Mrs. Tobin was born in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there
until shortly after the death of her husband in 1892. She then moved to Chicago
with her two small sons, John, and Harold, and her half-sister and brother. At first
she had a difficult time supporting herself and family by means of dressmaking.
Although extremely busy, her spirit of determination and faith in prayer became
a silver lining to the clouds of worry and despair. Daily she prayed for
spiritual guidance in meeting her many problems with her little ones.
Mrs. Tobin felt that her prayers had been answered when she
met Paul K. Dealy, one of the early believers in the Baha'i Faith in America.
She recognized his great faith and spiritual power as a teacher. After
attending his classes she was convinced that Baha'u'llah was the “Son
of Man" and the “Lord of the Vineyard" promised by Jesus Christ, and
the “Everlasting Father," the Prince of Peace" promised by Isaiah to
come in the “latter days." She not only accepted the Baha'i Message, but
wanted others to hear the glad tidings of the fulfillment of that great Event.
Regarding the finding and delivery of the dedication stone:
according to her nurse [1] for three and a half years before her
departure, Mrs. Tobin mentioned the following:
One day while sitting alone and busy with dressmaking in the home of one of the believers, she heard a voice questioning, “Do you believe in immortality?" She replied, “Yes, I do." The voice said, “Then, get a stone." A few days later the voice again came, but louder than before, "Do you believe in immortality?" Again she replied, "Yes, I do." And the voice said, “Get a stone."
Mrs. Tobin delayed carrying out the request. Again the voice came a third time and commanded her to obtain a stone. She began looking around and was inspired to go to a place where a building was under construction. Here the contractor, after hearing her request, told her to select any stone that she wanted. She chose a very large one and started away with it in a small hand-drawn express wagon. About half way to the Temple site, the wagon collapsed, but a kindly milkman helped her carry the stone to the foot of the hill on which the House of Worship now stands. Two boys assisted in getting the stone to the top of the hill.
When 'Abdu'l-Baha visited the Temple site in 1912, to
dedicate the grounds, He saw this stone, and when a hole had been dug by
representatives of many nations, He had it placed therein, and it became the
object around which the ceremony of dedication of the Temple site revolved.
During the years following that Event and the building of
the Temple, the stone was carefully preserved, and finally imbedded in the
cement floor of the basement at the spot where 'Abdu'l-Baha dedicated it.
As one visits that sacred place and gazes at the unpolished,
rough piece of natural rock and remembers its significance coupled with the
greatness of the One Who blessed it by His Word and Presence, one gratefully recalls
the faith and effort of the humble soul inspired to bring it there for that
unique and remarkable occasion.
- Albert R. Windust (The Baha’i World vol. 10, 1944-1946)
- Albert R. Windust (The Baha’i World vol. 10, 1944-1946)
[1] "Mrs.
Tobin told me of the incidents mentioned and added that when 'Abdu'l-Baha
arrived in Chicago she presented Him with a bouquet of white roses and some
grapefruit. He requested one of His attendants to save the seed from the latter
to be planted at His home in Haifa. She also contributed for the Shrine of the
Báb on Mt. Carmel. 'Abdu'l-Baha promised that Mrs. Tobin, with her whole family
would be blessed." -Gertrude Triebwasser, nurse to Mrs. Tobin during her
long illness.
