In the early years of the American Baha’i community, many Baha’is were occultists

In the early years of the American Baha’i community, many Baha’is were occultists, including those who believed they had acquired special knowledge or instructions through dreams or visions. As the community grew, the number of occultists declined. In 1917-1918, the orthodox Baha’is tried to expunge the esoteric Baha’is from the community. This was the Chicago Reading Room affair. ‘Abdu’l-Baha discouraged esoteric beliefs and warned the Baha'is against tampering with psychic forces.

(Studies in Honor of the Late Hasan M. Balyuzi by Moojan Momen)

https://books.google.com/books/about/Studies_in_Honor_of_the_Late_Hasan_M_Bal.html?id=yWXYAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y