Pilgrim Notes

Mountfort Mills

1921

Monday, Feb.21 1921 4 P.M.

In his room

The Master first asked for all the friends in America, mentioning especially Mr. and Mrs. Haris, Mr. Hoar, Mr. McNutt, Miss Thompson, Dr. and Mrs Krug.

He then said that the reason he underwent all the suffering and privation he did, was to teach the friends to love Baha’u’llah and that the only way to love Baha’u’llah was to love the friends, the more the friends love one another, the more they love Baha’u’llah.

Mirza Aziz explained to the Master the situation about the Macnutt house explaining fully that Mr. MacNutt and the Committee had tried to come to some arrangement for purchasing the house for Baha’i purposes, according to the wish of the Master, but that the Committee had not been able to agree to Mr. MacNutt’s terms; that he latter’s financial need was great and. there were opportunities to sell at the price he asked, but he wish, only to carry out the Master’s will.

The Master said:

“Not at all Not at all! It will not be again8t my wish. He may sell it and adjust his affairs.”

Azizullah S.Bahadur

He then spoke of the Egyptian friends, speaking of their devotion.

He gave permission to Abdul Galil to visit him in the later Spring, “for your sake”.

He then dismissed us wit1 his blessing, a baptism of the spirit.

Aziz afterward told me that the Meter suffers more from inharmony among the friends than from any other cause. This is not a pretty figure of speech, it is an actual fact and news of this kind makes him really ill. Aziz felt his recent illness was caused by such news. When the friends are martyred in the Cause, he is sad, but not sickened. He realizes that these things are in the path way of service and help the Cause. But differences among the friends take his very life.

Tuesday, Feb. 22nd.

Adele spent the morning with the ladies and had a she interview with the Master, Monover Khanoum interpreted for her.

After lunch we walked down town and made a few purchases for the Pilgrim House.

Later, the Master sent us for a drive up the Mountain. Khrosso drove, with Arthur instruct him.

NOTE:
The Master seems most of the time to be in an inner state of communion with the Manifestation: a state of peace and joy that lifts him above the continuous petty annoyances that surround him up to the mountain top.

Feb, 22nd, P.M.

Meeting at the Master’s House in the evening.

The Master said:
“You must be very happy for praise be to God, it is the third time that thou hast come here. This is through the infinite bounty of God. God willing, its results will become apparent.”

“Once, when 1 was at Tiberias, I saw a crowd bending over fourteen or fifteen stone and, praying. They used in sense and kissed the stones. 1 asked what it meant. They said ‘Once upon a time, His Holiness Christ passed by here and sat upon one of these stones. But it is not known upon which one; therefore, we weep and kiss all of them, that perchance we may kiss the one upon which He sat.’ Now this la the third time you he made the pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Baha’u’llah.

“But those people at Tiberius spoke falsely. They have no love for Christ; they war ship the name only, not Christ, Himself. If they worshipped Christ, Himself, they would, act according to His wishes. They are completely indifferent to the reality of Christ. It is only His name that they worship, If Christ, Himself, should come, these very people would kill Him, as was done formerly by the Jews who were praying for and expecting His coming. They were weeping and supplication God that He might appear, but when He actually came, they condemned. Him to death, saying, ‘This is the false Christ!’ And so great was their error that they even called Him ‘Beelzebub’, the Hebrew name for Satan. They actually lid this. So it is clear that they did not speak the truth. They were not expecting Christ; they were expecting their own superstitions to come to pass. As these were not realized, they objected. They were not expecting an oppressed. Christ; they expected a Christ who bore a sword in His Hand; Who was to come from an unknown place, not from Nazareth. They gathered from the sayings of the Prophets, that His Holiness Christ would appear with a sword and would conquer the whole world. Also, they were expecting His Holiness to come and sit upon the throne of David and reign; that He would conquer the whole world and bring all nations under the banner of the Jews. So they interpreted, the Old Testament. Also, they , expected that He would spread the religion of Torah, so that throughout the world there would be but one religion, the religion of Moses. So, too, they were expecting that justice would be extended from the world of man to the world of animals; that the serpent and the mouse would live together in one hole; that the eagle and the dove would lie side by side in one nest; that the wolf and the lamb would drive from the same spring; that the lion and the deer would graze In the same meadow. These were the signs of the coming of Christ in the Old Testament. These signs were correct; but the people did not understand. They wished them to be literally fulfilled and as they did not understand their real meaning, they were deprived of His Holiness Christ. Verily, Christ did come from an unknown place – the reality of Christ, not the body. The reality of Christ came from heaven. The staff with which He tended his flock, was a sword – not a sword of steel, but the sword of His tongue, which severed, truth from falsehood. And the reign of Christ was real, everlasting, heavenly. It was not like the reign of Bonaparte, a worldly reign, ‘or, if real sovereignty were sovereignty of this world, then, indeed, Bonaparte was Christ (who fulfilled literal prophecy of world – sovereignty, But the sovereignty of Jesus was a Divine Sovereignty. Consider how it still maintains its sway. Worldly sovereignty comes to an end when the sovereign closes his eyes in

