The Bahá’í Centenary 1844-1944/Bahá’í Teachers Go to Europe, Asia and Africa
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BAHA’l TEACHERS GO TO EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA
l. Foreword
THE world upheavals of these years have sent millions of the youth of America to distant lands. They have been made by destiny to mingle with all races and peoples, to witness for themselves the underlying unity which the Creator imprinted upon His Image borne in the souls of all men. Here is enacted the supreme dispersal of history, the great shattering of molds and the overthrowing of all frontiers.
Preceding them went out the confirming light of truth revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, reflected through a host of pioneer souls intent upon bringing the world back into the divine embrace of peace and brotherhood.
The outposts of this outpouring of spirit are today symbolized by five monuments raised over the graves of heroic martyrs: Dr. Susan I. Moody, Tihran. Persia; Keith Ransom-Kehler, Iṣfahán, Persia; Lua Getsinger, Cairo; Martha L. Root, Honolulu; and May Maxwell, Buenos Aires. They rest in soil which has become part of the destiny of America. Before the nations could be prepared for political and economic union, these souls realized that in reality the nations are one.
But scores of others also served the Faith in distant lands, fulfilling each one his or her trust under the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
The following brief statements are but glimpses at these great scenes. The full panorama can only be depicted by later students who gather the records together in times of peace.
One can, however. at least point to certain salient features in the historic record: For example—the founding of the Tarbiat Schools for boys and for girls in Tihran, to which Dr. Moody devoted her life. generously supported by the American believers
who likewise provided teachers like Elizabeth Stewart, Lillian Kappes. Genevieve L. Coy, Dr. Clock, and Clara and Adelaide Sharp; the teachers who undertook to maintain the International Bahá’í Bureau in Geneva, Switzerland. such as Helen Bishop; the part played by American Bahá’ís in establishing the Faith in Paris. London, Stuttgart and many other places; the fund donated for a monument at the grave of the revered Abul-Fadl in Cairo; and the full responsibility assumed in the development of the Faith in Latin America.
One of the most significant international Bahá’í matters in which American believers have taken an active part was the case of the House of Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad, seized some ten years ago by hostile religious leaders and later sequestrated by the civil government. The Bahá’í claim was eventually carried to the League of Nations on appeal and the verdict called upon the Mandatory power to see that the House was restored. Written appeals were sent to Baghdad by the American local Bahá’í Assemblies. while the legal papers were prepared by Mountforr ‘Mills under the direction of the Guardian of the Faith.
At the time‘of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the keys to the Tomb of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Aklta were wrested from the Bahá’í custodian by Mohamet-Ali, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's younger brother and for years the center of dissention and antagonism seeking to destroy the Center of Bahá’u’lláh's Covenant. Immediately the American believers protested this spoliation of the sacred Shrine and violation of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in letters addressed to the Mandatory Power, joining with the believers of the entire world in a mighty demonstration of unity of faith. The keys were soon given to Shoghi Effendi, named Bahá’í Guardian in that Will.
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use THE BA!-1A'I
Over a long period of years beginning with the era of the Master, the American Bahá’ís have prepared and dispatched appeals to the authorities of various countries in behalf of the believers suffering oppression: Turkey, Persia, lriq, Germany, Egypt and the U. S. 5. R. Funds have also been donated for relief, as for example following the disastrous floods in Nayriz.
2. A Suiwav uv KEITH RANSOM-KEHLER
To have spread and established a religion throughout the world in less than four score years is eloquent testimony to the spiritual quantum contained in the message of Bahá’u’lláh.
Historians record as phenomenal the accomplishment of the followers of Muhammad in carrying His teachings from the Red Sea to the Baltic. from India to'Gibraltar. in eighty years; but in a corresponding period the Bahá’í Faith has become firmly rooted on all the continents of the earth.
Needless to say this has not taken place of itself. The divine rapture that sent our Persian martyrs dancing to their death had its more practical reflex in the worldwide projects of those who, scattering near and far. bore to mankind the "imperishable evangel of eternal salvation,” reiterated today by Bahá’u’lláh.
Leaving California where the historic pioneers Thornton Chase, Lua. Mrs. Goodall, Mrs. Cooper, and others prepared the way for the coming of ;Abdu’l-Bahá. my first objective was Japan- Calling en route at Honolulu, consecrated by the labors of Dr. Augur and Agnes Alexander, I found a brilliant Bahá’í Community; alert, active, zealous, ably abetted by the tireless enthusiasm of Miss Julia Goldman. Charles Mason Remey and George Orr Latimer, Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bishop, Orcella Rexford, Mr. and Mrs. Hyde Dunn, on their journey to Australia, Martha Root who had left a few months before my arrival; and since my departure from America. Mrs. Schopflocher. Mrs. Loulie Mathews and Mrs. Marion Little are among the Bahá’ís who have made their contribution to the advancement of the Cause in Hawaii: which incidentally I think the most beautiful spot ‘in all this earth.
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Pressing on to Japan I observed in Agnes Alexander that untiring service that has made her the trusted agent of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and of Shoghi Effendi in this ancient and remarkable land; a land to which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has given such unqualified promises of spiritual expansion and attainment.
How simple a thing when trees have been felled and underbrush cleared, the unyielding earth broken, the seed sown, tended and watered; drought, hail, hurricane and flood withstood; how exceedingly simple to walk “through the land at eve . . . and pluck the ripened ears!” No name is worthy of mention in any country except the name of those who with heroism and intrepidity firs! went forth to face the odds and difficulties, yes, terrors of the untried and the unknown in order to plant the mighty standard of Bahá’u’lláh in the midmost heart of the world. The names of Dr. Augur and of Agnes Alexander must ever remain the names to which all others are subsidiary in recounting the history of the Cause in Japan. Mrs. Ida Finch, Mrs. Greeven (then Inez Cook), Martha Root, and later Mrs. Schopflocher and Mr. George Spendlove have assisted in furthering Bahá’í interests in this fascinating country.
Reaching China I encountered for the first time on my journey the illustrious name of Martha Root as the pioneer Bahá’í teacher. She had soiourned in other lands that I had visited, but like myself was treading in the footsteps of others. Here she herself had been the first to bring this great evangel. and the evidences of her strenuous arid ceaseless toil in that great vineyard will be immortal.
In America she had given the message to President C. S. Liu of Sun Yat Sen Agricultural College while he was an undergraduate at Cornell; and later to his sister, President Fung Ling Liu of Union Normal College, then a graduate student at the University of Michigan.
At Tsing Hua _University she confirmed President Y. S. Tsao and his wife in the Cause, and the Bahá’í world is aware of his outstanding service in translating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Dr. Esslemont into Chinese.
On her journeys through the Celestial Empire Martha carried on in her great tradition; interviewing statesmen, publicists
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and dignitaries; speaking in the foremost Universities; obtaining constant publicity for the Cause through the newspapers: broadcasting; receiving innumerable visitors. It was rewarding to meet those whom she had interested and gratifying to witness the steadfast devotion of those whom she had confirmed.
