Transcript:Dhikrullah Khadem/Address from the Hand of the Cause

Transcript of: Address from the Hand of the Cause Dhikrullah Khadem

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[00:00] Friends, I'm very happy that I was given this opportunity to say a few words in Persian. I wouldn't have done it that since it has started, I would like to say just a phrase, and that's what I want to stay. And it explains where it said. They say []. That all these victories, all these triumphs for the Cause, that according to the beloved Shoghi Effendi, it has amazed the men and women believers of the Faith, had no parallel in the three apostolic periods of the Cause is indeed the choice fruit of the labors of our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. I'm very happy that one of the members of the Universal House of Justice, well, we shall hear his message. [?] in the Holy Land. He confirmed this and he said everything we have now is from Shoghi Effendi. And, of course, the Universal House of Justice, that infallible body, is following the steps of the beloved God. Friends, I am so inadequate to speak about the beloved Shoghi Effendi. I was asked to speak and I was called to speak about my pilgrimage. And since I brought with me many documents, original, which I never departed when I left on trips. But this time, out of my great love for all of you and my submission to the beloved Shoghi Effendi, I brought them with me. But unfortunately, it didn't reach for the time. So I don't have it here. Maybe I'll share them tomorrow when I speak again because I heard our suitcases have been found. [applause]

[2:45] Friends, perhaps I’ll start by this. Well, I'm very happy that we have different approaches about the station of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. We know how modest he was as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was. So many tablets reveal in honor of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that after the passing of Bahá’u’lláh when they quoted, you know, such as all the names revolve around Him or Baha'u'llah prays that “O, God bring light to my eyes” when the Master was in Beirut and so many things, the [?] and others. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote back and said, “Am I not the interpreter of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh?” Yes, you are. Then he said, the interpretation of all these titles such as, o, ‘’Apple of Mine Eyes’’ which shall not be any higher than that. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “I am the interpreter and the meaning of all is the Servant of Bahá’u’lláh.” [?]. The beloved Shoghi Effendi followed the same example, and he gave every credit to Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. I had the great bounty to be in His presence several times. Friends, I tell you, I never heard him to say “I”. Never. He spoke of the time of Bahá’u’lláh, of the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, of the Báb. And then when it came upon him to speak about his ministry in his time, he said after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the friends did this, did that. And I was there when the beloved Shoghi Effendi was announcing the Ten Year Crusade, he said after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Baháʼís took the message to 126 countries. And then the Guardian paused, and he said, “They are not yet satisfied. They are not yet happy. They intend to take to 100 more countries and announce the World Crusade.” I was in tears. I said, “My beloved, everything happened in your time.” He said these are all the prophecies of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá fulfilled.

[5:35]And then I remember exactly, I was walking with him to the - near the Shrine of the Báb. And then he quoted from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. [Persian]. Whatever is done is done by Bahá’u’lláh. What can we do? And that was a great lesson to the Baháʼís and to the next manifestation of Bahá’u’lláh. Servitude. He signed the servant of His threshold, the threshold of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he signed the servant of the threshold of the Báb. And there's another story. In [?] in the carpet that he offered to the very room of the Báb’s declaration and the order to be woven the servant of his threshold, Shoghi. That was a great lesson. I enjoyed very much the different approaches and I enjoyed the torch. I just want to add one word to it. That is right. After ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we go to Formative Age and the Universal House of Justice, the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, but have we ever thought who bit and created the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh? I read this from, all my notes are in the suitcases which are now found, thanks to Bahá’u’lláh. The beloved Shoghi Effendi in the dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, it tells us, it should be born in mind that the institution of the guardianship has been anticipated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in an allusion he made in a tablet addressed long before His own ascension to three of His friends in Persia. We know even the names of these friends. To that question as to whether there would be any person to whom all the Baháʼís would be called upon to turn to the person after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

[8:10]And in the tablet of testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks of the light, which comes after me, in reference to the Guardian and some very quotations to whom, yes, to whom all the Baháʼís would be called upon to turn after His ascension. He made the following reply:

“As to the question ye have asked me, know verily that this is a well-guarded secret. It is even as a gem concealed within its shell. That it will be revealed is predestined. The time will come when its light will appear - “ don’t we see, now? - “when its evidences will be made manifest, and its secrets unraveled.”

[9:15]About the beloved Shoghi Effendi. As I told you, in his great modesty, he gave every credit to the Central Figures of the Faith and to the Baháʼís, even he did not rank himself with the Baháʼís. “The Baháʼís are going to announce the Ten Year Crusade.” “The Baháʼís are intended to do this and that and all the other things.” Well, I don't refer to the holy, to the scriptures that the name - as here, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá confirmed. What did He say? He said this is “well-guarded secret” from the time immemorial. It is, even as a “gem concealed within its shell”. The prophets of God in the Old Testament, in the Qur'án, in many quotations, the name of the beloved Shoghi Effendi is so praised. Even the duration of his kingdom, it's written how long he would live in this world, how long ‘Abdu’l-Bahá - the name of the Guardian was there in all these scriptures. If you are interested, I’ll give you references to all these things.

[10:45]Well, you know you're all familiar with the story of Miss Drayton of New York go to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that we know the prophecies of Isaiah, that during the time of the Branch, the wolf and lamb will lie together. And then it says, “And a little child will lead them.” And she said, “I understand this. It has happened. During the ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the beasts lived together.” But as far as to the little child is concerned, she was asking whether this little child was born. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote back and said yes. He said yes, this little child is born and exists. You have that, and perhaps I don't need to read it to you now. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said - I’ll give you the reference in which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that He'll show this little child which will show the greatest power of God. And He says his luminous faith will illumin the whole world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says do not forget this as far as you’ve lived in this world, because for this little child, there’ll be phenomenons and effects and miracles all for centuries on Earth. These are - in the Qur'án there's a chapter that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called that chapter in His Will and Testament in reference to the beloved Shoghi Effendi, the two [?] that starts with the salutation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed to, for predicting the Guardian, the guardianship. Well, now I reference to this. I'd like to speak today. Yes, I found this:

“Verily that Infant is born and exists and there will appear from His Cause a wonder which thou wilt hear in future. Thou shalt see Him with the most perfect form, most great gift…”

[13:30]Friends, who am I to speak about the beloved Shoghi Effendi? I'm so inadequate, humble dust. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, let’s see what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praises him:

“Thou shalt see Him with the most perfect form, most great gift, most complete perfection, most great power and strongest might! His Face glisteneth a glistening whereby the horizons are illumined!”

[14:00]In the whole world, the face of the Guardian glisten now, in all the Pacific, in all these islands, in all these Houses of Worship all over the world, which makes everybody astounded, not the Baháʼís, those the enemies of the Cause, those people who are now killing the Baháʼís, they’re astounded. Where are these places? All as a choice fruit of pioneering that the beloved Shoghi Effendi announced. These pioneering, these people, these martyrs that everyone credits the victory of the Faith to them. They gave their love, their lives for their love of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. They were raised by him. They would not listen in the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but the power of the words and encouragement and all the plans of the Guardian moved them to go and now moved them, moving them to give their lives for him. Well, of course, all these things again goes to Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore, forget not, this account as long as thou art living, for as much as there are signs for it in the passing centuries and ages. Friends, it is too soon to appreciate the beloved Shoghi Effendi, the beloved Guardian, how much he sacrificed.

