Early Pilgrimage

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{\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.2627;}{\info{\title AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\author John Taylor}{\operator John Taylor}{\creatim\yr2005\mo9\dy10\hr11\min16}{\revtim\yr2005\mo9\dy10\hr13\min24}{\version3}{\edmins7}{\nofpages10}{\nofwords6385}
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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs41\charscalex86\insrsid3430779\charrsid1002524 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE
\par }{\f2\fs29\charscalex66\insrsid3430779 by }{\charscalex87\insrsid3430779 MAY MAXWELL}{\charscalex87\insrsid7218198 , }{\f1\fs19\insrsid11041274 GEORGE RONALD, }{\fs20\insrsid11041274 Oxford, }{\f1\fs19\insrsid11041274 1917}{\f1\fs19\insrsid3430779
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\par }{\fs23\insrsid11938672 We sailed from Marseilles on February 9}{\fs23\super\insrsid11938672 th}{\fs23\insrsid11938672 , }{\insrsid11955836\charrsid11955836 1898}{\fs23\insrsid11938672 , on board the }{\fs18\charscalex136\insrsid11041274 S}{
\fs18\charscalex136\insrsid11938672 .}{\fs18\charscalex136\insrsid11041274 S}{\fs18\charscalex136\insrsid11938672 . }{\i\fs23\insrsid11938672 Carthage }{\fs23\insrsid11938672 bound for Bombay and arrived in Port Said on February 13}{
\fs23\super\insrsid11938672 th}{\fs23\insrsid11938672 . We were met on board by Ahmad Yazdi and Nurullah Effendi. They did everything
for us, got us rooms at the hotel, attended to our baggage, and during the time we were there came to us almost every hour of the day and evening, inviting us to their homes, taking us to drive, and indeed showing us a love and kindness such as we had nev
er seen before. At the time we could not understand the spirit which ani\-
mated them, but afterwards we knew that we were dead and they were living and were quickened with the love of God. On the afternoon of our arrival Nurullah Effendi called for us and dr
ove us to his house, where we met his dear wife and daughters with the same radiant faces and wonderful love that we had seen in our two brothers, and there for the first time we beheld the face of our beloved Master. I could not remove my eyes from this
picture, and these friends gave us each a copy and a lock of hair of the Blessed Perfection. Then we were
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entertained with tea and many sweet cakes, and when we left, although not a word had been spoken except through an occasional inter\-
pretation of our brother, we were united in an indissoluble bond of love, and we felt that no language could have been more eloquent than that silence in which our hearts alone had spoken.
\par We were obliged to wait two days for the little boat running along the coast of Beirut, and we went on board about seven o'clock on the even\-
ing of the 15th accompanied by our faithful brothers: With what deep feeling they entrusted to us messages of love for their Master and with what longing eyes they watched us as we sailed away. Ah! soon I was to understand! I remem\-
ber how calm the sea was under the noonday sun when we stopped at Jaffa the next day, and we spoke of the little house of Simon the tanner and the wonderful vision S1. Peter had on that housetop. We v
isited this historic spot on our return trip; now every hour that separated us from our Beloved seemed all too long. So we continued on our journey, sitting quietly on deck until the twilight fell about us, the shadows deepened, and with the gathering dar
kness the stars shone out one by one, large and effulgent in that clear atmosphere. We
\par }{\fs16\insrsid11938672 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 12}{\fs16\insrsid11938672
\par }{\fs23\insrsid11938672 arose and went forward and saw looming up through the darkness, dimly at first, but grow\-ing ever more distinct and grand, the noble outline of Mo
unt Carmel, then the twinkling lights along the shore, and the breath of the Holy Land was wafted to us laden with the perfume of roses and orange blossoms.
\par There were two Russian pilgrims on board who for hours had been standing motionless at the ship's
rail facing the east, and now their steadfast gaze was on 'Akka, and thus we all stood in prayer and worship as the ship slowly entered the bay of Haifa and cast anchor. Then followed a confusion of boats, lights and voices which we heeded not until we we
r
e rowed ashore and saw the faces of our American brothers beaming upon us. They greeted us cordially as they helped us out, and said, 'Our Master is in Haifa.' We were driven to the house which the Master had taken for the American pilgrims and cordially
greeted by sister Maryam and others, and we retired to spend our first night in the Holy Land, between waking and sleeping, waiting for the sunrise of that glorious day.
\par On the following morning, Friday the }{\charscalex88\insrsid11938672 17}{\super\charscalex88\insrsid11938672 th}{\charscalex88\insrsid11938672 , at about seven o'clock, sister Maryam hurried into our room and announced that 'Abdu'l-Baha
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs17\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs17\insrsid13652283 13}{\fs17\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 would arrive in a few moments. We had barely time to dress when a sudden stir without set all our beings in commotion. We went out into a large central hall from which opened all the
rooms in the house and opposite the door of one of these we saw the shoes of the believers; thus we knew that the blessed Master was within.
\par The others preceded me. In a moment I stood on the threshold and dimly saw a room full of people sitting quietly a
bout the walls, and then I beheld my Beloved. I found myself at His feet, and He gently raised me and seated me beside Him, all the while saying some loving words in Persian in a voice that shook my heart. Of that first meeting I can remember neither joy
n
or pain nor anything that I can name. I had been carried suddenly to too great a height; my soul had come in contact with the Divine Spirit; and this force so pure, so holy, so mighty, had overwhelmed me. He' spoke to each one of us in turn of ourselves a
nd our lives and those whom we loved, and although His Words were so few and so simple they breathed the Spirit of Life to our souls. To me He said among other things:
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid2578016 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 You are like the rain which }{\fs22\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 o}{
\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 ured upon the earth making it bud and blossom and }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\tx1354\tx4680\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs17\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs17\insrsid2578016 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 13
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 become fruitful,' so shall the Spirit of God descend upon you, filling you with fruitful\-ness and you shall go forth and water His }{
\i\fs23\insrsid1002524 v}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 ineyard. Now your troubles are ended and you must wi}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 e away your tears, for you kno}{\i\fs23\insrsid13586296 w}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 the parable that
Christ spoke of the sower and the seed; and so as in nature the good ground is made ready by rain and storm and ploughing and sunshine for the good seed to be sown, so }{\fs22\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441
it in life, and the heart }{\fs22\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 made ready by all experience for the seed of life.'
