# Pilgrim 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: Myron Henry Phelps, Pilgrim Notes, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Pilgrim Notes
> 
> Myron Henry Phelps
> 
> 1917
> 
> "It is a certain fact, absolutely established, that people whether
> righteous or wicked, the people of light or darkness, pious or
> mischievous, live on after the death of the body and physical dissolution
> and disintegration. But the life of the wicked in comparison with the
> existence of the believers is as non-existence. This is why Christ speaks
> of this life (of faith) as everlasting Life. He says: 'If you follow me,
> you will attain Life eternal, and whosoever believes not on me is deprived
> of the Life eternal.' The meaning of Christ's saying was not that the
> unbelievers become absolutely annihilated; the meaning of Christ is that
> the life of those, who reject Him is as non-existent, compared with the
> life of those who accept Him."
> 
> "The mineral has existence, the vegetable has existence, but the existence
> of the inferior kingdom as compared with the existence of the human
> kingdom is as non-existence. Even the mineral is living in relation to its
> own kingdom: but the mineral kingdom in comparison with the vegetable
> kingdom is non-existent, and the vegetable with the animal is
> non-existence. The ignorant with the knower is dead; the rejected compared
> with the accepted is dead. The imperfect compared with the perfect is
> dead."
> 
> Here the Master took up a photograph of a Virgin and Child, by Raphael and said: "Many
> babies at the time of the childhood were living, but Jesus was more alive then they. It is
> not meant that the wicked after death will absolutely perish; this was the belief of the
> ancient Greek philosophers. They believed, that whosoever did not attain any distinction
> or power of function on this plane of being, perished. That is why Christ speaks of the
> righteous entering the Kingdom of heaven; and the wicked being cast into hell. This
> problem was not solved in any dispensation until it is solved in this dispensation for the
> people ask "Where is this kingdom in which the righteous dwell?" - The kingdom was
> spoken of by the prophets as Heaven, it being said that man after death could ascend into
> heaven. Then afterwards it was found there was no such place as Heaven; the stars and
> planets are in truth all in motion and are not stationary, and they are all material. It was
> then asked 'Where is hereafter?' Existence must be visualized, must be made tangible,
> else it is non-existence. Any existence which is not realized on the material plane is only
> a figment of the mind therefore, existence must be externally realized. In response to the
> question: 'Where is hereafter?' Since we do not see it, we will say that as the mineral
> and vegetable belong to this world and are utterly ignorant of the human kingdom -- one
> might question the mineral - find it utterly ignorant of the vegetable, one might even
> find that it denied the existence of the plant -- that if one questioned the embryo in the
> womb about the human kingdom, it would know nothing of it, and would even deny its
> existence; even so the realities of the Kingdom of Heaven are not to men."
> 
> "The fact is certain that there is a world of GOD, and that it is above this human world;
> therefore, it can not be apprehended in the human world. The human world is ignorant of
> this Kingdom. It is called the Heavenly body, and this is what is meant by Christ, when
> He says, that after leaving this body man enters the Kingdom; It is beyond the human
> Kingdom. This is what is meant by Baha'0'Llah when He says: 'The Supreme Concourse
> welcomes you'. This problem was never solved until this dispensation."
> 
> Question: "What is the relation of the mineral and vegetable with the human spirit?"
> 
> Answer: "All are connected by the bond of existence. What greater bond is there than
> this? Furthermore, none of these can continue to exist independently of the other; for
> interrelation and solidarity make their existence possible. For example, from the plant a
> certain element is exhaled which gives life to the animal. We call this the fiery element
> and you call it oxygen. And from animated beings a certain watery element is given,
> 
> page-2.
> 
> which you call hydrogen, and that promotes plant life and its growth and evolution. So
> there is a connection, and the growth and evolution of each are dependent and contingent
> upon the other. So are all the other beings (connected) making the world of existence as
> one person - a great person. Just as the members and parts of man co-operate and work
> together, likewise the parts and members of the world co-operate with each other and
> are interdependent. This chain of interrelation is continuous throughout all existence.
> Not a single one of the parts of the chain can be loosened; if it were loosened the
> organization of existence would be faulty. "
> 
> Question: "Will animal and vegetable ever become the human?"
> 
> Answer: "The spirit will not become human spirit, nor will vegetable spirit become
> animal spirit. Existence is one, as it appears in every grade, according to the exigency of
> that grade. Existence in the mineral grade takes the form of the mineral; in the
> vegetable; the vegetable form, and in the animal kingdom the animal form. In the human
> kingdom it appears as a human being. As existence is limitless, therefore it appears in
> limitless forms. This is a new philosophy, but it is plain and evident.