“The reign of the Manifestation of God is without end. Christ spread the reality of Torah, not its letter. He spread the fundamental reality the foundation of the Cause of God. For example, consider that there are ten decrees of capital punishment in the Torah. Why is this? Because His Holiness Moses dwelt in the desert and in the desert it is difficult to enjoy peace with comfort and safety. Harshness and severity are needed. They lived in a wilderness. For this reason, punishment of death is decreed in the Torah for ten offenses. But His Holiness Christ appeared in Palestine and Palestine was a land of culture where there was no need of such severity. Therefore, He abrogated the decrees of capital punishment of the Old Testament. He spread its reality, its spirit. To illustrate: In America, in a Jewish synagogue, I asked ‘if it is possible to carry out these ten decrees now? They answered, ‘No.’ I said, ‘It is decreed in the Old Testament, that for the theft of one dollar the hand should be cut off, and if one stole one dollar, his hand was cut off. Today, would it be possible for the theft, not of one dollar, but even of one million dollars, to cut off the hand of the offender?’ They answered ‘No.’ Then I said that was the law for life in the desert, not for the time of Christ, likewise it would not be possible to enforce such a law today. Clearly, it was not meant to spread the letter of the Old Testament, but its reality.

“As to the statement that justice and truth will attain to such an ideal degree that the wolf and the lamb will drink from the same spring; as long as a wolf is a wolf and ‘a lamb is a lamb, the lamb will remain prey for the wolf, It is not possible to change this, One is a wolf, the other is a lamb. The real meaning of this passage is that human beings are like wolves and sheep, one is from the East and the other is from the West, and between the two there is complete separation, in religion, race, in nationality and customs. They are as the wolf and the lamb; friendship between them is impossible. But in the time of Christ, both became believers in Him and because of their mutual faith, became friend The Jews, however, did not understand these prophecies. They said, that these things are written in the Old Testament and, as they have not come to pass literally this Christ cannot be the Messiah? Messiah must come from heaven, but we know that this Christ has come from Nazareth; we know his house. This is not the Chriat. And so they rose against him. Today again, the Christians believe that Christ is to come a second time if He does, doubtless they will again deny Him, and in all probability, kill Him as did the Jews.

“A. well known Protestant Christian, one of the founders of the College at Beyrout, recognized as a man of culture – Dr. Van Dyke-talked with me some time ago. I said to him, “How do you expect Christ to come again?’ He replied, ‘We believe He will come from heaven.’ I asked, ‘Do you expect Him to come from this heaven?’ (pointing to the sky) ‘You are skilled in the science of mathematics and astronomy and well know that this sky is infinite and that there is no such physical heaven from which Christ could descend. Let us consider the matter further. When Christ came the first time, He came from Heaven. He, Himself, said ‘I am come from heaven.’ He further said that none goes to heaven save him who comes from heaven. The reality of Christ did come from heaven. It is written in the New Testament that the Son of Man descended from heaven. But apparently He came from the womb of Mary. In reality, however, He came from heaven and His second coming will be the same.’

“Dr. Van Dyke replied, ‘No, no, He must come this way,’ (pointing to the sky). I said, ‘If an illiterate person should say that I should understand, but that you who are a scholar so speak, astonishes me.’ The doctor then began to laugh.”

Feb. 23rd. Evening. 1921

Master’s Salon.

The Master said to me, “How are you? We speak in Persian. Thou halt aged. When I saw thee last thy hair was black but now it is white. I know thy heart is young. You look young also. White hair is of no importance.”

