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Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West <<  Previous - First Bahá'í House of Worship  |  Third Bahá'í House of Worship - Next  >>

Description Data Regarding the Bahá'í Temple In Wilmette, Illinois Passages Inscribed Over the Nine Entrances of the Bahá'í Temple, Wilmette, Ill., U.S.A. Passages Inscribed in the Interior of the Bahá'í Temple, Wilmette, Ill., U.S.A. Location See also Photographs  TOP   Description The House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, was completed in 1953 after more than 30 years of construction; the Wilmette House of Worship is the largest and the oldest surviving temple. Its cornerstone was laid by 'Abdu-l-Bahá in 1912 and construction officially began in 1921. Known as the "Mother Temple of the West" it stands on the shores of Lake Michigan. The cladding is several cast panels made out of white portland cement concrete with both clear and white quartz aggregate, which are placed over the temple's steel superstructure. It is the world's first structure to use the cast panel technique. The principal architect was Louis Bourgeois, who took eight years to design the temple. The diameter of the dome is 90 feet (27.5 meters) and the height of the auditorium interior is 138 feet (42 meters). The auditorium is capable of holding 1,192 people seated. Below the temple is the current visitor's center, including an audio-visual auditorium known as Foundation Hall, the Cornerstone Room where ‘Abdu’l-Baha placed the temple's cornerstone, a bookstore and administrative offices. One of the driving forces in its creation and progress was Corinne True, who became known as the "Mother of the Temple". [ Bahaipedia - Houses of Worship ]  TOP   DATA REGARDING THE BAHÁ'Í TEMPLE IN WILMETTE, ILLINOIS Cost of Temple property $51,500.00 Area of Temple property 6.97 acres Materials used in ornamentation: crystalline quartz, opaque quartz and white Portland cement. Total Cost of the structure of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Illinois (1921-1953) $3,212,517.60 Height from floor of basement to culmination of the dome ribs 191 feet Depth of caissons 120 feet Diameter at the foundation floor 204 feet Height of dome 49 feet Outside diameter of dome 90 feet Number of sections of ornamentation comprising the dome and ribs 387 Perforation of dome surface 30% Seating capacity of Auditorium 1,200 Number of Temple visitors from 1952-1962 1,003,253 Letter addressed by Bahá'ís of 'Ishqábád to the Bahá'ís of Chicago 1902 Petition addressed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá by the "House of Spirituality" of the Bahá'ís of Chicago appealing for permission to construct a Bahá'í Temple in America March 1903 'Abdu'l-Bahá gives His approval through a Tablet dated June 1903 Delegates of various American Bahá'í Assemblies meet in Chicago and choose a site for the Temple November 1907 First two building lots purchased April 1908 First American Bahá'í Convention established Bahá'í Temple Unity March 1909 'Abdu'l-Bahá lays dedication stone of the Temple May 1912 Purchase of Temple property completed 1914 Bahá'í Convention selects design of L. J. Bourgeois April 20 Sinking of the nine caissons completed 1921 Completion of the superstructure May 1931 Steps placed in position December 1942 Completion of exterior ornamentation of Temple 1943 Completion of interior ornamentation October 1952 Completion of Temple landscaping April 1953 Dedication to public worship May 2, 1953 [ Bahá'í Faith, The: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963, Pages 36-38 ]  TOP   PASSAGES INSCRIBED OVER THE NINE ENTRANCES OF THE BAHÁ'Í TEMPLE, WILMETTE, ILL., U.S.A. 1. "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." 2. "The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me." 3. "My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure." 4. "Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner." 5. "Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent." 6. "I have made death a messenger of joy to thee; wherefore dost thou grieve." 7. "Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven, I may remember thee." 8. "O rich ones on earth! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust." 9. "The source of all learning is the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory!" [ Bahá'í Faith, The: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963, Pages 36-38 ]  TOP   PASSAGES INSCRIBED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE BAHÁ'Í TEMPLE, WILMETTE, ILL., U.S.A. 1. "All the prophets of God proclaim the same faith." 2. "Religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold." 3. "Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." 4. "So powerful is unity's light that it can illumine the whole earth." 5. "Consort with the followers of all religions with friendliness." 6. "O Son of Being! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee." 7. "O Son of Being! Walk in My statutes for love of Me." 8. "Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home reunion with Me." 9. "The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun." [ Bahá'í Faith, The: 1844-1963: Information Statistical and Comparative, Including the Achievements of the Ten Year International Bahá'í Teaching & Consolidation Plan 1953-1963, Pages 36-38 ]  TOP   LOCATION Mother Temple of the North America & the West ia located at: 100 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America [  ] [  Google Maps  | ABG  ]    TOP   See also: Bahá'í House of Worship for North America Continental House of Worship Mas̲h̲riqu'l-Ad̲h̲kár  TOP   Photographs of the Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 For photo source and copyright information, please click on the little camera [  ] below each image.  TOP   Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West - Photograph #1 Continental Bahá’í House of Worship of North America (Wilmette, United States), c. 1947 [ View Full Size Image #1 ] [  ] [ bahai.org ]      TOP   THUMBNAILS  Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West - Photograph #2 Continental Bahá’í House of Worship of North America (Wilmette, United States) [ View Full Size Image #2 ] [  ] [ bahai.org ]      TOP   THUMBNAILS  Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the Westt - Photograph #3 Detail of the ornamental features of the Continental Bahá’í House of Worship of North America (Wilmette, United States), 1988 [ View Full Size Image #3 ] [  ] [ bahai.org ]      TOP   THUMBNAILS  Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West - Photograph #4 Interview view of the dome of the Continental Bahá’í House of Worship of North America (Wilmette, United States) [ View Full Size Image #4 ] [  ] [ bahai.org ]      TOP   THUMBNAILS  Second Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America, North America Mother Temple of the North America & the West - Photograph #5 Continental Bahá’í House of Worship of North America (Wilmette, United States) [ View Full Size Image #5 ] [  ] [ bahai.org ]      TOP   THUMBNAILS  [ ABG ] <<  Previous - First Bahá'í House of Worship  |  Third Bahá'í House of Worship - Next  >>

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