# Notes of the Pilgrimage of Edith McLaren

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Edith McLaren, Notes of the Pilgrimage of Edith McLaren, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Notes of the Pilgrimage of Edith McLaren
> 
> Edith McLaren
> 
> 1954-05
> 
> My arrival in Haifa just before noon on May second was exactly one year
> after I made the decision to request permission from the beloved Guardian.
> To at last have the privilege to come to this blessed spot was the
> fulfillment of a long cherished dream.
> 
> This very first day was filled with unexpected events, for it was the
> anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab according to the Moslem calendar.
> Ruhiyyih Khanum was entertaining the Bahai women from Akka, the Persian
> women pilgrims, the American women on the Internacional Council at a
> luncheon. Since I was the only western pilgrim for the first two days they
> seemed as delighted to meet me as I was to meet them. The love shone out
> of their eyes, from the youngest girl to the elderly niece of Bahá'u'lláh
> in her simple gray flannel dress.
> 
> Later in the afternoon we were all taken to the Shrine of the Bab where we
> waited in the little portico outside the Eastern Pilgrim house until the
> beloved Guardian finished his conversation with the men pilgrims from
> Persia. Just at twilight when the stars were beginning to come out I had
> my first glimpse of the beloved as he came out of the house, slowly walked
> up the path to the Shrine followed by the men. The lights went on at the
> Shrine and the women followed going into the side reserved for them.
> Therein that matchless room, that sacred spot, I suddenly heard the voice
> of the Guardian chanting the Tablet of Visitation of Bahá'u'lláh as the
> fragrance of attar of roses permeated the evening air. Next we entered the
> room to the left where Abdul-Baha is situated and heard the Guardian chant
> again. To have had this tremendous experience during the first hours of
> the first day was like being lifted into anothe world. It was nearly nine
> o'clock when we went in to the dining room for dinner. The overwhelming
> feeling of unworthiness that comes over one as he walks across the dimly
> lighted room for the first time and sees Shoghi Effendi rise from the
> table in the dining room and come forward to greet him is felt to a great
> degree by every pilgrim. One can scarcely eat seeing his eyes for the
> first time and hearing him speak. After the first words of greeting and
> asking about the activity in Rome where I had stopped for a day or two, as
> compared to the activity of the Faith in the U.S. The Guardian asked about
> Mrs. Esty in Buffalo, near my town of Hamburg. Mrs. Esty is the believer
> who presented the large portrait of Abdul-Baha to the Guardian as well as
> one to hang in the Temple in Chicago. Then the conversation turned to the
> World Crusade and the need for dispersal. He told us that if the Bahá'ís
> do not bring about this dispersal God will do so. . . that we now have
> nearly 3000 centers in the world but what we need is more believers. Six
> hundred of these centers are in Persia. He spoke much about pioneering and
> remaining at your post. Do not go away after you get there. Remain and
> teach the natives.
> 
> When asked the question if the youth in the Faith should join the army or remain in college if
> one had already begun his studies he smiled as he answered that one could join tha army and give
> a list of places where one would like to be sent - such as Guam. But each one has to decide for
> himself. The spirit and desire are tha important things.
> 
> He spoke of Africa as an example to all, in the way the Faith is growing there. Americans should
> bring more of the Indians and colored people into the Faith. If we don't teach them the negroes
> from Africa will have to come to teach. The Bahá'ís like to go to social affairs but they should
> teach - pioneer. The European Teaching Committee is not doing enough
> 
> [page 2]
> 
> Tis committee should send more pioneers to France, Malta, etc. The Bahá'í must teach,
> consolidate and incorporate. Then receive endowments. When asked which Fund is the most
> important at this time the Guardian answered that the World Center Fund and the National were
> more important at this time than the local. He said if we support the World Center and National
> Funds the local will benefit. (He did not mention which should come first of these two.)
> 
> More local assemblies should incorporate. But this should be done through the national assembly
> - that is, not without consulting the national body. They must be sure of holding it before
> incorporating. The Guardian spoke much about the small increase in believers in the U.S., the
> loss of local assemblies and the deficit in the National Fund.
> 
> The pioneers should go to the difficult places not to the easiest ones. The Americans are too
> materialistic. They will have to suffer to learn. America will suffer the most. The Guardian
> seemed tired and very serious this evening and there were many pauses which made one realize
> the seriousness of the times.
> 
> The next evening, Monday, May 3rd we found the Guardian very happy and healthy. His eyes
> were sparkling and his cheeks were pink. He had many cables and letters which had come that
> day. They all had good news. He could scarcely eat for he wanted to read so many of them to us.
> Several new pioneers had arrived at their posts, the NSAs had sent cables - he read some of
> them - from Canada, Australia, India, Persia, Sweden. He was displeased with Sweden because
> the NSA has spent $21,500 for land for the Temple, 20 miles from their capital when they had
> only 3000 in their fund. He was very pleased with Africa especially and Canada and Australia.
