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STAR OF THE WEST
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 postoffice 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.
"Great importance must be given to the development of the STAR OF THE WEST. The circle of its discussion must be widened; in its columns must be published the essential problems pertaining to the Bahai life in all its phases. Its contents must be so universal that even the strangers may subscribe to it. Articles must be published, dealing with the universal principles of the Cause, the writers proving that this Cause takes a vital interest in all the social and religious movements of the age and is conducive to the progress of the world and its inhabitants. In short, the STAR OF THE WEST must promote the aspirations and the ideals that will gather little by little around these general Tablets, bringing into the light of day all the historical, religious and racial knowledge which will be of the utmost value to the Bahai teachers all over the world."
From Unveiling of the Divine Plan.
| Vol. 12 | CONTENTS | No. 12 |
| PAGE | |
"It is the time which His Holiness Christ calls the 'Day of Marriage'" | 194 |
| Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to Alwyn J. Baker. | |
A week in Abdul-Baha's Home | 195 |
| (Third installment.) By GENEVIEVE L. COY. | |
"Two Assemblies in one city will not become the cause of spirituality" | 200 |
| Tablet from ABDUL-BAHA to Charles M. Hanson. | |
Tablets from ABDUL-BAHA to Bahais in America | 201 |
| Charles M. Hanson Annie L. Parmerton Jessie Revell and Ethel Revell Mary Young Tablet to all the American Bahais regarding vase placed in the Holy Tomb in memory of Abdul-Baha's tour throughout America. | |
PERSIAN SECTION—Written by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | 208-205 |
'Days of Marriage.'"
TABLET PROM ABDUL-BAHATo his honor Mr. Alwyn J. Baker, Berkeley, California—Unto him be greeting and praise!—Care of Mrs. Kathryn Frankland.
He Is God!
O thou who art seeking for Truth!
Your letter has been forwarded. I have no opportunity to write a detailed answer, so I am obliged to be brief.
The point is, that the Cause of BAHA 'ULLAH is inclusive of all perfections and supplies all the needs of the world of humanity. But this cannot be accomplished in a short time. Time is needed. This will gradually be realized.
When a divine farmer sows the seed, the crops cannot be immediately gathered in, but it is certain that the seed will develop into a harvest. The seed which His Holiness Christ—May my soul be sacrificed for Him!—sowed, grew into a harvest within three hundred years.
We are now at the commencement of the shining forth of the Sun of Reality. It is the time which His Holiness Christ, calls the "days of marriage." No doubt the house is not in order, but the time will come when it will come under order.
They put some questions pertaining to wisdom and philosophy to his honor Paul. He said that before he recognized Christ he knew everything; but after he came to know Christ, he forgot everything. He was filled with Christ and so they should ask him about Christ, besides whom he was ignorant of everything whatsoever.
In the Tablets of His Holiness BAHA 'ULLAH, there are many philosophic questions. For example, the Tablet of Wisdom, but it has not yet been translated. It may be found that his honor Fazel Mazandarani gave this Tablet to a Persian expert to translate into English. In His Tablets He has encouraged and rather urged (the people) to study philosophy. Therefore, in the religion of BAHA 'ULLAH philosophy is highly esteemed.
As to life, however, it has had no beginning, nor will it have any end. The eternal grace of God has always been the cause of life. It has had no starting point and it will not approach any end. But concerning the degrees through which the soul has gone, these degrees are spiritual. Consider all the advancement of the word of humanity which is at present manifest and known. This has been realized through the spirit. The manifestation of the will of the Omnipotent, in the universe, means the manifestation of the divine laws and disciplines which are essential to the realities of beings, and in the world of the Kingdom they are ideals which in the appearance of the holy Manifestations (of God) are realized.
The fruits of the deeds of man, i. e., the harvest of the reward of man's conduct, is gathered in the heavenly realm.
