# Our Pilgrimage to Haifa

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Elmer Beasley, Our Pilgrimage to Haifa, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Our Pilgrimage to Haifa
> 
> Elmer Beasley
> Gladys Beasley
> 
> 1957
> 
> On the eve of March 15th we received the unexpected telegram, telling us that
> Shoghi Effendi would welcome us as pilgrims the second week in May. We only
> knew one thing and that was that we would make the trip not even thinking of
> the ways and means necessary for such a long journey. We immediately set
> about the next day to obtain passports, vaccinations, itineraries and all the
> details needed. After days of this procedure and all was in readiness we waited
> the slowly passing time when we could take our departure.
> 
> On the eve of May 1st we boarded our plane at Geiger Airport (Spokane,
> Washington) which was to take us on our journey. Needless to say we were
> excited, thrilled and a little concerned.
> 
> The details of our wonderful journey, other than the Pilgrimage, I have written
> in a separate account. We feel that we can tell you of the places we saw, the
> things that were said, but we cannot give you the spiritual experience that each
> of us had. That part of the Pilgrimage belongs to the individual, and no doubt
> each experiences it in a different way.
> 
> We arrived in Tel-Aviv, Israel at 11:30 PM, May 7th. Being so late we decided to
> stay the night there and go to Haifa in the morning. Then Tuesday morning we
> got what is known as a collective taxi (sherut) to travel the 90 miles to Haifa,
> arriving there at about 11 o'clock AM. We took a taxi and drove to the Pilgrim
> House and were met by Fujita. He welcomed us with outstretched arms and
> immediately served tea. Fujita is the little Japanese with a great big sense of
> humor. He was `Abdu'l-Bahá's houseboy and has served the Faith well all these
> years. After a hard struggle in Japan, Shoghi Effendi asked him
> 
> [page 2]
> 
> to come and be part of the household in Haifa, so Fujita is happy in his new
> home. He takes care of the gardens at the Western Pilgrim House and at the
> Guardian's home as well as serving dinner at night.
> 
> Everyone was up at the Shrine as they were having a fair in Haifa and all hands
> were necessary to help with guiding. So after tea, Fujita called a taxi and we all
> went up to the Shrine. It is several blocks from the headquarters and up towards
> the top of Mount Carmel. One can see the dome for miles as you ride towards the
> city, and naturally that is the first thing the pilgrim wants to see. We went
> first to the Bab's Shrine and then to see `Abdu'l-Bahá's Shrine. Both are so
> beautiful that it is hard to visualize it to be the burial place of anyone.
> 
> As you know, the shrine itself consists of rooms of equal size, the Bab's
> Shrine in the middle and the Shrine of `Abdu'l-Bahá to the north and the
> Archives to the south of the building. The Shrine is open from 9AM to 12
> noon each day, and we are told they conducted 600 persons through that
> morning. No one except the Bahá'ís are allowed to go in where `Abdu'l-Bahá
> is buried. The visitors are given a short talk on the outline of the place
> and asked to remove their shoes before they enter also asked not to talk
> as it is a place of meditation and no one should be disturbed. I cannot
> possibly record in these notes the reactions of those who go there, but
> one thought comes to mind: A lady and her two small children went in, and
> when they came out the little girl, about six years old, said "I feel this
> is a Holy Place." A great many ask questions and one hears very few who
> make adverse statements. As
> 
> [page 3]
> 
> the Guardian does not allow any teaching in Haifa and only Holy Days are
> observed, one cannot go into the Teachings. Shoghi Effendi says the Jews are
> building a new nation and he does not want the fulfillment of their religious
> teachings to be disturbed at this time. So there are no Bahá'ís in Haifa except
> the ones in the household. The Jews are very proud of the Bahá'ís and have a
> great regard for Shoghi Effendi as he has done much to beautify their city.
> 
> When we returned to the Pilgrim House we met Mason Remey, Millie Collins, the
> Revell sisters and the pilgrim from New York, Marie Nadler. All were on hand for
> lunch which is served every day at 1:30 PM. Ruhiyyih Khanum always has lunch
> with the friends and a very pleasant lunch it is. She is kind and gracious and yet
> makes you feel right at home as if you were all one big family. Most of the food
> served in the household is Persian, and so much of it, such as sweets, are sent
> from the Persian friends. Our first meal consisted of a soup made from yogurt,
> raw, whole cucumbers, cheese and Arab bread then cakes and salted nuts for
> dessert. The bread is a flat loaf made from whole wheat and made by the cook
> then taken to a central oven here it is baked. It is very delicious and no doubt
> very nutritional. During the afternoon we visited the Guardian. He has dinner
> with the friends every night. Dinner is always served at 7PM. The newest
> pilgrim always goes first so you feel a little self-conscious. When you enter the
> dining room, which is in the basement, the Guardian is already seated at the
> table, and he gets up and shakes hands with you and then each one in turn shakes
> hands with him and then takes their place at the table.
