# Pilgrim's Notes

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

---

> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: unknown, Pilgrim's Notes, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Pilgrim's Notes
> 
> [author name unknown]
> 
> 1953-01
> 
> [page 1]
> 
> We must be careful in giving pilgrim notes as there may be errors.
> However, Jessie and
> Ethel Revell took the notes in short-hand.
> 
> I did not write while sitting by the Guardian as one could not, but after
> dinner, I went
> upstairs, wrote the notes and compared them with the Revell sisters and
> therefore they
> should be as nearly perfect as a pilgrim could get them.
> 
> There was one other pilgrim Louise Caswell from Honduras, Central
> America.
> 
> I feel the same about the Shrines as I did in 1938.
> 
> We have a living Faith.
> 
> Bab - Grandeur. - Shrine
> Abdul-Baha - Simplicity.
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh - Peace.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi placed me at the head of the table next to Him and it was
> my privilege to
> remain there during the pilgrimage. At times he served us.
> 
> He is the greatest man on earth to-day.
> 
> Description of the Guardian: - Grey hair - first thing that amazed me.
> Wife says from
> worry and strain. Short - no taller than I. Wears black fez. Hazel eyes.
> Dynamic. Teacher
> - takes books - reads, re-reads, explains. Quick in movement. Kind.
> Accomplish many
> things. Types all his work, Translate. Divine Plan, Administrative
> Orders, gardens -map
> 10 years - letters, cables, etc.
> 
> His first night of teaching was on Unification.
> 
> He said that American civilization began when we were became unified.
> 
> America, middle-East, Persia and India will suffer and brought to their
> knees as they are
> not spiritual.
> 
> I asked Him where cradle of civilization began and He answered Iraq. From
> there, people
> migrated to India and Africa.
> 
> Second eve with Him was thrilling one and He lifted everyone in the room.
> 
> I did not speak to Him about immortality but that I would never get over
> our son's death.
> He said, "Do not think about it but be assured that now he is released
> from all the fetters
> of this world and he is enjoying a much fuller life. I will pray for his
> soul and you will
> pray for him at the Shrine and I will join you in prayers."
> 
> Question about cancer: Why haven't the prophets given the scientists the
> cure for cancer,
> etc.? (I am blaming God)
> Answer is "He has" but man has a will and fails
> to follow it and
> thus retards the cure. He said God is giving the cure gradually. If man
> does not work
> steadily, it will be delayed.
> 
> Question: What does the 144,000 in the Bible represent?
> Answer: It is
> allegorical. It
> means by thousands the saints and holy ones will come into the faith.
> (Figure of speech.)
> 
> Question: What is the meaning of the first shall be last and the last
> shall be first?
> Answer:
> A world revolution, e.g., Slave - President. King - Slave.
> 
> [page 2]
> 
> Question: When we have inter-stellar communications, will it be with one
> another from
> this earth or will it be other beings?
> Answer: Other beings. (He said he
> did not go beyond
> that & laughed)
> 
> He told us that Paul distorted the teachings by bringing in his own
> philosophy into the
> teachings of Jesus; as Jesus did not leave in writing that Peter was the
> expounder. Peter
> being ignorant and Paul a lawyer and philosopher therefore injected his
> philosophy.
> 
> He told us that one of the brothers of Christ was the head of one of the
> first churches of
> Christ in Jerusalem. He was like the President of the church and a
> Covenant Breaker.
> 
> He says: of course you are familiar with the Tablet of Mt. Carmel, Holy
> Mariner and
> Divine Plan. He explained that the Ark mentioned in the Tablet of Mt.
> Carmel in the
> Gleanings, means Administrative Order and the Ark mentioned in the Tablet
> of the Holy
> Mariner is the Ark of His Faith and He is the Captain.
> 
> Then in Bahá'í News, a pilgrim got the notes mixed on the Formative Age
> and Abdul
> Bahá'í Divine Plan. And told Mr. Ioas to inform them in Chicago that no
> more pilgrim
> notes are to be printed, and then He told us the difference, they must
> not be confused.
> 
> We have had the first 25 years of the Formative Age which was the first
> epoch of the
> Formative Age. We are now in the second epoch of the formative Age and
> the third
> epoch of this age will be the Golden Age.
> 
> Abdu'l-Bahá's Divine Plan is not the Formative Age.
> 
> We have had the 1st. 7 year plan
> 
> We have had the 2nd 7 year plan
> 
> We are now entering the third 10 year plan and when completed will finish
> the first epoch
> 
> of the Divine Plan in 1963.
> 
> He explained that each Dispensation has a spiritual and an Adm. Centre.
> Ours will always
> be in Haifa. In Christianity, the spiritual place is Jerusalem and the
> Adm. Order is in
> Rome.
> 
> We visited the Catholic Cave of Elijah again on Mt. Carmel and the
> Muslims have one
> too, each claims his to be the one. Shoghi Effendi said Elijah probably
> went in both of
> them. Then He said that the Bab is the return of Elijah and is interred
> near the cave and
> He does not believe the Jews will like this when they hear it.