Miss Alexander and Mrs. Schopflocher have also paid several visits to China.
The traces of a world pioneer I have found in many places where his foot has never trod: our "ambassador without portfolio" as it were. Roy C. Wilhelm. Carrying on a world-wide correspondence, his cordial and cheerful letters. his gifts of reading matter and Bahá’í books, his continuous encouragement and helpfulness to those scattered beyond the confines of ordinary Bahá’í association, have made him, though personally unseen, one of the most popular and beloved of the Bahá’í teachers.
No more romantic story will embellish the history of the Cause than the recital of how Mr. and Mrs. Hyde Dunn, then well past middle-life, burning all their bridges behind them, answered the summons of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and arose to carry the Bahá’í message to Australia and New Zealand.
Their endeavors have been indefatigable. their accomplishments stupendous. “Whom maketh efforts for Me in My way will I guide them." The trials. difficulties and vicissitudes that they faced and conquered must be recorded at length in a suitable memorial.
At last there was a happy issue out of all their afflictions. Mr.. Dunn found an excellent position that necessitated his travelling over the whole Commonwealth, so that he has actually given the message in every settlement on that vast continent.
Equally persevering, Mrs. Dunn remained behind in the larger cities, consolidated their joint labors, formed classes. conducted meetings. fostered Assemblies. until at last, as a reward of their efforts, the National Spiritual Assembly is in process of formation.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn (lovingly called Father and Mother by all Bahá’ís) are of singular beauty both of person and character. Mr. Dunn has the rarest and most charming disposition: loving. forgiving, genial. his
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spiritual attributes fit him peculiarly to teach the Bahá’í Cause. Mrs. Dunn has a quality of faith that I have seldom met. She lives in the Presence of God with a kind of awe and candor that assure men of His Power and Benignity; while her service is like the service of the earth to the sun. of the magnet to the pole, of the lover to his beloved. When so ill, with a dangerous illness, that any other woman would have been in a hospital. she was still ministering and serving and helping and soothing. until her very persistence in doing carried its own great message.
What a simple matter then to harvest all this effort and sacrifice and self-effacement in my joyous visits to Australia and New Zealand. Martha and Efiie Baker, one of th: first Australian Bahá’ís, wsisited New Zealand before me; and Martha and Seigfried Schopflocher. Australia.
There was much activity among the friends to receive me. Full and interesting programs had been arranged, resulting in confirmations in the various centers visited. and in the formation of active study classes. Perhaps fuller details will be furnished by the friends in the Southern Hemisphere; "Down Under" as they say.
No tribute that I could pay would be adequate to express the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of the entire Bahá’í world. for the cordial welcome and sincere cooperation which is everywhere and continuously extended to us by the Theosophical Society. Wherever we may go this is always the first platform open to us; these audiences, always intelligent and responsive. offer us our first encouragement.
In Sydney I spoke twice in the great Theosophical Auditorium and from their station my lectures were broadcast to thousands of listeners. I was entertained at "the Manor." their community center, and sent 05 with letters of introduction to other lodges in different countries. Mr. and Mrs. van Gelder and their family. who live in beautiful Blavatsky Park in Batavia, extended to me the most exemplary kindness and hospitality at the request of the Sydney Theosophists. All over the world this Society displays toward us the same spirit and the same goodwill.
Mr. Grosfeld. our dear Bahá’í pioneer in
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Java, is awaiting the arrival of an Egyptian Bahá’í friend of his in order to carry on a fuller program of activities.
My stay in Malay was not bng enough to admit of more than newspaper reports and private interviews. 1
Sharing the ardors and rewards of the first mission to India and Burma were. among others who assisted the saintly Jamil Effendi, Dr. 'Abd ‘l-Ḥakím, now of Rangoon, Burma, an Siyyid Mustafé Rumi of Mandalay, the latter accompanying Bahá’u’lláh's great emissary on his extensive journeys to the East.
Arriving in Burma I went at once to Mandalay where to my great delight I met Mrs. Schopflocher and Lionel Loveday just down from a thousand-"mile trip on the Irrawaddy, "where the flyin’ fishes play." These flying fish, by-the-bye, were the women who plied back and forth on the river boats.
In addition to my many engagements in Mandalay, we drove twice to the hill station of Maymyo where I spoke to the Young Men's Union. I was very cordially received throughout Burma and was especially happy in the great house of Ma Tin in Mandalay: designed and built to accommodate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on His hoped-for but never accomplished journey to Burma.
Very handsome properties are owned by the Bahá’í Community of Mandalay, the most recent acquisition being the estate of Siyyid Mustafai Rumi. in which he is now merely holding a life trust.
Our tireless Martha has preceded me there as usual and has written a lively record of her visit.
The grace and charm of the Burmese young people are worthy of comment. The beautiful and accomplished daughters and grand-daughter of U. Nyunyu, chairman of the Assembly; the son and daughter of Dr. Ḥakím, so earnest and devoted; the lovely and gentle Bahá’í children that I met wherever I went, impressed me deeply.
So much has already been written about Daidenow Kalazoo Kungjangoon, "the village of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá," that I cannot heighten the descriptions of Mrs. Greeven and Mrs. Schopflocher. In the warmth of their welcome, the extent of their hospital CENTENARY
ity, and the sincerity of their lives these village Bahá’ís are a source of pride and pleasure to the Western visitor.
The Rangoon friends had arranged a comprehensive program for me that they may perhaps discuss in their report. They were very efficient in their cooperation. arranging my conferences so that I met the most intelligent, progressive and inquiring in the city.
By now their Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds must be completed, which will greatly increase the prestige of the Cause.
The crowning joy of my visit was meeting in person those great pioneers of the Day of Bahá’u’lláh. Siyyid Mustafa Rumi and Dr. Ḥakím, who had in their youth. with Jamal Effendi, helped establish the Cause in India and Burma.
The calm beauty of their lives seems a miracle amidst the haste and noise and vulgarity of our disintegrating civilization. I know that they belong to that host whose tread is measured to the tap of an unseen drummer. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá expresses it. "the horse gallopeth though the rider is invisible." Their ears were constantly listening for commands that mine were too gross to hear.
Later several Western teachers visited India; among, them Hooper Harris and Harlan Ober; Dr. and Mrs. Getsinger: Mrs. Lorol Schopflocher; on three occasions Mrs. Greeven, Mrs. Stannard and Martha Root.
A large number of the Bahá’ís of Western India (Karachi, Bombay, Poona) are Persian Zoroastrians or Parsis. There are no Bahá’ís in the world superior to those recruited from the Zoroastrian group. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá again and again attested to their sincerity, their simple faith, their purity of motive, their sacrifice and their utter devotion.
