Pilgrims Notes: March 2-11, 1955
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Margarite (Peggy) True, Pilgrims Notes: March 2-11, 1955, bahai-library.com.
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Pilgrims Notes:

March 2-11, 1955

Margarite (Peggy) True

1955-03

1. Version 1, longer (see another version of these notes below)

NOTE: The data in these pilgrim notes is not organised by topic, or date, etc.
But I notice other pilgrim notes aren't either -- for example, those of May
Maxwell, Larry Hautz, Bill Sears, Alice Dudley.

They are, however, in the order in which they were discussed at the Guardian's
dinner table, and I wrote them up immediately after talking with the others
present (Ruhiyyih Khanum, Leroy Ioas, Ethel and Jessie Revell, Charles
Remey, and some pilgrims). On retiring to my room, I transcribed what I had
taken down in Speedwriting which enabled me to get the exact words accurately.

* * * * * *

Deep in the heart of every soul is a longing to know his God and to draw
ever nearer to Him. In the House of Worship in Wilmette, during the
dedication, one had a slight implication of the feeling of spiritual fragrance
which surpasses all space and time -- it is as if one is suspended in a moment
of eternity, and one wishes to stay there forever.

When the pilgrim first enters the Shrine of the Bab and kneels before
that sacred Threshold, there seems to rush upon him such a force from the
Supreme Concourse that he can neither withhold the tears nor restrain his
emotions. Coming from the outside world to that holy and sacred Spot, he
immediately senses the divine beauty, the perfection, the all embracing
tenderness of the Bab, and the vastness of spiritual love that was showered
upon the earth at His coming. As he touches his forehead to the threshold,he
feels that at last he has come home, that no matter what his achievements or
failures, God will accept him as he is and guide him along the pathway.

Here, in the "heart of Mount Carmel" one senses so well that it is the
spiritual heart of the world, and from this centre anew has throbbed the
inspired Words of a Prophet of God. Here one feels the majesty, the peace, the
tranquility that the whole world is seeking, and one sees the beautiful gardens
being readied for the day when the rulers of mankind will mount the terraced
stairs to pay their respects to the Prophet of God.

The Guardian spoke of the arrangement of the gardens and the buildings on
Mt. Carmel that first night, saying that both in Bahji and Mt. Carmel there
were the outer gardens, then the inner gardens or Holy precincts, and then the
Holy of Holies where lie the Remains of the Prophet. The gardens in Bahji, he
said, were started by Abdu'l-Baha who brought many plants from Haifa.
Abdu'l-Baha and a number of pilgrims carried the flowers in their robes, and
pots of water on their heads, from Haifa to the gates of Akka.

At the present time, the Ridvan feast is held in the outer gardens,
following which the believers progress to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah. In the
future, because of respect, the feast will be held at an even greater distance
from the Shrine itself.

The Guardian asked, the next night, if we had noticed that there is not
one single bench in the gardens of the Shrine of the Bab. "It is a place of
worship, not recreation," he said. "If there were benches, people would bring
their lunch and leave litter. There would be litter around the benches, under
the benches and on the benches. Even now we have difficulty keeping the
ice-cream vendor away from the garden entrance. We must be firm about this and
prevent his entry."

The Shrine of Baha'u'llah to be erected in Akka will be more ornate
than that of the Bab; it will have columns of yellow marble to match the
bricks; it will have ballustrades, and urns and something else. It must be
very ornate.

The endowments in Israel now are valued at $4,000,000 (4 million dollars)
and it is the only religion (not the Christian, Jewish, or Moslem) which is
allowed to have its properties tax exempt. This is because we do not sell or
rent the property, and we give the produce to the poor. That is, the others
build houses and rent them, or rent out the property. We make olive oil from
the olives, save a part for household use, give a portion to the workers for
their labour, and give the rest to the poor.

The International Endowments in the Ten Year Plan were taken care of at
one blow ($49,000), enabling the believers to purchase the ground for the
Haziratu'l-Quds listed in the Ten Year Plan.

In Persia, they now are working on a Five Year Plan to build their Temple.
This Temple will be more elaborate than the one in Wilmette, but this will be
easy, especially as the dome is to be of gold like the dome of the Shrine of
the Bab. This was a diplomatic move. The Temple in Germany will be more
difficult to erect, and money must come from the outside. Also the believers
in Germany have invited non-Baha'i architects to submit plans.

Jakarta is to have a National Spiritual Assembly and will be the most
important centre in South-East Asia. We have Baha'is in Saigon, Soloman
Island, two in Malaya, Baha'i literature in Vietnamese, Indonesian, Burmese.
"The friends are not content with the number of languages listed in the Ten
Year Plan," said the Guardian, "They have translated the teachings into 24
supplementary languages."

Seizure of literature and jailing of believers ends in a victory. It
started with disturbances and ends in victory for the Faith. We have a Plan,
and all the Baha'is know it. Our plan is clear-cut and definite. God has
His Plan which is mysterious and works in a disorderly way. They are
complementary processes, but have the same end.

One should visit Nazareth, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Bethlehem -- four places
associated with the life of Christ.

The Persian government has helped Persians come on pilgrimage in spite of
the fact that they are not friendly with us.

"Johannesburg is the most un-Baha'i city in the world because it is
impossible for the races to meet together. The job of pioneers is to teach the
negroes, establish a centre, and move on. Baha'is should be constantly on
the move. They should inspire their new believers to arise and teach in their
turn, and not just be dead believers. This is necessary if pioneers are to
achieve their purpose".

The Guardian said, "We are now establishing the Administrative centre on
Mt. Carmel. We have already established the spiritual centre. We have more
than fifty acres on Mt. Carmel. The nine terraces below the Shrine and then
nine to be built above the Shrine will be named for the 18 Letters of the
Living.

The four National Spiritual Assemblies to be formed in Africa will be four
more pillars in the Universal House of Justice. (Cairo, Tunis, Kampala,
Johannesburg.) Johannesburg was chosen because it is the second largest city.

The Guardian said he would announce 13 pillars more to be formed, in the
Ridvan message which he is now composing.

