Pilgrim Notes of Charles Mason Remey and Howard C. Struven

[Source of these notes: Attached to GA001/088/00183, J. J. Dobbins to Shoghi Effendi, 4 August 1931, microfilm roll number 107, frame 664 (?).

In this letter Mr. Dobbins writes: "...I am enclosing a copy of a Tablet [apparently referring to the pilgrim notes] which came into our possession when the Adelaide [Australia] Assembly took over the publication of the 'Herald of the South'. Towards the end of the Tablet it deals with a prophesy of a terrible (material) calamity that is to occur in, apparently, the not very distant future. Some of the Assembly thought it best to acquaint you with this matter and have your instructions re same. If this is a true record of the conversation between our Beloved Master and our brother Mr. Chas. M. Remey -- should the friends be permitted to peruse the Tablet...?"]

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Some of the words of welcome uttered by Abdu'l-Baha to the pilgrims Howard C. Struven and Charles Mason Remey in 1906. [sic: 1910]

Taken from a copy loaned me by Mrs. I. D. Brittingham in 1915.

"Welcome, you are blessed in making such a world pilgrimage and being allowed to serve in so many countries. Many tourists travel around the world visiting cities and countries, but their tours have no lasting effect and are soon forgotten. The effect of your tour will be eternal. Its effect will be seen during the ensuing centuries". The greetings of the many friends and messages from various assemblies were given to him and He was pleased. He was very pleased when told of the love, kindness and hospitality of the Baha'is in all countries. Abdu'l-Baha spoke of the great work done by the uneducated believers. Through purity of heart, many had become so spiritually enlightened, that their words had had great effect upon the minds and hearts of the learned and wise. Some of them had even written books by dictation.

Abdu'l-Baha asked about the hardships of the journey, but was assured that any incidents of that nature [were] forgotten and now were as if they had never existed. He then asked, whether the lectures given in the various places had been prepared or been extemporaneous? When told that they had all been extemporaneous, He said, "That teachers should always speak from the heart -- for such reaches the heart of the hearers and has effect, whereas, when one speaks not from the heart, the effect of his words is but a passing one, if any. All teaching should be done by the spirit working or speaking through the teacher and should not come from the mentality of the individual. One should always use spiritual methods of teaching".

In speaking of spreading the Fragrances of the Kingdom, Abdu'l-Baha said: "In movement there is life, in immobility there is death". The travelling of the teacher from place to place, from Orient to Occident and from country to country, is one of the greatest means for spreading the Fragrances and for sowing spiritual seeds in the souls of the people.

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. Many of the American believers desire to worship daily in accordance with the teachings. What prayers should they use daily? No instructions have yet been revealed for them regarding daily prayers.

A. Later on I will give instructions.

Q. Was Baha'u'llah of the seed of Jesse?

A. Yes. He was of the ninth generation in succession from Jesse, but this was not from Jesse of the Bible, but another.

Q. What is the command regarding the giving of tithes? Is it 19% of the increase of one's capital, or is it 1/19th of one's income?

A. It should be 1/19th of one's income. This is a blessed privilege (tithe giving). Among mankind money is the greatest thing: this giving will confirm the people. With this money many great works will be done. In Hamadan in Persia, the believers have not the money. Because of this at first I did not accept this money, but later I directed that it should be used in their towns for schools. This giving was a great spiritual confirmation to the Jews. Everyone knows how the Jews loan money.

Q. Is the calendar as revealed by the Bab to be used in this dispensation?

A. Yes, but later on certain modifications will be made.

Q. From what year does the new dispensation date?

A. 1844 A.D.

Q. Which day of the week will the Baha'is of the future observe as a day of rest?

A. Friday.

Q. We have been taught that Baha'u'llah was the seventh of a series of great world Manifestations of this present cycle, Christ being the Sixth, Melchisedeck the Fifth, while the first were before the compilations of our present world history; that their teachings were applicable to all mankind under all conditions, while upon the other hand the Manifestations, such as Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Mohammed, and the Bab, were sent each to a certain people, being teachings which were applicable to those certain conditions only, is this teaching correct?

A. Yes, it is correct.

Q. What is the significance of the prophecy: "Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335 days" (Daniel chapter XII, verse 12)?

A. After that date a great disturbance, a terrible (material) calamity is to happen in the world.

Q. Is it to be in the form of war and strife, or will it be as an earthquake, such as have happened in Messina and elsewhere?

A. Wars and earthquakes such as you have mentioned, will happen, but these compared with this great catastrophe to come, will be as nothing. As in the past whole peoples and civilizations have, through physical changes been obliterated, so that not a trace has remained, so it will be, when this great change will take place. Q. In the Bible, there is a prophecy: "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die, but the third part shall be left therein" (Zecheriah chapter XIII, verses 8-9). Does this refer to the happening in question?

A. Yes.

Q. Will this take place soon after the date 1917 (which is the date mentioned 1335 days, or 1335 years A.H. (after Mohammed) or 1917 A.D. or will it happen in the very distant future? [Parentheses not closed in original.]

A. It is not so very soon after, nor again is it in the so very distant future.

In subsequent conversations, during which questions were being asked and answered, Abdu'l-Baha said that Baha'u'llah was not a descendent from the prophet Zoroaster. That it would be well for the Western friends to interest themselves in commercial, industrial matters with the people of Persia, for Persia needs connection with the West.

That the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab should be observed by the friends with solemnity. That the anniversary of the passing of Baha'u'llah should be observed in like manner and that in the night a meeting of prayer should be held. That in serving together, the believers should always avoid those matters upon which they cannot agree. The believers should serve together, men and women working together. In meetings of consultations the majority should rule, but it is far preferable that there should be such unity that there be no minority that all should be of one mind.

The above answers to prepared questions were written up shortly after the interviews with Baha'u'llah from notes taken at the time. Extract from Remey's letter accompanying notes: "I think it best for these not to be printed at any time in the near future, yet there is every reason why the friends should have access to them in manuscript form".

Signed,
Charles Mason Remey