Photocopy of an unsigned typescript copy copied from the Bahá'í National
Archives in Honolulu in May, 1982 by Duane Troxel, then an archivist for
the NSA of Hawaii and one of its members.
Typed by Robert Stauffer, 1999; formatted for the web by Jonah Winters 10/01. |
[Covers the interment of the remains of the Bab on Mt. Carmel
on 21 March 1909.]
"Our Lord and the beloved ones in Acca bade us give to all the
friends their greetings and love. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's stupendous burden had
not been realized by us until this second visit. We can only lighten it,
He said, by being in perfect Unity amongst ourselves.
The Holy Mother, upon one occasion, said to us that our responsibilities
were very great, because we were living at the time of the beginning
of the Cause of God, when our example would either advance or retard souls
from the Truth. That naturally the soldiers in the front ranks must bear
the brunt of battle and make it easier for those coming after. That it
was a great privilege to serve when difficulties surrounded us.
We remained a month in the Holy Land principally between Haifa
and Acca, for we were exiled only four days which we spent in Nazareth,
so that there would not be more than four American believers at one time in
Haifa.
One of the greatest privileges we had during our visit was to be
present when the Ashes of the Bab were moved to their final resting place
on Mt. Carmel. It is beyond me to depict the beauty and solemnity of that
scene. Our Lord was indescribably grand. We saw Him for the first time
without His fez. (head-dress), His beautiful white hair falling in picturesque
disorder upon His shoulders. He had thrown off His dark outer garment
and was robed in a flowing garment of neutral blue. When the huge
sarcophagus was finally placed in position our Lord with the men believers
grouped about Him, made a picture never to be forgotten. One of the
believers held aloft a lamp, the light of which fell like a radiance upon
the beloved Master's form as He stood in the sarcophagus, and with tears
streaming down His blessed Face, changed with His own Hands the Sacred
Ashes from the casket which had held them many, many years, to the magnificent
white marble sarcophagus which is a loving gift of the believers of
India. When the marble cover was placed, our Lord threw Himself on the
sarcophagus and wept aloud.
The believers who were with Him, as well as the ladies who were
standing or kneeling about the entrance to the Tomb, wept with Him, and for
Him too who made such a pathetic figure beside the Tomb of the One Who
had proclaimed His Glorious Advent. Such a tumult of thoughts and emotions
surged through our minds for it seemed as if all the miraculous happenings
of the Cause from its earliest Dawn passed before our vision, flooding
our souls with awe and wonder at the mighty works of God. When at last
our dear Lord walked out of the Tomb He had an expression on His Face
which is indescribable. The Power of the Spirit was so intense that we
stood as if petrified until He had passed into another part of the building
where a room was prepared for Him to rest in. In the meantime the
believers who had been working with the Master came out and stood in groups
speaking together in hushed tones while they waited to accompany 'Abdu'l-
Baha back to Haifa. Such a wonderful picture they made, especially the
white haired, saintly looking believers in their Oriental costumes. One
believer had given up business and came and camped with his family near
the Tomb for some weeks, during which time he had worked with pick and
shovel to dig a hole in the foundation of the Tomb through which the
sarcophagus had been passed. They could not employ skilled laborers for fear
of drawing the attention of the Nakazeen.
Before we left that afternoon, mother and I had the privilege of
drinking a cup of tea with our Lord, but as He was still very fatigued we
soon excused ourselves and descended the mountain side with full hearts."
Received in 1909.