# A Tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.* --- > Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Violette Nakhjavani, A Tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, bahai-library.com. > ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── > > > > A TRIBUTE TO > AMATU'L-BAHÁ RÚHÍYYIH KHÁNUM 1 > > > > > > A > TRIBUTE > TO > > AMATU'L-BAHÁ > RÚHÍYYIH KHÁNUM > > by > Violette Nakhjavani > > > > Copyright 2000 > (c) National Spiritual Assembly > of the Bahá'ís of Canada > > All Rights Reserved > > Printed in Canada > > ISBN 0-88867-105-9 > > A joint project of > Bahá'í Canada > Publications > 7200 Leslie Street > Thornhill, Ontario > Canada L3T 6L8 > > 9P > Nine Pines Publishing > 26 Concourse Gate > Nepean, Ontario > Canada K2E 7T7 > > 1 This text includes plain-ASCII "markup" for future formatting. See at > > https://bahai-library.com/nakhjavani_tribute_ruhiyyih_khanum > > > CONTENTS > ---------------------------------------------- Page > > Prologue --------------------------------------- xi > > I Early Years ----------------------------------- 1 > > II Years of Marriage to Shoghi Effendi --------- 23 > > III Final Years of Service and Travel ---------- 57 > > IV Highlights of Her Travels ------------------- 87 > > > > > > LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS > > Frontispiece: Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, 1981 > > -----------------------------------Between pages > > Part I > > 1910 through 1923 -------------------- 8 and 9 > 1923 through 1926 ------------------- 16 and 17 > 1928 through 1936 ------------------- 22 and 23 > > Part II > > 1948 through 1953 ------------------- 50 and 51 > > Part III > > 1958 through 1963 -------------------- 64 and 65 > 1967 through 1987 -------------------- 70 and 71 > 1977 through 1993 -------------------- 76 and 77 > 1992 through 1997 -------------------- 80 and 81 > 1998 through 2000 -------------------- 86 and 87 > > Part IV > > 1964 through 1997 ------------------- 89 and 117 > > > > > ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS > > The writing of this tribute in its present form would not have been > possible without the indispensable assistance of Nell Golden, the > trusted and much-loved secretary of Amatu'l-Bahá, whose meticulous > research into the body of documents about Rúhíyyih Khánum's life > provided many of the facts incorporated into this text which she also > most kindly and painstakingly typeset. I also wish to express my > appreciation and deep gratitude to my daughter Bahiyyih Nakhjavani > for her invaluable help in editing this manuscript and to Audrey > Marcus for designing the cover. > > > > Note: Material in the tribute has been taken from the private papers > of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum. Unfortunately so far the original > letter of May Maxwell to Agnes Alexander quoted on pages 4-6 has not > been found but the text of the letter suggests a great deal of > credibility as it is in agreement in its essentials with the diary > notes found among the papers of Mírzá 'Alí Akbar Nakhjavání. > > > > > > PROLOGUE > > On January 19th in the year 2000, a lady passed away from this > world. She was unique, and with her passing a chapter ended, a page > of history turned. And when Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum's earthly > remains were buried a few days later, the Universal House of Justice > laid her to rest in a place that is also unique. For her grave is not > on the mountainside among the sacred monuments of the Greatest Holy > Leaf and other members of the family of Bahá'u'lláh nor is it in the > cemetery where Bahá'ís at the World Centre have been buried for so > many dec-ades past. But like her place in history, it seems, almost, > to have been prepared for her by Shoghi Effendi, and lies in a garden > all on its own. Flanked on each side by associations with those who > dominated her life--her mother May Maxwell and her own Guardian-her > grave is in the little park opposite the Master's House where she > lived for 63 years and in which she left her own unique mark. > > Although her place in history has thus been symbolically fixed > at her death, it will be much more difficult to frame and define a > life as rich and varied as that of Mary Maxwell, who was later given > the name and title of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum by her beloved > husband and her Guardian. We are still too close to her to be able to > understand the true value of her services to the Bahá'í world > community and still too limited in our grasp of our own history to be > able to evaluate the different perspectives afforded by her > personality. Perhaps we are also still too influenced at the present > time by > > the twin tendencies to over-exaggerate and underestimate in > the writing of biography, to be able to do her justice. For we have > not yet learned to distinguish between proper objectivity and > voyeurism, between tiresome hagiography and the telling of a person's > spiritual story. Perhaps it is too soon to write about the life of > Rúhíyyih Khánum. > > Certainly, I am no writer and would never presume to call myself > the biographer of someone as dynamic and forceful as 'Amatu'l-Bahá. > But owing to the immense honour I have had during these past forty > years, of knowing her and hearing the ways in which she chose to > define and to describe herself, I feel a certain responsibility to > make some first, poor and inadequate attempt to summarize the broad > outlines of her life. > > The following monograph, in three parts, is a summary of her > story within a simple chronological framework of events. These three > parts, from Mary Maxwell's birth to Rúhíyyih Khánum's final years, > cover her early years, her years of marriage to Shoghi Effendi, and > her final years of service and travels. Like the perspectives that > flank her resting-place, they also describe the broad influences of > her life: on one side, the Old Pilgrim House, where the very room in > which her mother stayed now overlooks her grave; on the other, the > dining room of No. 10 Haparsim, in which she sat by the Guardian's > side for all the years of her marriage; and opposite, the House of > 'Abdu'l-Bahá, a house redolent with history, marked by suffering and > death, a house she filled with life and laughter and to which those > whom she had met in the four comers of the world carne and enjoyed > her hospitality. > > > > It is a multi-faceted story with these and many more dimensions. > No doubt others more qualified than myself will explore it further > and will in the future understand it better than I can today. But > despite its modesty and insufficiency, I would like to offer this > small tribute to her, with my love. > > VIOLETTE NAKHJAVANI > > Haifa, Israel > August 2000, in memory > of Amatu'l-Bahá's 90th birthday > > > > > I > EARLY YEARS > > > > The birth of Mary Sutherland Maxwell, on August 8th, in the > Hahnemann Hospital, later known as The Fifth Avenue Hospital, in New > York City, was the hottest news to hit the North American Bahá'í > community in the summer of 1910. Ever since May Bolles had accepted > the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, she had been known and loved by all the > early Bahá'ís as one of the foremost disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá; her > husband, Sutherland Maxwell, was a distinguished architect in Canada > and their home in Montreal a place of culture and spiritual vitality. > When the Bahá'ís read the announcement: "A little daughter has come > to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Maxwell of Montreal, Canada", > in Vol. 1, issue 9 of the {Star of the West} on August 20th, it must > have caused many flutters of excited interest amongst them. There > must have been many who expressed their congratulations and sent > their good wishes. > > [.] > [.//] > .......... {In the garden of existence a rose hath bloomed with the > utmost freshness, fragrance and beauty. Educate her according to the > divine teachings so that she may grow up to be a real Bahá'í and > strive with all thy heart, that she may receive the Holy Spirit.} > [.///] > [.] > > These words of the Centre of the Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in a > Tablet dated March 2, 1911, were addressed to May Maxwell when Mary > was just seven months old and were surely the greatest confirmation > she had ever received of this blessing. The circumstances of her > little girl's birth were like a fairy tale and have been repeated, > and frequently distorted, since they were recorded in the > > early years of this century. May Maxwell gives us the original > version in a letter she wrote to Agnes Alexander, on May 7,1910: > > [.] > [.//] > > My Dearest Agnes, > .......... All of your dear letters have been received and... You > must have wondered that I could remain so silent in spite of all your > love and kindness but you will understand when I tell you that this > winter has been one of great physical weakness and suffering for me, > so that I have been most of the time unable to write, or to make any > effort. > > .......... A little more than a year ago when I was in Acca I was > passing one evening in the twilight in front of the Master's door. > His daughter Rouha was with me and in my arms I held her wee babe. I > suddenly saw Our Beloved Lord framed in the doorway gazing > attentively upon me--then He said--"You love that baby?" > > .......... "Oh! I love him," I replied--and after a pause Our Lord > said: "Come here, come in here," and I stood before Him in His room, > with the baby in my arms and Rouha by my side. Then the Blessed one > sat looking at us; and He said to me: "Would you like to have a > baby?" and I answered, "I should be so happy to have one--" and He > said, "Do you know why you never had one? It is because you were a > chosen maidservant of God--you were called for the service of God-- > you could not have children because you had to devote your time to > the service of the Cause. This is the only reason; this is the only > reason." > > .......... I stood with bowed head before Him and after a little > silence He said, "Speak, do you choose to have a child, you may > choose!" > > .......... Then I looked at Him with all my heart and soul and > adoration, and I said, "I choose whatever God chooses--I have no > choice but His." Although those words were very simple--in them I > renounced all hope of Motherhood. Then 'Abdu'l-Bahá arose quickly and > came to me and > > clasped me in His arms with the greatest love and joy, and He > said: "That is the best choice, the Will of God is the best choice", > and walking up and down the room He continued, "I will pray for you, > that God will send you that which is best for you. Be sure of this, > that God will send you that which is best for you--" and this He > repeated several times. > > .......... Thus ended this never-to-be forgotten scene--but I cannot > describe its reality--the deep significance of those moments--the > atmosphere of beauty and sanctity which pervaded the little room--the > surrender of a soul. in the Presence of the Lord--the quiet twilight > on earth mingling with the effulgent purity and peace of the Kingdom > of God. > > .......... And regarding the Adored One Himself--what can we say? > Such love--such wondrous love--revealed in Face and Voice and Eyes > and Touch! A love so tender to understand, so strong to redeem! He > desired for me as for all, the highest and best--not the wayward > mortal desiring--not even the natural human longings--not even the > pure flower of Motherhood--but the surrender of the soul to God by > which alone it attains the apex of severance and sanctity, and > becomes enkindled with the Fire of Eternal Love. > > .......... And so I have told you, my Agnes--of one scene of those > divine and perfect days in the Kingdom of God--and in time I shall > hope to tell you all... For those days live forever far above the > world--and I long to have you and all the dear ones share their > sacred fruits. And now my lamb I am going to confide to you a secret > which is the sequel to what I have told you. Our dear Lord has > favored His maidservant past all her hope, and by the pure showers of > His Bounty has watered the seed of life, and is bringing forth a > child. In a few months Inchallah, the babe He is sending to my > husband and me will be born, and I beg for your prayers, both for the > little one and for myself--for I am not strong--nor young! and > physically I am passing through some trials--and this winter I had a > > fall which nearly proved fatal. I have not told the friends-- > even the most intimate--but I wanted you to know--and I know you will > keep my confidence. > [.///] > [.] > > May took her Lord's injunctions to heart. She strove to educate > her precious, God-given daughter according to the divine teachings > just as He had instructed her to do. She did her utmost to ensure > that her little Mary should grow up "to be a real Bahá'í" in order > that she might indeed be able to "receive the Holy Spirit" just as > the Master promised. > > Some years ago, Amatu'l-Bahá showed me a small black photo album > which she had found in the desk drawer of the beloved Guardian after > his passing. He had arranged his favourite photographs of Mary > Maxwell in this album, from babyhood through to her teenage years. > And there was among them a photograph of her at age five of which he > was particularly fond. In a little note written by May Maxwell > herself we find a description very similar to this photograph, which > warms the heart. She writes: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... Mary was just five years old when this picture of her > bursting thru the daisy beds was taken. This picture reveals almost > all of Mary. If we were so developed that we could see the inner > things as well as the outer we would know all about Mary by studying > this picture. Here she is in her own world--the kingdom of Nature > which she so loves--the sun, the air, the flowers, everything that > grows is dear and familiar to her. Most of all the animal world from > the tiniest bug to the king of the animal kingdom Mary adores--and > this lion king is the favourite of all. Ever since she was a toddling > baby Mother Nature has held sway over the passionate love of this > child--so that in the even brief years of her life she has learned > all about beetles, worms, caterpillars, flies, ants, bees, wasps, > hornets, spiders, etc.--where they live, how they live, what they > eat, and what changes > > they undergo. She knows about toads, frogs, lizards, snakes, mud > eels, and I don't know what slimy creatures. All this knowledge she > has gained at first hand, straight from the source by watching these > creatures-catching them--keeping them for a time and feeding them-- > and then making people read her all about them in books. > [.///] > [.] > > Rúhíyyih Khánum used to refer to her formal education as > "patchy", recalling her school days to have been few and far between. > The traditional educational methods of the time tended to be rigid > and authoritarian, narrow-minded and dictatorial, and little Mary may > have suffered from these methods, for her spirit was untrammelled and > her will strong. Her mother's concern to provide her with the > "freedom" which 'Abdu'l-Bahá had prescribed is reflected in a letter > addressed to Marion Holley (Hofman) dated July 15th, 1937, in which > May Maxwell tells about Mary's early training: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... ...You may know that when Rúhíyyih was three or four years > old I imported the first set (Montessori Method) to Canada, with a > Montessori teacher from New York and established the first school of > this type in Canada (Montreal) in our own home.... It really did > wonders for her and the other eight children, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, with > whom I discussed Montessori's work in 1912, said that she was the > greatest modern psychologist... It was through all this that I became > interested in the "Movement of Progress and Education" of which I was > practically a charter member and subscribed to their magazine edited > by Stanwood Cobb. > [.///] > [.] > > After such beginnings, she also had a year of schooling in > Montreal, a few months in Chevy Chase Country Day School in Maryland > and another year in Weston High School in Montreal. Between these > haphazard school experiences she was tutored at home by governesses > and > > private teachers, but this was the sum total of her scholastic > training until she later became a part-time student at McGill > University, where she used to say she invariably arrived at her 9,00 > A.M. class late! Her mother, who suffered from nervous disorders and > insomnia throughout her life, could not bear to wake Mary up early in > the mornings as she had a theory that young people's sleep should > never be disturbed! Be that as it may, there is a copy of her paper, > dated May 1931, for the Department of Economics at McGill University > entitled "The Bahá'í System of Public Finance" by Mary Maxwell, on > which she herself has written: "I passed with 2nd class honours on > this in a fourth year course!" Rúhíyyih Khánum used to explain that > the reason for her unconventional upbringing and education was her > mother's bad health, and the constant fear she had of losing her. > When she was away from home, she would become acutely anxious for her > mother, who was physically fragile and had come close to death on > many occasions. > > Yet despite these inconsistencies of education, she was to > become a well-read and knowledgeable person, with a consuming > interest in a variety of subjects. Her thirst for acquiring knowledge > was insatiable and throughout her life, practically to the very end, > she clipped articles from the daily papers which caught her attention > because they reflected Bahá'í themes or subjects of particular > interest to her. She loved to have her favourite fairy tales read to > her when she was young, and since she did not want to leave a story > unfinished when her mother put her to bed, she simply learned to read > unaided in order to go on reading the story to the end. It may have > been this habit which accustomed her to reading late at night. She > used to say, "I have been weaned on the classical European fairy > tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen." > > > > The Oz books were also among her favourites. These beautiful > editions, some of which were graced with original drawings by Arthur > Rackham and Kay Neilson, were treasured by her to the very end of her > life. Her beloved father, from whom she inherited her artistic > abilities, her knowledge of antiques, and her love of good books, > increased this collection whenever he came across a particularly > beautiful edition of her favourites. > > She had a full, free and happy childhood. Her only sorrows at > this time, which she would speak of until late in life, were the > periods of separation from her beloved mother. May Maxwell was a > devoted and dedicated servant of the Cause, a member of several > Bahá'í administrative bodies, as well as one of the star teachers of > the Faith. She suffered greatly from the extreme cold of Montreal and > her ill health would often keep her away from her home for two or > more months at a time. She would go to New York or Wilmette to attend > meetings, would become ill and then could not return home for several > weeks. The physical attachment and spiritual kinship that connected > mother and daughter was singular and strong. Rúhíyyih Khánum often > said, "If Bahá'ís believed in such things as 'soul mates', my mother > and I would be like that." This bond, consciously nurtured by May > Maxwell herself, is beautifully expressed in a letter written by the > mother to her daughter some years later: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... ...however often I have been compelled to leave you since > you were a little child, for the sake of this great Cause in which we > are united, and however lonely you may have often been, you never > suffered alone, because I was always with you, I felt for you more > deeply than you can ever realize, and it is out of the pangs of this > mighty motherlove that my spiritual motherhood to you has been born. > [.