A generous account of my activities in Bombay and Karachi appeared in the previous number of this series. Professor Pritam Singh, M. A., late of the chair of economics in Allah Abad University, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma, was designated to accompany me and to arrange my meetings. Due to his initiative and connections I spoke in all the great universities in the various Indian cities that I visited, and to many associations, churches, clubs and so
TEACHING IN EUROPE. ASIA AND AFRICA
cial groups. where the message was cordially received. But it is practically impossible for me to write of my own activities; I never seem to myself to be accomplishing anything.
Through the kind offices of Sir Akbar Hydari I received an official invitation from Hyderabad Deccan to be the guest of the state. I cannot sufficiently thanlt Mr. Rustum Khosrove. Secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Poona who accompanied me. acting as my personal secretary as well.
It was very gratifying to meet here the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice. the Minister of Education, the Minister of Court. the former Prime Minister, the Minister of State, Nabob Mehdi Yar Jung Bahá’íur, and others of the nobility and cabinet, and to discuss with them our teachings.
The programs arranged in Poona and Surat, respectively, aflorded me the liveliest pleasure, for the meetings proved very popular and were attended by the representative people of these cities. Sir ‘Ali Delavi, Prime Minister of the Bombay Presidency, acted as my chairman on one occasion, and spoke with great appreciation of the Bahá’í teachings.
The next continent that I touched upon was Africa, which I had visited several times before; but alas! I was not able to follow in the hallowed footsteps of Miss Fanny Knobloch, who with her sister, Mrs. Pauline Hannan, established the Cause in South Africa. I disembarked at the Soudan but approached no nearer to the scene of her repeated activities. More advanced in age than Mr. and Mrs. Dunn when she undertook this trip, with extremely straitened finances, again and again she literally taught until she dropped; due to the exigencies of the climate that brought on a dilatation of the heart. Who can estimate the incalculable harvests that will one day be garnered from her love and sacrifice?
My brief visit to the Northern coast of South America some years ago was equally remote from the pioneer work of Leonora Holsapple and Maude Micltle; who like the other American pioneers already mentioned, answered the summons of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, proceeding to Bahia, Brazil. Their gallantry, their hard work in mastering an unknown
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language and supporting themselves as they established the Cause, their conquest of diniculties, their unremitting perseverance, is surely written in ineffaceable letters "upon the preserved Tablet of God."
Martha Root has also visited several South American cities.
Leonora had preceded me to some of the islands of the West Indies, but to a few of them I was the first to carry the message. My longest teaching period on that tour was in Barbadoes where Leonora had ably paved the way for me a year or two before.
Let me record that I have found nowhere people more eager, more receptive, more alert or kinder than the Barbadians. God willing, I yearn to go back there for further teaching. I was very gratified to hear of the visit of Miss Ella Robarts to this beloved spot.
Returning to Haifa for further instructions, Shoghi Effendi graciously permitted me to come to the land of God's pioneers. the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh: to walk the earth deified by Their Presence: to visit the scenes sanctified by Their noble army of martyrs: to read in the lives of their survivors those lessons of sacrifice, patience and steadfast faith that illumine the Cause.
En route I spent a few days in the holy city of Baghdad where Bahá’u’lláh declared His Mission and. finally sojourning in the Garden of Riḍván, gave to our Faith its most joyous festival.
These Bahá’ís are full of spirit and energy, and though I met only a few representatives from other ‘Iraqi Assemblies I was immensely assured f their devotion and zeal.
The monumental work of Mountfort Mills in representing before the League of Nations Bahá’í interests in Bafidad has already been fully recorded, in a volume of Tbe Ba/Ja"t' World.
Mrs. Schopflochefs visit left a deep impression and wrought good results. She had several audiences with His Majesty, the late King Feisal, and Martha, following her, also had an audience with the King.
Incidentally I know of no better place to mention Mrs. Schopflocher’s memorable visit to Russia; the only American Bahá’í, so far as I am informed. to teach in the Soviet Union.
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Years since, M. and Mme. DreyfusBarney and Mason Rcmey had come to Persia; then, to the Tarbiyat School. Miss Kappcs, Miss Coy, Miss and Mrs. Sharp; Dr. Clock had come to be near Miss Kappes; Mrs. Schupilocher had visited Persia on two occasions; Martha traveled through some of the provinces; and Efl‘ie Baker, photographing for Tbr Dawn-Breakers, reached places that no western Bahá’í has seen before or since.
The important work of Miss Lillian KapP25, who gave her life to the Bahá’í Cause in Persia, is attested by the present position of the Tarbiyat School. so ably managed by Miss Adelaide Sharp. She has today brought it to a position of preeminence in this educational field. Her unflagfing zeal, her sound management. her personal dedication to teaching as a profession, are crowning with success the hardships and difficulties that still surround the educational activities of Persia.
But foremost amongst the Western pioneers in this sacred land must ever stand the name of Susan Isabel Moody. M. D.. who. blessed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was entrusted with the great mission of spreading scientific methods and hygienic measures amongst the women of Persia.
At the time of her arrival not only crude but barbarous practices sometimes obtained in obstetrical work; infant mortality still remains very high; the care and feeding of children was little understood. For many years she labored valiantly against the hosts of ignorance and resistance to change, working on against great obstacles until the violent fanaticism that ended in the murder of Major lmbrie made it inadvisable for foreign Bahá’ís to remain longer in Persia.
When under the enlightened regime of the present ruler. Ridzi Sháh Pahlavi. all danger was obviated. so deep was her devotion to her spiritual fatherland that she determined to end her days in this beloved country; and though nearing eighty. took the long and difficult trip from America back to Persia. a few years ago.
Her work in founding the girls’ Sunday School and in assisting the Tarbiyat School is still another monument to her greatness.
Although very feeble and partially bed CENTENARY
ridden. so unconquerable is her spirit, so cheerful hcr disposition, so intense her eagerness for the Cause and its welfare, that young and old throng to see her, and her presence is a blessing to every meeting that she finds strength to attend.
She always reminds me of the lines of Stevenson:
"I knew a silver head was bright beyond compare, I knew a queen of tail, with a crown of silver hair; Garland of valor and sorrow, of beauty and renown; Life that honors the brave crowned her himself with the crown.”
Some of my most impressive experiences here have been recorded in letters to Mrs. Helen P. Bishop, published in the Bahá’í' Magazine. At present (August, 1933) lam in Tihran and have not yet visited the South of Persia.
This would seem the appropriate moment to mention those immortal Persian pioneers to America, sent us through the bounty of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Mitzi Abu’l-Fadl-i-Gulpayigsini, and Jinib-i-Fáḍil Mazindarani. My advent to the Holy Cause of God is 50 recent that it exactly corresponds with _Iinab-iF:'idil’s first visit, but all America bears testimony to the outstanding achievements of these powerful and notable pioneers.
