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PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
In the Interest of the BAHAI MOVEMENT
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Publishers: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Ill., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Terms: $3.00 per year; 20 cents per copy.
Two copies to same name and address, $5.00 per year.
Make Money Orders Payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
| Vol. 11 | CONTENTS | No. 19 |
| PAGE | |||||||||||||
Tomb of Hazrat Vargha and his son Ruhollah, Bahai Martyrs | |||||||||||||
"How is it possible to imagine life after death?"—Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to J. Isbrucker | |||||||||||||
The final burial of The Báb on Mt. Carmel—Extracts from Mirza Moneer's letters | |||||||||||||
"The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually." —Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to Shanaz Waite | |||||||||||||
Prayer for the dead and progress in the after-life—Teaching of ABDUL-BAHA to Ethel J. Rosenberg | |||||||||||||
"In this great dispensation Thou dost accept the intercession of the sons in behalf of their fathers."—Tablet to Albert R. Windust | |||||||||||||
Obituary | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Some Answered Questions regarding the Fast.— Words of ABDUL-BAHA to Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper | |||||||||||||
Societe Nonahalan or Children's Savings Institution.—Letter from Dr. Susan I. Moody | |||||||||||||
Index to Volume 11 | |||||||||||||
PERSIAN SECTION—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | |||||||||||||
| 1. From the Words of BAHA'O'LLAH. 2. Prayer of Forgiveness (for all the friends who died in Persia). The German house in Haifa. America's entrance in the war. Prejudice in Italy. Visit to Acca. | |||||||||||||
--PHOTO--
THE TOMB OF HAZRAT VARGHA AND HIS SON RUHOLLAH, BAHAI MARTYRS
The martyr MOLLAH AGHA JAN is buried beneath the landing which surrounds the mausoleum. MISS LILLIAN FRANCES KAPPES' grave is in the garden very near the Tomb.
The wife of Mollah Agha Jan—"Amatol Baha"—was the first woman Persian teacher to go from place to place spreading the Glad-tidings. She lived in Sari. Passed out about 1918.
Before the Tomb (left to right): Mirza Azizollah Vargha: Elizabeth H. Stewart; Hadji Ameen, and at his feet, Aly Mohammed, son of Mirza Valiollah Khan Vargha; Doctor Susan I. Moody; Mirza Valiollah Khan Vargha.
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened, that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes; these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
| Vol. 11 | Ola 1, 76 (March 2, 1921) | No. 19 |
"How is it possible to imagine life after death?"
Recent Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to J. IsbruckerTo the maid-servant of God, J. Isbrucker, Den Haag, Holland—Unto her be greeting and praise!
O thou who art searching for truth!
Thy letter has been received. Thou has written that Agha Mirza Ahmed Khan (Yazdani) has given some explanation of the Bahai Cause to thee. What thou hast written is right, that the Bahai Religion is Truth and other institutions compared to the Bahai Religion are not reality and are without any great results. Although in the sight of the people they seem to have a true foundation, yet they are like unto a fruitless tree. There are so many trees that are apparently huge and cast a shadow, yet they are not productive of any fruit and so they will be ultimately uprooted, as thou hast observed and wilt observe. The Divine Institution is, however, a tree whose shadow is extended over the East and the West and every moment brings forth wonderful fruits, as experience has shown.
Thou hast written, "How is it possible that one should obey and submit to an unjust government?" By the government which should be obeyed is meant a just government which protects the rights of all its people. It is a constitutional government which is bound by stringent laws.
Thou has written, "How is it possible to imagine a life after death?" Verily, verily, life after death is not imaginable. But do thou observe that it is evident man has evolved from the mineral world. As long as he was in the mineral kingdom, he could not imagine the vegetable kingdom. He was transferred to the vegetable kingdom. In the vegetable kingdom he could not imagine the animal kingdom. Before he emerged from the animal kingdom he could not imagine the stage of human reason and intelligence, that is, it was impossible for him, he did not have any knowledge thereof.
Now this earth and these trees have, by no means, any knowledge of the animal and human worlds: they cannot imagine them, they deny existence absolutely. While the human world is helping the animal and assisting the vegetable kingdoms, the vegetable kingdom is ignorant of it. Similarly the human world cannot comprehend the world of the Kingdom: it is absolutely ignorant of it, while the heavenly spirits have influence in the human world.
Do thou observe how clear this point is and yet the professors and philosophers of the world are ignorant of this reality! The mediums are, however, speaking of the world of thought and not of reality. But a heavenly soul who is conscious of the Divine World: whose discerning eye is open: who is detached from the world of nature, and has attained to spiritual power is
cognizant of the Divine World and those of the spirits. Reality is pure spirit, it is not physical: that is, it does not occupy space.
Ye should esteem Mirza Ahmed Khan (Yazdani) highly, because it was he who gave ye this great glad tiding. Through the graces of God do I hope that that country will be enkindled with heavenly Light: that the Divine verses will be chanted, and that such souls may be confirmed as to become like unto Paul and Mary Magdalene.
Unto thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Azizullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, October 15th, 1920.)
--PHOTO--
REMAINS OF THE BAB
The Final Burial of The Báb on Mt. Carmel
Extracts from Mirza Moneer's letters, Acca, Syria, March 22, 1909.SUNDAY morning, Abdul-Baha drove from Acca to Haifa with his family and a few of the old believers. Along the shore, half way between the two cities, there is now a small house which the government has built for the watch of the road. Here, in the middle of the desert, we stopped and had luncheon; then, after an hour and a half, we reached Haifa.
But few of the believers knew that nine years ago the remains of His Holiness, The Báb, had been quietly placed in the (place of) Hazerat-o-Ikoods on Mount Carmel.
A week before the Feast of Naurooz (March 21st) Abdul-Baha had sent to Haifa two of the believers that they should prepare everything for the coming ceremonies.
Nine years ago a believer of Rangoon (India) sent to Haifa a large casket made of marble, beautifully worked with the Greatest Name in relief and gilded three times on each side. It was later to hold the remains of The Báb, which had been kept 60 years (59 A. D., or solar years) in safety. Now they were to be definitely buried by Abdul-Baha.
A few weeks before some twenty men
had pulled this heavy marble casket up the mountain. Abdul-Baha gave the last necessary instructions and it was slowly slid down into the under part of the Tomb. This must have been performed with the help of the Kingdom of El-Abha, for though the work presented great difficulty and was done by inexperienced men, everyone wondered at the ease with which it was done.
The Shrine under the ground was lighted with but one lamp. Abdul-Baha waited until all was well finished. He threw off his turban; he removed his shoes; he took off his coat—but what followed was so impressive that it is useless for me to attempt to picture it! I will simply relate what happened.
Our Beloved, with his hair waving around his beautiful head, his face shining with light, looking inspired, tragic and majestic, rushed down and threw himself on his knees. He placed the remains of The Báb in the large coffin (in the marble-casket) and leaning his blessed head on the border of the coffin, he wept, wept, wept—and all wept with him.
That night the Master did not sleep.
must similarly be decomposed gradually"
Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to Shanaz Waite*To the maid-servant of God, Shahnaz Waite, San Diego, California.—Upon her be the Glory of God the Most Glorious!
He Is God!
O thou who art the daughter of the Kingdom!
Thy letter has been received. Due to scarcity of time, I write the answer briefly: The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually. This is according to the real and natural order and Divine Law. If it had been better
*NOTE—This tablet is in answer to a letter I wrote to Abdul-Baha, April 14, 1920, in regard to our having formed a Board for the San Diego Assembly, of which Mr. Waite is Chairman. I also wrote of the wonderful self-sacrifice and loving service which Mary Fenn has for several years rendered the Cause here, keeping the fire burning under most discouraging circumstances. I also asked for instructions regarding cremation, of which I knew he does not approve, but I wished to have his own words upon the subject.—Shahnaz Waite.
for it to be burned after death, in its very creation it would have been so planned that the body would automatically become ignited after death, be consumed and turned into ashes. But the divine order formulated by the heavenly ordinance is that after death this body shall be transferred from one stage to another different from the preceding one, so that according to the relations which exist in the world, it may gradually combine and mix with other elements, thus going through stages until it arrives in the vegetable kingdom, there turning into plants and flowers, developing into trees of the highest paradise, becoming perfumed and attaining the beauty of color.
Cremation suppresses it speedily from attainment to these transformations, the elements becoming so quickly decomposed that transformation to these various stages is checked.
Convey on my behalf my utmost love to thy honored husband! I am supplicating that he may day by day attain to spiritual development. In regard to the meeting which has been formed in that city, it is my hope that that assembly may become illumined and like unto
a rose-garden it may diffuse sweet fragrance.