///] > [.] > > > > However arbitrary and independent may have been her formal > intellectual education, there are clear indications that her > spiritual training was pursued with rigour and unrelenting > discipline. It was a training whose hallmark was love and whose main > characteristic was obedience to the Covenant. There is a vast amount > of correspondence between May Maxwell and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in which > references can be found to the little girl, many of which indicate > the attention and love of the Master for the child. In a rare letter > from Mr. W. S. Maxwell to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, dated March 12th, 1915, he > says, "Little Mary is a joy to us and thinks of you very frequently. > She loves you with a deep and true love and understanding." Her > spiritual training had clearly begun from a very early age. > > Rúhíyyih Khánum was often asked if she remembered 'Abdu'l-Bahá's > three-day visit to their home during the fall of 1912. She would > answer with her characteristic honesty, "I was only two years old. I > don't think I remember it, but all my life I heard my mother telling > me in detail of all oft hose precious and blessed days, so the events > imprinted on my subconscious seem like my own memories." May Maxwell > recorded in her notes a particularly moving reference to the arrival > of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the Maxwell home on the night of August 30th, > 1912, and His words on that occasion: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... "... home", He said, "all that is in it is mine"--turning > with an ineffable look He continued--"You are mine--your husband and > child. This is my home." He was cold and we lighted a fire. He looked > about and He asked where the child was. When we said that she was > sleeping He told us not to disturb her and added, "dark indeed is the > home where there is no child." > [.///] > [.] > > There is an especially touching story about this visit, > > told by 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself to His companions and recorded in > the memoirs of A. A. Nakhjavani. 'Abdu'l-Bahá told them: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... "Today I was resting on the {chaise longue} in my bedroom > and the door opened. The little girl came in to me and pushed my > eyelids up with her small finger and said, 'Wake up. 'Abdu'l-Bahá!' I > took her in my arms and placed her head on my chest and we both had a > good sleep." > [.///] > [.] > > When Rúhíyyih Khánum repeated this story in later years she used > to say that once when her mother complained to 'Abdu'l-Bahá that she > was naughty, the Master had said. "Leave her alone. She is the > essence of sweetness." > > The years of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry were drawing to a close > with World War I, and as a precursor to His Will and Testament, He > sent the Tablets of the Divine Plan to the Bahá'ís of the West. It > was a sacred legacy to the North American continent and the Bahá'ís > celebrated this epoch-making event with befitting solemnity. Nine > young girls were chosen from the community, and, to the sound of > solemn music, drew aside the curtains covering the original > handwritten Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Mary Maxwell, adorned in a new > pink dress, and her best childhood friend, Elizabeth Coristine of > Montreal, were privileged to unveil the first and second of these > Tablets for Canada in a spectacular {tableau vivant} which took place > in the Hotel McAlpin in New York on April 29th, 1919 at 10:00 a.m. It > was shortly before Mary's ninth birthday and the end of the Heroic > Age of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh. > > The passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in November 1921, devastated the > whole Bahá'í community. both in the East and West, but the blow > proved almost fatal to May Maxwell, who was given the news abruptly > and brutally, over the > > telephone, without any forewarning. She was so shattered and so > shaken in body and soul that she may have become a permanent invalid > had not Mr. Maxwell finally intervened. He convinced her that the > only way she would be able to leave her wheelchair was if she went to > visit the Shrines in the Holy Land and met her beloved Guardian, face > to face. And he thought Mary should go with her. She used to say in > later years, "My father was busy with his work at the Chateau > Frontenac and my mother was an invalid. There was no one else to > accompany her but me and an Irish Catholic maid. And I was twelve > years old." > > Just seventeen months after the Ascension of the Master and four > months before her 13th birthday, therefore, they set sail from New > York for the Holy Land, on April 29th, 1923. This was Mary's first > pilgrimage and left an indelible impression and many memories in her > heart and mind. In later years she recalled, in a personal letter, > how she was touched by "the spirit of service" she discovered in > Haifa: > [.] > [.//] > .......... ...a Queen or a beggar woman would be met with the same > loving sweetness. Indeed it was this divine normality that really > confirmed me here as a little girl of twelve years. > > .......... It was the first time she met the beloved Guardian and she > often described that meeting with a sweet pleasure in the > remembrance. They were installed in the Old Western Pilgrim House at > the end of Persian Street and her mother, who had not been able to > walk for over a year, was resting in bed. Since her nights were > frequently sleepless and her nerves delicate, Mary had learned from > an early age to protect her from intrusion and was vigilant against > disturbances. She said that she was in the hallway of the Pilgrim > House when the door suddenly opened and > > a young man stepped in, with a swift, deft movement, and asked > if he could see Mrs. Maxwell. She was a tall girl for her age, fully > grown and physically well-developed already. She said she pulled > herself up to her full height and, looking him squarely in the eyes, > asked to know, with considerable dignity and aplomb, who it was who > wished to see Mrs. Maxwell. The young gentleman meekly replied, "I am > Shoghi Effendi", upon which she turned tail and fled into her > mother's room in mortified embarrassment. Hiding her head, as she > used to say "like a puppy", beneath her mother's pillows, she could > only point to the door and gasp, "He-he--is there!" when her mother > asked her what the matter was. And when May Maxwell found out who it > was behind the door, she said, "Pull yourself together, Mary, and go > and invite him in." > > They were away from Montreal for almost a year. Shoghi Effendi, > before leaving for Europe that summer--for he was exhausted by the > weight of his responsibilities and needed to recuperate his own > strength--advised Mrs. Maxwell to spend the time in Egypt, and so > during his absence from the Middle East she stayed in Port Said with > her daughter and her maid. After his return, Shoghi Effendi recalled > them to Haifa for another lengthy stay, as a result of which they had > two pilgrimages during that single year. May came back to the States > in 1924, in time to attend the National Bahá'í Convention. Filled > with joy and restored to health, she redoubled her efforts in the > teaching work and began to educate the friends in the Bahá'í > Administration, in which she had been carefully instructed by Shoghi > Effendi during her pilgrimage. > > Two years later, Mary accompanied Juliet Thompson and Daisy > Smythe to the Holy Land. They were two of her mother's closest > friends, and Juliet Thompson, too, had been designated by the Master > as His "disciple". On > > this pilgrimage Mary often spoke of her deep sorrow at leaving > the Greatest Holy Leaf, whose high station she had come to recognize > and cherish despite her own youth, and whom she loved dearly despite > the difference of their ages. During her first pilgrimage, the > Greatest Holy Leaf had asked to see Mary's performance of the > Egyptian 'shimmy', which she had learned that summer in Port Said, > and had laughed till the tears rolled down her cheeks when young > Mary, dressed in full costume, with {kohl} around her eyes and a drum > under her arm, had sung and danced before her in the Master's House, > Now on this second pilgrimage it was a more mature Mary who > understood with sadness that this would be the last time she would > see Bahíyyih Khánum. the greatest lady and heroine of the Bahá'í > Dispensation, whom she described as the essence of meekness and > gentleness. > > Back in Canada, she threw herself eagerly into all kinds of > youth activities, both within the Bahá'í administration as well as > elsewhere. all of which were just as important to her as the studies > she pursued with equal enthusiasm. From then on she was continuously > involved in membership on committees and in her efforts to promote > the cause of racial amity. Shortly before she was 16, she became a > member of the Executive Committee of The Fellowship of Canadian Youth > for Peace, serving as its Treasurer. On November 30th, 1928, her > mother wrote, "Mary is well and doing splendid work with her studies, > besides the 'Fratority' Society whose membership is constantly > extending and whose influence is becoming a strong power for interracial amity of all kinds in this city." As was expected, soon after > she had turned 21, she was elected on the Local Spiritual Assembly of > Montreal, as well as on the Teaching Committee. > > > > Her training in oratory and public speaking too began early. She > used to mention an incident which took place after her return from > her second pilgrimage, when she was almost 16. In a Bahá'í meeting at > Green Acre, one of the well-known old Bahá'ís paused in his lecture > unexpectedly and, turning to young Mary Maxwell, asked her to come up > on the platform and tell the friends about her experiences in the > Holy Land. She said she was shocked and tried to escape through the > door but was caught before she could get away. The speaker reminded > her that since she had had the great privilege of visiting the Holy > Shrines and hearing the beloved Guardian, it was her duty to share > these bounties with others! > > From informal talks like this she graduated to more formal > engagements, which required conscious preparation, both of thought > and spirit. Just before her nineteenth birthday, she spoke at the > National Bahá'í Convention in a manner that evidently touched many > peoples' hearts and minds. In a letter to May Maxwell after this > event Elizabeth Herlitz writes, "Sorry I did not hear your daughter > speak on Saturday eve during the Convention. I was told I had missed > one of the outstanding features of the entire Bahá'í Program." > Increasingly, too, she began to accompany her mother on teaching > trips, during which she had occasion not only to observe her mother's > manner of giving Bahá'í talks but also to learn how to lecture > herself, in the Bahá'í spirit. May writes: "Mary and I have been on a > three weeks' teaching trip since the Convention.... I have been > entirely submerged in the field of teaching with Mary where we have > done our first united work together with remarkable results..." It > was soon after this trip that she received her first letter from the > beloved Guardian, dated May 29th and written in his own hand: > > > > [.] > [.//] > My dear co-worker: > > .......... I am much pleased to learn of your growing activities in > the Cause & I will supplicate from the depths of my heart in your > behalf at the holy Shrines that the Beloved may graciously guide you > & assist you to render inestimable services to His Cause in the days > to come. > Your true brother, > Shoghi > [.///] > [.] > > One of the most wonderful events of her life, at the age of 20, > was a lecture she delivered in New York City at the Friends' Meeting > House. Her subject, "Mysticism in the Bahá'í Religion", was daunting > and all the other speakers at this Congress were seasoned lecturers > and famous orators. One of these, Syud Hossain, was described as an > "incomparable lecturer on the Orient, world peace and international > relations", and was the editor of "The New Orient". Several wellknown university professors, bishops and canons of different churches > also addressed the Congress, and at the end of the programme, there > was also to be a talk given by the conceited enemy of the Bahá'í > Faith, Ahmad Sohrab. After her lecture she received a standing > ovation, and on that same day was given the following cable: "HEARTY > CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL CONSCIENTIOUS AND ABLE PRESENTATION > OF A GREAT AND DIFFICULT THEME I AM HAPPY AND PROUD OF YOU--SYUD > HOSSAIN". > > Her writing began early too. She wrote books and plays and > poetry, and her highest hope was to one day become an author. She > busied herself with early literary efforts, writing articles with > such titles as "Have the Emotions a Place Today?" She was developing > that diversity and range of skills that would serve to make of her a > perfect instrument of service in the hands of her beloved Guardian, > who noted her progress with keen interest. > > > When a copy of the translation of Nabíl's Narrative by the > beloved Guardian, {The Dawn-Breakers}, reached the Maxwells, they > wrote a letter of gratitude to Shoghi Effendi, and in reply he > encouraged Mary to study this book and lecture on it. The article she > wrote entitled 'The Re-florescence of Historical Romance in Nabíl', > which he later included in {The Bahá'í World}, Volume V (1932-34), > was surely a result of the Guardian's direct encouragement, and the > ardent, youthful enthusiasm which it reveals must have informed her > unforgettable lectures on the Heroic Age of the Cause. These were > first given in Montreal and then later in Green Acre, continued in > Louhelen, and finally at Esslingen in Germany. > > A letter of Shoghi Effendi's to May Maxwell at this time shows > how closely he was following the development and spiritual training > of this remarkable young woman. It was as though he had undertaken > her spiritual education himself, was guiding her choices and > carefully directing her attentions so that she would not dissipate > her spiritual potential: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... I feel that she should, while pursuing her studies, devote > her energies to an intensive study of, & vigorous service to, the > Cause, of which I hope & trust she will grow to become a brilliant > and universally honoured exponent. I am sure, far from feeling > disappointed or hurt at my sugges-tion, she will redouble in her > activities & efforts to approach & attain the high standard destined > for her by the beloved Master. Your plan of travelling with her > throughout Canada in the service of the Cause is a splendid one & > highly opportune. Kindly assure her & her dear father of my best > wishes & prayers for their happiness welfare & success. > > Your true & affectionate brother, > Shoghi > [.///] > [.] > > In May 1933, Mary spent several weeks in Washington, > > D.C. first with her mother and then alone, teaching the Faith > and concentrating her efforts on finding ways to draw the two > opposing races together, for the cause of racial unity was close to > her heart and the rights and responsibilities of both races was a > subject that touched her keenly throughout her life, On November 20th > of that year she spoke at the "coloured people's Church" in Montreal. > Fred Schopflocher wrote to May about this event, saying, > > [.] > [.//] > .......... She had everybody spellbound and how that girl looked, > just ravishing, just the daughter of her mother! With a pure white > blouse she stood forth like the silvery moon in a dark, dark night > and her little green hat, green in its symbol, a beacon of hope, > faith and assurance. I truly was proud of the girl, my dear little > Mary and you know, May, it is not often that I enthuse, there is > conviction to the truth behind it.... > > .......... Well this affair was wonderful. Mr. Este was at his best > ... and practically announced himself a Bahá'í from the pulpit and > his congregation with it. > [.///] > [.] > > Rev. Este, the parson of this Church, remained a life-long > friend of Rúhíyyih Khánum's, despite the fact that he never actually > became a Bahá'í. In 1970, during my first visit to the Americas, I > met him in Montreal, when he was elderly and retired. But despite his > frailty he came especially to the Maxwell home, now the Shrine, to > see Rúhíyyih Khánum, and it was clear that a deep love and friendship > had existed between them since that occasion in 1934. > > In contrast to her earnest efforts at promoting Bahá'í > principles at the grass roots, Mary attended official functions with > her father at home in Montreal during her early twenties, meeting the > Governor-General of Canada at events such as the Royal Canadian > Academy's Fifty-Fourth > > Exhibition, It was this balance between high and low, between > her obligations to the Bahá'í community in particular and society at > large that would serve her so well in later years, She always had the > ability to mingle with officialdom and humble folk with equal ease; > her support of local Bahá'í teaching work as well as social issues at > the international level was equally enthusiastic throughout her life. > > Rúhíyyih Khánum used to say that as a young woman she had very > much wanted to learn Spanish but when, in 1935, civil war threatened > her plans to go to Spain for this purpose, she was induced to > accompany her cousins Jeanne and Randolph Bolles to Germany instead. > Her aunt, who was German herself, accompanied them and they sailed > for Europe on July 10th, From August of that same year. May also > joined them and, for the next year and a half, while May spent most > of her time teaching and helping the friends in France and Belgium, > Mary paralleled her mother's work in Germany. > > She became so enamoured of Germany during this time that she > asked Shoghi Effendi if she might stay in this country rather than > returning to travel with her mother. May writes that Mary was > "greatly encouraged by the Guardian to concentrate her efforts where > her heart is!" She was, as her mother puts it, "Among a people who > seem so akin to her that--as I believe I wrote you--her whole nature > has undergone a radical change under this new and profound > influence." An old-time Montreal friend, S. H. Abramson, visiting in > Europe, writes to May that, "Mary has fallen in love with Germany and > become almost 100% German," She learned the language with such > fluency and spoke with so perfect an accent that many thought her to > be German, She used to say when she travelled in northern Germany > people would ask her > > if she was from the south, and when she was in the south, they > thought she was from the north! > > To have lived in Germany during its most critical period in the > twentieth century, with her attention fixed solely on the work of the > Cause, her efforts given entirely to the development of its > institutions, and her time spent primarily in the company of Bahá'ís > who were later destined to suffer so terribly under Hitler's regime, > is surely an indication of the mettle she was made of. Tall and > beautiful, under a crown of light brown hair and dressed in a > 'dirndl', she passed through the fire unscathed as the jack boots > marched and the banners thickened the air about her. How strong was > her obedience to her Guardian during this period, and how much this > obedience must have protected her at this fearful time. For she > received encouragement every step of the way, and guidance. In > addition, both she and her mother received a warm invitation to come > to the Holy Land at the end of their extended stay in Europe. Shoghi > Effendi's secretary writes to May Maxwell on January 21st, 1936 that: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... The Guardian is very much encouraged & gratified to learn > of the progress & success of your dear daughter's activities in the > teaching field. He wishes you to congratulate her most heartily upon > the success that has attended her work in Munich. He hopes that her > "first German off-spring" Mr. Alfonse Giesel will, as a result of > such a contact, become a most active & leading servant of the Cause > in Germany. > [.