Greetings, I am Thornton Chase, a man whose journey traversed the tumultuous landscape of the American Civil War and led me to become the first western convert to the Baháʼí Faith. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on February 22, 1847, to English parents of Baptist faith, my early years were marked by a diverse array of experiences.

Despite being prepared for college by Rev. Samuel Francis Smith, my path took a different turn as I enlisted as an officer in the American Civil War, serving val