Convey on my behalf respectful greetings to Miss Mary Fenn! In reality this dear maid-servant of God has arisen in service, deserving the bestowal of the divine bounties. I should like to write a letter to the friends of San Diego, but owing to the scarcity of opportunity I sufficed with a short supplication for them:
"O Thou the Lord of Hosts! The city of San Diego was like a lifeless body. Now a breath of the Spirit of Life has wafted over those regions. Some souls have arisen from the graves of the world of nature which is the eternal death; they have been revived by the Holy Ghost, and they have started in servitude to Thy threshold.
"O thou affectionate Lord! Bestow upon these featherless and wingless birds two heavenly wings and give unto them spiritual strength, so that they may soar in the limitless space and attain to the apex of the Kingdom of Abha!
"O Lord! Strengthen these feeble seedlings so that each one may develop into a fruitful tree, exhibiting the utmost freshness and liveliness. Assist them and make them victorious, so that they may rout and vanquish the army of ignorance and misapprehension; lift up the banner of love and guidance among the people; bestow like unto the spring breeze freshness and life unto the tree of humanity; give greenness and liveliness like unto the spring shower to the meadows of that continent! Verily, Thou art the Able and the Powerful, the Bestower and the Affectionate!"
Upon thee be Baha-el-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Azizullah S. Bahadur, Haifa, Palestine, June 2nd, 1920.)
ABDUL-BAHA said that through the mercy of God, not through His justice, the condition of those who have died in sin and unbelief can be changed. We are commanded to pray that their condition may be changed. As we have the power to pray for these souls here, so shall we have the same power in the after-life—in the Kingdom.
The power of this prayer of intercession is a special teaching of this religion. To pray for the dead was not given as a special religious command (of the Divine Teacher), until this day of the Blessed Perfection.
The grace of effective intercession is one of the perfections belonging to perfect and advanced souls, as well as to the Manifestations of God. Jesus Christ had the power of interceding for the forgiveness of His enemies when on earth, and He certainly has this power now.
Abdul-Baha never mentions the name of a dead person without saying, "May God forgive him," or words to that effect.
Followers of the prophets have also this power of praying for the forgiveness of souls, therefore we may not think that any souls are condemned to a stationary condition of suffering or loss, arising from absolute ignorance of God. The power of effective intercession for them always exists.
All the people in the other world, are they not the creatures of God? Therefore, they can progress in the other world. As they can also receive light by supplicating here, so they can also receive light by supplicating there. The rich in the other world can help the poor, as the rich can help the poor here. In every world all are the creatures of God. They are always dependent on Him. They are not independent, and
can never be so. While they are needful of God, the more they supplicate, the richer they become.
What is their merchandise, their wealth? In the other world what is help and assistance? It is intercession.
Undeveloped souls must gain progress at first through the supplications of the spiritually rich; afterwards they can progress through their own supplications.
of the sons in behalf of their fathers"
Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to Albert R. Windust.To Mr. Albert R. Windust, Chicago, Ill.—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
O Thou Almighty! O Thou Forgiver!
The servant of Thy Threshold, Windust, turns his face toward the Kingdom of Abha and begs for his father* Thy Grace and Bounty. O Thou Omnipotent Lord! In this Great Dispensation Thou dost accept the intercession of the sons in behalf of their fathers. This is one of the special infinite bestowals of this cycle. Therefore, O Thou kind Almighty! Accept the request of this thy servant at the Threshold of Thy Singleness and submerge his father in the ocean of Thy graces—because this son is confirmed in the accomplishment of Thy services and is displaying the utmost of effort at all time in the pathway of Thy love! Verily Thou art the Giver, the Forgiver and the Kind!
O thou divine servant!
Be thou not unhappy on account of the death of thy father. All of us will hasten from this world to another world. This mundane life has no importance whatsoever. It is our hope that in the divine world we shall find eternal union and seek everlasting fellowship. Importance lies in this fact. This station is
*Thomas Windust, printer, was born in London, England, November 12th, 1849. Died at Chicago, May 21st 1913, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, May 23rd.
obtained through faith and self-sacrifice in the path of God. Consequently we must make an effort to obtain happiness and joyousness in the other world.
Convey the wonderful Abha greeting to the believers. Chicago, in comparison with the cities of America, was in advance and numerically contained more Bahais. But when the stench (vile odor) of the nakazeen was spread in that city there was stagnation. The Cause in other cities of America is progressing day unto day, but Chicago is stationary. Therefore, strive that the sweet fragrance of the Testament and the Covenent may become diffused, the nostrils of the spiritual ones become perfumed, the banner of "Ya-Baha-el-Abha!" be unfurled and the tent of the oneness of the world of humanity be pitched. Then ye shall observe that Chicago will become the Paradise of Abha. These few nakazeen cannot accomplish anything worth while. The utmost is this that they will be the means of the drooping of the believers of God in that city. A person deprived of the spirit of the Covenant is sentenced as dead. The dead surely disintegrate. Therefore, breathe the spirit of the Covenant and the Testament as much as ye can in the hearts so that the souls may progress day unto day and obtain a new exhilaration.
Upon thee be Baha-el-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS!
(Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 4th, 1913, Port Said, Egypt.)
--PHOTO--
CHARLES H. GREENLEAF
BORN MAY 6, 1857
DIED MAY 24, 1920
Regarding death of Charles H. Greenleaf and Albert H. Hall:
"SUPPLICATING LORD OF THE KINGDOM TO SUBMERGE THESE TWO BLESSED SOULS IN THE OCEAN OF HIS MERCY."—ABBAS.
Regarding the death of Lillian F. Kappes:
BAGEROFF-DOCTOR MOODY, TEHERAN—
"MISS KAPPES VERY HAPPY. I INVITE WORLD BE NOT GRIEVED. APPLY TO MR. VAIL, URBANA, FOR SUBSTITUTE. ELIZABETH [STEWART] LEFT FOR TEHERAN."—ABBAS.
CHARLES H. GREENLEAF
A great pioneer of the Bahai Cause in America, his honor Charles H. Greenleaf, came to the end of the trail of this earthly life. May 24th, 1920. He was a giant in mind and body, and a guide to great numbers of souls in their search for Truth. He was one of the three recognized pillars of strength of the Cause in the early days—being closely associated with Thornton Chase and Arthur S. Agnew. Those who received the Message of the Kingdom from him remember his logical presentations and powerful arguments—qualities that were needed to convince the Western mind, especially when, at that time, there were very few of the words of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha translated into English.
We ever think of him as the associate of Thornton Chase, whom Abdul-Baha termed "a twinkling star on the horizon of Truth, at present hid behind the clouds, but which shall soon radiantly shine forth."
A noble soul has passed. "Ya-Baha-el-Abha!"
Tablet from Abdul-Baha.
Through his honor Mr. Chase to Mr. Charles H. Greenleaf—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH!
He Is God!
O thou member of the Merciful Meeting!
Mr. Chase offered the highest praise for you, and while in the Blessed Spot (Acca) he remembered you always.
Know thou his value, for he is a kind and faithful friend, firm in the Covenant and Testament.
O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Thy services and those of thy revered wife are acceptable in the Kingdom of Abha, for ye have made your home a nest for the birds of God, and have engaged in teaching the Cause of God.
Ye are truthful gardeners of the Garden of God, and two agreeable servants of the Holy Threshold.
This confirmation must become the source of joy to life and repose to the conscience.
Upon thee be Baha-el-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated Chicago, August 4, 1907.)
Charles Herman Greenleaf was born on a beautiful farm near Cold Springs, Wisconsin, May 6, 1857. His parents were Augustus and Charlotte Stanford Greenleaf. When about two and a half years old the family moved to California and there, among the hills and the mountains, he spent the happiest days of his childhood, not realizing any of the hardships which inevitably attend pioneer life. Throughout the years of turmoil after his return to the middle west, the visions of snow capped peaks, rushing mountain streams, rare flowers in secreted places, and hardy
kindly miners, always refreshed and rejoiced his heart.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Greenleaf was admitted to the Illinois Bar, the youngest graduate in a class of forty, and at that time he was elected as enrolling and engrossing clerk of the senate at Springfield, Ill. He was with the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, in Chicago, for twenty-two years.
August 8th, 1882, he married E. Elizazeth Rohrer of Evanston, Illinois.
Soon after the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he became interested in the universal teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH and was a member of the first House of Spirituality, continuing in this service throughout his life. His love for Abdul-Baha, the Center of God's Covenant, was his greatest characteristic.