///] > [.] > > In the postscript below, the Guardian writes, in his own hand: > > [.] > [.//] > Dearly-beloved co-worker: > > .......... I wish to assure you in person of a most hearty welcome. > > Your distinguished services, so loyally, courageously & > devotedly rendered, in both the European & American continents, fully > entitle you to visit the Holy Shrines & to draw fresh inspiration > from the Source of His inexhaustible grace. I am profoundly thankful > for what you, Mary & Mrs. Bolles have achieved, & for the spirit > which animates you in His service. The Beloved is well-pleased with > the many evidences of your exemplary devotion to His Cause & of > perseverance in the path of service. Affectionately > Shoghi > [.///] > [.] > > A week later, the Guardian's secretary addressed a letter to > Mary Maxwell herself, on behalf of Shoghi Effendi. His guidance must > have seemed like a bright beacon before her in the midst of a > darkening Europe, in which the spirit was being extinguished more and > more: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... The Guardian is very pleased, indeed to learn that you are > so much longing to visit the Holy Shrines, after so many years. He > wishes me, therefore, to hasten in extending to you a most hearty > welcome. Your dear Mother, who we have just learned is now in Paris, > has also expressed a desire to visit Haifa, and the Guardian has > extended to her too, a most cordial invitation. > > .......... Before your coming to Haifa Shoghi Effendi would advise > you to visit the centers in Germany and if possible to extend your > trip to Austria and the Balkans where we have now a chain of active > and prosperous communities that link the Western with the Eastern > part of Europe. He would even suggest that you follow that route when > you come to Haifa, as this would be of great interest to you, and of > invaluable encouragement to the friends in these new and somewhat > isolated centers. > [.///] > [.] > > Shoghi Effendi added, in his postscript: > > [.] > [.//] > Dear and valued co-worker: > > > > .......... I wish to assure you in person of a hearty welcome to > visit the Holy Land and lay your head on the sacred Threshold after > having rendered valuable services in the Faith in both America and > Europe. For those you have asked me to pray, in your letters. I will > supplicate the blessings of Bahá'u'lláh. Rest assured. Your true > brother, > Shoghi > [.///] > [.] > Mary Maxwell fulfilled the injunctions of the beloved Guardian. > She travelled to every single community in Germany, met every > isolated believer, group, or Assembly, from north to south and east > to west of the country. By the time she had accomplished this task, a > year had passed and the rumblings of war were upon them in earnest. > It was impossible now to travel through the Balkans or Austria, and > she and her mother were then urged by Shoghi Effendi to come to the > Holy Land directly. It was a turning point. > > When mother and daughter registered their names in the Pilgrims' > book in Haifa on January 12th, 1937, another chapter began in the > life of Mary Maxwell. Her training and spiritual education were over. > She had passed the test and come out true. As Shoghi Effendi told May > Maxwell on this pilgrimage, her daughter now had the spiritual > foundation on which she could be "moulded and disciplined". According > to May's notes, he said: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... She has clear perception and sound judgement and is very > just. Her judgements and attitudes are _correct_--_sound_--as I told > her in regard to her attitude toward the government in Germany. You > must be very happy--hopeful and assured. Remember all I have written > you and Mary about her future--it will all be fulfilled--and > attained. She has many years before her. You will be very happy--very > proud of her--so will her Father. > [.///] > [.] > > > > II > > YEARS OF MARRIAGE > TO SHOGHI EFFENDI > > > > > > II > > Pilgrimage was a unique experience for every pilgrim. To sit at > the dinner table with the "Sign of God on earth", to be able to ask > him questions and receive his answers, these were bounties indeed > beyond estimation. For May and Mary Maxwell, pilgrimage must have > felt like an unexpected privilege, a glance from the grace of God > after their lengthy sojourn in a Europe darkened by wars and rumours > of wars. Their pilgrims' notes were among the most widely circulated > at that time. Rúhíyyih Khánum used to say that Shoghi Effendi allowed > her to take down these notes in his presence and then correct them > the following evening, for mother and daughter reviewed their notes > each night, raising further questions of Shoghi Effendi if they had > any doubts, so that no errors would be made. The Maxwell pilgrim > notes are voluminous; Volume II alone is 37 pages long and bears a > note by Rúhíyyih Khánum: "The classifying under head-ings was done by > me in order to keep the subjects often referred to together. R.R." > > It was at the end of their pilgrimage that one day the mother of > Shoghi Effendi asked to speak to May Maxwell and told her of Shoghi > Effendi's offer of marriage to her daughter. Mary did not know of it > until some weeks later. In reminiscing about those days, Rúhíyyih > Khánum used to say, with a twinkle in her eyes, that the beloved > Guardian took her in hand and taught her Persian calligraphy after > dinner in the course of those unforgettable evenings. He gave her a > set of reed pens and ink and special mulberry papers and tutored her > in the art of writing the Persian script. He also gave her a set of > cards to copy from, > > on which the great calligrapher, Mishkin-Qalam, had written the > Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh in three different styles of writing. In > our early years in Haifa, she showed my husband and myself her > copying note books in which Shoghi Effendi had himself written a line > in his exquisite handwriting for her to copy underneath. She told us, > "I could never copy his delicate script exactly, and the length of my > sentence was always at least twice as long as his." And then she > would add, with a bewitching smile, "I think Shoghi Effendi wanted an > excuse to stay longer with me and to get to know me better!" > > It was that time of the year when the mimosa trees were in full > bloom and often, when she saw their golden showers in early spring, > Rúhíyyih Khánum would remember and speak of the day when the > Guardian's younger sister came to her and said, "Shoghi Effendi wants > to see you in his room." She had no notion of what was awaiting her, > but on her way out of the Pilgrim House she broke a small branch of > the mimosa flower and carried it with her into the presence of Shoghi > Effendi and offered it to her beloved. That was the day he told her > of his wish to marry her. Rúhíyyih Khánum used to say, "I was alone > with Shoghi Effendi for only 15 minutes before our marriage." > > The wedding took place on March 24th, 1937, in Haifa. It was on > this occasion that the beloved Guardian gave her the name Rúhíyyih > Khánum. May Maxwell, in a letter to her dear friend Leonora Holsapple > (Armstrong), dated September 28th, 1938, gives us a glimpse of this > unique event. > > [.] > [.//] > .......... As one might have expected, the Guardian's marriage was > utterly simple, devoid of every earthly trapping, yet perfect in its > beauty and simplicity. A few weeks after Rúhíyyih Khánum and I > arrived in Haifa, the Guardian with utmost > gentleness began to teach her Persian and to give special > attention to her general training and education.... Later, through > conversations with his dear mother talking to me confidentially at > his request (in the true oriental manner!) I was gradually informed, > but at that time my daughter knew nothing about it, until the day, a > week or two later, when the younger sister of the Guardian took her > into his presence. Whatever happened at that time is known only to > God, but He sustained and supported her in what was perhaps the most > overwhelming shock of her life, with her deep reverence, almost > worship of the Guardian as the Sign of God upon this earth. It was > almost too much for a human being to bear. On March 24th the Guardian > took Rúhíyyih Khánum in his car to the tomb of Bahá'u'lláh where he > chanted two prayers in the inner sanctuary and told her that that was > the reality of the marriage. They were alone. When they returned, the > Guardian's mother took them alone into the room of the Greatest Holy > Leaf... Then all the families greeted and embraced them, the > certificates of marriage were signed, and later Shoghi Effendi and > his little western wife came to the Pilgrim House and it was our turn > to embrace them and to feel all that it was possible to feel at such > an overwhelming moment. There is no doubt about it that to us it was > more like a dream than reality. The Guardian has shown her a love and > kindness, an understanding and sympathy through which she is steadily > developing, and although the tests are severe, Leonora, past all our > comprehension, yet through the divine protection she is steadily > attaining that station which God has ordained for her. > [.///] > [.] > > When Rúhíyyih Khánum spoke of her wedding on certain occasions > she used to say, as she also wrote in {The Priceless Pearl}, that on > her wedding day, when she went with Shoghi Effendi to Bahjí, "I > remember I was dressed, except for a white lace blouse, entirely in > black for this > > unique occasion, and was a typical example of the way oriental > women dressed to go out into the streets in those days, the custom > being to wear black." The ring, which was a simple Bahá'í ring in the > shape of a heart, had been given to her the day Shoghi Effendi > proposed. He had asked her then to wear it on a chain around her > neck, and on the day of their marriage, in the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, > he took it from her and put it on her finger himself. It was a ring > that had been given to Shoghi Effendi by the Greatest Holy Leaf, and > Rúhíyyih Khánum later had one made exactly like it for the beloved > Guardian. They were both buried with their rings on their fingers. > After the recital of the marriage vow, which took place in the room > of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the mother of Shoghi Effendi placed > Rúhíyyih Khánum's hand in the hand of her son, according to the old > Persian tradition of "dast be dast". The witnesses were the father > and the mother of the Guardian. > Rúhíyyih Khánum often remarked that that evening with her > parents present at the dinner table was not different from all the > other evenings. It was only after dinner when Shoghi Effendi got up > to leave that, as she used to say, "I followed him across the road to > 'Abdu'l-Bahá's House and upstairs to his apartment." Her suitcase had > been carried up already by Fujita, the Japanese Bahá'í serving Shoghi > Effendi, earlier in the day. > > The news of this blessed marriage electrified the Bahá'í world, > both in the East and the West. Cables composed by the beloved > Guardian and signed by his mother were sent to the National Spiritual > Assembly of Iran and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United > States and Canada. The one to the West, dated March 27th, 1937, read > as follows: > > > > [.] > [.//] > ANNOUNCE ASSEMBLIES CELEBRATION MARRIAGE BE-LOVED GUARDIAN STOP > INESTIMABLE HONOUR CONFERRED UPON HANDMAID OF BAHA'U'LLAH RUHIYYIH > KHANUM MISS MARY MAXWELL STOP UNION OF EAST AND WEST PROCLAIMED BY > BAHA'I FAITH CEME TED. [SIGNED] ZIAIYYIH, MOTHER OF THE GUARDIAN > [.///] > [.] > > Later, responding to the congratulatory message of the above > National Spiritual Assembly, Shoghi Effendi cabled: > > [.] > [.//] > DEEPLY MOVED YOUR MESSAGE. INSTITUTION GUARDIANSHIP HEAD CORNERSTONE > ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER CAUSE BAHA'U'LLAH ALREADY ENNOBLED THROUGH ITS > ORGANIC CONNECTION WITH PERSONS OF TWIN FOUNDERS BAHA'I FAITH IS NOW > FURTHER REINFORCED THROUGH DIRECT ASSOCIATION WITH WEST AND > PARTICULARLY WITH AMERICAN BELIEVERS WHOSE SPIRITUAL DESTINY IS TO > USHER IN WORLD ORDER BAHA'U'LLAH. FOR MY PART DESIRE CONGRATULATE > COMMUNITY AMERICAN BELIEVERS ON ACQUISITION TIE VITALLY BINDING THEM > TO SO WEIGHTY AN ORGAN OF THEIR FAITH. > [.///] > [.] > > Even the Montreal newspaper, "The Gazette", announced the > marriage: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... Miss Mary Maxwell, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William > Sutherland Maxwell, of Montreal, whose marriage to Shoghi Effendi > Rabbani, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, which took place in Haifa, > Palestine, on Saturday last is announced. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were > present at the ceremony. The bride and groom will live in Haifa, > which is the centre of this faith. The groom is the grandson of Sir > Abdul Baha Abbas and great-grandson of Baha'ollah, founder of the > movement and formulator of its principles. > [.///] > [.] > > I myself remember, as a small child in Tehran, how much everyone > rejoiced, how lavish were the banquets that were spread throughout > the Bahá'í community in > > celebration of this wonderful event. It was like a fairy tale > come true! > > But the reality for Rúhíyyih Khánum herself must have been far > otherwise; the period of adjustment that followed for her was a > training time which could not have been easy. Already, the > circumstances, however propitious, were hardly conducive to > tranquillity of spirit. To be parted at so great a distance from her > beloved parents and say goodbye to her familiar life in Montreal, to > be plunged into an oriental household together with all her in-laws > under one roof, must have been hard for this young woman raised with > a degree of freedom that was unusual even in the West at that time. > Despite her natural buoyancy of temper and optimistic nature, she > must have longed for and missed her parents terribly during these > early years. In a letter to them she writes: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... Your love and the sense of your strength and courage > sustain me in a way you cannot dream of... I have learned to be happy > in a moment--to ride the waves. When the weather is calm I look > around and enjoy everything. When a wave comes I go thro it as best I > can and come out the other side! > [.///] > [.] > > It was especially hard at the beginning when she did not know > the Persian language, for although the members of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's > family all spoke English, they communicated with each other in > Persian. It was only natural, when comments were passed and jokes > were shared which she did not understand, that she would have felt > left out. Were it not for her beloved, Rúhíyyih Khánum may well have > been bereft. > > But there were greater tests than mere loneliness and far > greater trials than cultural isolation awaiting this young, naïve and > open-hearted bride. Rúhíyyih Khánum > > had a free and unsuspicious nature. She had entered this > household with a sense of deep love, indeed almost veneration, for > all who were related to Shoghi Effendi. What a blow it must have been > so soon after her marriage to the Guardian, to first feel the winds > of ill will blowing from the members of the household towards him, to > recognize the signs of dissension harbouring within the bosom of his > family towards the Centre of the Cause. She used to speak of those > days with deep sorrow and pain. Many times we heard her say, "When I > saw those oak trees fall one after another, I wept and prayed for my > own soul, a mere blade of grass." For one by one, in those early > years of her marriage, the family fell away from faithfulness; the > branches of Afnán and Aghsán broke off from the mighty tree of the > Covenant. They all left, one by one, until she was alone in that > house at the side of her beloved. "Shoghi Effendi held me tight under > his protective arms", she used to say. > > She told us that during that first year of her marriage she > suffered so much that one day she stood outside her room on the > balcony and in deep distress said to herself, "I have reached the end > of my tether." Her vivid imagination created a picture of her with a > rope in her hand, herself at the bottom of the rope! Her sense of > humour and her logical mind reminded her that, "Well, you are at the > end of your tether, you cannot go down any farther, but you can climb > up it!" From then on, she said, she never reached the end of her > rope, as she could always climb up again. > > She became the Guardian's shield and his sole support in those > dark days of spiritual convulsion in the family of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. > There was a time when Shoghi Effendi could not trust any member of > his family to be alone with the Persian pilgrims for fear of the > negative impact of > > their poisonous innuendoes and inferences. He would ask > Rúhíyyih Khánum to go down and sit with them. She told us that she > had once been ill with jaundice, had had a fever and was as yellow as > a canary, but despite this Shoghi Effendi sent her down to sit with > the Persian women pilgrims. She could not go back up to bed until the > last one had finally left. He was equally rigorous about strict > attendance at all Holy Day celebrations and would tell Rúhíyyih > Khánum that if she felt indisposed, it would bring her healing to > participate in these gatherings, which were in honour of the Central > Figures of the Faith. It was also during this turbulent period that > Shoghi Effendi pulled her up short one day, and gesturing to her > hand, said, "Your destiny is in the palm of your own hand." This was > a great shock for her and made her realize that she was not immune to > her own tests of faith. "When Shoghi Effendi married me", she used to > say, "I felt safe and smug and thought I had nothing more to worry > about, my destiny was in his hand. But when he said that, there it > was, back in my own hand." She would always make us laugh when she > finished this very serious tale. > > Her firmness in the Covenant, a manifestation of her deep faith, > was her greatest protection in those early years of marriage. It was > a suit of armour that preserved her spirit throughout her long life. > During the year after Rúhíyyih Khánum's marriage, May Maxwell wrote > several letters to her young friend Marion Holley (Hofman) quoting > her daughter's words: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... "...she says, "I am convinced that the greatest gift of a > believer is faith; greater than intelligence, greater than character, > for by faith we sink or swim, live or die, and it is almost the sole > cause of our ultimate achievement and eternal life..." and "...she > adds that she has learned > > how faulty her reasoning is, she rests everything on Faith. > Faith is the keynote of her life, the solace and support of her > existence, the foundation of her new-born character." > [.