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 The
Russian Jews who had been on the boat the night before now arrived, their faces shining with a great light as they entered His Presence. We could not remove our eyes' from His glorious face: we heard all He said; we drank tea with Him at His bidding; but
exist\-ence seemed suspended, and when He arose and suddenly left us we came back with a start to life: but never again, thank God, to the same life on this earth }{\fs23\charscalex90\insrsid8135441 ! }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
We had 'beheld the King in His beauty. We had seen the land which is very far off.'
\par Our beloved Master returned at noon to lunch with us and again at supper-time, and whenever He arrived many of the believers followed. They always knew just where He
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs19\insrsid8135441
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\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid8135441 was day and n}{\fs23\insrsid2578016 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 ght and seemed to surround Him by their watchful l
ove ; yet wholly unobtrusive, never approaching Him in public, always humble and submissive, waiting for His least command, seeking to render the humblest ser\-
vice. That evening He invited us all to meet Him on Sunday morning under the cedar trees on Mount
Carmel where He had been in the habit of sitting with Baha'u'llah. We were all most happy in this hope, and great was my disappointment next morning when I found myself quite ill. As soon as the Master arrived for breakfast He came directly to my room an
d walking over to my bedside took both my hands in His, passed His hand over my brow, and gazed upon me with such gentleness and mercy that I forgot everything but the love and goodness of God, and my whole soul was healed and comforted. I looked up }{
\fs23\insrsid5725927 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 nto Hi
s face and said: 'I am well now, Mawlana.' But He smiled and shook His head and bade me remain there quietly, until He should return at noon. Although I had been suffering during the night, all pain and distress were gone, and I slept quietly. That night
we were sitting together with some members of the Master's family; the room was d}{\fs23\insrsid5725927 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 mly lighted by candles which cast strange shadows on the walls and
\par
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY. PILGRIMAGE }{\charscalex91\insrsid8135441 15
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 low ceiling; the 'latticed windows opened on to the narrow street flooded with moonlight and as we sat thus in silence wa}{\fs23\insrsid9661338 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
ting for our Master we heard His voice in the hall, and all arose to greet Him as He appeared on the threshold, and the light of His beautiful countenance was. shed upon us.
\par On Sunday morning we awakened with the }{\fs23\charscalex69\insrsid2578016 joy}{\fs23\charscalex69\insrsid8135441 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 and hope of}{\fs23\insrsid2578016 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
the meeting on Mount Carmel. The Master arrived quite early and after look\-ing at me, touching my head and counting my pulse, still holding my hand He said to the believers present: }{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid8135441
'There will be no meeting on Mount Carmel to-day. We shall meet else\-where, lnsha'all}{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid5725927 a}{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid8135441 h, in a few days, but we could not go and lea}{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid2578016 v}{
\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid8135441 e one of the beloved of God alone and sick.}{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid2578016 }{\i\fs22\charscalex107\insrsid8135441 We could none of us be happy unless all the beloved were happy.' }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
We were astonished. That anything so important as this meeting in that blessed spot should be can\-
celled because one person was ill and could not go seemed incredible. It was so contrary to all ordinary habits of thought and action, so different from the life of the world where daily events and material c}{\fs23\insrsid2578016 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
rcumstances are supreme in importance that it gave us a genuine shock of surprise, and in that shock the foundations of the old order began to totter and fall. The
\par }{\i\fs15\insrsid2578016 A}{\i\fs15\insrsid8135441 N }{\fs16\insrsid8135441 EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid2578016 16}{\fs16\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
Master's words had opened wide the door of God's Kingdom and given us a vision of that infinite world whose only law js love. This was but one of many times that we saw 'Abdu'l-Baha place above every other consideration the love and kindness, the sympathy

and compassion due to every soul. Indeed, as we look back upon that blessed time spent in His presence we understand that the object of our pilgrimage was to learn for the first time on earth what love is, to witness its light in every face, to feel its b
urning heat in every heart and to become our\-se}{\fs23\insrsid5725927 l}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
ves enkindled with this divine flame from the Sun of Truth, the Essence of whose being is love. So on that Sunday morning He sat' with us for awhile and we thought no more of the meeting on Mount Carmel, for i
n the joy and infinite rest of His presence all else was swallowed up.
\par Next day, Monday, others of our party, who had been up the Nile, arrived, and later our Beloved told us that He would be obliged to go to 'Akka that day as important government matters made His immediate presence there in\-
dispensable. Then He told us all to be happy and cheerful for soon we should be in the home of our Heavenly Father, and He bade us be ready to leave for 'Akka on Wednesday morn-
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\tx1344\tx4670\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid5794197 }{\charscalex87\insrsid8135441 17
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid8135441 ing at about 6 o'clock, and then bade each one a loving farewell. On Tuesday His daughters and my spiritual mother, Lua, arrived from 'Akk}{
\fs23\insrsid5725927 a,}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 and on that same afternoon we received visits from several cousins and other members of the holy family who lived in Haifa. On Tu
esday night I told my spiritual mother that the Master evidently did not realize how ill and weak I was or He would never have expected me to leave with the others on Wednesday morning. Oh! We of little faith! No wonder she smiled and shook her head, sayi
ng, 'You will soon realize something of the power of 'Abdu'l-Baha.'