Regarding the Americans he said, "Tell them to pay attention to my
repeated messages. Tell them to disperse -- the farther the better and the
longer the better. They should not just stay a few years like tourists, but
settle and make their homes abroad. They should not plan to return to the
States.

In teaching, one should make a wide association of friends and search
(like in the Valley of Search) for receptive souls. Look for the sincere
regardless of class, those with sincere hearts and purity of motive. Be
discriminating. Then concentrate on the few and teach them thoroughly. Bring
them into the Faith and instill in them the desire to promote the Faith. This
is the slow way but the sure way. It is the good foundation. Artificial Local
Spiritual Assemblies are not successful.

The Spanish are warm-hearted. The Spanish and American temperament are
quite different. But in Africa where the American Baha'is went, they have
already changed to be more like the Africans. The same can be true with the
Americans in Spanish territories.

One must have moderation in all things.

There should be a regional National Spiritual Assembly of Spain and
Portugal until it can be divided into two National Spiritual Assemblies because
they are strong enough. This is only a provisional measure.

It used to be hard to find the Baha'is. Now it is difficult to find a
place where there are no Baha'is. The Guardian said that his records are
out-of-date from one day to another because things are changing so fast.

He said not to take literally the suggestion of reading 5-10 non-Baha'i
books to one Baha'i book, that we should read to deepen and to widen -- to
deepen with the Baha'i Writings, to widen with other books. For deepening
use DAILY "The Dawn-Breakers", "God Passes By" and "Some Answered Questions".
Prayer, meditation, study and action. Read history etc. to compare the times.

But the most important thing is to TEACH.

The Cook Islands report the first native believer. The first native in
Cypress is ready to come in.

Establish the Local Spiritual Assembly, then bring in the natives;
establish administration as a tool through which to work. Choose people of
good character and good heart to avoid problems in the community. Natives must
have preference. The Spaniards are sensitive; the Persians would understand
them. (Apart, Ruhiyyih Khanum told of the example of her mother's great love
which consumed all disagreement.)

Japan and Australia are the two focal points of the pacific.

"In expansion (territorial plan) the believers did in one year what they
should have done in ten years". Ruhiyyih Khanum, sitting on the Guardian's
left, said, "They would have, Shoghi Effendi, if you had let them alone" (i.e.
taken ten years). He laughed.

This is the first Spiritual Crusade on a world basis. This is only the
beginning. There were political crusades, etc. but never spiritual crusades on
this basis. There will be other crusades going through the formative age and
the golden age.

Hainan Island is important.

The Guardian said that the work of territorial expansion of obtaining the
ground for the Haziratu'l-Quds was nearly done. 108 of the 131 virgin
territories are settled, and only 7 islands remain (one of which is
Spitzenberg). The remaining territories are mostly behind the Iron Curtain.
He told one pilgrim who was there (Sam, Stan? the last I heard from him he was
in Florida), that it was very easy to get into the Soviety Union -- that you
just got on a train and kept going right through.

There is now in Sikim a believer waiting to go to Tibet.

Now we need to build the administration and do the teaching. The most
difficult is the work of teaching. In the States by the end of the Ten Years,
the assemblies should number not 171, but 300.

"The Persian believers all want to converge on Teheran, and I am trying to
get them to disperse. In Persia, in Teheran, there are over 50,000 (fifty
thousand) and if only one-tenth of them will disperse, the job of teaching
would be all over". (The Guardian later announced that some of the Persian
believers who were there on pilgrimage, on hearing this, at the end of their
pilgrimage, went off to pioneer, with only the suitcase they came with. They
did not return to Persia). He told us all to give this message to all of the
believers, that the Persians should disperse, and leave their country.

"If they believers will disperse and actively teach the receptive souls,
it will be easy. The number of Local Spiritual Assemblies all over should be
doubled".

The Guardian said he hoped the government will not prevent the building of
the Temple in Persia. He said that it would be a miracle if the world congress
can be held in Baghdad in 1963 because the Shi'ihs oppose us there. Already
they have seized the house of Baha'u'llah and the government wants to build a
hospital on the spot of the Garden of Ridvan. As they are enemies to the
Cause there is no use protesting because this would make them more determined.
This is one of the things that distresses the Guardian. "But", he said, "we
have problems and we have victories".

Teaching is the most difficult of all the things to be accomplished in the
Ten Year Plan, but if the believers will disperse and teach, it will be easy.
Teaching and formation of Baha'i courts will be difficult.

Of the 49 Haziratu'l-Quds, 21 are now purchased and 28 will be purchased
during the next Baha'i year.

The buildings on Mt. Carmel will be in the form of an arc. It is both the
ark spoken of in the Bible, and the spiritual arc. In the Western part of the
mountain, at the head, will be the Temple, and on the East, the administrative
buildings: the Archives, the Seat of the Hands of the Cause, the Seat of the
House of Justice, the Seat of the Guardianship, and other buildings to come
later.

This is just the beginning. The friends do not realize how great and
extensive it is. It is the first time in the history of the world that thee
has been a spiritual crusade on world lines. There have been political
crusades, but never a world spiritual crusade. Following the Ten Year Plan
there will be other crusades on and on not only through the formative age, but
also into the golden age. (The Guardian repeated this a second time, see p.
3).

The work territorially (expansion to virgin areas), administratively,
spiritually, legally, and financially are all progressing splendidly. But the
work on teaching and the Baha'i courts are not.

The embellishing of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah will be even more
beautiful than that of the Bab. This goes on after the Ten Year Plan. We are
doing preliminary work now only. Mr. Remey has made a few drawings, but this
is not enough. Temple land not purchased includes: Columbo, Rome, Stockholm,
Jakarta.

The Guardian told the pilgrims before us that there was now only a line
(thin line) between the United States and Russia and that things may happen at
any moment, that all the large centers of materialism are endangered from not
only the East and the West, but also from the North. After the suffering in
the States, it will lead and bring about the birth of a new civilization, and
help to establish the Faith. The united States will be the leaders.

Regarding the Temple Plan in Persia, the Guardian wanted the pinnacles to
follow more the lines of those of Westminster in London.

As some of the Pilgrims related comments of visitors to the Shrine of the
Bab, the Guardian said, "Those who are unorthodox appreciate it; the orthodox
don't like it". Of the children who came to the Shrine, he said, "Children are
innocent and have good hearts. We have friends and we also have enemies. Now
we are adding another building which will add to their jealousy".

