Master in California, Part I

Abdu'l-Baha in California

Scanned and proofed by John Taylor; 2007 September 04, 15 Asma, 164 BE

Part II of Memories of Abdu'l-Baha, By Ramona Brown Allen, Baha'i Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Ill, 1980, pp. 33-88

In 1908 we received the exciting news that, due to the Young Turk Revolution, the gates of the Most Great Prison [in 'Akka] had been opened and 'Abdu'l-Baha was free. We were overjoyed. Then we learned that the Master was planning to travel to Egypt, England, France, Germany, Austria, the United States, and Canada. A letter was written and signed by us in Oakland and by some of the friends in Oregon begging Him to come to California.

When 'Abdu'l-Baha finally arrived in America on April 11, 1912, my family sent Him a telegram of welcome. He replied from New York: "MRS. DR. ALLEN YOUR CONGRATULATING TELEGRAM CAUSES HAPPINESS MAY BLESSINGS BE UPON ALL IS MY HOPE. ABBAS." On May 1 another telegram came from Chicago: Greetings to doctor Allen, Mrs. Allen, Ramona and Warren will be here one week after which I go to Boston and Montreal then come to California. Will see you there in June God willing. Abdu'l-Ba. Ha.

When the Master arrived in Chicago, Helen and Ella went there to greet Him. He said to them: "It makes me very happy to see you. When the hearts are pure it makes me very happy. This is what we came for -- that the hearts might be made pure. I care not for ease, I care not for comfort, and when I see the pure hearts then nothing else matters." When meeting the friends later in California, the Master said several times, "Your love drew Me to you."

'Abdu'l-Baha was sixty-six years of age and in frail health when He started on His arduous travels. He made

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great sacrifices to spread His Father's Teachings, summoning the people of the world to promote universal peace. He had come to bless us by His presence. How little did we understand in those days the mystery of His visit.

It was October 3, 1912, when 'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in San Francisco. He had rented a lovely home at 1815 California Street, which had been selected for Him and His entourage by Helen and Ella. Shortly after He arrived there, friends started calling upon the Master. When Helen and Ella entered, He said to them: "I am tired. Therefore, I do not rise. Welcome! Last night I thought of your efforts, and I supplicated God in your behalf. May Baha'u'llah reward you amply, for indeed you have toiled well." As other friends arrived, 'Abdu'l-Baha said to them:

 

"And how are you? Welcome, very welcome! I am greatly rejoiced at meeting you all. Praise be to God you came now." Then 'Abdu'l-Baha continued:

Meetings are various in kind. One meeting is like the meeting of people, an ordinary meeting, which is so easily forgotten. Howsoever kind they may be to each other they will forget it. For example, a brother meeting another brother, the father meeting his son, sisters meeting, the mother meeting a daughter, or the daughter the mother, when separation takes place in the course of time gradually that relation will be forgotten. Such a meeting is without result; eventually it sinks into forgetfulness.

Another meeting is similar to the meeting of the sun with the mirror. The rays of the sun shine upon the mirror. Again, there may be a meeting like the coming together of combustible wood with fire, or the mingling of oil with fire. As soon as contact is effected, combustion takes place. Ah, such a meeting is good!

Again, there is a meeting which is like unto the contact of the gentle zephyrs with the trees, which exhilarates the trees, which bestows freshness and verdure; such a meeting is verily a meeting resulting in fruits and flowers.

I hope that our meeting will be of this last type. May

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it be like unto the meeting of the gentle zephyrs with the trees. I will supplicate that you will be fully aided in this.

A number of persons coming from the Orient to the Occident for this purpose: this is very wonderful. You cannot find a record of it in any history of any nation. At the utmost, a person, or a number of persons, may go across the continent for sightseeing, for trade or commerce, but simply to travel for the meeting of the friends and for the sake of spiritual communion, this is very rare.

This is brought about through the favors of the Blessed Perfection. This is through the bounty of Baha'u'llah. We witness how He has brought about this spiritual connection among the hearts and how He has attracted these hearts together.

This is one of the evidences of Baha'u'llah. No other except Baha'u'llah could bring about such a condition. No one could achieve such a colossal work, that a Persian personage and a Japanese gentleman should associate together in the utmost love here in San Francisco. This is the potency of Baha'u'llah.