[15:50]I don't know how he, how to tell you how he worked. We were there in the Holy Land in the pilgrim house which looks from the hill. And we enjoyed very much to be there and at night face the room of the beloved Shoghi Effendi down the hill, and we could see the light there in his room. It was too far; we couldn't see him, but we watched. And then I said I could see, I watched until midnight. The light was still on and I thought, I said, “Oh, God, how much the Guardian works. When does he start? And when does he finish?” The following day being in the presence of the Guardian I didn't mention it to him, but through Bahá’u’lláh, he knew everything. Without mentioning to him, when I walked with him, he turned to me and he said, “Do you know what time I start work?” [‘’audience laughter’’] Here’s my witness. My wife is here. And he said, “I start work at four o'clock every day and I finish it until midnight, after midnight.” This was the way the beloved Shoghi Effendi works.

[17:30]Friends, I want to tell you about some of the assignments that I had from him. And these assignments, I give you, I tell you a good [?], some of these which I just made a note here. Yes, I was - my first [?] was in 1925 and it followed until 1937,’38,’39. And I was so eager, I felt a burning love for him. I wished I could be in his presence many times, and he was so kind to me. He said to me, “I’ll give you a permanent - “ what do you call it? Visa. “Any time you can come. You’re welcome.” So it gave me that courage and that great happiness any time I could go, and. I almost tried every year until the beloved Shoghi Effendi in 1939 when he dispensed with me. He said, “I'll call you.” And I knew that was the end. And then in 1952. And I had in 1937 - well, I don't know whether I speak about all my-- if I want to speak about everything comes to my mind, I need days and days and days. I was there in 1925 looting, the beloved Shoghi Effendi did not come that day to the meeting of the friends. Every Sunday there was a meeting, a big gathering. Just imagine a big gathering with the beloved Shoghi Effendi be there and speak to you. He had a guest, an honorable guest, and I was as a young man. Don't ask me about my age, although I have something to tell you about the beloved Hands of the Cause Mr. Varqá [?] without his permission, because this reveals his age. [‘’laughter’’]

The late Varqá his father, that the beloved Shoghi Effendi said [?]. He said in the company of all the Hands, he was distinguished. Amongst all the 27 and then those who came later, Mr. Varqá was distinguished, [?]. He was chosen. And, you know, the grandfather was a greatest, one of the prominent martyr who gave his life and one of his sons for Bahá’u’lláh. And now, Mr. Varqá, his father was in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as entourage with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the west in America. The uncle sent a photograph of Mr. Varqá, who is now here with us, four months old, on [?], sent to the father that Bahá’u’lláh has given us this child that you see here. Now, you guess how old he is. [‘’laughter’’] And then everybody who received his mail, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said what was the news. And Mr. Varqá said, bowed and said he received a letter and they have sent this photograph, sitting on the lap of his uncle. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Let me see.” And when it was offered to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he kissed it. And he should tell us - I may be wrong. On his right hand, on one of the hands, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote “hand”. And on the other, he wrote “confirmed”. [?] And on the brow, “Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá. Alláh-u-Abhá.” This remained in the family. Nobody knew the significance for so many years until the beloved Shoghi Effendi - you tell me about his innate knowledge - until the beloved Shoghi Effendi appointed him as a Hand of the Cause of God. And when it was reported to him, out of his great modesty, he said, “Apparently, I do know that.” But he knows! They knew everything. They speak to us according to our capacity and our shortcoming because else we cannot really stand, we cannot being there, for instance, if the Guardian would say to those close to him, if he showed his power, none of them could live with it. So that this is one of them, one of the wisdoms.

[22:55] In 1930s - well, I was telling you I was in the pilgrim house and I went to serve the pilgrims with joy, giving the tea. Then I face the room of the Guardian from the hill and something passed in my heart. I said, “O, Bahá’u’lláh, I wish I'd be here during the wedding of the beloved Shoghi Effendi.” 1925, I didn't know what was going on, and I had a dream that the wedding would came when the Guardian is 40 years. Then when I came, in one of my trips and after the Guardian was not there, I went to the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and prayed hard. And there, from that shrine, I wrote a letter to the Guardian. I said I was so sinful, full of shortcoming that I came as far as here, that I was deprived. The beloved Shoghi Effendi wrote back, and he said, “Soon you’ll cherish your desire.” He says, “Soon you will come and you’ll accomplish the desire of your heart.” I didn't know anything until he reached like that and speaking to some of the friends who lost one of the family. They said, “Don't speak about this. This is the day of joy. This is the beloved Guardian’s wedding with Rúhíyyih Khánum, daughter of Maxwells’. And then I rushed because that time the [Shah?] was so - the old Shah, the father of the one who was wrong - they were not in favor of the Faith, and there was no relation between Persia and America because something happened, which is a different story. And then, after the chamber of the Guardian came, now the unity of the east and west has been accomplished. Just imagine at the time that the Shah cuts his relation with the west, the beloved Shoghi Effendi sends this cable. So we knew that it wouldn't reach Tehran, from Baghdad I sent a cable to Tehran and I gave the glad tidings very briefly. Glad tidings, Guardian’s wedding, Maxwell’s daughter and [?]. And when I reached there and it was reported to the Guardian, the beloved Guardian asked me to write down what I sent, which I did, and he asked me to send a cable and write to the Baháʼís of Iran. But he, just a year before, less than a year, he said, “Your heart's desire will be accomplished.” So that the news was given to Baháʼís of Iran.

[26:15] Friends, the beloved Shoghi Effendi gave me many assignments, One of the assignments that I had was to be as errand for the God, a peon to send His, to announce His cables or to deliver to the National Assembly, to the individuals, to different countries and that was, that continued for over 22-23 years all the time. And that was the most joyful times of my life. When I went home and I asked, “Was there any cable?” Yes. [‘’counting’’] One, two, three, four, five. Sometimes five cables a day and I simply acknowledge by cable. I made ablution. I prayed and opened these gates and sent and delivered to whoever it was addressed. This was one of the assignments that I had and until the time that he passed, the beloved Shoghi Effendi passed. He sent me in 1937 - well amongst these cables, I had, I received a cable. I haven't brought that with me but I have others. Maybe I’ll bring it tomorrow here. Even if you can't see it, I’ll put it here. It's a blessing. Remembrance, the remembrance of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. There was one of the pioneers in Afghanistan in Kabul, Azari, his name, and he had a great problem. He didn't know what to do. And he wrote a letter expressing his great desire to give his life for the Guardian and asked for [?]. I was a member of the National Assembly. The National asked me to present to the beloved Shoghi Effendi that Azari has asked me for his prayers and for [?]. In compliance with the instructions of the National Assembly at that time, I wrote the cable. I had, I had, I have still, a very close friend, closer than a brother to me, [Sali Nunu?]. Many of the friends know. He came to my office and I said, “Listen, Nunu, would you take this cable to the telegraph office or community church?” I thought that would reach earlier than if I went after my office hours. They took it there and gave it to the telegraph office.