///] > [.] > > Perhaps the outpouring of her heart years later, in her poem > "This is Faith", written on April 4th, 1954, exempli-fies the depth > of her understanding of this subject. > > [.] > [.//] > > THIS IS FAITH > > To walk where there is no path > ----- To breathe where there is no air > To see where there is no light-- > ---------- This is Faith. > > To cry out in the silence, > ----- The silence of the night, > And hearing no echo believe > ----- And believe again and again-- > ---------- This is Faith. > > To hold pebbles and see jewels > ----- To raise sticks and see forests > To smile with weeping eyes-- > ---------- This is Faith. > > To say: "God, I believe" when others deny, > ----- "I hear" when there is no answer, > "I see" though naught is seen-- > ---------- This is Faith. > > And the fierce love in the heart, > ----- The savage love that cries > Hidden Thou art yet there! > ----- Veil Thy face and mute Thy tongue > > Yet I see and hear Thee, Love, > ----- Beat me down to the bare earth, > Yet I rise and love Thee, Love! > ---------- This is Faith. > [.///] > [.] > > Rúhíyyih Khánum made frequent reference in later life to the > fact that one of the reasons she had been chosen to be Shoghi > Effendi's wife was because she was May Maxwell's daughter. We often > heard her insist that he had told her so himself many times. Indeed, > his own words emphasize this same theme and underscore it as one of > the reasons for her unwavering faith: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... "She is imbued with the Bahá'í spirit," he is quoted as > having said in May Maxwell's handwritten notes, "not confused or > mixed with other matters--or subjects extraneous to the Cause ... > This is due to your influence--you do not realise to what extent Mary > reflects your spirit. She is wholly devoted to the Faith-extremely > attached." > [.///] > [.] > > In a letter to her mother, a year after her marriage, Rúhíyyih > Khánum wrote: "If anyone asked me what my theme was in life I should > say, 'Shoghi Effendi'." It is clear from this that she had thrown > herself, with heart and soul, into her destiny and her task required > a rigorous discipline. > > Although the faith on which it was reposed had been instilled > within her since her birth and the love with which it was inspired > had developed and evolved since her girlhood, her habits of schooling > would not have seemed, at first glance, to have prepared her for such > a destiny. But under Shoghi Effendi's strict tutelage she took > herself in hand and applied herself to conscientious study. With what > pride May Maxwell might have read the postscript in > > Shoghi Effendi's own hand in his letter to her dated February > 25th, 1939: "Mary is quite well, and exceedingly busy in her study of > the Bible at present which I regard as a necessary foundation for her > future work." > > Rúhíyyih Khánum used to relate a gleeful story on this subject > of her study of the Bible. In the course of a conversation with > Shoghi Effendi, she had one day said: "I have never read the Bible", > to which Shoghi Effendi responded with surprise, "It is high time you > did so!" Whereupon he gave her strict instructions to study it. She > ended her story by saying, "After that, not only did I study the > Bible diligently, but I also bought a copy of the Koran and read it > from cover to cover before he found out that I had not read the Koran > either!" Shoghi Effendi, in effect, was not only her theme in life, > but also her education. Although she was an autodidact by nature and > preferred to teach herself, rather than receive instruction--a habit > she applied to many subjects in later life--he was, in effect, her > principal teacher. At this time she was also seriously learning > Persian. She used to say that Shoghi Effendi once told her, "I am a > witness that all the Persian you have learned has been learned by you > yourself, without any help." > > One of the most outstanding services performed by Rúhíyyih > Khánum during those eventful twenty years at the side of the beloved > Guardian, was to be his secretary. She undertook this task almost > immediately after her marriage, and became his principal secretary in > English from 1941 on. What may have been the first letter she wrote > on behalf of Shoghi Effendi is addressed to her mother, and includes > two postscripts in the handwriting of Shoghi Effendi. > Characteristically, these serve to highlight the bond of unity the > members of this family shared in their commitment to the Cause: > > > > [.] > [.//] > .......... The bond that has always united you to me has now been > powerfully reinforced, and I feel sure that the services you will be > enabled to render as a direct result of this new tie that binds us to > each other will serve to draw me closer to you, and enable me to help > you more effectively through my prayers. > [.///] > [.] > > The second states: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... Kindly assure Mr. Maxwell of my great love and affection > for him. I have great hopes that he will in collaboration with you > further the teaching work in Canada and thus pave the way for any > international services he may be enabled to render in the future. > [.///] > [.] > > To her second letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to her > mother, Shoghi Effendi appends the following: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... Mary is in very good health and is making real progress in > her spiritual life and is cultivating those virtues and traits of > character that will be of immense value to her in her highly > responsible and exalted task which she is strenuously striving to > perform. > [.///] > [.] > > The reciprocity between Rúhíyyih Khánum and her parents was > preserved despite the difficulties of distance and separation. > Following the guidelines set by Shoghi Effendi, she echoes the idea > that service to the Cause performed by anyone of them was a shared > blessing for them all and of direct consequence to each. In an early > letter to her father, responding to news of an indisposition on his > part, she emphasizes the closeness between them with a characteristic > jocularity that conceals her deeper anxieties and pains: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... So you see, Daddy, it is little short of a sacred > obligation > > on your part to do everything to keep well and in that way and > through serving the Cause help me all you can. > [.///] > [.] > > She adored her mother and had always hoped to see her again. Two > years after her marriage, in December of 1939, May Maxwell echoes > this theme of closeness which is sustained through service of the > Cause, despite physical separation: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... ...her sublime faith and courage, her deep insight into > the true meaning of life and of the eternal fruits of human pain and > sorrow, clearly reveal, not only the depth and strength of her > character, but also ... that she is walking in the path of light-- > that she is one of those rare few who have truly attained their > highest destiny. It is not only thru my passionate love for this > great Bahá'í Faith, but thru my love for her, and yearning to be more > worthy of her, that I have considered going to South America to > teach. > [.///] > [./] > > And so it was that May Maxwell decided to make her supreme > sacrifice. She went travel-teaching in order to be more worthy of her > beloved daughter whom she missed so much. She was 70 years old, with > a weak heart and in very poor health. She arrived in Buenos Aires at > the end of February, accompanied by her young niece, Jeanne Bolles, > and the next day, on March 1st, 1940, she died of a massive heart > attack. > The devastating news of May Maxwell's passing in Argentina was a > terrible shock to Rúhíyyih Khánum. She often repeated the story of > how she received this sad news from the Guardian. Four cables had > arrived that day and she took them to Shoghi Effendi in his study. He > opened each one and then looked up at Rúhíyyih Khánum with a mixture > of shock, love and compassion on his face. She said the look > frightened her, and she started backing away > > until she reached the wall. She said she wanted to sink into > the wall so deep was the fear engendered in her by that look. Shoghi > Effendi went over to her, held her in his arms and broke the news to > her with great tenderness. He told her "Now I will be your mother". > Then he spoke of the high station of May Maxwell in the Abhá Kingdom, > of her joy in at long last having reached her heart's desire, of her > nearness to her beloved Lord and Master 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Then gently, in > order to dispel her shaking grief, he .began to talk to Amatu'l-Bahá > in a lighter mood, to describe her mother's activities in the next > world where she was going and what she was doing in that sublime > company. She would have been ushered immediately into the presence of > Bahá'u'lláh first, of course, he assured her. And no sooner had she > come there than she naturally asked permission to tell Him about her > precious daughter. But she talked so much that Bahá'u'lláh had > finally become tired and had passed her on to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Here > again she did nothing but talk about her beautiful daughter, until at > length, exhausted, 'Abdu'l-Bahá passed her on to the Greatest Holy > Leaf. And there she is still said Shoghi Effendi laughing, there she > is still talking about her beloved daughter, stopping every passing > member of the Concourse with her opening lines, "Do let me tell you > about my daughter...!" By the time he reached this point in his > narrative, Rúhíyyih Khánum was laughing through her tears. And so > with infinite compassion and patience, he comforted her. > > She went to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh afterwards and spent some > time alone in that hallowed spot reciting aloud the special prayer > for burial. She loved this prayer and described its effect in these > words: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... As I repeated the verses, 19 times each, each time it felt > > like the rushing of a wave which enveloped me and washed away > the burning in my heart and soul, until at the end I found peace and > comfort. > [.///] > [.] > > The following three cables, the first from Shoghi Effendi to Mr. > Maxwell and the last two from the Guardian and Rúhíyyih Khánum > herself to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and > Canada, convey the significance of May Maxwell's station and the > loving, generous act of Shoghi Effendi in inviting her bereaved > husband to come and live close at last to his precious daughter. > > [.] > [.//] > GRIEVED PROFOUNDLY YET COMFORTED ABIDING REALIZATION BEFITTING ONE SO > NOBLE SUCH VALIANT EXEMPLARY SERVICE CAUSE BAHA'U'LLAH STOP RUHIYYIH > THOUGH ACUTELY CONSCIOUS IRREPARABLE LOSS REJOICES REVERENTLY > GRATEFUL IMMORTAL CROWN DESERVEDLY WON HER ILLUSTRIOUS MOTHER STOP > ADVISE INTERMENT BUENOS AIRES STOP HER TOMB DESIGNED BY YOURSELF > ERECTED BY ME SPOT SHE FOUGHT FELL GLORIOUSLY WILL BECOME HISTORIC > CENTRE PIONEERS BAHA'I ACTIVITY STOP MOST WELCOME ARRANGE AFFAIRS > RESIDE HAIFA STOP BE ASSURED DEEPEST LOVING SYMPATHY. > [.///] > [.] > > To the National Assembly he wrote: > > [.] > [.//] > 'ABDU'L-BAHA'S BELOVED HANDMAID GATHERED GLORY ABHA KINGDOM. HER > EARTHLY LIFE SO RICH EVENTFUL INCOMPARABLY BLESSED WORTHILY ENDED. TO > SACRED TIE HER SIGNAL SERVICES HAD FORGED PRICELESS HONOUR MARTYR'S > DEATH NOW ADDED, DOUBLE CROWN DESERVEDLY WON, SEVEN YEAR PLAN > PARTICULARLY SOUTH AMERICAN CAMPAIGN DERIVE FRESH IMPETUS EXAMPLE HER > GLORIOUS SACRIFICE. SOUTHERN OUTPOST FAITH GREATLY ENRICHED THROUGH > ASSOCIATION HER HISTORIC RESTING-PLACE DESTINED REMAIN POIGNANT > REMINDER RESISTLESS MARCH TRIUMPHANT ARMY BAHA'U'LLAH. ADVISE > BELIEVERS BOTH AMERICAS HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL GATHERING. > [.///] > [.] > > > > Ruhiyyih Khánum's cable, dated March 4th, states: > > [.] > [.//] > HUMBLY GRATEFUL BELOVED MOTHER ANSWERED GUARDIAN'S CALL TURNED > SOUTHWARD SACRIFICED LIFE HOLY FAITH. BEG PRAYERS DAUGHTER MAY FOLLOW > HER FOOTSTEPS > [.///] > [.] > > Some months after the passing of May Maxwell, when Reza Shah > Pahlavi of Iran was deposed and banished from his home and the news > came that the Allies were planning to send him to Argentina, Shoghi > Effendi told Rúhíyyih Khánum, "Let the living dead go and visit the > grave of the dead who are living." > One of the distinguishing characteristics of Rúhíyyih Khánum was > her selfless compassion for others in the midst of her own grief and > sorrow. This letter written to Lucienne Migette, reveals her empathy > towards this French Bahá'í, one of the many spiritual children of May > Maxwell, who was extremely attached to her: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... I long to write to you in French as I know it is a closer > bond to be addressed in one's own language at such a time and I speak > French--but I cannot spell it, alas! But we do not even need words to > express to each other what we feel! > > .......... > Indeed, in spite of my own grief at hearing my beloved had left me in > this world, I was very distressed when I thought of how great a blow > this would be to you! I know only too well how much you miss her! But > now, dear sister, we must take comfort together. We must inherit, as > her true children, the children of her radiant and beautiful soul, > her character. We must be courageous as she was, going on to serve > our beloved Faith even as she did, till the last breath of her life! > I believe this is our heritage from her. To follow in her footsteps, > to go on with work she never deserted, day or night, for over forty > years! Only in this way can we be assured of being with her in the > world to > > come. And I am sure Lucienne, that those who love her as we do, > are only thinking of how to be with her again! ... > > .......... The beloved Guardian has been so kind to me, so loving and > gentle. He has carried me over the abyss! It was so sudden, such a > terrible shock! I was just living to see her again--but God takes > away from us in order to bestow something greater. If Mother had been > with me--she would not have died in Buenos Aires, sacrificing her > life itself for the Faith, setting us all an example we long to > follow, and winning the crown of Martyrdom!! We can only thank God we > had her for a spiritual mother--for that is the eternal bond that > cannot be severed! > [.///] > [.] > > The passing of May Maxwell marked the beginning of turbulent > years in the Holy Land. The terrors of World War II were unleashed at > this very hour, and every mem-ber of Shoghi Effendi's family had left > the Cause. Mr. Maxwell had joined the Guardian and Rúhíyyih Khánum in > Rome in the summer of 1940, and when they could not return to > Palestine, they only just managed to reach France and cross over to > England on the last boat before the German army closed the borders. > Since Rúhíyyih Khánum recounts this story in full detail in {The > Priceless Pearl}, I will only outline it briefly. > Although it was at the height of the "Children's evacuation" > from Britain and all the boats were full, they were eventually able > to get passage on the SS {Cape Town Castle} and the three of them > sailed to South Africa in order to travel back up north to the Holy > Land, via Egypt. This was Rúhíyyih Khánum's introduction to sub- > Sahara Africa and served as the main stimulus for her return there so > many years later. They left Mr. Maxwell in Durban from where he flew > to Khartoum in the Sudan, and Shoghi Effendi and Rúhíyyih Khánum > drove overland from Cape Town to Cairo, seeing some of the well-known > sights along > > the way. In Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) they visited Cecil Rhodes' > grave and saw the magnificence of the Victoria Falls. When their car > broke down on an isolated jungle path in the Congo Rúhíyyih Khánum > asked Shoghi Effendi if she could go for a little walk while it was > being repaired. She was longing to stretch her legs after hours of > motoring and walked off down the narrow jungle path, oblivious of > time, drinking in the beauty of untouched nature. Suddenly she was > overtaken by an African cyclist who told her that the gentleman in > the car was very worried over her. Glancing at her watch, Rúhíyyih > Khánum was shocked to realize she had been walking for almost two > hours! She asked the man to lend her his bicycle and then cycled back > as fast as she could to relieve the Guardian of his anxiety! Rúhíyyih > Khánum's adventurous spirit was one of her most endearing > characteristics, especially in travelling. She loved the world of > nature, trees nourished her eyes and soul, and she was never happier > than when exploring. In later years she had the opportunity to > satisfy this deep yearning for nature in her extensive travels. > > The war years were filled with activity and great achievements > at the World Centre. Before the arrival of Mr. Maxwell, Rúhíyyih > Khánum used to help Shoghi Effendi by making drawings to scale, and > constructing paper and cardboard models of stairs in the Shrine > Gardens, for example. She used to say that although Shoghi Effendi > had a perfect sense of taste and proportion, he said he could not > visualize an object; he had to see it in a drawing or a model. After > Mr. Maxwell came to live in Haifa, Shoghi Effendi asked Rúhíyyih > Khánum to draw something for him one day, and she said, "But Shoghi > Effendi, you have one of Canada's best architects across the street! > Let him do it