\par It was about dawn when I awoke, feeling myself stirred by a breeze. I cannot describe what followed, but through my soul was flow\-ing an essence; a mighty, unseen force was penetrating all
my being, expanding it with boundless life and love and happiness, lifting and enfolding me in }{\fs23\insrsid9661338 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
ts mighty strength and peace. I knew then it was the Holy Spirit of God and that our Lord was praying for His servants in that blessed dawn, and I arose and prayed and was quite well. At an early hour we all met and set out i}{\fs23\insrsid9661338 n}{
\fs23\insrsid8135441 carriages for the holy city and the merciful spirit of God never left us as we drove along the shore, dra}{\fs23\insrsid5794197 w}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 ing ever nearer
\par }{\fs16\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid5253949 18}{\fs16\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 to the earthly abode of Him who was the Glory of God, His bounty descending like rain upon our souls. Our hearts were too full for w}{\fs23\insrsid14163619 o}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
rds and in reverent silence we gazed upon the walled city as it lay white and clear and beauti\-ful in the still morning light, with the deep, blue Mediterranean at its feet and the dome of the luminous sky above. We crossed two streams }{
\fs23\insrsid5253949 w}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 hich flowed from the land into the sea, the horses wading up to their sides, }{\fs23\insrsid5253949 an}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 d reached at last the stone gates of 'Akk}{\fs23\insrsid14163619 a}{
\fs23\insrsid8135441 , drove through the narrow, picturesque streets where the early-rising oriental world was up and stirring, and arrived at the house of}{\fs23\insrsid14163619 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 '}{\fs23\insrsid14163619 Abdu\rquote l-Baha}{
\fs23\insrsid8135441 .
\par We passed through a large stone doorway opening on to a square court and ascended a flight of steps which led to the apartments above. There, standing beside the window
of a small room, overlooking the azure sea, we found our Beloved. We came to His feet and poured out our overwhelming love and thankfulness, while He laid His hands on our heads and spoke low and tenderly to His poor ser\-vants. The Greatest Holy Leaf }{
\insrsid5253949\charrsid6968995 (1)}{\fs10\charscalex171\insrsid8135441 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 now entered, with the Holy Mother}{\fs23\insrsid6968995 (}{\insrsid8135441\charrsid6968995 2}{\insrsid6968995 )}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 and her daughters, and

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\insrsid8135441\charrsid6968995 'Abdu'}{\insrsid5253949\charrsid6968995 l}{\insrsid8135441\charrsid6968995 -Baha's sister. }{\fs23\insrsid9661338 (}{\insrsid9661338\charrsid6968995 2}{\insrsid9661338 )}{\fs23\insrsid9661338 }{
\insrsid8135441\charrsid6968995 'Abdu'}{\insrsid5253949\charrsid6968995 l}{\insrsid8135441\charrsid6968995 -Baha's wife.
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs18\insrsid8135441
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\tx1267\tx4594\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid5253949 }{\fs22\insrsid8135441 19
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid8135441
they welcomed us with love and tears of joy as though we had been parted for awhile but had returned at last to our heavenly home, as indeed we had! They took us to our rooms which, alas!, they had vacated for our sakes; they gave us every comfort, antici
pated every need and surrounded us 'with care and }{\fs23\insrsid14163619 attention}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 ; yet through it all shone the light of wonderful spirituality, through these k}{\fs23\insrsid5253949 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 ndly human chan\-
nels their divine love was poured forth and their own lives, their own comfort, were as a handful of dust; they themselves were utterly sacrificed and forgotten in love and servitude to the divine threshold.
\par During the three wonderful days and nights we spent in that sacred spot we heard naught but the mention of God; His Holy Name was on every tongue; His beauty' and good\-
ness were the theme of all conversation; His Glorious Cause the only aim of every life. Whenever we gathered together in one of the rooms they spoke unceasingly of the Blessed Perfection, relating incidents }{\fs23\insrsid5253949 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
n the life of the Beloved, mentioning His words, telling of His deeds and the passionate love and devotion of His followers until our hearts ached with love and longing. There were some women in the household who were clad all in white and we
\par }{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid5253949 20}{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 learned that they were the wives of martyrs, and we heard the tragic and glorious histories of many' of our Persian brethren.
\par Onl}{\fs23\insrsid5253949 y}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 the morning of our arrival, after we had refreshed ourselves, the Master summoned us all to Him in a long room overlooking the Mediterranean.
He sat in silence gazing out of the window, then looking up He asked if all were present. Seeing that one of the believers was absent, he said, ' }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 Where is Robert?' }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
This was a coloured servant, whom one of the pil\-grims in our party, in her generosity, had sent to 'Akka. In a moment Robert's radiant face appeared in the doorway and the Master rose to greet him, bidding him be seated, and said,}{\fs23\insrsid5253949
\'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 Robert, your Lord loves you. God gave you a black skin, }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 b}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 ut a heart white as snow.}{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 \'94}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 Then our Master spoke and said:
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid5253949 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 We can all serve in the Cause of God no matter what our occupation is}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 . }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441
No occupation can prevent the soul coming to God. Peter 'was a fisherman, yet he accomplished most wonderful things; }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 b}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 ut the heart must be turned always toward God, no matter what }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949
our occupation }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 is; this is the important thing; and then the power of Go.d will work in us. }{\i\fs22\charscalex66\insrsid8135441 T1/ }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 e are like a piece of iron in the midst of the }{\fs23\insrsid8135441

\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\f2\fs17\insrsid8135441 21
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 fire which becomes heated to such a degree that it partakes of the nature of the fire and gives out the same effect to all it touches- , so is the soul that is always turned toward God, and filled with the spirit;'
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 One of the believers asked how we could cut our hearts from the world, and 'Abdu'l-Ba}{\fs23\insrsid15601575 h}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 a }{\fs23\insrsid1794854 answered:}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 If your hearts are turned always toward God, and filled with the love of God, that love will separate them from all other things, that love will be the wall that will come between them and every
other desire. You must all be joined one to another in heart and soul, then you will be prospered in your work and gain ever greater gifts, and the Cause of God will be spread through all the countries by your means. Remember what Christ }{
\i\fs23\insrsid728704 sa}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 id,}{\i\fs23\insrsid728704 }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 you have taken the gifts of God without money and without price}{\i\fs23\insrsid728704 ;}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441