The Baha'is revere the holy sites of all religions; we are not
narrow-minded. We should visit Nazareth, Tiberias, and Jerusalem.

The Jewish Baha'is have done very well lately both in the East and in
the West.

Jakarta is to have a National Spiritual Assembly and will be the most
important center in Southeast Asia.

Baha'i must leave their homes FOREVER and settle elsewhere.

All kings must go.

The pioneer is in the forefront until the Local Assembly is firmly
established, then the pioneer is in the background. Better still, he must go
elsewhere and form another Local Spiritual Assembly. This is doubly
meritorious.

"Establish National Spiritual Assemblies, then Baha'i government; but do
not speak of this, especially in Africa right now. We can talk about this in
England because they won't believe us".

On primary things the Guardian will advise us, such as things of the
Faith. But on secondary things such as buying land and building, etc. he
never advises.

The Negroes have broken all records.

For ten years there were no pilgrims to Haifa. (This made it very
difficult especially for the Guardian, as he was working on the construction of
the Shrine of the Bab, and Dr. Giachery had to match the marble, etc. It
would have been very simple if the Guardian had requested Dr. Giachery to come
to Haifa. What took weeks and months by correspondence, could have been done
in a day's consultation. But the Guardian did not change the instructions for
anyone, even at his own convenience. No pilgrimages.)

"Seek the pure of heart and good character. Don't be in a hurry to get
them in. Make a wide acquaintance. Sort out a few and concentrate on the
receptive ones. Try to get all classes represented.

"Believers must adjust to a different standard of living".

"Believers in the large cities will be evaporated if they don't move.
People in the villages are more receptive".

Africa leads. It is the only continent where all territories and islands
were opened; 55 territories and 12 islands.

"I am glad I don't have to pronounce on the atom or space ships. Thank
goodness there is nothing in the Writings about this".

The Temple site on Mt. Carmel overlooks the spot where Baha'u'llah
pitched His tent and revealed the Tablet of Carmel which is now in the process
of being purchased.

The olive trees around the Shrine of Baha'u'llah are very old; some go
back to the time of Christ. Some will be left and some removed for the work of
enlarging the gardens.

The gold on the pinnacles of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah are to be carried
down to give the effect that the gold comes down from the dome to permeate the
building.

"I have many things to do, little things, big things, all kinds of things,
and am exhausted -- but good news revives me".

Some experts must be found in Israel to study authentically the races in
the Faith. We have 30 now, and maybe 15 more.

Five years ago there was no negro Baha'i in Africa. Now there are more
than 1000 in 230 localities, in 50 territories and speaking 40 languages.

The Guardian has slender fingers, hazel eyes. He said Persian food was
too sweet and too soft.

The Guardian waited 40 years for a garden, 60 years for a house.

The tomb of Abdu'l-Baha will be half way between Haifa and Acca.

Abdu'l-Baha had a tent big enough for 450 people. It was used in 1944
in Haifa by the Persian women.

The Guardian to me: "Make your home in the Canaries. Don't return to the
United States. Your future in the Canaries is very great. You must persevere.
You have a brilliant future".

"It is not enough to pioneer. One must have continuous daily effort".

In the room of Abdu'l-Baha all furnishings are original, even his tan
shoes.

"Observe the majesty of the pathways to Bahji. The kings will trod these
later".

Shoghi Effendi told the Prime Minister that if they didn't get approval
for ripping down the Covenant-breakers' houses he would let the whole Baha'i
world know it!

Shoghi Effendi will not accept anything for the archives unless he knows
how it came into the hands of the donor.

In Sulamaniyyih, the head of the dervishes wrote a book of poems, and
Baha'u'llah wrote two verses in the front of the book. There was no paper.
Baha'u'llah wrote on a palm leaf; both sides were framed.

When Baha'u'llah revealed the Tablet of Carmel, He chanted so loudly
that the monks below heard it.

The Guardian doesn't care if the Local Spiritual Assembly is all
foreigners, although it would be nice to have it all natives. The main thing
is to have it so that the Divine Spirit will flow through it and the island
will be knit with Africa. Once the Local Spiritual Assembly is formed, it will
handle problems, and they will not be such a burden to the pioneers. He said
that the link with Africa is because Africa is strong and Spain is weak. (This
was in response to my question as to why we were under the National Spiritual
Assembly of Northwest Africa which didn't have the same language or customs,
and caused us many problems because they associated us with the political
unrest and espionage there.) Later, he said, Tenerife would be knit with
Spain, and he wants a Local Spiritual Assembly in both Tenerife and Grand
Canary. He said he wanted pictures of the Las Palmas and Santa Cruz assemblies
for the Mansion of Baha'u'llah. He asked me, rather as a challenge, which
would have their Assembly first, Tenerife or Grand Canary. That sort of
surprised me, as I thought the Guardian knew everything, and I said, "But
Shoghi Effendi, I thought you would know that". He said, "But you are there;
you know the condition". As it was, they both came in together, that very
Ridvan.

"Jeannette Battrick is a vegetarian", he said, "But today she's going to
eat meat". (The Battricks had a health food store in England.)

The Guardian pointed out that, in spite of the blackout due to the fighting
(Ruhiyyih Khanum said, "Hear those guns. They're on the Gaza strip", the day
we were up at the Archives' Building site), the government had requested that
the Baha'i Shrine of the Bab and the gardens be lighted up 15 minutes every
night.

A British pilgrim who was pioneering in South Africa mentioned that there
were 18 steps to the Shrine, for the 18 Letters of the Living, but that one had
become a Covenant-breaker. The Guardian said, "I see you know your history.
We have to give a person credit for what he has done". (In other words, God is
the judge, not us.)

I said to the Guardian, "Shoghi Effendi, I know a marvelous place for the
Temple in Tenerife". He replied, "That's fine. But it's not in our plan just
now". (In other words, "stick to your knitting".)