He is survived by his wife and two sons, Albert E. and Charles L., and three sisters, Mrs. E. F. Comstock of Chicago, Mrs. E. W. Dakin and Miss Lily Greenleaf of Oak Park, Ill.
ALBERT H. HALL
In the spring of 1920, one of the well-known and active servants of the Bahai Cause in America, Albert H. Hall, of Minneapolis, passed from the plane of the seen to the unseen.
He will ever be remembered for his services in the early development of the Bahai Temple Unity, the body entrusted with the building of the Mashrekol-Azkar in America.
From 1910 to 1914, Albert H. Hall was selected each year as chairman of the Annual Convention; he was elected a member of the Unity during the same period, and was chosen as its president in 1911, which position he held up to and during the year 1914.
At the Convention of 1910, when Mr. Hall was unanimously chosen Chairman, he said: "God chooses the weak things to confound the mighty. You have made the choice of a weak instrument. I feel very weak and lowly, as nothing, and I would not bear the responsibility of this place were I not possessed with the sense of my own emptiness, seeking only the inpouring of His Spirit, strength and wisdom. This Convention but now called to order, has been in conscious, silent session for several hours. There is no need of any introduction. The opening of this Convention was sung in the heart of every one of you who turned his face to the East this morning, and if you did not then catch the message of love and unity in all its fulness, it has beautifully sounded in your ears as the inspiring Tablet has been read [refers to Tablet regarding Mashrekol-Azkar received in March, 1910]. There is no other word to be uttered. It is for us now to address ourselves directly to the work in hand. We are here representing the Bahai Assemblies throughout America and Canada, to bring home the substantial offerings of our sacrifice, to encourage each other with the report of our work—not to boast or overstate it. We must face His Truth just as it is. Do not let us delude ourselves. They are the worst deluded in the world who are self-deluded. We are not afraid nor ashamed of the situation, but of ourselves—that is all. Let us seek knowledge with the light of Truth and the Truth shall make us free." (From BAHAI NEWS, Vol. 1, No. 4).
Enfeebled by ill health, nevertheless, he determined to make the journey from Minneapolis to New York City to attend the Annual Convention in 1920, although his physician warned him it might hasten the hour of death. He paid the price, and everyone present at the Feast of El-Rizwan will remember the ring of his voice, though feeble, when he cried out to the assembled delegates and friends: "Arise, shine, for thy light has come and the glory of God has risen upon thee!"
On the journey home, he met an old acquaintance on the train. Mr. Ole Hansen,
former mayor of Seattle, who has won national attention. Mr. Hall, propped up on pillows, gave him the glorious Message of the coming of The Kingdom, and his personal copy of the Hidden Words and Seven Valleys.
Deeds reveal the station of the man.
IN MEMORIAM
To the Judges of the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Minnesota, and to the Members of the Hennepin County Bar:
Albert Heath Hall was born on July 11th, 1858, in Alexandria, Licking County, Ohio, son of Rev. Levi and Lucinda Mitchell Hall; he came to Minnesota in 1873 and received his early education at Austin; he entered the University of Minnesota in 1875, remaining in school there until the end of his junior year; he was a member of the Chi Psi and Phi Delta Phi Fraternities. While attending the University of Minnesota he earned his livelihood by working in a sawmill, and later, worked for the first telephone company organized in the Twin Cities, stringing the first line of wire in the city of Minneapolis; he afterwards was night telephone operator while attending his classes at college.
After leaving the University of Minnesota, Mr. Hall entered the law office of Judge Frederick Hooker as a law student, and a short time later, accepted a position in the Treasury Department at Washington, D. C., and while there studied law at Columbian University, which later became the George Washington University; he graduated from Columbian in 1884. From 1884 to 1920, he was actively engaged in the practice of law at Minneapolis, and tried some thirty-five hundred contested cases; he died May 25th, 1920, after an illness which was critical for only a few weeks, having been in poor health, however, for almost a year. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. William L. Appleby, both of this city....
"Bert" Hall, as he was familiarly known throughout Hennepin County, was primarily and essentially the poor man's lawyer; no client was too mean, nor was his cause too small, but that Bert Hall gave him his untiring and unstinted effort; it made no difference whether the client had funds, or even prospects of receiving them, and it seemed as though the less the prospect of getting a fee, the more generously he gave of his brilliant mind and indefatigable energy; if he believed that his client's cause was just, that cause became the paramount matter with him and it took precedence over his self-interest, his family and his friends.
Bert Hall lived and died practicing what he had always preached—The Brotherhood of Man.
PETER BUIKEMA
Our faithful co-worker on the STAR OF THE WEST, Miss Gertrude Buikema, has suffered the breaking of the tender ties of home through the death of her father, Peter Buikema, at Chicago, January 27, 1921.
Born in Provincie Groningen, Netherlands, January 15, 1835, he lived more than the allotted three-score years and ten in this limited world. With splendid vigor of soul, characteristic of his nationality, he entered the larger life with perfect trust in God.
The presence of the great number of friends who came to pay their respects to the departed, was a testimony to the spiritual life of this family. The warm tributes of the pastor of the Holland Reformed Church where Mr. Buikema attended, found a response in the hearts of the large gathering of Bahais, Christians, and others present. The Bahai "Benediction," sung at the close of the service, calmed all hearts by its spiritual blessing.
In extending our sympathy to the
--PHOTO--
FUNERAL CORTEGE OF LILLIAN F. KAPPES.
bereaved, we realize our words are inadequate, and know that only the Words of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha express the comfort we would endeavor to express. From every hand, where the news has reached, have come letters of condolence to our co-worker, Miss Buikema. On behalf of the Bahais everywhere, we extend to our esteemed sister heartfelt love and sympathy.
A. R. W.
LILLIAN FRANCES KAPPES
Teheran, Persia, December 7th, 1920.
Dearly loved Bahai friends:
After nine years of unexampled courage, faithfulness, devotion and success in the face of unnumbered difficulties endured while building up the girls' Tarbiat School, which was as the apple of her eye, our gifted and beloved sister, Lillian F. Kappes, after only three days' serious illness of typhus fever, literally went to sleep, to awake in the Holy Presence.
The city is enveloped in a cloud of sorrow. The Bahai women are weeping. The school children are mourning their director, teacher, friend. She died at 12:30 midnight on December 1st; was carried with royal honor, the cortege numbering hundreds, to the glorious tomb of Vargha, the Bahai martyr.
The Bahai burial service was held in the dome of the tomb and the mortal remains interred in the garden facing one of its nine openings—a most beautiful resting place.
When Lillian F. Kappes ascended—
- A wave of sorrow passed over the world,
- From East to West it swept.
- From bleeding hearts its foam was hurled.
- While countless mourners wept.
- "Like Joseph of old into Egypt; you're sent."*
- Came the firm command of her Lord,
- "In tests and In trials your life will be spent."
- Unfaltering, sustained by His Word,
- For loving and kind His manner and voice,
- "Keep your thoughts and your heart crystal pure."
- In the utmost of faith she made the high choice.
- And gained her reward through the power to endure.
—Amat ol a'Alla.
(Dr. Susan I. Moody.)
[From the STAR OF THE WEST, Volume 2, No. 18.]
Extract from letter written by Miss Kappes to Mr. D. D. Babcock, Seattle, Wash., dated at Teheran, Persia, Dec. 19, 1911:
Dear brother in El-Abha:
Praise God! Through your unceasing, untiring efforts and assistance, it became possible for me to follow the behest of Abdul-Baha, to enjoy the blessed privilege of the visit to Thonon and finally to arrive in safety at my destination. Many conflicting reports started Miss Stewart and me off rather hurriedly
*Note—Quotations taken from her account of her visit in the holy presence of Abdul-Baha at Thonon-les-Bains, Switzerland, Aug. 27-29. 1911.
in the effort to meet Abdul-Baha at the Races' Congress in London, though we eventually spent one mouth there in the daily hope of his arrival. After writing and cabling and much uncertainty, word came to Tammadon-ul-Molk, his interpreter, who was in the same house with us, and Miss Juliet Thompson, of New York, who lodged next door, to proceed
WORLD LOVE AND COMPASSION, ITS WAY IS EVER
TYRANNY AND SUPPRESSION!The most difficult task for the Society of Khademeen Atfal (those devoting their services to children) is to announce to the friends of God the death of our American Bahai sister, Miss Lillian Frances Kappes. This revered and blessed soul, who in the year 1911, came from America to Persia in the services of the Tarbiat School, and spent her precious life in educating her Persian sisters, passed on to the Threshold of the Almighty at the age of about thirty, on Wednesday morning, December 1st, Nineteen hundred and twenty, and left the traces of her qualities and virtues in the hearts. The only consolation that we have is that Miss Lillian Kappes has not really died, for though her physical temple has put on the garment of death her holy spirit is clothed with the silken robe of Life and will live forever and forever.