In brief, you are very, very welcome, most welcome!

You have traveled yourselves to come so far. For this I am made very happy.

I will meet you again tonight. I did not sleep last night on the train. I arrived this morning and am a little fatigued. I will meet you again soon.

 

On 'Abdu'l-Baha's first day in San Francisco my mother, father, brother, and I crossed the bay on a ferryboat late in the afternoon to pay our respects to Him. When we arrived at His home, we were welcomed by friends and ushered to His room. For a moment we stood at the open door. I knew as I stood there that I expected to see an angel from Heaven. And I did! I saw the Master! He came toward us, a wonderful smile on His saintly face, extending His outstretched arms to us and saying in Persian, "Welcome! Welcome!"

That exhilarating, magic moment of seeing 'Abdu'l-

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Baha for the first time was like seeing the sun burst forth through the soft, rosy glow of dawn. It brought the nearness of God, and my heart was filled with praise and gratitude for the bounty of being with Him. I knew that His visit to California was a very special gift from God. As we entered the presence of the Master, He appeared to be enveloped in a beautiful, ethereal, luminous light. The room seemed flooded with sunshine. Flowers were everywhere, and their fragrance filled the air. As 'Abdu'l-Baha stood there in His native dress, an 'aba and turban, He was surrounded by a golden glow. My heart felt as though it would burst with joy and happiness to be at last in the presence of the beloved Master, to see Him with my own eyes and hear His beautiful voice as He spoke to my precious family.

The Master took my mother's hands and said, "Welcome, Mrs. Allen, welcome, very welcome! You have a very united family, a very united family, and you will all be united through all the worlds of God." His words to my mother made us very happy. Then in His warm, gentle hands He took the hand of each one of us and welcomed us. When I gave 'Abdu'l-Baha some yellow roses I had gathered from our garden, He was very pleased. He smiled as He thanked me and seemed happy with my small gift, for He knew that my love went with it. As He looked into my eyes, His gentle, smiling eyes touched my soul; they seemed to tell me that He knew what was in my heart and everything about me. I felt as though I were in another world. At that moment I silently gave my heart and dedicated my life to Him.

He invited us to be seated, and continued speaking, telling us how happy He was to meet the California believers and that He hoped His Father's Message would reach the hearts of the people. He conversed with us as though we were old friends, and to each of us He spoke some special words. Then 'Abdu'l-Baha arose from His chair and, stepping lightly, but like a king, served us with His own hands, in small crystal glasses, the most delicious tea I had ever tasted. It was light amber-colored Persian

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tea which He had brought with Him. To this day I can remember its fragrance and taste its sweetness.

The happiness of that first meeting has remained with me all of my life. We knew that we were blessed and privileged to be in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha. We were full of deep joy as we basked in His love. Soon it was time to take our leave, for other people were waiting to greet Him.

Friends have asked me to describe 'Abdu'l-Baha.

How can anyone describe Him? Each one of us saw Him with our own spiritual and physical eyes. It seemed that in Him we found what we most longed for. In the Master's presence I felt as though I were in another world. In those moments I seemed most conscious of His overpowering love for all mankind. From childhood 'Abdu'l-Baha had been endowed with physical beauty, we are told. Despite His advanced age and the vicissitudes He had endured, His carriage was majestic and His posture remarkable. He seemed to me to be about five feet, nine inches tall, although His long 'aba and His white turban may have caused Him to appear taller than He was. He was strong and vibrant. He walked lightly, so that there were moments when He seemed hardly to touch the ground.

'Abdu'l-Baha enjoyed walking. His secretaries usually accompanied Him. On the street people would turn and glance at Him, and many curious eyes followed Him as He strolled along with great dignity and grace in His Eastern robe and turban. 'Abdu'l-Baha always wore His native dress, which was a full-length, light-colored robe, over which He wore an 'aba, or cloak, of beige, tan, brown, or cream color. His shoes were of soft brown leather, partly covering the instep and heel. He wore a low turban wound around with folds of soft white material from under which His wispy silver hair fell to His shoulders. Encircling His often-smiling lips was a white mustache and a short, rounded beard. The Master had well-defined, slightly bushy, white eyebrows. To the astonishment of each person who talked with Him, His eyes seemed to change color as He spoke. Sometimes they looked blue or

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hazel or grey, with a tiny white line encircling the iris. On the day He spoke to the "Peach Tree" His eyes were very blue, and they sparkled. Once, when 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke of the terrible treatment and exile of Baha'u'llah, His eyes looked black and shiny.