so also you must freely give. This command shows too that all these gifts are sent to you by the free generosity of your God and not on account o}{\i\fs23\insrsid728704 f}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 any merit on you}{\i\fs23\insrsid728704 r}{
\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 part, and you must rejoice greatly in the loving mercy of your God upon you and all. For all will taste of these free gifts before long. They will come
\par }{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\f2\fs17\charscalex110\insrsid5253949 22}{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 from the East and from the West to the Kingdom of God; and even as Christ has foretold this also has come to pass, that some of those who are nearest are cut off, whilst those from a far distance receive these great gifts}{
\fs23\insrsid8135441 .}{\fs23\insrsid728704 \'94}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid8135441 We all met again at table for dinner, and as we sat down to our first meal in the holy house\-hold a great light shone upon us, and the Master said: }{
\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 'Blessed }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 he who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God.' }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
Then He told us that the prophecy of Christ was now fulfilled and that we should thank God unceasingly and with all our hearts for' this great blessing which it was beyond our power at present to re
alize. He told us that the meal was composed of two parts, spiritual and material. That the material food was of no importance, and its effects only lasted twenty-four hours, but the spiritual food was the life of the soul, and that the effects of this me
a
l which we were enjoying would last for ever and ever. During the dinner our Master talked to us and taught us, referring to Christ, quoting His utterances and prophecies, and always speaking with a clearness and simplicity which any child could comprehen
d; yet His symbols and metaphors, drawn always
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid15601575 23}{\fs16\charscalex105\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 from nature, embodied that essence of wisdom and truth which baffles the learned and great. Our Master always answered all questions, however trivial, with the utmost courtesy and responded genially to every subject of conver\-
sation; yet we noticed that He gave the most commonplace subject a higher, significance, and transformed material things into spiritual realities. For instance, if anyone mentioned that the food was delicious, He smiled lovingly on the speaker and said:

\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 That is because your heart }{\fs22\charscalex108\insrsid8135441 is f}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441 ull of love; when the heart is filled with love everything seems b}{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949
eautiful and delightful to us.\'94}{\i\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 Then He told us the story of the hermit; how once when the Blessed Perfection was trave
lling from one place to another with His followers He passed through a lonely country where, at some little distance from the highway, a hermit lived alone in a cave. He was a holy man, and having heard that Our Lord, Baha'u'llah, would pass that way, he
watched eagerly for His approach. When the Manifestation arrived at that spot the hermit knelt down and kissed the dust before His feet, and said to Him: 'Oh, my Lord, I am a poor man living alone in a cave nearby;}{\fs23\insrsid5253949
but henceforth I shall account}{\i\fs35\charscalex50\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs16\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid15601575 24}{\fs16\insrsid8135441
\par }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 myself the happiest of mortals}{\fs23\insrsid5253949 . I}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 f Thou wilt but come for a moment to my cave and }{\fs23\insrsid15601575 b}{\fs23\insrsid8135441 less it by Thy Presence.'}{\fs23\insrsid5253949
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs23\insrsid8135441 Then Baha'u'llah told the man that He would come, not for a moment but for three days, and He bade His followers cast their
tents, and await His return. The poor man was so overcome with joy and gratitude that he was speechless, and led the way in humble silence to his lowly dwelling }{\fs23\insrsid5253949 i}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
n a rock. There the Glorious One sat with hjm, talking to him and teaching him, and toward evening the man bethought himself that he had nothing to offer his great Guest but some dry meat and some dark bread, and water from a spring near\-
by. Not knowing what to do he threw himself at the feet of his Lord and confessed his dilemma. Baha'u'llah comfo
rted him and by a word bade him fetch the meat and bread and water; then the Lord of the universe partook of this frugal repast with joy and fragrance as though it had been a banquet, and during the three days of His visit they ate only of this food which
seemed to the poor hermit the most delicious he had ever eaten. Baha'u'llah de\-clared that He had never been more nobly entertained nor received greater hospitality and love. }{\i\fs23\charscalex115\insrsid8135441 'This,' }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
exclaimed the Master, when He had finished the story, }{\i\fs22\insrsid8135441 'shows us how little man}{\fs23\insrsid8135441
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8135441 {\fs16\insrsid8135441 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid15601575 25}{\fs16\insrsid8135441
\par }{\i\fs22\insrsid8135441 requires when he is }{\i\fs22\insrsid677978 n}{\i\fs22\insrsid8135441 ourished }{\i\fs21\charscalex89\insrsid8135441 by }{\i\fs22\insrsid8135441 the sweetest of all foods }{\fs22\insrsid8135441 - }{\i\fs22\insrsid8135441
the love of God.' }{\fs23\insrsid8135441 At the end of the dinner one of the Indian boys who served at table brought in a basket full of flowers sent by Abul-Qasim, the gardener of the Ridv
an. The Master received them with pleasure, and held the fragrant bunches to His face, then gave one to each of the believers. Often 'He would hand to one of us, in passing, a bunch of blue hyacinths, these pure symbols of the hyacinths of wisdom and know
ledge growing in the garden of EI-'Abha.
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs23\insrsid8135441
We had learned that to be with 'Abdu'l-Baha was all life, joy and blessedness. We were to learn also that His Presence is a purifying fire. The pilgrimage to the Holy City is naught but a crucible in which the souls
are tried; where the gold is purified and the dross is consumed. I t did not seem possible that anything but love could ever again animate,}{\fs23\insrsid4993196 }{\fs23\insrsid8135441
our words and actions. Yet that very afternoon, in my room with two of the believers, I spoke against a brother in the truth, finding fault with him, and giving vent to the evil in my own heart by my words. While we were still\'b7
sitting together our Master who had been visiting the poor and sick, returned, and immediately sent for my spiritual mother, Lua, who was with us. He told her that during }{\fs112\charscalex50\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE
\par }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 His absence one of His servants had spoken unkindly of another, and that it grieved Hi~ heart that the believers should not love one another or that they should speak against any soul. Then He charged her n
ot to speak of it but to pray. A little later we all went to supper, and my hard heart was unconscious of its error, until, as my eyes sought the beloved face of my Master, I met His gaze, so full of gentleness and compassion that I was smitten to the hea
r
t. For in some marvellous way His eyes spoke to me; in that pure and perfect mirror I saw my wretched self and burst into tears. He took no notice of me for a while and everyone kindly continued with the supper while I sat in His dear Presence washing awa
y
some of my sins in tears. After a few moments He turned and smiled on me and spoke my name several times as though He were calling me to Him. In an instant such sweet happiness pervaded my soul, my heart was comforted with such infinite hope, that I knew
He would cleanse me of all my sins.