> 
> Before I go on with the conversation at the table, I would like to describe the
> Guardian the best that I can. I think he must be a lot like `Abdu'l-Bahá and walks
> like Him. He was shorter than I had expected
> 
> [page 4]
> 
> him to be, olive complexion and a small moustache. His eyes, of course, are
> brown and very expressive and one has the feeling the Guardian sees everything.
> His hands are small, and without any doubt, the most beautiful hands I have ever
> seen. He is dressed in a black aba which fits more closely then those we have
> seen in pictures, and he wears a small cap about 3 inches in height rather tipped
> over one eye very striking and his hair is gray over the temples. As the Guardian
> does not have private audiences, and all work is done at the table, the friends
> say they have never seen him any different then we see him. Ruhiyyih Khanum is
> the liaison officer, and any problems as to the work or questions concerning
> their activities is first taken up with her and she in turn relays it to the
> Guardian.
> 
> The Guardian greets you like this: "Did you have a nice trip and how is your
> health?" then I think his first question was: "Did you go to the Convention?" We
> had not, and he seemed disappointed, as I believe the U.S. was the only report he
> had not received. He was anxious to know how many Assemblies were lost and
> how many formed, and he seemed disturbed that we hadn't heard. He had just
> received the report of the African believers and he was so happy. So his first
> conversation with us was to relate the progress in Africa. They had just elected
> 3 National Assemblies and the one already formed in Egypt, making four in that
> continent. He gave us statistics and figures that one wonders how he could
> remember so many.
> 
> He said that when the Bab was martyred thee were [undecipherable] in Africa
> and since he opened that continent to the Faith [undecipherable] there are over
> 3000. In fact the 7 have complete their Ten Year Plan, and he said: "Do you know
> what I did? I gave them another Seven Year Plan!" He said then `we do not need
> any more white pioneers there, and he thought he would let the friends come to
> the United States to teach us! They definitely can stand on their own feet.'
> 
> He spoke of the many Haziras that we have and the money
> 
> [page 5]
> 
> appropriated for them as well as the finances for the Temples. These
> notes we find in our [undecipherable] so I won't repeat them here.
> 
> `There are 3 places remaining to be settled plus the [undecipherable] ten.
> 
> A lady from one of the Scandinavian countries has gone to Spitzenbergen and
> one of the islands is a leper colony and the other a penal institution.' The
> Guardian says `the Soviet countries will be open before too long.'
> 
> `The Local Spiritual Assemblies are the foundation of the new World Order, the
> National Spiritual Assemblies are the pillars and the International House of
> Justice will be the dome. Everything is representative of an institution, and we
> cannot put the dome on until the foundation is strong enough to support it. So it
> is up to the Assemblies to support it.'
> 
> `Blood will run in the streets of America from racial prejudice.' He says `the
> Bahá'ís have failed on this subject.' We said that we were having some racial
> trouble here now and he said `Yes, but it will get worse.'
> 
> The Western Pilgrim House can accommodate 5 pilgrims at a time, the Eastern
> House 8, and the Pilgrim lasts 9 nights.
> 
> You strain so hard when the Guardian is speaking, trying to get every word and
> remembering it until you can jot it down in notes, that it tires you out. You can't
> possibly remember all the figures and statistics as they seem to roll from his
> lips like water from a fountain.
> 
> He says `the Jews are expecting the return of Elijah but you cannot tell them
> now that He has returned in the Bab. Their destiny is to return to their
> homeland. They are natural administrators and when they see the Bahá'í Faith
> they will become the upholders of the Administrative Order.'
> 
> [page 6]
> 
> Freddie Schopflocher and Musi Banani were the only two Hands of the Cause who
> received their appointment face to face with Shoghi Effendi. All the others
> received their appointment by mail, except Ruhiyyih Khanum, and she said, `the
> Guardian had to tell her because she was right there.' The first Hands were
> appointed by Bahá'u'lláh.
