Adapted from "The Dawning Place" by Bruce W. Whitmore

One American Baha'i who made a unique contribution to the effort to build the Baha'i House of Worship in 1908 was Esther Tobin, known to her friends as Nettie. She was a loving, humble woman who earned a meager living as a seamstress. Nettie was troubled by her financial inability to contribute to the building of the temple and prayed often that God send her something to offer as a gift. She found inspiration in a letter the American Baha'is received from a Persian Baha'i:

Recognized for enhancing the environment and enriching the public's quality of life, the Baha'i House of Worship recently was named one of 150 Illinois Great Places by the American Institute of Architects.

Close to 200 people gathered May 27 at the Bahai House of Worship for the North American Continent -- and that was just the choir. An additional 1,000 people were there to hear the first-ever choral festival at the Wilmette temple just outside of Chicago.

It has been called magnificent, splendid, awe-inspiring and amazing. As of April 30, the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent can add to its list of accolades being named one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois."

Technically, there's no such thing as "Baha'i music." But when you hear the rich, uplifting voices of the choir cascading down from on high at the Baha'i House of Worship of the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill., "technically" seems, well, a technicality. Especially when the choir is singing "I'm So Glad," or another stirring piece written by Van Gilmer, newly appointed director of music.