\par The next morning we assembled as before to hear His words, and when we were all present He said:
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\i\fs23\insrsid15601575 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 All the sufferings you pass through in gaining the Kingdom of God will be obliter\-ated when you attain its perfect happi
ness. It }{\fs23\insrsid13652283
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\f2\fs25\charscalex77\insrsid13652283 27
\par }{\i\fs22\charscalex108\insrsid13652283\charrsid9787777 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 as a }{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 m}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
an who has been ill and helpless for two or three years and afterwards becomes well and strong, then all remembrance of his pain 'vanishes. The happiness of the King\-dom }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
a perfect one unlike the imperfection of our best earthly conditions and }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
never again to be clouded by any vestige of sorrow. Whatever troubles we have on our way to the Kingdom are a test to the soul. When man enters this world it }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 in troubles and hard\-
ships, but he comes fro}{\i\fs23\insrsid15601575 m}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the invisible to the visible to gain great things for himself. As the material birth }{\fs22\charscalex108\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
a time of trouble, so also }{\fs22\charscalex108\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the spiritual. The way to God }{\fs22\charscalex108\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
strewn with troubles and difficulties, but remember always what Christ said: }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 "}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 Though the body is weak the spirit is powerful." }{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 Many}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
great men and women have desired, century after century, to live in this wonderful Age of God, and you ought to thank God 'with all your heart that you have been chosen to be here at this time. Christ s
aid that the stone the builders rejected became the headstone of the corner. This means that the s}{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 iritually great men and women of the world have been rejected and des}{\i\fs23\insrsid5253949 p}{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ised in all times by the builders of the world; but that now in this, the time of the Kingdom, these spiritual ones }{\i\fs38\charscalex64\insrsid13652283 }{\i\fs38\charscalex64\insrsid5253949
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\f2\fs23\charscalex85\insrsid5253949 28}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 will become the chief stones in the building. The wise man works not for the present moment but for the good results of the future. See in the winter how bare and}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
lifeless the trees and plants seem, without leaves a}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 nd}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 without fruit. Suppose one should pass by at this time who knew nothing of the condition of the earth and saw a man ploughing it up and}{
\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 c}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 asting grain in the furrow. }{\i\insrsid9787777\charrsid12344722 W}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ould }{\i\fs23\insrsid12344722 h}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 e not say, }{\fs23\insrsid12344722 \'93}{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 How foolish this man is. He is troubling himself for no result, working for no purpose and }{\i\fs23\insrsid12344722 w}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 asting that which would g}{\i\fs23\insrsid12344722 iv}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
e him food".}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 But in due time the showers descend upon the earth, the sun shines, the breezes blow and we see the result in a great beauty and production.}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 }{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 So is the work of the }{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 H}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 oly Spirit in your hearts. The earthly sun is like the Sun of Truth}{\i\fs23\insrsid12344722 ;}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the rain }{\fs22\insrsid13652283
is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the shower of the mercy of God; the seed is the }{\i\fs22\charscalex79\insrsid12344722 W}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ord of God}{\i\fs23\insrsid12344722 ;}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
the air the fragrant waves of His Holy Spirit and the soil }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the hearts of the peo}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
le. Now the spiritual seeds are being scattered throughout the world, and the heat of the Sun of Truth is penetrating power\-fully through all souls, and the breeze of the Spirit is blowing through the world and the sho}{\i\fs23\insrsid9787777 w}{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ers of the mercy of God are falling on the hearts of the people. The result will be
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid5253949 29}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5253949 {\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 a great and wonderful harvest and every tree and branch and shrub will bear fruit, and you will see it.'
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs25\charscalex92\insrsid13652283\charrsid1002524 In }{\fs22\insrsid13652283
a large hall where we dined, were hanging two parrots in cages, and these, besides all the sparrows that flew in at the windows, twittering in the rafters overhead, made a great noise, so the Master bade one of the Indian boys remove the cages; and then t
h
e conversation turned on the treatment of animals. 'Abdu'l-Bahi said we should always be kind and merciful to every creature; that cruelty was sin and that the human race should never injure any of God's creatures, but ought to be always careful to do not
hing to diminish or exterminate any order of living thing; that human beings ought to use the animals, fishes and birds when necessary for food, or any just service, but never for pleasure or vanity and that it wa}{\fs22\insrsid5253949
s most wrong and cruel to hunt.}{\fs22\insrsid13652283
\par Then Mrs. Th
ornburgh asked permission to tell a story of a little boy who had stolen a bird's nest full of eggs, and a lady meeting him on the road stopped him and rebuked him: ' Don't you know that it is very cruel to steal that nest? What will the poor mother bird
do when she comes to the tree and finds her eggs all gone?' And the little boy looked up at the lady and }{\fs22\insrsid5253949
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid5253949 30}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 said: 'Maybe that is the mother you have got on your hat.' How the Master laughed, and He, said: }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 'That is a good story and a clever little boy.'
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 The above incident is only one of many show\-ing with what a universal spirit of joyousness, sweetness and sympathy the Master touches on all the concerns of our daily life, so that }{\insrsid12872597\charrsid12872597 I }{
\fs23\insrsid13652283 have never seen such happiness nor heard such laughter as at 'Akk}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 a}{\fs23\insrsid13652283 . The Master seems to, sound all the chords of our human nature and set them vibrating to heavenly music.
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs23\insrsid13652283
How wonderful to be able to see our beloved Master at any hour, to hear His divine voice, to lie down beneath the same roof which sheltered His blessed person! But indeed every hour spent in His presence has no place in time and no part in the life of thi
s world. Those days are unfading, eternal. They were the goal for which all life before was but a preparation, and the source from which all life since has flowed. When, in the tw}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 i}{\fs23\insrsid13652283
light, all in the household had gathered together, and spoke in quiet tones of the Blessed Perfection and our Master, sud\-
denly the glorious light of His presence would shine upon us, and all would rise to meet Him as He entered; then He would sit silently in our midst, while H}{\fs23\insrsid5253949 i}{\fs23\insrsid13652283 s daughter Ruha chanted a
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid14377454 31}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 Tablet, and there would be about Him such heavenly}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 beauty, from His Blessed Being}{\fs23\insrsid13652283 would emanate such supreme mildness, gentle\-
ness, and humility as wrung our hearts with shame and sorrow for our sins, yet lifted them on, mighty wings of hope and aspiration. He
always bade us all good-night, telling us to rest well in our Father's home and to dream beautiful dreams; and in the morning He would greet us early and enquire of each one con\-
cerning their spiritual health and happiness, showing the most loving solicitude for those who were not well.