Speaking of the persecution in Spain, the Guardian said, "Maybe they'll be
so busy fighting communism that they'll forget all about us". The legalization
in Spain (which he referred to as "Franco's Spain") will be a GREAT victory.
We have our difficulties and then we have our victories; first the seizure of
records and jailing of the Baha'is, then the investigations, then
legalization, then victory. We must be very careful in any correspondence
either in Spain or going in and out of Spain. We should store literature in
Switzerland until things are settled in Spain. In other words, don't put all
your eggs in one basket.

"It will be quite an achievement when the Faith is recognized in Catholic
Spain. I am looking forward to the day when it is legalized".

We have two great enemies: Catholicism and communism. I wouldn't be
surprised if communism fought the Pope to the weakening of both. It is like in
modern warfare -- there is no victor; both sides are weakened.

Spain should send people to Rio de Oro and Spanish Sahara. The Persians
have tried to enter but cannot, but the Spaniards can do so easily.

The friends on the islands should correspond with neighbors (like
believers on other islands and in Spain) to strengthen the bonds in the
Baha'i world.

There will soon be oceanic conferences in preparation for the world
conference; i.e. after the African conferences, the islands will have
conferences. The islands of the Mediterranean may meet in Cypress. In the
Atlantic it may be at Madeira.

The Guardian said that the Latin temperament is very different from the
American, and we must adjust to it. The Persians will understand the
Spaniards; they are alike in temperament in many respects.

The Persians must learn administration from the Americans. The Americans
know how to administer. The Persians will not face problems.

Some of the Persians in the Canaries asked me to request another
pilgrimage from the Guardian. He said, "Not now. They will have to put their
names on the list. There are other people who have requested pilgrimage who
haven't been here for their first one".

One day they asked if I would like to help them guide at the Shrine. I
was delighted. It was a marvelous experience. One Protestant man from
Massachusetts, as he finished the tour, asked how long the Shrine would be
open. I told him we were about to close shortly. He said, "I saw the building
from the boat and felt I jut had to see it". He and his wife had made a
three-week tour of the Holy Land, and he said he felt he was less Christian
after visiting the Christian Holy Places. He said that the Shrine (which he
called Temple) and the gardens were "the first ray of hope" he had seen. In
fact, this was what he had hoped to experience on his "pilgrimage". Haifa was
their last port in Israel before sailing west. His wife had not come with him
because she was "tired of seeing all those places". He said she just had to
see the Shrine, and he would bring her the next morning.

Also while I was guiding, an American gentleman said, "This is the most
beautiful spot in Israel. In fact, this is the most beautiful spot in the
whole world". (I think they should have a "visitors' book" somewhere so that
those who wish to, can pen their remarks. I'm sure there must have been
hundreds of remarks like these during the years.)

And as one woman came out of the Shrine, she sighed and said to me, "It is
is so beautiful it almost makes me weep".

The Guardian said to me, "I see you are keeping the fast. You don't have
to keep the fast when you are travelling, from the minute you leave your home
until you return". I said, "Yes, but if I want to, I can, can't I?" to which
he responded, "Of course". In all those years I had kept the fast even when
travel-teaching because I seemed to be so much more in tune with the Divine
Laws. In fact, it was easier to fast when I was travelling, because at home I
had to prepare food for the children. I would get some fruit and dates and
cookies and eat them for breakfast in my room, on the train, on the bus, or
wherever I was, before sun-up, and fast until the proper time at sun-down.

Then one day the Guardian said, "Tomorrow your pilgrimage is over". This
surprised me, as I thought it would be the day after that. But he counted out
the days and told me it was tomorrow. "You will break your fast tomorrow", he
said. I said, "Yes", but my heart and mind said no, that I would keep the fast
as always.

After supper, they asked me if I wanted to guide at the Shrine the next
morning since I didn't have to leave until noon. I said I'd love to. So I got
up with the others before dawn and ate breakfast, and said I would lie down a
bit, and that they should call me when they were ready to go up to the Shrine.
Shortly after I went to bed, I became very ill.

I kept thinking it would pass, that my stomach would settle down and that
I wouldn't feel like vomiting; that my headache would go, and I would feel
normal again. This was something that had never happened to me before. I
could find no reason for it -- I had neither been in contact with anyone with a
cold or the flu, nor had I been anywhere in a draft. So I prayed the Healing
Prayer and the Remover of Difficulties, hoping it would pass. But it didn't.

Some time after sun-up, around 8:30, they knocked on my door to say they
would be going shortly up to the Shrine. I told them I wasn't feelng well, and
was sorry, and couldn't go. On hearing the symptoms, someone said, "Just a
minute. We have just the thing for you that someone left", and went off to get
it. They gave me two pills and a glass of water said to lie quietly in bed
until I felt better. I stayed in bed and said "The Remover of Difficulties"
many times, because I really wanted to guide with them. And then all of a
sudden, it struck me -- I had broken the fast, just as the Guardian said I
would!

Impressions

As the pilgrim turns a corner, he sees "The Queen of Carmel" floodlit, and
catches his breath at the majestic beauty of the Shrine. Although no other
public lighting is permitted, the government has asked that the Shrine be
lighted for fifteen minutes. When the lights are turned off afterwards, the
golden dome glistens in the moonlight. As dawn approaches, the pilgrim climbs
the many steps and the roadway to the entrance gate. Then he gazes upon the
many paths and landscaped gardens, the paths of red crushed tile, and the
majestic cypress, the Egyptian hedge with geranium borders, and the paths of
white pebbles from the Sea of Galilee, the circle gardens of calendula and
petunias, eagles representing power and glory and victory, with gold-tipped
wings and head, spreading their feathers towards the ascending public, guilded
peacocks, bird-of-paradise, sign of immortality, urns, lamps, cactus gardens,
Japanese palms.

Finally the pilgrim reaches the white pebbled path to the Shrine and again
glimpses the golden dome in its majestic beauty, with the golden-tipped
pinnacles. Stately cypress lead the way as he slowly approaches the marble
steps, the wrought iron gate, and the inner Shrine gardens. As he walks along
the path of red crushed tiles (the roofs of the houses of the
Covenant-breakers, said the Guardian), and the white pebbles from the Sea of
Galilee where Jesus walked, he gazes for the first time on the superb beauty of
the whole edifice. The symbol of the Greatest Name with the green of the
lineage of the Bab, and the red for martyrdom, catches his eye, and reminds
him of the souls in every land who wear the ringstone bearing the same symbol.
To the right, through the tall green cypress, he sees the blue Mediterranean
and the golden beaches of Bahji and Acca. At the front of the Shrine, he
pauses to gaze down the 9 terraces and Carmel Avenue leading to the sea,
remembering that these 9 terraces and the 9 yet to be constructed above the
Shrine are to be named after the Letters of the Living.

