The Special Stone

THE SPECIAL STONE

Written by Milena Stekly

Chapter 1 – Mother Earth’s Promise

We were a very special family of stones, close, happy, and alive as a special part of Mother Earth. Mother Earth was wonderful and loved all her children, but I always thought she loved me the best. I was different from my brothers and sisters. I had smooth straight sides and was always told I had a great destiny. That means something important was going to happen in my life.

My childhood was happy and my family spent our days enjoying the warm sunshine and the cool rain. We listened to the birds sing by day and the crickets sing by night. We liked feeling the heat of summer and the cold of winter. We lived out in the country near a Great Lake and I knew my home was the most beautiful place on the earth to live.

Then one day, our peace was broken. We heard a thundering noise and felt Mother Earth shake. Then, giant claws dug into the earth around us. I first saw my little sister picked up by the jaws and carried away. We were all so scared, that we cried out to Mother Earth asking what was happening. But she did not know. Then several of my brothers were scooped up and carried away. Next, I was taken, and as I was lifted into the big jaws, I saw Mother Earth was crying because a large, gaping, wound was left upon the land. I remembered Her promise of my great destiny and wondered....

I was dropped with many other rocks into a great pile along with dirt and ants and many other types of bugs and worms and seeds that were a part of our community. So many families were separated, and would never be united again. The smell of Mother Earth’s raw wound was sickening and I was very frightened. I tried to get a glimpse of where my brothers or sisters had gone, but they were nowhere to be found. Soon some men came and started sorting through the pile I was in. Some rocks were put into a big truck and hauled away, the dirt was put into another truck, and I was thrown into another pile on the ground.

Finally, the day drew to a close, the claw quit moving and the countryside became very quiet. As it got dark, I could hear other rocks and creatures crying. I also felt like crying because I was alone and scared and I went to sleep thinking of my brothers and sisters, and wondering what my great destiny could possibly be now….

The next morning, I woke up to a roar. The site was very busy now that the Sun was up. There were more giants making noise other than the claw and it looked like a giant pile of rocks was going up, but this pile was straight and smooth and very tall. I watched every day as what was called a “building” went up and every night I thought of Mother Earth and my great destiny that every day looked more and more unlikely.

Then one day a stranger came to the site. She was a delicate woman with a lovely face. She went up to the foreman at the site and told him of this great Temple that was going to be built. She asked if she could have an inexpensive building stone. The foreman, who seemed enchanted by this little woman, pointed over to the pile I was in and said, “Sure help your self to any of those; they’re discards and unfit for use.” I felt so hurt and ashamed. He called me a “discard” and “unfit for use”! But, when the delicate woman came over and looked the pile over, I felt a thrill rush through me and heard Mother Earth’s voice saying, “Some day you will have a great destiny, because you are special.”

Chapter 2 – “Nettie”

Nettie was a loving, humble woman who was loved by all her friends. Her real name was Esther Tobin, but all her friends called her “Nettie”. She was a very poor widow and worked hard as a seamstress to support her two sons. Sometimes, they would have no food in the house. Only after working all day and being paid for her sewing, was she able to stop at the market and buy food so she and her sons would have a meal.

She had not attended school, but could tell about people by the goodness in their hearts. One day, a kind man named Paul Dealy invited her to a meeting called a “fireside”. He told her of a great new Messenger Who had been sent by God and said that she could learn more by attending a fireside. She decided to listen to her heart and went to the fireside.

There she met a wonderful woman named Corinne True, who was the lady of the house, and Corinne spoke very simply about the coming of a Messenger from God to Persia. She said, “The Messenger’s name is Baha’u’llah, which means ‘the Glory of God’. Baha’u’llah suffered greatly to bring peace to all people. It is time for the whole earth to become united, for all people to be as one family.” Corinne said, “There is only one God. And He gave us all the religions to teach us how to live and how to worship Him. Religion is supposed to be the source of goodness and harmony, but often man forgets what God teaches and religion becomes a source of war and fighting. Instead of the religions being like chapters in the same book written by One Author, man makes the religions into different and separate books and each says my book is better than your book. This is how the fighting begins. Then God sends another Messenger to renew His message of love and peace and unity. Baha’u’llah is this Messenger for today!”