But as to evolution, it is true of both the body and the spirit. Consider how many sciences, arts, discoveries and achievements have come into existence since the days of Moses till the present time through the progress of the human soul in knowledge and perfections. Similarly, how much the soul has evolved from the moral point of view. From the material standpoint, you can see also how much civilization has progressed.
In short, I wrote the answer in brief. No doubt you will understand realities in detail thereby.
Unto thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, December 2, 1920.)
"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 'ULLAH.
| Vol. 12 | Elm 1, 77 (October, 16, 1921) | No. 12 |
BY GENEVIEVE L. COY
(Continued from page 188)IT must have been after seven when we went out into the garden. We walked about a bit, and then Rouhi Effendi and Mirza Lotfullah came out to wish us good-morning. On the previous evening we had told Rouhi Effendi that we were going up to the Tomb early in the morning. But when he saw us there, he said, "You really came! I didn't think you would! Americans never get up early!" At which we laughed much! Rouhi Effendi's English is very good,—but sometimes a phrase or some slang expression is used which he does not understand. He looks courteously questioning, half surprised, and waits for some one to explain!
The two young men talked to us for a few minutes, and then asked whether we would like to see the circle of cypress trees where BAHA 'ULLAH used to sit. Of course we wanted to see them, and so Mirza Lotfullah went with us, while Rouhi Effendi went to the caretaker's house. I wondered whether the Master had already gone down the mountain, and decided that he probably had, because it was after seven.
Mirza Lotfullah led us up a path, onto a terrace back of the Tomb, and there we saw the circle of cypress trees. There are ten of them, planted quite close together so that their boughs interlace, forming an almost solid wall. They are on a bit of ground which is raised about three feet from the surrounding field, and is held up by a stone wall. We went up into the circle of ground between the trees. Above our heads was a small circle of blue sky. The ground was brown with needles from the trees. I thought of the Blessed Beauty, and was glad that at one time in His storm-tossed life He had been able to withdraw to that quiet green spot. But we had been there only a few minutes, when Rouhi Effendi came toward us, calling that the Master wished to see us! And we went on eager feet, following Rouhi Effendi to Abbas Kuli's house.*
Cora was ahead of me, and she told me afterward that when she entered the room where the Master was sitting on a divan, she was not sure what to do! He bade her welcome, but still she stood in the doorway! Then he rose, held out his hands and motioned her to a chair. She went and sat down. Just then I came in, and the Master motioned me to a chair beside Cora. I cannot remember whether he shook hands with us or not. (Usually he shook hands with us when we left him, but not when we came into his presence.) Mirza Lotfullah and Rouhi Effendi sat by the door, and a tall Persian or Turkish man sat near us.
The room we were in had a north window, which looked out over the Bay of Acca. Like all windows in the eastern houses, it had several iron bars across it to keep out intruders. The house is high on the hillside and there was a wonderful view across the bay. The Master sat on a divan in front of the window, and occasionally arranged some letters and other small objects, which
*Abbas Kuli is the caretaker of the Tomb of the Bab.
he finally put into a small handbag. As he did this, he talked to us. He said, "This location here by the Tomb is very beautiful."
We said, "Yes, we enjoy it greatly."
Then he talked to us a little about the Bab. He said, "After the Báb was martyred, his body was kept in Persia for several years. It was never kept in the same place for more than a few years. Not many of the friends, even, knew where it was at any one time. After a long time it was brought here to Haifa, and placed in the Tomb on Mt. Carmel."
Cora asked how long ago it was brought here. I think the Master's reply was, about twenty-four or five years ago.
Cora asked Mirza Lotfullah to say that we hoped that the Master was feeling more rested.
He replied, No, he was not rested, but that did not matter. And his expression implied that physical weariness was a matter of small concern.