> 
> No one knows whose names are on the pilgrim list. The Guardian attends to that
> personally and very often the friends do not know who is coming until they
> arrive. We were told that he has over 500 Persians waiting to be called.
> 
> Occasionally someone asks about some of the mystical questions. He does not
> answer only when he has the exact Writings in front of him. He says `he is not
> the Guardian of the mysteries but of the Administration, and if we cannot
> understand that, how could we understand the mysteries. No doubt a future
> Guardian will answer these questions.
> 
> He had just received 2 cartons from Bill Sears in Africa and he was much
> amused by them.
> 
> Ruhiyyih told these stories at lunch:
> 
> `Two Bahá'ís who had pioneered to a desert island, both very bedraggled under
> their one lone palm tree, with their feet hanging in the water...A bottle comes
> floating by and as one grabbed at it they found a note it said "stick to your
> posts".'
> 
> `Also, two Bahá'ís walking down the street in a middle-eastern town when they
> saw a skull hanging from the eves of one of the shops.said one to the other: "I
> told you Sam didn't know enough about administration".'
> 
> The Guardian has a wonderful sense of humor, and it probably provided a
> chuckle in his very busy life.
> 
> On our next afternoon Dr. Hakim took the 3 western pilgrims through the
> Archives. It takes about 3 hours and they have so many precious relics. All of
> the Writings of the Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá. The Writings
> 
> [page 7]
> 
> have all been illumined which makes them very beautiful, and they are all in
> beautiful frames.
> 
> In the afternoon when there are Persian believers there, Ruhiyyih Khanum has
> tea for the ladies at 4 PM, and Shoghi Effendi goes to the Shrine to be with the
> Persian men. While at tea you talk informally about most anything and if there
> is any work to be done you help with that. My first day we all cleaned little
> berries, very much like our currents, which they use in making
> [undecipherable]..some days it might be mending or serving something for the
> household. Then the Guardian returns at 5 PM and he talks to the Persian ladies
> and the western ladies go home to get ready for dinner.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi has three aunts still living in Haifa. In fact one of them lives
> just across the street from the Western Pilgrim House and they and their
> families are all Covenant breakers. Also he has two sisters and a brother living
> there and they too are Covenant breakers. This again proves the power of the
> Faith, as he has had no help with those who should have been firm.
> 
> The friends who are able to make the pilgrimage are now very privileged
> because in the future the shrine of the Bab will not be opened, even to the
> Bahá'ís. Also the pilgrims will not be allowed to eat with the Guardian.
> 
> `There are four steps for service to the Faith..prayer, meditation, studying and
> serving. Prayer without action is not good. We need deeper concentration, closer
> association and then the body of the believers will grow.'
> 
> `There are two duties in the Faith. The Faith comes first and we should think of
> ourselves last. If we have the means to take care of ourselves then we must
> omit the last duty.'
> 
> He is very unhappy with the American believers because they do not respond.
> `They are all tainted with materialism. We should study more because we work
> the administration backwards. We all want to be captains in America and that
> proves our immaturity.' He said `we would never ask for that position for
> ourselves if we knew the [undecipherable]
> 
> [page 8]
> 
> There are 3 Covenant-breakers left at Bahji. Perhaps you wonder, as I did,
> how this could be, but in the early days, [`Abdu'l-Bahá] urged the friends to
> buy property, and they took it out in their names. Bahji is like what you
> would call an estate, a large mansion and several other buildings. and in
> one of these buildings these people live. They are [undecipherable] and
> have allowed their propoerty to become run down. The day after we
> arrived, Leroy Ioas returned from Jerusalem where he had just finished
> signing the necessary papers to oust them. He was elated when he related
> the details to Shoghi Effendi at dinner. But the Guardian said, `now Leroy
> we must be generous and we must be patient.' When this property is
> finally restored to the Bahá'ís they will restore the building and this part
> will be beautiful too. The gardens at Bahji defy all description as to their
> beauty and the immense amount of work that has been done there.
> 
> We visited the Monumental gardens [The Arc of Carmel] where the
> Greatest Holy Leaf is buried as well as `Abdu'l-Bahá's wife and mother and
> brother; a most wonderful place to rest for those who serveed so long and
> so well.
> 
> `One day each city will have 3 Insitutions: The Local Spiritual Assembly,
> Hazira and Archives.'