--PERSIAN TEXT--
to Geneva, Switzerland. In two days Miss Stewart and I were telegraphed for and proceeded to Thonon on the French side of Lake Geneva, the incomparable, doubly beautiful for his presence there. Ignorant of the point of our debarkation, I was admiring, from the lake steamer, an exquisite, ethereal looking range of mountains, rising as if from the heavenly deeps, and as our boat drew nearer, a sweet, peaceful looking village was disclosed at their very base—and to our great astonishment we found ourselves at Thonon. Though we did not know it, Abdul-Baha was at that moment abroad on the lake with M. and Mme. Dreyfus-Barney, Juliet Thompson, Mirza Raffie and several Orientals, and when, after resting, six hours later we were greeted and called to meet him, and I told him of what I called my dream mountains, those self-same hills
now forming a background for him as he sat at the window, he said: "Sometimes the heart sees what the eyes cannot see." Then, "If it were not for the Cause of BAHA'O'LLAH we would never have met—never have known each other—you would not be here." We were there two days, and, with many to see him, our interviews were perforce short though both evenings, at dinner, we sat opposite him at the same table. The first evening he told several humorous stories, but the second all his talk was
pointed to us and of The Kingdom. He iterated and reiterated: "I am sending you to Persia that you may serve in Persia, so that all the friends and all the people will praise you." That we must always be united in all things, to be no cause of discord, to love all the people alike. That we would meet many hardships and trials.
One of his last messages was to you, for when I told him about your unceasing efforts on my behalf and of the fire of your enthusiasm and courage, he sent his affectionate greetings to Mr. Babcock. To say to him he had done well—very well indeed—and that Abdul-Baha was pleased with him. After I gave him greetings from the Seattle Assembly, he said: "I will see you again in the Kingdom of Heaven." When I asked him to be healed physically and spiritually to serve in the Cause of God, he smiled and said, the while we sat at his feet: "God willing, you will be healed—you must keep your thoughts and heart pure." When he dismissed us he said he would see us again to say "good-bye." What he had said of you touched me as nothing else did and I wept and wept, for it was the Lord's "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." I thought I should be completely satisfied if he ever said that of me. It was to me the epitome of approval. Rejoice! Rejoice! that in this Glorious Day it has been said of you. May your goodness increase!
We went out with: "I am sending you forth as Jacob sent Joseph of old"—and I could say nothing but, "Ya-Baha-el-Abha! Ya-Baha-el-Abha!" he echoing it back and repeating while he held us fast at either hand going forward toward the doorway. And so we went forth. . . . . .
MARY MATTISEN
The hearts of all the Bahais of the Chicago Assembly went out to their brother Andrew Mattisen during the month of October, 1920. His wife, Mary, a young woman devoted in heart, to the Cause and to her husband and little child, passed from this world to the realm beyond. We are grateful that the promises of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha regarding that blessed world are the consolation of the bereaved.
A. M. DAHL
Cambridge Springs, Pa.
September 22, 1920.
My dearest friends:
Our dear brother, Mr. A. M. Dahl, of Pittsburgh, passed on to the Supreme Concourse September 15th. He was hit with an engine and killed instantly. The body was taken to Chicago and a Bahai funeral service was held there. I understood the funeral was to be in Pittsburgh and hastened there. I found they had all gone except the wife of the older son and three little grandchildren. I stayed with them one day. These dear little children were constantly speaking of what he had told them and every little while they would speak of him. His influence for good will be a great inspiration in those children's lives.
A new Bahai in a store said: "Only two days ago Mr. Dahl came in and shook hands with me so cordially and I was so happy to see him." Another friend who had heard of the Bahai Cause said: "Mr. Dahl was so jolly, so kind and so good!" Everyone spoke of him with such tenderness and love.
Mr. Dahl was so faithful in the Pittsburgh work. Those who worked with him will never forget those days. I never knew him to miss keeping the fast or the feasts. He made photographs of Abdul-Baha and gave them to friends to use in the Cause. All the photographs used in the South American newspaper articles were made by Mr. Dahl. Mr. Dahl went without his lunch for years and sent the money to support a girl in the schools in Teheran, Persia. He typed the Creative Word
to send out. He was always a happy Bahai, and so generous that he gave away nearly everything he had. Several times I have seen him take his coat off his back and pass it on to someone. In thinking of Mr. Dahl I felt: "How beautiful that he gave his all to Abdul-Baha in the days when he was here to do it!"
Yours in the Center of the Covenant,
L. RUSSELL ALDERSON
On August 28th, after a few hours of illness, our loved brother, L. Russell Alderson, of the Assembly of Pasadena, returned to that goal of the lovers of BAHA'O'LLAH and the Center of the Covenant—the Home Eternal.
His life had been an unconscious witness to that quickening spirit which His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH has breathed into the dead body of the world, for he loved and served humanity. Thus he was prepared of God for the knowledge of His Great Cause, of which he had heard for years, but, not understanding it, had remained unconfirmed. To this most grateful and unworthy servant was permitted the great privilege of giving to him successive draughts from that "Chalice of Everlasting Glory" and his ripe spirit responded so fully that under its transmuting power his life became consecrated to the Holy Threshold and the Center of the Covenant, and he arose in service to his Assembly and also as a member of the newly established House of Spirituality which is composed of representatives from Pasadena, Los Angeles and Glendale.
On Sunday afternoon, August 29th, a memorial service was held by the Pasadena gathering, which though small in members is large in spirit. On Monday, August 30th, in his home, the Episcopal service was read and the human instrument was laid away among a wealth of flowers. It was truly a Bahai representation, not only in the number of believers present but in the attendance of different nationalities; and around that body, so long frail, and in memory of that self-sacrificing spirit, many tributes to a beautiful life were rendered.
In the heavenly calendar it is not the length of earthly time that we have been believers and "followers of the Light," but how we have followed it in firmness in the Covenant which contains in His words our twofold test and proof: "Love and obedience to the commands of Abdul-Baha." This was the shining pathway by which, in the spiritual registry of the Kingdom, our dear brother attained to that Home of Light and Reality.
Isabella D. Brittingham.
It is with great sorrow that the Pasadena Assembly announces to the friends throughout the Bahai world the passing of Mr. Alderson on the morning of August 28th last. From the first meeting of the organization of the Pasadena Assembly, Mr. Alderson, his wife and their three sons have been a beautiful factor in the promotion of the Bahai Cause both in Pasadena and Los Angeles, and a more faithful exponent of "Living the Life" would be difficult to find. Truly he was ready for the work of the Kingdom beyond this plane, and we trust the friends will unite in supplicating for the blessings of the Kingdom of Abha for him and for those who remain to mourn his loss.
Sec'y, Pasadena, Calif., Assembly.
JEREMIAH A. O'CONNELL
On February 28th, 1920, after a prolonged illness, Mr. Jeremiah A. O'Connell died at Chicago. His close personal friend, Mr. William Patzer, who had moved to Washington, D. C., arranged for the funeral and burial at Oakwoods Cemetery, through the sending of Mrs. Pauline Hannen to Chicago to look after
(Continued on page 331)
O thou STAR OF THE WEST!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
O ye apostles of BAHA'O'LLAH—May my life be a ransom to you!
. . . . Similarly, the Magazine, the STAR OF THE WEST, must be edited in the utmost regularity, but its contents must be the promulgator of the Cause of God—so that both in the East and the West, they may become informed of the most important events.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
| Northeastern States: HOOPER HARRIS. | Western States: HELEN S. GOODALL. |
| Southern States: | Dominion of Canada: MAY MAXWELL |
| Central States: ALBERT VAIL, CARL SCHEFFLER. | |
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST—GERTRUDE BUIKEMA—DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member: MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
| Vol. 11 | Ola 1, 76 (March 2, 1921) | No. 19 |
Words by ABDUL-BAHA in answer to questions. From notes brought by Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper of San Francisco.
QUESTION: "Some of the friends in America say that the Fast is not to be observed now but in the future."
ABDUL-BAHA: "In places where it will be the cause of trouble, such as in Bokhara or Afghanistan, or in some of the towns in Persia, the Fast cannot be kept. In these places if the friends fast it will be the cause of trouble, people will rise against them. But in those places where there is safety and security it should be kept. I fasted sixty years—the first one who fasted was I."