> 
> This lamp is one and the same lamp; it has cast its light upon the wall, upon the floor and
> on this glass, but its manifestation on the mirror is very superior to that on the wall.
> The manifestation of that light in the eye is not witnessed in the ear; but the light is the
> same. Mind is a universal power but it appears in every man according to his
> capacity.
> 
> Perfect souls are like mirrors, and the light of the mind becomes most effulgently
> manifest in them. Imperfect souls are like the stones, - the light of the mind reflected in
> them is only a semblance (of the light in the mirror), but the light is the same.
> 
> Bickerings, etc., among nations must be done away with. Consider plants - how
> harmonious are all their elements. Those revolving stars which have inter-
> communication thought the attraction of gravitation, how good and beautiful that is!
> 
> When we study beings in general, we discover that there is a tendency (propensity) for
> the lasting of life, or for continuous living, so that whenever these elements unite to
> form a composition, the resultant compound makes it possible to live - e.g. - certain
> elements have united in a composition, forming this leaf; likewise, certain elements
> have agreeably united and composed, the resultant being known as man. Likewise in the
> stone - we find that in this formation certain elements have come together.
> 
> Therefore it is most evident that composition or organization and union are perpetuation
> of species. When the composition, or rather, compound is subjected to a flaw in the
> agreement (of the elements) separation and dissolution result. Therefore, it is plain and
> evident, that agreement and union among men are productive of life results. Every
> movement which aims at separation, causes disagreement and produces dissension
> amongst men, is to be condemned and rejected.
> 
> "Consider the animals; - those which are tame associate with each other agreeably; they
> live in companies. The sheep are loving to each other, hence they live in company as a
> flock. Tame birds are to be found in flocks, but birds of prey and ferocious animals live
> separately - such as the lion, tiger, bear, dog - all of these live separately, in solitude,
> and do not form companies. Likewise, vultures and birds of prey live solitary.
> 
> "If agreement and union obtain in a home, there will be upbuilding and prosperity
> therein; the honor and virtue of that home consists in its unity and harmony. Enlarge
> this condition, if the inhabitants of a village should be united, how much this unity and
> agreement will conduce to the happiness of that village. Enlarge this circle yet again -
> the people of a city if united and agreed, how much this would be the cause of rest and
> 
> page-3.
> 
> composure and well-doing in that city. Still widen the circle, the people of a country, if
> in the utmost unity and solidarity know this will become (condusive) to the welfare and
> advancement! Therefore, consider if all the inhabitants of the earth become united, what
> great results and what immense happiness will obtain.
> 
> "BAHA'0LLAH has hoisted the tent of Unity of mankind. He has addressed men thus: 'Ye are
> all the leaves of one branch and fruits of one tree.' No matter how many are the flowers
> in yonder garden, - even though their lines and colors and the forms of the leaves and the
> shapes of the plants differ, yet we know that the same rain falls upon them - how
> delightful, how magnificent! All of them receive heat and light from the same sun, one
> cloud showers its bounty upon all, the same sunshine and the same zephyrs animate
> them, - all of them are refreshed by one breeze!
> 
> "Look at these people, how they are negligent and inadvertent, how superstitious! The
> exposition of Reality is evident and plain. All the nations are inimical to us, - they
> persecute us because of this; They speak evily of us because of this; when they cannot do
> anything else against us, they lie about us. In order that this animosity may be
> suppressed and hidden, we forbear everything. Pray that, GOD willing, you may be
> confirmed. The Blessed Perfection has said that if any religion or faith is productive of
> hate and enmity, it must be abandoned."
> 
> Received from Lotfullah Hakim, 13 Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, W. England.
> 
> In a letter dated June 7th 1917, to Jos. H. Hannen, the following is an extract from
> Lotfullah Hakim's letter on this subject: "Doubtless you know of Mr. Myron Phelps, -
> the one who wrote the book called: "THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF ABBAS EFFENDI." He has
> been for a second time to Acca some years ago, and took some very interesting notes of
> what the Beloved Abdul-Baha said in answer to his questions. Some time ago we got a copy
> of these notes, and I am sure you and the friends there would like to see a copy of it. So I
> have copied it and am sending you enclosed copy. These notes must not be published until
> we have permission of Mr. Phelps."
> 
> copied
> by H.G.P. Jan. 7th 1918.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views13490 views since posted 1998; last edit 2025-09-30 14:29 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../phelps_pilgrims_notes;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
> Language
> English
> Permission
> public domain
> History
> Typed 1998 by Robert Stauffer; Proofread 1998 by Thellie Lovejoy.
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/750
> Citation: ris/750
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> — *Pilgrim Notes (Used by permission of the curator)*