> 
> `Abdu'l-Bahá was the Center of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant as well as the
> Shield for Bahá'u'lláh.'
> 
> `There are two distinct copies of the Bayan in the Archives, one in
> Persian and the other in Arabic.
> 
> Their [undecipherable...].
> 
> `Bahji is the Greatest Holy Place in the world; The Shrine of the Bab is
> the second. At the present time the Bab is the most ornate, but no doubt
> Bahá'u'lláh's will exceed it in the future.'
> 
> [page 9]
> 
> `When Bahá'u'lláh left the confines of Akka to go to Bahji, all of His
> wives, children, sisters and in-laws, as well as the relatives of the Bab,
> went with Him. His wife, Navvab, the Greatest Holy Leaf and `Abdu'l- Baha
> stayed in Akka. It is said that `Abdu'l-Bahá was broken hearted because He
> wanted to be with His father, but the ones who went with Bahá'u'lláh
> became the Covenant-breakers and only those who stayed behind were
> firm in the Faith. No doubt Bahá'u'lláh was aware of this and took those He
> had to keep His eye on. Most of the ones who went with Him to Bahji died
> from strange diseases.'
> 
> `Most Bahá'ís pray and jump to do things or go to work. This is not good,
> as one must meditate. We are so busy that we don't hear the answer when
> it comes. The Americans do not know how to meditate, but we must
> learn.'
> 
> `The center of the Temple is for worship, the alcoves for meditation.'
> 
> The question was asked : "What do the Bahá'ís observe as the sabbath?"
> Shoghi Effendi says `that in the days of your Baha'I life all days are
> worship days, but in all the Holy Books it is said we must work 6 days and
> rest one, so the Bahá'ís observe whatever day is the sabbath in the country
> in which he lives.' It presents quite a problem in the Holy Land, as there
> are so many religions. The Moslems observe Friday, the Jews Saturday and
> the Christians Sunday, so those who want to take advantage of all of them
> do so.
> 
> There are so many ways to show respect to the Faith: some wear long
> sleeves, head coverings, veils, kneeling, standing and many methods of
> display. He does not want to set ritual, but pray in the way your heart
> tells you. This is respect for the Faith. The Persians all prostrate
> themselves when entering the Shrines and are revoked that the Westerner
> doesn't. The Guardian says `that if they are offended, that is good.' In that
> way they can develop their own spirituality. He doesn't want the Persians
> to think that this is a Persian Faith.
> 
> [page 10]
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh once said in a poem that He wrote that He was God's shadow
> and He hoped this sadow would illumine the world.
> 
> Isaiah has said that Carmel is the mountain of the Lord to which all
> nations shall flow.
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh pitched His tent in the vicinity of the carmelite Monastery and
> visted Mount Carmel 4 different times, one time staying 4 monthes. As He
> sat in the grove of cypress trees He pointed to the Spot and said to
> `Abdu'l-Bahá: "This is where the Bab must be buried."
> 
> Mt Carmel is unique in that it is quite a large mountain and steep. About
> half-way down from the top there is a shelf, and that is where the Shrine
> sits. Certainly it was destined that way by the hand of God, for no setting
> could be more perfect. The Shrine is illumined every night for a half hour,
> and it reminds one of a jewel in a ring.
> 
> `We must encourage minority groups.' He wants the white race to be the
> minority, as a minority group should not be the majority in a major
> religion. He wants more interracial marriages, and wants more Assembly
> representation.
> 
> `Jews must be attracted and they are very receptive.' [undecipherable
> sentences follow]
> 
> [page 11]
> 
> `The cradle of Western Civilization (Europe) is declining and America is
> worried about it. America is greatly exposed to danger. The time of
> destruction can happen anytime. It will come fast and no one knows just
> when this can happen.'
> 
> `When people oppose the Faith they purify it, for eventually they leave it.
> When they are inside they act like poison. Those who reject administration
> loose their judgement. They act hastily and make mistakes.'
> 
> `Many pioneers chose places they can live comfortably and pleasantly.' He
> chuckled over this and said "I wonder why the [undecipherable] choose
> Brazil."
> 
> `The Bahá'í property in Israel is the only property that is exempt from
> taxes.'
> 
> A man from Chicago was the only Westerner present when the Bab was
> interred. `Abdu'l-Bahá asked that no photographs be taken, but this party
> sneaked a camera in and took a picture. Shoghi Effendi helped bury the Bab.
