# Pilgrims Notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Marguerite R. Sears, Pilgrims Notes, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Pilgrims Notes
> 
> Marguerite R. Sears
> 
> 1953
> 
> Whatever affects the policy of the nation in relation to other nations is
> controversial and should not be considered in any way by Bahá'ís. Take no
> sides, keep away from party politics and all inter-governmental policies.
> We are no party; we promote the policy of no government. We are God's
> party. We promote God's policy which is above human politics. The Cause
> is supra-national and because it is Divine in origin - not political and
> not partisan. We must not be ashamed or afraid to state this. Bahá'ís
> must always be ready to clarify their position. To know and to teach.
> The more confused the state of the world, the more we must clarify our
> position. This is the only way to protect ourselves and the Faith. It is
> more important than giving the teachings to give our world views and the
> Administrative world Policy of God's Cause.
> 
> Communism is a political issue but we must be careful not to denounce it.
> Abdu'l-Bahá denounced communism in a way so as not to hurt. We denounce
> both Communism and Capitalism in principle. Communism, racialism,
> materialism, capitalism as we see them today in their extreme forms. They
> stress unduly the welfare of mankind.
> 
> Anything carried to the extreme is detrimental.
> 
> Anything that affects the policy of the nation in its relation to other
> nations is political. Anything that affects the policy of the nation,
> issues that are the cause of controversy between nations we must avoid
> such issues. Express no views. Bahá'ís may express views about the
> United Nations because it is not related to the policy of one government
> against another, but anything that is related to a number of nations, two
> or more, Bahá'ís must not take sides; must not blame, must not criticize,
> must not give advice, suggest anything to any government or any
> representative of any government but must be loyal. The Marshall Plan and
> the Point Four program are political issues. Bahá'ís must keep away.
> Bahá'ís must keep away from anything controversial between nations. In
> the first place they cannot influence and they are not strong enough to
> help. Secondly they will endanger other Bahá'ís by their actions. Third,
> they will alienate other governments; they will please their own but will
> alienate other governments. Fourth, we are only too anxious to serve
> administratively. Not only willing but anxious to receive such posts but
> we must be on our guard. Some posts are outwardly administrative but
> inwardly political. Politics are much too corrupt. Bahá'ís by their
> participation will get corrupted themselves if they participate. It is
> too strong a current to withstand.
> 
> In matters intergovermental of inter-state take no sides, belong to no
> party. We are God's party and promote God's policy which is above human
> politics. Not opposed but above. We must proclaim this to the world. It
> is the only way to safe-guard the Faith. It is much more important to
> safe-guard the unity of the Faith than to propagate it. We do not
> identify ourselves with any system because all systems contain elements
> that irreconcilable with our teachings. The sooner the Americans know
> this the better.
> 
> We require the goodwill of the authorities in every country in which we
> work. Say nothing against or for Communism or Democracy. The British say
> "State First" EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY. Bahá'ís must not think of the
> principle itself. In all countries they sacrifice principle in order to
> safe-guard the interests of the state. Our conduct is fundamentally
> different. With Bahá'ís principle is first.
> 
> In the U.N. if each thought of principle they would all agree but they
> all think of country first. Their idea is to let the world suffer if
> "our" nation is safe. This is fundamentally different, and un-Bahá'í.
> Bahá'ís say if necessary let our own country suffer for the sake of the
> condition of the world. Like a doctor he does not think of limbs of the
> body. Proof of this, if an organ, hand or foot affects the body the
> surgeon amputates it. He thinks of the body first whereas politicians
> each think of one of the organs. They prefer that the whole body should
> suffer and that the particular part should remain.
> 
> Bahá'ís should have the concern of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh as a whole.
> If necessary the local or national community should be sacrificed in order
> to safe-guard the Faith. Bahá'ís will sacrifice their own country for the
> sake of the world. We believe that truth, honesty, justice must always be
> our watchword in everything that we do whether in promoting the interests
> of the faith or the interests of the country. We can disassociate a
> particular country from these principles but we cannot disassociate the
> Faith from these principles. For the sake of argument, if possible,
> sacrifice the Faith and maintain principle. The Cause is the servant of
> Justice, truth - BAHA'U'LLAH HAS COME TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE, NOT TO
> ESTABLISH HIS CAUSE. These principles are the purpose of the Revelation
> of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh. Missionaries are different; will lie, depart
> from moral principles, ethical principles, if necessary, in order to gain
> converts. We must not that. IT IS BETTER FOR THE CAUSE not to progress
> rather than for us to depart from these principles because the Cause is
> for these principles. We must make our position quite clear to ruling
> authorities so there can be no misunderstanding. If they ask questions we
> must give clear answers that will not be misinterpreted. We will obey the
> State provided it does not require us to depart from our principles. Our
> principles are more precious than obedience to state. We must be loyal to
> every established form of government. If it is in a revolutionary form
> then we must wait until it is established.