When the Master's face was in repose, deep lines often appeared on His cheeks and between His brows, and His eyes looked sad and showed the suffering He had endured. However, when 'Abdu'l-Baha smiled, the sadness vanished, and one saw only glorious beauty in His face, especially when He spoke of His Father's principles. The Master's complexion was a warm, light tan. His hands were square, strong, yet delicate; when He held your hand, His clasp felt warm and friendly.

As with His eyes so did 'Abdu'l-Baha's voice change when He spoke on different subjects. At times it was soft and gentle, low and penetrating; or it was loud and firm. His language was always exquisite. His pleasing, musical tones touched our hearts as He chanted a prayer. Despite the Master's fatigue at times, and His physical ailments, He welcomed everyone with a beaming smile, and in His pleasing and vibrant voice would ask, "Are you happy?"

He loved the sound of laughter and often told stories and anecdotes to make us laugh. When we heard Him laugh, we knew that He or someone else had told an amusing story, and the sound of His laughter made us all happy. Once the Master told us that during the most dangerous and trying times of His imprisonment Baha'u'llah would ask each member of the family to relate the most amusing incident or story they had experienced or heard that day. After the tale had been told, they would all roar with laughter.

Later on the day of 'Abdu'l-Baha's arrival we went to the home of Helen Goodall in Oakland to be again in His presence. When the friends were gathered, He said to them:

 

In the world many people go from one country to another. ... such journeys are for travel, or commer-

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cial purposes, or for some political reason, or the motive may be some scientific achievement, or they go on journies [sic] in order to meet friends. All such meetings are accidental; they are concerned with the exigencies of the world of nature.

But I have come from the Orient to the Occident -- this vast distance have I crossed with no commercial purpose in view, nor travel as an object, nor politics as a reason. It has been simply to meet you .... our meeting is real, essential-for the hearts are connected and the souls are attracted and the spirits are exhilarated, and such a meeting is real in character, and great are the results therefrom. The results are everlasting.

Praise be to God! We have assembled here, and the cause of our gathering here is the love of God ....

I am hopeful that the hearts may be moved, the souls may be attracted, and that all will act in accordance with the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH. (Sep 27, 1913, SW IV, No. 11, 190, 194)

 

That evening, when more of the friends had come to be with Him, the Master said: "I am going to say, 'Welcome,' to you, instead of your welcoming me. I am most happy to be here with you. I am exceedingly joyous, and I offered thanks to His Holiness BAHA' O'LLAH that the potency of His Word was instrumental in bringing about such a meeting."

Summoning superhuman strength, courage, and resolution, the Master sacrificed Himself to spread the Teachings of Baha'u'llah. Before He made this trip, He had never given a public speech or addressed audiences made up of both men and women. Yet He accustomed Himself to the ways and manners of the Western world. 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke with great eloquence, wisdom, and brilliance. He spoke in simple language to professors, teachers, clergy, youth, and people in all walks of life. He seemed to have a mysterious power to win the love and respect of all. The Master spoke with such authority and explained profound subjects in such a clear and simple

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way, that often no one questioned what He said. He always spoke in a kindly, loving manner. At times 'Abdu'l-Baha was seated as He spoke. At other times He would walk back and forth or stand quietly. He seemed always to be surrounded by a lovely, celestial radiance.

During the three weeks that the Master stayed in California, He traveled to many places: Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Sacramento. 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit caused a great deal of publicity. In an interview by a reporter from the San Francisco Examiner, 'Abdu'l-Baha was asked, "What is your object in coming to America?" He replied, "I have come to America to promote the ideal of Universal Peace and the solidarity of the human race. I have not come for pleasure or as a tourist."

'Abdu'l-Baha was invited to speak at many places. He spoke at colleges, in churches, at the School for the Blind in Oakland, and to the Peace Society and the Theosophical Society in the Bay Area. At the invitation of Mayor Stitt Wilson of Berkeley, the Master gave His only public address in that city [on October 9] at the Berkeley High School, where He was received with great reverence and respect. The auditorium was filled to capacity. On another occasion 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke to the Berkeley Short Story Club, of which my mother was a member. Several members of the club had attended my mother's Baha'i meetings and were pleased and appreciative that the Master had agreed to address the club.

