Transcript:Enoch Olinga/Closing the youth conference in Plön, Germany
| Transcript of: Remarks at the close of the youth conference in Plön, Germany (August 1972) by |
| Abu'l-Qasim Faizi and Adelbert Mühlschlegel also spoke at the close of this conference.Download: mp3, Source: © Gregory C. Dahl |
[0:00]Alláh-u-Abhá beloved friends and co-workers. Before I say a few words, I'd like to propose one thing. First of all I must thank Adelbert and Faizi for what they have kindly and lovingly told us. Beloved Faizi has said that the Master said there were four types of people Bahá’u’lláh loved. And he has told us three. And he has forgotten the fourth one. But I think I have remembered the fourth one. The fourth type is the one that acts like Mr. Faizi does. Now both of these beloved friends, as you know, sick, not well physically. I'm not suggesting that Olinga is a healthy man either. But the presence of dear Adelbert and beloved Faizi is a proof of what faith can do.
[2:41]When the conference opened, I mentioned the fact that the Hand of the Cause, Faizi, was in Padua resting and he was not quite well at the time. I also said the Universal House of Justice, the Supreme Body of the Cause of God, was praying for Mr. Faizi. And they had cabled, suggesting that he remain resting instead of coming to the conference here in Plön. It was not an order, it was a suggestion and it was left to Mr. Faizi to decide what to do under the circumstances. But I know what Mr. Faizi said in Padua when I was still in Padua. He said, "I would rather die at the Plön conference than not being there." And so, with your prayers and with the prayers of the Supreme Body of the Cause of God, Mr. Faizi made a very strong resolution, determination to come here, and he's with us. So the fourth type of person that Bahá’u’lláh loved is that person that forgets entirely his or her shortcomings, frailties, weaknesses and relies on the power of the Cause and on the power of Bahá’u’lláh. And be willing, indeed ready to die in the service of the Cause of God. Be like Faizi.
[side remark] You look very sad. Are you happy?
[6:32]I'm going to say what I said I would say. It has already been mentioned. We owe very much to the members of the august institution of the Continental Board of Counselors with this conference. We cannot thank them enough. We cannot thank Bahá’u’lláh enough for the conference, the bounties and blessings that have descended from the kingdom of Bahá’u’lláh. But I think you all know that in Europe, we have five counselors that [are] members of the Continental Board of Counselors for the continent of Europe, five in number. Although you know them by name, I would like to ask you to bear with me as I repeat the names again. One of them is not with us at the present time, he is in Belgium. But here we have Mrs. Betty Reed, right there.
[to the translator] Do you want to translate that to German?
[9:05]Mrs. Reed lives in Scotland, in England, in Scotland, not England. Probably would have said British Isles. And we are most grateful to Bahá’u’lláh for her loving presence here. She is, as you can see, very energetic, very spiritual, and very dynamic. Next to Betty Reed, we have the charming and handsome, Eric Blumenthal. Ever smiling. And one thing I know is he is the essence of sacrifice. Sacrifice. What I mean to say is: he suffers a lot and he sacrificed himself, especially when he's with Enoch Olinga, because I always pinch his beautiful cheeks.
[to the audience] Is Marion here?
[11:20]But I'm not proposing or suggesting that all of you should come and pitch his cheeks. But I'm very sure that they're very pinchable. Our dear Eric lives here in Germany. And he's the president of the Association of Psychologists in Europe. If not, at least he is our beloved Counselor, I know that much. Eric, are you happy?
[12:48]And next, we have beloved Dorothy. Is she here? She's gone this morning. That's right. But Mr. Faizi says she probably ran away because she was afraid I'd pinch her cheeks. But I'm not sure I would do that. But wherever she is, Dorothy is a beautiful, loving, dedicated, and wonderful soul that we have in the Cause of God. She is known as the grandmother of the African Baha'is. She lives in Cambridge, in England. And she has gone this morning, and I'm sure she would like me to bring her love and greetings to you.
[14:19]And we have the fourth one Mr. Louis Henuzet, who lives in Brussels, in Belgium. Another very intelligent, very spiritual, and very dynamic Baha'i. He was present at the Padua conference and I'm sorry, could not come, going to some other plans. There's no doubt that although he was not here in person, Louis Henuzet has been with us throughout this conference in spirit, and laughing with us and singing with us. I was going to say crying, but I don't think we're quite crying, crying with us. We shall unite in sending our love and greetings to him and his family. You agree?
[16:05]And then, I don't know. The fifth one is of course, the first one also, is at the area. And now Annalise is off and dismissed. Really friends, words fail me. I cannot find the suitable words that can portray the feelings of all of us, of all the counselors in the Hands of the Cause here for the services that Annalise Bopp has rendered, both before and during the conference and always as a Baha'i. I remember the spiritual moments which Annalise Bopp and I used to have together in the Shrine of the Báb dressing the threshold, putting flowers there. She's always our translator, anyway. The translator. She's wonderful. She's devoted, spiritual any adjective that you can think of, really, is not able to describe the feelings that I have when I talk about Annalise Bopp for the services that she's rendered. So anyway, the fifth counselor here is Annalise Bopp.
[Prayer]
[20:14]So we always remain thankful and grateful to Bahá’u’lláh for this conference, and for the services of the beloved counselors in Europe. Now this conference is drawing to a close. And now we are going to part. But this parting is of the bodies only. In spirit and love, we're always together. Baha'is never part. It is our hope that through His grace and providence, we shall always remain calm and steadfast in the covenant and try to do as much as we can to win the goals of the plan, thereby, delight the hearts of the members of the universal House of Justice and win the pleasure and the favors of our Lord Bahá’u’lláh. I hope that you will continue to work in teams and in groups. Bahá’u’lláh loves those who work in groups. Working together in love, in fellowship, in unity - that is good for you. It's good for us all. It's good for the world. It's good for the cause of God. And I hope that you will continue to encourage each other constantly. Desiring only that which will promote the best interests of the cause and of humanity. In a few days time, Elizabeth and I will be in the Holy Land. God willing. And it will be a source of joy and delight for us to share our experiences in Europe with the supreme body of the cause of God House of Justice. They will ask us many questions. And I hope that we shall be able to answer them all. They would like to know how you were and whether you're well, happy, and so on. And then we shall join them in praying for you and for your success here in your Europe. As this is our last public activity as Baha'is in Europe, I would like. on behalf of Elizabeth and myself, to express joy on gratitude for everything you have done during our stay in Europe. And we shall also remember you, your hospitality, your kindnesses. And we shall give you love and greetings to all the friends in Persia and in Africa. May Bahá’u’lláh confirm all your efforts and bless them with success. Alláh-u-Abhá.
