# Two brief pilgrims' notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-21 — 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: Valera Allen, Two brief pilgrims' notes, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Two brief pilgrims' notes
> 
> Valera Allen
> Charlotte M. Linfoot
> 
> 1954
> 
> 1. Note from Linfoot describing telegram from Shoghi Effendi
> 
> About: This is a note from a letter dated March 23, 1955 by Charlotte Linfoot to Anna
> Stevenson, attached to the pilgrim notes of Valera Allen, citing a cable
> from Shoghi Effendi that he would be infallible in his choice of
> successor. From copy by Anna Stevenson.
> 
> "We have had so many letters asking for clarification of the
> statement in David Hofman's book about the relationship of the Hands of
> the Cause and the appointment of the Guardian's successor. The Guardian
> cabled us that the statement is incorrect in the book. He will be guided
> to make the right selection and in this matter will be infallible, and we
> must accept that or our whole understanding of the Will and Testament is
> in error."
> 
> 2. Note from Allen
> 
> About: This is a note from Valera Allen as contained in a letter written by Mrs.
> Valera Allen to Miss Charlotte Linfoot, dated February 26, 1955, as copied by Anna Stevenson, January 25, 1956. Typos from original have been retained.
> 
> "........One evening he (the Guardian) came to dinner with the
> Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh and a newspaper, the London times, Dec. 16th issue.
> After dinner he began to speak about the article in the London Times and
> later gave it to us to copy .....article entitled: "Dangers of Atomic
> Explosions, Assessing the Risk"....."Mr. Wyatt asked the Prime Minister
> whether he could state with greater exactness the number of atomic and
> nuclear explosions that he was advised would make lethal the atmosphere
> over substantial areas of the world; and whether he had now studied the
> evidence that he (Mr. Wyatt) had submitted to him?"
> 
> The article stated Mr. Churchill had no further comment but the Guardian
> was quite excited about it. He recalled the prophecy in the Tablets about
> there being a strange and wonderful instrument in the world that had the
> power to infect the atmosphere of the whole earth. This is not a direct
> quote but he commented that neither "wonderful" nor "instrument" were
> correct translations.....the word that should be used in the place of
> "wonderful" was "astonsihing" and perhaps "material" could be used in
> place of "instrument"..... Anyway he said this prophecy referred to the
> atom or hydrogen bomb. There were three stage in the development of the
> bomb. The first stage was the explosion at Hiroshima or Nagasaki - just
> the immediate vicinity. The second was the development they were speaking
> about in the London Times - where a "substantial" area of the earth's
> atmosphere could be infected or contaminated. the third was the one
> prophesied by Bahá'u'lláh where the atmosphere could be contaminated or
> infected. He said now is the time to call attention to this prophecy of
> Bahá'u'lláh's in our teaching work and to quote the article in the London
> Times.....Perhaps someone at table that night has already sent this word
> to you, as he wished the Americans to use this in their teaching.
> 
> Another thing he said of great importance was his emphatic explanation of
> the infallibility of the Guardian. He said the Guardian was not only
> infallible from the standpoint of interpretation of the Writings but he
> was infallible in whatever he declared himself to be infallible - that was
> the very nature of infallibility - that he knew when he was infallible. He
> knew when he was receiving Divine Guidance. Even the designs of the
> gardens and their development he did not know ahead of time, but each step
> was revealed to him as he went along. And many other things were the same
> way - whenever guidance was necessary it was there because he is under the
> unerring guidance of the Blessed Perfection and "unto him all must turn".
> Since hearing him speak on this subject one reads the Will and Testament
> with new eyes and new understanding.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views13669 views since posted 1997; last edit 2020-12-29 04:00 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../allen_linfoot_brief_notes;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
> Language
> English
> Permission
> public domain
> History
> Typed 1997 by Robert Stauffer.
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/711
> Citation: ris/711
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> — *Two brief pilgrims' notes (Used by permission of the curator)*