Abbas Kuli brought to the Master a little tray with a teapot full of what looked like tea. The Master poured out some and drank it, explaining that it was a kind of herb drink. Then Abbas Kuli brought us tea in the lovely little Persian glasses. Afterward he came in with a tray full of things to eat and placed it on a chair in front of us. The Master told us to eat. "He says you must eat your breakfast here," Mirza Lotfullah interpreted. We did not really want to eat—when we could be looking at the Master—but at his command we ate a little. The tray had on it ripe figs, ripe olives, honey, and slices of white bread,—and the latter were the only slices of white bread we saw on our whole journey! I ate one or two figs, and a few olives. After a time the tray was passed to the tall Oriental next us. Thus we had breakfast with the Master at the Tomb of the Bab! As we ate he was silent, looking out of the window upon the sea of Acca. His beautiful profile was outlined against the window; his gaze seemed to dwell on distant Acca,—and I could not but think of those long years of imprisonment that he had spent in barred Acca. Some slight vision of all he had suffered swept over me. I knew then, beyond all question, that I had found him as the Master. My spirit knelt in humility at his feet.
After a while he gave the bag he had been arranging to Rouhi Effendi, and said that he was ready to go down the mountain. We followed him from the house to where Esfendiar was waiting with the carriage. We had expected to walk down the mountain, but after the Master had ascended to the middle seat, he motioned to us to get in the back seat. And so Cora and I rode down Mt. Carmel with the Lord of our hearts. No word was said, but we were very happy. At the gate of his house he alighted, and, saluting us with uplifted hand, he left us and entered his home!
At the Pilgrim House we found Rouhi Effendi and Mirza Lotfullah, who had walked down and were there before us. Then we ate of the breakfast that Fugeta had prepared!
September 5, 1920.
This morning all of us had finished breakfast at about 7:45 and were sitting at the table talking. No, Mirza Mohammed Said had not finished; he had just come in, and was waiting for Fugeta to bring him some tea. Suddenly Mrs. Hoagg said, "The Master is coming!" She had seen him pass the window! We all rose, just as he entered the door. He came in like a ray of light and life. He sat down at the end of the table, bade us be seated; told Fugeta to give Said Effendi his breakfast. But Said Effendi did not eat! He drank the tea Fugeta brought, because, as he said later—that was not so hard to do, but he could not eat toast and eggs while the Master was speaking! We quite
understood his feeling, as we remembered our experience at the Tomb yesterday morning!
The Master said that he hoped we were well and very happy. Then he asked again if we were well.
Mrs. Paine said, "We are all very well except Sylvia, who was a little ill in the night, but that is not serious."
Abdul-Baha replied: "I hope she will soon be well."
Sylvia smiled and nodded and the Master said, "That will soon pass away and you will be well again." Then he continued. "Your food and rooms are very simple here, but your purpose in coming here makes them seem good to you. When a man is good, all things about him are good. When a man is bad, all things about him are bad. It is necessary that man be very good."
After a pause the Master said, "You have come here, and every day you try to improve. You try to improve more each day. You must become pure in heart. Then when you return to America, you must carry spirituality and inspiration with you. You must be like Jacob, who inhaled the fragrance of the garment of Joseph from a distance. But more than that, you must be one who carries the garment, who spreads the fragrances of the Spirit."
Turning to Mrs. Hoagg, the Master told her to take us to church this morning. Then he continued by saying, "The purpose of going to the church should be to worship. Turn your hearts to God and worship Him. One can worship God anywhere, in a church, in a mosque, in all places. But here I hope that you will go to the church."
Then he rose, smiled on us, said, "Good-bye," and walked from the room, and down the steps. We went to the door, and watched him till he disappeared behind the wall.
I think that neither Cora nor myself had said a word all the time he was with us. I do not know how she felt, but for me, there simply was nothing that I could say. To be in his presence, to look on the beauty of his face, to listen to his voice, was all I wished to do. I do not know how or why, but in his presence, all life is lifted higher; it acquires freshness and beauty.
Mirza Lotfullah translated the Master's words in this talk.