QUESTION: "In a family where it is difficult, should one attempt to keep the Fast?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "Difficulty is not a preventative. But if fasting gives rise to inharmony it is injurious."
QUESTION: "If it is not possible to take breakfast before sunrise, should one keep the Fast the best one can?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "If there be a preventative, it should not be kept. As far as one possibly can, yes; but if there be any preventative at any time, no. But after sunrise one cannot eat. I used to Fast from sunset to sunset. Early morning eating was difficult for me, therefore when I ate in the evening I took nothing else until the following evening."
QUESTION: "If one's health does not seem to permit of fasting should one keep the Fast?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "In that case the doctor must decide. The object is not this, that not eating is not forbidden; but eating is forbidden. This is the
object: not eating is not forbidden, but eating is forbidden."
QUESTION: "When it is difficult or impossible to begin at sunrise is it possible to keep the Fast as much as one can?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "No. After the sunrise nothing should be taken unless the doctor says that fasting would be injurious (to one's health). In that case, one can eat at any time one wishes. But
MONTH OF FASTING—March 2d to 20th inclusive, during which no manner of food or drink is to be taken between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is enjoined upon every one. Children, travelers, sick and infirm people,
pregnant women and nursing mothers are free from this obligation.the whole time (of fasting) is only twelve hours—this is nothing."
QUESTION: "Some of the friends think the life is so strenuous in America that it is not possible to work there and keep the Fast."
ABDUL-BAHA: "In the Torah the command for fasting is from sunset to sunset for three days. For three days and three nights they, the Jews, take nothing. This is not obligatory. There are Fasts of three days, seven days and nine days. Mr. X. in Persia did not believe that one could fast for nine days. He brought a Jew and imprisoned him in a room and locked the door, and did not permit anything (food or water) to be taken to him. Indeed, his prisoner took nothing for nine days, not even water. For six days he slept, then he could not sleep any more, but he was very weak. But now, in this Revelation, it is for only twelve hours—very little."
QUESTION: "Should those men keep the Fast who are employed in mines, steel mills, etc., where it seems necessary
to eat often to keep up their energy?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "This depends upon the advice of an expert doctor. If the doctor says that fasting would be injurious to the health of such people they should not fast."
QUESTION: "What is the age limit for fasting?"
ABDUL-BAHA: "Seventy years."
(Notes taken in Persian by Mirza Lotfullah S. Hakim at the Pilgrim House, Haifa, October 26, 1920, and translated by Mirza Azizullah Khan Bahadur.)
(It is desirable that both the English and Persian* be printed in NAJME BAKHTAR (STAR OF THE WEST), as every Assembly should share in this effort which must become universal and
"not short lived."—S. I. Moody.)To the Editors of the STAR OF THE WEST:
You will rejoice to hear that a children's savings institution, the first of its kind, has been organized upon plans laid down by the blessed Master himself.
The idea originated with Mirza Mohammed Labib, who had gone to Kazvin
*See Persian pages 312 and 311.
in the interest of the Tavakol Schools, a branch of the Tarbiat Schools. The object was to induce the habit of thrift among children. But, unlike other penny savings institutions with an eye to the future, this was to enlist all from the earliest childhood in activities for the common good.
So great was the rivalry between the boys and girls, that within a year five
hundred tomans had been collected and a piece of land bought.
When later Mirza Mohammed Labib made the pilgrimage to Acca, he laid the project before the Beloved, begging his blessing and approval, so that this sherkat (company of shareholders) might never fail. In reply the Master laid his hands upon his breast, emphasizing each word and smiling radiantly the while saying, "This is my sherkat! This is my sherkat! Rest assured, this sherkat is mine!" Then drawing two gold pieces out of his pocket and handing them to Mirza Labib: "Let this be my share of the principal and let all my dividends be applied on public benefits, such as schools for the children."
Thereupon Mirza Labib produced a large record book and Abdul-Baha wrote the following on the fly-leaf:
Prayer revealed and written in the house of Abdul-Baha at Haifa, Palestine.—
He Is God!
O God! Make this company of Bahai children eternal and everlasting; bestow blessing and profit and make the members successful in excellent administration, in capacity, faithfulness and integrity; in order to preserve the right of the children and to act according to Thy instructions and to form an Assembly of the blessed people so that affairs be conducted by consultation and not like other companies to be short lived.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Prayer revealed for the Societé Nonahalan and all combined groups of children studying Dars Akhlagh [i. e., lessons taken from all Holy Books]:
Through his honor Mirza Mohammed Labib, the pilgrim.—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
O pure God! Refresh and vivify these young shoots of the great river of guidance, and by the breeze from the Garden of Oneness grant them joy, and by the heat of the Sun of Reality bestow upon them new life, so that they may sprout and grow up, progressing day by day; bud and bring forth leaves and fruit.
O Educator! Give to all intelligence, grant strength and power and make them manifestations of helpfulness and favor, so that they may live among the people in the utmost degree of dignity.
Thou art the Powerful! the Mighty!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Upon his return, Mirza Labib urged the establishment of another Nonahalan (young plants) center in Teheran, to which he presented one of these gold pieces. As an opportunity for the parents to participate, a similar record book was arranged. In this, then, are duly numbered and recorded these contributions to Abdul-Baha's share in the sherkat. Naturally such contributions are open to all the Bahai brotherhood. Indeed, it is hoped that this work may be established in every community throughout the world.
The following are the basic principles laid down by Abdul-Baha:
1. An executive committee must be established to draw up and carry out a set of rules and regulations.
2. Tickets or checks to be of the lowest denominations.
3. No shareholders to be allowed to withdraw any of the principal and can take up interest only at the expiration of ten years, and then to be allowed to draw three-fourths of the accumulated interest, the remaining fourth to be applied on the public fund.
Respectfully submitted to the STAR OF THE WEST for publication (sealed by the committee),
Mirza Mohammed Labib,
Miss Lillian F. Kappes,
Mirza Nuredin,
Doctor Susan I. Moody,
Goodsea Ashraf Khanom.
—Founders of Teheran branch of Societé Nonahalan.
some affairs of the deceased. Both Mr. Patzer and Mrs. Hannen are members of the Committee of Consultation of Washington, D. C., and they united with the House of Spirituality of Chicago to carry out the last wishes of the deceased. Mr. O'Connell was the recipient of Tablets from Abdul-Baha and turned his face ever to that Center of Guidance.
DR. GEORGE DAVIDSON
BUCHANAN, B.A., Ph.D.
On November 13th, 1920, the soul of Dr. George Davidson Buchanan departed from this terrestrial life to take up the higher duties of the heavenly worlds, after years of service and devotion to the Cause of the oneness of God and humanity. The latter years of his life were marked by much physical suffering and for several years he was bedridden, yet his dauntless and cheerful spirit overcame these mortal afflictions that flesh is heir to, and was a constant inspiration, to the friends of God, of the joy and happiness that radiates from a Bahai life.
It is strange how fate overtakes man. The doctor had the minds of three continents following his teachings and example, and his sermons caused thousands of people to follow the higher and nobler spiritual life that is destined for man. Yet in his last hours, he was taken from his home, without the knowledge of his friends and the Bahais, and passed on under very trying circumstances, without the word or presence of a single friend at his bedside. Yet his great soul knew no bondage of human making, for it had contacted with that everlasting Life-giving Center of the Covenant, and the humility of this world will become his eternal glory.
The doctor was born of Scottish parents in Baltimore 68 years ago, was educated for the law and admitted to practice, yet after a short but successful pursuit of this profession, he felt the call to a nobler cause and commenced the study of theology under Professor Hodge, the eminent Presbyterian divine of America, and was ordained in the ministry of that church after graduating from the Divinity School of Princeton University—the same year that President Woodrow Wilson was graduated. For two years he preached in the city of his nativity and although a young man, his fame spread as the silver-tongued orator of Baltimore.
Then commenced his life of travel. He went to Australia where his abilities as a preacher attracted much attention and he was inducted to the ministry of the Cairns Memorial Church of Melbourne, which pastorate he held for many years with great distinction to his calling. It was in his church that Madame Melba began her remarkable career as soloist. Later he accepted a call to the Wickham Terrace Presbyterian Church, Brisbane, Queensland, where for over eight years he spoke to packed congregations, discarding the conventionalism that hampers religious truth and presenting it in such a way that business men, strangers, commercial travelers, and those who were wont to sneer and cavil at churches and parsons, were regular attendants. The Queensland Government endeavored to secure his services to visit Great Britain, to lecture there in its behalf to induce immigration, but he declined a munificent salary, as he felt his work lay in a different direction.