> 
> We need scholars in the Faith. I need to condense so much due to lack of
> time and so much to say. Every Bahá'í should have picked out the seven
> points ("Advent of Divine Justice" p. 12) of the progress of the Faith and
> know them. We need to pray, meditate, study and act more. The seven
> stages which we should know are:
> 
> 1) Obscurity - ignoring of the Faith as in Italy, in the goal
> countries of Europe. The Cause is passing through various stages in
> different countries. In Europe it is mostly in obscurity.
> 
> 2) Repression - persecution. Persia, of course, has been in that stage
> over 100 years. Regarding marriage in Spain they have to do as in Egypt.
> Get married according to the Bahá'í ceremony. The marriage is not
> recognized by the State and their children are considered illegitimate but
> the Bahá'ís do not mind. They have been obedient.
> 
> 3) Emancipation - Egypt has reached this stage in part in that they are
> free from fetters of the religious leaders. The clergy has recognized
> them as an independent religion but the State has not.
> 
> 4) Recognition - This stage has been attained, not by Persia, not by the
> ten goal countries, but by America and Israel.
> 
> 5) Establishment - No community has reached this stage. In the strict
> sense it means one Faith. Not only equal status to other religions but to
> become the state religion of a country as Islam in Persia; and the
> Anglican Church in England. We are bound to reach that stage when any one
> country gives the Faith the same status as other religions. Persia may
> jump to 5 because of its number.
> 
> 6) Sovereignty or Bahá'í government when all political matters will be
> referred to the House of Justice. When the Faith will reign, not only be
> established, but reign, when the Bahá'í State is established. When the
> Faith will cease to be a religion of the State but will become itself the
> State. The State Church not the Church State. This will be when the
> Government proclaims the religion to be the Bahá'í Faith - not that only,
> but the institutions of the Cause will assume functions of Government.
> 
> 7) World Commonwealth - When a number of governments will join together
> and form a super Bahá'í Government - a commonwealth. The National
> Spiritual Assemblies will become the National Federal Governments. We
> must refer only to the first four points in the stages of development when
> we speak publicly for the time being and use wisdom in discussing these
> stages among non-Bahá'ís.
> 
> In the Tablet of the Holy Mariner, the Holy Mariner means Bahá'u'lláh
> through allusion. The Ark of the Faith itself. The Tablet predicts
> problems and difficulties which happened at Adrianople and Acca. The
> burning meteor is a symbol of God's avenging wrath.
> 
> In the Tablet of Carmel (Gleanings p 14, 15, 16, & 17) the "Ark" referred
> to is not the Ark of the Faith, it is the Ark of the laws of the Faith. It
> refers to the establishment of the Universal House of Justice. The
> "People" of Bahá'í are the members of the Universal House of Justice. The
> House of Justice directs the Ark; the Ark of the laws of God will sail on
> Mount Carmel.
> 
> A Hand is one who serves the Cause in an outstanding manner. The American
> Hands were appointed: Leroy for services rendered during the first seven
> year plan, Dorothy for her teaching ability, Millie and Fred for their
> great financial contributions during times of greatest need. They upheld
> the Faith. Roy was a saint, Sutherland for the Shrine of the Bab, Horace
> for his services in the Administration, Mrs. True for her Temple Service,
> Mason for continued service over a long time and for visiting all
> countries for the Faith.
> 
> In the future outstanding scientists, writers, leaders in their fields,
> will immediately become Hands as soon as they become Bahá'ís. It does not
> necessarily mean that they are greater spiritually, but they must become
> so.
> 
> We must teach laws as well as principles. All people appreciate the
> principles but the laws are challenging. Alcohol abstinence, and
> monogamy will be difficult for Africans to accept at first. Monogamy is
> the rule. Bahá'u'lláh said monogamy was recommended, Abdul-Baha said
> there must be justice and made monogamy the rule. In Africa of a
> polygamist becomes a Bahá'í he must not divorce all but one wife, but
> after becoming a Bahá'í he must not take another wife. If he takes
> another, this one will be the reason for his breaking the law and this one
> must be divorced. All must be acquainted with the laws but if they are
> broken the offender must be 1. admonished, 2. warned, 3.warned, 4. warned,
> 5. then his voting rights taken away. We must be certain in the first
> place that he is acquainted with the laws.