[29:15] Now the story doesn't end here. I came home for after my office hours, for lunch. As usual. I asked my wife, “Was there any message from the Guardian?” “Yes, here you are.” Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá. I opened that, I prayed and opened. The beloved Shoghi Effendi in that cable says, “Assure Aziri in [?], of my prayers.” I was so astonished. How could it be in two hours, three hours, two hours, the cable we sent and the answer came so quick? I left my lunch. I went to Mr. Nunu. I said, “Let's go to the telegraph office to see what happened.” And then we went there. They said the cable was on the table, not yet sent. These are the things all documented. I have, thanks to Bahá’u’lláh, the original of these cables with me. I was instructed by the beloved Shoghi Effendi to visit the friends in Persia. So we had a one whole time to go every weekend to drive from Tehran to different parts of the country. And I tell you, we didn't know. We simply could sit behind the wheel. If there was a horn or some connection with, you know, anything and it happened behind the door, behind the wall of the Shah who was such a dictator. The horn started to blow and we left the car and ran away. We didn’t know how to disconnect it. And we come at all these places. The beloved Shoghi Effendi wrote and said, “Give the glad tidings to the friends in Iran and visit on my behalf.” When I finished that, again in the following year, he sent another message through Mr. Nunu, who accompanied us sometimes and he said, “Let him start over again.” So we had that great bounty and nothing is more important, and according to Bahá’u’lláh, more sweet than to be with his friends. The communication, the company of the friends is next to the company of God. And we covered the game all Persia for the second time, until 1939 when the twin monuments of the mother and brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were transferred today to Carmel.

[32:25] The beloved Shoghi Effendi gave me the original tablet to take it to Persia, and I had the bounty to be there. Then the Guardian dedicated and started. And that night we stay. All the lights were lighted, ignited. And then the beloved Shoghi Effendi’s support of the station of the mother and brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and said this was the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah in 54 chapter. Nobody knew. He said the whole chapter is addressed to the mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Enlarge thy tent and--. Enlarge thy tent that God says - Oh, and here you are:

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;”

Well, I don't read the whole thing. Although the beloved Shoghi Effendi said it from memory from the scriptures.

“Fear not, for thou shall not be ashamed.” Mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame;... For thine Maker is thine husband.” Bahá’u’lláh, thine husband. The beloved Shoghi Effendi said for thousand of years, they read this. Nobody knew what it meant. It couldn't be more explicit than “thine Maker” Bahá’u’lláh is “thine husband”. “The Lord of hosts is His name.” And then the beloved Shoghi Effendi said this was the beginning, the beginning and prelude to the formation of Universal House of Justice. When he sent a message to the friends in all over the world that this was great glad tiding, we didn't know what it meant. I remember one of the members of National Assembly of Iran, when this was read - he’s now in the [?] - he turned to us, he said this was not a glad tiding. Well, he couldn't-- the transfer of these two monuments would be the great glad tiding. But that was the beloved Shoghi Effendi had in his mind to establish the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, the Universal House of Justice in around the monument of the Greatest Holy Leaf and these twin monuments, that--. And then it started and, as you know, the art and all these things, and the unfoldment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. And now we have the seat of Universal House of justice. We couldn't understand. He was the builder of all these things.

And all the time, he said, let the friends pray for that day that Bahá’u’lláh in the Tablet of Carmel, He said, “Erelong, the Ark of God will sail on thee.” Many times, maybe every day, he said to the pilgrims, [?]. And he waved his hand. He said it means the Ark of God, that its occupants, the members of Universal House of Justice, will sail on the Old Mount Carmel.” He said it means the laws of God will pour from thee to the whole world. And he said, “Let them pray for this day.” And this was his mission on behalf of Bahá’u’lláh, on behalf of the Báb because the Báb said, 'Well is it he who gazes upon the order of Bahá'u'lláh.” In the Mother Book of Bayan, He said it. He predict it. He couldn't see. The Báb could not see physically, but he heard it. And the Guardian said the Station of the Báb, which is the manifestation of unity of God. He's a manifestation, forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh and forerunner for the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh because of this verse in the Bible. Bahá’u’lláh himself, He revealed the Tablet of Carmel, and that needs to talk about the Tablet of Carmel. Well, I’m speaking that part of mine, which pertains to me. The beloved Shoghi Effendi had me to memorize it, that Tablet. And he gave me assignment to go to Persia and to make a trip to Yazd and Shīrāz and [?] for the [?], the relatives of the Báb. Let them see what a great future and what a Majesty for the Báb will come to pass. And I said, all right, and you might have heard me that as we the Persians do and we receive these things or any Tablet, we just kiss it and put it on the shelf.

[38:55] I thought I had plenty of time when going back to Persia to memorize, and in the meantime I was not busy there. And I praying myself. I said I wished the beloved Shoghi Effendi would assign something for me to do it here. I’m just idle. I enjoyed myself. I had a good nap and everything going to the Guardian. And finally, I said today I’ll tell him, to ask him to tell me to do something. I could pick up the flower at least and put it on, the petals, on the Shrine, on the threshold of the Shrines. And to tell you the truth, I never opened my lips before it. Just silent as a dead man. The moment I found so many times hundreds of times, thousand times that he read my heart through the channel of Bahá’u’lláh. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá read the heart. I said I made a pledge not to speak, not to tell him anything. I said if there was anything that I should know, He would tell me. Why should I take his time? Until that day and one day I made my mind. I said to myself, I said, “Today, “I’ll ask God.” We were in a big gathering in Mount Carmel, the beloved Shoghi Effendi was sitting. He always sat one or two chairs further down from that window which faces the Mediterranean. And the fourth, I think I was the fourth one or someone. He told me where to sit and he was telling the whole audience of the wonders in this Faith. And I was thinking and praying, “O, Bahá’u’lláh, help me today to tell him to give me an assignment.” In the middle of my thought, the beloved Shoghi Effendi told me, turned to me. And he said, “Have you memorized the Tablet of Carmel?” [‘’laughter’’] And that moment, I wanted the ground to open, to fall [‘’laughter’’] so that. This was the beloved Shoghi Effendi.

[41:25] And then the beloved Shoghi Effendi sent me, I'm speaking off some of my sons, to Egypt. In Egypt, and he, there was a man, an old man who lived 100 or 110 years, [?]. And this man was truly a wonderful, wonderful man. He received a knighthood from British government. And he was historical. He was there. The beloved Shoghi Effendi bade him that he should go with me, and sent us to obtain a visa in Jerusalem. And then coming back, he said, “You go to Egypt and tell the friends the glad tidings.” And then the Guardian turned to him and he said, “And you translate for him in Arabic.” None of us knew what was the glad tidings that I had to tell the friends, and I did not dare to ask the Guardian. And [?] there in Egypt, the hall was packed with the friends. No room for anyone. And now I am in the presence of all these friends in Cairo. And I wanted to tell them the glad tidings. I didn't remember anything - oh, God, yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá - of what to tell them. Something in my ears said, tell them about the sufferings of the Baháʼís of Iran, which was not a glad tiding, apparently. So I started to tell them that I went to the prison, and these prisoners are brought. The whole members of the Assembly of Yazd, including two [?], the relatives of the Báb came, this old man [?], the great historian came. He was maybe 85-90 years old. His eyes are big, and others. And there was a fence from the floor to the ceiling. Another fence in a little more distance, two meters, another fence. And these prisoners were brought that we see them, and an officer standing with them. And of course you know what was our emotion?