Having been identified with the Bahá’í Cause for only twelve years, there must have been countless teachers in the early days with whose names I am unfamiliar. I hope that all such oversights will be forgiven. I have mentioned the name of every teacher in foreign fields known to me. Undoubtedly Jinab-i-Fáḍil in his forthcoming history will record the work of those whose names I have unintentionally omitted.
Though residing in Europe during several years my itinerary has not yet taken me, as a Bahá’í, to the scenes made memorable by early Bahá’í teachers. May Ellis Maxwell, who also established the Cause in Canada. Alma Knobloch, George Latimer and Mason Remey. Dr. and Mrs. Getsinger and more recently Mrs. Louise Gregory, Miss Marion jack. Orcella Rexford, Mr. Kluss. Mrs.
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Emogene Hoagg, Miss Julia Culver, Mrs. St-annard, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Carpenter, Lady Blomfield, Mrs. Stuart French, Mrs. Amelia Collins. Miss Louise Drake Wright. and others have taught on the continent; but preéminently Martha Root. who has spread the message not only in the leading universities and highest circles of Europe, but to royalty, confirming the present Dowager Marie, then Queen of Rumania. in the Cause.
Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher, a veteran world traveler, has supplemented his frequent business voyages with Bahá’í teachmg.
In 1932 the Guardian bade me good-bye with a smile; that smile that soars like a bird from his lips to its heavenly nest. "You should be very grateful to Bahá’u’lláh for extending to you this opportunity for service," he said.
Amidst the perplexities. hardships and problems that often beset my path I think that my abiding protection is a sense of deep and reverent gratitude; gratitude that I have been privileged, not to hear about, but to witness, in a thousand gleaming camp fires round the world the marshalling of the army of the Lord of Hosts: to behold in every land the unsheathing of His terrible, swift sword; to see. with mine eyes, the Glory of the Coming of the Lord. Men and women from every tribe and kindred of the earth. forgetting their age-old tutelage of hatred and antagonism. abandoning their prejudices and racial inhibitions, rejecting the animosities of ancient creed and dogma, learning new and shining lessons of forbearance. love and forgiveness; pressing forward in deadly, deadly earnest against man's eternal foes: ignorance, oppression, superstition. greed. crime. war. poverty. injustice; putting aside every personal consideration to serve the mighty ends of peace and righteousness. Surely gratitude is the only appropriate emotion with which to regard the spectacle of life at the flood tide of its spiritual ardor. For in this Cause every Bahá’í is a pioneer; a pioneer in a new manner of living. a new outlook on life; a new assurance; a new fortitude, because ours is a new promise; the promise that at last that celestial city "eternal in the heavens, whose
EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA
I8?
Builder and Maker is God"; that Holy Citv. New Jerusalem. shall descend to earth and that the tabernacle of God shall be among men. The doors of that city “shall never be closed by day and night; there shall be none; and into it will the kings of earth bring their glories." It is for the speedy fulfillment of this promise that Bahá’í pioneers are laboring so arduously throughout the world.
3. A STATEMENT av CHARLES Mason REMEY
In 1901 I made my first pilgrimage to Haifa to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and in connection with this journey I spent several days with the Bahá’ís in Egypt.
I Apart from having heard the Bahá’í message in France in 1899 and having spent the first three years and a half as a believer in that country engaged in the work of the Cause, my first real Bahá’í teaching travels in foreign lands began in the summer of 1907 when in company with Frank Phipps of Waslfington, I visited the Master. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. in ‘Akká. going over by way of the Mediterranean by ship to Egypt and Syria. There Frank and I parted. he returning direct to America. I going up the Levantine Coast visiting Bahá’í friends in
Beirut and Alesandretto on my way to Con- stantinople and from there on to Munich in .Germany.
In Munich, I had several Bahá’í contacts with people interested in the Faith. so remained there for two days before going on to Stuttgardt. In this latter place I spent several days with Dr. Fisher who was at that time interesting a few people in the Cause. We spent some time going about calling on people and talking with ‘them. but then: were no gatherings that could be called "meetings."
From Stuttgardt, I went on to Paris where I spent six weeks busily engaged in looking up the friends and attending gatherings. It had been but less than four years since I had lived there, so I was able to follow up a number of former personal contacts as well as meet with the groups of Bahá’ís at that time, continuing the work as established there seven or eight years previously by May (Bolles) Maxwell.
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While in Paris. I went over to England for a two weeks‘ stay in London with Sydney Sprague who had made many contacts there. Our time was busily spent meeting the Bahá’í friends and attending meetings of various kinds of thought where Sydney had made openings to speak of the Cause.
On my return to America at the Master's instruction, I made some travels to Montreal in Canada and visiting the Bahá’í centers as far West as Chicago and the near points in W'isconsin—Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee.
The following year. in 1908, I sailed early in April for England where I visited the Bahá’ís in Manchester where Miss Ridgeway had attracted a small group that was founding the Bahá’í cause in those parts. From there I went on to London for a few days with the friends where Sydney and I made the round of contacts as we had done the previous summer.
Then on to Paris for a week where I attended several gatherings of friends and those interested. from there going on to Stuttgardt in Germany. By then Miss Alma Knobloch of Washington had settled herself in Stuttgardt at the Master's, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá't's, instruction, as a Bahá’í teacher and already a group of enthusiastic believers was in progress. There I remained for several clays before going on to Italy (by way of Vienna). where in Florence I spent a day or two with Sr. Artura Regini, the leader of a group of Philosophers who received me very kindly. I had been in correspondence with this gentleman for some time, had furnished him with Bahá’í literature and he had published some articles on the Cause locally. in Florence.
So far as I know Sr. Edouardo Bonsignori of Milan was the first Bahá’í in Italy. He received his message from Mrs. H. Emogene Hoagg in about 1900. I had met him in Paris some years before this visit to Italy.
From Italy I went on to Egypt, to the Holy Land, where I spent some days near the Master—then on to Constantinople where I visited Stanwood Cobb at Robert College, meeting with him and his friends and there joining up with Sydney Sprague. we two going from there by sea to Odessa and acrtss Southern Russia to Bakou—east
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to ‘Igl_iqébad—back to Baltou and into Persia as far as Tihran. This, however, could not come under the classification of Bahá’í teaching, since I was learning from the many old and firm Believers in those parts rather than teaching, although here and there I did meet people attracted to the Faith and talked with them.
Leaving Sydney Sprague in Persia I returned tn the Holy Land by way of Bakou, Batoum and Constantinople, meeting the Bahá’í friends in Beirut.
While Stanwood Cobb was the only Bahá’í I met at that time in Turkey, at the Master’s definite instructions on going out to Persia I called on the Persian Ambassador to Constantinople who was a friend of the Master’: and was kindly disposed toward the Cause. This gentleman received me very graciously and gave me several books of his own writinfon World Peace. (These are with my other documents now in the National Archives in the Temple in Wflmene.)
