Shoghi Effendi: Recollections
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Ugo Giachery, Shoghi Effendi: Recollections, bahai-library.com.
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Shoghi Effendi:

Recollections

Ugo Giachery

Oxford: George Ronald, 1973

single page

chapter 1

Contents

1PREFACE

PART 1: The Personality of Shoghi Effendi

5 IAN APPRECIATION

10IIPILGRIM IMPRESSIONS

16III HIS SPIRITUAL VIRTUES

16 His Great Faith

18 The Guardian and the man

19 His humility and selflessness

20 His involuntary connection with the Divine Source

24 His eagerness

25 His perseverance

26 His generosity

29IVHIS LITERARY GIFTS

35 Translations

37 Original literary work

37 As historian

40 Correspondence

42 His artistic ingenuity

PART 2: The World Centre of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh

51 VBIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD CENTRE

61 VITHE QUEEN OF CARMEL

68 VIITHE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE SHRINE OF THE BAB

72 The Arcade

89 The Octagon

97 The Drum or Clerestory

100The Crown and the Dome

109 VIII THE GARDENS SURROUNDING THE SHRINE OF THE BAB

119 IXTHE GARDEN NURSERIES

121 XPILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH

123 XITHE GARDENS AT BAHJI

127 XIIEMBELLISHMENTS TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH

138 XIII THE MANSION OF BAHJI

148 XIVTHE INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES

148 The Nature of the Archives

151 The Project Begins

158 Plans Become a Reality

170 XVTHE FIRST MASHRIQU'L-ADHKAR OF THE HOLY LAND

173 The Obelisk

EPILOGUE

175 Events connected with the passing of Shoghi Effendi

184 The Sepulchre of Shoghi Effendi

APPENDICES

189 IEarly Descriptions of Shoghi Effendi

195 IILetters to Angeline Giachery

199 IIIThe Writings of Shoghi Effendi

205 IVGenealogy of Shoghi Effendi

206The Family of the Báb

208 VThe War in Africa

209 VIThe Tablet of Carmel

212 VIIGuido M. Fabbricotti, the Marble Firm

213 VIII Giacomo Barozzi, the Architect Vignola

214 IXNames of the Doors of the Shrine of the Báb

214 XAndrea Palladio, Founder of Neo-Classic Architecture

217 XIPlants Used by Shoghi Effendi

220Glossary of Architectural and Building Terms

223 References

This humble work is dedicated to my dear wife Angeline whose love for Shoghi Effendi and utter dedication to the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh are far greater than my own.

[page 1]

Preface

The date of November 4th, 1957, will remain for the author of these Recollections the day of anguish, of sorrow and bewilderment. In a modest hotel in the city of London, the earthly, fruitful life of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, came abruptly, and unexpectedly, to an end. To the writer, it was as if the light of wisdom, solace and righteousness had been extinguished forever: something similar to an apocalyptic darkening of this planet.

A radiant and useful existence had suddenly ceased, leaving a multitude of co-religionists throughout the world stunned and grief-stricken. It was an unequalled and widespread feeling of despair and irremediable loss that filled the hearts wit poignant pain that could never cease; the end of an age of comfort and assurance, of light-hearted joy, the joy of one's adolescent years, when dreams, aspirations and idealism came into existence from the tranquil life revolving around the unity of the family, with its power of love and security, the source of our inspiration, fortitude and strength.

The greatest gift received from the Omnipotent, during my lifetime, was the privilege of being closely associated with Shoghi Effendi for a number of years. No words will ever be able to describe the depth of my devotion and of my abiding love for him, nor the transformation I underwent under the influence of his warm and tender affection; an influence that changed my character, my outlook on life, my habits, and opened my eyes to the unending vista of new aspirations and horizons.

In later years, I have felt the urge to communicate to others the power of his love; thus the decision to write down some of my observations and experiences. It is a recollection, however inadequate - an effort to render him due justice and to recall for others the life of such a unique and precious personage. I sincerely trust that future scholars will undertake to produce a detailed life history of him whom I consider to be the 'true man of the century'.

Much merit for my efforts goes to my dear wife, Angeline, who with her encouragement and patience has guided me to the completion of the manuscript. Deep thanks and appreciation go to our dear friend Beatrice Owens Ashton, for her many suggestions and the reviewing of the text, to Marion Hofman for her skilful editing, and to the painter Reza Samimi for his extraordinary and moving crayon portrait of Shoghi Effendi. My sincere thanks go also to the hosts of friends who have urged me to put in writing what I have verbally expressed in Bahá'í gatherings in various continents of the world. It is my hope that the reading of these Recollections will enkindle and strengthen, in the hearts of many, a deep love and admiration for Shoghi Effendi, that we may all dedicate our lives, as he did, to the service of the Cause of God which he so greatly loved, and that we may emulate him in placing such services ahead of any personal motives or restraint.

UGO GIACHERY

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-- Shoghi Effendi: Recollections (Used by permission of the curator)