Haifa Notes

The Bab's body was in concealment in Persia for 50 years, and in the Holy Land for 10. Baha'u'llah revealed to Abdu'l-Baha the place for teh Shrine of the Bab. The friends should read about this before coming to Haifa - in God Passes By, and also the 2 chapters about the Banishment of Baha'u'llah before going to Bahji.

Concerning the Tablet to a Physician revealed by Baha'u'llah, opposite foods are hot and cold, sour or sweet. Science will reveal this. Take liquid before meals; use moderation at all times.

Other worlds - (in answer to question about space ships asked by one of the pilgrims) - there are other worlds and science will reveal this. There are creatures, not humans, and time will disclose their structure. the Faith will then influence them - the other worlds. The Guardian looked at numerous sketches for Temple designed for Teheran. Rejected all of them and then asked mason Remey to bring to the table the several sketches he had made of Temples. The Guardian then selected: Latern (?) of one, the dome of another, the shape and columns shown on a third, and the door of the fourth.Then he told Mason to assemble these features and produce a sketch.the Guardian said if Mason could do that, he would be a wonderful architect. Several days later, Mason did reproduce the sketch and with the exception of a few changes in the shape of the dome and columns, he seemed (i.e., the Guardian) pleased with the result.

Mason told a story of the time he was asked to design a home for the blind and had received about 50 suggestions. he ignored them all and finally had his sketch accepted. the Guardian jokingly said that was alright for it was for the blind.

Asked if the 52 columns in the design for the Archives building, which Mason Remey had designed had any significance, the guardian said they did not. The architecture was of the Greek type. Much discussion followed as to the proper angel to set the building on the side of Mt. Carmel so that it would fit properly against the contour of the mountain, and look best in approaching it, from any angle.

Ruhiyyih Khanum said the little Persian cookies we had for dessert were like rolled brown paper baked, but the Guardian said they went well with the custard and made a gook balance - soft custard, crisp cookies.

Pioneering - the Guardian said that families should not be disrupted nor communities jeopardized (LSA's) by the believers going pioneering.

The Kinneys are pillars of the Cause - the exception to the rule, when so many of the other old believers had become inactive, but they continued right on the serve.

Deadwood - too strong a term to use for believers who have become inactive and are not seen nor heard from in their communities. The Guardian said they should continue to receive their News Letters as the News Letters may stimulate them into activity again.

There has been too much emphasis on the Fund. This subject should be broached delicately and with dignity. Care should be taken not to hurt anyone's feelings.

Africa - Nearly 1000 converts in four years; formerly there were none except the believers in Abyssinia and Egypt. If Africa becomes civilized teaching will become more difficult. America is too civilized.

Pioneering should be done voluntarily rather than using force. If it is a sacrifice, then it is more meritorious. Ruhiyyih Khanum asked if pitchforks

should be used to get people to move, and the Guardian said that God would move them. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the results.

Adrianople is the "Remote Prison" mentioned in the Tablet of Ahmad.

Letters of the Living are like Apostles - higher than Disciples.

There would be a new set of Laws at the end of this Dispensation. This is not a sign of the decadence of the Faith, but that there would be a need for new Laws. Ruhiyyih Khanum spoke of the traffic situation in the cities which made it impossible to reach the cemeteries which are usually in the outlying sections of the cities, to be reached within the hour time the body must be taken for burial according to the latest law revealed by the Guardian. The Guardian said that is why the helicopter was developed, so that Baha'is could conduct a burial according to the Baha'i Law. Then he said we must be careful that the body does not fall out of the helicopter on its way to burial.

The number of the Hands of the Cause would be increased, and that all are not necessarily appointed for life.

If advertising which is expensive is not effective after due trial, it is better to send the money to the NSA as the NSA needs it. concentrate on the Ten Year Plan.

Capitalism in the United States is a special kind of Capitalism.

Russia is a Dictatorship of the Proletariate.

United States fears Russia. They are two extremes.

Baha'i Plan is neither.

Freedom from prejudice is not truly practised even among the Baha'is.

Marriage is the ultimate proof of that freedom from prejudice in America.

England abounds in class prejudice.

The Guardian spoke again about Africa with 1000 converts in 4 years, and pointed out how little progress America made in 60 years, in comparison.

There would be no more Republics, ultimately Kingship. At the time of Soloman there was a spilt in Israel.

What we need is not union but unification. Union means a contract between two different individuals or organizations each maintaining its own individualism, but unification meant unity with all the same opinion and striving for the same principles.

The Guardian spoke of the Covenant-breakers, that they are tenant on our property.