M. “I hope I may be born again.”

Master. “God willing thou shalt be born again and become a new being. His Holiness Christ said ‘It befits you to be born again.’

“Before physical birth man is ignorant of this world. He knows nothing of it. After birth, however, he finds that this world is quite different of the world of the matrix (womb). It is luminous, it is cheerful. The embryo could never imagine such a world. Similarly, man in this world is in the womb of Nature, immersed in the darkness of the physical world. He has no conception of the divine realm. lie is like other animals.

“When he attains to the second birth he becomes detached from the world of Nature and finds his natural propensities distasteful. He becomes heavenly, enlightened, divine and like unto a radiant star. This condition, in the language of the Manifestations of God, is called ‘the second birth.’“

Feb. 24th. 5 P.M. 1921

Master’s Salon.

Mason Remey and his brother Will had returned from Jerusalem at noon and were preset with Mrs Mills and myself. Aziz interpreted.

The Master first asked Mason if they had visited the Holy Shrines at Jerusalem. Mason replied that they had visited all the places they were told were holy.

The Master said that the place where Christ is said to be buried is authentic though not discovered for 300 years after His death. It was known as a rubbish heap for dumping by the Jews up to that time. After the grave was discovered however, Queen Helena built a chapel upon it. The site is authentic. The Via Doloroso is also authentic.

A question how to attain the second birth was asked.

The Master answered: “By entering into the Kingdom, which means to be detached from the propensities of Nature and to be characterized with divine virtues. Today almost all the people of the world are immersed in animal traits; shedding one another’s blood, lying to one another, given over to avarice, lust and greed. These propensities must be abandoned and replaced by divine qualities.”

Replying to the information that a cable had gone to Mr. MacNutt stating that the Master had no objection to the sale of his house, he said:

“No, it is not at all against my wish. My home is in the heart of Mr. MacNutt not in the house of stone, lime and wood. My dwelling is in the hearts of the friends Houses built of brick and stone crumble and pass away, but my home is permanent in the hearts.

“Material houses have no importance. Our property in Teheran is still in the hand, of the usurpers. But it is different with the Temple. (Mashrek ul Azkar) That is a means of bringing the friend, together and is good. That is why I attach so much importance to the building of the Mashrek ul Azkar.”

Aziz then spoke of the success of Mrs. Hoagg’s work in Italy, Rome. The Master said: “I told her that she would be confirmed in her service. She has a sincere heart strength of faith and complete devotion.”

In speaking further of the Holy places in Jerusalem the Master said:-

“Men of insight have their gaze fixed upon the future. Superficial minds are concerned only with the things immediately about them. Jesus, while undergoing every hardship and indignity, with a crown of thorns upon His head, saw the future downfall of Kings, their jewelled crowns toppling about them; while His own Kingdom became firmly established.”

NOTE.
How being with the Master affects the outlook on life; the sky is bluer and more brilliant, the water and the mountains are trans-formed into a beauty of light and color indescribable. The people about you all seem different and within pulsates a joy and exaltation beyond description. Yet one goes about the daily tasks as usual. Is this, through him, the communion with Baha’u’llah he speaks of so often?

Feb. 25th. 10 A.M. 1921

Our Room

Pilgrim House.

An unexpected, visit from the Master.

The Master:-
“What a lovely view of the Mountain from here. It is beautiful on the Mountain, too. The view from it is beautiful.”

Mrs. Mills said, “Yes, and we can see the Tomb of the Bab. We are going to walk there.”

The Master:-

“Very good. But why do you not ride every day? Ride to the top of the Mountain. The Prophets of God have prayed there. Christ prayed there. You go there and pray. It is God’s mountain, the garden of God. Karm-garden, il-God-Garden of God in the Hebrew. Two Hebrew words mean God – Yah and il. For example, Elijah, Zacharias Isaiah, Jeremiah etc. Gabriel, Israel.

“Since you have come it been raining but from now on we hope there will be sunshine and you will be happy.”

M. “When we are with ‘Abdu’l-Baha we have the real sun.”

Master:- “My title and name in ‘Abdu’l-Baha. This name is beloved to me. Neither sun nor moon or stars, only ‘Abdu’l-Baha. In Arabic there is a tale of a man and his beloved named Leila. They would call him as the son of his father, or the brother of so-and-so etc, but to those names he would not answer – he did not room to hear. But when they called him by the name of the Servant of Leila, then he would answer. No other name could he hear. I live the name ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Once a year Leila used to prepare food and with her own hands give it to the people. She would fill their bowls with food from her own. But when her lover came she broke his bowl instead of filling it. The people began to laugh, saying, ‘How is it that she broke your bowl instead of filling it as she did ours?’ But her lover said, laughing, ‘That is because she loves me and prefers me to you, that is why she broke my bowl.’