> 
> We must first attract, then educate in the principles and the laws.
> 
> We have principles, laws and institutions. The Christians have principles
> but no laws. The Moslems have principles and laws but no institutions.
> The Bahá'í Faith has all three. We have a definite statement regarding
> successions, this is unique.
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh insists on Justice. Justice must be administered by
> Assemblies. The Most Great Peace will be the result of the Most Great
> Justice. This will safeguard the unity of mankind. Bahá'ís should be
> guided by Justice not by mercy, love or forgiveness in Assembly work.
> Bahá'u'lláh said, "I personally would be inclined to forgive my enemies,
> but I am restrained by the law of God. Individuals may forgive,
> Assemblies must be very strict regarding justice.
> 
> The House of Justice, or Assembly, must administer justice. This is the
> beginning of the State Church. We must start now to act as such - to be
> prepared for the future.
> 
> There are many differences between the Pope and the Guardian. The Hands
> will be somewhat similar to the House of Cardinals. The Pope has
> legislative and interpretive authority. The Guardian has no legislative
> but interpretive. The legislation is by elected bodies in the Faith. The
> Interpretive and legislative are separate in the Faith. This is unique
> and one of the distinguishing features of the Faith. Teachers must teach
> this. This Faith is for the maturity of mankind.
> 
> We must develop local, regional and sectional NSAs. Each country in
> Africa will have an NSA eventually. There will be 60 NSA's in Africa.
> 
> Pioneers must deepen, widen activities, and scatter. They must teach the
> natives of the countries so thoroughly that they may administer for
> themselves and then go to a new place. Pioneers must safeguard the Faith
> by teaching thoroughly, increasing the numbers, multiplying the centers
> and keeping in touch with their National Assemblies and committees. The
> Administration of the Faith applied in Africa will be an object lesson to
> the British authorities. It will open their eyes, attract them and then
> alarm them.
> 
> We must become scholars of the Faith like the Germans. They are the
> scholars. It is not enough to read the writings or to study at the Summer
> Schools. We must study daily so as not to have just a superficial
> knowledge of the Faith. The Summer Schools should have lectures and
> discussions but they must have studied to be able to discuss. We need
> scholars of the Faith. The German people should be our example. Bahá'ís
> should, for instance, be able to differentiate between Dispensation, Era,
> Epoch and Cycle. Bahá'ís who know these things and can discuss them
> intelligently.
> 
> Peter was the true head of Christianity not Paul Christians have to come
> to this understanding. Ali was the true head of the Moslem Faith and the
> First Imam, not the Caliphs. The Caliphs put Ali fourth but He was the
> first Imam. Shiah Islam is the closet to the truth not Sunni. The Sunni
> Muhammadens have to become Shiah to become Bahá'í just as the Protestants
> have to accept Peter as the true head of Christianity before knowing the
> truth of Christianity.
> 
> The year 9 should be stressed this year, stressed and stressed. We should
> be meditating and thinking of the fate of Bahá'u'lláh in the Siyah-Chal.
> We have to know about it to think about it. We should study about it in
> "God Passes By", "The Epistle," Nabil's narrative, "Some Answered
> Questions" and the "Iqan".
> 
> We must know our basic books thoroughly, not superficially, reading them
> and considering them studied. Everyone should know thoroughly the New
> Era, Some Answered Questions, Iqan, Epistle and Gleanings.
> 
> We should know the significance of the year 9. The prophecy in the Bible
> of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Woes. Bahá'u'lláh kept His mission a secret for
> ten years. During that time He wrote poetry alluding to His mission.
> There are many odes in Persian and Arabic which have not yet been
> translated. Nabil refers to the Odes. "The Sweet Scented Streams", was
> revealed in Kurdistan.