He spoke of the Baha'is in colleges and was pleased. He said the Libraries in the colleges were very important and that the NSA should be concerned about this - to have Baha'i books in all the colleges possible.

Station of the master - perfection of the Divine and the Perfection of the human. This is the Mystery never before in the world.

America must be purged with suffering and purified in order to lead the world spiritually. Then the World Civilization and Baha'i civilization would merge into World Order. The United Nations will pass and another evolve as a preliminary to the Universal House of Justice. World Government should be patterned on the United States Government, but Kingship would prevail.

Italy should send pioneers to the Italian colonies, incorporate, find land for the Temple and buy a Hazira; multiply centers so that an NSA could be formed. Canada must find land for a Temple and assist others in the Ten Year Plan.

Baha'is should avoid Moslems and other Orientals. They are crafty, no sincere, greedy, dishonest, have ulterior motives, and they may be dangerous. Rather, concentrate on teaching natives.

First (asked if marriage could take place during this time) the Guardian said that marriage can take place at any time. We are not to restrict humans; the clergy are doing that now.

The Guardian said I should visit the Islands of the Mediterranean, as many as I could conveniently reach, in the time I had. I should go by boat.

Marriage - there is no provision for alimony in the Teachings, but that the Universal House of Justice would make this decision. Baha'i divorce is not recognized in any part of the world now.

There are only three Temple sites not yet purchased - Italy, Canada and Stockholm. Canada has the money which Fred Schoflacher left.

The Guardian said that Ethna Archibald, the pilgrim from New Zealand, now living in England, should go to Africa, but not to Kampala, Tanganiki, or Johannesburg, as they are too crowded.

In answer to a question about things in the far distant future, the Guardian said we should not speculate on things not revealed thus far, but concentrate on the Ten Year Plan, and study the Teachings.

"Concourse on High" are the souls whose prayers assist us and affect us; "Hosts of the Unseen" are the powers of the Holy Spirit which assist us and guide us.

Prophecy of Daniel -"1335" is not 1957 but 100 years after Baha'u'llah's declaration: 1963. We are seeing the evidence of it now.

Baha'i day of rest has not been established.

The Prophecy of Daniel would not mean Universal Peace, but recognition of the Faith; Ruhiyyih Khanum read a passage from "The Passing of Abdu'l-Baha".

Marriage and Divorce - Baha'u'llah made provision and laws for divorce; non-Baha'is who marry Baha'is should be informed about the Laws for marriage and divorce before marrying Baha'is to avoid difficulties later. Baha'is should be free to live according to the Baha'i Laws.

Progress of the Faith - obscurity; non-recognition; persecution; recognition; acceptance; World Order.

Progress of the Cause in England - slow to get started but once aroused, good results. Cause no in University cities, should now be opened in Cathedral cities. Then, opposition would begin and through this, the Cause would grow and the opposition would fall.

Purpose of the Baha'i Faith - to bring about World Civilization. Peace, and World Order of Baha'u'llah are not the ultimate; are only steps in the process. There could be other Prophets, other Dispensations for the maturity of mankind. The fruit of the Baha'i Dispensation is World Civilization.

Crime in the cities - Materialism and crime; it is useless to teach the Cause in the cities; teach in the small villages.

Health - Baha'is should observe laws of Baha'u'llah and laws of the cities and countries in which they live. Consult a good physician; there is nothing in the Teachings about inoculation or vaccination. Later the House of Justice might consider these facts, but at present there is nothing in the Teachings.

Use moderation at all times; don't pray too much; don't concentrate on material matters too much.

Muhammadanism in Africa - more readily accepted by natives than Christianity because it is a purer faith and more authentic. Paul interjected some of his own ideas in preaching the Faith and Peter ws unable to correct or object because Christ made no specific mention of the line of authority.

Baha'is should distinguish between law, principles and administration. The Guardian is now working on the codification of the Aqdas.

We have 12 more languages into which the Writings are to be translated that called for in the Ten Year Plan. I should tell the NSA to get busy; we have translated into one language out of the 10 we were to do.

Disperse - save yourselves and help the Cause by so doing.

England moved faster; America has done almost nothing; United States has to be pushed, pushed. We get enthusiastic at first, but we have to be pushed later.

Abdu'l-Baha told us to disperse and then waited twenty years for us to do so. I should tell the friends to disperse.

Our Baha'i institutions are only a means to an end.

Pillar of the Cause is not a station or a rank but an expression of service, strength and faithfulness, steadfastness in the Cause; pillar is not like a hand, which is and organization of the Institutions.

He said I would come again to Haifa, and with my husband, the next time.

Courtesy of Helen Eggleston Dec. 1956 at Davison Baha'i School.