[44:10] I said to them that I came, and the beloved has sent his bounties, blessings. Greetings to you all. Oh, they started to dance hearing these things, but this [?] could not hear, could not see me. He asked his friends. Now he had his chains on his feet. He said, “What does he say?” And I said it. I came from high. This is a term that they understand, the Baháʼís, as [?], and explained to them. [?] cried and raised his hands. He said these are all his blessings. Who are we to deserve such a bounty? Stories like this, it was in my mind to tell the friends in Egypt. And when we finished that meeting, I met them again, not with that crowd. Coming back to the Holy Land, I was so unhappy. I blame myself. Why didn't I ask the Guardian the glad tidings that I should have accomplished my assignment? Now, in the middle of my reflection, the Guardian said, “Don't worry. The great glad tidings were the story of the sufferings of the Baháʼís of Iran that you have already said to the believers in Egypt.” That was my assignment in Egypt. And then the Guardian said, “I’ll send you. This was prelude to your traveling to the west.” Then he quoted Bahá’u’lláh, said Bahá’u’lláh says in His wisdom, the point. [‘’speaks in Persian’’] That means: O, beauty of God, Bahá’u’lláh addresses himself, unveil thyself, so that the sun may shine from the west. The beloved Shoghi Effendi said it means - he was the interpreter of the writing. He said, it means the sun of the miracles and mysteries of the Faith, the light, the sun of majesty, real reflect the rise from the west from America to the east. That's the meaning.

[46:56] And then he paused and he said to me, “I'll send you to the west, to America, to witness with your own eyes the secret, the mystery, the light of the Cause in those lands.” I’ll make it brief. With this wonderful man, with Husayn Ruhi, walking with him, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, he said to me, he said, “In future, you'll be visiting all the places in the world.” Our finger was on the geographic globe in the morning. I studied all these things without knowing the purpose until we stopped in Guatemala. We couldn't pronounce it. We helped each other. And that day, when we arrived, in the presence of the Guardian, he started, he said, “Thanks to Bahá’u’lláh that this Cause has reached to all these places.” In Iceland. I don't know what would he say now in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. What has happened? The Cause has reached to every corner of the world, maybe to other planets. Then he paused. and he said, he said he spoke about Europe, ten goals countries. He spoke highly about America and then about Central America. And then he paused and turned to us and said, “Also Guatemala.” And this old man, Husayn Ruhi, he threw himself on the knees of the Guardian and cried. The beloved Shoghi Effendi said, turned to me and he said, “You’ll see all these places in future. Your traveling to Egypt was preliminary to these trips.” And then he paused. He said, “And at the dedication of the House of Worship in Wilmette, you will be chanting.” Can you imagine? Us and members of the National Assembly, did any one of you know what time the dedication will take place? Then the beloved Shoghi Effendi, then it was time for my wife, my dear wife who’s here to be in the presence of the Guardian. And the beloved Shoghi Effendi said to her that, “In future, you'll accompany your husband and will see all these places.” And the story, that was 1939.

[49:49] 1952, he sat with us in the gardens of the Shrine of the Báb and handed over to me many pages, maybe 16-17 pages in an envelope, written in quick way with pencil on the top. Some of these pages contained, the whole page, some one or two passages from the commentary of the Surah of Joseph and [?] to chant. I didn't know the purpose. And when I chanted, I put every sheet underneath and I thought that I could keep them. And I was very happy the way he interpreted. And I said, “Well, we go to the pilgrim house and we shall study over again and remember his explanations.” He corrected me. When it came to one point which I correctly chanted at the House of Worship, Mr. Furútan wanted to correct me. I said, “Yes, I did it that way but the Guardian said that was wrong.” And then this was-- and the moment I put it in the envelope, to put it in my pocket, the beloved Shoghi Effendi raised his hand to take it back. And that broke my heart. I had no choice. I went to him and presented. And when I presented just with my heart, I said, “Oh, my beloved. That was not fair.” [‘’laughter’’] And then, until we were there at the dedication of the House of Worship - tonight we were in the hotel. Our meal was under the table. And when I opened, the National Assembly tells us that the beloved Shoghi Effendi presenting the program of the dedication of the House of Worship, he ju st added that Khadem is to chant from the commentary of the Surah of Joseph and sent me those things that I wished to have and that remains my precious gift. Well, you tell me about - I think my time is up. Thank you very much. I don't know what to tell you. And I never thought to tell you these things. I had some other notes. [‘’laughter’’] But you must forgive me. Thank you very, very much. [‘’applause’’]

[52:30] -of the beloved of all hearts Shoghi Effendi. In Persian poem, it has been said: [‘’Persian’’] And this is the translation:

“How long will this torrent of tears flood from each lash in my longing to meet thee? O, the unique one, my beloved, will the night of thy separation ever end? O, thou, whose agony and tribulations have, as an arrow, pierced the hearts of thy lovers. Multitudes” - this is the translation of that one - “are occupied in thy praise whilst thou art hidden from them.”

Now we are all, as individuals in this multitude, are occupied with the praise of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of this glorious Manifestation, which according to Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, such a dispensation, the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh comes to the world in every 500,000 years, the Guardian of the Cause Shoghi Effendi.

[54:27]I remember the time in the presence of the beloved Shoghi Effendi when he spoke about the significance of the twin, two. And in fact, he sent a cable to the National Assembly off the Baháʼís of the British Isles that they had published in their literature. And he tells us about the twin that is so significant in this Cause. He told us verbally, he said, “We have twin cities, Holy cities, 'Akká and Haifa; twin houses, the House of Shiraz and the House of Baghdad, of Baha'u'llah - the one, the house of the Báb; twin manifestations, the Manifestation of the Báb and that of Bahá’u’lláh. He kept on telling us, everything is twin: twin festivals - the birthday of the Báb and that of Bahá’u’lláh; twin monuments - of the brother and mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. And that day, the Guardian was so exhilarated. He was so happy, so it gave me the courage to mention to him we have two gardens, the garden of Ashraf and the garden of Riḍván. Then the beloved Guardian smiled and said, “You said it but you forgot to say twin views, the view of the sea and the view of the mountain.” And after explaining these things, he paused and he looked at me deeply. He says, he said, “In the Cause of God, everything is twin.” No wonder that he meant two interpreters, two Manifestations and two interpreters. The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh as Manifestations of God and two interpreters, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the beloved Shoghi Effendi.