for you." He had looked up at her surprised, and asked, > "Can your father do it?", to which she rejoined, > > "Can he do it? He has built churches, hotels, parliament > buildings, and numerous houses. This is child's play for him." > > This was the beginning of what Rúhíyyih Khánum liked to call a > "partnership between the Guardian and my father." She would say, "My > father was like a glove on the hand of Shoghi Effendi." It was during > this period that Shoghi Effendi commissioned Mr. Maxwell to make the > drawings for the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb which was to > be the crowning achievement of the latter's long and successful > career. The love and collaboration between them was the greatest > source of joy to Rúhíyyih Khánum. She used to say, "I really learned > to know and appreciate my father through Shoghi Effendi." She liked > to tell the story of how, one night, when Shoghi Effendi was in bed > resting, she had brought him a beautiful drawing of the main gate to > the Shrine gardens. It was exquisitely drawn and delicately tinted > with water colours. Shoghi Effendi had taken the drawing from her, > looked at it, and said with a heavy sigh, "It is not fair." Alarmed, > Rúhíyyih Khánum had asked him what was wrong. "Nothing," he had said, > "nothing is wrong; it is just that when you are given such a > beautiful rendition, of course you want to have it!" > > These were arduous but also very happy years for Rúhíyyih > Khánum. She used to say, "I was all alone: a wife, a companion, a > secretary and the housekeeper." She was always the happiest when she > worked the hardest. During this time she was also assisting the > beloved Guardian as a proof reader after he completed the writing of > his masterpiece, {God Passes By}. They would sit side by side, each > holding several copies of pages typed by Shoghi Effendi, and for > hours on end, they proof-read and transliterated those endless > Persian names together. She > > said from the time she married until the Guardian's passing, > she was always in the room with him when he composed messages, both > in English and Persian. He composed out loud, and always chanted the > Persian in his heavenly voice. For years after she treasured the pile > of finished as well as unfinished embroidery which she used to sew > during those hours. > > At the end of World War II, the factional fighting between the > Arabs and Jews began and the British Mandate came to an end with the > Israeli War of Independence. The shortage of food and lack of help > undermined Rúhíyyih Khánum's natural good health and left her ill > with a persistent fever and cough. She was alone in the house, with > her father and the beloved Guardian to tend for and no one to take > care of her. One day Shoghi Effendi asked if she had anyone she could > call upon to come and look after her and she thought of her dear > friend and spiritual daughter, Gladys Cotton, who was unmarried and > very fond of her. With Shoghi Effendi's encouragement she invited > Gladys to come, which she did, to their mutual advantage, for as it > turned out, she later married her old friend Ben Weeden in the Holy > Land. Gladys proved to be a great assistance to Rúhíyyih Khánum and > even more so to Shoghi Effendi. > > From 1941, when Rúhíyyih Khánum became Shoghi Effendi's > principal secretary, until 1957, she wrote thousands of letters on > his behalf, a great many of which have already been published. She > always lamented the fact that her handwriting was not good and her > spelling imperfect. She used to refer to her handwritten letters and > say: "If you look at some of those letters, you will see that Shoghi > Effendi, on reading over them, has put a cross over the t's, a loop > over the i's, a dot over the i's, and made the a's look like a's and > the o's look like o's!" She also made > fun of her own spelling which was sometimes ingenious and > occasionally outrageous. Since she was never sure of it, she would > ask Shoghi Effendi for the correct spelling of words and one day, in > humorous exasperation, he turned to her and said, "Before you came > into my life I could spell; now you have confused me!" > > She also frequently described how Shoghi Effendi trained her to > be a good secretary. From 1941 until 1951, when he appointed the > International Bahá'í Council, Rúhíyyih Khánum wrote all the > Guardian's letters long hand. She often suffered from writers' cramp > in her arm and shoulder because of this and it was only after Ethel > Revell, a member of the Council residing in Haifa, became her muchloved private secretary that she had any assistance in having these > letters typed. In those early days of training, Shoghi Effendi would > tell her exactly what to write but when she showed him the finished > letter he would take one look at its length, tear it up, and say, > "Brief! Be brief!" She used to say with a chuckle that she quickly > learned her lesson. In the early years, he would write down the > points he wanted her to incorporate in pencil at the bottom of the > letter he had received, but later on, when he saw how well she wrote, > he would just tell her what to answer verbally. However, she always > stressed the fact that he read every single letter she wrote for him > before appending his own postscript. In later years, she wrote not > only his personal letters but also his official correspondence with > National Spiritual Assemblies. He also asked her to read the National > Spiritual Assembly minutes received in German as he did not know that > language. Needless to say, she was able to lift a tremendous load > from his shoulders by performing this secretarial work. > > In April of 1948, when Canada formed its first independent > National Spiritual Assembly, Rúhíyyih Khánum > > rejoiced with and for the Canadian Bahá'í Community. She truly > participated with the Canadian friends in the celebrations, and > through her loving messages encouraged and uplifted them. To Rosemary > Sala, a very dear and old family friend, she cabled, on behalf of her > father and herself: > > [.] > [.//] > WE WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR MAKING ARRANGEMENT SERVE DELEGATES > FRIENDS EITHER A BANQUET OR BUFFET IN OUR HOME TOKEN MAXWELL JOY > OCCASION CONVENTION... DEEPEST LOVE. [SIGNED] RUHIYYIH > [.///] > [.] > > To which, three days later, Rosemary replied: > > [.] > [.//] > HUNDRED FRIENDS OVERJOYED ACCEPT RIDVAN SUPPER SUNDAY YOUR GUESTS > WONDERFUL SPIRIT MOUNTING HEALING TROUBLED HEARTS. DEEPEST LOVE. > [SIGNED] > ROSEMARY > [.///] > [.] > > To the Canadian National Convention she wrote: > > [.] > [.//] > OUR HEARTS WITH YOU ALL JOYOUS TRIUMPHANT OCCASION LAUNCHING CANADIAN > INDEPENDENT SERVICE BELOVED FAITH ASSUMPTION PRECIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. > MAY YOUR LABOURS BREAK ALL RECORDS CARRY OFF ALL PALMS LOVING > GREETINGS BEST WISHES ALL IN WHICH MAY SURELY JOINS US. [SIGNED] > RUHIYYIH SUTHERLAND > [.///] > [.] > > The jubilant answer of the Convention reads as follows: > > [.] > [.//] > YOUR MAGNIFICENT LETTER READ FIRST MORNING MEMORABLE CONVENTION > FRIENDS DEEPLY GRATEFUL STIRRED REJOICE IN LINK WITH YOU AND YOUR > UNIQUE DEVOTED SERVICES GLORIOUS FAITH. SEND LOVE AND PRAYERS. > [SIGNED] FIRST CANADIAN CONVENTION. > [.///] > [.] > > The magnificent letter in their cable refers to a six-page typed > letter signed "Rúhíyyih Khánum", addressed "To the Delegates and > friends attending the First Canadian National Bahá'í Convention". > > > > Two weeks later, on May 10th, 1948, she received this loving > cable from Dorothy Baker, who represented the United States National > Spiritual Assembly at the inaugural Canadian Convention: > > [.] > [.//] > TWO CONVENTIONS GLORIOUS YOUR MESSAGE CANADA READ MAXWELL HOME > UPLIFTED ALL HEARTS STOP SUPPLICATING SPEEDY REOPENING COMMUNICATION > OUR BELOVED PRAYING ACCEPTED RANSOM HIS SAFETY DEAREST LOVE. [SIGNED) > DOROTHY BAKER > [.///] > [.] > > While the establishment of independent National Spiritual > Assemblies was the cause of celebration in the Bahá'í world, the > cause of political independence was the source of much bloodshed > among nations at this time. In {The Priceless Pearl} Rúhíyyih Khánum > refers in full to the subject of war in the Holy Land prior to the > formation of the State of Israel. This cable from the Bolles family, > in April 1948, shows how concerned their family and friends must have > been: "Guardian you all constantly mind heart praying safety peaceful > surroundings..." Rúhíyyih Khánum's cable to Milly Collins, again in > April 1948, also gives us an idea of how the situation must have > been, how uncertain the future was: "Written you letter but unlikely > can mail it sorry. Very close to you always dearest. All well love. > [signed] Ruhiyyih". Despite the fact that it seemed, at times, as if > the tents of Armageddon were pitched in the valley of 'Akká while > gunfire echoed between sea and mountain, Rúhíyyih Khánum remained > calm in the heart of the storm with Shoghi Effendi as her example. > > Rúhíyyih Khánum told us that Shoghi Effendi encouraged her to > write, and once, as she was copying her own favourite poems in a > book, he asked to see them for himself. The next day he gave her book > back, saying, "I read > > them all. They are beautiful, they made me cry." She also said > that after the transfer of the remains of the Purest Branch and his > mother, Navváb, from the old 'Akká cemetery to Haifa and their > interment on the slopes of Mt. Carmel next to the resting-place of > the Greatest Holy Leaf in a very deeply moving ceremony, that night > Shoghi Ef-fendi looked at her and asked her, "Are you going to write > an article about this?" She was surprised and said, "Oh, Shoghi > Effendi, do you want me to?" He said, "Yes, it would be very good." > The result was that moving and heart-rending article in volume VIII > of {The Bahá'í World} entitled "The Burial of the Purest Branch and > the Mother of 'Abdu'l-Bahá". His encouragement was the main reason > she wrote the book {Prescription For Living}. She often said she felt > so sad for the young men who returned, confused and disillusioned, > from that devastating World War II to a changed and unfamiliar world. > She wanted to give them some light, some direction, and a way to see > hope for the future. She also used to say that David Hofman, who had > just started his publishing company, George Ronald, encouraged her to > write a book and let him publish it. After it came out, in 1950, she > dedicated the first copy to the beloved Guardian. He read it, praised > it and found one mistake in it that was later corrected; it is now > translated into six languages. Through Shoghi Effendi's training, she > also became an avid newspaper reader and kept interesting clippings > to the end of her life. > > The general suffering at this time was augmented in Rúhíyyih > Khánum's private life by her father's severe illness during the > 1940s. In 1950, when they were in Europe for the summer, Gladys > Weeden wrote to Rúhíyyih Khánum from Haifa saying that the rationing > of food was very bad and that given her father's serious condition > and his complications of the gall bladder, she should > know that fresh food was not available. So after consultation > with the Guardian, it was decided that Mr. Maxwell should be sent to > Canada with his Swiss nurse, until the situation improved in Israel. > When they parted at the end of that summer, it was the last time > Rúhíyyih Khánum saw her dear father. He died two years later in > Montreal. > > After the formation of the State of Israel, Rúhíyyih Khánum > enjoyed a degree of freedom in Haifa that had not been possible for > her before. Her social life became more varied and lively. She was a > close friend of the Mayor of Haifa, Mr. Abba Khoushy, and his wife > Hanna, and began to give wonderful dinner parties and soirees for the > dignitaries of Haifa. She used to say Shoghi Effendi allowed her to > entertain as long as it did not interfere with her work and she did > not expect him to attend! She would hold her parties in the Western > Pilgrim House in the company of the members of the International > Bahá'í Council. This way, she said, the absence of the host was less > obvious. > > The Bahá'í world was stirred to great excitement in 1951 with > the announcement of the formation of the first International Bahá'í > Council, of which Rúhíiyyih Khánum was herself a member. She was also > its chosen liaison with the Guardian. This news was announced to the > Bahá'í world by Shoghi Effendi in a stirring message, dated January > 9th, 1951, whose vital significance can be gauged by the fact that it > is quoted in full in {The Priceless Pearl}. > > A year later, in 1952, after the passing of Sutherland Maxwell, > Shoghi Effendi sent a cable dated March 26th to the National > Spiritual Assembly of the United States announcing that "mantle Hand > Cause now falls shoulders his distinguished daughter Amatu'l-Bahá > Rúhíyyih who already rendered still rendering manifold no less > > meritorious self sacrificing services World Centre Faith > Bahá'u'lláh". > > And the following year both the Canadian and Ameri-can "Bahá'í > News" confirmed that "The Maxwell home, blessed by the Master's visit > in 1912, has been declared a Shrine, to become to Bahá'ís, the most > holy spot in Canada, surpassing even the future temple" This was not > only one of the greatest gifts bestowed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the > Canadian Bahá'í community, but it was also a recognition of the > unique services of three of Bahá'u'lláh's outstanding servants-- > William Sutherland, May and Mary Maxwell. > > On the 15th of December 1952, the beloved Guardian announced > that five Intercontinental Conferences would be held during the > course of the Holy Year 1953, and designated Rúhíyyih Khánum to be > his representative at the Conference in Wilmette. It was a soulstirring cable which not only offered the Bahá'ís a sweeping vista of > their history and the challenges they faced ahead but also > specifically enumerated Amatu'l-Bahá's functions. She was, in his > words, to > > [.] > [.//] > DELIVER MY OFFICIAL MESSAGE ASSEMBLED BELIEVERS ELUCIDATE CHARACTER > PURPOSES IMPENDING DECADE-LONG SPIRITUAL WORLD CRUSADE RALLY > PARTICIPANTS ENERGETIC SUSTAINED ENTHUSIASTIC PROSECUTION COLOSSAL > TASKS AHEAD. > [.///] > [.] > > She was furthermore delegated by him to dedicate the Mother > Temple in North America on his behalf and > > [.] > [.//] > UNVEIL OCCASION COMPLETION CONSTRUCTION MOTHER TEMPLE WEST PRIVILEGED > ATTENDANTS WILMETTE CON-FERENCE MOST PRIZED REMEMBRANCE AUTHOR FAITH > NEVER BEFORE LEFT SHORES HOLY LAND TO BE PLACED BENEATH DOME > CONSECRATED EDIFICE STOP MORE-OVER ASSIGNING HER TASK ACT MY DEPUTY > HISTORIC > > CEREMONY MARKING OFFICIAL DEDICATION HOLIEST MASHRIQUL-ADHKAR > BAHAI WORLD REARED EVERLAST-ING GLORY HONOUR MOST GREAT NAME HEART > NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT [SIGNED] SHOGHI > [.///] > [.] > > When the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States asked > her if she would accept to be one of the keynote speakers at the > Conference, she naturally accepted. When Shoghi Effendi heard of it, > he asked her, "Can you do it?" Rúhíyyih Khánum's response was utterly > characteristic. "If I haven't got something to tell the Bahá'ís after > 16 years at your side", she told him, "then I have not been worthy of > this honour." She was by nature courageous, although her humility was > also instinctive. And her love of Shoghi Effendi tempered her every > response. She had a capacity, even at times of great stress, to keep > her heart centred on the Covenant, her eyes fixed bravely ahead and > her feet firm on the ground. > > I came to the Holy Land as a pilgrim in Ridván of 1953, and > remember that Amatu'l-Bahá left for Wilmette a day before my > pilgrimage ended. I will never forget how nervous and anxious she was > then. She had left North America 18 years before, when she was a > young Bahá'í and was known as the daughter of May Maxwell. Now she > was returning as Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, the consort of the > beloved Guardian and a Hand of the Cause of God. But she was equal to > the challenge. Though very young myself, I was, like all who met her, > struck at once by her innate grace, her regal presence and disarmed > by her spontaneous vitality, her direct, unflinching gaze. She had > eyes that shifted colour with her clothes, sometimes appearing to be > green and sometimes blue. She herself always called them "yellow > eyes" and when she turned her unwavering look at you, it was not easy > to remain unaffected. In Wilmette, she rose to speak like the > > queen she was, her delicate, gauzy mantilla framing her lovely > young face, and even from the photographs it is easy to see how she > would have made an unforgettable impression on the Bahá'ís, as well > as on the non-Bahá'í seekers and distinguished speakers. When the > chairman introduced her, scattering much flattery and many flowers of > rhetoric in the process, she quipped, "After such an introduction I > should be lowered from heaven!" It brought the house down! > > There were 2,000 believers gathered for the dedication of the > Temple in Wilmette and Rúhíyyih Khánum shook hands with all of them, > developing a blister on her hand in doing so. She told us how she > kept this sore fresh on her finger by turning her ring daily and > pressing it hard against the flesh for almost three weeks, until she > arrived back in Haifa. Then she showed it to the Guardian and said, > "Look at this, Shoghi Effendi. There were so many Bahá'ís present > that I got a blister." > > After attending the 1953 Forty-fifth Annual Convention, the > Bahá'í Dedication of the Temple, and the public Dedication the next > day, she attended the All-America Intercontinental Conference from > May 3rd to May 6th. In a cable answering one of Milly Collins', > Shoghi Effendi states: > > [.] > [.//] > REJOICE AMATU'L-BAHAS SUCCESS SERVITUDE HOLY THRESHOLD SHARE YOUR > PRIDE CONTINUED PRAYERS SURROUNDING YOU BOTH. > [.///] > [.] > > Rúhíyyih Khánum was accompanied all through this trip by Amelia > Collins, a Hand of the Cause and Vice-President of the International > Bahá'í Council. From the United States they went to Montreal to visit > her father's resting-place, which led Shoghi Effendi to send the > following > > instructions to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Montreal: > > [.] > [.//] > OCCASION VISIT AMATU'L·BAHA MONTREAL ADVISE ALL FRIENDS GATHER GRAVE > HA D CAUSE SUTHERLAND MAXWELL PAY TRIBUTE HIS IMMORTAL SERVICES WORLD > CENTRE FAITH STOP INSTRUCTING AMATU'L·BAHA MILLY PLACE BLOSSOMS > SHRINE AND FRESH FLOWERS MY BEHALF STOP APPRECIATE PHOTOGRAPH > ASSEMBLED FRIENDS LOVE. > [.