\par On one occasion one of the American believers said to the Holy Mother that she was now an orphan since her parents did not believe. The wife of our Master took the girl in her arms, laid her head on her breast and told her
that she was now her mother; therefore she should be comforted. Then she took her into the presence of the Master and sitting on the floor before Him in the most natural manner, sti}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 ll}{\fs23\insrsid13652283
holding the girl close to her loving heart, she told Him all. 'Abdu'l-Baha said: }{\fs23\insrsid6968995
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid12872597 \'94M}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 aterial relationship is nothing, it bears no eternal fruits. You are the child of}{\i\fs23\insrsid12872597 God and of the Kingdom and the }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ties of}{\i\fs23\insrsid6968995
}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 the flesh are nothing, but the ties of the s}{\i\fs23\insrsid12872597 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 irit are all. I am your father, these are }{\i\fs40\charscalex56\insrsid13652283 I
\par }{\fs17\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs17\insrsid14377454 32}{\fs17\insrsid13652283
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 your brothers and sisters, and you must be glad and rejoice, for}{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 I love you exceedingly.'
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 On Friday morning the Master told us that we would, that day, visit the Holy Tomb \'b7of Baha'u'llah. Accordingly, that afternoon, we all set out in carriages and drove through
the narrow streets, out through the stone gates into the beautiful surrounding country in the direc\-
tion of the Bahji and the garden of the Ridvan. It was a beautiful day, the sky was blue and clear, the sun shone with eastern warmth and splendour, a light breeze stirred and the air was perfumed with roses.
\par After driving for about half an hour we reached the garden where Baha'u'llah spent much of His time during His long years of exile in 'Akka. Although this garden is small it is one of the loveliest spot
s we had ever seen. Baha'u'llah frequently said to His gardener, Abul-Qasim, }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 'This is the most beautiful garden in the world.' }{\fs23\insrsid13652283
With its tall trees, its wealth of flowers, and its fountains, it lies like a peerless gem surrounded by two limpid streams of water just as it is described in the Qu'ran; and the atmosphere which per\-
vades it is so fraught with sacred memories, with divine significance, with heavenly peace and calm that one no longer marvels to hear of
\par }{\fs17\insrsid14377454 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 33
\par the traveller who, passing one day before its gates, paused and gazing in saw Baha'u'l}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 la}{\fs23\insrsid13652283 h seated beneath the shade of the mulberry trees, 'that canopy not made with hands,' and re\-
membering the prophecy in the Qu'ran, he recognized his Lord and hastened to prostrate himself at His feet.
\par We visited the little house at the end of the garden and stood on the threshold of that room where Baha'u'llah was wont to sit in hot weather, and one by one we knelt down, and with tears of love and longing kissed the ground where His blessed
feet had rested. We re\-turned to the garden, where Abul-Qasim made tea for us, and there he told us the story of the locusts. How that during one hot summer there had been a pest of locusts and they had con\-
sumed most of the foliage in the surrounding coun
try. One day Abul-Qasim saw a thick cloud coming swiftly towards the garden, and in a moment thousands of locusts were covering the tall trees beneath which Baha'u'llah so often sat. Abul-Qasim hastened to the house at the end of the garden and coming bef
ore his Lord besought Him, saying: 'My Lord, the locusts have come, and are eating away the shade from above Thy blessed head. I beg of Thee to cause them to depart.' The Manifestation smiled, and
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs23\insrsid14377454 34}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 said: }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 'The locusts must be fed; let them be.' }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 Much chagrined, Abul-Qasim returned to the garden and for some time watched ,the destruc\-
tive work in silence; but presently, unable to bear it, he ventured to return again to Baha\-'u'llah and humbly entreat Him to send away the locusts. The Blessed Perfection arose and went into the garden and stood beneath the\'b7
trees covered with the insects. Then He said: }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 'Abul-Qasim does not want you, God protect you.' }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 And lifting up the hem of His robe He shook jt, and immediately all the locusts arose in a
body and flew away.
\par When Abul-Qasim concluded this story he exclaimed with strong emotion as he touched his eyes: 'Oh, blessed are these eyes to have seen such things; oh, blessed are these ears to have heard such things.' In parting he gave }{\fs14\insrsid13652283 I:lS }{
\fs23\insrsid13652283 flowers, and seemed, like all the oriental be\-lievers, unable to do enough to show his love. We then entered once more our carriages, and still gazing back at that lovely spot, we drove towards the Holy Tomb.
