Transcript of: Interviewed about the Guardian
Jessie Revell
1958
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Jesse. How long has it been since you've been in the United States? Well, it's been over seven years since I've been back here 1951 January when it first, when I left the hyper on that there was quite a mysterious because he had had the cable rent them from The Guardian, which was sent to the National Special Assembly, which stated to appreciate, extend financial assistance. Belt just come hyper required a service. And when we received a cable message, we were just so shocked I couldn't take it. And we didn't think it could be, too. So we didn't do anything much about it for a week, thinking it might be mistaken. That would turn up such but after week waiting like that, Another cable came from the Guardian directly to us, which stated, Develops is welcome. Your presence, hikers. So then we knew it was a mistake. We got busy and they came quickly, and we've been hyper these over seven years, and now I'm here because the gun. In about 10 days before he passed on, when he was in England, he wrote a letter to his life of Khanum to me and he said that that Ethel and I had not attended any of the 1953 conferences. He wished that both of us would attend one this year and I was to come to America and he has to go to Frankfurt in July. But that's why I'm here. That's wonderful. Can you tell us something about the work and the activity of the Guardian? Since you've been so close to the Guardian for the past seven years, Guardian let a very strenuous life. He would get up in the morning quite early and take care of his correspondence. Cables on his desk work on be busy, Clayton most of the morning, and then he would go in the afternoon up to the shrine and meet the children from the east and walk with them and have tea with them and talk with them. And then after that, he would come down. These were the men problems he would meet up near the shrine. Then he would come down to the half and he would meet with Lady Oriental Pilgrim and in the drawing room and welcome them and encourage them. And then he would hurt. Go upstairs and take care for more cables and business. And then he become overto number 10 Persian Fleet, the Western Problem House, and have dinner with the program's there and the highs and answer their questions and sometimes to be very, very tired. And then he was ready to go home. I don't know, but he went to care whether he's still works more. After he went home, it is said that he offer worked on the garden as well as doing so much administrative and legal work. He said he did, and he saved much money by standing there on his feet for hours at a time, supervising the work of the guidance around the archives building and over also over and badly he would sometimes go over there and maybe spend a night or maybe come back the same day. But he said quite a bit of money to his own personal interest and watching after things. He was quite a businessman as well as spiritual leader and a little straighter in every way, and people that when they come to the shine and by the way, go. About two weeks ago of 1800 people visited the shine from 9 to 12 and they come from all parts of the world from every country. And they're so over that they get a spirit from the shrine that can't be put into words. But often people will say, Who's your landscape architect? So you think he was wonder laid out all the garden there. Speaking of people coming to see the guardians and the garden on the shrines, what do the Israelis and the Israeli government think of the behind? And what did they think of the guardian? Well, they respected and revered him very, very deeply. And all of the head of the government sent the messages at the town, was passing very tender messages. And, as you probably know, the president and his right gold on The Guardian and the Guardian under here. Khanum took them up to visit the shrine, and the president himself took off his shoes and went in very reverently and pay hommage to the Bob Shrine, then came back and had tea with the Guardian. The Iqan Um but they think very much of the by activities there, and that's it very surprising to them. And they come and visit the people. I mean, the general public. Come on. We don't take anything from them. That's a very great telling point when we say they offer us money because they come in to visit and every other place when they go in, they have to pay something. But the by activities is nothing. And we tell me, have no paid teachers. Andi don't even take money from, uh from anybody except members of the face. Their very astonished. That's a very, very telling point for the by faith. What brought the greatest happiness Tow the Guardian? Well, of course, you know, the teaching activity was very dear to his heart and particularly the teaching in in Africa. His face always bean with happiness when he talked about the activities there on the rapid progress of the work there and how Mr Ba nanny and his some of his family went there and they demonstrated to the natives there say they lived for them. They slept with them. They live talker than they did everything with them. So much so that they touched the native, trusted them completely, and they walked right into their hearts. And so then they were able to take them and and do the wonderful things they did do. But the guy in praise Mr Bennani, always up to the skies for his activity, for leaving his home, for going there, establishing himself there and really conquering this continent. It is reported that the Guardian would feel ill at times because of the apathy and sometimes that this unity amongst the fan, especially in America. Yes, I'm sad to say he did, and he felt that the American dies. Perhaps we're reflecting the materialistic atmosphere in American, which he didn't want them to do, and often he would say they should take the teachings. They should study them not just in summer school, but take them to their homes in their private rooms and studies and get close to Baha'i and not to reflect the material nature of the world today. Because buys a different, they must be distinctive. They must stand out of different from other people and not make any comparison with other people because they are not like other people. Or at least they shouldn't be