“There are many more delightful stories among the Arabs. One tells that a man riding on a camel cried aloud, ‘O God forgive my sins. If you do not forgive them I will make you unpopular. You are the Forgiver, therefore you should forgive. If you do not forgive I shall ride about on my camel crying aloud, ‘God is not God, for its does not forgive.”

From the Beyan quoted from ‘The Babis of Persia’

11 J.R.A.S. Vol. 21 P.931

“So worship God that if the recompense of thy worship were to be the fire, no alteration of thy worship of Him would be produced. If you worship God from fear that is unworthy of the Threshold of the Holiness of God. So also if your gaze is on Paradise and if you worship in the hope of that, for then you have made God’s creation a partner with Him.”

Sunday morning 1921

On the veranda of Monover Khanoum’s house. In the sun.

Mrs. Mills was going to call on Monover Khanoum when the Master came out of his gate and walked over with us. A. went inside with Monover Khanoum and the Master insisted on my sitting outside with him, Jenabi Mirza Abul Hassan, one of the Afnan a relative of the Bab and Mirza Hadi. Later Enatyat’ullah came and interpreted. Before he came the Master spoke of the beauty of the day, how much he loved the sun. He compared the amount of sun here with London. I asked if he would go to London again. He said no, but that he might go to Switzerland this summer. When I said I hoped we might join him there, he said I should go to the Convention, I should leave in time to be there.

He spoke of the similarity of many Persian words to English. Then Enayatullah came.

The Master said:-

What a beautiful day it was: that there would be a meeting this afternoon at the Holy Tomb on the mountain to which Mrs. Mills and I should go. Then he spoke of the convention and the many supplications that had been sent to him about the building of the Temple: that all these things he had referred to the convention, that he had written replies saying that everything about the Temple should be referred to the convention, “You are one of the committee of the convention and must be there.”

I told him of Roy’s letter saying that the clergy were objecting to the permit being issued and that probably this could not be now much, if at all before the convention. He replied:-

“In America you will have many objections to the build-i air of the Temple but you must not be discouraged. These things are good for the Cause fifty years the body of the Bab remained without a tomb in Persia, carried from place to place. It was not safe to bury it there in Persia, the enemies would steal it. As a result of this persecution the Bab’s body now rests here on Mount Carmel in a site much more beautiful than any place in Persia. It s the Will of God that controls these things, not the of the people. Abdul Hamid and the Nasr-el Din, Shah of Persia, had both opposed the building of the tomb here and placing the Bab’s body in it; but the Will of God had prevailed over them.

“The sarcophagus was brought from India. Opposition spreads the Cause. The Will of God will prevail.”

I spoke of Mr. Wilson’s book and its use against us. (I am not sure Enayatullah got this question right.) The Master said that Wilson had offered as his own teachings the teachings of Baha’u’llah, taken from the Master’s talks. ?

I told the Master some of the opposition was based on Baha’u’llah’s two wives and the permission in the Akdas to take two wives.

He said that no Manifestation has ever decreed but one wife. In Abraham’s time several was the custom. In Moses’ time an unlimited number. Jesus said nothing in the subject except with reference to divorce. It was St. Paul who advocated one wife or none and it was not until 300 years after Jesus that Christianity under Constantine decreed but one wife. This was not according to Jesus’ teachings but was the enactment of the practice of certain pagans(?) who had round one wife the most convenient practice and this was adopted by Constantine when le codified and made Christianity the national religion (* The practice of having pictures and images in churches also taken from these pa-guns. It had not been done in Christianity before.)

“Baha’u’llah’s permission of two wives relates only to oases such as extreme illness, insanity etc., where it is obviously unfair either to permit the desertion of the unfortunate wife or to compel the blameless husband to live alone. However, there would probably be not more than one or two such cases in any community. Surplus females over males as occasioned by the war is no justification of polygamy.”

I asked what should be done in the Maskrek el Askar. The Master said four things:
1-Reading Baha’i prayers.
2-Reading the words of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
3-Chanting together (all singing,) the prayers words etc., of both.
4-Speaking, explanation etc.