> He was a very little boy and was down in the grave when they lowered the
> coffin. The Bab is in a marble sarcophagus.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi does not say what the nature of the catastrophe will be,
> but he says `it will be more disastrous then the fall of the roman empire.'
> Says he `has done everything to wake people up but they still sleep.'
> 
> `The persecutions in Iran have practically stopped with the exceptions of
> some isolated areas.' He says that `during the Ramadan fast period the
> Moslems work themselves up into a frenzy and then their cruel nature
> comes out and they must kill. [undecipherable] the Bahá'ís are a real threat
> to them now, that is where they struck. While it is too bad for the
> believers, the Faith received more publicity then it could have had if we
> had to buy it. Regardless of what happens it is good for the Faith.'
> 
> You know that while you are in the household of Shoghi Effendi you are
> protected by his love, and one can feel it, because you feel utmost peace
> of mind; but the minute you step your foot from there you have a very
> great responsibility.
> 
> [page 12]
> 
> You won't know until you pray and meditate upon it then the door will be
> opened.
> 
> Everything the Guardian does denotes unity. For instance, in one of the
> gardens next to the Shrine, one sees cactus growing from the tropical
> countries and red roses from the cold countries. If the flowers can grow
> and flourish from different parts of the world then surely humans can.
> 
> The Guardian tells you at dinner at night when you go to Bahji. He says `it
> is the culmination of your Pilgrimage no matter what time during your
> stay you might go.' The pilgrim from New York, Millie Collins, Mason
> Remey, Elmer and myself went. We arrived there about 5 in the afternoon
> and went first to the shrine of Bahá'u'lláh. It is similar inside to that of
> the Bab and `Abdu'l-Bahá. In one of the rooms there are beautiful live ferns
> growing and at last one knows that even the Shrines have life. You eat your
> meals in the house of `Abdu'l-Bahá lived in when He used to visit His
> father, I think it must be a lot like those days for when the windows are
> open the birds fly in and out. It seems strange to us with such beautiful
> Persian rugs on the floor, but I am sure `Abdu'l-Bahá must have welcomed
> them after His many years of confinement. It is in the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
> that I felt I wanted to say prayers for the many different ones who had
> asked to be remembered. And for myself, I could not ask for anything other
> than understanding and tolerance to be able to live. To ask for material
> things does not enter into your mind.
> 
> In the evening we visited the Mansion. The room where Bahá'u'lláh passed
> away is the same one professor Browne visited Him in. It is exactly as
> Bahá'u'lláh left it, even to His slippers being placed beside the bed.
> 
> There are many beautiful things at Bahji along with priceless relics
> belonging to the different members of the family. Here, I think, where one
> feels the individuality of your Pilgrimage. Needless to say, I did not sleep
> the first night. A thousand questions went through my mind, and I pictured
> many things back through the years. Then too, the nightingales sang so
> loud all night, that sleep was impossible.
> 
> [page 13]
> 
> I remembered the passage in God Passes by, where Bahá'u'lláh made that
> statement. I would have thought that I imagined it if the pilgrim from New
> York had not mentioned it too. One wonders if they are greeting you or
> issuing a warning. This I cannot answer.
> 
> The second night the birds did not sign, and I did not sleep either. Elmer
> being very tired, slept like a babe. So I will still wonder. The questions
> were all gone in the morning. The House reeks with great power and it
> seems to descend upon you.
> 
> The second day we visited Akka, first to the prison. The government is
> now using it for a mental hospital and no doubt has fixed it up, but it is
> most distressing. I know that all I needed to see was the prison room
> where Bahá'u'lláh spent two years of His life, to convince me that the
> Bahá'í Faith is God's bounty for today. No one but a Holy One would have
> given up a life of luxury to spend His life in this place. It was here the
> Purest Branch fell through the roof and the family was confined in two
> adjoining cells. The room is bare with the exception of a pallet on the
> floor.
> 
> From there we went to the House of Abbud, so named because Abbud was
> the man who owned it. Here again, one sees many things belonging to the
> family also the room where the Aqdas was revealed and the room where
> `Abdu'l-Bahá was married.
> 
> Selah took us on a tour of the ancient walled city, and the air is so foul
> that it makes one sick. It is an Arab city with many strange habits; veiled
> women and turbaned men. The streets are narrow and dirt. We measured
> one street and found it to be five feet wide. We saw the great thick gates
> that clanged shut when Bahá'u'lláh entered the city. Here also we saw the
> mosque of Esker [?], meaning the butcher. It was so named because the
> Governor who built it was so called and caused so many people to be put to
> death. It was here we heard the call to prayer at 6:30 PM from the
> minaret.