Following the Master's request, we attended the little Episcopal chapel which is near the Pilgrim House. After our return from there we called on Rouha Khanum for almost an hour, and such a happy time as we had! Her house is just next the Master's, so that she can easily help entertain the Master's guests, and yet look after her own household. She and her two sisters talked with us often, giving us wonderful stories about the Cause and instructing us in many ways. That day she told us about the Master's life during the Great War; how he gave food, money and encouragement to all those who sought his help, no matter what their race or religion. The people of the household lived on the simplest food in order that they might have food to share with the hundreds who came begging for bread. She told us, too, how few letters and papers came from the friends all over the world, and how they longed for news of the welfare of the Bahais in the different countries.
That afternoon after tea, we went over to the Master's house and talked with the ladies for a short time. Then word came that the carriage was ready to take us up the mountain, for the regular Sunday afternoon meeting. Touba Khanum, and one of her sons, Sohiel, went with us. In front of the Tomb many of the friends were gathered; more than forty, I think. For a time we talked with the people near us. Then Mirza Lotfullah brought out the large guest book, and asked us to write in it our names, addresses, the date of our arrival in Haifa, and some word of greeting. Cora wrote,
"The valley of Achor shall be unto them for a door of hope. Mrs. Paine wrote, "Beautiful beyond compare is Mount Carmel, the joy of the whole earth." And I added the sentence from, the Hidden Words which I love so much, "Lift up thy heart with delight." On that mountain one learns so much about why one should "lift up one's heart with delight."
In a short time the Master came from around the eastern corner of the Tomb, followed by little Foad. The Master was radiantly beautiful. He wore a dove-colored overcoat or wrap, for the wind was cool on the mountain-side. Foad was dressed in a stiffly starched white dress, and made a staunch little body-guard for the Master. (Some one told us that one night Foad went up to the Master after supper and said, "You go to bed now and rest. I will take my gun and lie across the threshold. If any thieves come, I will scare them away!")
The Master gave us the talk about Elijah, which Mirza Lotfullah took down in Persian, and later translated into English, so that we might have a copy of it. At the Tomb that day Mirza Aziz 'Ullah interpreted for us.
As always the beauty of the Master's face, its power and majesty, held my attention so that it was difficult to listen to what he said. After the talk, the door at the west end of the Tomb was opened, and we all filed past the Master, who anointed our hands with rose-water. Never again will we be able to inhale that special rose fragrance, without the memory of that western entrance and the Master at the door, coming to our minds!
The candles were burning in the glass vases; there was utter stillness except when the Tablet was being chanted; and, as on the previous afternoon, my heart was won by the peace and glory of the place. While the tall, black-robed Bahai from Eskabad chanted the prayer of Visitation in Persian, the Master stood in the doorway, and the room was filled with a divine radiance of Love. At the threshold of that Tomb one may lay all burdens down. Life becomes simple and straight because one feels surrounded with Divine Love.
After the meeting in the Tomb the carriage took us back down to the Pilgrim House, and then returned to bring the Master. Cora and I watched for his return for a long time, while the quick twilight faded into darkness. Soon above us, on the mountain, there shone out the light in front of the Tomb, which is lighted every night unless there is very brilliant moonlight. At last, the carriage drew up before the door of the Master's house, and we caught a glimpse of white as he swept down from the high seat, and we heard the murmur of his greeting to the men who were sitting in front of the gate, waiting for the call to go in to dinner. So do all the pilgrims linger near his house, hoping that they may but glimpse his face as he passes by them.
That night at dinner, the Master said, "I hope the health of the friends is good. Today you went to visit the shrine (the Tomb of the Bab). Are you happy?" His smile, his care for our happiness and comfort, would have made any one happy, and our smiles of reply must have been bright enough to show him a little of how happy we were!
For dessert that night we had grapes, although on every other night we had watermelon. While we were eating the grapes, he said, "His Holiness Christ once was eating grapes. He said, 'I will not eat of the fruit of the vine again until I eat it with you in the Kingdom.' But the grape of the Kingdom is other than these grapes. In the Kingdom there is no bread like this. Now also, I say to you all, we will eat together of the divine bounties, God willing, in the Kingdom,—that is, divine food, heavenly food. Its taste is everlasting. Its sustenance is everlasting. God willing, there we all together will eat of that heavenly food."