After attending many firesides like this in Corinne’s home, Nettie became a Baha’i. She had so much love in her heart for Baha’u’llah that she wanted to do all she could for His Faith. She found out that her friend, Corinne, was working hard to raise money to build a great Temple just north of the great city of Chicago. It was to be the first Temple built in the Western Hemisphere. Since it was the first, it would also be the greatest for all time. Many temples would be built in the future, but this would always be the Mother of all other temples. Also, raising money to build the Temple was very hard because only Baha’is could contribute money. The Faith was so new in the United States that there were only 1500 Baha’is. Millions of dollars had to be raised to buy the land and build the Temple. Of course, money from Baha’is all over the world was sent to help, but most of the money was raised right here in the United States by so few Baha’is!

Nettie was so poor; she had no money to give. So she prayed to God, asking that she be given something to offer as a gift. One day, during her prayers, she heard a voice say, “Find a stone.” At first, she did not know exactly what that meant. Then one day, she heard a letter read to the American Baha’is. It was from the Persian Baha’i, Mirza Asadu’llah, who originally had the idea to build the Temple in the West. He wrote, “Now is the time for expending energy and power in the erection of the edifice, be it a mere stone, laid in the name of the Baha’i Temple. For the glory and honor of the first stone is equivalent to all the stones and implements which will later be used there.”

“A mere stone,” she repeated slowly to herself, “laid in the name of the Temple.” Now she knew what the answer to her prayer meant! She must find the first stone to be laid in the building of the Temple. It must be a special stone and it would be her gift to Baha’u’llah and her donation to the Temple!

Chapter 3 – On the Road to Destiny

After hearing the letter from Mirza Asadu’llah, Nettie visited a site near her home where a big building was going up. She talked to the foreman about the stone she needed and was able to tell him about the Temple and the Baha’is. Nettie was so sweet and humble that the foreman seemed enchanted by her. He told her to pick any rock she wanted from a discard pile he pointed to. It was here that Nettie first met the special stone and their destinies became one...

Suddenly, it happened! The delicate lady looked over the whole pile of rocks and picked me! I was too big for her to move without help, so she went home to get her neighbor. Together, they wrapped me up carefully in a soft piece of carpet and tied me up tight in a bundle and took me home. The carpet felt so soft and warm; I had never felt anything like it! She placed me in the front hall of her home. It felt strange, at first, to be inside. I had always been able to see the Moon in the sky and feel Mother Earth beneath me. But there I spent two peaceful nights in the warmth of her loving, modest home before starting my great journey.

Two men arrived early in the morning to help carry me. I heard them say we had a long way to go and I was a very heavy stone. We had to go to a place they called Grosse Pointe where the Temple site was located. They carried me in my carpet bundle until they came to a giant trolley car along a great track. It was pulled by this large animal I heard them call a horse. They hoped to get on board and ride part of the way so they wouldn’t have to carry me so far. The man they called the “conductor” said, “No way are you bringing that rock onto this horsecar!” Nettie talked to the man and insisted he let them bring me on board. She said, “We’ll just put it on the back platform and no one will even notice the stone is on board!”

We traveled quickly on this wonderful horsecar. I wondered how far this journey was and what destiny would be waiting for me at the journey’s end. I felt a thrill of anticipation and remembered Mother Earth’s words of my great destiny. Was I finally on my way?

Suddenly we stopped. I was picked up, still wrapped in my carpet, and we boarded another horsecar. I knew I was far from home now and wondered if I would ever feel close to Mother Earth again. After what seemed to be a long time, the car finally came to a stop. When we got off, I saw the city was gone and all that was left was beautiful open countryside, just like where I had grown up. And I could feel the breezes blowing off the Great Lake nearby, although I couldn't see it.

The three friends huffed and puffed to carry me. I was very heavy and I saw how hard it was for them to carry me. I tried to be as light as possible to help out. But it was no use! I was a very heavy stone, a trait most stones are very proud of. I wondered how much farther we had to go. After a while, the three friends looked so tired, they could no longer carry me. So, they started dragging me on the ground and I was thankful that the soft carpet helped to protect me.

At this time two other friends joined the group. I heard Nettie greet them as “Corinne” and “Cecelia”. “We became worried because we waited so long at the Temple site and you never showed up. So, we came looking for you,” Corinne said. This was good news to me because now I knew we were getting close. Mirza Mazlum said, “I have seen photos of young Baha’i men in Ishqabad where the first Temple of the East was built. They carried stones from the quarry to the Temple site on their backs! Please, please,” he begged his companions, “place the stone on my back that I might have the honor of carrying it!” They helped load me upon his back. He carried me all hunched over from my weight, until we came to an old, abandoned farmhouse. Here he stopped and was so tired he had to put me down.