So broad and universal was his platform that when he made his historic address to the Presbyterian Synod on the "Higher Criticism," such heated discussion and controversy followed that at last he was tried and condemned for heresy by his own flock. However, his
University in America duly recognized his literary powers and thinking ability after this episode, by conferring upon him the degree of "Doctor of Philosophy." From this time his greatest work began. Once more he resumed his travels, visiting England, Europe, Africa and the Orient. His fame spread as a lecturer, preacher and writer. He took up journalism and a British Syndicate sent him into the Belgian Congo to expose the atrocities of King Leopold against the natives. A price was placed upon his head for these disclosures. Many of his famous articles were written under the nom-de-plume "XYZ." He visited the Holy Land and was in Haifa in 1892 at about the same time as the ascension of BAHA'O'LLAH. It was here that he first heard the name "Bahai" and associated it always as standing for purity and cleanliness among the orientals, though at that time he knew nothing else about the Cause.
Then he went to Cape Town, South Africa, where for two years his Sunday night lectures in the Opera House of that city packed the largest hall of over two thousand seating capacity nightly. He presented spiritual truth in a practical way, appealing to reason, and his rhetoric and flights of eloquence held his audiences spell-bound. All the newspaper writeups heralded him as the "Talmage of Australia." One of his favorite subjects was "Abraham Lincoln," another was "The Yankee at home and abroad." It was during this period of his life that Dr. Buchanan made a trip into central Africa, following the trail of Livingstone and Stanley. He visited the Akkas pigmies which so harassed the expedition of Stanley in 1888 and was treated very kindly by them. During this trip he was stricken with the African fever, the effects of which brought on a stroke of paralysis from which he never fully recovered. He numbered among his warm personal friends, Henry Drummond, Sir Henry Morton Stanley, Cecil Rhodes, Dr. Bevan and many of the worlds notables, yet the doctor himself was retiring, unassuming, simple in taste and life, and spoke but little of his own achievements.
Such characteristics attracted many people to his lectures when he visited Portland some nine years ago. It was shortly after his arrival that he was stricken with a second stroke from which he never recovered and which kept him in Portland during the remainder of his life. At this time Rouhani Latimer made his acquantance and first gave him the Message and glad-tidings of the New Day and of the coming of the Promised One of whom he had taught for so many years. His soul was prepared for this glorious Truth as he had been preaching its principles for a long time without the knowledge of their source. His confirmation came with association of Thornton Chase and other Bahais, and his life ended in the spreading the love and teachings of Abdul-Baha. His first message from his Beloved came through brother Chase: "Deliver my yearning greeting to Dr. David Buchanan of Portland and say: 'The joining of the River Jordan to the Most Great Sea is distinct and assured, but time is required. I ask God that you may learn all those verses in the Holy Book, which refer to Haifa and Acca and quote them in your addresses.'"
After the recent war he received a Tablet from Abdul-Baha, in which it was clearly pointed out that Universal Peace would not prevail in the Assembly of Nations gathered at Paris because misunderstanding and self-interest prevailed, and in such an atmosphere fresh difficulties would arise. The Tablet closed with the statement: "Undoubtedly the general condition of the people and the state of small oppressed nations will not remain as before. Justice and right shall be fortified, but the establishment of Universal Peace will be realized fully only through the Power of the Word of God." A copy of this
Tablet* was sent by the doctor to President Wilson and the following letter was received in reply:
AMERICAN COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE PEACE
Paris, May 16, 1919.
My dear Dr. Buchanan:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 2nd, with enclosure, and to say that I shall bring it to the attention of the President. Let me thank you in his behalf for your kindness in writing. Sincerely yours,
GILBERT F. CLOSE, Confidential Secretary to The President.
In looking over the doctor's papers many letters testifying of his own personal merit and esteem in the eyes of the world are found. One of these is of special interest as it came from Cape Town at a time when he was quite sick and showed how his spirit was still living in far-away Africa. It reads as follows:
Cape Town, Feb. 28, 1918.
Dear Doctor Buchanan:
It is now some months ago since I sent you a duplicate copy of the letter of which I am now sending you the original, although the other copy was a duplicate it contained most of the signatures which appear on the original copy.
I have not received any reply from you up to the present and must regretfully conclude that the last letter miscarried; anyway the enclosed letter carried with it not only hearty good wishes of all the signatories thereto, but also the very affectionate greetings of all your many friends, of which I have the honor to be one. Again with kindest and most hearty greetings to you.
Yours very sincerely.
JOHN S. INCE.
ENCLOSURE
Cape Town, Oct. 23, 1917.
Geo. Davidson Buchanan, Esq.,
Doctor of Philosophy, Etc.
Dear Dr. Buchanan:
We, the undersigned, a few of your many admirers in South Africa, join in sending you affectionate greetings.
We shall always remember your eloquent teachings, which elevated our thoughts to contemplation of high and enduring things. Many of us received from you light on the eternal verities, which has proved of permanent help and comfort since.
*Tablet published in STAR OF THE WEST, Vol. 10, page 42.
Life this side of the veil is brief, and probably none of us will see you in the flesh again, but there is the great Beyond.
May God be with you, old friend, until we meet again.
Yours very sincerely,
(Signed by twenty-seven names.)
However, there was but little of the doctor's life and worthy deeds recorded by himself. He had attained the station of selflessness. The loftiness of his thoughts and aspirations as found in his sermons and lectures are the most fitting record of his daily life. His manuscripts are rich in spiritual thought. His last effort was an outline for a book on the Bahai Cause but his ill-health prevented his completion of the work. He had nine chapters outlined with three headings as follows:
Bahai Principles
1. Justice.
2. Unity.
3. Peace.
Bahai Universals
4. Education.
5. Language.
6. Franchise.
Bahai Economics
7. Co-operation.
8. Equal Opportunity.
9. Spiritual Development.
One of his greatest joys was to have the friends come to him and read from the Hidden Words. The last time a group of the friends were with him, after the reading he remarked: "Never in all literature have I read such matchless beauty of wording and imagery of thought." His passing has grieved the heart because of separation, yet he has now undertaken that journey on the Pathway of Knowledge of the Infinite God, with greater freedom and understanding, and with the aid and prayer of the Center of the Covenant may he ever ascend in glorious works, in the Name of the Lord, to the full realization of these thoughts from one of his sermons:
- "Material death but ushers in the higher state
- To the spirit it but gives divinity;
- Dissolution is but the second birth of the soul,
- 'Tis but the new nativity.
- Resurrection of the life material existeth not.
- From death and Sheol the body corporate n'ere again doth rise.
- But as of yore, so now the spirit, the soul incarnate
- Doth infrequently materialize.
- Yea, as Jesus died before, apostles and unbelievers to illume.
- So now the spirit transflgurate doth its earthly form transciently assume.
- Ascension is the life ethereal from earth to heaven ascending.
- 'Tis but the ceaseless spirit's flight.
- 'Tis the dawn of angelhood.
- 'Tls but the shedding of earthly garb,
- 'Tis the soul's investiture with Heaven's Light."
George Latimer.
MRS. M. D. THUMEL AND KARL HANSON
On the 2nd of March the Portland, Oregon, Bahai Assembly and other friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Haldeman to pay the last tribute of love and esteem to our dear sister Mrs. M. D. Thumel, who departed from this plane of life Feb. 28th, to ascend to her station in the eternal Kingdom of El-Abha. We feel assured she has come into "her own" through the blessed grace of the Father, assisted and strengthened through her wonderful firmness and faith in The Center of The Covenant.
Mrs. Thumel was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 24th, 1862, and when only a young child became an ardent Spiritualist, but when she heard of the Bahai Revelation, it took such an immediate and firm hold on her that she not only accepted the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH absolutely, but her faith in the Center of the Covenant became a part of her consciousness, and no greater tribute can be paid our departed sister than to reiterate her firmness and love for Abdul-Baha under all conditions and circumstances.
The Bahai service was most ably and beautifully conducted by our beloved brother George O. Latimer and the power and love of the Master was manifested through him in a wonderful manner.
Bahai hymns were rendered in sweetness and pathos by a quartette of maid-servants which added that touch of
--PHOTO--
spirituality possible only through the melody of the human voice.
Mrs. Thumel leaves two daughters, Mrs. Drucilla Haldeman of this city and Mrs. Mae Bell Hanson Schroeder of Chicago.
Just five months and a day Mrs. Thumel assisted at the services of her eldest grandson, who passed at that time—Karl Hanson, a very lovable boy and a firm Bahai, strong, very strong for a child, in faith to the Center of the Covenant.