September 6, 1920
On Sunday afternoon the Master said to us, "Tomorrow, I am sending you to Acca!" and his smile was light itself.
We left the Pilgrim House at about 8:00 a. m, Zia Khanum, Mehranges, Riaz, of the Master's household and Esfendiar, called for us. Mrs. Hoagg and we four people added five more to the group. With joy in our hearts we began the two hours' drive to Acca. Down through the narrow streets we rode, and then eastward past the railway station. We passed through a grove of tall palm trees, and down to the shore. At last! that beautiful "way of the sea," toward the Holy City, Acca! How often we had read of the journey along the white sand, where the horses' hoofs play in and out of the water, as they follow the hard-packed sand at the sea's very edge. We watched the waves rush up and then back, sweeping with them tiny sea animals. We passed trains of camels and donkeys, all on that universal highway "not made with hands."
We thought of all the happy, longing pilgrims who have gone to Acca by that same "way." Doubly happy were we that our Master was living safely in his own house in Haifa, and not as a prisoner in Acca!
Always ahead of us was a glimpse of Acca, which shone more clearly as our three horses trotted along the shore. To the East, the hills of Lebanon were purple in the distance.
As we neared Acca, Mrs. Hoagg pointed out the walls, the gate, the cemetery where some of the Bahais of that group of exiles are buried. Finally Zia Khanum pointed out the tower of the barracks.
Outside the gate we halted, for one of our horses had lost a shoe. The blacksmith was sitting under a tree, with his tools about him. But at Esfendiar's request he came and put on the needed shoe. While we waited, we looked at the high wall of the city, which showed how much a prison city it had been. The walls were high and thick; the gate was small, and beyond the outer wall was a second inner wall. A long train of camels passed us. going into the city, and one tiny donkey, heavily loaded, came out! People in oriental garb drifted by us, and glanced at us curiously, but not in unfriendly fashion. I remembered the showers of stones from small boys with which the Bahai pilgrims to Acca used to be greeted, and I meditated on the changes that time brings!
We entered the gate, passed between the two walls for a distance, and on into the town. Esfendiar stopped the horses at the foot of a long flight of steps. It was the way to the barracks. At the head of the stairway a soldier met us, and conducted us about, for the barracks are now occupied by a few soldiers. This man looked like an Arab, but he was under British orders, I think. He led us through many winding passages, showing us several places in which we had no special interest. But finally he led the way to the tower on the west side of the court, the tower where BAHA 'ULLAH was imprisoned for two long years. Zia Khanum told us of the various places associated with Bahai history. She showed us the room where BAHA 'ULLAH had lived, the window from which He had looked out upon the plain of Acca. She showed us the rooms where the immediate family had lived, and the roof from which the Purest Branch fell. The rooms were small, rude; a sad exchange for the royal palaces of Persia, as far as physical comfort was concerned. Yet joy was there, because they might suffer hardship in the service of God. To have been there in the days of BAHA 'ULLAH—for that privilege one might have been able to bear much!
Afterwards we crossed the large court,
(Continued on page 203)
O thou STAR OF THE WEST!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shall 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 shall become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness firmness, firmness!
O ye apostles of BAHA 'ULLAH—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 with the most important events.
| Vol. 12 | Elm 1, 77 (October 16, 1921) | No. 12 |
cause of spirituality."
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHATo Mr. Charles M. Hanson, Duluth, Minnesota—Unto him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!
He Is God!
O thou who hast faith in God!
Thy letter has been forwarded. Treat thy traveling companion in the utmost love, sincerity and faithfulness so that thou mayest attain to the realization of thine end.
