts. In the end we got it done but we were both exhausted. After we cleaned up I wanted to go to the fireside at the Edwards home but Sharon was too tired – so I went alone.
Murray and Edith Elmore attended that fireside as they had interest in the Faith and spiritual matters. This time, however, Doug Luttrell was unable to attend the meeting. So, as fate would have it, I gave my first Fireside. Obviously, I could not talk about “pre-existence” so I talked about Bible prophesy and how it related to the Baha’i Faith. That topic lit a spark in Edith and she began studying the topic on her own. It was not long before both Edith and Murray enrolled in the Cause. Edith later told me she was about to “give up” on the firesides but that night really sparked her interest.
Ronnie Higgens, a fairly newly declared Baha’i and not a student at Palmer College, was also involved in the teaching activities. He was a gas station attendant at the Clark Gas Station on North Brady Street. He only had a seventh grade education so working the night shift gave him the opportunity to study the Sacred Writings. On of his weekend evening shifts he had a dictionary, a Bible, and Baha’i books on his table. Sometime during the evening Mr. Wayne Landers pulled into the station and Ronnie went out to pump gas as Wayne went into the station. Wayne noted the books and asked Ronnie if he was some kind of preacher. Ron said, “No, I am a Baha’i”. Wayne had been drinking a bit so he did not pursue the subject. The next morning Wayne remembered the word “Baha’i”, but he did not remember what it meant or even where he heard it. The next weekend, he was back at the same gas station and Ronnie was there again. This time Ronnie said, Remember me, I am the Baha’i. That statement hit a nerve with Wayne. He couldn’t help but to mentioned this to his girlfriend, Rita. They were both inquisitive so Wayne invited Ronnie to his apartment. Not wanting to go alone, Ronnie asked me to come along. Ronnie did most of the talking but I was there. Not surprisingly, both Rita and Wayne eventually became Baha’is.
I have fond memories of those days. Ronnie later moved to Illinois and became a very successful vacuum cleaner salesman. Unfortunately, he died at an early age of a heart attack. Wayne and Rita married and opened an upholstery business. They served with me on the first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Rock Island, IL. Roger Cole, another lifelong friend from those days also served on that same Assembly. Roger and Wayne passed away not long ago during the same year. Edith and Murray moved to Bettendorf, IL and served on its first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Bettendorf. For some time Edith also occasionally served the secretariat of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States as it needed extra help.
Thinking about my early years in the Cause, I must also mention my dear cousin Marsha. I remember seeing her in my grandmother’s house in when she was about 6 years old and I was probably about 9 years old. She had a play tea set and sat me down and served me tea with the most proper manners. Even when she was growing up I still remember her as a “lady.” My mother informed Marsha about me becoming a Baha’i. For some reason Marsha came to Sheldon Iowa for a visit and mom and I drove over to meet her. Of course, I took some Baha’i books (including the Baha’i World Faith) for her. At the time, Marsha was attending Mills College in Oakland, California. It turns out that a very active Baha’i with a beautiful singing voice lived right above her in the dormitory. I saw this same young lady playing the guitar and singing in the Baha’i movie, “It’s just a beginning”. Eventually, Marsha and her husband joined the Faith. I have many fond memories of seeing them during our National Baha’i conventions on the years that I could be there. Marsha was often a delegate from her area.