[56:57] And of course, tonight that He, Baha'u'llah called him, and according to the Scriptures, just before we came here, I shared with some of the friends - also I shared with some last night - it was known in the Scriptures how long the beloved Shoghi Effendi would live in this world, his ministry. Very explicitly mentioned that the first successorship after Bahá’u’lláh, whose name is 'Abbás, 'Abbás will become the leader of mankind. [‘’Persian’’] (Yasiru’l 'Abbás Imamun’Nas). And then he goes to say that the second successorship belongs to the person, to the one, to that wonderful figure whose name starts with ‘Shi’ (Shoghi). And then explanation, the first one would have his kingdom for 30 years - 29 solar years. In Lunar calendar, it makes 30. And the second one, the ministry of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, 36 years. In lunar calendar, it makes 37 or more. And it says explicitly, that the combination of those makes 70 years. Well, it reached 66-67. But with the Arabs, when you reach to the half of the decade, it goes to the next. And many other passages. If that was known to them, how much more to the beloved Shoghi Effendi? Of course he knew what time he was passing, so that it removes from our minds that the beloved Shoghi Effendi did not leave us suddenly. He just closed his eyes the moment Bahá’u’lláh called him, and.it was known to him. And this is my firm conviction that the beloved Shoghi Effendi answered the call of Bahá’u’lláh. He got rid of this mortal life just when he felt that he accomplished his Ministry, and the greatest task for him was to fall to start the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh and the Universal House of Justice. Friends, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, I tell you, he would not have passed before he accomplished this assignment of God, as he would not have passed.

[1:00:27] So although we are heartbroken with the passing of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, and only time can remedy, but we have his guidance the same way with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Bahá’u’lláh, and the Báb. And the Universal House of Justice, that infallible body they quote all the time from his writings, the Guardian’s writing from the central figures of the Faith, so that he is with us always in spirit. Friends, he is now in the Abhá Kingdom and he’s my witness. If I feel any minute that he’s no longer with us, that would be the end of my life. We all feel his closeness to all of us so that we have his guidance. I don't know really how to start. I'm so excited. I was in 1957. The beloved Shoghi Effendi gave me an assignment to come to America and to visit the friends here, also in Central America. And I think that that was my assignment to be the convention in Panama for their National Spiritual Assembly. They had a regional national assembly that was split to different. And now they have in all Central America and South America I can’t tell you from memory how many, 21-27 National Spiritual Assemblies in the western place. That the beloved Shoghi Effendi, he was so happy when he mentioned that. There was something in his lips that I have repeated, repeatedly shared with friends, so that many friends, they know it from memory. And that was his beautiful work. You can memorize.[Persian?]. That means “Look and see. Behold the bounties of Bahá’u’lláh.” Once in a while, he said [Persian?]. What has happened in the world? He said, [Persian?]. See the bounties of Bahá’u’lláh.

[1:03:04] In all Central and South America and Latin America's, during the lifetime of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, there was only one pioneer, [?]. She passed on, but she was there at the dedication of the House of Worship in Panama. He mentioned that. He said, in all these Latin America, there is only one pioneer. And then he said, [Persian?]. Behold what has happened. And now, I don't know what would he say in the Abhá Kingdom, [Be-beneed]. What has Bahá’u’lláh done through the sacrifice of His beloved Guardian and the efforts of the beloved friends in all parts of the world? Well, I remember in Switzerland, I shared this with Mr. Litton who was a pioneer there, a wonderful lady. I think I should mention the name of some of the pioneers and the Hands and so forth. And she memorized this the moment she went to the presence of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, the moment she arrived with a gesture. He said to the beloved Shoghi Effendi [?]. The beloved Guardian smiled and said, “I know who told you.” [‘’laughter’’] I was in going back from America on this trip, this assignment that I had and I thought that I finished my assignment. It took a long time until we were there with the family. Well, my wife is here, the children. And I tell you, when I look at the beautiful faces of the [?] family, that we're going to America, we thought that many people, the friends, could go to all these conferences, but the beloved Shoghi Effendi advised that going on teaching trips had priority so that I wrote to the friends in Iraq and other places who were preparing to go to these conferences. And, of course, they stopped going and they started teaching. That was during the Naw-Rúz.

[1:05:46]And we had - we didn't know this - we had packed our suitcases to go and we said to the friends goodbye and we were going. When this message reached from the beloved Shoghi Effendi, that teaching before the friends had priority, so I mentioned to my wife and children that since this is the desire of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, we’d rather not go. We unpacked our suitcases. And then I had my assignment to go. The following day, the cable reached from the beloved Shoghi Effendi in which he said wife and children are permitted to accompany. Again, we made our suitcases and went to this trip, even he told us, he instructed me how long to stay in Beirut. For two weeks, he gave. And then he said two weeks in Beirut and just before he passed on, he gave me another assignment to go back to Beirut. Anyhow, we were in Switzerland on our way to Tehran. Everything was arranged. We had on the verge of going the cable reached from the beloved Shoghi Effendi in which he was so kind to tell me, now start to visit the friends in Scandinavian countries and [?] countries. Then we went to different direction. The children and [?], they went to Tehran, and I went to Europe and the Scandinavian countries. It was very close to the time to the passing of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. And he was so crying to be, had I not received that cable, I would have been deprived to be at his funeral in England. And he made my itinerary. Can you believe it? He gave me assignment to be at the dedication after [?] Baháʼí center in Luxembourg, which was just one day before his passing so I couldn't change. Even if I’d like to change it, I could not because it had to end there. And then in the cable, I have all these cables. He puts a stop, S-T-O-P, separates in which the Guardian said and visit Beirut and how to say and whom to meet and how to speak. Yes, in that cable, the beloved Shoghi Effendi says speak strongly. Well, I had that assignment which was fulfilled after the passing of the Guardian. The itinerary was made by him.

[1:09:11] When I was in Europe, I was so tired. I was, I looked miserable. The friends could not come to me. And I had a dream in Belgium that the Greatest Holy Name fell down on the floor, and the funeral of the beloved Shoghi Effendi I had in my dream. I couldn't understand. I thought that perhaps, I said, Samandari, who is loved by everybody, is going to pass. Then I didn't sleep during the night in the hotels. The neighboring rooms, they complained to the hotel manager and they asked him to change my room. I couldn't sleep. I cried until they found what was the [?], the passing of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. It was then that I was so grateful to him that because of his direction, I could be there at the funeral, at his funeral. Friends, yesterday, the beloved Hand of the Cause Mr. [?] told you about the Tablet of [Centenary?] of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. I was explaining to the friends that the style of his writing is unique. Who in the whole world could try to [?]? If you bring all the poets, the writers in Persia who are so proud of their literature, I tell you they cannot compose half a sentence that the Guardian wrote in Persia, in all of his messages. The Centenary Tablet, just like ‘’God Passes By’’, you know, English, the English style in ‘’God Passes By’’. One of the learned, one of the scholars of the Faith, [?], who is known to the Baháʼís of the world and the beloved Shoghi Effendi, I heard, I read somewhere, but I can't give you the reference. He called him the philosopher, the eastern philosopher of the Cause. He was very learned. He has written two books, six books just explaining every word of that Tablet of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, references way.