The Master often spoke at three or four meetings in one day. We were amazed at His ceaseless activity. Whenever He spoke, He gave to the audience what they most needed to hear and what would help them. He satisfied each listener's spiritual longing with His love. The overpowering conviction in His words made a deep impression upon His listeners.

While He was in California, many of 'Abdu'l-Baha's activities were arranged by Helen and Ella. It was an exciting evening when He spoke in the [First] Congregational Church in Oakland on October 6. The church was

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crowded. I sat in the balcony above the pulpit where the Master stood. All at once I realized that He was very fatigued. Instead of listening I began to say a healing prayer for Him. Suddenly, 'Abdu'l-Baha seemed to grow in stature and become strong, and His voice grew loud and clear. I knew that He had, before our eyes, drawn on the 'Power of the Great Ether.' He gave a brilliant talk and later met with the friends, appearing quite rejuvenated.

On October 7 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke in Oakland to a Japanese audience of the [Japanese] Young Men's Christian Association. On the 8th He went to Palo Alto where He spoke at Leland Stanford Junior University. That memorable morning a group of us from Oakland and Berkeley eagerly went by train to Palo Alto. From there we went to the Stanford Memorial Chapel, where we were seated among nearly fifteen hundred people, including students, faculty members, and guests. The audience listened with quiet esteem and admiration as the Master spoke about the oneness of all phenomena. After He had finished speaking, the President of the University, David Starr Jordan, closed the program by saying:

"We are all under very great obligation to Abdul-Baha for this illuminating expression of the brotherhood of man and the value of international peace. I think we can best show our appreciation by simply a rising vote of thanks."

After the meeting we all went outside of the Chapel.

There I saw the Master standing alone in the quadrangle. Hesitatingly I approached Him and asked permission to take His photograph. Courteously He granted me the privilege; and I took a picture showing 'Abdu'l-Baha with the Stanford Chapel in the background.

That day Dr. Ernest Rogers, a Baha'i who was head of the Montezuma Mountain School for Boys near Los Gatos, took about thirty students to hear the Master speak. Los Gatos was thirty miles south of Palo Alto, and the boys had to walk five miles each way en route between the train and the university.

Professor Rogers had been a Baha'i for a long time,

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having first heard about the Faith in a letter which Mrs. Brittingham wrote to his mother. In 1900 he had received this Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha:

 

To Mr. Ernest A. Rogers:

O thou who art advancing toward God!

Verily, I am informed of the text of thy letter, which contained how thou art confessing the Kingdom of God and art attracted by the Love of Baha., in those regions.

Thank God, for that He hath made thee of the "Chosen Ones," not of those who were only "called"; hath assigned thee to the knowledge of His Manifest Beauty, during the Great Century; hath guided thee to the right Way; hath exhilarated thee from the Cup which is overflowing with the choice Wine of the Love of God; hath dilated thy breast with the light of knowledge of God; hath favored thee with His Gifts; and hath attracted thee from this world through the Magnet of the Kingdom. Therefore, speak eloquently the praise of God, for this Greatest Gift and excellent favor.

May Greetings and praise be upon thee!

'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas

 

After the talk [at Stanford] 'Abdu'l-Baha was the guest of President Jordan with whom He drove in the afternoon. Later He visited the home of Mrs. I. C. Merriman in Palo Alto. That evening the Master spoke on the "Reality of Divinity" at the [Palo Altan] Unitarian Church. Reverend Clarence Reed, pastor of the church, said at the close of the Master's discourse: "I feel that a man of God has spoken to us tonight. I know no better way to close the service than with a prayer; not a prayer in spoken words, but a prayer in silence. Let each person pray in his own way for the coming of the universal religion, the religion of love, the religion of peace -- a religion of the fullness of life." After a moment of silence everyone departed. 'Abdu'l-Baha and His entourage remained one night as the guests of Mrs. Merriman's daughter and the next day returned to San Francisco.

