National Teaching Committee Bulletins/1920/November 15 (Maxwell)/Text

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National Teaching Committee Bulletins November 15, 1920

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[Page 1] "Therefore, again I repeat, that the future of Canada, whether from the standpoint of civilization or from the viewpoint of the virtues of the Kingdom is very great. Day by day civilization and freedom shall increase. Likewise the cloud of the Kingdom will water the seeds of guidance sown in that Dominion." Second Tablet to Canada. Unveiling of the Divine Plan.

Bulletin recording the blessed visit and teaching of his honor, Jenabe Fazel to Canada, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, October 12th -- November 9th, 1920.

In every event and whatsoever occurs in the Cause of God the supreme wisdom of the Centre of the Covenant becomes manifest.

Often only a trace of this wisdom is revealed to our human consciousness, but that trace brings us ever nearer to the splendour of truth and reality pouring from His Effulgent Orb.

In the sending of Jenabe Fazel to this country the meaning of His Words "one holy soul is better than one thousand other souls" has been made clear; for not only by the extraordinary breadth and universality of his teachings is he widening the horizon of all our vision and bringing to the Occidental Bahá’í consciousness a wider, deeper and more mature consciousness of the Oriental Bahá’í, but by virtue of his spiritual station Jenabe Fazel is transforming the spiritual atmosphere wherever he goes.

"His honor, Fazel, is verily, pure gold, and a shining and brilliant lamp!*

"His honor, Fazel, is verily, an accomplished person, attracted to the Kingdom of Abha, and active in service. He has no desire but to spread the Fragrance of the Rose Garden of ABHA, and has no aspiration save service to the friends of GOD. He is light-hearted with sincerity of motive. The friends should surely feel pleased and delighted with his companionship and association. "

"His honor, Fazel, is one of the elect among the believers in His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh. This respected one is severed, sincere and eloquent. It is My hope that the American friends will prove receptive to his advice and sermons, and understand that there is considerable difference between this honored person and others."

"His Excellency, the ideal sage, Fazel Mazandarani, is the essence of humility and submission. God willing, with Manoucher Khan, he has reached the United States under the Protection of the Almighty. This respected soul is evanescent in the Cause of the Blessed Perfection. He is wise, well informed and a thinker. There is no doubt that he will become the cause of the exhilaration, rejoicing and the guidance of others. You must exercise toward him the utmost respect and consideration, and placing your hands in each other's, become ye engaged in the promotion of the Word of GOD."

(All of the foregoing quotations are from the Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá).

During those days at St. John, on his arrival in Canada, when the city threw open its doors of welcome and the Call of God reached the ears, that Voice travelled far and wide, and that Spirit penetrated the realities of all things. [Page 2] The faithful and loving group of servants who accompanied Jenabe Fazel, Martha Root, Harry Randall, Mirza Ahmad and Manoucher Khan, were the instruments through which the doors were opened, meetings obtained and every means facilitated for the wonderful Seed of Life to be sown.

In a specially called gathering of the Mens Canadian Club, which is a national organization in Canada and is found in every large city, the key note of the evening was the power, openness and courage with which Mr. Randall spoke opening the way for Jenabe Fazel to pour divine illumination into those receptive minds. Other meetings were held at the Art's Club and at the Manor House, reaching different groups and strata of the people.

St. John has had much teaching and seed sowing in recent years. Through Miss Jack, Mother Beecher and others it had been well prepared for the great spiritual teacher whom His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has sent to educate us all, and the results in St. John will effect all that region for it is the heart of the Maritime Provinces.

From the day of his arrival in Montreal Jenabe Fazel was teaching and speaking; "educating the souls", "guiding the people", and "diffusing the fragrances of God". More than a year ago the Beloved wrote that the fruits of his visit to Montreal were now apparent and that a new capacity was created. Now His servant has come and watered His seed, trained His vines and taught His people. Each meeting and gathering had its own note and color so that the city was filled with the melody of the Kingdom.

