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.

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Typed 1997 by Robert Stauffer.
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-- Our Pilgrimage to Haifa (Used by permission of the curator)