# Pilgrim's Notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 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: William Allison, Pilgrim's Notes, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Pilgrim's Notes
> 
> William Allison
> Thelma Allison
> 
> 1957
> 
> [page 1]
> 
> (Bill has the distinction of being, with his mother, the last
> Bahá'ís to visit the Beloved Guardian, in Haifa. His mother wanted to do
> something for our Beloved Guardian, and so went into the kitchen to
> cook the meals, but she became ill, and then they stayed longer, and Bill
> had a week alone with the Guardian.)
> 
> ***********
> 
> "Our pilgrimage with the Beloved Guardian revealed these significant
> insights regarding the world; in a clear and strong voice, the Guardian,
> on the first evening warned that the distant future of Russia was very
> bright but that the immediate future was very, very dark. He described
> her downfall as a result of the injustice of her government and that her
> entire system of government rested on un-Bahá'í principles. In this
> regard, he pointed out that industrialization was a permanent feature of
> civilization while the political order was an ephemeral one. He compared
> the Western civilization to the Fall of Rome. He pointed out that the
> Russian (the so-called barbarians) will come to support the Faith just as
> the Huns had done during the early Christian times.
> 
> There is perfect logic to all that the Beloved Guardian does and says. He
> even provides this logic for the pilgrims in establishing an idea, and
> suggests they point out the logic and wisdom of the counsels he gives the
> friends in these matters. For instance, he stressed the ascendency of the
> colored races in the affairs of the world and the gradual recession of the
> white races. Bahá'u'lláh has said that the Faith will represent the
> majority of mankind and since the majority is undoubtedly of the brown and
> black races, it is to these people that the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh must find
> new adherents and teachers. This same logic carries in teaching the Faith
> with concentration on the Negro in the Southern states in America, since
> his number is greater in some areas than the whites. In these areas, he
> said,
> the spiritual assemblies should represent the majority of the people and,
> therefore, there should be colored assemblies.
> 
> His admonitions regarding the future of America and the friends in this
> country consumed no small part of our pilgrimage. "Great dangers"
> were the words he used, "are ahead for the American nation." While
> he made no mention specifically of the calamity, or form that danger
> would take, he did stress that America would be held responsible for the
> perfidious injustices inflicted upon the minorities, Negro and Indian.
> The severity of this (racial) turmoil at present gives no hint to the
> pent-up tensions, which the Guardian believes will unleash themselves in a
> revolution that will originate in deepest Africa and spread a trail of
> blood and destruction through Western Europe and America.
> 
> Two ills afflict the American society, the Guardian asserted —
> materialism and racialism. Reviewing the history of materialism, the
> Guardian showed where Western Europe had developed materialism and now
> America was carrying it to the extreme. With a glint of sarcasm in his
> voice he denounced the so-called American security of giant skyscrapers
> and colossal edifices. With a swift movement of his hand, he demonstrated
> how quickly these institutions could be swept away in seconds. How
> foolish of the Americans, he stated, for them to regard their security in
> these "towers of Babel". Indeed, he
> 
> [page 2]
> 
> carried this symbology one step further and called New York, Chicago, and
> San Francisco "Triple Babylons".
> 
> In a grave voice the Beloved Guardian uttered a strong warning to the
> American friends to disassociate themselves from these rampant evils
> (materialism and racialism) or be swept away with the rest of the American
> society which must be held accountable. The Faith in America has not
> grown, the Guardian pointed out, because it has not been opposed, but met
> no test, - had any crises. It is the courageous and daring action of the
> friends that produce these very crises. They have a two-fold effect; on
> the one hand, they purify the Faith, and on the other hand, they cause the
> Faith to grow, to catch on fire, push it ahead. By making enemies and
> conquering enemies, the Faith marches onward.
> 
> Without any reservations about the matter, the Guardian regards dispersion
> and teaching the Cause as the most meritorious task the friends can
> discharge at this time. He stressed the importance of these regions of
> the world for Bahá'ís to consider in their plans to disperse. The South
> Pacific now holds primary importance for the friends. Then comes Africa,
> Europe with France the most needy, the Western Hemisphere and Alaska. Of
> primary importance for believers in America are the Negroes and the
> Catholics. He has given the teaching of the Negro in America priority.