Jenabe Fazel spoke to the Theosophists and Esperantists in a united group, to a packed colored church whose minister is an illumined and receptive soul, at a large public meeting at the Ritz Carlton, where the beauty of the hall and the hushed audience was a fitting setting for the wonderful address on the Ideals of the New Age.

The most profoundly moving meeting was in the Unitarian Church, where, walking in the footsteps of his supreme Lord, Jenabe Fazel spoke to the people of the One who had stood in that very spot, whose Voice had been heard within those walls. Like an echo of those eternal days when the Lord of the Covenant was in our midst, and in this Province of Quebec "rent the veils cast over all people and the covering over all nations", Jenabe Fazel with a deep love and humility spoke to the hearts of the Universal Consciousness of Christ. After the meeting the people became friendly and intimate and lingered for an hour in that sacred atmosphere of his all penetrating love and presence, his lasting heritage to that church.

On subsequent days and evenings Jenabe Fazel addressed the Zionist Federation on the Progress of the Jews in Persia, the Montreal Womens Club on the Women of Persia, and a number of large group meetings which reached all classes of people.

Although Jenabe Fazel spoke on such a wide variety of subjects to so many entirely different groups and gatherings, yet as he said himself his theme was always the same. From whatever standpoint he gave the Message all his addresses revolved around one point, -- the divine universal Principles operating as a mighty leaven in human society, which today are the cause of all human progress. He spoke always from the standpoint of these Principles, breathing into their enunciation such life power and significance that they came to the consciousness of the people with the full force and majesty of the Divine Authority from which they sprung. Through the shining pathway of these rays he led the people to the Sun, so that the blessed Names of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh and His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá fell on the ears of his hearers with a subtle and mysterious power, the power of a great love and attraction.

He showed the mighty fruits of these Principles; the miraculous results among all nations and peoples whereby prejudice, bigotry and superstition had been removed and the clear light of universal truth shone on the mirrors of men's minds. [Page 3] And while he told of this effect among all peoples, identically the same effect was produced in the mirror of his audience. This is indeed the mature wisdom which we hope some day to attain. Just as the pivotal point of all his addresses was the divine Principles of this Age through the appearance of the Manifestation of God, so the objective point was the Most Great Peace. In every address he made it clear to his audience that the purpose of all these Divine Teachings was to destroy the causes and foundation of war and to establish eternal peace.

He never disagreed with anyone no matter how false the theory advanced, never argued or discussed, never tried to show any one they were wrong or mistaken. On the contrary whether individually or collectively, he first created the point of contact and sympathetic understanding with his hearer. Immediately the balance of unity was established the law of love set in operation, then he led them a step nearer to Reality. We saw him wait patiently a long time for a soul to disengage itself from its own entanglements before he spoke the one word of truth.

When we spoke to Jenabe Fazel about his universal way of presenting the Cause and its affect on the people; he only said that there is no one way to teach, but the essential point is that each one must speak from his heart, from sincere conviction, and not through imitation of anyone, for the real and only Speaker is His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He said to turn ourselves wholly to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, centre all our thoughts on Him and then speak.

This is why that ethereal power penetrates the hearts, and that divine elixir quickens the souls, and that transforming potency operates on a great gathering of people when Jenabe Fazel speaks.

As the circle of those groups who heard him widened, the spiritual insight and understanding increased, so that in the crowded rooms of the Zionists and at the great gathering of women at the Women's Club, not only was perfect sympathy and receptivity manifest, but the thrill of the awakening soul, the spirit of birth and resurrection, the wonder and beauty of the dawn of the Eternal Day!

Now the little group of adherents in Montreal find the Cause suddenly at high tide. Hundreds of seeking yearning souls turning to the Light; souls of vision and capacity eager to learn, hungry for spiritual sustenance.

