Rose Hilty

is honored with a Brick from the Baha -1 Faith of Wichita.

The name Rose Hilty is well known among Kansas Baha'is. Considered the first member of the Baha'i Faith in Kansas, Rose Hilty was born Rosa Abbuehl in Grasshopper Falls. In 1860 she married Leonhard Hilty and lived with him and their three daughters in Enterprise.

She joined the Baha'i Faith after learning about it from a speaker that her mother-in-law invited to Enterprise, Kansas in 1897. Both were searching for more meaning in life and looked at various philosophies. After learning the basic tenants of the Faith, the oneness of God, the oneness of mankind and the oneness of religion, she joined.

The Baha'i Faith originated in Persia in 1844 and had only been introduced to this country in the 1890s. It is a testament to her Faith, that she was able to remain an active believer at a time when there were few, if any, Baha'is between Kansas and Chicago. In 1899 she planned a trip to Chicago so that she could meet some of the other Baha'is in the United States. Unfortunately, the need for surgery canceled her trip. In those early days, few books of the prophet founder, Baha'u'llah had been translated into English, and most of her knowledge about the Faith occurred through letters to and from other believers around the country.

The family knew many hardships. One daughter died in infancy and the youngest was born blind. In 1906 Rose moved to Topeka so that her eldest daughter, Lovelia, could attend high school there. She then became the first Baha'i to live in the capital city. By the time she moved back to Enterprise in 1916, there was a small group of Baha'is in Topeka.

In 1920 a Baha'i was sent to Topeka by Abdu'l-Baha, son of the founder prophet of the Baha'i Faith. She arranged sites for his lectures and prepared news releases for the visit. It was very important to her to find ways that others could hear about this wonderful religion. Before passing away in 1934 she recorded an oral history of the Baha'i Faith in Kansas. Ms. Hilty is buried in the Topeka Cemetery.

Over the years, Rose acquired every Baha'i book as they were translated and published in this country. She also subscribed to the Baha'i magazine. When she died, her daughter Lovelia gave all these materials to the Baha'is of Topeka and they formed the basis of the Topeka Baha'i Library, a legacy of her mother's faith.

In 1998, there are now six million Baha'is worldwide who greatly appreciate the stalwart efforts of each of the early believers who boldly delivered the message of Baha'u'llah to the World. They often suffered tremendous persecution and personal sacrifices to teach the Faith, and are remembered with love and affection. We Baha'is in Kansas hope that Rose Hilty's example of a genuine search for a spiritual life will inspire others to look at the Baha'i Faith.

November 2, 1998