I had a few days with the Master in ‘Akita. The Revolution of 1908 had taken place while I was in Persia and the land was then under the Young Turk rule. It was easy for the Bahá’í pilgrims to come and to go to and from the Holy City—the old Turkish reign of oppression was at its end.
On my return through Europe I visited Sr. Bonsignori in Milan, then went on to Stuttgardt, Paris, London and Manchester, meeting the friends in those cities. ,
It was in the Fall of the following year that Howard Struven and I started forth on our world tour. I am under the impression that we were the first Bahá’ís to make the entire tour of the world. but I may be in fault on this point.
Leaving Washington and Baltimore, in June, we traveled westward visiting almost all of the centers of Bahá’í teaching in this country from Green Acre on the East to the length of the Pacific Coast from Los Angeles to Seattle and Spokane. It was in November that we sailed for Hawaii where we spent three weeks with the friends of the Group in Honolulu that Agnes Alexander had formed, and it was Christmas week before we reached Japan where we spent some days in Tokyo meeting with individuals and groups
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attracted to the cause. Our first meeting in Tokyo was in the Chapel-of the American Y.M.C.A. and numbered about 125 people.
The Honourable Mrs. Gordon. an English lady who had lived for years in Japan, Professor and Mrs. Dodge (American) and others were most friendly and were instrumental in arranging this one very large meeting as well as several smaller ones.
Shanghai was our next Bahá’í field of activity. There we met with the groups of Persian believers of the "Ommid Tea Cornpany." Through these friends we met the Rev. Timothy Richard, a Missionary American who, unlike most American Missionaries, had been most friendly to the Cause. His associate, the Rev. Gilbert Reid was also most cordial and on his return to America shortly before his death. was associated with the Bahá’ís in meetings in New York and Washington. ‘
These Missionaries founded “The International Institute of China" for the harmonious relations between the Religions of the Far East, and in their publications mentioned the Cause and gave it publicity.
Our next Bahá’í contacts were in Burma in Rangoon and Mandalay and in Quongoon not far from the former place. In these parts we spent six weeks—very busy onesholding meetings daily and meeting people of many religious groups. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist.
Calcutta in India way our next Bahá’í field of activity. Here the community of friends had a house for their center of activity. We visited neighboring towns, made contacts with educational and other groups, both Muslim and Hindu. one week or thereabouts passed quickly with these friends.
Twice during the two or three years before the time of which I write, the Maharaiah of Baroda. or more commonly known as the Gaikwar of Baroda, traveled in America and on each occasion he visited Washington. It was in Washington that I first met him and spoke with him about the Bahá’í Cause. Some others of the Bahá’ís made similar contacts with him and he responded by showing his friendliness to our Faith. About the time that Howard Struven and I started on our travels we learned
that the Master. ‘Abdu'l-Bahi. had sent
IN EUROPE. ASIA AND AFRICA
I87
Mirza Mahmoud Irani to Baroda to teach. therefore we placed ourselves in correspondence with Mirza Mahmoud who asked us to include Baroda in our travels.
On our arrival in Baroda the Gaikwar was absent from the City. We therefore awaited for some days his return. A day or two after his arrival the Gaikwar received us and we stated our cause with the result that a few days later a meeting was arranged for us in the rotunda of the University presided over by the President of the University (an Englishman whose name I do not recall) and attended by the Gaikwar and his court and the principal people of the city, both British and native.
It was an impressive gathering and I must say a somewhat terrifying one to me, at least so until I was launched in my talk. when embarrassment passes from one.
We were all assembled when the Gaikwar arrived and seated himself on a throne elevated on a dais and flanked by two armadants who fanned him with large long-ham dled fans throughout the ceremony.
The introduction by the President was very friendly as was the entire procedure. So far as I have been able to ascertain this occasion was the first time in the history of our Cause for a king or ruler to openly receive in a friendly way representatives of the Bahá’í Faith. The earliest recognition of the Bahá’í Cause by Persian kings was to persecute, but this kingly gesture of the Gaikwar was friendly. This meeting was on March 20, 1910.
From Baroda we went to Bombay where we spent six weeks or thereabouts teaching, meeting groups of Hindus. Muslim and Parsees. One meeting that stands out in my memory was in the auditorium of Elphmiston University attended by several hundred students. We were kept very busy in Bombay. From Bombay we went to the Holy Land where we had some days with the Master before parting one with the other. Howard returning to America by one route. I by another. my travels taking me by the quickest way possible to America while Howard visited the friends in Germany before returning home.
In the early summer of 1913 George 0. Latimer and I spent some time in Honolulu
188 THE BAHA’l
engaged in Bahá’í activities and in the following spring of 1914, at the Master's call we went to Europe on a teaching mission. landing in France and spending three months in Paris holding gatherings and meeting many people.
From Paris we went to London for several weeks. By that time there was a very active Bahá’í community in London with several large meetings each week and small groups meeting in homes.
This was a momentous time for during our visit Fareed and his family arrived in London from the East and the Master cabled to us in London that they should be "avoided" by all Bahá’ís. These were indeed turbulent times. For the most part the friends obeyed without question. but a very few clung to Fareed. Finally the division or separation was formed and established and the problem was solved definitely, and shortly after that George and I took a ship from England for the Netherlands. There in Blaricum in North Holland we visited Mr. Van Winkle, a Thcosophist, with whom I had been in correspondence for some time and who was interested in and attracted to the Faith. We first met this gentleman in Paris, then in Amsterdam, and while in the Netherlands through his kindness we went to The Hague and there spoke of the Cause to some members of the Netherlands Foreign Service.
The last few days in that country were spent with Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle at their home in Blaricum where we met a number of people to whom we talked.
From North Holland we went to Berlin and to Leipzig arriving at this latter place the day of the Declaration of World War I. There we met Miss Alma Knoblocli and a group of friends in a public meeting on the night of our arrival carried out as planned regardless of the tumult of war that was going on in the city about us.
From Leipzig we traveled to Stuttgardt where we remained for several weeks teaching and holding Bahá’í meetings in that city and the towns nearby. Here our efforts were reinforced by those of two Persian Bahá’ís. Mirza Azizullah Bahadur and Mirza Habibellah Khodabasah whom the Master had also sent there to teach.
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Late in September of that year we four traveling Bahá’ís left Germany going into Switzerland and Italy where we embarked at Venice for Egypt and the Holy Land. We remained on Mount Carmel for about two weeks with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the end of which time George and I returned to Egypt and from there to Italy and America arriving home shortly before the end of December, having been able to travel in comfort during these first few months of the World War I.
Commissioned by the Master to visit the Bahá’í communities in this country and Canada, George and I went to Montreal for some days arriving there during the upset occasioned by the-adherence of the Woodcock family to Fareed and his family.
During the years of World War I. George and I made two visits to Hawaii and I alone made one visit there—then for several years foreign travel was not possible.