Thou hast written that the Call of the Kingdom is in rapid progress in those regions. The flood which is flowing and moving from the realm of Truth can, by no means, be checked and stopped by any unreal force. Certainly the motion of a flood is rapid.
Thou hast also written that it is difficult for the friends to go from one side of the city to the other, and so in the other side of the city a second assembly may be formed. Two assemblies in one city will not become the cause of spirituality. Therefore ye should strive that the oneness of meeting may become the cause of promoting union, harmony and perfect spirituality.
Convey in my behalf great kindness to Mrs. J. A. Bauers and say unto her, "Thou shouldst be very grateful to Charles Hanson, for he helped thee to attain to the source of eternal Life. But as to the division of the Red Sea, this is a political question. We are concerned with the affairs of the Kingdom. You should also walk on the same path."
Forward this message to the dear maid-servant of God, Eva Mary Jahr. "Although thou art a young member, yet I pray to God to enable thee to grow great in His Kingdom."
Through the grace of God do I hope that the Bahai Assembly at Duluth may, day by day, become more and more luminous and that heavenly blessings envelop thee and the assembly.
Unto thee be Abha Glory!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, December 19, 1920.)
CHARLES M. HANSON
To his honor, Mr. Charles M. Hanson, Duluth, Minnesota—Upon him be the Glory of God the Most Glorious!
He Is God!
O thou who art firm in the Covenant.
The glad-tidings of the unity of the friends caused much happiness. No tidings will give so much exhilaration as that of the union of the friends. For unless the union of the Bahais is established how can they become the cause of the oneness of humanity? First, the Bahais should be united with one another in the utmost love and oneness, and then they will be able to raise the banner of the oneness of mankind.
Therefore, I was much delighted with thy news. My hope is that thou mayest travel to the cities of those regions, and spread the Teachings of His Holiness BAHA 'ULLAH.
Upon thee be BAHA 'ULLAH!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Haifa, Palestine, March 27th, 1920.)
ANNIE L. PARMERTON
To Mrs. Annie L. Parmerton, Washington, D. C.—Unto her be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!—Care of the favored maid-servant of God, Mrs. H. Emogene Hoagg—Unto her be BAHA 'ULLAH!
He Is God!
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Thy letter has been received. Praise be unto God, it indicates that through the presence of Jenabe Fazel a new book has been opened. It is my hope that the friends may receive at every moment a new spirit and so arise to act as they should have to.
I was very glad to learn that after the death of Mr. Parmerton thou hast moved forth according to the call of the Teaching Committee; that thou hast severed thyself from the earthly world and those who live thereupon; that thou hast turned thine attention to the Kingdom of Abha; that thou hast made the whole of the globe of earth thy home, and thou hast been spreading the breaths (teachings).
Offer thanks unto God that thou hast been thus confirmed; that consequently thou hast become favored by Abdul-Baha; that thou art supplicating assistance and confirmation for the friends of God, and thou lovest all of them! Be thou assured that thou wilt be confirmed.
I supplicate God's blessing upon thy revered sister and all thy family.
Unto thee be the Glory of Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, December 8, 1920.)
JESSIE REVELL AND ETHEL REVELL
Miss Jessie Revell and Ethel Revell Philadelphia, Pa.—Unto them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!
He Is God!
O ye two dear maid-servants of God!
Ye have written that Mr. Marion Nuevo from Philippine Islands has been deeply attracted. He is now on tour. Whenever he arrives in the Holy Land the utmost love and affection will be bestowed upon him.
But as to the maid-servant of God, Mrs. Brittingham, convey to her this message from me, "O thou harbinger of the Kingdom of God! If thou hast time and no obstacle exists, thou mayst take a trip to Philadelphia so that thou mayst impart joy to the friends and spread the breaths of God. . . ."
Convey in my behalf heavenly greeting and affection to the maid-servant of God, Mrs. Haggarty, her two daughters,
Dr. and Mrs. Pease and their companions altogether!
Unto you be BAHA 'ULLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, December 20, 1920.)