Passing the stately marble columns and rounding the corner of the
building, he comes to the white iron door leading to the room in which the Bab
was laid to rest. Removing his shoes, he passes over the thick Oriental
carpets to the very tomb itself. The fragrance of fresh orange blossoms
perfumes the air. They are on the Threshold. He breathes in a beauty and
tranquility that refreshes his spirit. The very atmosphere is charged with
such divine beauty that he cannot stem the flood of tears, and as he touches
his forehead to the Threshold, all time seems to stand still and his problems
vanish. He seems to be a part of eternity, where there is neither time nor
space.

And then comes the day, as it always must, when the pilgrim approaches the
Shrine for the last time. There wells up in his heart, a flood of tears which
he can neither stop nor control. He realizes he must leave this place of
paradise this one spot of tranquility in all the world, and carry with him all
the days of his life, the memory of his nine all-too-short days of pilgrimage.
He yearns to carry it with him, to embrace each tree, each flower, each column
of the Shrine. But he cannot.

As the tears flow, he gazes on the golden dome, the glistening white
building and marble columns, the touches of red and green, signs of the
martyrdom and ancestry of the Bab, the red tiled path beneath, the varied
greens of grass, hedge, and sage, which he must leave behind.

And with it -- he leaves his heart...

Postscripts

Since I was in Haifa during the time of the fast, I had the opportunity of
seeing Ruhiyyih Khanum during the early afternoon. One day the ladies were
invited to the house of Abdu'l-Baha where we shelled peas. We were sitting
on the benches which lined the walls. Some peas escaped us, disappearing under
the curtain-like material that went from the benches to the floor. Ruhiyyih
Khanum asked us to rescue the peas. "I have to feed twenty-five people right
now", she said, "so we have to use everything". Later she showed us the
storage cellar where they had squash and other vegetables. They had to be
turned over regularly, she told us, and used as soon as they were ripe.

"I can't feed the Guardian fish", she said. "Imagine if there were a
small bone in the mouthful he took and it stuck in this throat. The whole
Baha'i world would be after me! He gets so absorbed in what he is saying
that he doesn't even look at what he's eating".

When we had first arrived in the Canaries, I saw people "grab" an
oval-shaped loaf of bread, pull it apart, and with their fingers, scoop out the
center and eat it, leaving the rest on the table, there often not being a plate
handy. I was astounded at this "lack of manners" as I had been brought up
otherwise. It seemed very crude. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw
the Guardian do the very same thing! I no longer look down on people who do
this. It is their custom, and had I been brought up among them, I would
probably do the same.

One day I asked Ruhiyyih Khanum what was under those benches, and behind
the covering curtains. "Take a look", she said. There were pillows,
mattresses, sheets, and blankets, a very good idea. During the day it is a
large room, with benches along the sides, and a coffee table in the center, a
very good idea because it can seat any number of people, and some can even sit
on the floor. At night, they pull out the bedding, and in the morning they
store it away again.

When one pilgrim arrived, we all went into her room while she unpacked,
and to hear the latest news. All of a sudden, she grabbed a small book from
her suitcase and hurriedly put it in the drawer. Ruhiyyih Khanum asked, "What
was that?" "Oh", she said, "a thriller". "Is it any good?" asked Ruhiyyih
Khanum. "So far", was the reply. "Why don't you leave it here when you finish
it?" asked Ruhiyyih Khanum. "With all this spiritual deepening, sometimes one
needs a little change".

I remember one night before sundown, as we gathered in the reception room
before going downstairs to dine with the Guardian, Ruhiyyih Khanum came in
exhausted and dropped into an armchair -- her legs dangling over the arm --
just like some of us have done at times to raise our legs and change the flow
of blood. She seems so very "human".

Once I said to Ruhiyyih Khanum, "You seem very American to me". She
laughed and said, "The Persians think I'm very Persian".

One night, Ruhiyyih Khanum, Mr. Ioas and Mr. Remey arrived at dinner late.
The Guardian had sent them to attend some diplomatic affair in his name.
After dinner, we sat around discussing the Guardian's words and making notes.
As we were finished, one of the pilgrims said, "Ruhiyyih Khanum, what a lovely
dress you have on tonight", whereupon she got up. Immediately, Mason Remey who
was half asleep (he had gotten up about 3 a.m. to work on the plans the
Guardian had given him to check over) literally popped up from his chair!
Ruhiyyih Khanum waved to him and said, "Oh, Mason, sit down. I'm just showing
them my dress". Then to us she said, "I bought it in Paris some years ago.
It's still good".

Two days before the end of my pilgrimage, when I was with Ruhiyyih Khanum,
we passed a sewing machine piled high with dresses, suits, and skirts. I asked
what it was. She said those were things that needed to be altered. "Why
didn't you tell me?" I asked, "I'm a good dressmaker and I probably could have
fixed them all for you while I was here. What a shame".

She told me they lived very economically. She said the Guardian was still
wearing the suit he wore when they were married 18 years before. I noticed the
jacket he wore to the table had had the cuffs repaired.

Early one afternoon, Ruhiyyih Khanum sent someone to my room to say that I
could join her. She said, "Come with me to the back shed. I have to get out
the large pots and pans the Holy Family used. They've been stored here, but
they have to be re-coated, and the man who does it has just arrived". So she
climbed a ladder to the loft, much to the horror of the maids who had offered
to go instead. (We can't really call them maids -- they were helpers). They
were afraid she would fall. She said, "No, I'm all right. These have to be
cared for. Imagine in the future, if I didn't do it, what a disgrace it would
be".

Apart

I had always hoped I would die before the Guardian because, I thought,
"He'll have plans already mapped out for us in the Abha Kingdom, and I'd like
to feel free, and sort of be like a tumbleweed and make my own teaching and
expansion plans, without 'goals', etc". But it wasn't to be.