///] > [.] > He asked Rúhíyyih Khánum to buy $120.00 worth of flowers on his > behalf for this event, and specifically requested that most of them > be blue. He knew Sutherland Maxwell's favourite colour was blue. The > memorial gathering was held at the graveside on May 10th and that > evening Rúhíyyih Khánum spoke at a public meeting at the Ritz-Carlton > Hotel. > > After all these duties, she had the painful task of sorting out > her parents' belongings, and with Shoghi Effendi's consent, shipped > her personal furniture to Haifa. She then did a beautiful thing that > pleased the Guardian immensely. She gave her home, "The Bahá'í > Shrine", at 1548 Pine Avenue West, to the Faith. It is now registered > in the name of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. > > When she finally returned to the Holy Land, she found Shoghi > Effendi waiting for her at the top of the staircase, in their own > private apartment in the Master's House. He was so thrilled with her > achievements on this trip that he had prepared a special gift for her > homecoming and handed her his gift right there on the stairs. Years > later, she showed me the exquisite tooled-leather folder which framed > two beautiful sheets of illuminated paper inscribed by Shoghi > Effendi's own hand. He had written in English on one side and in > Persian on the other, and the gist of the words were something like: > "Welcome Amatu'l-Bahá, > > welcome. You return victorious in discharging your manifold > duties. Your martyred mother and your saintly father are proud of > you, and your Guardian is well pleased with you." These are naturally > not the Guardian's own words, but just what I remember of them. > > The last years of our beloved Guardian's life were unusually > busy for Amatu'l-Bahá. The International Archives Building was being > constructed and Shoghi Effendi had begun to buy the appropriate > furnishings for it during his summers in England. With Rúhíyyih > Khánum's help he searched for and found all the ornaments and > cabinets needed to house the precious relics of the Faith. Rúhíyyih > Khánum would often say, "Shoghi Effendi was the hunter and I was his > hunting dog." She would go out and look for what he needed, and > whenever she found the appropriate object, she would come and tell > him about it. Then they would go together and if he liked the object, > he would purchase it. > > She once asked Shoghi Effendi for a piece of land on the grounds > of their home to make a garden of her own and he offered her a little > comer at the back of the house to do with as she pleased. This she > worked on with great enthusiasm, making a plan for a fish pond and > flower beds which when completed transformed the patch into a > beautiful little garden. When Shoghi Effendi was buying eagles to > ornament the Shrine gardens, she found a small stone eagle herself, > and since he agreed that she might have it, she placed her own eagle > on the roof of a little building by her pool and garden. During this > time too, and usually till quite late at night, which was her only > free time, she designed and decorated the three rooms in the Master's > House which Shoghi Effendi had given to her to furnish with her > Montreal furniture. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's House was extremely austere. They > had been prisoners and exiles and > > had accumulated no furniture of any value. Only the Master's > drawing room, where He received non-Bahá'í officials at the end of > His life, was furnished by the Greatest Holy Leaf with a set of > matching chairs and divans which she had bought in Beirut. Now that > Rúhíyyih Khánum had her own furniture, she began to make this home > her own. She created an exquisite library which she later used for > special dinner parties, particularly for dignitaries, and she called > her beautiful drawing room "Montreal in Haifa". > > From 1952 onwards, when some degree of safety and order was > restored to Israel, Shoghi Effendi re-opened the opportunity for > pilgrimage, and the friends, deprived for a period of over ten years, > started coming to the Holy Land in groups of nine, from both the East > and the West. To welcome them, to cater to their needs, and respond > to their concerns was a considerable task in itself which consumed > not only many hours of the Guardian's time but those of Rúhíyyih > Khánum as well. All three meals for both Pilgrim Houses, East and > West, as well as for the domestic help, were prepared in the kitchen > of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's House and it was Rúhíyyih Khánum who had to plan > for and prepare these unending meals in the face of great shortages > of all kinds of essential foods in the post-war years. > > In 1957, the beloved Guardian and Rúhíyyih Khánum left together > for their summer vacation for the last time. The Guardian was very > tired. As usual, he maintained all his correspondence in his absence > and carried with him all his notes for his map of the Ten Year > Crusade, which was approaching its midway point. In August that year > he thrilled the Bahá'ís of the world with a two-fold message. The > first part was the announcement of five Intercontinental Conferences > to celebrate this midway point of the Crusade, and the second was his > appointment of > > eight more Hands of the Cause in different continents. Everyone > was filled with anticipation. Everyone looked forward to jubilation > and celebration ahead. We in Uganda were thrilled beyond belief, for > we had learned with awe and excitement that our precious Amatu'l-Bahá > Rúhíiyyih Khánum had been designated by the beloved Guardian to > represent him at the African Conference in Kampala. She was going to > come to us! > > And then, on November 4th, the cataclysmic news of Shoghi > Effendi's passing rocked the Bahá'í world. He had died in London, we > heard in disbelief, and was gone from amongst us. The community of > the Greatest Name, which had for thirty-six years looked to him for > guidance, for encouragement, for leadership and, above all, for his > encompassing love, was lost, and bereft. And there was no one to turn > to but Amatu'l-Bahá, though she was the most forlorn of all at that > time. Her mother, whom she adored, had died far from her side, and > her father, whom she so cherished, was gone too, and now she had lost > her Guardian who had replaced them both. Her own heart-wrenching > story, entitled "The Passing of Shoghi Effendi", written soon after > his death, tells us everything that could be told. And yet, we will > never know what she must have felt in her soul on that cold November > morning in a hotel bedroom when she found her beloved gone. She was > alone, and as far as she knew the Guardian had left no will. It was > up to her to take the next step to ascertain what should be done. > > > > III > > FINAL YEARS OF > SERVICE AND TRAVEL > > > > > > III > > The devastating shock of the sudden passing of beloved Shoghi > Effendi remained with Amatu'l-Bahá throughout her life. She told me > more than once, usually at times of sad despondency, which were rare, > that on that terrible morning when she went towards his bed and > greeted him as usual, when she received no answer and touched him, > when she found him cold and realized with a stab of pain that he was > gone, her instant reflex was to kill herself. She said that such a > state of mind and heart did not last long, however, for she knew only > too well that he would not be pleased with her if she had done this. > He had trained her for twenty years and entrusted his affairs to her > hands. How could she fail him now, at that moment of distress? In the > early years when we came to Haifa, Ali and I heard her say several > times that during their last summer in London, Shoghi Effendi had on > one occasion told her, "I don't want to go back to Haifa, you go > alone, you know what to do." She said that at the time she had > attributed this statement to his extreme tiredness and despondency, > as he was ill with severe influenza. But later when she remembered > his words, it gave her courage and self-assurance. The fulfilment of > all his hopes and the completion of all his aspirations for the Ten > Year Crusade became of uppermost importance to her. His good pleasure > became the goal and object of her existence. From that moment to the > end of her life her priorities never wavered. > > In the face of her own immeasurable personal loss, however, it > is remarkable to consider with what self-abnegation her heart turned > to her fellow believers at that > critical time of trial, with what heroism, courage and > compassion she became the lighthouse to guide and show us the way to > safety. She appealed with all her soul to the unseen Source of life > and light, and then set about doing what needed to be done. All > around her, friends were prostrate with grief, helpless with sorrow, > leaving her to rise alone to the painful task in front of her, for > the sake of her beloved Shoghi Effendi. She had to inform the Hands > of the Cause and the Bahá'í world of this tragic event in such a > manner as might lessen as much as possible the shock waves it was > bound to cause. She had to tell the heart-broken believers to come to > his funeral and bid their Guardian a last farewell. She went around > London looking for a befitting burial ground and found it. She > searched for a shroud and chose the casket and bought it. She saw to > every detail in the sad days that followed. And the day after the > funeral, when she was driving away from the graveside, she saw in her > mind's eye a vision of a column, an eagle and a globe, and she > conceived the monument above his grave. She remembered how fond > Shoghi Effendi had been of beautiful columns, and how he had said it > was a pity that in his gardens there was no place for a single > column. With this thought in mind, she designed the graceful column > rising over his grave and placed the globe on it, surmounted by the > symbol of his victories: the majestic eagle, with its wings open. Was > it ready to fly?--Or had it perhaps just alighted from its lofty > heights? > > On the 15th of November Rúhíyyih Khánum arrived in Haifa, > accompanied by her dear friend and colleague, the Hand of the Cause > Milly Collins. Three days later the first Conclave of the Hands of > the Cause began in Bahjí. It was during the first days of this > Conclave that they searched for the will of Shoghi Effendi and did > not find > > it. At the end of that historic meeting, the Hands of the Cause > informed the benumbed community of the Most Great Name that there was > no other recourse but to turn with heart and soul to the explicit > directives in {The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh}, which Shoghi Effendi > had referred to as his Will and Testament, to complete the goals of > the Ten Year Crusade which he had bequeathed to them before he died, > and to arrange for the election of the Universal House of Justice at > the end of that period, the only infallible source of guidance for > the future. > > During that first year after Shoghi Effendi's passing, Rúhíyyih > Khánum spent most of her time in Bahjí and slept in the Mansion. > Apart from carrying out all her heavy administrative duties, she > threw herself into physical work, cleaning the Shrine and working in > the gardens. She could not bear the emptiness and the loneliness of > her apartment in Haifa. The next five or six years were perhaps the > saddest and hardest in her entire life. Her {Poems of the Passing} > are the best witness to her broken heart. The first poem of this > collection, "A Waste, a Waste the World to Me" was written on > December 2nd, barely a month after the beloved Guardian's passing. > The messages of the Hands of the Faith written during this > period give us a glimpse of the back-breaking responsibility which > these brave men and women so ably shouldered in protecting the Cause > of God and leading the Bahá'ís of the world to their final victory. > The Hands of the Cause who gathered together at their Conclaves were > strong individuals from both the East and the West. Their primary aim > and objective was to direct and hold together the affairs of the > Cause of God but there often seemed to be unfathomable gaps in their > conflicting points of view. Mr. Samandarí, the oldest and one of the > most respected and loved among the Hands, used to say that the role > > Amatu'l-Bahá played in those early gatherings was vital. She > became the bridge between cultures and languages, a Westerner imbued > with Eastern understanding. Her horizons had been widened and > stretched by Shoghi Effendi. As a result of her deep sense of > fairness and her ability to see clearly both sides of any argument, > the gaps were gradually narrowed and negotiated. > > Amatu'l-Bahá demonstrated her own, immediate commitment to > service after the passing of the Guardian when she accepted to attend > the first of the series of the Inter-continental Bahá'í Conferences > called by the beloved Guardian to mark and celebrate the midway point > of the Ten Year Crusade. Initially, her grief was so intense that she > did not want to go, but her fellow Hands convinced her that since it > had been the wish of Shoghi Effendi, she must do so. She travelled > with Dr. Lutfu'lláh Hakím, a member of the International Bahá'í > Council, who had been designated by Shoghi Effendi to escort > Amatu'l-Bahá on that trip. Her dear cousin Jeanne Chute with her > husband Challoner also accompanied her. Although Rúhíyyih Khánum was > in mourning, and wore black for one year after Shoghi Effendi's > passing in accordance with the custom of the East, she altered this > custom for the duration of her trip to Africa and arrived at Entebbe > Airport dressed beautifully in a simple white suit. She told me > afterwards that all her clothes for that Conference had been seen and > approved by the Guardian the previous summer, and this was one of the > reasons why she did not come to Kampala in mourning clothes. She also > wanted to create the sense of jubilation during this Conference the > way Shoghi Effendi had anticipated it should be, and she knew that a > mood of mourning would not allow for this. Her standard in life was > always his approval and his good pleasure. > > > > Over 900 people stood up in sorrowful awe as she entered that > Conference Hall in Kampala, on January 24th, 1958. She was tall, > erect and very beautiful. And then, 400 African Bahá'ís raised their > voices and began to sing "Alláh-u-Abhá", softly and spontaneously. > The air was so charged with love, so pent-up with emotion as > Amatu'l-Bahá walked up the central aisle, that we were all shaken. We > felt lifted to higher realms. When she stood before us to address the > Conference, her voice broke and tears came to her eyes several times. > But the waves of deep love and sympathy in that audience were > tangible; they enveloped and caressed her, and at the end assuaged > her sorrow. She often said the love of the friends, particularly the > Africans, was like a balm to her soul and a healing for her grief at > that time. She also said that Africa was the continent that brought > most joy to the heart of Shoghi Effendi at the end of his life. That > was why she chose to place the continent of Africa on the front of > the globe surmounting his grave. Her love for the Africans and their > continent became a permanent part of her life afterwards. She brought > to that Conference a wider perspective, a global outlook, an allembracing point of view that we had been lacking, and she went back > from it recharged with hope and courage to continue. > > Although she travelled to different conferences and to the > Dedications of both Mother Temples of Africa and Australasia during > the Custodianship of the Hands, her historic journeys for which she > is best remembered by the friends did not begin until after the > election of the Universal House of Justice. One of the most important > trips during this interregnum period, however, was her visit to major > communities in the United States and Canada in 1960. When Mason Remey > made his idiotic self-appointed claim as Guardian, and sent word that > he was > > going to attend the National Convention in Wilmette to proclaim > himself to the Bahá'ís, the Custodians of the Faith asked Rúhíyyih > Khánum, who knew Mason from her earliest childhood, to be present at > that occasion and protect the assembled friends from any negative > influence that he might try to exert on them. Through her wisdom, her > courage, her firmness in the Covenant, she was able to infuse and > reinforce in the hearts of the friends the spirit of confidence and > steadfastness. > > In 1961, the election of the International Bahá'í Council took > place. This Council, which was the precursor of the Supreme Universal > House of Justice, was destined to be of great assistance to the Hands > in the preparation for that first International Bahá'í Convention. It > helped the Hands to compile the marvellous statistical booklet at the > end of the Ten Year Crusade, as well as to make all the other > logistical arrangements. One of the major decisions of the Hands > during this period was that Rúhíyyih Khánum should undertake the > completion of the interior of the International Archives Building. > Again, in order to complete this task she turned for assistance to > the younger members of the newly elected Council. Shoghi Effendi had > bought beautiful Chinese and Japanese furniture during the last year > of his life for the purpose of decorating and displaying the holy > relics, and these had to be carefully arranged and meticulously > prepared for their precious contents. Artistry, a sense of > proportion, a strict adherence to the placement of the objects > according to the priority of their importance--all these guided > Amatu'l-Bahá in her task. The following acknowledgement written by > the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land on August 28th, 1961, > expresses the significance and the results of what she did: > > > > [.] > [.//] > .......... We were so impressed by the effect that has been achieved > in the Archives Building that we feel we should write to express to > you our appreciation... The interior is truly worthy of the purpose > for which the building was designed. Many generations of Bahá'ís will > be grateful for the cumulative backbreaking efforts which were put > into making the Archives Building a fitting place for the holy relics > it will contain, though they may not be aware of the difficulties and > strains under which the result was achieved. > [.///] > [.] > > The triumphant conclusion of the Ten Year Crusade of the beloved > Guardian, in April of 1963, was crowned by the election of the longawaited Universal House of Justice in Haifa. After consultation and > with the approval of the Hands of the Cause, Amatu'l-Bahá arranged to > conduct the opening session of this first International Bahá'í > Convention in the House of 'Abdu'l-Bahá itself. It was highly > symbolic that the election should take place in that blessed House, > which had played such a significant role in the unfoldment of the > Administrative Order of Bahá'u'lláh. With the help of some of the > Council members, she painstakingly measured the central hall, as well > as the four rooms opening into it, and confirmed that the space was > just large enough for exactly the right number of chairs to seat all > the attendants. > > "The Most Great Jubilee" was truly unforgettable. How thrilling > was that morning of the first election of the Universal House of > Justice, and how great the celebration which followed it in Bahjí at > the Shrine of the Blessed Beauty! To befittingly honour the occasion, > Rúhíyyih Khánum had ordered thousands of roses and carnations to > carpet the inner rooms of all three Shrines. With just a handful of > helpers she worked through the day and all through the night, till > the early hours of > > dawn, nipping the buds and culling the blossoms to lay thick > upon the ground. This lovely gesture was to become a tradition that > would be followed in later years, and was an exquisite example of > Rúhíyyih Khánum's aesthetic and spiritual sensibilities combined. The > beauty and the fragrance of the Shrines on that day were imprinted in > the hearts and memories of all present. She opened that International > Bahá'í Convention and every successive one, till that of April 1998. > > After the successful election of the Supreme Body, Rúhíyyih > Khánum and the Hands of the Cause of God rejoiced with 7,000 Bahá'ís > in London in the majestic Royal Albert Hall for the celebration of > the first Bahá'í World Congress. It was on this occasion that the > Universal House of Justice presented its very first statement to the > Bahá'í world, in which tribute was paid to those who > > [.] > [.