> 
> On the 1/17/53 Shoghi Effendi spoke about the Ten year plan. We are to
> have a Religious
> World Crusade and not a political crusade.
> 
> The important Bahá'í cities in order are:
> 
> 1. Akka: Bahá'u'lláh is buried.
> 
> 2. Haifa: Bab is buried
> 
> 3. Baghdad: Most Holy House.
> 
> 4.Tehran: Bahá'u'lláh was born
> 
> 5. Shiraz: Bab
> 
> 6. Adrianople: City of Mystery.
> 
> He explained that Isaiah and Daniel are the most important of the minor
> prophets.
> 
> He referred to the Holy Leaf as being more exalted than Her mother
> because of Her
> status.
> 
> [page 3]
> 
> The Holy Spirit came in the following manner:
> Zoroaster - fire -Mineral Kingdom
> 
> Moses - Burning Bush - Vegetable Kingdom
> 
> Christ - Dove Animal Kingdom
> 
> Mohammad - Angel Gabriel - human Kingdom
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh - Maiden -which is the most perfect form of creation.
> 
> Grand Mufti said he would exterminate the Bahá'ís when he came into power
> in the Holy
> Land.
> 
> Muslim faith has declined in Turkey (we found that out) and we also
> visited the Holy
> Spot in Istanbul. The Jews in Haifa are not as strict about their Sabbath
> as they were in
> 1938. Christian Faith in Russia and Europe being wrapped up and a new one
> replaced.
> Shoghi Effendi told us that Russia has set up a new Catholic Church (true
> one) but they
> only doing it to undermine the people.
> 
> Truth is not absolute but relative - progressive. This should be stressed
> in the Temple by
> the guides, he said.
> 
> Sovereign States are increasing as old governments break down. This will
> bring about a
> U.S. of the World.
> 
> In the archives there are 3 oil paintings of Bahá'u'lláh and one
> photograph. The photo
> was taken in Adrianople while He was under stress and strain of the
> conditions thrust
> upon Him.
> 
> The oil paintings portray Bahá'u'lláh in the Bath, one like the Bab and
> one as a Dervish.
> Shoghi Effendi's favourite and my favourite.
> 
> There are 4 monuments in the Eternal Gardens. The family:
> 
> The wife of Bahá'u'lláh - most Exalted Leaf
> The daughter of Bahá'u'lláh - the Greatest Holy Leaf
> The Son of Bahá'u'lláh - the Purest Branch
> The wife of Abdu'l-Bahá - Munira Kannum
> 
> The Most Exalted Leaf has six pillars (Monument). Munira Khannum and the
> Purest
> Branch have 7 pillars. The Greatest Holy Leaf has 9 pillars and
> represents the
> International House of Justice. (Dr. Hakim said.).
> 
> 19/1/'53 another wonderful eve with Shoghi Effendi. He read from page 85
> of the
> Gleanings about Christ. It raises Him higher than the Protestant Faiths
> do. It states the
> whole creation wept when He was crucified. Not only Jerusalem but all
> creation.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi said we believe in Virgin Birth, Primacy of Peter, in
> Trinity as explained
> in our Teachings.
> 
> I asked him if the Holy Spirit is the Prophet and He said "No" do not
> confuse it, that is
> the thing the Catholics do.
> 
> He told us how Christ revealed His station to His disciples in Tiberias,
> taught in
> Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, crucified in Jerusalem. The ministry of
> Christ is most
> important thing not birth or crucifiction.
> 
> Peacock is Bird of Paradise and stands for Immortality and also the Cedar
> Trees. The
> Eagle stands for Victory, Agressiveness, Immortality and the Ascendancy
> of the Faith.
> The Eagle also stands for Imperialism, and this of course we have nothing
> to do with.
> 
> [page 4]
> 
> There are nine terraces now, there will be nine more to the top of the
> Mt. Carmel making
> 18 and the Shrine of the Bab will make the 19th, and each one will be
> given one of the
> names of the Letters of the Living. A street runs under one of them. It
> is called Abbas
> Street.
> 
> There will be a Temple in Rome.
> 
> The correct pronunciation of the Temple is: Mash-rek-ul-az-kar.
> 
> Haz-e-rattle-Kuds. Q. is K - Ruhiyyih Khanum said. Sub-E-Azal.
> 
> He put out the ten year map and gave it to us in detail. 10,000 will be
> distributed in color
> and with explanations.
> 
> Isaih 54 tells about the Most Exalted Leaf
> 
> Isaih 54 verses 3 thru 7 tells of a New Birth of Bahá'í Faith.
> 
> Too much is said about the place where Peter is buried. More glory should
> be stressed on
> the Sepulchere of Christ.
> 
> Gleanings tells of our teachings
> 
> Iqan tells of our comparative religions
> 
> S.A.Q. is the philosophy of our teachings
> 
> Dawn Breakers gives us the History
> 
> Page 113 Promised Day is Come read about Peter and the Immaculate
> Conception.