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During the Master's stay in San Francisco some of the friends would be at His home in the kitchen preparing special dishes for Him ('Abdu'l-Baha was especially fond of different kinds of broth); other friends would do anything they could to make Him happy and His stay pleasant. People would flock to His home from early morning until late at night, bringing gifts of fruit, candy, and other things which the Master would promptly share with everyone. Once He said, "Take these flowers downstairs so that all the friends will see them. I will enjoy them there." During an interview my mother had with 'Abdul-Baha He gave her a pomegranate to eat and flowers; after her death I found the pressed flowers and the skin of the pomegranate among her treasures.

Although I lived in Berkeley, I spent every moment I could in the Master's house in San Francisco, sitting with the friends in the hall or in the living room, hoping to see Him pass and look upon His blessed and radiant face or hear His wonderful voice as He greeted the many friends, often speaking to someone in particular. One morning I was sitting quietly in a room by myself, awaiting the thrilling moment when I would see 'Abdu'l-Baha pass by the open door. Just then I had a sudden awakening. I asked myself what magic 'Abdu'l-Baha possessed that drew my love to Him and made me happy just to be in the same place where He was. I reflected how each time I was in His presence I longed to draw from Him some of His spiritual radiance, and I prayed that I might acquire virtues and reflect in my life His beautiful Teachings. I realized that the ability to reflect these spiritual qualities could not be a gift, but that I must earn that bounty through deeds, prayer, effort, and study of the Holy Words.

'Abdu'l-Baha possessed a power that made me long to be an exemplary Baha'i. Each time I was in the presence of the Master, He awakened in my heart a new kind of love for all people. His every word was an inspiration to me to be a better Baha'i. He treated each person very specially, and He showered His love over all of the friends. No one could resist His radiant happiness. To

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hear 'Abdu'l-Baha say, "Are you happy? Are you happy?" filled our day with joy. He lived the perfect Baha'i life. He inspired each soul to follow in His path. This was His magic.

Every day the atmosphere was filled with thrilling excitement, and everyone was happy just to be in the Master's home. Everything seemed to be suspended during those precious days, and often I lost all sense of time. When I could, I went wherever 'Abdu'l-Baha was to speak because I did not want to miss being in His presence or hearing His words and exhortations to the friends and the people.

Believers were constantly arriving from Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and other cities; and each one had some moments with Him. Harriett and James Latimer, my aunt and uncle, and their son, George, came from Portland, Oregon, and remained in San Francisco during the Master's stay there. He gave my aunt the name Ruhaniyyih and called her the "Mother of the Portland Assembly" (Community), as the Latimer family had established the Faith in that city. George traveled around the world teaching and fulfilling the wishes of the Master. He made two pilgrimages to Haifa to meet 'Abdu'l-Baha and several pilgrimages to meet Shoghi Effendi. George served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States for many years until his death in June 1948.

Soon after George's passing, my aunt received this letter from the National Spiritual Assembly:

 

November 16, 1948

Dear Ruhaniyyih:

Now we can see and recognize the extraordinary spiritual unity of the great Baha'i services rendered by you, your husband and your son. Such work could never have been done by any three individuals striving alone. It could only be a family accomplishment, a unity -- one inspiration flowing through three harmonious instruments ....

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With loving greetings from each member,

Affectionately yours,

Horace Holley

Secretary

 

'Abdu'l-Baha provided the inspiration for such unity. Whenever we were in His presence, He made us feel secure and assured of His love for us. He showed such love that, if one were sad, He gently made him happy. The Master always spread good cheer. One of the friends was not able to hold back her tears in His presence. He said to her, "Weep on. Beyond the tears is sunshine." In those days we all felt united in our devoted love for Him. 'Abdu'l-Baha often told us, "Love is the greatest of all living powers."

It was a joyous time for all of us. The friends from near and far gathered in the home of 'Abdu'l-Baha, hoping to have a word with Him or just to see Him pass through the rooms and hallways, saying in Persian, "Marhaba! Marhaba!" (Welcome! Welcome!). One day, while I was sitting in the hall, I heard my name called. When I responded, I learned that the Master had invited me to have lunch with Him. My heart leaped with joy, and I was so excited that I could scarcely move.