Then Nettie suggested, “Since it is so late and the journey still too far to complete tonight, let’s leave the stone in this yard overnight. Tomorrow, we will return to finish the task.” They all agreed and they left. Once again, I was alone and scared until I felt Mother Earth beneath me. Then, I was so happy! I felt just like I was at home, and I heard her whisper to reassure me,

“You are on your way to the great destiny I promised you...”

I fell asleep and dreamed of a great Temple of lace arching up to the sky above me, and I was nestled inside with Mother Earth underneath me, safe, secure, and happy...

Chapter 4 – Destiny Fulfilled

Early the next morning, Nettie returned alone. She was pulling a homemade cart that she rolled right up beside me. She tried to lift me into the cart all by herself, but I was so heavy that she broke the handle and hurt her wrist! I felt terrible that Nettie had hurt herself trying to lift me. She stood for a moment rubbing her hurt wrist when a man, who saw her having trouble, came to help lift me into the cart. Then he fixed the cart’s handle and we were off again. But after a short time, she became very tired. Just then, a young boy came by. He was carrying what Nettie called newspapers. “Excuse me, young man,” Nettie asked. “Can you help me pull this cart? You seem so strong, from carrying all those newspapers.” He beamed at her compliment and happily replied, “Sure I can!” He helped her carry me across two lots. Then... disaster struck. The cart fell apart and was crushed under my weight. As I lay there in the broken pieces of the cart, I wondered if I would ever get to the Temple site and fulfill my destiny.

Then I heard Nettie say, “We are on the land where the Temple will be built. It is the far west corner of the lot, but nevertheless, we have made it! Some others will have to help move the stone to its final place!” Then she looked up and started chanting some beautiful words.

“Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants and all abide by His bidding!”

She bowed her head in silence for a little longer and then she turned and left. I was alone again, but this time, I didn’t mind. I felt like I had come home! Everything was so beautiful and green. I could smell the Great Lake and I could feel Mother Earth beneath me. She greeted me and said, “You are very near your final home, but you must wait a few years until you fulfill your great destiny...”

The next nine years were happy years. I got to know other stones in the area and many families of bugs and plants in my new home. I had a new family and Mother Earth was always with me. The Baha’is came regularly to visit me. There were large meetings where many people gathered in a great circle around me. Beautiful words were chanted like Nettie had chanted the day she left me at my new home. I learned these words were prayers that praised God. And I learned that God was the Creator of all, even the Sun, the Moon, and Mother Earth herself! I loved to hear the prayers and to see all the happy people. I couldn’t imagine a destiny greater than this!

Then one day many people arrived, more people than I had ever seen before. A great tent was erected. A man, all dressed in white robes with a turban on His head, a gray, flowing beard, eyes that shined with light, and a face that beamed with happiness, arrived. I knew He was a very special man from His appearance and from the way the people reacted to His arrival. His name was “’Abdu’l-Baha”. He had come across the Great Ocean to dedicate the Temple. A group of men picked me up and carried me over to the tent and placed me on a special spot, where ‘Abdu’l-Baha had directed them to place me. All the people gathered around to hear the words spoken by this great man. I, also, listened carefully!

‘Abdu’l-Baha said that I was the cornerstone, or the first stone placed in the building of the Mother Temple of the West! Once I was placed, ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, “The Temple is already built!” I was so happy in His presence and wished I could be near Him always. After the talk, there was music and prayers chanted and then a great celebration. It was one of the happiest, most exciting days of my life!

Well, it took years for the Temple to actually be built. But, placing me as the cornerstone and having a united vision of the Temple completed assured everyone that the Temple would be a reality and not just a dream.

Today, I am the happiest of all stones. All my dreams have come true! I am sheltered in a Temple of lace arching up to the sky above me and dear Mother Earth is beneath me. A picture of my beloved ‘Abdu’l-Baha smiles down on me so He is with me always. Beautiful, soft, carpets surround me. People from all parts of Mother Earth come to visit and chant beautiful prayers all around me. Some smile, some cry, but all seem happy! If you don’t believe me, come and visit me. I am in the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois in the United States of America. I am right on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. And you can find me down in Foundation Hall. You can visit the beautiful gardens around the Temple or say prayers in the laced dome upstairs. But no matter what part of the Temple you visit, you will see people from all over the world, at peace and happy! Just like me!