> 
> The Luminous Maiden (p. 101 "God Passes By") the symbol of Religion in the
> highest form, to Moses it was the burning bush, Christ the Dove and the
> Angel Gabriel to Muhammad.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi referred to the cable sent to America which appeared in the
> Bahá'í News where he likened the "Tree" to an "Olive Tree". He said the
> tree of 6000 years started with Adam, the last of Many Adams, it grew in
> Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. The tree, like an olive tree, yielded
> its fruit in the Bab, in His martyrdom it was crushed by the mill of
> adversity. The oil from this crushed fruit made the light which appeared
> 10 years later in the Siyah-Chal. It ignited in a flicker in the darkest
> dungeon, it was clouded over for 10 years and when it reached the land of
> mystery, Adrianople, it became more radiant, it became a crystal. For 40
> years it only showed its light in ten countries. After that it spread to
> the west. (See Chapter on Birth of the Bahá'í Revelation in "God Passes
> By").
> 
> The growth of the Cause was by diffusion, Machinery and will be suffusion.
> This, he said, must be taught in the summer Schools. The Machinery will
> continue throughout the formative years after the 10-year crusade.
> 
> This began with Adam and ends with the Golden Age. There will be great
> reaction in favor of the Faith and great destruction but we are not
> concerned with the catastrophe but only with the 10-year crusade. He
> emphasized the necessity of teaching about the Birth and Growth of the
> Faith now and understanding and teaching of the significance of the year
> 9. He told us that when Ruhiyyih Khanum read this at the Dedication of
> the Temple it would be the most solemn moment of the entire time. We are
> celebrating the birth of the Light of God. We are not only to charm the
> Bahá'ís by speaking of this, but to convince the non-Bahá'ís with the
> explanation of the year 9.
> 
> The Spirit of the Cause is not enough, we need the institutions. The
> institutions are the embodiments of the spirit of the Cause, the channel
> through which the spirit of the Cause flows. Any idea, any work, of
> education, religion, social life, will never be effective in the world
> unless it is translated into an institution. For example, education; it
> will never have its influence felt on society unless the idea of education
> is incarnated in an institution or college. So with everything else. An
> ideal must be translated into an institution, and the Bahá'í Faith which
> is primarily a powerful spirit in the world must be embodied in an
> institution, incorporate itself in an institution if it is to exert its
> power in the world. We must recognize the station of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh
> and the Master and at the same time recognize the necessity of
> institutions through which the spirit of these three central figures is
> flowing - guiding, preserving, promoting.
> 
> These institutions have not been established by us, they have been
> established by the Founder of the Faith Himself. That is why they are
> essentially different from the Christian Church, because we have
> institutions and they have institutions - we call it "Spiritual Assembly",
> they call it "Church". If they say you are doing the same thing we are
> doing, you say, "yours was man made - ours was Divinely appointed". Not
> established, by the Master in the will nor appointed by the Bab, but
> provided for and established by Bahá'u'lláh in the Most Holy Book - the
> Book of Laws. This is the fundamental difference between our institutions
> and the institutions belonging to all other religions, not only
> Christians. Thy are essentially man made, ours are divinely appointed.
> 
> But always remember, these institutions are a means to an end. We have to
> utilize these institutions for a purpose. Our purpose is to carry out the
> Divine Plan of the Master - we had to wait ever since the Master revealed
> these Tablets, 1915, 16, 17 (20 years) until the administrative order was
> sufficiently established and beginning to function in order to utilize
> them for this purpose. The Master gave instructions to the American
> believers to establish the Cause throughout the world, the Divine Plan, a
> few years before He passed away. In those days we didn't have the means.
> A few individuals were working. Martha Root started her travels. Mr. and
> Mrs. Dunn went from California to Australia. Emogene went to Italy, but
> all on an individual basis, not organized, not systematic, not continuous,
> more or less spasmodic. It was not directed toward a definite plan and
> target. In other words, they didn't formulate a plan. So unlike plans of
> each NSA now which are specific.
> 
> When the Master passed away, the first thing we did was establish the
> administrative order according to the blueprint the Master gave us. He
> told us how to establish the this Administrative Order, Nationally and
> locally. He told us how the House of Justice would be established
> eventually. Then we started the long laborious task of raising the
> structure of the Administrative Order. It took us two decades - 20 years
> - to do this. As the work progressed, some of the Bahá'ís began to wonder
> whether that was going to be the sole concern of the Bahá'ís, to establish
> these institutions. Some began to doubt, to criticize. Ahmad entirely
> misunderstood our purpose for the simple reason that I asked the Bahá'ís
> to think of nothing else but building these institutions that were to be
> the means in our hands to achieve a purpose later on. It took us 20 years
> to establish two stages of this administrative order, local and national
> Assemblies. When the local and National Assemblies were established and
> beginning to function, then I directed the attention of the Bahá'ís to the
> purpose for which these institutions had been created and were being
> perfected. The first part of the plan America's, then Latin and South
> America, Canada. Then the 2nd stage in Europe - now we have started in
> Africa - That is why the Cause is progressing so rapidly.