MARY YOUNG
To Miss Mary Young, West Englewood, N. J.—Unto her be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!—Care of Mrs. Georgia Ralston.
He Is God.
O thou who art attracted to the Kingdom of God!
Thy letter has been received together with the picture enclosed in thy letter. Those faces are luminous and those souls have their attention fixed on the invisible Kingdom.
I supplicated and implored at the Threshold of the Beauty of Abha, beseeching pardon, forgiveness and bounty of the Merciful for thee, thy friends and even thine enemies.
Unto thee be the Glory of Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Mount Carmel, Palestine, December 2, 1920.)
UNCLAIMED TABLETS
Please address Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, 104 Wall St., New York City.
Mr. and Mrs. Nosiah Foote, Baltimore, Maryland, care of Mrs. Agnes Parsons, 1818 N St., Washington, D. C.
Betty H. Londen, Astor Hotel, New York City, New York.
Mr. C. Q. Adams, 936 East McKinley St., Phoenix, Arizona, care of Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm.
Madeline Johnson.
Mrs. Nellie Bartels, 14530 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, Q.
To all the American friends—Unto them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!—care of his honor, Mr. Roy Wilhelm.
He Is God!O ye dear friends of Abdul-Baha!
Now I am at the Holy Tomb. The vase which ye had sent in memory of my tour to America I have brought and placed at the Holy Tomb with my own hands. This is a token of your love, luminosity and spirituality. Everybody who sees this vase will think of you all and supplicate at the divine threshold for infinite assistance and favor unto you.
Unto you be the Glory of Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Aziz 'Ullah S. Bahadur, Haifa, Palestine.)
To the STAR OF THE WEST:
Inasmuch as notice regarding the get-together of this Vase appeared in the STAR, perhaps it would be well to have this Tablet appear so all the friends might know what became of the vase for which they subscribed some five or six years, or perhaps longer, ago.
Roy C. Wilhelm.
and saw the pool, or reservoir, in the center, from which the exiles obtained the slimy water which was their only drink during the first twenty-four hours of their imprisonment! On the south side of the court we saw the rooms where most of the exiles were imprisoned. They are like rather wide and long corridors. At present they are quite well lighted, but Mrs. Hoagg said that the British have changed them a great deal, and have let in much more light. When she first saw them, they were very dark and gloomy. And in the days of the Turkish rule, they must have been very dirty, unwholesome and dark. Here, amid all manner of privations and sufferings, the band of exiles praised God for having led them to believe in His greatest and newest Manifestation. As we walked about the barracks, Zia Khanum told us stories of those early days, making them live again, for our instruction.
After we left the barracks, a few moments' drive brought us to another house where the Bahais had been imprisoned. Bahai families live in it now, and they welcomed us with sweet kindness. We saw the little room where BAHA 'ULLAH lived for seven years. In an adjoining house, which now seems to be a part of the first house, the holy family lived for many years more. There BAHA 'ULLAH's room has been left as it was when He used it. The windows overlook the sea; to the south there is a view of distant Haifa; to the north, the plain of Acca. I think BAHA 'ULLAH practically never left the house while they lived there. We hear of Abdul-Baha's caring for the physical needs of the friends, as well as it could be done under the very difficult conditions; engaging in trade that he might have money with which to equip a bath; in all ways constantly serving his father!
It was to the smaller of these two houses that the wife of Abdul-Baha came from Persia. I am not sure, but I think that some of the daughters were born there.
In the family of Bahais who care for these two houses, we met a woman. Sakineh Sultan, whose husband, at the age of twenty, was a martyr in Persia! When we were there she was probably over fifty years of age. A few years ago her daughter died leaving a baby boy, Labib, for whom she is now caring.
Whenever one is with these Bahais who have been intimately associated with BAHA 'ULLAH or Abdul-Baha, one marvels at the spirit of service and self-sacrifice they show. We longed to acquire in its fullness that attitude of evanescent service.