> In this same light he has emphasized the need to seek out Catholics and
> concentrate on them. He feels this will bring on opposition and tests
> which are basically good for the Faith. The friends will need to
> demonstrate courage and daringness in their teaching efforts. They must
> evince a sense of sincerity in promulgating the Cause so as to attract and
> not to antagonize. He recounted the spirit and ardor of the pioneers in
> Africa and South Pacific as an outstanding example of the true Bahá'í
> attitude and the results it achieves.
> 
> Not withstanding the reasons why the Faith has not grown in America, the
> Guardian was greatly disturbed over the alarming losses in the U.S.
> Always he had the figures and facts of the ten- year crusade at his
> fingertips and called off the exact number of believers in all of Africa
> at the time. He seemed, imperceptibly, to think of the World Crusade as a
> contest in which these areas of the world were contestants: South
> Pacific, Africa, America, Europe, etc. He said the children of the mother
> community, Africa and South Pacific, were rapidly outstripping her for
> position and rank. He compared the increase in the Bahá'í fold in Africa
> over the past four years, some 4,000 believers, and in the South Pacific,
> over 3,500, to the decrease in the American community in the past year
> from 8,000 to now less than 6,500. In every country except America the
> Faith is growing, the Guardian worriedly contended, "Now it remains to be
> seen what will happen in America."
> 
> One evening the Beloved Guardian envisioned the future World Order of
> Bahá'u'lláh in terms that are difficult to forget. He began by saying
> that the Bab had announced the "Plan". Bahá'u'lláh established the laws
> of the "Plan". Abdu'l-Bahá laid out the "blue print" for the erection.
> Now the Bahá'ís are in the formative phase of establishing the
> administrative order of the "Plan". He pointed to the establishment of
> the Divine "Arc" of Salvation being likened to the "Arc" which the Bahá'ís
> are erecting on Mount Carmel with the Shrine
> 
> [page 3]
> 
> of the Bab, the Archives Building, the House of Justice and the Temple.
> Outside of this arc the Bahá'ís are carrying out this plan by their
> widespread teaching activities which is part of this "Arc of Salvation".
> Near the end of the formative period the nations will unite of their own
> volition and with the non-commitant [sic] expansion of the Cause become merged
> into the fabric of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh. There will be another
> Manifestation before this will happen.
> 
> The Guardian admires the Negro people. He called them sound, sensitive
> and talented. He said if they had not striven hard and acquired the
> wealth and power that they possess the whites would have treated them just
> as they are treating the Indians.
> 
> The Guardian said there will be Bahá'í Kings. The Hands of the Cause of
> God, with their own organization, will be these kings. Their duties,
> specifically, will be to propagate the Faith and protect it. The Hands of
> the Cause will outrank the members of the House of Justice.
> 
> Hujoj. [Huquq.] More will be given on this in later years. It is solely
> for purification of money and one's income.
> 
> The institution of the Guardianship interprets, directs the Hands, heads
> the House of Justice and defines their sphere of legislation.
> 
> The summer schools are too pointless, too much emphasis on dances, picnics
> and frivolity. Too much committees, agendas, etc.,--He upheld the theory
> of private property. Many features of capitalism correct and many
> corrupt. The Most Great Peace will not come until the most Great Justice
> is established. A long time.
> 
> Believers in America have a superficial understanding of their Faith.
> Whites are too preoccupied, shallow. All should study and read more like
> the English and Canadians. Many whites are prejudiced and not aware of
> it. Should search their souls and consciences.
> 
> His parting words were to encourage the friends. He seemed to be saying
> as Abdul 'Baha before: "If you are not happy now, when shall you be!"
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views15446 views since posted 1998; last edit 2025-09-30 14:31 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../allison_pilgrims_notes;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
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> Typed 1998 by Robert Stauffer; Proofread 1998 by Thellie Lovejoy.
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/763
> Citation: ris/763
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> — *Pilgrim's Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*