Jenabe Fazel told us to gather all these attracted ones in our meetings, to unite with them in studying the Word of God, to have free and open discussion, everyone to take part, all to contribute, and at each meeting the new souls with capacity be urged to speak.

Thus the past limited and sectarian methods have been swept away by the onrushing tide, and a new and universal cycle of the Cause has been inaugurated.

He told us the real Bahá’ís are those souls everywhere in the world today who are imbued with the Spirit of this Age which is the Spirit of God. They may not yet attribute themselves to His Name but they are in reality Bahá’ís, lovers of this infinite Light, servers of this infinite Truth, imbued with the universal divine Principles and lofty Attributes emanating from the Manifestation of God. He said that people may attribute themselves to His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh, yet in their hearts have entirely forgotten the meaning of this high station, and that the perfect Bahá’í is the one who is ablaze with the fire of the love of the Manifestation of God and the universal Principles of this Age.

It is strange and awe inspiring to note how in every city the invisible hand of the Beloved ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is moving over the pages of the hearts and His deep love and watchful care is brooding over the birth of the nations.

In Canada many instances of that mysterious invisible Power of the Covenant silently preparing the ways and means have become manifest. In St. John Colonel Culver, who has been the American Consul there for some years, with his family and a small devoted group formed the centre around which the divine forces [Page 4] revolved, and when Jenabe Fazel arrived Colonel Culver arose with the love and enthusiasm of an impelling power.

Again in Montreal through years of love and friendship with Albert Vail, the Reverend Sidney Snow, who is a man of rare vision and high idealism not only invited Jenabe Fazel and Albert Vail to speak in his church, but gave a service lovingly and exquisitely adapted to the occasion. And in Toronto one spark lighted years ago has been the means of the conflagration of that city today. These are but a few of many traces of His ever present invisible power, moulding all things to His final consummation.

The conditions surrounding the inception and growth of the Holy Cause in Toronto are interesting and unique.

Some years ago a brilliant young Jew, Louis Benjamin, while visiting Montreal heard of the Cause, studied the teachings and on his return to Toronto brought the Message into the centre of an earnest and sincere group. These souls were gathered around the rare mind and spirit of Doctor A. D. Watson, a poet and thinker on broad and spiritual lines.

Although this group did not go deeply into the divine teachings at that time they were very receptive and attracted. Within a year or so Louis Benjamin developed psychic and mediumistic powers which resulted in a series of communications purporting to come from souls of high development on the 20th Plane, and which Dr. Watson later compiled and published in the now famous book of that name.

In June 1919 the blessed soul Agnes Alexander with a Montreal Bahá’í spent some weeks in Toronto at the home of Dr. Watson, and this intelligent group of seekers became the centre around which the Confirmations of the Spirit revolved. At that time a deep spiritual bond was established.

While we know the Words of the Beloved regarding psychic phenomena, it is significant that at this time when spiritualism is more wide-spread than ever before and hundreds of thousands of families bereft of their loved ones through the war and the plague, are seeking the consolation of assurance and communication, this young man in Toronto with real faith, and devoted love for His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has developed those psychic powers which have made him a living witness to the spiritualists, and the natural and inspired medium through which they are eagerly listening to the most wonderful Message.

During the past days in Toronto the powers of the Kingdom have been released, a divine attraction and commotion has stirred the people, and that city has been "illumined with the lights of its Lord".

Through the courtesy of Professor Dale, formerly of McGill College, Jenabe Fazel addressed a group of about one hundred students at the University of Toronto.

In the home of Dr. Watson he met several groups representing the educated and intellectual classes of the city.

He spoke to a large audience at the Theosophical Society on November 7th, and on that same afternoon in a theatre he addressed seven hundred people.