It was after eleven when we left the city of Acca behind us, and drove toward the Rizwan. We went north of the city wall, toward the east. By strange track-like roads we drove, past gardens walled with cactus plants. It was perhaps a mile and a half or two miles before we came to the Garden.—the Rizwan. Just before we reached it we turned to the south, and the road followed a little stream. We passed a water-wheel, turned by a small donkey, and later we saw the water he had pumped, as it fell from a fountain in the garden.
At the gate we left the carriage, and Esfendiar unharnessed the horses that they might have a well-earned rest.
How I had longed to see the Rizwan at Acca! That spot between "the two rivers," that garden on an island! It is a place of beauty and peace. Tall palm trees, pomegranate trees loaded with ripe fruit, beautiful vines bearing many-colored blossoms,—all add to the beauty of the Rizwan. From the fountain, streams of water run to the north, south, east and west, watering the plants.
But the place of most wonderful associations
is the spot on the side of the stream, where the two great mulberry trees form the "tent not made with hands," "over land and water." There, in the later days, the Blessed Beauty used to sit beneath the trees. It is a place of rest and peace. The troublous world seems very far away. Love and peace are in the wind, in the soft rustling of leaves, and the murmur of the water.
Our lunch was spread on a rug beneath one of the mulberry trees. We ate of the Persian foods from the Master's household, of the fruits from the Rizwan. We were utterly content to sit in that heavenly place and watch Riaz, and another small boy who had come with us from Acca, sail boats down the tiny stream from the fountain.
After lunch we all rested for an hour or more, after which we had tea. It was too sweet a place to leave, but the hours were passing, and the supreme goal of our day was still ahead of us,—the visit to the Tomb of BAHA 'ULLAH. And so we left the Rizwan, with the prayer in our hearts that we might come again to that lovely garden of our Lord.
We drove to the north, across the rolling Acca plain, till the Bahjee appeared before us. Here BAHA 'ULLAH lived after He left Acca, still technically a prisoner, but permitted to live among trees and flowers, instead of being shut in by the dark prison walls. At the Bahjee we turned westward, and soon rounded the corner of a long, low building, where the caretaker of the Tomb lives, Seyed Abul-Cassim. There we alighted, and Zia Khanum indicated a small gate into the garden. Slowly, with wonder in our hearts, we followed the path through the garden to the door of the Tomb. In the little outer room we removed our shoes. A short flight of steps brought us into the large room of the Tomb.
We found ourselves in a large room, with a garden in the center. At the west end were several windows, and floods of light poured down upon us from the glass windows in the roof. In the north-west corner of the room, a curtained door led into the Tomb itself.
Zia Khanum drew aside the curtain but the door was closed. We knelt in the space before the door, and Zia Khanum chanted the prayer of Visitation. I tried to remember the words of the Tablet of BAHA 'ULLAH, "Cause me to drink of the cup of evanescence, clothe me in its mantle and immerse me in its sea," but my mind seemed almost a blank. I remember the promise that the prayer one prays in all sincerity at the Tomb of BAHA 'ULLAH shall be answered. With my whole heart I prayed for "evanescence" at His Threshold, and for the power to serve His Cause. Then I prayed for various people I knew, who were in need of a vision of the greatness of God's love. And then for the Bahai friends in America. . . .
And how I longed to enter that closed door, into the Tomb itself! I remembered that ...... and ...... had been inside and that they had been somewhat surprised at being led in, for they knew that people were not always permitted to enter there. I realized how very far short I fell of the purity of heart of that party of pilgrims. I knew that the Master gives to each one what he most needs. And so it was as though the Master said to me, "You have not yet learned enough to appreciate the atmosphere of that inner room. Live the life; serve the Cause; achieve purity of heart. Then perhaps if you return here, the rewards of the pure in heart will be yours!" And with my whole mind and spirit I pledged myself to the accomplishment of that task.
(To be continued)
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Dr. M. J. Basheer and his Bride
at Port-Said, Egypt.
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