In answer to a question about music in the Temple he said that would be decided by the Houses of Justice.

March 2nd 1921

Master’s Salon

After supper.

The Master:

“The Baha’is in Persia have gone through many severe tests. The more the tests the more they have progressed. No doubt from this cup there is It portion for you in America as well. They will not let you alone. They will rise against you, they will shout at you, they will blame you, they will leer at you – such things as these. It is my hope that you will remain in union, firm and steadfast. If you leave a tree to itself, it will not grow. When you trim it and around its roots, then it will grow; otherwise it will wither. It will not grow nor develop. In the time of Paul and Peter one day they went to a temple of idol-worshippers. Above the door was inscribe, ‘What person knows about God?’ Paul said, ‘We know about God,’ and they began to teach.

“The Jews said, ‘These people believe in the Torah, they say the Torah is the book of God. According to its text they have turned away from it. Of this Christ of whom they speak, there are signs concerning His appearance. Those signs have not appeared. This is an unknown person of their own imagining.’

“Briefly, they did and said so much that finally they fell to beating Peter and Paul until they fell down. Then they dragged them out of the city and left them. The two disciples lay there throughout the night. In the morning Paul arose saying ‘Here is a place nearby where a market will be held. Let us go there today and teach.’ But Peter said, ‘bear God, our bones are broken to pieces.’ Paul replied, ‘No, this very beating is good Peter arose and they went to the market place and began to teach. At length they were at tacked again and severely beaten. From morning until night they were assaulted.

“However, you will not be beaten so severely. If you are attacked be sure that the bounty of the Blessed Beauty will protect you in the same way that it protected us. I was a child when the Blessed Beauty was sent to prison. So many stones were thrown into our house my mother took me and my sister to Sangelak, another part of Teheran. There in a side street she found a house which she rented for bout; a shilling a month. This shows what sort of place it was. My mother, sister and. I and Mirza Mohammed Goli were there together without money for our needs. My mother told me to go to our aunt in Ekiyeh Hadji Rejabali and tell her we had no money and ask for some. I went, but she had no money either. After a diligent search she found five shillings which she tied in the corner of a handkerchief and put in my pocket. I was only about eight years old. As I passed though the district where she lived, Mirza Ahmad Kaj Damog (crooked nose)recognised me. There were a number of children about. It was during the time of Maharron (lamentation for Imams Hassan and Hussein) They were beating their breasts with stones.

“The Arabs have attacked places near Tiberius, the friends are in danger, so I am going to Tiberius to care for them, to prevent any danger to them. I will go tomorrow. I expect you come to me two by two, pass one night there and return. When you return you may leave for home.

March 3rd. 1921

Pilgrim House

Aziz interpreting.

The Master first talked with Mason about plans for the new Pilgrim House.

He then said that in Tiberius there were some missionaries who were opposed to the Cause and that we must use wisdom when there. It would be better to come to the hotel as ordinary tourists seeing the sights during the day and then coming to him in the evening. Otherwise it would arouse their jealousy and hatred and do the Cause no good. In answer to a question as to how we should act with those who are opposing the Cause, particularly the Wilmette Committee, he said that as far as possible deal ___ __ in a friendly ____ and try to convince need and desirability or the Cause. The Mash . ___ Azkar is a universal __. It is not for anyone , __ it is for them also, __ where all religions come together ideas and remove ___ understandings, so being of removing prejudices and uniting mankind. “Why appear the building? That in itself does not make Baha’u’llah. They are made without such a building, which is __ for service to humanity. “___ none has yet been in built in Persia, still the Cause and number of Baha’is there has steadily increased during the 70 years of the Movement. That result will ___ have? Do you think check Movement’s spread? This cannot be. The result will be a stain on the honor of America, the first nation in the world to stand for complete freedom of race and religion. Now to be the first to prevent the construction of this universal temple will be a reflection on the principles and practice of the country. Even in Russia, then the most despotic and bigoted country in the world, the value of the principles taught by the Cause was appreciated and a Mashrek ul Askar permitted in Eshkabad. A Government architect assisted. It is impossible to believe that free America can oppose such a building.

“In general opposition should be met with great wisdom, kindness and love. When John the Baptist and Jesus were asked if they were the Christ, they both said ‘No, but went on healing the sick.