Finally after peace had been established the Master instructed me to go to Germany on my way to the Holy Land. I sailed in June. 1920. landing in Rotterdam. going on to The Hague where 'I met Jenab Eben Astaque of Russia whom the Master had sent thither as bearer of His Tablet to The Committee on Durable Peace. There with this Persian friend and his companions, I met people attracted to the Cause—then I went on to Amsterdam where Mr. Van Winkle was there living and through him I was introduced to some Theosophists who were sympathetic to the Bahá’í teaching. Several days passed with these friendly people in Amsterdam and through a Theosophist, Miss B. Kerdike, I was invited by her brother and his wife to visit them at Appeldoorn in Eastern Holland on my way to Germany. Mr. Kerdike was an architect and during the two days I spent in that home, I met several of their friends, whose names I no longer recall, but who were all responsive and friendly to the Bahá’í teachings.
That season I spent about six months in Germany. This was a time of much Bahá’í activity among the believers there. The war was over and the Revolution was also at an end. Most of my time was spent in the vicinity of Stuttgardt. I did much traveling about making repeated visits to Karlsenlte.
TEACHING IN EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA
Heidelburg. Tubingen, Leipzig. Manheim, Ludwigshafen, Freiburg and several other small towns in Wurtenberg. Also I made five different trips going to Switzerland to hold meetings in Zurich where a group of Bahá’í: was formed.
While in Germany I met Malcolm MacGillvray from America who was there for several weeks and we were associated together in Bahá’í work.
Late in December I left Germany and the friends with whom I had been so happy and started for the Holy Land by way of Italy. In Naples I met Mrs. H. Emogene Hoagg and others of the Faith. A few days-—then took ship for the Holy Land where I remained for almost two months, during
which time I was joined by my brother.
William and other American Believers on pilgrimages to the Holy Places.
My brother and I made the return together to Italy where we spent some days in Naples with Mrs. Hoagg and her small group of believers. From there my brother returned home by the Mediterranean and Gibraltar while I went across Europe stopping in Milan to see Sr. Bonsignori and from there to Stuttgardt and the vicinity where I met with the believers—then to Paris, london and Manchester, contacting with the friendsof the Cause in these places, sailing for Canada fpm Liverpool. with a visit in Montreal, then home.
In 1922 I visited the Holy Land, Switzerland, Germany and France, and in subsequent summers in 1925 and 1927. I went to Europe. on the former occasion going direct from New York to Italy where I spent several months engaged first in Bahá’í activity with Mrs. Hoagg in Florence and then going to Geneva, Switzerland, for some days with a group that Mrs. Elizabeth B. Nourse and her family had assembled there during their stay of several months in that city.
From Geneva I went again to Stuttgardt and the vicinity holding meetings there, and in neighboring towns including Karlsenke. Then to Paris for a few days with the Bahá’ís and again to Manchester on my way to Liverpool and back to America.
In 1927 I repeated my visit to Florence, going to Paris, but not to England, and again in 1930 and 1931 I spent some time
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in Paris attending the gatherings of the Bahá’ís and meeting former old friends there of many years of service in the Cause.
4. A REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES or MARTHA L. Roor
Space is not available for the description of all the teaching activities carried on by Martha L. Root since her first journey to South America in 1919 and up to the time of her lamented passing in Honolulu twenty years afterward. Hailed by the Guardian of the Faith as the foremost teacher and Hand of the Cause. Miss Root exemplified complete and immediate response to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s call for teachers uttered to America in 1916 and 1917 in Tablets which could not be conveyed to their destination until the termination of the war.
This believer traveled well-nigh continuously in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Central and South America. She interviewed prominent persons, educators. statesmen and rulers. and she carried the banner of the Faith to heights beyond the capacity of her fellowbelievers in those years.
The following brief notes. taken from "The Bahá’í World," Volume VII. cover a period of two years only but are typical of her effort and achievement throughout her twenty years of service in the teaching field.
A firmly established faith, a centered will, and indefatigable activity. have given to Miss Martha I... Root an international sphere in the realm of teaching. In her. the ordinary restrictions placed upon personal life, limiting it to one local environment, have been broken through and the world is become her spiritual home.
Miss Root's activities from April, 1936. to April, 1938, were successively, the United States, Japan, China and India. The following reports can but briefly indicate and outline the full story of her Bahá’í teaching during those two years.
Miss Martha L. Root had served the Bahá’í Faith vigorously with great efficiency and without stopping for rest and comfort for many years, but in the summer of 1936. our beloved Guardian cabled her (she was working in Europe) to return to United States for a rest. She returned July 29.
190 T H E B A H A ' i 1936, very broken in health. Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm invited her to ‘Evergreen Camp.’ his summer home in Maine, for two months. where everything was done for her recuperation.
Then she met the friends and lectured in Green Acre, the Northeastern States, the Regional Committee arranging very carefully to protect her health. This was followed by a short program of lectures in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. D. C.
In January. 1937, when she was on a lecture tour, she was very ill with influenza in Buffalo and as soon as she was able to travel she went across the continent to California. stopping over in Lima. Ohio, and in Chicago, where she spoke once in each city to believers, on teaching the Cause. People came to Lima from all the Bahá’í cities in the State of Ohio.
Resting in California for several weeks. she'later addressed the friends in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland. These were really regional gatherings, for believers came from many surrounding cities.
Miss Root sailed May 20, 1937. from San Francisco for a Far Eastern tour. June was spent in Japan where several lectures were given in Tokyo. Kyoto and Kobe. Editors used Bahá’í articles, and she visited nearly every Bahá’í in Japan.
Sailing to Shanghai the last of June. she was working in China with the devoted faithful Bahá’ís when the war came. She was in the deadly bombings in Shanghai in August and barely escaped alive. A refugee on the steamship President Ieflerson, she reached Manila. August 20 in the evening. and five minutes later endured the worst earthquake Manila has known in a century. Still, though ill and with a temperature of 102. she courageously gave the Message in Manila.
Miss Root took the first ship on which she could get passage out from Manila and came to Colombo, Ceylon. Here she recuperated and during the month met the Mayor of Colombo. gave three radio talks, spoke before the League of Nations Union, the university students and was one of the first Bahá’í teachers to go to Ceylon to lecture, work and try to establish the Faith
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in that important island country. Jamal Effendi had gone to Colombo for a few days in 1877 and met a few merchants
Miss Root reached Bombay, India. October 15, 1937; the N. S. A. of lndia and Burma and several hundred Bombay Bahá’ís welcomed her warmly. After the N.S. A. meeting of consultation. and working under the fine planning of the N. S. A. of India and Burma. Martha Root has done great service in India and Burma with their help. She first visited Surat and Poona, then crossed the continent from Bombay to Calcutta and on to Burma. She toured Burma where many lectures had been arranged for her in Rangoon. Mandalay. Toungoo and Daidanaw and Kunjangoon. Returning to Calcutta she took part in the Second AllIndia Cultural Conference and the First Convention of Religions. both held in Calcutta in December. 1937. Her talks on the Cause were broadcast throughout India. After the lectures and work in Calcutta, she next visited Dr. Rabindra Nath Tagore.