Epilogue – The Glory and Honor...

There were several other stones sent for the purpose of the cornerstone of the Mother Temple of the West. ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Himself, sent one, made possibly of the same marble that the sarcophagus of the Bab was made. It was a gift from the Baha’is of Rangoon, Burma. Other stones were sent by Baha’is from different parts of the world to be used as the cornerstone. But none had ever reached the Temple grounds. Only Nettie’s contribution arrived with great sacrifice and difficulty, to be used as the historic marker. This “special stone” had “the glory and honor of” being “the first stone....”

Historical Facts

1. Leo Leadroot, Nettie Tobin’s brother, was the other man along with Mirza Mazlum, who helped Nettie with the stone on the first day of the journey.

2. Mirza Mazlum was actually an elderly Persian friend who became a Baha’i after witnessing the martyrdom of a number of Baha’i prisoners in Iran. He carried the stone on his back, alone for a half block.

3. Nettie Tobin was employed by Corinne True as a dressmaker and visited her home once or twice a week.

4. Corinne True and Cecelia Harrison were the two Baha’is who were waiting at the Temple site for our three friends to arrive with the stone. When it got late, they became worried and started back to the horsecar station to see if they could find what happened to their friends. They met the friends tired and worn. Together, decided to leave the stone overnight in the farmyard.

5. It was on Labor Day 1908 that our friends embarked on their journey to deliver the stone to the Temple site.

6. The first horsecar was boarded at State Street in Chicago. It took them to the second horsecar they transferred to, which took them to the corner of Central and Ridge Avenues in Evanston, Illinois. This was probably the closest station to the Temple site at the time. At this point they were still six blocks from the site and the stone had to be carried the rest of the way by hand. They were able to go three blocks before the stone got too heavy to carry any farther. They dragged it a little farther. Mirza Mazlum carried it on his back for a half block. Nettie pulled the stone by herself in the cart about a half block. The newsboy reportedly helped Nettie drag the cart across two lots or about two of the blocks where the stone was left on the far west corner of the Temple site lot.

7. The Baha’is used the stone as a focal point for many gatherings in the months following the stone’s delivery. “Not everyone, however, was enchanted by the new addition, particularly Thornton Chase. In a letter dated 2 October 1908 he wrote, “I presume if the members of the H.of S. (House of Spirituality) should each do a similar thing, quite a number of persons would be delighted, taking it as an evidence that the House of Spirituality was really ‘doing something.’” (source: Bruce Whitmore, The Dawning Place, Baha’i Publishing Trust 1984, page 48.)

8. There was a controversy at the time regarding the Temple site. Since it was eight miles north of the center of Chicago, many assumed the land would be traded for a lot nearer the city. But ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, Himself, approved the site and more land was purchased around it so it could be surrounded by gardens and the other social services surrounding a future Mashriqu’l-Adhkar.

9. ‘Abdu’l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha’u’llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith. He was named as successor and Center of the Covenant after the passing of Baha’u’llah. He visited the United States in 1912 where He was present for the beginning ceremony for the building of the Mother Temple of the West. He supported Corinne True’s efforts to raise the money needed to build the Temple and supported her choice of site even though many at the time opposed the distant site, favoring a more inner-city site. Today the city has grown to encompass the Temple and while crime and decay trouble the inner city, Wilmette is a lovely suburb of Chicago, and the Temple sits as a jewel on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Family Discussion Guide

1. Discuss self-esteem with your children. Ask them if anyone has ever criticized them. Ask them how they feel when that happens. How can they believe in their own great destiny? We are taught that God created us as noble beings. Only our own thoughts and actions can cause abasement.

“O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created Thee. Yet thou hast abased thyself? Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.”

2. Discuss tenacity and courage as virtues. Discuss Nettie’s determination to complete her difficult task. Was it more of a sacrifice to give money as a donation or to give the stone? Discuss all the other rocks that never reached the Temple site.

3. Discuss how tests such as the horrible separation of “The Special Stone” from his family and the destruction of his home can be a catalyst for changes in life that are destined. Discuss some historical examples that might correlate, like the holocaust of World War II, the abduction of slaves from Africa, or the 20,000 martyrs of the early Baha’is. The Valley of Knowledge teaches us trust in God. If we know the outcome in the beginning of the test, we could go through tests and trials with more courage and serenity. Discuss trusting in God for what He has in store for our lives.