One day when Salah was guiding us around the gardens of the Mansion in
Bahji, we had to pass through a passageway between the Mansion and the house of
the Covenant-breakers. All of a sudden a chicken came sailing over the wall
around the Covenant-breakers' house, and right where we were passing, to our
fright and astonishment. Salah rushed after it, captured it, and threw it back
over the wall saying, "The Guardian says not to be angry, not to be provoked.
It's hard to do. They do this to annoy us".

Brian Moloney stopped in Tenerife on his return from his pilgrimage. He
said, Ruhiyyih Khanum look directly at him and said, "You don't suppose they'd
waste any of those big, beautiful, expensive bombs on the Canary Islands, do
you?"

Impressions of Israel

Much of Israel reminded me of California. It had outside cafes and shops
similar to those around the Los Angeles area. It had a milk bar and a hot dog
stand which interested me especially, not having seen one since we left the
States.

Many houses had a "hand" door knocker, just like in the Canaries, with a
blue ringstone on it "to ward off the evil eye". Here the stone, or ribbon
they tie around the neck of the goats is red. The houses often have center,
open-air patios like in the Canaries.

The streets of Haifa were dusty and frequently the litter blew up in our
faces. The people got up early and were very busy, very industrious. It was
easy to spot the Arab settlements, even before you came to them. They were run
down and dirty, the streets seldom paved. The Jewish areas were neat, and in
better repair.

It was strange to be in a country where there were three holidays every
week: Friday for the Moslems, Saturday for the Jews, and Sunday for the
Christians. So if you wanted to go to a bank, or a travel agency, or do
shopping, you had to adjust your schedule accordingly.

One little stand fascinated me. They were making "sandwiches" using a
pancake-shaped pattie, opened part way to resemble a purse. Into it they
tucked bean cakes, tomatoes, pickles, etc., and shut it. I asked our guide to
buy me one. "The Guardian said the pilgrims are not to eat anywhere except at
the pilgrim house where they are sure of the food, remember?" he stated. The
Guardian had warned us, "They're so short of food they're eating cates and dogs
and probably rats".

At the hotel, after my pilgrimage I was surprised at the breakfast. Not
the usual eggs, bacon, and toast, but tomatoes, olives, bread and several kinds
of cheese.

Stores sold ready-made garments. In the Canaries these did not exist at
the time, and dozens of stores sold yard goods and haberdashery.

The hills of Haifa reminded me of those of Denver -- steep. On our trip
from Haifa to Acca, the first thing that caught my eye was a moving black mass.
As it came closer to view, it turned out to be a herd of black goats.

Mimosa was in bloom in the desert, and eucalyptus trees lined some of the
roads. Many bearded men walked along. And many herds of goats caused us to
slow down. Orange groves were so near the road, we could smell the blossoms at
quite a distance.

There were vast areas of wasteland, and I remember that Abdu'l-Baha
said that one day from Haifa to Akka, it would be a sea of lights.

A P.S. I found on the back of my notes:

One day the conversation centered around disharmony. After the Guardian
had left, Ruhiyyih Khanum said we must not allow any rift to continue although
we swallow our pride, our ego, and all. What happens is that because of pride
and ego, we are all separated, and this is not the way of God. When we break
this law, we all suffer and the Cause suffers.

Another time she said she was talking with Shoghi Effendi about someone
who did something, and she said, "I must be just in this matter. It isn't
justice to let him do so and so". The Guardian said, "Who are you to minister
out justice?" She said that ever since then, all she does is to love.

2. Version two, shorter

(this is the version of the notes found in Pilgrim Accounts Collection)

It will be quite an achievement when the Faith is recognized in Catholic Spain. I am looking forward to the day when it is legalized.

We should store literature in Switzerland until things are settled in Spain. In other words, don’t put your eggs all in one basket.

We must be very careful in any correspondence either in Spain or going in or out of Spain.

We have two great enemies, Catholicism and communism. I wouldn’t be surprised if communism fought the Pope to the weakening of both. It is like in modern warfare-there is no victor; both sides are weakened.

Spain should send people to Rio de Oro and Spanish Sahara. The Persians have tried to enter and cannot, but the spaniards can do so easily.

The friends on the islands should correspond with neighbors (like Canaries with Spain) to strengthen bonds with the [Bahá’í] world.

There will soon be oceanic conferences in preparation for the world conference; i.e. after the African conferences, the islands will have conferences. The islands of the Mediterranean may meet in Cyprus in the Atlantic it may be at Madeira.

Later each island will be allocated to a LSA.

The Canaries are now under Africa but later will be Spain this is because Spain is now weak and Africa is strong.

The legalization in Spain will be a GREAT victory. We have our difficulties and we have our victories; first the seizure of records and the jailing of the [Bahá’ís], then the investigation then; then the legalization, then the victory.

[Shoghi Effendi] wants a picture of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz assemblies for Mansion of [Bahá’u’lláh].

Persians must learn administration from the Americans. The Americans know how to administer. The Persians will not face problems.

The Persians will understand the Spanish; they are alike in many respects.

Pioneers must not move on until LSA is FIRMLY established (15 in one place, and more than 9 active)

Deep in the heart of every soul is a longing to know his God and to draw ever nearer to Him. In the House of Worship in Wilmette during the dedication, one had a slight implication of the feeling of the spiritual fragraces which supasses all space and time-it is as if one is suspended in one moment of eternity, and one wishes to stay there forever.

When the pilgrim first enters the Shrine of the Báb and kneels before that sacred Threshold, there seems to rush upon him such a force from the Supreme Concourse that he can neither withold his tears nor restrain his emotions. Coming from the outside world to that sacred Spot, he immediatly senses the divine beauty, the perfecton, the all-embracing tenderness of the Báb, and the vastness of spiritual love that was showered upon the earth at His coming. As he touches his forehead to the threshold, he feels that at last he has come home, that no matter what his achievements or failures, God will accept him as he is and guide him along the pathway.