> 
> [page 14]
> 
> The Arabs come in their garbs and wash their hands and face in the
> fountain and then wash their feet. they take their shoes and place them in
> front of the mosque and go into pray. We saw several of the houses
> Bahá'u'lláh lived in for short periods of time when first released from
> prison along with the house where Shoghi Effendi was born.
> 
> >From Akka we went to Mazra'ih, the first house Bahá'u'lláh lived in after
> He left the prison-city. One is greeted with such hospitality by the lady
> who lives there! She shows you through the house and the rooms occupied
> by the Holy family. Fresh flowers are kept by the bed at all times. she
> served us a delicious lunch including a pudding she makes, which looks and
> tastes something like corn starch pudding. She put the Greatest Name on
> top in chocolate.
> 
> Then, we next went to the Garden of Ridvan. Again, perhaps you wondered
> why they spoke of the garden in different ways. The Garden of Ridvan
> where He spent 12 days with His family is in Baghdad. This Garden of
> Ridvan is about a mile from Akka, and where He used to [undecipherable]
> and sit in the shade of the trees. A nice stream runs through the place and
> no doubt it was cool and pleasant to sit in.
> 
> Then back to Bahji..the second morning at Bahji we all visited the Shrine
> by ourselves. One can stay as long as one likes. This is a great privilege
> because Shoghi Effendi says `the time will come when even Bahá'ís cannot
> go there.' I hope I shall always keep the high ideals I realized at these Holy
> Places.
> 
> About smoking: The Bab forbade it...Bahá'u'lláh revoked the law and never
> spoke of it again..The Tablet of Purity was written by `Abdu'l-Bahá and it
> [non-smoking] was His wish. However, He was not the Lawgiver. the
> Guardian says `if you want to smoke, go ahead and smoke. No one is going
> to stop you. However it is still a dirty and expensive habit and it is better
> if we quit. The Greatest Holy Leaf, who is the highest symbol of purity,
> smoked until she died at about 85 years old. `Abu'l-Fadl was a chain
> smoker. It is not forbidden.'
> 
> [page 15]
> 
> They were tearing down an old building at Bahji that was owned by the
> Covenant breakers that the Bahá'ís had been trying to buy. It was finally
> condemned by the officials and torn down. They found in a small room at
> one end of the building a grave and a Christian alter. Built by the man who
> built Bahji, Shoghi Effendi says this must be preserved.
> 
> The first night back at the Pilgrim house, Shoghi Effendi explains things
> connected with the Shrines. `The Most Great Prison is at Akka. The remote
> prison spoken of in the Tablet of Ahmad is at Adrianople.'
> 
> `The catastrophe is inevitable and needs be to purge the world. It will be
> something the world has never seen and will effect every nation, country,
> class and creed. The world has high blood pressure and this will be the
> blood letting. Blood will run everywhere. It will purge the world and then
> cement the remnants together. The Administration is the embryo of the
> new World Order. The new World Order is the is the child and it will
> mature into the world civilization. There will be no decline in the future.
> It will be like a spiral, ever upwards. There may be moments that stop, but
> no decline. This is the Day that is not followed by night.'
> 
> There are many ways that people pray. He wants no set ritual. `Pray
> according to your heart. this is not a Persian religion, but Divine in origin,
> world embracing in scope and spiritual in character.'
> 
> `Once materialism is wiped away it will not return, but a more spiritual
> world will exist.'
> 
> `There will always be evil but it will be more restricted. Man will always
> have the opportunity to use his will. The next Prophet will be persecuted
> and will bring His own Book and laws. There will always be tests.'
> 
> `We are approaching the darkest [hour] before dawn. No one knows when
> this can happen.but anytime. It will come fast. Anything that happens, even
> to the destruction of the Temples and Shrines, will be for the good of the
> Faith.'
> 
> `The Prophets did not mind Their suffering in this world
> 
> [page 16]
> 
> for They knew Their reward was greater in the next world.'
> 
> `God always gives us our just dues, if not in this world, then in the next,
> but suffering is our greatest development. It gives us the greatest chance
> to develop our greatest opportunity the life God gave us to live.'
> 
> `In the future there will be no white race.'