> 
> In England it took 50 years to establish 2 Assemblies, in 6 years 19
> Assemblies were established, not only in England but Scotland, Wales and
> Ireland.
> 
> Love of the Master is not enough. We must have a deep Faith. Three
> things we must remember, 1. Faith, 2. the Covenant, 3. the Administration.
> The Covenant is the child of the Faith. The Administrative Order is the
> child of the Covenant.
> 
> Abdu'l-Bahá, the "Mystery of God" - we must never hope to unravel that
> mystery. He is not a Prophet - He is unique in spiritual history of
> mankind. He stands between the Prophet and the Guardians, but in addition
> we have something in Him which other religions do not possess, the
> institution of the Center of the Covenant. He is a mystery because He
> shares not in the nature of the Manifestation, but the quality of the
> Manifestation - perfect but not Divine, that is why He is a mystery.
> Abdu'l-Bahá, all knowing, but not a Prophet of God.
> 
> The Unity of Mankind is absolutely new, there is nothing like it in the
> teachings of previous religions.
> 
> First we must lay the foundation. Then we can start to build. The
> foundation must be strong - firm. Every community must do three things:
> 1. Promote teaching work in the community, increase the number of
> believers, multiply the groups and scatter. 2, Consolidate institutions
> already established. Consolidate and expansion at home. 3. Initiate
> activities outside of community and country. The teaching committees
> should be primarily concerned with increasing the number of believers,
> extending the range of the Faith. Consolidation of the community mainly
> concerned with institutions already established. To see that local
> Assemblies are maintained, groups converted to Assembly status, etc.
> 
> Regarding America, the possibility is that it become directly involved in
> the coming conflict. Time bombs etc, will poison the earth.
> 
> The British NSA is watchful, careful and successful. I have a great
> admiration for it. The United States is chief custodian of the Divine
> plan. All other countries are auxilliaries - they will assist the chief
> custodians who are the believers in the United States. The U.S. has an
> ally in the Canadian Believers because some of the Tablets of the Divine
> Plan were addressed to them both.
> 
> Dr. Esslemont was the 1st Hand appointed during the formative age.
> 
> America will suffer probably more than any other nation in this coming
> conflict. The U.S. is the home of Materialistic civilization. It will
> all come about in a gradual, mysterious and unexpected manner.
> 
> Ques: If the House of Justice is under the guidance of God would it make
> a wrong decision? Ans: It is the Guardian's responsibility to tell them
> whether they should legislate on such a matter, or not - whether it is
> within their province.
> They would not make wrong decisions, but there is this safeguard of the
> guardian to ask them to reconsider the matter.
> 
> In regard to personal matters - Assemblies were established for two
> purposes. 1. To safeguard the interests of the Faith; 2. to help
> individuals when in crisis.
> 
> Ques: What about floods etc. in a country when Bahá'ís are asked to help
> in relief. Ans: Assemblies must ---------- [this word omitted on all
> editions -R.S.], the Bahá'ís privately should associate themselves with whatever
> measures are taken by the general public or government in order to prove
> universality of the Faith - that it promotes the interests of the entire
> community. They must watch, wherever there is such an opportunity, they
> must help - even a token contribution, nationally, locally and
> individually.
> 
> When the House of Justice makes statements about a certain law which has
> not been clearly stated in the teaching they are guided. They are not
> only to be obeyed, they are infallible. The NSA's have to be obeyed but
> are not infallible.
> 
> The inter-continental conferences will be a prelude to a world conference
> - preferably at the World Center of the Faith.
> 
> In the plan for the next ten years there is a two-fold internal aspect:
> One relating to the institutions, the other relating to teaching. The
> Wilmette Conference will consider first and foremost the opening up of the
> remaining territories to the Faith in the Continent of America and the
> Islands, second, to consolidate the Cause in the territories already open
> to the Faith. That in itself will be institutional, and the other
> teaching. The internal aspect in the U.S. and particularly the Temple and
> Dependencies.
> 
> There are three aspects of the Faith, Devotional, Administrative and
> Teaching. We have great need for more teaching. We must pray, meditate
> and then act. Teach.
