Orcella Rexford (1887-1946) was another interesting character that Dr. Guy and his spiritual group met and interacted with. She was born Louise Cutts Powell in Minnesota, later changing her name because of numerological indications.
Rexford was a mystic and studied different systems of knowledge such as nutritional healing, positive thinking (New Thought movement), chromotherapy, numerology, and a New Age slant on psychology. She also encountered the Baha’i Faith and was mentored Dr. Edward Getsinger, MD, in Boston, Massachusetts around 1918-1919. Getsinger was also a mystic, homeopathic physician, and early Baha’i beleiver going back to the 1890s. Rexford later had a career as a Baha’i teacher, traveling around the United States, even as far as Alaska to teach the Faith.
As part of her Baha’i “pioneering,” she came to Forida in the 1930s. She gave a series of talks at the Seminole hotel in Jacksonville, Florida, just North of St. Augustine. One class on nutrition and healing saw 400 in attendance. Most of her classes , which were offered in a series, attracted 100 or more attendees. She was a hit in Jacksonville.
Dr. and Mrs. Guy, and their followers, some Baha’is from Jacksonville, and some from St. Augustne, attended every lecture. Toward the end of the series, Rexford promoted the Baha’i Faith and introduced Dr. Guy to the audience.
Dr. Guy presented a lecture series in Jacksonville on the Baha’i Message after Rexford left town. The firt class was attended by a significant number of people, but each succeeding lecture the crowd size shrank, until noone came to the last class. Dr. and Mrs. Guy reflected on this later in their correspondence, feeling the “bait and switch” method was non-productive. Mrs. Guy thought that people who already had some spiritual or esoteric leanings such as Theosophy were “better material” for recruitment. Mrs. Guy herself had belonged to the Theosophical Society, and was a leader in one of the Boston Lodges.
Orcella Rexford continued to travel acround the country presenting lectures, connecting the public with the Baha’i Faith, and writing books. Some of the titles of her books include:
Mental Radio: How to Tune-in Your Mental Radio to Bring You Anything You Want.
This title was typical of a New Thought book of its time. The idea that one could tune in to a spiritual or universal dimension within, but use “mental powers” to get what you want is still an attractive diead and the subject of modern bestsellers.
Your Name and You. Numerology Made Easy.
Numerology is a system of occult or esoteric knowledge which believes that numbers have special meanings, and vibrations that connect all parts of one’s life, and indeed, the whole universe. By associating oneself with auspicous numbers, health, wealth, and fortune are attracted to your life.
The Chemistry of Foods and People.
The idea that people are unique and specific foods can promote health in individual human biochemical systems is a cornerstone of modern holistic nutrition. Other related nutritional healing titles by Rexford are What to Eat to Be Well and Happy Hours with Herbs.
The Joy and Symbolism of Color.
Color healing and the use of color to acheive emotional and vibrational harmonies is a perennial theme is esoteric healing. It was particularly popular with Rosicrucian groups in the early 20th Century.
Other biographical notes on Orecella Rexford:
She married Gayne V. Gregory, a dentist, who she met while lecturing in Alaska. Gregory was the first person to accept the Baha’i Faith in Alaska. Rexford reatined her numberlogical name though she was also known as “Mrs. Gregory.”
She was injured by a fall in Phoenix, Arizona. This effectively ended her career as a popular public speaker.
She died in 1946 while taking a bath. She predeceased her husband Gayne who died in 1964.
She is the subject of a number of Baha’i history web sites where she is considered a Baha’i hero.
Her books on numerolgy are still in print. Like Dr. Guy, she has followers who are interested in her teachings. The following video clip is an example of a young enthusiast who is a fan of Orcella Rexford’s numerology. The Dr. Guy Team observes that this is a historian in the making.
Link to YouTube video on numberology featuring Orxcella Rexford. The part on Rexford starts about 5 minutes into the video
A advertisement for Orxella Rexford’s lectures in Miami. The note of the side says “Sorry to have missed you, G. R.” This was found in file at the Jacksonville Baha’i Center, and was likely sent the Guys.