# Haifa 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: Amy G. Raubitschek, Haifa Notes, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Haifa Notes
> 
> Amy G. Raubitschek
> 
> 1955-02
> 
> HAIFA NOTES
> 
> Amy G. Raubitschek
> 
> February 2-11, 1955
> 
> The Bab's body was in concealment in Persia for 50 years, and in the Holy Land
> for 10. Baha'u'llah revealed to Abdu'l-Baha the place for teh Shrine of the
> Bab. The friends should read about this before coming to Haifa - in God
> Passes By, and also the 2 chapters about the Banishment of Baha'u'llah before
> going to Bahji.
> 
> Concerning the Tablet to a Physician revealed by Baha'u'llah, opposite
> foods are hot and cold, sour or sweet. Science will reveal this. Take liquid
> before meals; use moderation at all times.
> 
> Other worlds - (in answer to question about space ships asked by one of
> the pilgrims) - there are other worlds and science will reveal this. There are
> creatures, not humans, and time will disclose their structure. the Faith will
> then influence them - the other worlds. The Guardian looked at numerous
> sketches for Temple designed for Teheran. Rejected all of them and then asked
> mason Remey to bring to the table the several sketches he had made of Temples.
> The Guardian then selected: Latern (?) of one, the dome of another, the shape
> and columns shown on a third, and the door of the fourth.Then he told Mason to
> assemble these features and produce a sketch.the Guardian said if Mason could
> do that, he would be a wonderful architect. Several days later, Mason did
> reproduce the sketch and with the exception of a few changes in the shape of
> the dome and columns, he seemed (i.e., the Guardian) pleased with the result.
> 
> Mason told a story of the time he was asked to design a home for the blind
> and had received about 50 suggestions. he ignored them all and finally had his
> sketch accepted. the Guardian jokingly said that was alright for it was for
> the blind.
> 
> Asked if the 52 columns in the design for the Archives building, which
> Mason Remey had designed had any significance, the guardian said they did not.
> The architecture was of the Greek type. Much discussion followed as to the
> proper angel to set the building on the side of Mt. Carmel so that it would fit
> properly against the contour of the mountain, and look best in approaching it,
> from any angle.
> 
> Ruhiyyih Khanum said the little Persian cookies we had for dessert were
> like rolled brown paper baked, but the Guardian said they went well with the
> custard and made a gook balance - soft custard, crisp cookies.
> 
> Pioneering - the Guardian said that families should not be disrupted nor
> communities jeopardized (LSA's) by the believers going pioneering.
> 
> The Kinneys are pillars of the Cause - the exception to the rule, when so
> many of the other old believers had become inactive, but they continued right
> on the serve.
> 
> Deadwood - too strong a term to use for believers who have become inactive
> and are not seen nor heard from in their communities. The Guardian said they
> should continue to receive their News Letters as the News Letters may stimulate
> them into activity again.
> 
> There has been too much emphasis on the Fund. This subject should be
> broached delicately and with dignity. Care should be taken not to hurt
> anyone's feelings.
> 
> Africa - Nearly 1000 converts in four years; formerly there were none
> except the believers in Abyssinia and Egypt. If Africa becomes civilized
> teaching will become more difficult. America is too civilized.
> 
> Pioneering should be done voluntarily rather than using force. If it is a
> sacrifice, then it is more meritorious. Ruhiyyih Khanum asked if pitchforks
> should be used to get people to move, and the Guardian said that God would move
> them. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the results.
> 
> Adrianople is the "Remote Prison" mentioned in the Tablet of Ahmad.
> 
> Letters of the Living are like Apostles - higher than Disciples.
> 
> There would be a new set of Laws at the end of this Dispensation. This is
> not a sign of the decadence of the Faith, but that there would be a need for
> new Laws. Ruhiyyih Khanum spoke of the traffic situation in the cities which
> made it impossible to reach the cemeteries which are usually in the outlying
> sections of the cities, to be reached within the hour time the body must be
> taken for burial according to the latest law revealed by the Guardian. The
> Guardian said that is why the helicopter was developed, so that Baha'is could
> conduct a burial according to the Baha'i Law. Then he said we must be
> careful that the body does not fall out of the helicopter on its way to burial.
> 
> The number of the Hands of the Cause would be increased, and that all are
> not necessarily appointed for life.
> 
> If advertising which is expensive is not effective after due trial, it is
> better to send the money to the NSA as the NSA needs it. concentrate on the
> Ten Year Plan.
> 
> Capitalism in the United States is a special kind of Capitalism.
> 
> Russia is a Dictatorship of the Proletariate.
> 
> United States fears Russia. They are two extremes.
> 
> Baha'i Plan is neither.
> 
> Freedom from prejudice is not truly practised even among the Baha'is.
> 
> Marriage is the ultimate proof of that freedom from prejudice in America.
> 
> England abounds in class prejudice.
> 
> The Guardian spoke again about Africa with 1000 converts in 4 years, and
> pointed out how little progress America made in 60 years, in comparison.
> 
> There would be no more Republics, ultimately Kingship. At the time of
> Soloman there was a spilt in Israel.
> 
> What we need is not union but unification. Union means a contract between
> two different individuals or organizations each maintaining its own
> individualism, but unification meant unity with all the same opinion and
> striving for the same principles.
> 
> The Guardian spoke of the Covenant-breakers, that they are tenant on our
> property.