> 
> Financial contributions to the Faith must be systematic, continuous,
> methodical. In order to promote the interests of the world center of the
> Faith here, at Haifa, appropriations have to be made from each NSA. It is
> my duty to impress upon them the importance of this phase of the work As
> to the sum I leave it to their discretion to allocate the sum.
> 
> Individuals have three-fold obligation, to support local institutions,
> National and inter- national. Resources will be acquired from three
> different sources. Stress is being made on the International development
> of the Faith. From the World Center of the Faith go contributions to all
> parts of the world. It is not only for the Bab's Shrine. In the last
> year some of the money has gone for the Hazira in Africa, the land in
> Constantinople, the site of Bahá'u'lláh's house, to Germany and to
> England.
> 
> The International Interests of the Faith have precedence over National
> interests.
> 
> The Huquq will come when the Hands of the Cause will begin to assume their
> primary function.
> 
> A great change will sweep over the world. A wave of the most great
> oppression which will prepare and lead the way for the Most Great
> Peace.
> 
> There will be oppression - justice - peace.
> 
> Persia, the Holy Land and America are in the greatest danger because of
> materialism.
> 
> The Character of the coming upheaval will be different from the world War.
> The atom bomb may exercise an influence on the whole world. There are two
> plans operating in the world. 1. The Major plan or God's plan. It is
> mysterious and we have nothing to do with it. 2. The Minor plan or the
> World Crusade of the next ten years, about which we have everything to do.
> God's plan involves disturbances. People must be shaken, aroused, their
> eyes opened in order to acquire the capacity to accept the Faith.
> 
> America was given the privilege of being the Chief executors of the Divine
> plan. America now stands 5th in rank in service to the Faith. The
> English are the best organizers in the Bahá'í world, the Americans, the
> best Administrators. The only value U.N. work is that we can add our
> prestige through it. We must not think that the U.N. is going to form the
> world state of the future.
> 
> The Americans and the Persians are too emotional. They are both alike in
> this respect. They are not impersonal enough, not objective in their
> thinking. They think of themselves or people first and the Cause second
> or last. The Cause must come first, individuals later and no personality.
> Americans spend too much money on luxuries, the Persians spend too much
> money on hospitality.
> 
> Bahá'ís should not spend all their time in doing these things that in
> themselves are good and not teach the Cause. We must 1st be Missionaries
> and then humanitarians.
> 
> Devotion to the Cause is different from being lovers of mankind. We must
> all be lovers of mankind. The Master said, the trouble is that we
> disassociate God from Man. We think of God in the Abstract sense. If we
> love God, we must love His creatures. We must love God so much as to
> become the lovers of His Creation. We must love people because we love
> God. You can truly love everybody if you truly love God and connect these
> creatures with God, that is why the love of God is so essential. When you
> love a person you love the people connected with that person. Recognizing
> God is different from loving Him. Being awed by God is different from
> loving Him, and the degree to which you love God must sooner or later
> reflect itself in your love for mankind or the lack of it.
> 
> There will always be people who do not believe in Bahá'u'lláh. It does
> not mean that everybody will become Bahá'í, or that evil will cease to
> exist even in the Golden Age. There will always be the element of
> perversity, but it will be negligible. (To Roy) In our dealings we must
> cultivate and communicate with Presidents and Prime Ministers and not 4th
> class officials. This is the way things should be done. We must first
> establish contact, attain a certain degree of acquaintance if not
> friendship and then bring issues to their attention.
> 
> The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh is the most Holy Shrine in the world.
> 
> The Iqan and the Kitab-i-Aqdas are the two foremost books of all the
> religions of the world. The Aqdas was revealed in 1870.
> 
> It requires purity of heart and extreme concentration to communicate with
> the next world. The Bahá'í who turns to God - he not only can achieve
> miraculous things, but can exercise a great influence on others.
> 
> There is no cessation of work at the International Center except on the
> nine Holy Days.
> 
> The Master had great admiration for Mary Magdalene.
> 
> The early Babis believed in reincarnation. Mulla Husayn in Fort Tabarsi
> was longing to be martyred and then return.
> 
> One of the signs of maturity of the world will be when Kingship will
> remain with none to bear its weight. The few remaining thrones are
> trembling with the repercussions of the fall of their fellows. Kingship
> will be restored.
> 
> Do you think if I had started to think about the condition of Europe seven
> years ago, when it was almost, prostrate, I would have had courage to ask
> Bahá'ís of America to start opening the campaign and sending pioneers?
> God works in His own ways along the same lines but in a different
> manner.