That gathering will never be forgotten, for on the same platform with the great disciple of the Covenant, Jenabe Fazel, spoke also Dr. Watson, testifying to the divine Cause, Albert Vail voicing the burning faith and zeal of the Occidental Bahá’í, and Louis Benjamin, speaking from the world of trance, told the people the Saviour of the world is now on earth, that within a few brief years He will again be in our midst, that all people and nations will believe in Him, and will flock to Him in His Temple now being built in America, and that at that time all nations will blend, union and harmony will dawn, and the foundation of the new Age will be laid!

When we reflect on the great congregation of spiritualists in Canada, we realize how deep and far reaching, beyond our fathoming, is the Divine Plan.

At this time hundreds of people in Toronto are thirsting for the Water [Page 5] of Life, and urgent plans are being made to send them teachers and to supply them with the Creative Word so that at this crisis they may be nourished and sustained

The activities in Hamilton were a natural radiation from Toronto and also from connections made last summer when Jenabe Fazel was in Lilydale. Three large meetings were held, the audiences including many Theosophists, Spiritualists and Socialists.

To what a Universal Power do such gatherings testify, that such apparently divergent groups working on varied planes of thought should unite in one meeting, drink from the same source and revolve around the Supreme Collective Centre!

So it was in London, Canada, where the hospitable platform of the Theosophists was again offered and all men mingled their aims and ideals in one common purpose for the highest human destiny, under the magic spell of the Divine Teachings.

In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wright, which has been the nest of the Cause for years past, and where much seed showing has been done, many eager and longing groups met to hear the teacher whom His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had sent, and to receive the quickening power of his spirit.

Also in St. Thomas very near London, an address was given at the Men's Canadian Club; and it is evident that the Province of Ontario has manifested a peculiar capacity since the showers of Divine Grace have fallen there in such abundance.

The pen would love to linger over pages recording these blessed and brilliant days in Canada.

In this wondrous journey vast regions have been illumined and quickened, Cities have been enkindled with the fire of the love of God. A mighty attraction has been set up and a power like the surging waves of the sea has been set in motion! How many souls in the Valley of Search have found their destination! How many longing ones been satisfied! How many hungry hearts coming in contact with the flame burning in this "brilliant lamp" have found the door to the infinite heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!

We all wish that many records might be written so that a trace of the beauty and perfection, of the infinite love and compassion of the Beloved One to Canada night become manifest. Our hearts cling around these events in the Day of the Covenant, and our thoughts linger on those dear ones who have come and gone leaving the fragrance of their eternal service.

With great love and gratitude we record the names of those true and faithful ones who served Jenabe Fazel throughout this journey.

Martha Root is too well known and loved, as well as too evanescent to eulogise, but the Canadian believers wish to pay her their tribute of love and gratitude for her inspired and indefatigable services, for her genius in pioneer and press work, through which she obtains such remarkable and universal response from the Press. Through her love, service and sacrifice the spoken word to hundreds became the written and published word to thousands.

Just as Mr. Randall left all his affairs in Boston and with the utmost sacrifice went to St. John for the Blessed Cause, so Albert Vail came from Chicago to Montreal and with that incomparable spirit of joy and radiance united all his forces to the little group, spoke on every platform with Jenate Fazel, giving always a perfectly adapted and inspiring introductory address, and this uniting of the Orient and Occident in one common purpose made a profound impression.

Mirza Ahmad Sohrab and Mirza Manoucher Khan served continually both by clear and lucid translation, and by individual service and teaching.

And finally we all humbly and gratefully recall the words of Jenabe Fazel spoken in Greenacre:

He had been listening to the enthusiastic praises of the Bahá’ís of each [Page 6] other, surely the sign of a growing love and unity! --when he arose and said:

"On this trip such and such souls deserve great credit for their services, but it is the breeze that causes the flags to flutter in the wind! The flags are inert substance, it is the wind which sets them in motion and causes them to float on high."

Allaho Abha!

M.M.

(The foregoing account was written by Mrs. May Maxwell of Montreal, and is published and circulated by the Teaching Committee of Nineteen for the United States and Canada.)

November 15, 1920.