'Abdu'l-Baha stood at the door of the dining room with a loving, tender smile of welcome on His happy face as I entered. He seated Mrs. Anna Monroe to His right and me next to her. He urged us to eat and enjoy our lunch, telling amusing stories to make us laugh. At one point, to my surprise, He reached for a slice of bread, broke off a large piece, and put it on Mrs. Monroe's plate. Then He put a tiny portion on my plate. He looked at me and laughed, and so did I as I ate my tiny portion. Mrs. Monroe did not touch her piece of bread. We know that every word and act of 'Abdu'l-Baha's had a special meaning. I remember that Mrs. Monroe [who introduced us to the Faith] did not remain interested in it during the last years of her life.

Later, the Master reached for a bunch of grapes and dropped them into my glass of water. I looked at them,

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and He laughed as He saw that I was puzzled as to what to do. I felt it would be rude to put my hand into the glass to take them out, but I ate two grapes which hung over the rim of the glass and sadly left the rest. During the luncheon 'Abdu'l-Baha would lean over, look at me, and laugh; and so did I. He conversed with others at the table, but I was too overwhelmed to remember what was said.

The Master was fond of Edam cheese, and there was a large cheese on the table in front of Him. He also enjoyed California cucumbers; during the luncheon He took one and, holding it in His left hand, peeled it down a little, sliced it very thin, and ate it. (In Haifa cucumbers grow smaller, are very juicy, and are enjoyed as a fruit.) 'Abdu'l-Baha told a funny story, and we all laughed. Then we parted. I wanted very much to return to the dining room and get that bunch of grapes, but regretfully I did not go back.

On October 10 in San Francisco 'Abdu'l-Baha went to visit Charles Tinsley, a black Baha'i who had been laid up for a long time with a broken leg. "I am impatient," said Mr. Tinsley, "to be up and out to work for the Cause."

The Master told him:

You must not be sad. This affliction will make you spiritually stronger. ... you are dear to me. I will tell you a story:-

A certain ruler wished to appoint one of his subjects to a high office; so, in order to train him, the ruler cast him into prison and caused him to suffer much. The man was surprised at this, for he expected great favors. The ruler had him taken from prison and beaten with sticks. This greatly astonished the man, for he thought the ruler loved him. After this he was hanged on the gallows until he was nearly dead. After he recovered he asked the ruler, "If you love me, why did you do these things?" The ruler replied: "I wish to make you prime minister. By having gone through these ordeals you are better fitted for that office. I wish you to know how it is yourself. When you are obliged to punish, you will

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know how it feels to endure these things. I love you so I wish you to become perfect.

'Abdu'l-Baha then said to Charles:

Even so with you. After this ordeal you will reach maturity. God sometimes causes us to suffer much and to have many misfortunes that we may become strong in His Cause.

You will soon recover and be spiritually stronger than ever before. You will work for God and carry the Message to many of your people.

After this visit, the Master told Helen Goodall and Dr. Woodson Allen, with whom He was riding in an automobile, "Nothing makes a man so happy as love." He continued:

There will come a day when you will see how the nightingales of Persia will sing their songs of God in these gardens. Likewise, the quails of America in the mountains of Persia shall cause such a "quailing" as to cause the mountains to dance. The East and the West will then have a feast, and in one direction the song of the nightingale will be heard, and in the other direction you will hear the songs of other birds. In one direction you will hear the music of God, and from another region you will find the outpouring of God's blessings. In one direction you will see the lights of the radiance of guidance; in the other direction the Sun of Reality will shine. In another you will find the Chalice of the Love of God passed around. In the world there will be a spiritual feast. From the beginning of the world to the present day there will be none similar; hearts will be rejoiced, spirits will be exhilarated. The world will become a paradise of Abha.

When the Master was in the city Mrs. Goodall would drive Him and some of the friends (often including my

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father) to Lloyd Lake, a small lake surrounded by trees and flowering shrubs, in Golden Gate Park. On the edge of the lake was placed a marble arch, which is all that remains of the Towne family mansion after the fire of 1906. This arch is called "Portals of the Past" and is on the shore across the lake from where the Master would stand on the path and watch the ducks. The little ducks swam toward Him as if drawn by His presence. Once He said, "The ducks and flowers are more conscious of My presence than are the people of the city." He spoke of many things and said that He hoped the Faith would progress in the West.