> 
> The New York pilgrim came last night and Shoghi Effendi told her that the
> first part of her Pilgrimage was over and the second part would begin. The
> first part was to absorb and the second part was to impart.
> 
> `Go back to New York and tell the people to get out, and particularly to
> pioneer to France. Stay out of Paris. It is the only way to save the
> individual and the Faith.'
> 
> `Regardless what the government does it cannot prevent the catastrophe.
> One million people in New York cannot be saved. It will come swift and
> sudden and whole cities will be leveled to the ground.'
> 
> `New York is named the City of the Covenant because it is the most
> corrupt city in the world. Therefore it needs the greatest
> transformation.'
> 
> `Persia is the cradle of the Faith, America the cradle of the
> Administration. America is named because it is the most corrupt nation.
> Bahá'ís are wasting their time in cities. They must go out into small
> towns. Cities will not respond until after destruction.'
> 
> `America and Persia must suffer.'
> 
> `Bahá'ís must learn to sacrifice because this materialism is hindering our
> progress in the next world. Life in this world does not matter.'
> 
> `Lack of love in communities hinders our growth.'
> 
> `Bahá'ís cannot belong to the Masons because it is a secret organization
> and there can be no secret meetings in Bahá'í. Also, their policy is not
> universal; it is different in the East than in the West. Even if your old age
> depends on it you must give it up. In no way can you sacrifice spiritual
> principles. A member of any organization must first ask the Local
> Spiritual Assembly if they can belong. Even though
> 
> [page 17]
> 
> they are not political in character, the implications may be political. If
> the Local Spiritual Assemblies cannot answer, contact the National
> Spiritual Assembly and they must investigate and report back.'
> 
> I had been noticing the non-use of the pronoun "I" ..Shoghi Effendi has used
> it twice, both time in referring to "I have incorporated that in God Passes
> By."
> 
> `If a believer should be forced to quite his job and is destitute because of
> an organization, the Local Spiritual Assembly must see that he is taken
> care of, even to raising special funds. This is good for the Faith. So many
> organizations today are corrupt but only the top authority knows the full
> extent of their principles.'
> 
> `The Faith should always come first, regardless of what hardship it
> entails. We must remember all world forces are against the Bahá'í Faith,
> so the Bahá'ís must learn to lean on one another and show forth such love
> that people will be attracted.' `There is too much lethargy in American
> communities. Too much committee activity which hampers teaching work
> and kills the spirit. Teaching is the most important and it is the duty of
> each believer to teach.'
> 
> The Guardian says he `feels things' and no doubt but that he knows
> everything going on in the Cause.
> 
> The new pilgrims from New York: Bob and Keith Quiqley. Once again the
> Guardian talked of the catastrophe.
> 
> `America is the most corrupt nation in the world and is contaminating the
> other nations, therefore it will suffer the worst.'
> 
> I asked if this was war, he said `yes, and other things too; the most fiery
> ordeal the world has ever known. The whole world will be like a
> convulsion. The flame will clean and also weld.'
> 
> `The Bab gave the mandate to scatter, assistance was promised by
> Bahá'u'lláh, the desire of `Abdu'l-Bahá and now the Administration says we
> must disperse. The foundation of this Cause was laid by God, the
> Administration by the Insti-
> 
> [page 18]
> 
> tutions and the teachings by individuals.'
> 
> He says `maintain the heroes, increase the saints and lessen the
> administrators.'
> 
> `The islands in the Pacific are the most important.and the brown race.'
> 
> He wants young people to go to these places.they will be difficult.'
> 
> `Go and tell the people to disperse.'
> 
> He says ` it is not enough to [be] converted to the Faith. You must have the
> desire to serve and teach.'
> 
> The first night after we returned from Bahji, Shoghi Effendi said ` now
> that you have been to Akka, read the two chapters in God Passes By about
> Akka, and before you go to Baghdad read the chapter referring to
> Baghdad.'
> 
> The friends told us afterward that they had not heard him make that
> remark to any other pilgrim. So now we wonder if ours will be the
> privilege to make that journey.
> 
> When the Guardian realizes you have absorbed to capacity he makes a
> humorous remark which breaks the tension. One listens so closely.
> 
> On the Shrine of the Bab over the Arcade there are blocks designed with a
> green border and spots of red denotes blood. In the future there may be
> inscriptions in these blocks.