//] > .......... share(d) the victory with their beloved commander, he who > raised them up and appointed them. They kept the ship on its course > and brought it safe to port. The Universal House of Justice, with > pride and love, recalls on this supreme occasion its profound > admiration for the heroic work which they have accomplished ... the > reality of the sacrifice, the labour, the self-discipline, the superb > stewardship of the Hands of the Cause of God. > [.///] > [.] > > Amatu'l-Bahá personally invited a number of indigenous Bahá'ís > to attend this historic event as her personal guests, from Africa, > South America and Australia. "Uncle" Fred, that dignified, old > Aborigine from Australia, was among them and his stalwart faith was a > source of joy and pride to her. Her deeply moving and thoughtprovoking talk on Shoghi Effendi's life on this occasion was a > masterpiece of eloquence and poignancy. And none who saw > > her there could forget the emotions experienced as the dear > friends from Africa softly chanted the rise and fall of "Alláh-u- > Abhá" once more, just as they had done at the Kampala Conference > after the passing of the Guardian. And none who heard them there > could restrain the stab of loss and sorrow and the thrill of joy as > we brought his Ten Year Crusade to its final and triumphal close. > > Rúhíyyih Khánum's systematic travels around the globe began in > the year 1964. Many times, both privately and publicly, Rúhíyyih > Khánum would talk about the genesis of these unique trips. She would > recount an incident in the lifetime of Shoghi Effendi, when one day, > as he was passing by her desk, he stopped and looked at her and said, > "What will become of you after I die?" She was shattered by this > unexpected remark and began to weep, say-ing, "Oh Shoghi Effendi, > don't say such terrible things. I don't want to live without you." He > paid no attention, however, and after a pause continued, "I suppose > you will travel and encourage the friends". She would say this was > the only remark he ever made about what she should do with her life > after his passing. And so it was that, when she was somewhat freed > from her arduous administrative duties and the affairs of the Cause > were placed under the infallible guidance of the Universal House of > Justice, she took these words as his last instructions to her and did > her utmost to fulfil his hopes. > > In the course of her long life she travelled to 185 countries, > dependencies and major islands of the globe. But while she visited > just 31 countries in the first 54 years, she travelled in all the > rest during her last years, from 1964 until her final trip in 1997. > When I tried to count the number of territories she visited in these > 34 years, I came up with the astounding figure of 154. Many of these > countries were visited more than once, and some, like > > India, were honoured by her presence as many as nine times. > > But travelling was not the only thing she did during this period > and her trips were of such a variety that the best way to look at > them is through the range of activities which they involved. Indeed, > the wide spectrum of her achievements, from 1964 until her last > official engagement in April of 1998, leaves the mind reeling with > disbelief. To stand back for a brief moment and look at all that she > accomplished in 34 years dazzles the sight. Her many activities > scintillate like multi-coloured rays of light reflected through a > crystal window. The single-minded purity of that light was one: > devotion to the Covenant; but its expression was infinitely varied, > richly diverse. One is reminded of May Maxwell's words written to and > about her beloved daughter many years ago: > > [.] > [.//] > .......... I really feel, Mary, that the great spiritual blessings > which are coming to you in guiding so many souls to the Blessed > Cause, are not only due to the power of spiritual attraction which > 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave you, but also to your strict obedience to the > instructions of Shoghi Effendi. > [.///] > [.] > > Though I was privileged to travel with her on some of her > remarkable journeys during this time, I can only write of all that > she accomplished in their course with my head bowed in admiration, > acutely aware of my inadequacy to summarize her achievements. > Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum used to say, "I have lived five lives in > this one life", and this remark could just as well apply to her > trips, for she was certainly covering at least five times as many > activities in the course of a single journey as any other normal > traveller might have done. > > In each country she performed multiple services for > > the Cause. Her role as Ambassador of the Bahá'í Faith, for > example, was remarkable in itself. Everywhere she went she met with > Heads of State and high-ranking authorities at the national, local or > even village levels, and moved with complete ease from one class of > society to another. Although she herself was in every way queenly and > worthy of honour and respect, she always approached these emblems of > material power and political authority with deference and a natural > humility. From the first moment of her audience, she would explain > that her visit was in the nature of a courtesy call, and nothing > more. She would invariably state that she had come from the World > Centre of the Bahá'í Faith and was visiting the Bahá'ís in that > country, who were a strictly apolitical and non-partisan people, > well-wishers of the government and obedient to its laws. When asked > by the National Spiritual Assemblies of these countries to raise the > question of Bahá'í registration or make any other request during the > course of her official audiences, she would always refuse. She would > then explain to the Bahá'ís that her purpose in meeting any officials > or dignitaries was to introduce them more intimately to the > principles of the Faith and create an atmosphere of trust so that > later on, when she had gone away, the Bahá'í institutions could more > easily approach the government and make their own requests. This > policy invariably worked. > > In Africa alone she met with 17 Heads of State and was > instrumental in helping the Bahá'ís achieve many of their legal > goals. The highest in rank and the leader she most valued meeting in > all her travels was Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. She greatly > admired his nobility, his courage and his uprightness. The Head of > State whose meeting brought her the greatest joy and pride was His > Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa, > > the first ruling monarch to embrace the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. > In all her encounters, she strove to be positive and looked for every > opportunity to offer praise and appreciation in her dealings with > state officials, even if very little was called for. When she met the > Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, for example, she praised her > courage and high ideals and assured her of her prayers. No wonder > that proud lady was touched and responded with warm respect and > reverence. She always maintained a high standard of propriety in > these matters, and when she shared the platform or sat at dinner with > such people as Prince Philip of Great Britain or the Archbishop of > Canterbury, with Governors-General and Ambassadors, she invariably > won their admiration and respect, not only for herself but most > importantly for the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. This was her ultimate > concern. Rúhíyyih Khánum truly had no personal ambition; she was not > in the least interested in meeting or moving in such company for its > own sake or her pleasure. It was only for the Cause that she would > accept any appointments and invitations of this kind. > > Another activity which she undertook in the course of her many > travels was contact with the representatives of the media. She must > have had hundreds of newspaper, radio and television interviews, in > the capital cities around the world as well as in the large and small > towns of every country she visited. No matter where the interview > took place, no matter how insignificant or important, she agonized > over what she would say and never took the opportunity for granted. > Before going to meet a journalist or be filmed in a studio she would > always pray and ask for God's guidance, His assistance and, above > all, His protection. She used to tell the friends that when they met > the representatives of the media, their principal aim > should be to create a good impression of the Faith. "If these > people only remember one thing, that the word 'Bahá'í means something > good, you have achieved your purpose", she used to say. She would > advise the friends to have enough printed information about the > teachings and concepts of the Faith always available in advance as > hand-outs, because the media representatives never remembered verbal > information correctly. All they remembered was the impression they > received. "Make every effort to make this worthy of Bahá'u'lláh", she > urged the friends. Many of the articles that appeared after > interviews with the press portrayed Rúhíyyih Khánum's personal charm > and candour. In a newspaper in Nigeria, for example, a cheeky young > reporter wrote a very good article on the Bahá'í Faith, ending with > this comment: "Madame Rabbani, you are always welcome in our country; > next time you come please bring your daughter, who must be very > beautiful"! So many times, either on radio or television, the > interviewer would become so interested in Amatu'l-Bahá that he would > increase the time allotted to her, on occasion by half an hour. > > Another vital service rendered by Amatu'l-Bahá in the course of > her many travels was her role as the representative of the Universal > House of Justice at national and international Bahá'í Conferences > across the planet. Her talks were both instructive and memorable on > these occasions. Standing on platforms on behalf of the Sacred > Institution she served, in the course of Bahá'í Conventions at > Ridván, at youth conferences and Native gatherings, at inaugurations > of Bahá'í Temples and other great historical events to which the > Bahá'ís had streamed from all the quarters of the globe, she was > erect and regal and forever memorable, the essence of dignity and > beauty. Her mastery of just the right word on each of > > these occasions. her ability to draw out her audience and touch > people's hearts, her clear and simple logic which made sense to > everyone alike, and, above all, her wit and her bewitching sense of > humour--these qualities endeared her to and charmed her audiences. > Who could ever forget her visible joy who saw her at New York City at > the second Bahá'í World Congress? Who could forget her eloquence who > heard her speak, in Paris, in Machu Picchu, or Auckland? Although > Rúhíiyyih Khánum did not consider herself a pious person who spent > much time in prayer, I believe she had a genuine reverence which was > very private and unpretentious. When asked, she attributed her power > of public speaking to the fact that at the beginning of her marriage > Shoghi Effendi had recommended that she memorize the beautiful prayer > of 'Abdu'l-Bahá which begins, "O Lord, my God and my Haven in my > distress! My shield and my Shelter in my woes!..." and which > concludes with the poignant sentence: "Loose my tongue to laud Thy > name amidst Thy people, that my voice may be raised in great > assemblies and from my lips may stream the flood of thy praise." She > also attributed it to the advice given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to May > Maxwell, to turn her heart to Him, pray, and then speak, for Rúhíyyih > Khánum herself followed this advice faithfully. She gave talks with > the same degree of resourcefulness in French, in German and in > Persian. I remember when we were at a meeting with the Bahá'ís of > Mauritius, she asked her audience whether they wanted to hear her > French, which was grammatically rusty and a muddle of genders, or > have her speak in English, with a translator? The whole audience. > with one voice, begged her to speak in French and I, who understand > the language most imperfectly, can testify to the impact of her > words, despite the faults! Persian also was a language > > she had learned orally and by herself. She didn't know much > grammar and her vocabulary was limited and rather quaint. Despite its > limitations, however, she always knew exactly what she wanted to say, > and said it forcefully, simply, choosing exactly the right words. The > Persians, I know, just loved her ingenuity in inventing new words all > of her own, a combination of the cross-fertilization of languages and > a lively visual imagination translated into words. > > One of the most memorable services in the course of Amatu'l- > Bahá's many travels was the time she spent and the attention she gave > to perfectly ordinary people in the peripheries of society. Rúhíyyih > Khánum was at her happiest with villagers, wherever they might have > been. When asked what was her favourite spot, the place she had > enjoyed most in all her travels, she would often say that it was in > the villages and jungles of the world. > > She rarely missed the opportunity to validate people in far > flung and remote places whom few had heard of and whose simple > actions none might ever know. I remember, when we were travelling in > Africa, we arrived in a small town on the border of Kenya and Uganda > and were invited to lunch in the home of an elderly man, a Bahá'í of > some years. They told us he used to work as a cook in the city for > the Europeans and had now retired. He had set an elegant table for > his precious guest in his small, clean and beautiful hut, with a > spotless, brilliant white linen tablecloth and matching napkins, and > he served us a most delicious rice and curry. Rúhíyyih Khánum, who > herself loved beautiful table settings, was thrilled and made him > feel that his home was a palace and his hospitality that of a king. > We never forgot that lunch and I don't think our host ever forgot it > either. > > How often in the course of these 40 years by her side > > did I witness shy, unsure, sometimes dejected human beings > uplifted by her genuine kindness, her praise and patience. The > lowered head would be raised a little, self-assurance would be > restored and dignity regained. Her instinct was to approach people > with an open, candid heart, simply and unselfconsciously. It was to > look for positive qualities in people and verbalize these. But though > she was the perfect diplomat in some respects, she was also very > direct and often said things frankly and outspokenly. At times she > may have hurt people's pride. However, I witnessed how many times she > regretted it, how much she felt remorse afterwards if she thought she > may have been too harsh with anyone. The driving impulse in all her > encounters with the Bahá'ís was to stir them to action and rouse them > up so that they would teach the Faith. And often, even when she was > critical of individuals, her intent was to protect the Cause. If her > manner may at times have appeared abrupt, and initially formidable to > those who approached her, it was often the result of her own innate > shyness, which few people guessed, for she was disconcerted, to the > end of her life, by effusiveness and adulation. While she was a > stickler for the respect due to the rank she occupied as Hand of the > Cause of God and the widow of Shoghi Effendi, she was the last person > to stand on ceremony with the friends. > > Seldom did Rúhíyih Khánum travel, especially on her longer > trips, without a pet. Her love for animals was such that she would > gladly accept the extra hardship of tending and cleaning her pets for > the simple joy of their company. She used to say, "I get strength and > vitality from animals." Her most famous and widely-travelled pets are > worthy of mention. There was, for example, the agouti, named Usu > after his birth place, the island of Usupoto in > > Panama. Usu travelled with her through all the 11 countries in > South America, arrived safely in Haifa, and lived a very happy and > pampered life for 20 full years. Or there was Tooti, her African Grey > parrot from Ghana, who journeyed with us through 30 countries in > Africa and gave us a great deal of joy. Tooti was a terrific talker, > and learned many languages from the numerous hotel employees along > the way; she also announced our arrival everywhere with a loud > "Rabbani African Safari"! Or there were the two mischievous > chipmunks, Tillie and Chips, and the lame parrot called Horatio who > were her companions on her trip to the islands in the Indian Ocean. > Or the beautiful baby ocelot she bought from a vendor in a small town > in Ecuador, who successfully travelled with us through 13 islands in > the West Indies. And of course there were many others. Her motto was, > "You only live once; why not get clean joy out of it?" > > Rúhíyyih Khánum was one of the most hard-working human beings > that I have ever met. She often used to say, as she kneeled to scrub > the tiles or polish the floor or stood on the top of a ladder > painting walls and ceilings, "Rúhíyyih Khánum has done a great many > things in life which Mary Maxwell would never have dreamed of doing." > And she never asked anyone to do anything which she had not or could > not also have done herself. Much of her hard work was centred on her > home in Haifa, which was the hub of continuous activity until the > last two and a half years of her life. She kept a regular entourage > around her as busy as herself and trained them rigorously in the arts > of practical maintenance at the World Centre. > > Her first and foremost concern was always the upkeep and care of > the Shrines. I remember the only nightmares she ever had, which were > very rare, were about some harm done to the Bahá'í Holy Places or > disrespect shown > > towards the Shrines. From the time of the election of the first > Universal House of Justice, she assumed the task of educating those > of us who were new in Haifa in how to care for the Holy Places. She > taught us how to clean the Sacred Shrines, how to wash each crystal > in their chandeliers, how to arrange and freshen the flowers, to > restore the curtains and curtain linings, how to cover the Thresholds > with petals, simply and informally, without rigidity, Her constant > reminder was to keep these precious Holy Shrines exactly the way > Shoghi Effendi had