The Bahai service for Karl was also conducted by brother George Latimer, beautiful in its simplicity and full of love and affection.
B. N. Bowman.
HADJI MIRZA HEIDAR ALT
"The Angel of Mt. Carmel"
| ZIA KHANUM | IBTEHJOL-MULK |
CORRECTION
The compilation of the words of BAHA'O'LLAH and 'Abdu'l-Baha pertaining to the Bahai Movement and Esperanto appearing on page 286 was compiled by Rufus W. Powell and sent to the STAR OF THE WEST by Jeanne Bolles. We erroneously stated that the compilation was by her.
Index to Volume 11
| ARTICLES— | PAGE |
| A Bahai Pilgrimage to South America—Compiled from letters written by Miss Martha Root while enroute | 107, 206 |
| Abdul-Baha on Mt. Carmel—Notes by Mabel Paine | 267 |
| Activities in the American Field (Extracts from Bulletin No. 2 issued by the Teaching Committee)—By Mariam Haney | 145 |
| Bahai: A Revelation of the Springtime of God (From The Progressive Thinker)— By Albert Vail | 9 |
| Bahai Temple Strikes New Art Note (From the New York American)—By Peyton Boswell | 83 |
| Green Acre in 1920—By Albert Vail | 92 |
| His Story: What an Oriental said to an Occidental—By Arthur S. Agnew | 283 |
| International Language—Address by Abdul-Baha translated into Esperanto, delivered at Edinburgh in 1913 | 299 |
| Persian-Indian Style of Architecture—By Charles Mason Remey | 85 |
| The Bahai Movement and Esperanto—A compilation of the Words of BAHA'O'LLAH and Abdul-Baha—By Rufus W. Powell | 286 |
| The Bahai Revelation—Address by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 251 |
| The final burial of The Bab on Mt. Carmel—Extracts from Mirza Moneer's letters | 316 |
| The Foundation of the Temple—By Albert Vail | 203 |
| His Holiness Abdul-Baha (From The Bahai Proofs)—By Mirza Abul Fazl | 235 |
| The House of Spirituality in Persia—A talk by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 155 |
| The Investigation of Truth—Address by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 254 |
| The Mashrekol-Azkar—A compilation | 14 |
| The Model for the Bahai Temple, Chicago (Fac-simile pages from The Architectural Record)—By J. R. Reid | 140 |
| ELEVENTH ANNUAL MASHREKOL-AZKAR CONVENTION AND BAHAI CONGRESS HELD AT HOTEL MCALPIN, NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 26TH TO 30TH, 1919 (Concluded) | |
| Addresses— | |
| The Coming of the Promised One—By Howard C. Ives | 27 |
| The Most Great Characteristic: The Center of The Covenant—By Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 30 |
| The Doors of the Kingdom are Open—By William H. Randall | 43 |
| The Servant of God—By Albert Vail | 45 |
| Tablet— | |
| Unveiling of the Divine Plan for the World | 32 |
INDEX TO VOLUME 11—Continued
| EDITORIAL— | PAGE |
| "Become ye united in the Days of God" (From Bulletin No. 2, issued by the Teaching Committee)—By Mariam Haney | 144 |
| Nauooz Greeting—By The Editors | 16 |
| Memorial to Joseph H. Hannen—By George Latimer | 90 |
| FRONTISPIECES— | |
| Abdul-Baha at door of Pilgrim House, Bahjee, Acca | 170 |
| Abdul-Baha standing in courtyard of Pilgrim's House | 8 |
| Abdul-Baha talking with his interpreter | 98 |
| "All men are of one race and the whole universe one land"—Tablet from Abdul-Baha | 122 |
| A photograph from Teheran | 154 |
| Bahai class of Mirza Mohammed Labib in Kazvin, Persia | 298 |
| Bahai friends and workmen on Mashrekol-Azkar grounds September 24, 1920 | 202 |
| Bahais of Germany celebrating Mashrekol-Azkar Feast at Esslingen | 218 |
| Fac-simile of Cover of the STAR OF THE WEST | 1 |
| Fac-simile from page Caras y Caretas | 106 |
| Groom, Bride and Philosopher | 58 |
| "I am a Bahai and am a friend to all religions and nations"—Tablet from Abdul-Baha | 282 |
| Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani and Manucher Khan meeting with the Bahai friends in Washington, D. C. | 250 |
| Plan of the Bahai Temple—Fac-simile of page from The Architectural Record | 138 |
| Model of the Mashrekol-Azkar designed by Louis Bourgeois | 82 |
| The Bahai Movement—From the Encyclopaedia of Larousse | 2 |
| The Center of the Covenant, the Greatest Branch, Abdul-Baha Abbas | 234 |
| "The doors of the Kingdom are Open"—Photograph of Abdul-Baha | 42 |
| The knighting of Abdul-Baha | 266 |
| Tomb of Hazrat Vargha and his son Ruhollah | 314 |
| The Springtime of God—Words of Abdul-Baha | 6 |
| Twelve Basic Bahai Principles—Words of Abdul-Baha | 4 |
| Illustrations— | |
| Groups— | |
| Abdul-Baha talking with his interpreter | 98 |
| A photograph from Teheran | 154 |
| Bahai Class of Mirza Mohammed Labib in Kazvin, Persia | 298 |
| Bahai delegates and friends attending Twelfth Annual Mashrekol-Azkar Convention, celebrating Feast of El-Rizwan | 68-69 |
| Bahai delegates and friends attending Twelfth Annual Mashrekol-Azkar Convention — Photograph taken on steps of Engineering Societies Building | 88-89 |
| Bahai friends and workmen on Mashrekol-Azkar grounds September 24, 1920 | 202 |
| Bahais of Germany celebrating Mashrekol-Azkar Feast at Esslingen | 218 |
| Beginning first boring: friends holding soil in hands | 205 |
| Funeral cortege of Lillian F. Kappes | 324 |
INDEX TO VOLUME 11—Continued
| Illustrations—Groups, Continued. | PAGE |
| Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani and Manucher Khan meeting with the Bahai friends in Washington, D. C. | 250 |
| Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Juanita Storch, Jenabi Fazel | 58 |
| The knighting of Abdul-Baha | 266 |
| Portraits— | |
| Abdul-Baha and Miss Martha Root | 106 |
| Abdul-Baha standing in courtyard of Pilgrims House | 8 |
| Abdul-Baha when 33 years of age | 280 |
| Charles H. Greenleaf | 320 |
| Hadji Mirza Heidar Ali | 343 |
| Louis J. Bourgeois | 140 |
| Mrs. M. D. Thumel | 334 |
| The Center of the Covenant, The Greatest Branch, Abdul-Baha Abbas | 234 |
| "The doors of the Kingdom are Open" | 42 |
| Miscellaneous— | |
| Abdul-Baha at door of Pilgrim House, Bahjee, Acca | 170 |
| Bronze portrait mounted on granite erected in Stuttgart | 228 |
| Cases containing marble casket to hold remains of The Bab | 316 |
| Charles Mason Remey and the Model he submitted in the Persian-Indian style of architecture | 86 |
| Detail of Bahai Temple | 143 |
| Fac-simile of Abdul-Baha's handwriting | 209 |
| Fac-simile from page Caras y Caretas | 106 |
| Fac-simile pages from The Architectural Record | 138, 140-143 |
| Fac-simile of printed matter from Germany | 220, 223, 229 |
| Mashrekol-Azkar grounds, September 23, 1920 | 204 |
| Model of the Mashrekol-Azkar by Louis J. Bourgeois | 82 |
| Tomb of Hazrat Vargha and his son Ruhollah | 314 |
| News Letters— | |
| Letter from Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 128 |
| Letter from Isabella D. Brittingham | 162 |
| Letter from J. E. Esslemont, M. B.—Esperanto Class in Kazvin, Persia | 305 |
| Letter from E. T. Hall—News from England | 271 |
| Letter from the House of Spirituality, Teheran | 160 |
| Letter from Fanny Knobloch—News from South Africa | 292 |
| Diary Letters of Shoghi Rabbani | 48 |
| Letter from Charles Mason Remey and Harlan F. Ober—News from the Bahais of Germany | 219 |
| Letters written by Miss Martha Root while en route through South America | 107, 206 |
| Letter from August Rudd—News from Sweden | 270 |
| Letter from Miss Sanderson | 225 |
| Tablet of New Permission for Dr. Bagdadi and family—Letter from Roy C. Wilhelm | 208 |
INDEX TO VOLUME 11—Continued
| Miscellaneous— | PAGE |
| Cablegrams from Abdul-Baha | 16, 321 |
| Outline of the Bahai Calendar | 19 |
| Letter from Monereh Khanum, the wife of Abdul-Baha—regarding establishing Girls' School on Mt. Carmel | 225 |