Miss Martha Root arrived in India from Ceylon on October 15. The believers of Bombay accorded her a right royal reception. The National Spiritual Assembly had also fixed their half-yearly meeting to be held in Bombay in order to meet the beloved sister. Miss Root stayed in Bombay for five days and these five days were gala days for the believers of the place. While the Bombay friends held meetings and arranged for lectures, which were fully reported by the press. the N. S. A. in consultation with Miss Root. chalked out a program for her.
After attending the public meeting on the Birthday of the Báb. which was presided over by an ex-Mayor of the Town, Miss Root left for Surat.
SURAT-—During her two days’ stay here Miss Root met lawyers, judges and other notables of the town at the home of Mr. Vakil and delivered a public lecture in the Arya Samaj Hall. This was attended by 250 to 300 peoplt~—students, lawyers and other notables. The press published elaborate articles and thus good publicity was achieved for the Divine Faith.
I’ooNa—Owing to her brief stay here no public lecture was arranged; but she met press representatives and the believers of the
TEACHING IN EUROPE. ASIA AND AFRICA
place. She visited the Bahá’í School and the Bahá’í Cemetery. To the friends she delivered a talk on teaching. Miss Root will visit Poona again when she returns from her tour in South India.
RANGOON—l..caVing Poona on October 26 she stayed one day at Bombay and then left for Burma where she arrived on November 2. The believers of Rangoon had chalked out a busy and elaborate program for her. She spoke at the Y. M. C. A. (Town Branch), Arya Samaj (Central), Theosophical Society, Brahmo Samaj, Malabar Club and Rotary Club. Press publicity had preceded her arrival and when she arrived all the leading dailies of Rangoon published glowing articles about her and about the Cause she had come to teach. Rangoon "Times," widely circulated English daily. published an interview with her about Bahá’í work in Shanghai. Rangoon "Times" has been devoting weekly two to three column space to Bahá’í articles for the last eleven months. Rangoon "Gazette,” another English daily, had an equally fine interview of more than a column and in addition there was an editorial about the history of the Bahá’í Faith. Miss Root’s lectures attracted a large number of hearers and were presided over by religiously inclined public men. In fact, Miss Martha Root created a stir in the religious circles of that great city of $00,000 souls comprised of almost all civilized nations of the world.
Miss Root had two meetings with the Bahá’ís of Rangoon in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds (Bahá’í Hall). The meetings with the children were very interesting. She started a children’s class and gave first lesson to youngsters. This class the Rangoon Spiritual Assembly is determined- to continue in rernembrance of the visit of our beloved sister.
MANDALAY-—Mlss Root arrived in this ancient city of Upper Burma on November |0. She was received at the station by the believers led by our revered Bahá’í teacher Siyyid Mustafa Rournie. She delivered a public lecture in Mandalay Municipal Library. The attendance was the largest of any public Bahá’í lecture given up to this time in Mandalay. The Headmaster of the Normal School, U. Thet Swe, B. A., B. L., was Chairman. Some of the hearers came
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later on to see Miss Root and asked questions. Bahá’ís who live in towns near Mandalay came all the way to see their beloved guest.
TOUNGOO-—On leaving Mandalay Miss Root dctrained at this town of about 23,000 inhabitants. No Bahá’í teacher has ever before visited this place. It was through the efforts of Dr. M. A. Latiff, that the town was opened. He had gone to the place and had arranged for a lecture in the Jubilee Library. Dr. Bahl, Civil Surgeon of the district, presided. He also gave a dinner in his home after the lecture and four interested people came to meet the Bahá’í teacher. Miss Root took the train that same night and nine people who had attended the leeture were on the station to see her off. It is a great thing for our Faith that Toungoo is opened and we have our dear brother‘Dr. M. A. Latifi to thank for it.
DAIDANAW (Kunjangoon)—Accotnpanied by Siyyid ‘Abdu’l Hussain fihirazi and Mr. Siyyid Ghulaim Murtaza ‘Ali, Miss Root reached this Bahá’í village of 800 believers on November 20. The believers of the place had made elaborate preparations for the reception of their beloved guest. A special roadway was cut through the grass from the main road to the Assembly Hall, which was tastefully decorated. The Assembly Compound was full of believers when Miss Root's car arrived. Mrs. Kahn garlanded her amidst the acclamations of Ya-Bah5'u’lAbba. She met these friends and they chanted holy songs and prayers.
At 4 p. in. Miss Root drove to Kunjangoon, an important town of 6,000 people situated about three miles from the Bahá’í Village. The lecture was held in the National School under the Chairmanship of Dr. Gurbaksh Singh. It was translated into Burmese by U. Sein, the headmaster of the School. There were about 150 people present including the Township judge, the staffs of the National and Board Girls’ High Schools. The lecture was well received. Dr. and Mrs. Gurbaltsh Singh called on Miss Root that evening and had a long talk with her.
Next day the friends again met in the Assembly Hall. After the usual prayers. Mr. M. l. Kahn read a beautiful address of
192 THE BAHA'I
welcome to which Miss Root replied in suitable words and the meeting closed in an atmosphere of spiritual joy and happiness. Mr. Murtaza ‘Ali describes the scene of Daidanaw as follows:
"The friends of Daidanaw gave a right royal reception to our sister Miss Martha Root. She was deeply moved. They laid out the heavenly table for us for supper that night and each family brought in their share to feed us. We were immensely touched and we thanked Bahá’u’lláh for the love and spirit of service which He has taught to His followers. We spent one heavenly night in this village of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who used to call it fondly 'Deed-a-Naw' which in Persian means the 'New Sight.’ ”
Miss Root returned to Rangoon on Nov. 21 and attended the farewell meeting at the I_*Ia:_tiratu'l-Quds (Bahá’í Hall). 0
On Tuesday, November 23. Miss Root sailed for Calcutta.
SHANTINIKBTAN, India, at the International University of Dr. Rabindra Nath Tagore. Miss Root’s own report follows.
Mr. Isfandiar Bakhtiari of Karachi, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma. and I visited Shantiniketan on February 13, 14, 1938. We were guests in the School Guest House. It was a great privilege to meet Dr. Tagore and to hear him talk with deep love and appreciation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá whom he had met in Chicago in 1912. I am writing the interview for Bahá’í World, volume VII. Dr. Tagore said that the Bahá’í Faith is a great ideal to establish and that they in Shantiniketan welcome all great religious aims and will be most glad if a Bahá’í Chair of Religion can be arranged in their school.