[1:12:05]We had another Baháʼí, [?] who was very learned and descendant of Sheikh [?]. This is the miracle of the Faith. Sheikh [?] , who was responsible for the exile of Bahá’u’lláh from Baghdad, the bitterest enemy of the Faith. From his family, his grandson became a wonderful Baháʼí [?] and a prominent Baháʼí teacher. And when he read this Tablet of the Guardian and the style, he cried and he said, “So far we knew the Guardian through the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. But from now on, I know him because of his writing.” Where did he learn his Persian and English and Arabic? He’d never been in Persia. I was telling the friends that in Baghdad, in [?] family who are now here, they had a beautiful mansion, very aristocratic. The great man would be prime minister of the country came to see them, and we were all sitting. He started. He had the whole meeting to him. He spoke about an hour or more. And then after he finished, he said, he asked [?], the head of this family, to introduce everyone. And when Mr. [?] started to introduce each one, it reached to a Baháʼí scholar, [?]. I think we should mention the name of these wonderful souls. He was secretary of the Muslim [?] in Old Arabia, that kind of scholar, his eloquence, his knowledge. And then when it reached to introduce him, Mr. [?] said, “This is [?].” And this man, this great person turned to Mr. [?] and said, “You have insulted me. Why didn't you say first that [?] is here? He’s the ocean of knowledge and in his presence, I should have kept silence. I should not have opened my lips.” That great man, when the tablet, these writings of the Guardian were chanted or he heard, he just became so humble. Tears ran on his face, and he said, “Where did the Guardian learn this Arabic?” The man who was well known in all Arabia now became a Baháʼí, and he was so impressed. That was in [?].

[1:15:08] We had a [?]. The nonBaháʼís custodian of the mosque of Sepahsālār, which is the greatest mosque in Tehran, the mosque and school. The Shah of Persia is custodian. He was acting for the Shah. I don't mention his name just in order to avoid anything for the family or if he's alive. He attended the presence of the Guardian, and coming back to Persia to Tehran, he sent a message to the National Assembly that he wanted to meet some of the Baháʼís just to express his gratitude to the beloved Shoghi Effendi that he had bounty to be in his presence. So he was invited, that great Mullah, well known. And when he came and the National Assembly arranged for a meeting, he discussed, he told us about the beloved Shoghi Effendi and he said, “I don't know where did he go learn Persian. He’d never been in Persia.” And he spoke about the gardens of the Holy Shrine of the Báb. He said if you employ 100 gardens, gardeners, they cannot make such a beautiful job that the beloved Shoghi Effendi has done only with two gardeners. This was amazing. And after this, he said, “I haven't heard any of the writings of the beloved Guardian. Have you any?” We had that Centenary Tablet. And when it was recited, it was chanted, he became so humble, this great Mullah, the greatest. And then he said, “Oh, God, my God. This is the style of ʿAlī, the Imam ʿAlī. I can’t see any difference.” And the words that he said, I put it down and it was mentioned to the Guardian, reported to him. He said, “The owner, the one who wrote these passages has [?], has innate knowledge from God.” That was his expression about the Guardian.

[1:17:33] Another one, the writer, newspaper man, in a meeting in the court of the Shah, the members were there, and some of the writers, some of the ministers in the Cabinet. The man came and they asked him to speak about his trip. He said the thing that I can share with you is that I've been in the presence of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. And then he said, “Just imagine Saadi.” Like Shakespeare to the British and English people. He said, “I just could see and you can see that Saadi was sitting there and speaking with that fellow [?].” That was his expression about the beloved Shoghi Effendi. And the Dean of the University of Literature in Parisian literature,again I don't mention his name, he announced in the university that if there was one person in the whole world to write good Persian, it’s Shoghi Effendi. Through his messages and through that knowledge that this Mullah said, the innate knowledge of the Guardian, we have all these writings of the Guardian, and the guidance until next manifestation of Bahá’u’lláh. Friends, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, I mentioned yesterday that he started, he started, yes, with the arc of God, A-R-C, round arc around the monument of the Greatest Holy Leaf and the monument gardens of the brother and mother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he prepared all the plans for the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. He started by the archives, and then he said the ark of God, A-R-K - that means Universal House of Justice - will be built around the A-R-C. The ark of God will be built around the A-R-C. And he started the first one, the archives. And then now we have the seat of Universal House of Justice and they are intending to have one for the teachers, the Institution of the Hands, the International Baha'i Teaching Center, and the rest of it. But he started with this, with the archives.

[1:20:30] And his beautiful way of expressing. He started by “M”. “M” in Arabic means the house or the place. He said, in future they'll go first to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. You see it started by “M”, the House of Worship, at the head of Universal-- at the head of [?] which you can see the obelisk. They pray-- no, first they go to [?], the dawning place of the light, the Shrine of the Báb. It starts by “M”. And then they go and pray in Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, the House of Worship. And then they come [?] the center's archives - again with “M” - to study the writings. And after doing all these things, they go to [?], to the seat of Universal House of Justice. Oh, the beautiful way the Guardian spoke about these things. This is what is happening in future, and now we can see most of it. He placed all the relics in this archives. Amongst them, a ring from [Quddus?], [Quddus?]. You remember, in Tabarsi? And the last letter of believing? That Bahá’u’lláh says the primary point is the Báb. The final point is [Quddus?]. The ring of [Quddus?] mounted on a silver ring which, as far as its value is concerned, is not very precious, but it's wrapped in a paper in which the father of the beloved Shoghi Effendi has written on such and such a time when the Guardian was a small child. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called me and said to me, “This is the ring of [Quddus?]. It’s very precious. You keep it and give to the apple of your eyes, Shoghi Effendi.” [‘’audio cuts off’’]

[1:22:50] The archives will be established. And all these things that now we have in the archive, just imagine if the whole world, the Christians had it just the cloth that Jesus Christ covered his head, what would they do? And now we have everything in original checked for us and for future. I think this, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, when he intended to appoint the Hands of the Cause, to my understanding because he felt that he was going and he wanted this institution that started by Bahá’u’lláh to take care of the integrity and unity of the Cause of God. And just in order to do that, the beloved Shoghi Effendi, five years before he passed on in 1952, he nominated and appointed the Hands of the Cause with this great responsibility and called them, called this institution as chief steward's after embryonic World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. Friends, just imagine embryonic that the Guardian mentioned, he could see. He created this embryonic, and then he left us so that he accomplished his test. He brought that body, infallible body in embryonic form and then he was assured, and he left behind such wonderful devoted Baháʼís all over the world with the institution of the Hands to be as chief steward's to take care and preserve the unity of the Cause. And I tell you, these wonderful souls, many of them in the Abhá Kingdom now. They enjoy the presence of their beloved Shoghi Effendi, in the presence of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Template:1:25:15 And inadequate we speak about the beloved Shoghi Effendi, I'm also inadequate to speak about these wonderful souls, the Hands, individual Hands who had such a great love for the beloved Shoghi Effendi, including those before them who were appointed by the beloved Shoghi Effendi posthumously. And the foremost amongst them is Martha Root, that the beloved Shoghi Effendi called her the apple of the eyes of the Baháʼís of the world. He said to me, he said, “Do you know - “ well, not exactly this term - “why she passed on in Honolulu?” She said because she was international Baháʼí teacher, and that was the will of Bahá’u’lláh that she should pass in Honolulu which is halfway between East and West. So everything has significance. Everything. And Dr. Esslemont, that we know about his writing, his book, what he did in the world and the rest of them. I think if I go through this, we need sessions after sessions to speak about each one of them. I mention the names and just a brief account of some of them. Dr. Esslemont, Keith Ransom-Kehler, that wonderful lady that the beloved Shoghi Effendi conferred upon her the rank of the Hand of the Cause also as a martyr, American Baháʼí martyr. You have two American, two western martyrs. The first one, Keith Ransom-Kehler, who was also a Hand, and May Maxwell, who passed on in Argentina. She was given, she had that rank too.