\par 'Abdu'l-Baha met us opposite the group of buildings comprising Bahji, the terrace, the little tea-house and the Holy Tomb. When we alighted we found a group of more than one hundred oriental believers waiting for us. }{\fs23\insrsid14377454
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid14377454 35}{\f2\fs27\charscalex73\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283
Knowing that we were among the first American pilgrims to that Holy Spot they had come from all directions to behold our faces, and their own shone with a love and joy which amazed us, and which we can never forget. We mounted the steps leading to the ter
race above and entered the tea-house, and there we found our Beloved seated by an open window. He arose to wel\-
come us, and greeting us with infinite love, He bade us be seated and to partake of some tea which was being prepared on a little table by His faithful servant, 'Ali Muhammad. Then with a}{\fs23\insrsid12872597 }{\fs23\insrsid13652283
word of excuse He left us. He stepped out on to the terrace and with His hands clasped behind Him and gazing upward He walked to and fro. As not the least action or word of the Master's is without a purpose and a m
eaning, we soon saw that He was walking on the terrace so that all His servants might behold Him; and we saw our oriental brothers stand\-
ing in a group on the grass below, perfectly motionless and silent, gazing in rapt love and devotion on the Blessed One
. Who, indeed, could remove their gaze from His face, so luminous, so calm and so glorious! Never was our Beloved more beautiful than on that day, when we were about to enter with Him into the hallowed precincts of the Holy Tomb. As we }{
\fs35\charscalex50\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs17\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs17\insrsid14377454 36}{\fs17\insrsid13652283
\par }{\i\fs25\charscalex90\insrsid13652283 gazed }{\insrsid13652283
on Him, we could only love Him, follow Him, obey Him, and thereby draw nearer to His beauty. I understood that we could not fathom the mystery of His being; we could only hope to be engulfed therein }{\insrsid14377454 \'85}{\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs31\charscalex75\insrsid13652283 By }{\insrsid13652283 and by He came to the door of the tea\-room, and the lightning of His glance fell on us and He said in a quiet, low tone: ' }{\i\insrsid13652283 We}{\i\insrsid12872597 }{\i\insrsid13652283
are now going to visit the Holy Tomb. When you are praying in that di}{\i\insrsid14377454 v}{\i\insrsid13652283 ine spot remember the promise of Bah}{\i\insrsid14377454 a}{\i\insrsid13652283 'u'll}{\i\insrsid14377454 a}{\i\insrsid13652283
h, that those who attain this pilgrimage shall receive an answer to their prayers, and their wishes shall be granted.' }{\fs26\insrsid13652283 He }{\insrsid13652283
then bade us follow Him and descended the steps, followed by the American pilgrims, then: all the other believers in a body behind us, and in this order, the Master walking a few yards in a
dvance, we proceeded slowly toward the Tomb of Baha'u'llah. When we reached the outer door 'Abdu'l-Baha removed His shoes and motioned us to do likewise. We followed him through a passage-way into a square court' with a glass roof, and in the centre a plo
t of earth where flowering bushes and mandarin trees were growing. As we entered, a door }{\charscalex110\insrsid13652283 i}{\charscalex110\insrsid12872597 n}{\charscalex110\insrsid13652283 }{\insrsid13652283
the opposite corner opened and the ladies of the holy family arrived, thickly veiled; they came forward and greeted us tenderly. At the
\par }{\fs17\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs22\charscalex86\insrsid13652283 37
\par }{\insrsid13652283 further end of the court is a door at one side, and within is the Holy Tomb. As we gazed upon this veiled door our souls stirred within us as though seeking release}{\insrsid12872597 ,}{\insrsid13652283
and had we not been upheld by the mercy of God we could not have endured the poignancy of joy and sorrow an}{\insrsid12872597 d}{\insrsid13652283
love and yearning that shook the foundations of our beings. The blessed Master was calm and radiant and led us to the open space at the end of the
court beside the Tomb, where, in the mellow light of a stained glass window, we all stood in silence until He bade one of our group to sing }{\i\fs23\charscalex115\insrsid13652283 The }{\i\insrsid13652283 Holy City. }{\insrsid13652283
No pen could describe the solemn beauty of that moment, as, in a broken voice, this young girl sang
the praise and glory of God, while all were immersed in the ocean of the Divine Presence. The tears of the pilgrims flowed and strong men wept aloud. Then 'Abdu'l-Baha led us to the door of the Tomb where we knelt for a moment, then He opened the door and
led us in. Those who have passed that threshold have been for a brief moment in the presence of God, their Creator}{\insrsid12872597 ,}{\insrsid13652283
and no thoughts can follow them. The Tablet of the ,Holy Tomb was chanted by a young Persian, and when we left that blessed spot the oriental pilgrims entered slowly, until all had been within; then
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid14377454 38}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 our Beloved closed the door, and after singing }{\fs22\insrsid14377454 N}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 earer, my God, to Thee }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 at His}{\fs22\insrsid14377454 }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 request, we quietly withdrew.

\par Outside we found the carriages waiting at a little distance, and 'Abdu'l-Baha, leaving us to follow slowly, walked to a slight rise in the rolling green fields before us and there stood against the so}{\fs22\insrsid13641169 ft}{\fs22\insrsid13652283
background of the evening sky. Oh, most glorious form! Standing there }{\fs22\insrsid13641169 i}{\fs22\insrsid13652283 n the gathering twilight with the sunset fadin
g in mild ' tints from the western sky and the full moon rising above His divine head. We returned to our home in 'Akka in the cool of the evening through that perfumed land which is forever blest and holy above all places, 'the joy of the whole earth.'

\par From that time a great peace descended upon us, and in the heavenly calm and beauty of that last night in 'Akka, we were girded w}{\fs22\insrsid13641169 i}{\fs22\insrsid13652283
th strength for the future. We were to leave next morning for Haifa, and in the afternoon we would be again on the sea, every hour taking us further from the presence of 'Abdu'l-Bah}{\fs22\insrsid13641169 a}{\fs22\insrsid13652283
. When we awoke on Saturday morning it seemed that the full realization of this separation descended like a great darkness upon us, and we were utterly alone in the wide world, save only for Him. He called us to Him at an early hour, and as }{
\fs22\insrsid14377454
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 39
\par we gazed upon His merciful face we saw that He knew all and that He would uphold us and give us strength; that verily He was sufficient for the whole world. In the might and majesty of His pr
esence our fear was turned to perfect faith, our weakness into strength, our sorrow into hope and ourselves forgotten in our love for Him. As we sat before Him waiting to hear' His words, some of the believers wept bitterly. He asked them for His sake not
to weep, nor would He talk to us or teach us until}{\fs22\insrsid13641169 all tears w}{\fs22\insrsid13652283 ere banished and we were quite calm. Then He said:
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 'Pray that\'b7 your hearts may be cut from you}{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 r}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 selves and from the world, that you may }{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 be confirmed by the H}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
oly Spirit and filled }{\i\fs23\insrsid13641169 w}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ith the fire o
f the love of God. The nearer you are to the light, the further you are from the darkness; the nearer you are to heaven, the further you are from the earth; the nearer you are to God, the }{\i\fs23\insrsid13641169 f}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
urther you are from the world. You have come here among the first and your reward }{\fs22\charscalex105\insrsid13652283 is }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 great. There arc two, visits; the first is }{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 f}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
or a blessing; then ye come and are blest and are sent forth to work in God's 'vineyard,' the second ye co}{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 m}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 e with music and the banners flying, like soldi}{\i\fs23\insrsid14377454 er}{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 s, in
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\tx1\tx1268\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\fs23\insrsid13652283 \tab }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs23\insrsid14377454 40}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 {\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 gladness and trium}{\i\fs23\insrsid11041274 p}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 h to receive your reward. }{\i\fs22\insrsid13652283 If }{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 in times past those who have risen up and' gone forth in the Cause of God have be}{\i\fs23\insrsid13641169 en}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
helped and confirmed by His spirit, even to' , suffering death for Him, how much greater is the flood of life with which ye shall}{\i\fs23\insrsid11041274 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
be: flooded now! For this is the end and the full revelation, and I say unto you that anyone who will rise up in the Cause of God at this time s}{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 hall be filled with the spirit of}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
God, and that He will send His hosts from heaven to help you, and that nothing shall be im\-possible to you if you have faith. And now I give you a commandment which shall be for a covenant between you and Me }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 - }{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 that ye have faith}{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 ; }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 that your faith be steadfast as a rock that no storms }{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 can}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 m}{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 ov}{
\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 e, that nothing can disturb, and that it endure}{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 thro}{\i\fs23\insrsid11209952 u}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
gh all things even to the end,' even should ye hear that your Lord has been crucified, be not shaken in your faith,' for I am with you always, whether living or dead, I am with you to the end. As ye have faith so shall your powers and bless
ings be. This is the balance }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 - }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 this is the balance }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 -- }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 this is the balance.'