He and Mr. Bak_htiari spoke of Iran (Mr. Bak_htiari is an Iranian, he came from Yazd to India about twenty years ago), and of Dr. Tagore's trip to Iran. The Poet asked particularly about the progress of the Bahá’í Faith in the land of its birth, and praised the tolerance and fineness of the Bahá’ís.
Dr. Tagore’: School has a very excellent selection of Bahá’í books in the Library and they take great interest to have it as complete and up-to-date as possible.
A lecture was given in the hall before the whole student body and the professors.
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Questions were asked and answered. They brought all the Bahá’í books for an exhibition in the hall, and near the close of the lecture I explained the books. one by one. Mr. Bak_htiari was invited to chant some Bahá’í prayers in Iranian. (Many of the cultured people of India know Iranian, and the Urdu language. which is used by several millions of people, is akin to lrimian) .
The Associated Press and the United Press used interviews and one professor whom I had known in Marburg University and who knows the Cause well wrote an article about the lectures for the Associated Press of India.
When can a Chair of the Bahá’í Faith be established at Shantiniketan? Bahá’í: must help in this.
TRIVANDRUM, TRAVANCORE. Mr. Balt_lltiari and I worked in Trivandrum. December 19-23, 1937. I do not know that any Bahá’í teachers had ever visited Trivandrum and given lectures and press interviews before. It is a.very progressive State where the young Maharaja of Travancore, twenty-six years old, has recently opened the Hindu State Temples to peoples of all castes——a most courageous, thrilling move that may help untouchables in other States likewise to receive similar privileges.
We had a charming, illuminating audience with the Maharaja of Travancore and his very cultured progressive mother the Maharani of Travancore, at the Palace. I am sure they know very well all the modern religious movements, for they are most liberal Hindus, and awake to the needs of world unity. (I am writing an article about the audience.)
Mr. Clarmont P. Skrine. British Resident of Madras States, received us graciously, at the British Residency in Trivandrum. He has known much about the Bahá’í Teachings and met many Bahá’í: during his visits to Irin. We learned from him that the late F. Skrine of London, who wrote a book about the Bahá’í Faith nearly thirty years ago, was his father. The Resident told us his father had been very interested in the Cause.
We lectured in the Theosophical Hall of Trivandrum. The President of the Lodge, Professor R. Srinivasan, Principal of the Maharaja’s College of Science, arranged it.
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Dr. and Mrs. Jayaram Cousins were present and both spoke a little. Dr. Cousins. one of the great scholars of Travancore, said that thirty years ago they had been given Eric Hammond's Book "The Splendour of God" and that they have always loved this Bahá’í book. Mrs. Cousins who is a friend of Lady Blomfield stopped over in Haifa on her'way to India and visited Shoghi Effendi. She spoke with enthusiasm of Shoghi Effendi. his spirit, his culture, his charm. Dr. Cousins sometimes accompanies the Maharaja on the latter’: trips abroad. I hear from others, but I do not know. that the great Dewan (Prime Minister) of Travancore is a fervent Theosophist.
One reason that we went to Trivandrum just at this time was because the Ninth AllIndia Oriental Conference. which convenes only once in two years, was to be held there December 20-22, and it seemed most important to try to get the Bahá’í Teachings to as many Oriental scholars as possible—for who will be the Professor Edward G. Brownes, the Count Gobineaus. the Baron Rosens of India if we do not interest the scholars? We wish the great Hindu. Muslim, Buddhist, Zoroastrian scholars to write about the Bahá’í Faith in its relation to their own Faiths. I gave a very short talk in the Conference on the Bahá’í Faith from the standpoint of great Oriental scholars. Mr. Balgitiari gave a short talk about Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, Iran’: great woman poet.
Articles about the Cause were prepared for the press from the very first day we arrived, and then the Travancore Journalists’ Association gave a tea in our honor in their clubhouse. They wrote several articles and they will write articles in future about the Cause. They wish news of the progress of the Cause in different parts of the world.
MADRAS. Mr. Balgitiari and I worked in Madras, December 25-January 3, 1938. We met the few friends and talked about how to promote the Faith. and had the Feast. We visited all the large libraries to see what Bahá’í books they have. The University of Madras Library has an excellent collection and the Librarian. Mr. S. R. Ranganathan, is keenly interested to build up the department of Bahá’í books. He is in correspondence with American Bahá’ís. and the N.S.A..
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but up to this time he had never met a Bahá’í. His face is full of light. He said the Bahá’í books are drawn out and much read. (We later found many who have been reading the books.)
Adyar Theosophical Library, at Adyar. Madras, also has a good collection of Bahá’í books, and we found that many university students living in that section have been reading these books. We visited editors of all the leading newspapers of Madras and all used interviews followed by other articles about the Faith and résumés of our lectures later. Over two hundred articles about the Bahá’í Faith have appeared in the newspapers of Ceylon and India from September 1} to Febnsary 13, 1938.
A large public lecture was given in Ranade Hall, a cultural center whose directors are connected with the university and some newspapers. Dewan Bahadur K. S. Ramaswami Sastri. retired District Sessions Judge and one of the brilliant scholars of Madras. presided; the lecture was under the auspices of the South Indian Cultural Association. In introducing us he spoke concisely about the Cause, quoted "The Dawn-Breakers" and Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, has since presided again and has written for me to use in the West, two short articles. which were really his introductions. These are most interesting because they show the Bahá’í Faith in its relation to Hinduism. He is a great Hindu Indian scholar who has arisen to write about the Faith. I lectured in the Y. M. C. A. in Madras, Mr. Balt_htiari chanted and we both spoke before the Brahmo-Samaj Sociqy of Madras. BrahmaSamai is a very quicltened spiritual movement of India, a little like our Unitarianism of the West. its members are always friendly and very sympathetic to the Bahá’í Teachings. The Madras Brahmo-Samaj has since translated into Telugu language, "What is the Bahá’í Movement?" and one thousand copies are being distributed. This is the first booklet, I think. that has ever been published in Telugu, and it is a fruit of the visit to Madras.
Also, two thousand booklets, "The Dawn of the New Day" translated into Tamil language, are being published (were to be finished by February IS). Mr. Ishaq Pahlavan.
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a devoted faithful Bahá’í in Madras, helped with this. The Tamil newspaper that published the booklet used the history and principles in a nearly three column article that has a circulation of twenty thousand. We felt very happy about these booklets because Tamil is much used in Southern India, Ceylon, Straits Settlements and a large colony in Durban, South Africa.
Mr. Balgitiari, Mr. Pahlavain and I went
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out to Adyar to three sessions of the International Theosophical Convention held Dccember 26 to January 3, 1938; we met many friends. The Vice-President of the International Theosophical Society, Mr. Datta, said to me that the Bahá’í Teachings are the highest essence of Hinduism.
Mr. Bak_htiari, who did such great work, returned to Karachi the evening of January third.