Here, in the “heart of Mt. Carmel” one senses so well that it is the spiritual heart of the world, and from this center anew has throbbed the inspired Words of a Prophet of God. Here one feels the majesty, the peace, the tranquility that the whole world is seeking, and one sees the beautiful gardens being readied for the day when the rulers of mankind will mount the terraced stairs to pay their respects to the Prophet of God.

The Guardian spoke of the arrangement of the gardens and buildings on Mt. Carmel that first night saying that both in Bahjí and in Mt. Carmel there were the outer gardens, then the inner gardens or Holy Precincts, and then the Holy of Holies where lies the remains of the Prophet. The gardens in Bahjí, he said, were started by Adbul-Bahá who brought many plants from Haifa. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a number of pilgrims carried the flowers in their robes, and pots of water on their heads, from Haifa to the gates of ‘Akká. They camped there overnight and in the early dawn, lighted their lanterns and chanting as they went, carried the flowers into ‘Akká.

At the present time, the Rivan feast is held in the outer gardens, following which the believers progress to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. In the future, because of respect, the feast will be held at an even greater distance from the Shrine itself.

The Guardian asked if we had noticed that there is not one single bench in the gardens of the Shrine of the Báb. “It is a place of worship, not recreation,” he said. “If there were benches, the people would bring their lunch and leave litter. There would be litter around the benches, under the benches and on the benches. Even now we have difficulty keeping the ice cream vendor away from the garden entrence. We must be firm about this and prevent his entry.”

The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh to be erected in ‘Akká will be more ornate then that of the Báb, it will have columns of yellow marble to match the bricks; it will have ballustrades and urns, and something else. It must be very ornate.

The endowments in Israel now are valued at $4,000,000.00 (4 million) and it is the only religion (Christian, Jewish, Moslem) which is allowed to have its properties tax exempt. This is because we do not sell or rent the property, and we give the produce to the poor. I.E. the others built houses and rent them, or rent out the property. We make olive oil from the olives, save a part for household use, give a portion to the workers for their labor, and give the rest to the poor.

The International Endowments in the 10-year plan were taken care of at one blow (49 thousand dollars), enabling the believers to purchase the ground for Hazratu’l-Quds listed in the 10-year plan.

In Persia they are now working on a 5-year plan to build their Temple. This Temple will be more elaborate than the one in Wilmette, but this will be easy especially since the dome is to be of gold like that of the Shrine of the Báb. This was a diplomatic move. The Temple in Germany will be more difficult to erect and money must come from outside. Also the believers in Germany have invited non-Bahá’í architects to submit plans.

* line missing

ground for the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds was nearly done. 108 of the 131 virgin territories are settled, and only 7 islands remain (one of which is Spitzbergen) the remaining territories being mostly behind the Iron Curtain. There is now the in Sikim a believer waiting to go to Tibet. Now we need to build the administration and do the teaching. The most difficult work is the work of teaching. In the U.S.by the end of the 10-years, the assemblies should number not 171 but 300. The Persian believers all want to converge on Ṭihrán and I am trying to get them to disperse. In Persia in Ṭihrán there are over 50,000 and if only one — tenth of them will disperse, the job of teaching would be all over. If the believers will disperse and ACTIVELY teach the receptive souls, it will be easy. The number of LSA’s all over should be doubled.

The Guardian said he hoped the government will not prevent the building of the Temple in Persia. He said that it would be a miracle if the world congress can be held in Baghdád in 1963 because the Shí’ahs oppose us there. Already they have seized the house of Bahá’u’lláh and the government wants to build a hospital on the spot of the Garden of Rivan. As they are enemies to the Cause there is no use protesting because this would make them more determined. This is one of the things that distresses the Guardian. “But,” he said, “we have problems and we have victories.”

Teaching is the most difficult of all the things to be accomplished in the 10 year plan; but if the believers will disperse and teach, it will be easy. Teaching and the formation of Bahá’í courts will be difficult.

Of the 49 Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, 21 are now purchased and 28 will be purchased during the next Bahá’í year.

The building on Mt. Carmel will be in the form of an arc. It is both the ark spoken of in the Bible, and the spiritual arc. In the Western part of the mountain, at the head, will be the Temple, and on the East, the administrative buildings: the Archives, the Seat of the Hands of the Cause, the Seat of the House of Justice, the Seat of the Guardianship, and other buildings to come later.

This is just the beginning. The friends do not realize how great and extensive it is. It is the first time in the history of the world that there has been a spiritual crusade on world lines. There has been political crusades, but never a world spiritual crusade. Following the 10-year plan there will be other crusades on and on not only through the formative age but also into the golden age.

The work territorially (expansion to virgin areas), administratively, spiritually and legally and financially are all progressing splendidly. But the work on teaching and the Bahá’í courts are not.

The embellishing of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh will be even more beautiful than that of the Báb. This goes on AFTER the 10-year plan. We are doing preliminary work now only. Mr. Romey has made a few drawings but this is not enough. Temple land not purchased include: Columbo, Rome, Stockholm, Jakarta.

The Guardian told the pilgrims before us that there was now only one line between the US and Russia and that things may happen at any moment. That all large centers of materialism are in danger from not only the East and the West but also from the North. After the suffering in the US it will lead and bring about the birth of a new civilization, and help to establish the Faith. The US will be the leaders.

Reguarding the Temple Plan in Persia, the Guardian wanted the pinnicles to follow more the lines of those in Westminister in London.

As some of the pilgrims related comments of visiter to the Shrine on the Báb, the Guardian said, “Those who are unothodox appreciate it the orthodox don’t like it.” Of the children who came to the Shrine he said, “Children are innocent and have good hearts. We have friends and we also have enemies. Now we are adding another building which will add to their jealousy.”

The Bahá’ís revere the holy sites of all religions; we are not narrow-minded. We should visit Nazaret, Tiberias and Jerusalem.

The Jewish Bahá’ís have done very well lately in both the East and the West.

Jackarta is to have a NSA and will be the most important center in S.E. Asia. We have? [Bahá’ís] in Saigon, Soloman Is, 2 in Malaya, [Bahá’í] literature in Vietnamese, Indonesian, Burmese. “The friends are not content in the number of languages listed in the 10-year plan,” said the Guardian, “They have translated the Teachings into 24 supplimentary languages.