“The Temple is not a necessary part of the work of winning people to the Cause. That work will go on in the future as it has in the past. Temple is a means of service. You must use great wisdom. I will pray for you.”

March 5th. 1921

Tiberius Hotel.

Master’s room, overlooking Lake of Galilee

Afternoon.

The Master said he had not intended to see us until evening but he so longed to he had sent for us.

As always, he thought first of our comfort and inquired of our journey and if we were comfortable in the hotel.

Then he pointed out of his windows to the lake and mountains and clouds and sun, and said that this whole country was holy and filled with spirituality because His Holiness Christ had worked and lived there. It was just there(pointing to a church by a palm tree near the shore, that His Holiness met Peter and others and asked what they were doing. They answered, “Fishing,” and Jesus replied, ‘Throw away your nets and follow me. I will make you fishers of men.’

“Now praise be to God, we have met here and I hope you will become fishers of men!

“It is a very holy spot I wanted to be with you here. During the life of His Holiness Christ none appreciated Him. His sufferings were very great. Today, so long after His death, He is worshipped. They crucified Him, now they worship Him. So it always is with the Manifestations of God. In their own days they are rejected – afterwards they are worshipped!”

I asked that he would supplicate that our eyes might be opened and that we might appreciate what it meant to be with him in this spot.

He said that parents are kind to their children through their love but the child cannot understand or appreciate it and often cries at what the parents have done for him.”But, praise be to God you understand and appreciate.

“As there is no train to-morrow- Sunday- you will stay here two nights, not one as first planned.”

I said that this was due to the accident to the Master which had delayed him one day in coming; that his suffering had resulted in our benefit.

He said:- “I am always happy when my sufferings help the friend e For fifty years I have suffered , but always it is a happiness, because it is in the service of the Friends. If I had not felt this happiness, I could not have undergone the hardships. I hope for you a happiness that is divine and without end.

I then spoke of Dr. Guthri and his love for the Master and interest in the Cause and asked that the Master would pray for him. He said:-

“Give him my love and greetings.”

I explained that Dr. G. felt that many of the friends came from Christianity without a true understanding of Jesus and these misconceptions they brought into the Cause and now applied to the Master.

“This is not important,” he said. “So long as he has love for me, my love will enter his heart and will grow and will help that heart to grow. It is like rain falling upon the ground; it makes it verdant and productive.”

I then asked if he would tell me for Dr. Guthrie just who Jesus was. He replied:-

“Jesus was a Manifestation of God. Everything of Him pertained to God. To know Him was to know God. To love Him was to love God. To obey Him was to obey God. He was the Source of all Divine Virtues. He was a mirror of all Divine Qualities. In this mirror the light of the Sun of Reality was reflected to the, world. Through this mirror the energy of God was transmitted to the world. The whole disk of the Sun of Reality was reflected in Him,”

Tiberius

March 5th. 1921

Later: Same Day. 8.30 P.M.

The Master

Answering a question as to how best to serve the Cause.
1. Be steadfast and firm.
2. Live in accordance with the teachings.

“Then be sure that confirmations will reach you. I shall pray to the Blessed Beauty that success shall follow you. Through my prayers I will reinforce you. Constantly I shall pray for you. Now that you are returning, I will breathe into you a new spirit, so that everywhere you may go-whether in America or Europe-you will impart the same spirit to anyone with whom you come into contact, whether Believer or non-Believer. Be assured thereof. l love you very much – very much. This is the third time you have come here. The first time was in the midst of calamities and hardships when we could only meet at a distance. We spoke without word, but it was a fruitful visit. We spoke through our eyes and hearts and so communicated our thoughts and feelings.”

He then spoke of our new President. When I told him that the President’s policy was apparently to build up an association of nations about an international tribunal, he said that this was good. It was one of the principles of Baha’u’llah.

He said that if Wilson had become a Believer, he would have been confirmed. But he did not. So all his effort, the expenditure of life and treasure has been without result.

He spoke, in answer to a question, about his tablet stating that friends should be chosen at the Convention for a visit to Persia. He said that he meant that this soul be done only if deemed practicable – that at present the way to Persia was not open. Such a party should go via Constantinople and Baku, but that route is closed at present. When the way again opens, then this matter can be taken up.

The party should consist of at least six persons who are important, who appear well and speak intelligently in any meeting and explain the teachings. But the time is not ripe for this visit.