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 Then He arose and bade us follow Him. He led us into the next room, and there resting on }{\fs22\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs16\insrsid11041274 41}{\fs16\insrsid13652283
\par }{\fs23\insrsid13652283 a divan against the wall was the portrait of Baha'u'llah. We fell
on our knees before it, and the tears that flowed were of pure love and adoration. We could have remained thus for ever with our eyes fastened on that wonderful face, but the Master touched us on the shoulder, that we might see also the picture of His Hig
h\-ness the Bab. His was a beautiful y}{\fs23\insrsid11041274 o}{\fs23\insrsid13652283 ung face, but I could not keep my eyes from the eyes of Baha'u'llah, until 'Abdu'l-Baha turned sud\-
denly to us, and raising His voice in a tone so poignant that it pierced every heart, He stretched His hands above us and said:
\par }{\i\fs23\insrsid11041274 \'93}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 Now the time has come when we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies, in spirit we are united. Ye are the lights }{\i\fs23\insrsid16000075 wh}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283
ich shall be diffused}{\i\fs23\insrsid16000075 ;}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ye are the waves }{\i\fs23\insrsid16000075 of}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 that sea which shall spread and overflow the world. Each wave is precious t
o Me and My nostrils shall be gladdened by }{\i\insrsid16000075\charrsid16000075 your}{\i\fs13\charscalex110\insrsid16000075 }{\i\fs13\charscalex110\insrsid13652283 }{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 frag\-
rance. Another commandment I give unto you, that ye love one an}{\i\fs23\insrsid16000075 o}{\i\fs23\insrsid13652283 ther even as I love you. Great mercy and blessings are promised to the people of your land, but on one condi\-
tion: that their hearts are filled with the fire of love, that they live in perfect kindness and harmony like one soul in different bodies. If
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE 42
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16000075 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075
they fail in this condition the great blessings will be deferred. Never forget this}{\i\insrsid16000075\charrsid16000075 ;}{\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075 look at one another with the eye of perfection}{\i\insrsid16000075\charrsid16000075 ; look}{
\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075 at Me, follow }{\i\insrsid16000075\charrsid16000075 m}{\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075
e, be as I am; take no thought for yourselves or your lives, whether ye eat or whether ye sleep, whether ye are comfortable, whether ye are well, or ill, whether ye are with friends or foes, whether ye receive praise or blame}{\i\insrsid16000075 ;}{
\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075 for all of these things ye must care not at all.' Look at Me and be as I am}{\i\insrsid16000075 ;}{\i\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075
ye must die to yourselves and to the world, so shall ye be born again and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Behold a candle how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.'
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs22\insrsid13652283
When He had finished speaking we were led gently away by the members of the Holy Family, and for a moment it seemed that we were dying; but our Master never removed His compas
sionate gaze from our faces, until we could see Him no longer, for our tears. Then we were clasped one after the other in the arms of the Holy Family, and the hearts were wrung, and it seemed as if all the cords of life were breaking; until, as we drove'
away from the home of our Heavenly Father, suddenly His
\par }{\fs16\insrsid13652283 AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE }{\fs22\insrsid13652283 43
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16000075 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13652283\charrsid16000075 spirit came to us, a great strength and tran\-
quillity filled our souls, the grief of the bodily separation was turned into the joy of spiritual union.
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sbauto1\saauto1\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13652283 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs22\insrsid13652283 We had left our Beloved
in His glorious prison that we might go forth and serve Him; that we might spread His Cause and deliver His Truth to the world; and already His words were fulfilled:
\par }{\i\fs22\insrsid13652283 \'93The time has come when we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies,' in spirit we are united forever.\'94
\par }}

I have scanned in May Maxwell's short masterwork, An Early Pilgrimage.
It is not in Ocean so you may want to add it. This is the original
source not only for "look at me, be as I am" but also the often quoted
"as ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be..." I highly
recommend reading this tiny book as inspiring reading for your down
times, when you feel discouraged. If anybody ever makes up one of
those tour guide recordings, they could not do better than to just
read from this text.

Why am I scanning this in now? Because of the commemoration of the
Master's visit to Montreal, for the publicity He got there, better
than almost anywhere else in His Western tours, was the result of the
sweat and tears of May Maxwell, a superstar Baha'i if ever there was
one, one the guardian raised to the station of martyr. Enjoy this
wonderful, wonderful text. By the way the title is an example of her
humility, it is not the story of an early pilgrimage but of the first
one by Western believers.

By the way, if you are in this area, I will be giving a slideshow of
the Master's trip at the Caledonia library, tomorrow, Sunday, at 2 PM.

--
John Taylor

badijet@gmail.com