Siezure of literature and jailing of believers ends in a victory. It started with disterbances and ends in victory for the Faith. We have a plan and all the [Bahá’ís] know it. Our plan is clear cut and definate. God has His Plan, which is mysterious and works in a disorderly way. They are complementary processes, but have the same end.

One should visit Nazareth, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Bethlahem — four places associated with the life of Christ.

The Persian government has helped Persians come on pilgramage inspite of the fact that they are not friendly with us.

Johannesburg is the most un-Bahá’í city in the world because it is impossable for the races to meet together. The job of pioneers is to teach the negroes, establish the center, and move on. Bahá’ís should be constantly on the move. They should inspire their new believer to arise and teach in their turn; not just be dead believers. This is necessary if pioneers are to achieve their purpose.

The Guardian said, “We are now establishing the Administrative center on Mt. Carmel. We have already established the spiritual center.” We have more than 50 acres on Mt. Carmel. The nine terraces below the Shrine and the 9 to be built above the Shrine will be named for the 18 Letters of the Living.

The four NSAs to be formed in Africa will be four more pillars in the Universal House of Justice. (Cairo, Tunis, Kampala, Johannesburg). Johannesburg was chosen because it is the second largest city.

The Guardian said that he would announce the 13 pillars more to be formed, in the Rivan message which he is now composing.

Reguarding Americans he said: “Tell them to pay attention to my repeated messages. Tell them to disperse — the farther the better and the longer the better. They should not just stay a few years like tourists but settle and make their homes abroad. They should not plan to return to the States.

In teaching, one should make a wide association of friend and search (like in the Valley of Search) for receptive souls. Look for the sincere regardless of class, those with sincere hearts and purity of motive. Be discriminating. Then concentrate on the few and teach them thoroughly. Bring them into the Faith and instill in them the desire to promote the Faith. This is the slow way but the sure way. It is the good foundation. Artificial LSA’s are not successful.

The Spanish are warm-hearted. The Spanish temperment and American temperment are quite different. But in Africa where the American Bahá’ís went they have already changed to be more like the Africans. The same can be true with the Americans in Spanish territories.

One must have moderation in all things. There should be a regional NSA of Spain and Portugal until it can be divided into two NSA’s because thesy are not strong enough This is only a provisional measure.

It used to be hard to find the Bahá’ís. Now it is difficult to find a place where there are no [& Bahá’ís]. The Guardian said that his records are out-of-date from one day to another because things are changing so fast.

He said not to take literally the suggestion of reading 5-10 non-Bahá’í books to I Bahá’í book: that we should read to deepen and to widen. To deepen with the Bahá’í writings, to widen-with other books. For deepening use DAILY Dawn-Breakers, God Passes By and Some Answered Questons. Prayer, meditaion, study and Action= Read history etc. to comare the times

But the most important thing is to TEACH. Cook islands reports its first native believer. First native in Cyprus is ready to come in.

Establish LSA then bring in natives; establish administration as a tool thru’ which to wrk. Choose people of good character and good heart to avoid problems in the community. Natives must have preference. The Spaniards are sensitive. The Persians would understand them. (R.K. said example of her mother’s great love can comsume all disagreement.

Japan & Austrailia are the two of focal points of the Pacific. In expansion (territorial plan) the believers did in 1 year what they should have done in 10 yrs.

This is the first spiritual crusade on the world basis. This is ony the beginnig. There woere political crusades etc. but never spiritual crusades on this basis. There will be other crusades going the through the formative age and golden age.

Hainan Island is important. Bahá’ís must leave their homes FOREVER and settle elseweres.

All kings must go.

The pioneer is in the forefront until the LSA is firmly established, then the pioneer is in the background. Better still he must go elsewhere and form another LSA. This is doubly meritorious.

Establish NSA’s then Bahá’í goverment... but do not speak of this, especially in [&AF] right now. We can talk abot this in England because they won’t believe us.

Guardian will advise us, such as things of the Faith. But on secondary things such as buying land and building etc. he never advises.

“The friends did in 1 year what they were to do in 10 years.” “They would have, too, if you had let them”, R.K. said to the Guardian.

The negroes have broken all records.

For 10 years there were no pilgrims to Haifa.

Seek the pure of heart and good character. Don’t be in a hurry to get the in. Make a wide acquaintance. Sort out a few and concentrate on the receptive ones. Try to et all classes represented.

Believers in the large cities will be evaporated if they don’t move. People in the villages are more receptive.

Africa leads. It is the only continent where all territories And islands were opened — 55 territories and 12 islands.

“I am glad I don’t have to pronunce on the atom or space ships. Thank goodness there is notheing in the Writings about this.

Temple site on it. Carmel overlooks spot where Bahá’u’lláh pitched tent and revealed Tablet of Carmel.

America leads becouse it has 1) Temple and has started dependency. Then comes 2) ‘Ishqabád which has the Temple then 3) Persia & Germany which have purchased land and are starting plans and 4) Mr. Carmel which is now in the process of being purchased.

Olive trees around Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh are very old; some go back to the time of Christ. Some will be left & some removed for the work of enlarging gardens.

Gold on pinacles of Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh to be carried down to give effect that the gold comes from dome to permeate building.

“I have many things to do, little things, big things, all kinds of things, and am exhausted... but good news revives me.”

Some expert must be found in Israel to study authentically the races in the Faith. We have 30 now and maybe 15 more.

5 years ago there was no negro Bahá’ís in America. Now there are more than 1,000 in 230 localities, in 52 territories and speaking 40 languages.

One woman who came to visit the Shrine said, “It is so beautiful it makes me weep.”

One man said, “It is the most beautiful thing in the holy land. In fact, is the most beautiful thing in the whole world.” (some kind of architect)-went up on foot to see it... his wife and he having viewed it from the sea as they docked.

One man said, “My wife and I came to the Holy Land to see the Holy Places. But after being here 3 weeks I am less a Christian than I was before. This is the first ray of hope I have seen since coming here and it is so marvelous I want to bring my wife. She didn’t come because she thought it was just another one of those dull tombs and she was tired and stayed in the hotel this morning.”

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-- Pilgrims Notes: March 2-11, 1955 (Used by permission of the curator)