> 
> He spoke of the Baha'is in colleges and was pleased. He said the
> Libraries in the colleges were very important and that the NSA should be
> concerned about this - to have Baha'i books in all the colleges possible.
> 
> Station of the master - perfection of the Divine and the Perfection of the
> human. This is the Mystery never before in the world.
> 
> America must be purged with suffering and purified in order to lead the
> world spiritually. Then the World Civilization and Baha'i civilization would
> merge into World Order. The United Nations will pass and another evolve as a
> preliminary to the Universal House of Justice. World Government should be
> patterned on the United States Government, but Kingship would prevail.
> 
> Italy should send pioneers to the Italian colonies, incorporate, find land
> for the Temple and buy a Hazira; multiply centers so that an NSA could be
> formed. Canada must find land for a Temple and assist others in the Ten Year
> Plan.
> 
> Baha'is should avoid Moslems and other Orientals. They are crafty, no
> sincere, greedy, dishonest, have ulterior motives, and they may be dangerous.
> Rather, concentrate on teaching natives.
> 
> First (asked if marriage could take place during this time) the Guardian
> said that marriage can take place at any time. We are not to restrict humans;
> the clergy are doing that now.
> 
> The Guardian said I should visit the Islands of the Mediterranean, as many
> as I could conveniently reach, in the time I had. I should go by boat.
> 
> Marriage - there is no provision for alimony in the Teachings, but that
> the Universal House of Justice would make this decision. Baha'i divorce is
> not recognized in any part of the world now.
> 
> There are only three Temple sites not yet purchased - Italy, Canada and
> Stockholm. Canada has the money which Fred Schoflacher left.
> 
> The Guardian said that Ethna Archibald, the pilgrim from New Zealand, now
> living in England, should go to Africa, but not to Kampala, Tanganiki, or
> Johannesburg, as they are too crowded.
> 
> In answer to a question about things in the far distant future, the
> Guardian said we should not speculate on things not revealed thus far, but
> concentrate on the Ten Year Plan, and study the Teachings.
> 
> "Concourse on High" are the souls whose prayers assist us and affect us;
> "Hosts of the Unseen" are the powers of the Holy Spirit which assist us and
> guide us.
> 
> Prophecy of Daniel -"1335" is not 1957 but 100 years after Baha'u'llah's
> declaration: 1963. We are seeing the evidence of it now.
> 
> Baha'i day of rest has not been established.
> 
> The Prophecy of Daniel would not mean Universal Peace, but recognition of
> the Faith; Ruhiyyih Khanum read a passage from "The Passing of Abdu'l-Baha".
> 
> Marriage and Divorce - Baha'u'llah made provision and laws for divorce;
> non-Baha'is who marry Baha'is should be informed about the Laws for
> marriage and divorce before marrying Baha'is to avoid difficulties later.
> Baha'is should be free to live according to the Baha'i Laws.
> 
> Progress of the Faith - obscurity; non-recognition; persecution;
> recognition; acceptance; World Order.
> 
> Progress of the Cause in England - slow to get started but once aroused,
> good results. Cause no in University cities, should now be opened in Cathedral
> cities. Then, opposition would begin and through this, the Cause would grow
> and the opposition would fall.
> 
> Purpose of the Baha'i Faith - to bring about World Civilization. Peace,
> and World Order of Baha'u'llah are not the ultimate; are only steps in the
> process. There could be other Prophets, other Dispensations for the maturity
> of mankind. The fruit of the Baha'i Dispensation is World Civilization.
> 
> Crime in the cities - Materialism and crime; it is useless to teach the
> Cause in the cities; teach in the small villages.
> 
> Health - Baha'is should observe laws of Baha'u'llah and laws of the
> cities and countries in which they live. Consult a good physician; there is
> nothing in the Teachings about inoculation or vaccination. Later the House of
> Justice might consider these facts, but at present there is nothing in the
> Teachings.
> 
> Use moderation at all times; don't pray too much; don't concentrate on
> material matters too much.
> 
> Muhammadanism in Africa - more readily accepted by natives than
> Christianity because it is a purer faith and more authentic. Paul interjected
> some of his own ideas in preaching the Faith and Peter ws unable to correct or
> object because Christ made no specific mention of the line of authority.
> 
> Baha'is should distinguish between law, principles and administration.
> The Guardian is now working on the codification of the Aqdas.
> 
> We have 12 more languages into which the Writings are to be translated
> that called for in the Ten Year Plan. I should tell the NSA to get busy; we
> have translated into one language out of the 10 we were to do.
> 
> Disperse - save yourselves and help the Cause by so doing.
> 
> England moved faster; America has done almost nothing; United States has
> to be pushed, pushed. We get enthusiastic at first, but we have to be pushed
> later.
> 
> Abdu'l-Baha told us to disperse and then waited twenty years for us to do
> so. I should tell the friends to disperse.
> 
> Our Baha'i institutions are only a means to an end.
> 
> Pillar of the Cause is not a station or a rank but an expression of
> service, strength and faithfulness, steadfastness in the Cause; pillar is not
> like a hand, which is and organization of the Institutions.
> 
> He said I would come again to Haifa, and with my husband, the next time.
> 
> Courtesy of Helen Eggleston Dec. 1956 at Davison Baha'i School.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views658 views since posted 2025-10-05; last edit 2025-10-05 05:23 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../raubitschek_haifa_notes
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> — *Haifa Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*