[1:27:30] And I was a close friend with Keith Ransom-Kehler. While she was in Tehran, I used to escort her and to take her to the market, to the bazaar. She impressed everybody. She impressed all the dignitaries in Persia. She came as ambassador on behalf of the National Assembly of America and Canada. At that time Canada and America had one National Assembly. And she tried, and she could obtain and remove the ban of the Baháʼí literature, but unfortunately the Minister of the Court was dismissed and it did not won. But she told me many times, she was, I remember all the time. Well, her spirit, also others, are with us. She was, she said to me, she said, “Darling, a time will come that you will remember me.” And she said, “At that time you'll be astonished how Bahá’u’lláh has chosen an old woman, weak and humble like me, to come and serve him and the Baháʼís of Persia.” The beloved Shoghi Effendi called her “essence of eloquence”, Keith Ransom-Kehler. Now she is in the Abhá Kingdom and prays for us. 'Abdu'l-Jalíl Bey Sa'ad in Egypt who wrote, translated Nabil’s Narrative in Arabic, such a style that a man in Persia who got Nobel Prize in Arabic. When he received a copy, he said, “This is a wonderful style in Arabic. I haven't seen like that.” And he was the judge in Egypt. He was exiled from Egypt because he wrote many articles about the Faith. I mentioned this wonderful man. Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí, who started the Faith in Burma and many of the translations we have from him. It was done by him, a wonderful man. Louis Gregory, that wonderful, wonderful man that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said he was a crystal. Ruhi has written so much about Louis Gregory and you study the details of his pyramid in Egypt, where he attended the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, also in this country. These are our examples. I don't say the example, but examples of devotion and love.

[1:30:45]Roy Wilhelm, such a wonderful man. Roy Wilhelm is so known. Roy Wilhelm who sent our beloved Baháʼí brother Curtis Kelsey to the Holy Land to extend the wires, all the wires and pump all these electrical facilities was done through him and through Roy Wilhelm. Sutherland Maxwell, the father of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, that after his passing, the beloved Shoghi Effendi said his robe was put on the shoulder of his daughter, Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Canadian. Amelia Collins, that one good man, that wonderful lady that the beloved Shoghi Effendi gave her residence in the house of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She was just, she had such a love for the Guardian. It's beyond my understanding. And the beloved Shoghi Effendi said as far as she lives in this world, she must be in the house of the Master. But after she passed on, this is not a place for anyone to reside. Amelia Collins. Dorothy Baker, that wonderful lady. Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá. I'm very happy that now Dorothy Baker’s daughter or granddaughter has written a book - granddaughter. Beautiful. I studied, I enjoyed very much this wonderful, wonderful lady that I met her in all over the world in India. The last night she was leaving, she and the pioneers came to the front. She called them. 19-I don't know-22. It's written there. She gathered them and came in front of them and said, “I don't have anything to offer to you but my life.” She offered her life to these pioneers.

[1:33:14] And the beloved Shoghi Effendi, in his messages, he says Mediterranean was blessed, the death of Mediterranean, with the body, with the remains of Dorothy Baker, and the shore, with the body of - can anyone help me? Who was the first pioneer of the Ten Year Crusade? That wonderful lady? Who? Well, you know, and I met her too in New York. And when I went to see, to meet him [‘’audience speaks’’] [?]? That’s right. [?]. And then we met. I went to see her and she was almost on the bed of death. They said nobody can see her. Well, when I went, they said, “All right, you come.” And when I went, I took her hand and I said, “Where are you going?” The National Spiritual Assembly of New York was preparing for her funeral. And she said, “Were you not there in the intercontinental conference where it was said that the women - that the elderly people can take their bones and bury in these cold countries. I'm taking my bones.” And she did. And the beloved Shoghi Effendi gave her such honor, mentioning her name and the sacrifice she made. And you know, this Dorothy Baker, that when I passed through Arabia, that wonderful, wonderful lady in Arabia was now living. I don't think that she doesn't mind if her name be mentioned. Mrs. [?] the wife of [?] who is wealthiest man in all of Arabia, and this lady embraced the Faith. She's very learned. Her articles in English and Arabic, she's, I would say, the first lady in all Arabia. And when she lost her daughter, who was in the same plane of Dorothy Baker, and Gloria Faizi, Mrs. Faizi went to express her sympathy. And when she saw that she was crying, she calmed her and said, “There is life after death. Don't cry so much.” And she said, “I believe because I had a dream that there was another lady in the plane who told me, ‘Don't cry, your daughter. I'm taking care of your daughter.’” And then Gloria said, “Do you know, the lady in that plane? Can you recognize her?” “Yes.” And when the putting up of Dorothy Baker was brought, she cried and she said, “This is the lady who’s taking care of my daughter.”

[1:36:35]Any time I go to Arabia, and I should not conceal it, that any time I feel I need spirit, I go to Arabia. I take the plane. without anyone knowing, going to Arabia. And [‘’audience question’’] Yes, she became Baháʼí after this, after her dream, and the family, the sun and other, they wanted to kill her. And she used to come to Baháʼí meetings with [?] on her face. Nobody to recognize her. The buildings, the luxury they have, it's just like the emperors of France, Louis. What do you say about the French and everything they had? [?]. And then her husband intervened and said to the children, “I'll take care of her. Don't worry.” And she’s now, she goes to the Baháʼí conferences. If someone encouraged her, she would have been here now. [‘’laughter’’] Yes, she would. She went to all these conferences. And the husband, also is in favor of the Faith although he doesn't– and any time we go there, she invites us. She knows everything about the Faith, and the husband was so nice during the fasting long of, Baháʼí fasting month. It’s such a fanatic country. She said right before sunrise, her husband came and said, “Come on, this is the time of fasting.” [‘’laughter’’] It seems it was, it coincided with the day that we should not fast, but the husband is taking care of her. She's a wonderful, wonderful lady.

[1:38:43] And last time that we were there– [‘’to audience’’] come on. Come here. Come on. No, no, come here. Come on. [‘’audience speaking’’]. Why don't you say [?]? You announce it. [‘’laughter’’] This lady. Of course, her husband is the wealthiest, but she is so honest. She wouldn't spend from her husband. Mr. Varqá, the Hand of the Cause, the trustee of Ḥuqú, now he says that this lady is offering Ḥuqúqu'lláh to the fund. These are the Americans of Bahá’u’lláh. And last time that we were there, she was so happy. She said that her husband has invited us to his palace. He avoided– he just was kind, but never invited us. But this time he invited us, and we went to his palace. And the moment I wanted to come, he rushed to take my coat, which in eastern countries, you see, they don't do that. It's the greatest honor they give if they do to someone. And he said, “No, I must take your coat.” And he helped me. He asked [?] to take what he also has. And these are, well, the credit due to the spirit, the wonderful spirit of Dorothy Baker, who is now taking care of the daughter of [name]. And, the name of Mother True, who is so known to all of us. Mother True, who was responsible, whose efforts, whose devotion, love created and that was for this House of Worship, the mother temple of the Faith. She is called Mother True. And I should say she was mother of the mother temple of the Baháʼí world, Mother Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.