| Scholarship Fund for the Tarbiat School | 226 |
| Societe Nonahalan or Children's Savings Institution | 329 |
| Obituary: | |||
| Alderson, L. Russell | 327 | Kappes, Lillian Frances | 324 |
| Ali, Haji Mirza Heidar | 343 | Khanum, Zia | 342 |
| Buchanan, Dr. George D. | 331 | Mattisen, Mary | 326 |
| Buikema, Peter | 323 | Mulk, Ibtehjol | 342 |
| Dahl, A. M | 326 | O'Connell, Jeremiah A. | 327 |
| Greenleaf, Charles H. | 321 | Thumel, Mrs. M. D. and Karl Hanson | 334 |
| Hall, Albert H. | 322 |
| OFFICIAL LETTERS PERTAINING TO CAUSE IN AMERICA— | |
| Letter from Bahai Temple Unity—Sent out by Louise D. Boyle | 203 |
| Letter from the Secretary of Bahai Temple Unity to the Bahais of America, Alfred E. Lunt | 27 |
| Plans for the National Teaching Committee—Letter sent out by the Secretary, Miriam Haney | 100 |
| The Bahai Teaching Convention for the Central States—Letter sent out by the Secretary, Ida B. Slater | 99 |
| PERSIAN— | |
| Announcement of death of Miss Lillian F. Kappes | 325 |
| Fac-simile of Tablet to friends in America, concerning Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, his wife and her sister | 209 |
| Greeting to the Bahais of America from the Bahais of Persia | 26 |
| Tablet of BAHA'O'LLAH | 24 |
| PERSIAN SECTION:— | |
| First—Written by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab | 80-77 |
| Second—Written by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 96-93 |
| Third—Written by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 136, 135, 120, 119 |
| Fourth—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 248-244 |
| Fifth—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 264-261 |
| Sixth—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 280-277 |
| Seventh—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 296-293 |
| Eighth—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 312-309 |
| Ninth—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 344-341 |
| TABLETS FROM ABDUL-BAHA— | |
| To E. T. Hall, England | 275 |
| To the Bahais of Stuttgart, Germany | 230 |
| To Alma Knobloch, Germany | 231 |
| To. J. Isbrucker, Holland | 315 |
| To Societe Nonahalan, Persia | 330 |
| To the Women's Assembly, Teheran, Persia | 162 |
INDEX TO VOLUME 11—Continued
| GENERAL TABLETS FROM ABDUL-BAHA— | PAGE |
| To the Central Organization for a Durable Peace—Letter and Tablets sent to the General Secretary of The Hague—First Tablet | 123 |
| Second Tablet from Abdul-Baha addressed to the Committee of Universal Peace at The Hague | 288 |
| To the friends of God, America—Granting new permission for Dr. Bagdadi and family | 208 |
| To the friends of God, America—Concerning the subject of Divorce | 272 |
| To the friends of God, America—Concerning Kindness to the Animals | 273 |
| Unveiling of the Divine Plan for the World | 32 |
| TABLETS FROM ABDUL-BAHA TO BAHAIS IN AMERICA— | |
| Assemblies and Groups— | |
| Fruitport, Michigan | 104 |
| House of Spirituality, Chicago | 161 |
| To the Children of the Kingdom | 258 |
| Individuals— | |
| Anderson, Jennie | 166 |
| Carpenter, Mrs. | 166 |
| Cole. Dr. Hills | 168 |
| De Boer, H. | 278 |
| Deuth, Mr. and Mrs. | 259 |
| Greenleaf, Chas. H. | 321 |
| Hall, Dr. Charles | 91 |
| Hanko, Oscar | 165 |
| Hannen, Pauline | 90 |
| Jurgens, Russell | 308 |
| Killius, Mr. and Mrs. | 308 |
| Knobloch, Fanny | 231, 282 |
| Kyle. William F. | 277 |
| Latimer, Mr. and Mrs. | 159 |
| Loeding, Sophie | 163 |
| MacCutcheon, Kokab | 165 |
| MacNutt, Mr. and Mrs. | 240 |
| Masson, Jean | 54 |
| Morton. Jr., James | 306 |
| Nash, L. B. | 76 |
| Peterson, Ferdinand | 276 |
| Randall, A. W | 112 |
| Remey, Charles Mason | 122, 167, 229, 259 |
| Rice-Wray, Mabel | 163 |
| Rudd, August | 276 |
| Simpson, James | 166 |
| Smith, Louise | 232 |
| Sohrab, Mirza Ahmad | 87, 88, 232, 256, 260 |
| Stevens, Elizabeth | 168 |
| Stott, Emma B. | 167 |
| Struven, Edward | 164 |
| True, Corinne | 139 |
| Waite, Shahnaz | 276, 317 |
| Watson, Marie | 306 |
| Wilhelm, Roy C. | 257 |
| Windust, Albert R. | 319 |
| Wolcott, John | 159 |
| TWELFTH ANNUAL MASHREKOL-AZKAR CONVENTION AND BAHAI CONGRESS, HELD AT THE ENGINEERING SOCIETIES' BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 26TH TO 29TH, 1920— | |
| Announcement | 13 |
| Address by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani | 182 |
| Architect's address | 176 |
| Ballot for choice of Mashrekol-Azkar design | 188 |
| Brief outline of Sessions of the Convention and Congress—By Louis G. Gregory | 64 |
| Chairman's address | 173 |
| Constitution and By-Laws of Bahai Temple Unity | 184 |
| Contributions for the Mashrekol-Azkar | 190 |
| Delegates and alternates | 174 |
INDEX TO VOLUME 11—Concluded
| TWELFTH ANNUAL MASHREKOL-AZKAR CONVENTION—Continued | PAGE |
| Election of Executive Board | 189 |
| Election of Teaching Committee | 193 |
| Feast of El-Rizwan—By Louis G. Gregory | 59 |
| Miscellaneous matters | 200 |
| Report and Minutes of the Convention—By Alfred E. Lunt, Secretary | 171 |
| Report of Treasurer | 193 |
| Report of Secretary-Treasurer | 172 |
| Resolutions on the departure of Joseph H. Hannen | 194 |
| Talk by Howard MacNutt | 194 |
| Talk by Jenabi Fazel Mazandarani on the House of Spirituality in Persia | 196 |
| Talk by Mr. Windust about the STAR OF THE WEST | 198 |
| The call issued February 18th | 171 |
| Words of Abdul-Baha on the importance of Consultation | 180 |
| WORDS OF ABDUL-BAHA— | |
| Abdul-Baha on Mt. Carmel—Notes by Mabel Paine | 267 |
| Abdul-Baha's Supplication and Declaration of His Servitude | 238 |
| "All men are of one race and the whole universe one land"—Tablet to Charles Mason Remey | 122 |
| "Before choosing a wife a man must think soberly"—Talk to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab | 20 |
| "His honor Fazel, in reality, is perfect in all the grades"—Tablet to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab | 256 |
| "His honor Fazel is a revered person"—Tablet to Roy C. Wilhelm | 257 |
| "How is it possible to imagine life after death?"—Tablet to J. Isbrucker | 315 |
| "I am a Bahai and am a friend to all religions and nations"—Tablet to Fanny Knobloch | 282 |
| International Language—Address by Abdul-Baha, translated into Esperanto | 299 |
| "In this great dispensation Thou dost accept the intercession of the sons in behalf of their fathers"—Tablet to Albert R. Windust | 319 |
| Messages from Abdul-Baha to all the friends given to Mrs. A. J. Parsons at Haifa, February 15, 1920 | 222 |
| "Peace is unachievable save through the power of the Word of God"—Tablet to L. B. Nash | 76 |
| Prayer for the dead and progress in the after-life—Talk to Ethel J. Rosenberg | 318 |
| "Set up this esteemed soul in Thy Glorious Kingdom"—Tablet to Pauline Hannen | 90 |
| Some Answered Questions regarding the Fast—Talk to Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper | 328 |
| Some important Commands from The Center of The Covenant | 239 |
| "The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually"—Tablet to Shanaz Waite | 317 |
| "This, like unto a magnetic power, will attract Abdul-Baha to America"—Tablet to Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt | 240 |
| "This is a Mystery of the Kingdom of Abha" | 243 |
| "This Question of an Auxiliary International Language is of the utmost importance."—Message of Abdul-Baha to Esperantists | 304 |
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Hadji Mirza Heidar Ali. DIED August 27th, 1920: IN HAIFA.
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