Of the Races Congress in Washington, he said that this was most important, that unless this problem were solved, before long there would break out a terrible conflict in the United States between these two races that would be devastating in its effect.

He said that if using the name Baha’i, or that of Baha’u’llah kept important people from taking part, the Convention could be known as the Convention of Heavenly Teachings, which it is.

Note:
(It would seem from this and his comment on Mr. Wilson that the Master feels it of grey importance that activities to-ward establishing better social order should be directly associated with the religious or spiritual forces.)

The Master:-

“Say to this Convention that never since the beginning, of time has one more important been held. This Convention ___ for the Oneness of ___ty, it will become the of the removal of hostility between the races, it will be the cause of the enlightenment of America, it will,if wisely managed and ___ check the deadly struggle between these races which ___ will inevitably break out.”

I asked the Master why it was that at times I felt so close to him and to the whole world; so filled with love ___ and all, and yet at other seemed to be completely dead.

He added that this was as it should be; that there were ___ of intoxication, exhibition, inspiration and j0y, and then other moods ___ everything seems lifeless ___ changing moods were ne___ ___ progress. Sometime one is awake, sometimes asleep, but in order to be awake, one has to be asleep at times. One cannot be always in one mood. It is impossible.”

Tiberius

____ 1921

The Master’s room.

6:30 P.M.

The Master first spoke on ___ theme of how important ___ day of the Manifestation, are compared to ___ of other times; that five minutes today equal an hour of other days. He pointed out ___ one may write in a few moments today what former ___ many times longer; that one may cover in a brief ___ today by carriage, motor or airplane, distances that formerly were long journeys.__ ___ ___ today have __ ___ effect than those ___ ___ and should correspondently directed with great wisdom.

He then said that we were about to return to the United States where the friends were awaiting us in expectation of receiving new spirit and life. We should rest assured that confirmation would follow us. “De assured of this,” he said, “My prayers will be ever with you.”

To Adele.

“You must go to America and be the means of quickening the souls whom you meet. I expect great results from your visit and look for good news from you soon. I expect very good news from you. You must go with heavenly glad tidings, must be very happy and give happiness to others. When you have been in a rose garden, when you return from it you cull a bouquet of roses and take them in your hand. When you have here, it must be that way. You must spread their fragrance along your path. Again see how much had been accomplished in this ___ ___ so short a time. Were it __ the Day of the Manifestation ___ could have taken twenty year ___, from the West, and me ___ the East, to have become acquainted. But now in how brief ___ we became acquainted. ___ will be happy, I promise you and I will pray for you.”

Asked what we should do specifically to help in the work of Baha’u’llah, that our efforts might not be wasted and might bring to the Cause the utmost of which we were ___, he said that we must live according to the precepts of the Blessed Beauty as he had pointed out. We should read the Hidden Words, the Ishrakat, the Tajalliat and other writings of Baha’u’llah and live according to them. To live in accord with one verse of the Hidden Words would lift us above all human limitations. We must be spiritual, severed from all human dependencies; we should shine and give forth the heat and the light of the spirit. Consider the oil in the lamp. It is dead, without life, and. in darkness until it comes in contact with the flame. Then it bursts into light which it gives forth forever after. It severs itself from darkness. Though the same oil, it is now light. So must you be.”

Note:
It seems clear that the Master wishes to give his counsel only concerning the fundamental things, leaving to us to make the necessary specific application. And how much better this is than to give a specific direction (to impose his understanding) important probably for the moment but its importance, once outlived, one is left without foundation upon which to build again when the need arises. He seems to wish us to build firm on an ___led base. If this were not possible, would his great love demand it?

Tiberius

March 7th, 1921

The Master’s room.

Before noon.

After inquiring for our health, he said his own was better and that we should tell the family at Haifa he was better here.

I said he must care for his health, so many people love him.

He replied that he could not give time to his health, he must do his work. During the war, the German doctor told him he could not recover from a disease that he had, that he must be very careful. But it was necessary for him to come to Tiberius where the heat was then intense and to remain there two months until the harvest was gathered and he could send the wheat ___ Haifa. People were starving there and he had to do __. At the end of all this __in his disease was cured. The doctor could not believe it. Baha’u’llah had sustained him.