> He spoke of several youth who had gone to pioneer in different places. He also read to us the very
> cordial and friendly letter which had just come that day from the president Ben Svi of Israel
> who expressed great pleasure and appreciation of his recent visit with the Guardian and
> Ruhiyyih Khanum. He spoke warmly of the unity and friendly relations which exist between the
> Bahá'í Faith and the State of Israel and that both were working for the welding of the
> nations.....Leroy Ioas was to speak at the Rotary Club in Jerusalem the following day. The
> Guardian said that he wish- to send some Bahá'í books to the president, since he had asked for
> literature. (I remember so well that he spoke of the books then - Prayers and
> Meditations, Gleanings, Dawnbreakers and the Appreciations of the
> Bahá'í Faith. He also said that he would send some plants to Mrs. Ben Svi for her garden. The
> reason the Guardian was so happy over this visit was because this was the first time a president
> or high official had called on him. The minister of religions had been invited to come but had
> refused.....Finally he read to us his cable to the U.S. in which he said that the Honor Roll was now
> being closed and giving us the latest information on the growth of the Faith. At the end of the
> dinner time there maps of the property of the Siyah Chal prison which the Guardian brought out
> and talked about with the members of the Council. He mentioned that the individual who brought
> the property should now work with the NSA of Persia and decide with Bahá'í consultation how
> the building should be developed and financed.
> 
> On another evening The Guardian talked much about the development of the Faith in the East - of
> the NSAs of Japan, South East Asia, South West Islands and Austrialia. He was so pleased with the
> accomplishments of the
> 
> [page 3]
> 
> Australians. They have the good qualities of the British and not the bad, and a few of the good
> qualities of the Americans. The East, he hope will progress even faster that Africa did. The
> Fozdar family was mentioned - how they had all been so active and were wonderful pioneers. In
> speaking of the Covenant Breakers in Persia he said that Mr. Samandari is the shield of the
> Cause. He scatters the Covenant- Breakers. He had sent him to Mashad and also to Teheran. He
> was the only one who could handle the Covenant-Breakers in these places.
> 
> Reference was made one evening to the Temple in Isaiah. The Surih of the Temple is a Tablet
> written by Bahá'u'lláh in Akka. It represents the five pointed star as the temple of man. (page
> 213 God Passes By)
> 
> The Guardian pointed out the fact that the Bahá'ís were the only religion in Israel that did not
> have to pay tax on property used for the Faith because we comply with the rules in contract of
> land ownership, namely: 1- We will not sell. 2- We do not build. 3. We will not rent. 4. We
> will not sell produce from the land. We now have property valued at four million dollars. We
> waited 40 years for the Mansion at Bahji, 50 years for the land on Mt. Carmel, 60 years for the
> Shrine and 100 years for the Siyah Chal.
> 
> In reference to the Americans again the Guardian said that since they have failed to teach the
> negroes perhaps they will teach the Jews. They shoul form special committees for this. purpose.
> The Jews character was effected due to enslavement by the Egyptians. That period is now over.
> Moses was angry and threw down the tablets, and broke them. God also became angry with them.
> They had persecuted Christ and had to suffer 2000 years persecution. The Jews are the chosen
> people to support the Bahá'í Institutions in the future - the distant future.
> 
> The Shrine of the Bab was in the heart of Mt. Carmel and the Temple will be built at the head.
> 
> The Kitab-i-Aqdas is revealed for future civilization. These laws will not be given out in their
> entirety at one time. They will be given out a few at a time over a long span of years. Then the
> beloved Guardian spoke about how this great Cause develops. First came the Revelation, then the
> Covenant, then Administration. Next will come World Order and finally World Civilization.....
> Once he mentioned that our enemies have made the right moves and aided the Cause and its
> development. Bahá'u'lláh would never have come to Akka of his own accord. He brought more
> than a revealed religion. He brought a plan for world civilization.
> 
> So often the Guardian spoke about America during the 9 days of my pilgrimage, how it must
> suffer to be purified, then obtain its destiny and be welded with the other nations. 1. Suffering -
> to prepare for the welding. 2. Administrative Cradle. These two will prepare America for its
> destiny to lead all nations spiritually. Not because America is so good but so corrupt was she
> chosen for this destiny. The early believers th thought that the Master was referring to America
> at that time but he was referring to the destiny of America.
> 
> Again and again the Guardian spoke about teaching and pioneering. We must teach the Faith
> with dignity - never peddle it. The Faith is too precious for that. Example - the way it is handled
> in Israel.
> 
> [page 4]
> 
> The pioneers should get out, stay at their posts and teach the Faith. They must not forget that
> they are there to teach the Faith. They must seek out the sincere souls who are prepared....As to
> the Summer Schools - the primary books to study are Kitab-i-Iqan and Some Answered
> Questions. Keep away from the occult and mysticism. Study the writings and know them, then
> teach. Study, concentrate, then act. There is too much social life at Green Acre and not enough
> study. There should be study in the evening as well as the daytime. A little play, a little
> recreation, but not to overdo it. Concentrate on the goals of the Ten Year Crusade and not
> introduce other things. Be light as the spirit, pure as the air, unrestrained as the wind and
> blazing like fire.
> 
> Some of the things I learned from the beloved Guardian were these: He has great patience. He
> loves the believers dearly, knows their faults and is always hopeful that they will exert greater
> and greater effort for the Faith. He has the vision of the Cause as no one else could possibly have.
> He is focused entirely in the Faith. He works tirelessly, ceasely, always keeping his eye on the
> goal. He goes ahead and makes plans even when there are severe blocks and obstacles not yet
> overcome as in the case of the property for the Archives Building at that time. The title was not
> yet clear for the land but the plans were all ready to begin work when they could. Though his
> station is not the Exemplar as was Abdul-Baha's yet he is still the great example to the
> believers every where.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views13252 views since posted 1997; last edit 2025-09-30 13:13 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../mclaren_pilgrims_notes;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
> Language
> English
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> public domain
> History
> Typed 1997 by Robert Stauffer; Proofread 1997 by Thellie Lovejoy.
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/746
> Citation: ris/746
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> — *Notes of the Pilgrimage of Edith McLaren (Used by permission of the curator)*