> 
> He said, "To-day I remembered your son at Bahji."
> 
> The Dawning place of praise is the Mash-rak-ul-azkar.
> 
> Tibet is the roof of the world.
> 
> God's plan is operating and may interfere with our own plan, but we go
> right on. We
> have nothing to do with God's plan, only our own.
> 
> Jessie Revell said "read the Dawn Breakers about becoming a Bahá'í."
> Tablet of Wisdom
> tells about philosophy of which Shoghi Effendi spoke. Page 586.
> 
> When we visited the Most Great Prison I could feel a great power. In time
> we shall own
> the whole Barracks. Abdu'l-Bahá in room downstairs and Purest Branch died
> there. The
> house of [space] is the place Bahá'u'lláh revealed the Akdas. He was held
> prisoner here
> for seven years.
> 
> Zoroaster visited the Holy Land.
> 
> Question: about Hidden Words: "O Son of Spirit! And O Son of Man"..
> Answer: He does not mean anyone. The term is allegorical.
> 
> Each Dispensation has a great women:
> 
> Mohammad Fatima - His daughter
> Christ Virgin
> Bahá'u'lláh Greatest Holy Leaf
> Bab Taheray.
> 
> The Shrine of the Bab has 3 crowns.
> 
> Arcade, Parapet, Octogon of the Dome.
> 
> A Dispensation is the length of time the laws evolve.
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh suffered more in Acca than any other place.
> 
> [page 5]
> 
> Oil and minerals may be found in the Holy Land as they are drilling now.
> Israel will
> expand. May be from Euphrates to the Nile and take in the River Jordan.
> 
> The social aspect is good. But it depends upon the character of the
> person. (In teaching.)
> 
> Question: Is the Holy Sepulchre the place where Helena, mother of
> Constantine,
> discovered when she came to the Holy Land?
> Answer: Do not know?
> 
> We must have diversity in non-essential matters. In essential matters we
> keep to the
> Constitution. We keep to uniformity. He has no more time to write to the
> N.S.A.'s. He
> has to cable.
> 
> People can call us a cult, etc. (Dispensation) But the worst he says is a
> Persian Garden as
> it is neither Persian not a garden. It is a World Faith and a Shrine.
> 
> As soon as one repents (he uses the word frequently Jessie Revell says)
> he must be
> reinstated, if his voting rights have been removed.
> 
> Haifa is the Heart of the World and the Heart of the Bahá'í World Faith.
> This (The Holy
> Land) is the most temperate spot in the temperate zone.
> 
> 21/1/'53 - We went to Tiberias and Nazareth. These cities are the
> important places
> because Christ revealed Himself there.
> 
> It is the Feast of the Martyrdom of the Bab and Birthday of Abdu'l-Bahá,
> (Lunar Time)
> The Friends came from all around, sang songs, poetry of Taheray set to
> music about
> Bahá'u'lláh and songs about Abdu'l-Bahá. Then we went to the Shrines and
> our Blessed
> Guardian chanted the prayers.
> 
> Message to Indians.
> 
> He said we started to teach the white race during the Bab, the black
> during Bahá'u'lláh,
> yellow during Abdu'l-Bahá, the red since Abdu'l-Bahá's time and now we
> must teach the
> brown race in the Islands of the Pacific. When we teach the Brown we will
> complete the
> circle. Not only races but also religions. We have taught the Christians,
> Jews, Zoroastrians,
> Mohammedans and now we have the Hindus of India and the Buddhists of
> China and
> Ceylon, and Tibet. This is the message to the Indians.
> 
> He does not want us to be a minority group but we must the majority in a
> place.
> 
> We must associate with the people of the country, eat in their homes,
> sleep there, even to
> the point of inter-marriage. This is the test. The Indians have a great
> spiritual capacity
> and when they embrace the Faith they will render a great service. When
> you go to India
> you will tell them this.
> 
> He returned from Bahji to bade us good-bye. He said "I shall pray for
> your son." He gave
> Homer the Oriental embrace. He said, "This is your home!"
> 
> There is a great pressure while you are at the table with the Guardian.
> 
> During 1938 I was blessed by being able to visit the Shrines every day
> for 2 weeks and
> go to Jerusalem. This time I went but 3 times because of my cracked ribs,
> knee, cold and
> weather.
> 
> This time I was blessed by seeing the paintings of Bahá'u'lláh and being
> in the protective
> shadow of our Beloved Guardian and whose shadow is for all mankind.
> 
> [page 6]
> 
> The message to the Egyptians was as follows:
> 
> Go to Kampala
> 
> Go to Stockholm
> 
> Take care of local affairs; join in 10 year World Crusade.
> 
> He will pray for their success and protection as they are surrounded by
> enemies.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views18241 views since posted 1997; last edit 2025-09-30 15:19 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../pilgrims_notes_anonymous_1953;
> 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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> Citation: ris/713
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> — *Pilgrim's Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*