___, too, when he went to America, he suffered from four ___ and at times it seemed impossible for him to go on, especially when he was in California. It seemed so far back to Haifa and he was so weak He did not see how he could make the journey alive. But he prayed to Baha’u’llah for support to reach the Holy Tomb once more and strength was given him; so that when he reached home he was cured of malady-malaria-from which he had suffered twelve years.

So, too, he had been per__ted by Abdul Hamid and various governors; his work opposed, especially in removing the body of the Bab to the Tomb on Mount Carmel, but he had labored on. He could have prayed God to remove these difficulties and his prayer would instantly have been answered. But he did. not. It was necessary to overcome them.

“In one prayer I could have health the remainder of m4 life; but it is necessary for me to suffer to show to others that these things can be borne and overcome. I must first undergo all the hardships, then you will be able to. I must experience every difficulty that I may teach you to do like-wise. A week tree may stand if there are no winds to oppose it. But the strong tree that withstands every attack has developed its strength only through resisting wind and storm. A weak light will go out with the slightest breeze, but a torch only glows the stronger as the storm attacks it.

I must be an example that ___ learn to do the same, ____ all difficulties that ___ and steadfastness may A___. Strength will be ___ to sustain work for God, ___ purpose is to aid Him.

“I saw the Jewish reporter again (A young Dutch Jewess, interested in the Zionist Movements and writing for its organ) She said she had visited several small towns of the colony of Jews and had seen doctors, ___,professors working on the roads, sacrificing all their culture for the purpose of building up the Jewish Colony. I told her all this was ___, that such colonies had been built for ages past and always had crumbled and fallen, that the only permanent colony was spiritual and it was for what they should work. See the Colony that Mary Magdalene had built – It was still growing. That is the kind of colony to erect. These material things of every kind have no permanence. Things of the spirit alone are permanent and worthy of our labor.

To me.

“Now you are leaving for America. You are my son. I have breathed into you a new life and spirit and power. Later you will see it, not now. When you are in the field of action, you will see it. In the embroyo life is breathed into the child but he does not know it until he comes forth into the world of action. So you will not know until you enter the field of activity. You are my son and (to Adele) you are my daughter. Now you must act as my son and daughter. Be my real son and daughter.”

To Adele:

“You must build an in the Kingdom of God,” (referring to his talk with the Jewish reporter “You must build such a colony as Mary built. Be sure that my prayers are constantly ___ you and that you will be confirmed. You are my daughter”

Then he left us to receive visitor.

He seemed to be trying to show us that the nature of his work and that of Jesus was the same and that both suffered as other men, though all the time having the power to remove their sufferings if they willed; but choosing rather to undergo them that, through their example we might learn to do the same – to turn only to the power of God as each new difficulty comes and so to strength-en ourselves more and more in the strength of the Spirit.

Of Taylor he said, “Bring them little by little into the Cause. Don’t try too much at once. In God only can truth be found, in the teachings of Baha’u’llah.”

Of the Maskrak ul Askar work, he said,

“I have left everything to the Convention. Many have referred various Questions to me. Everything referred to me I referred to the Convention. Tell this to everybody.”

So I said no more.

He seems to be building ___ structure among the friends to carry the responsibility of the affairs of the Cause in their own districts to decentralize. Aziz tells __ he is doing the same in ___, referring questions to the Houses of Spirituality.

No successor!

Tiberius

March 7th.

Later, after waiting in his room until his visitors had gone.

He said he hoped he had not kept us waiting too long. I said I had been writing ever since he left but had not yet written all that he had said; that I could not seem to remember much of his words.

He said:-

“My words are like seeds sown in the hearts. Quoting the parable of the sower, some of my words have no effect, others have effect for a short time only – especially when people’s minds are filled with some material, worldly enterprise. But with others the seed falls on pure soil and bears a mighty ___. Now, thank God, these ___ fall upon such soil. It does not matter if the words ___ are forgotten – they are lost in the soil. Afterwards they grow and bear fruit.

He then spoke to Mirza ___ who had returned with him. Then he dismissed us. ___ Mrs. Mill’s hand and ___ God’s blessing. ___ my shoulder – with ___ infinite love and tenderness and wished me the same. As ___ passed out he said, “You will come again” or “I ___ you again.”

I said that I could not be grateful enough for that ___ - that it overlaid ___ he had told us.

He said:-

“I know what is in his heart!” His look cannot be described. And we left.