Robert Turner, one of 19 Disciples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha was born on October
15, 1855 or 1856. He was the first member of the negro race in the Western
Hemisphere to embrace the Faith. [Shoghi Effendi God Passes By]. Since it is estimated that
Robert was born in Virginia in about 1855-56, it is possible that he was born
enslaved. [The American Baha’i, November 23, 2005] He was for some 35 years a
butler in the household of Phoebe Hearst, eventually becoming her personal
butler -- a position of considerable responsibility. Shortly before 1898,
Phoebe Hearst received Lua Getsinger in her San Francisco home. Lua introduced
the Faith to her while Robert was in attendance serving tea. Naturally, he
overheard the conversation and, like Mrs. Hearst, was touched by what he heard.
He was with Phoebe Hearst when, in 1898, she arranged for the first group of
Baha’i pilgrims to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in 'Akka. On 10 December 1898 Robert was
warmly received by 'Abdu'l-Baha Who raised him to his feet and embraced him
when, on first seeing the Master, he had dropped to his knees calling out,
"My Lord! My Lord! I am not worthy to be here. On a later occasion
'Abdu'l-Baha said, "Robert, your Lord loves you.” [Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’]
Robert later encountered many difficulties, but remained staunch in his new
faith; he died in 1909 not many years after his return from the Holy Land.
(Adapted from ‘The A to Z of the Baha’i Faith, by Hugh Adamson)