> 
> The 54th Chapter of Isaiah refers to the Mother of Abdu'l-Bahá (Navab)
> 
> Speaking of an elevator or escalator at the Temple. The Guardian seemed
> to prefer an elevator. He described it as efficient, quiet, dignified and
> quick. He said the friends should aim at these things in anything they
> do.
> 
> Vigilance and thoroughness are qualities that the Guardian admires in the
> British.
> 
> All the nations of the world have suffered, why not America: It is
> corrupt and it is flabby. Russia can do anything to America. America
> escaped before but this time it will not escape. The streets of New York
> will run with blood. Politics and individuals are corrupt. America is an
> atomic base - a target for Russia. England has become the aircraft
> carrier for atom bombs. The worst danger is that which faces New York.
> Skyscrapers will fall - there will be burning of the cities as prophesied
> in the bible.
> 
> The Guardian asked the question: "In the writings it states that we can
> only affect another spiritually to the depth that we ourselves are
> affected spiritually, is that the reason for the lack of progress in
> America"? The Guardian spoke for almost two hours on this question.
> 
> The Guardian pointed out that in 1950 he had given the inestimable
> privilege to America alone of going to pioneer in Africa. This, he said,
> he did in a general letter. Not one American responded.
> 
> In 1951 he sent a cable giving the American Negro a special blessing and
> opportunity and only one soul responded out of the entire country. Bill
> Foster of Chicago.
> 
> At the Kampala Conference only Liberia was represented by American
> pioneers. There should have been a far larger number of Bahá'ís from
> America at the Conference. America has failed in this respect. There
> were only nine Americans at the Conference where there should have been at
> least 20 or 30.
> 
> Americans are too concerned with their homes, trivialities, business.
> These things keep them back like a dead weight, they put these things
> first and Africa and the Faith last. Africa should have been the first
> concern of every American believer. The distinguished American Bahá'ís
> should have immediately arisen - regardless of anything else -
> spontaneously. America didn't arise at all so God inspired the Persians
> and the British.
> 
> Marion Jack typifies the true spirit the pioneer should have. We must
> follow her example. Marion Jack went from Canada to Bulgaria, where she
> is yet. When the war broke out I wrote to her urging her to go to
> Switzerland or to come to Haifa. She begged to stay where she was. She
> stayed under the utmost difficulties. The Master appreciated her very
> much. Not her ability, her spirit and detachment. The Canadians must be
> very proud of her. Even the Oriental believers have not risen to this
> height of detachment. She stayed in Bulgaria during the war. The
> Americans took the first boat home. The Americans must become detached.
> Race prejudice and materialism are the greatest evils in America. Africa
> should be first in everyone's mind. Americans are too attached to
> material comforts - this is the tragedy of America.
> 
> The Administrators and the distinguished should have and should arise.
> The Administrators feel that if they leave everything will be lost. God
> will take care of the administration at home, all they have to do is
> arise.
> 
> We must become as light as the spirit, as swift as the wind, as ablaze as
> fire, as resigned as the earth. (Bahá'u'lláh)
> 
> Americans must give up all their encumberances - give up everything - they
> must forsake their homes, give up everything and they won't need money it
> will come.
> 
> The Collison's are admirable.
> 
> Each American Bahá'í would make 200 Bahá'ís in Africa if they would
> demonstrate the spirit of Bahá'u'lláh demands of the pioneer. When
> Bahá'ís demonstrate the true spirit of the Faith this alone will bring
> results.
> 
> Leaving ones home and settling as a pioneer is not enough. The spirit must
> be right. We must get close to the spirit Bahá'u'lláh wants the pioneer
> to attain. This is purely individual, a struggle with one's own
> nature.
> 
> The hosts of the Supreme Concourse are suspended between earth and Heaven
> waiting to assist, but we must be like a magnet to attract this spirit.
> This spirit has accumulated because it has not been drawn upon. There
> have been no magnets to attract it. We must arise with spirit and
> spontaneity. This call should have appealed to the American negro more
> than anyone else, but they didn't arise because they are too bogged down
> with the same materialism.
> 
> The tests today are the same as in the day of Muhammad, He wrote in the
> Quran that the tests are: Death, children, wealth and hunger.
> 
> New York and Chicago are the most dangerous places in the world. The
> skyscrapers of which Americans are so proud will fall like houses of
> cards.
> 
> The American believers are mediocre. They are superior to non-Bahá'ís,
> but compared to Bahá'í standards they are very mediocre. We have a large
> number of mediocre Bahá'ís in the world. There are only a few
> distinguished ones. All Bahá'ís must measure themselves according to the
> standard of the teachings only.