arranged them. "This is not a place of innovation, > but preservation" was her advice to all, and she was acutely > sensitive if anyone tried to introduce his or her own likes or > dislikes into this area of service. She also undertook periodically > to inspect and keep all the Holy Places in order, framing pictures, > replacing the frayed and worn out fabrics, keeping an eagle eye on > any deviation from the Guardian's ways. When she travelled to > countries where she could find fine textiles, table cloths or > ornaments needed in the future for these Holy Places or the Shrines, > she would purchase these and keep them in the depot, in her home, for > future use. For she was a very practical person. She knew these > material things would break, grow old, be lost and need to be > replaced and she literally created a bank of appropriate furnishings > for these Holy Places for the future which were in keeping with the > style and taste of the past. > > Economy was her constant cry and she deplored waste in any form. > How many houses she furnished with second-hand furniture found in her > forays in the flea markets of Haifa and Jaffa. How much she saved the > Fund with her shrewd bargains and strict economies. The renovation > and furnishing of the House of 'Abdu'lláh Páshá engrossed her > interest for several years. She collaborated with and helped the > Universal House of Justice not > > only in its renovation, but also in its interior decoration. > She searched for and found period Turkish furniture in 'Akká, Nablus > and other areas, with the help of Salah Jarrah, the faithful servant > of Shoghi Effendi. This House in particular is a masterpiece of her > creativity and artistic ability. > > One of her most endearing projects in between journeys, when she > returned to Haifa, was the never-to-be-forgotten bazaars she > organized in her own home. She was consummately skilled at bringing > people together and making them work in joy and harmony for a cause. > In the case of her wonderful bazaars, this particular cause combined > two absorbing interests: the Fund and flea markets. When there were > still relatively few of us in Haifa, she would involve almost > everyone in helping her, and raised large amounts of money for causes > close to her heart, such as the Bahá'í Temple in India, or special > teaching projects in different parts of the world. This was one of > the many ways in which she brought joy to the House of the Master, > which had in the past seen so much grief and sorrow. Without ever > violating its sacredness or intruding into its heart of sanctity, she > opened wide its doors and filled its rooms with delighted laughter, > for she was one of those rare human beings who know how to combine > deep reverence and respect with complete freedom of heart and > spontaneity of expression. > > Another of Amatu'l-Bahá's important social activities in Haifa > was her role as the Hostess. Her beautiful library, which was her > official dining room for special guests and occasions, and her > charming drawing room, which she referred to as "Montreal in Haifa", > were the scenes of many elegant dinners and luncheon parties. She > loved setting a beautiful table, arranging flowers and overseeing > every detail of the event. Apart from formal dinners, she > > would also give many informal parties, just for fun. After > returning from India, every now and then she would be so homesick for > that country that she would throw an "Indian Night" party. She would > dress the few ladies working at that time in Haifa in her beautiful > saris, trace the floors with exquisite patterns made of coloured > flour, play Indian music, and we would all enjoy delicious, spicy > Indian food under her hospitable roof. And also do the cleaning up > with her afterwards! Or there were her exciting "African Nights" when > all the friends who were either African or connected to the work in > Africa were invited to her home, usually outside in her beautiful > garden, and after a scrumptious dinner would drum and sing to their > hearts' content. How exhilarating were her dinner parties for the new > Counsellors, too, where the guests, numbering over 90 at times, were > squeezed into the main hall, as she would say, "with a shoe horn". > Even the dignified member of the Universal House of Justice, Charles > Wolcott, a distinguished musician himself, was so taken by the spirit > of happiness on one of these occasions that he spontaneously played > on her large African drum, to the intense joy of Rúhíyyih Khánum and > the African Counsellors. Many hundreds of the friends who met > Amatu'l-Bahá on her travels, enjoyed her delightful hospitality and > loving attention when visiting Haifa. > > There were, of course, a stream of regular nine-day pilgrims > with whom she also met, twice a month for nine months of the year, > during the course of her last decades in residence in Haifa. This was > a custom and responsibility which went back to her earliest years at > the side of Shoghi Effendi, and which she dutifully maintained until > the last years of her life. She spoke with about 2000 pilgrims each > year in the main hall of the Master's House, giving talks which > provided guidance and inspiration for > > many, and she also kept up a voluminous correspondence, > encouraging institutions as well as individuals and responding to > questions and requests throughout these years. > > A particularly important event that took place in Haifa during > this period, and one which brought many hundreds of pilgrims flocking > through the doors of the Master's House, was the Centenary of the > arrival of Bahá'u'lláh in the Holy Land in 1968. That year, two > thousand Bahá'ís gathered in Haifa and 'Akká, many of whom had > crossed the Mediterranean Sea after attending the Palermo Conference > in Sicily. Another extraordinary event in which Rúhíyyih Khánum > participated was the commemoration of the Centenary of the passing of > Bahá'u'lláh, during the Holy Year, 1992. On this occasion, three > thousand Bahá'ís came to the Holy Land and gathered during the > afternoon of May 28th at Bahjí to witness the ceremony during which > Amatu'l-Bahá lowered the cylinder containing the Roll of Honour of > the Knights of Bahá'u'lláh and placed it in its permanent place at > the entrance of the Most Holy Shrine. On the night of His Ascension, > after a devotional program in the Haram-i-Aqdas, we all > circumambulated that blessed Shrine, the paths round which were lined > and lighted by thousands of candles. Rúhíyyih Khánum spent that night > and the night before in the Mansion of Bahjí. She hardly slept the > first night for, despite her advanced age by this time, she and her > small band of helpers worked until the early hours of the morning > carpeting the Shrine with thousands of rose buds and carnations, just > as she had done almost 30 years before. When she completed the > circumambulation, she went into the Mansion, stood on the balcony and > watched in ecstasy and awe the complete ring of Bahá'ís circling > round that Holy of Holies. > > Amatu'l-Bahá's legacy to us, apart from the rich > > memories of her personality and the varied activities > associated with her services, also lies in the treasure trove of > books she wrote and films she produced. When one contemplates the > fullness of her days and years, many of which were spent in travel, > one is filled with wonder at how she managed to do so much writing, > which involves staying still and without any distractions for long > periods of time. When did she ever have sufficient time to write such > invaluable books as {The Priceless Pearl}, for example? Often, when > asked how she could conduct such a full social life, fulfil so many > teaching and administrative obligations and complete such a weighty > textbook in the history of our Cause too, she would say, "I worked > according to the pattern of Shoghi Effendi when writing {God Passes > By}." She gathered and read all her material and facts in one year, > making copious notes. Then the following year she wrote the book. > Many of her books were written in the pauses between trips. Her > {Manual for Pioneers}, written with the practical desire to help many > young and inexperienced Bahá'ís across the world, was the result of > her observations while travelling in Africa. She began tak-ing notes > during her trip and then wrote the book in Haifa after she returned. > {The Desire of the World} is a compilation of prayers and personal > meditations which she had collected over the years during the dawn > hours of the Fast period. {The Ministry of the Custodians}, her > masterly compilation covering the interim period before the election > of the Supreme Body, includes a powerful introduction written by > Amatu'l-Bahá and fills a vital gap in Bahá'í history, covering almost > six years of invaluable service of the standard-bearers of the Cause > of Bahá'u'lláh. Her last literary work, {Poems of the Passing}, an > outpouring of her broken heart after the death of Shoghi Effendi, was > printed in 1996 and seems, after her own recent passing, > to give us words with which to grieve in turn. Although she had > excellent help for typing and other technical matters, Rúhíyyih > Khánum was especially involved with the appearance and layout of all > her books, particularly the covers and dust jackets, which she > herself always chose and sometimes designed. For some of her > publications she even selected the page formatting, and the style and > size of the fonts used. She was not content with delegating any tasks > which she could do herself and mastered many skills as the result, to > oversee their being properly done. > > Two documentary films were also produced by Rúhíyyih Khánum in > the course of her life, which she not only featured in herself, but > also directed. Even the smallest detail of the editing and sound > track in these films were subject to her taste and judgement, for she > never engaged in any project if not whole-heartedly. "The Green Light > Expedition" was the fruit of her six months' journey in 1975 through > the Amazon Basin, the Peruvian and Bolivian altiplano, all the way to > the Bush Negroes of Suriname. This two-hour documentary is truly a > classic masterpiece, an expression of her concern for the moral as > well as the environmental plight of people and places so long ignored > and unjustly treated. Her second film, a deeply spiritual experience, > is called "The Pilgrimage", and offers a visual pilgrimage to the > Holy Shrines and sites of the Bahá'í Holy Places in Haifa and 'Akká, > with the privilege of Amatu'l-Bahá as one's guide. > > Even if there were all the images of her memorable travels and > all the tapes of her talks at our disposal, how is it possible to > encompass a life as rich and broad as that of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih > Khánum's in this inadequate frame of words? She touched and filled my > life and the lives of numerous people everywhere around the world, > not only by giving us a desire to serve but also by bringing > > us joy and laughter, and her relationships have linked many > people over the years. But the primary source of comfort and > happiness to Amatu'l-Baha herself in the last decades of her life > was, above all else, her love for the Universal House of Justice and > her bond with this Institution and its individual members. Every > single year, from the time of its inception in 1963, on the > anniversary of the passing of the beloved Guardian, she received most > heart-warming, most loving tributes from the Supreme Body to the > victories she had won in the previous year. Each Naw-Rúz too, or on > the occasion of her return from her long travels, and also on her > birthday, she received loving and encouraging personal messages from > the Universal House of Justice which warmed her heart. In March of > 1987, on the 50th anniversary of her marriage to the beloved > Guardian, the Universal House of Justice gave a banquet in her honour > in the majestic banquet hall of its Seat. This honour was repeated a > decade later on the anniversary of her 60th year in the Holy Land, > and it meant more to her than could be expressed in words. When all > nine members of the Universal House of Justice came to her home for > the last time three weeks before her passing and paid their respects, > when she was quite frail and in bed, such a deep sense of happiness > and contentment enveloped her that it was tangible, like sunlight, in > the room after they left. She lingered quietly in that light a > moment, and then said--"I felt their love; they are my closest > friends." This bond, which symbolized her total dedication to the > Covenant throughout her life, was strong and vibrant to the end and > always reciprocal. > > About two weeks before her passing, she was in her bed with her > eyes closed. I thought she was asleep, when suddenly she opened her > eyes, turned towards me and said, "Remember, white over black". She > repeated this twice, and again closed her eyes. I did not know if she > had been dreaming or thinking about something specific. When she > passed away, I remembered this, and remembered too the square piece > of black silk velvet which she owned that was lined and embroidered > so beautifully with exquisite gold thread. She had used this a few > times for the funerals of very special people, such as the Hands of > the Cause Milly Collins and Tarázu'lláh Samandarí, as well as Ethel > Revell. We covered her casket with this, and placed along its full > length a most delicate floral arrangement of white rose buds, > fuchsias and tubular roses. Was this what she had seen? > > How befitting her funeral was, held in the large central hall of > the Master's House where she had chaired the election of the first > Universal House of Justice. Accordingly, we followed the same pattern > that she had set on that significant occasion and removed the doors > to the four sides of the hall in order to arrange seats for the large > number of people attending her funeral service. The two Hands of the > Cause were present, together with members of the Universal House of > Justice, the International Teaching Centre Counsellors, and twentyfour Continental Counsellors from all over the world. Also attending > were her family members and representatives from 76 National > Spiritual Assemblies, senior officials from the Canadian and United > States embassies, representatives of the Israeli government, the > mayors of Haifa and 'Akká, other prominent Israeli citizens and a > number of special invited guests. The hall and both sides of the > front entrance were filled with beautiful floral arrangements which > over-flowed down the steps and into the garden of her home. Following > the readings and the chanting of the Prayer for the Dead, she left > for the last time that house which she had entered as a bride 63 > years before, her coffin carried > > by members of the Universal House of Justice, This beautifully > crafted coffin of clear American cedar was borne across the street > and lowered into its vault in the centre of the garden opposite by > believers representing a variety of ethnic origins. Her restingplace, too, was heaped on each side by a tribute of flowers from > those who loved her all over the planet, though despite their volume, > how few they seemed before her great achievements. Almost 1,000 > people, including pilgrims and volunteers serving at the Bahá'í World > Centre, stood outside her home and in the closed-off street, as well > as in the garden where her grave had been prepared. The interior of > the grave was carpeted on all sides with hundreds of roses and > carnations, just as she had arranged for her beloved Shoghi Effendi > 42 years before. And as the rain poured down, more prayers were > recited and chanted before her casket was lowered into the ground. > The rain-storm which had begun on the night she passed away finally > subsided to a drizzle as her precious remains were laid to rest, and > it seemed to me then as though the skies were mingling their tears > with those of all who loved admired and cherished her. > > I think, to sum up such a life, there are no adequate words but > those expressed in the message of the Universal House of Justice to > the Bahá'í world after her passing: > > [.] > [.//] > 19 January 2000 > > To the Bahá'ís of the World > > .......... In the early hours of this morning, the soul of Amatu'l- > Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, beloved consort of Shoghi Effendi and the > Bahá'í world's last remaining > > link with the family of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, was released from the > limitations of this earthly existence. In the midst of our grief, we > are sustained by our confidence that she has been gathered to the > glory of the Concourse on High in the presence of the Abhá Beauty. > > .......... For all whose hearts she touched so deeply, the sorrow > that this irreparable loss brings will, in God's good time, be > assuaged in awareness of the joy that is hers through her reunion > with the Guardian and with the Master, Who had Himself prayed in the > Most Holy Shrine that her parents be blessed with a child. Down the > centuries to come, the followers of Bahá'u'lláh will contemplate with > wonder and gratitude the quality of the services--ardent, > indomitable, resourceful--that she brought to the protection and > promotion of the Cause. > > .......... In her youth, Amatu'l-Bahá had already distinguished > herself through her activities in North America, and later, both with > her dear mother and on her own, she had rendered valuable service to > the Cause in Europe. Her twenty years of intimate association with > Shoghi Effendi evoked from his pen such accolades as "my helpmate", > "my shield", "my tireless collaborator in the arduous tasks I > shoulder." To these tributes he added in 1952 his decision to elevate > her to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God, after the death of her > illustrious father. The devastating shock of the beloved Guardian's > passing steeled her resolve to lend her share, with the other Hands > of the Cause, to the triumph of the Ten Year Crusade, and > subsequently to undertake, with characteristic intrepidity, her > historic worldwide travels. > > .......... A life so noble in its provenance, so crucial to the > preservation of the Faith's integrity, and so rich in its > dedicated, uninterrupted and selfless service, moves us to call for > befogging commemorations by Bahá'í communities on both national and > local levels, as well as for special gatherings in her memory in all > Houses of Worship. > > .......... With yearning hearts, we supplicate at the Holy Threshold > for infinite heavenly bounties to surround her soul, as she assumes > her rightful and well-earned position among the exalted company in > the Abhá Kingdom. > > The Universal House of Justice > [.///] > [.] > > > > IV > > HIGHLIGHTS OF > HER TRAVELS > > > > .......... {O that I could travel, even though on foot and in the > utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of "Yá > Bahá'u'l-Abhá" in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, > promote the divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How intensely > I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it.} > > 'Abdu'l-Bahá > > — *A Tribute to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum (Used by permission of the curator)*