> 
> Finally the last night of our Pilgrimage came and I felt a little nervous
> because I was wondering what our duty would be. The Guardian talked at
> what seemed lengths about the latitudes and longitudes where the Faith
> was now established. One wonders how he had all the figures at his finger
> tips.
> 
> He said `to take our filled sup back to Spokane and let it spill over. A Plan
> without an organization is not good; and an organization without a plan is
> not good.'
> 
> Then quickly he turned to us and said ` now tell me your plans for
> pioneering.' We told him we had thought of going to Central America, and
> as far as we had gotten with plan, and he said `that is good, that is what I
> want you to do. You have the special blessing of Bahá'u'lláh and I will say
> special prayers for you. Life will be different and there will be many
> hardships. But do not get discouraged, and be patient and you will be very
> successful.'
> 
> [page 19]
> 
> We both knew that this is what we must do and we are proceeding with
> our plans hoping they materialize quickly.
> 
> He gave us each a vial of attar of rose and asked that we anoint the
> friends with his love. The pilgrims from New York wept uncontrollably as
> did the rest. Ruhiyyih Khanum said later `that sometimes the Guardian got
> her down.'
> 
> It is a very tense moment and one realizes that the first part of the
> Pilgrimage is over and you dread to leave, but one sure feels better
> prepared to face the next task.
> 
> Ruhiyyih Khanum gave me a pair of prayer beads that had been in the
> Shrine, and Elmer a key ring made from an old Persian coin of the
> Guardian's and also a picture of the Guardian when he was a baby.
> 
> A FEW AFTER NOTES
> 
> While in Haifa we visited the cemetery where Esslemont is buried.
> 
> We went shopping one afternoon with Ruhiyyih Khanum. When Shoghi
> Effendi was a little boy he used to say to `Abdu'l-Bahá he wished he had a
> name, as people in that part of the world were known by the name of the
> place that they lived. Shoghi Effendi wished it so hard that `Abdu'l-Bahá
> gave him the name of Rabbani.
> 
> Shoghi Effendi spoke one night at the dinner table that `the Faith
> progressed like an automobile. It needs a motor and a battery; and Ruhiyyih
> Khanum said `but Shoghi Effendi, it must have a driver too,' and he said
> `yes, that is the finger of Bahá'u'lláh!' No glory for himself. He is truly
> humble.
> 
> [page 20]
> 
> I do not feel my notes would be complete without telling you of Athens.
> As we were planning to stop there anyway, we delivered some books to the
> friends there. It is so difficult to mail anything as mail is censured in
> Greece. The evening of the Declaration of the Bab, the first Bahá'í in
> Greece was enrolled. A young man of about 25 yrs old, and as he did not
> speak English and they did not speak Greek, he was taught thru a paid
> translator. Note: This translator is now studying the Faith for enrollment.
> This enrollment completed the 1st virgin territory in Europe. It was a
> thrilling evening for all.
> 
> When we arrived in England, we were so tired of large cities, castles,
> palaces and churches, we decided to go to Southampton, where we would
> stay for four days until time to embark on the Queen Mary. We had been
> there about an hour when a man spoke to us and offer to direct us to any
> place we might want to see. Said he was just walking around and
> recognized us as strangers. One does not pick up with strangers in strange
> countries but he looked so kind that we talked a long while with him. He
> finally invited us to his house for tea. So after calling his wife we called
> a cab and went. She was just as lovely and while drinking tea they asked
> the reason for our trip. So the conversation turned towards telling them of
> the Faith. They were most receptive, and to make things brief we spent all
> of our time with them. They got special permit to board the Queen Mary so
> they might be with us and brought bouquet of roses for our cabin. As they
> went up the gang plank their last words were, "you are the first Bahá'ís
> we have met but you won't be the last for we will hunt them up."
> 
> As our boat sailed received a telegram from them. We feel that this visit
> was a wonderful part of our Pilgrimage and hope that the first two Bahá'ís
> in Southampton will be the lovely friends we met in England.
> 
> It is our wish that each one of the friends can someday make the
> Pilgrimage and we know that no sacrifice is too great, in order to make
> it.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views14593 views since posted 1997; last edit 2025-09-30 13:15 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../beasley_pilgrimage_haifa;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
> Language
> English
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> History
> Typed 1997 by Robert Stauffer.
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> Shortlink: bahai-library.com/714
> Citation: ris/714
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> — *Our Pilgrimage to Haifa (Used by permission of the curator)*