[1:41:20] Horace Holly, that wonderful person. Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá. So eloquent, so well-known, the one who wrote to the beloved Shoghi Effendi, and Administrative World Order is, we are indebted to him with his writings to the beloved Guardian and the beloved Shoghi Effendi approved or made corrections, and now we have Administrative World Order. He had such a sense of humor, beautiful. I haven't seen in the whole world one to have that kind of, what did I say? I forgot. [‘’laughter’’] The sense of humor. You must remind me. The sense of humor. He had a beautiful sense of humor, but he never smiled. He said it. [‘’laughter’’] And you know, I had that experience that now God's, through God's mercy, we have our suitcases last night. And I used to take my suitcases with me and small, what, bag with me for the things that I needed at once. And because of the problems and difficulties we had at the frontiers, I used to put my suitcases at the customs house and just to get the necessary things that I needed, such as razor and other things to that conference and coming back. But Horace Holly had to carry many suitcases. I approached him. I said, “Horace, this is my habit. I put my suitcases here at the airport and I take just a small bag.” And he looked at me and said, “And then why do you take it?” [‘’laughter’’] He has such a sense of humor. And when the beloved Shoghi Effendi in Indian Conference, in Intercontinental Conference in New Delhi, he gave assignment that each hand where to go, he assigned some to go to Japan. I was given that assignment to Japan, and Far East to everyone. And when it was announced, he came to me and said, “I don't know where I can hide myself that the Guardian would not find me.” [‘’laughter’’] And then he said, “I bet you if I go ahead, the Guardian would give me some jobs there to do.” He was a wonderful man. That was Horace Holly.

[1:44:25] Mr. Varqá, I mentioned, the father of our beloved Hand here. Valíyu'lláh Varqá, who was one of entourage of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. And the beloved Shoghi Effendi said to me, “Write to him.” And he said, “And appreciate his services. He, in the company of Hands, he is outstanding chosen.” Mr. Varqá. George Hansen, oh, that wonderful person. That wonderful person, that the Cause of God has not produced so far a man like him, that the beloved Shoghi Effendi says the best writer we have in the Cause, the best scholar we had in Persia is [name], and the best one in the west is George Hansen. To me, he had the greatest honor the Guardian showered upon him, asking him to write preface for the ‘’God Passes By’’ and for ‘’Hidden Words’’. Nobody has been given that task, you know, because ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said His writings and the writings of Bahá’u’lláh should not be compiled in one volume. Who are we to appreciate and write– preface?. What did I say? [‘’audience answers’’] Whatever you say. [‘’laughter’’] Preface. Who has that? Yet the beloved Shoghi Effendi chose him amongst all the Baháʼís to do that job. I had the honor to be at his grave in England and I tell you, when you go to his grave, there is a small chapel and the sign, it is as if the Greatest Holy Name. It's not that, but just exactly the way it's there on the top of that chapel. And the stone on his grave - well, it's just a phrase from the Bible: “I saw the new heaven and the new earth.” The new heaven and the new earth on his grave, because they didn't accept anything from writings, but this was perfect.

[1:47:10] Fred Schopflocher. Again, Canadian. That wonderful man, this great man. I met him in Chicago at the Intercontinental Conference, and I heard that there was a time that the House of Worship, the building was stopped because of lack of money. And he was in the presence of the Guardian. In the presence of the beloved Shoghi Effendi, he offered $100,000 at that time that the building be continued, and that brought tears to the eyes of the beloved Shoghi Effendi. And we were sitting together, and when I mentioned to him, he just pressed my hand and changed the subject. He didn't want that to be mentioned. These are our heroes and heroines. These are the treasures of the Cause in this Revelation, just igniting “Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá”. Can any of the past religions show such devotion from, shown by anyone of these wonderful souls? You know, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá coming to Canada to the Notre-Dame in Montreal, he entered with some of the entourage with him and with the palms and all these things in that church [name], halfway, he didn't enter. And he said, he said, “Look, all these palms and majesties that has now offered to Jesus Christ is the fruit of 11 disciples of Christ.” And then he said, “And the chief disciple of Christ denied him three times.” And then he turned to these entourages with him, he said, “See, what will happen? [Be-beeneed] [‘’Persian’’] Behold what will happen in future, with these wonderful devoted souls in the Cause that you can't compare-” well ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, addressing the Baháʼí of the west, he says, “O ye Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh!” Do you remember that passage? He addresses you, all American, Canadian Baháʼís? “O ye Apostles of Baháʼu'lláh! May my life be sacrificed for you!”

[1:49:55]Just imagine the apostles of Baháʼu'lláh that now, again, I recall, I remember the Hand of the Cause, Ṭaráẓu’lláh Samandarí, that wonderful person who came to this country and he wanted to go and visit the friends. The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States sent Evans Liston [ph], that wonderful man, am I right? He was a minister, and he went to prepare the way for Mr. Samandari to go for the publicity. And somewhere in Boston, he prepared the way and a man, a great priest, who has God-knows-how-many-thousand followers, he came to him - Mr. Samandari was sitting - and knelt before him and asked Mr. Samandari to bless him. Mr. Samandari just put his hand over the head of this man, and the moment the man was satisfied and sat down, then Mr. Samandari rose and went to him. And he said, “Now, you must bless me.” [‘’laughter’’] And then on his way, he went on all these [?] until he reached California, in Los Angeles. He was sick. He was in bed. He could not speak, so the physician said nobody should go to him. If anyone wants to see him, just see his son. A man from the press that it was worldwide and it came in all papers went there and he said, “No, I want to see the man whose eyes gazed upon the countenance of Bahá’u’lláh. Just I want to sit beside him.” And he sat and asked a question. Samandari with fever, the fever, he just got up. Do you remember his [?]? And answered the question and went back again to bed. And then this man said to Mrs. Samandari, he said, “I cannot praise you. The only thing I can say, you are like Peter.” And he said, “With one difference, Peter met the son, but I had the bounty to be in the presence of the father.” And that came in all papers. The moment I read, I took the telephone. I said, “Mr. Samandari, you said something that in future it must be written by gold and diamond.” But he said he forgot to write the rest of it. I said, “Although that was my bounty, I do not deserve to unlace the boot of Peter.”

[1:53:08] Well, you tell me any time my time is up. [‘’laughter’’] Is it finished? I look at your writings, then it seems that [‘’laughter’’]. Friends, well, in Persian sometimes just one word and one point, one sentence would do the purpose. And at this moment, I would say that, and with the Persians, they have this habit. When you say a verse from the [points?] or from the writings, that ends the discussion. And now I would say, [?]. That means the meeting is adjourned, and my life is the end. This is the end of my life, but we are still in the beginning of thy place. O, beloved Shoghi Effendi, I leave this half the way, but I address him. We are just in the beginning of his praise, and he’s no longer with us although he's always with us. Thank you. [‘’applause’’]

[] How does one thank a Hand of the Cause for sharing such treasures, such precious treasures, such personal reminiscences which no one else could share with us. Thank you for being you. [‘’applause’’]