> 
> It is easy to establish the administrative order but it is hard to make
> converts. Abdu'l-Bahá was very disappointed in America. He wrote and
> spoke there of the dangers of materialism and He went unheeded, and they
> are still unheeding.
> 
> Not until we approach the standard set down in the teachings will we have
> great victories. Americans can render great service in Administrative
> fields, but cannot teach without the right spirit, and will not attract
> and confirm new Believers.
> 
> We require another quality. Quantity is not enough, we require a high
> degree of quality. It is easy to administrate but difficult to make
> converts. In the administration field we can succeed with quantity and
> mediocrity. We are too organized - too material. The Cause requires much
> more than administration.
> 
> Consolidation is related to teaching. We are called upon to increase the
> numbers of Bahá'ís - we cannot do it without the spirit. The ten-year
> crusade has nothing to do with administration.
> 
> Persian believers have the right spirit.
> 
> All civilization is sinking, sinking. No one knows this better than the
> Russians, they are very observant.
> 
> America's most vaunted civilization is falling - materialism is like a
> cancer eating into the body of the nation.
> 
> Africa is the safest place in the world today. God is very merciful to
> the Americans, giving them the opportunity to go to Africa.
> 
> We need the crusading spirit in America.
> 
> America had relative security and it was sweet, now they are beginning to
> taste the bitterness of it. The leaders realize this more than the
> masses. The American skyscrapers are built on shifting sands - when the
> atom bomb drops they will see. Americans are tasting the bitter fruit,
> they are caught in a trap and it is God's trap.
> 
> The so-called backward people are living in the safest environments, while
> the most civilized are living in the dangerous.
> 
> Civilization is turning upon itself. Moderation is necessary even in
> this. This is not prophecy, Abdul-Baha told us all this. America is a
> young nation that is going astray. The leaders have this knowledge of
> what's coming in their hearts, but they will not tell the people. Look at
> Korea, blood, blood, blood, when will it stop? Abdu'l-Bahá denounced
> materialism in America in His speeches. He realized that Europe was a
> village, America a city. The skyscrapers built on shifting sands will
> collapse like a house of cards. The greatest point of danger is New York
> and then Chicago. If London hadn't been destroyed by fire I wouldn't have
> said these things. I am only calling attention to what has already begun.
> Compare Hamburg to New York and Stuttgardt to Chicago. Materialism and
> racism are their greatest tragedy - their chance is gone.
> 
> There is no getting out of it now. Now war will devastate the last
> remaining stronghold - America. American's must suffer, be chastised, be
> purified, and then they will be victorious. Bahá'u'lláh proclaimed this,
> Abdu'l-Bahá warned of this while in America but it was unheeded, I have
> tried and tried until it has become a waste of cables, there is no
> response. Americans could lead the world --if they had taken the lead in
> Africa the victories would have been even greater than they are now.
> 
> Europe has spent its force, there is not much hope left there. America is
> young but it is going astray with tremendous rapidity. It has to be
> stopped. Americans are generally nationalistic but fear makes them that
> way when they think they might lose their homes. America has to be
> chastened and purified to establish the Peace foretold.
> 
> The immediate future is very dark but the distant future is very bright,
> but we are not concerned with the coming catastrophe, only with the
> development of the ten year Crusade.
> 
> The immediate future of the Cause is dark also because it is linked with
> the destinies of the people, but the distant future if very bright. There
> may be a cutting off from the World Center for a time such as occurred in
> Germany.
> 
> America will taste the sweetness of true and abiding civilization, not
> materialism, not European, not American but world civilization.
> 
> It is most essential that we use prayer and meditation. Life is a
> constant struggle with ones own instincts. We must struggle, be active
> and persevere, then we will reap the fruit of victory.
> 
> (After this the Guardian arose from the table and said, "Give my love to
> the Friends wherever you go". Then he left, but as he reached the doorway
> he turned, looked at me and said, "Don't discourage them."
> 
> After this Ruhiyyih Khanum said, "Are the Americans jelly spined? They
> have to face facts, they have to grow up. The Guardian is trying to talk
> to them as adults now, they can't be coddled as children."
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views16555 views since posted 1999; last edit 2025-09-30 14:31 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../marguerite_sears_pilgrims_notes;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
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> Typed 1998 by Robert Stauffer.
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> — *Pilgrims Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*