They will now be punished

“America,” he said, “is no longer even actively quarreling. They are passively stagnant.” This is why, he said, that he asked them to disperse — so that they may become alive again and not wither. They will now be punished, he told a pilgrim, both materially and spiritually if they do not disperse. Those who now fail to respond to the summons of the Crusade will suffer both materially and spiritually. Those who do not respond to the commander, he said, will feel this double suffering.

(First and Last Meeting with Shoghi Effendi - William Sears, April 1, 1954)

https://bahai-library.com/pilgrim_accounts_collection_files/html/1954,%20William%20Sears%20-%20First%20and%20Last%20Meeting%20with%20Shoghi%20Effendi%20-%20Part%20II.html

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Shoghi was more like a king than a religious figure

Shoghi Effendi became the leader of the Baha'i faith at age twenty four and was so shocked by the news that he said he stopped feeling like a normal person. Instead of leading right away, he suffered a physical collapse and fled to the mountains of Switzerland for many months, leaving the community without a clear head. During his long time as leader, he often got very sick and exhausted because he tried to do almost everything himself and refused to let others help with his work. He also broke with old traditions of kindness, such as refusing to meet with local religious leaders (like Muftis) who had always been welcomed by Abdul Baha.

His leadership style was very different from his grandfather, as people found him to be stern, impersonal, and more like a king than a religious figure. He moved the Baha'i faith away from being about a single person and focused more on a strict administrative system. He demanded that everyone follow this system exactly, stating that a person's own conscience must give way to the will of the majority in group decisions. 

Shoghi Effendi was often very critical of Baha'is in the West, especially those in America, calling them soft, materialistic, and lazy. He told them they were failing at their duties and needed shock medicine to wake them up from their inactive state. His time as leader was also marked by many painful fights with his own family members. Eventually almost all of his relatives were cast out of the religion and labeled as enemies or Covenant-breakers.

His intense focus on work was so strong that his wife said it was slowly killing him. He spent nearly all his time reading and writing thousands of letters, which left him with almost no time for rest or a normal personal life. When he died suddenly in 1957, it caused a massive crisis because he did not leave a written will or name a new leader to follow him. This left the entire community in a state of great confusion and fear about how to survive without any clear instructions.

(Extracted from Shoghi Effendi: Through the Pilgrim’s Eye, Volume 1 & 2)

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submission to the authority of the Spiritual Assemblies is a matter of faith.

One day in discussing the question of submission to the authority of the Spiritual Assemblies Shoghi Effendi said: "The Master has not left any latitude for personal opinion, it is not a matter of reason, it is a matter of faith.

'Some of the instructions and commands may seem unreasonable, but if we believe we have faith in them and the sign of faith is obedience. The whole question resolves itself into a matter of faith and obedience is the proof of faith, it is the result of faith, if we do not obey it is because we have not faith in the commands of the Master.

'I cannot see it in any other way.

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 1, Building the Administrative Order, 1922-1952 by Earl Redman)

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Shoghi Effendi was a dark-complexioned man, dressed in Western attire but wearing a fez

I [Marcus Bach] saw coming through the adjoining room a small, dark-complexioned man, dressed in Western attire but wearing a fez. His clean-shaven face and slender figure registered indomitable strength...

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 1, Building the Administrative Order, 1922-1952 by Earl Redman)

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Alvin told Shoghi Effendi that he would love to stay and teach in Israel

Alvin told Shoghi Effendi that he would love to stay and teach in Israel, but the Guardian said that it was not yet the time. Shoghi Effendi said that the million Jews who had come to Israel since it became a nation were not attached to religion, but to race. He told Alvin that the Israelis would develop the country and over time would slowly begin to understand the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. After world leaders began acknowledging the Faith, their eyes would be opened.

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 2, Building the Administrative Order, 1922-1952 by Earl Redman)

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Covenant-breakers were against the Jews

Virtually all the Covenant-breakers fled Haifa and Akka, joining forces with the Arab community in Lebanon and eventually becoming integrated into Islamic society.

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 1, Building the Administrative Order, 1922-1952 by Earl Redman)

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the number of members of the Universal House of Justice could be more than nine.

Mr Baghdadi asked if the number of members of the Universal House of Justice could be more than nine. The Guardian responded by saying, 'Not only can that be, but the number of all the Houses of Justice, local and national, will increase afterwards, but not now.

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 1 by Earl Redman - GEORGE RONALD, OXFORD)

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don't admit anyone into the Community, unless he has professed the truth of the Pure Imáms,

Shoghi Effendi emphasized that the Bahá'ís believed in the station of the Imáms: 

The Bahá'ís are the only people who can prove the right of the Pure Imáms. Bahá'u'lláh proved their right in 'The Book of Certitude'. The friends of the West will prove their right and will promulgate Islam. This is an essential belief in our Faith. We acknowledge the validity of the Imámate Institute and the invalidity of the Caliphate. The greatest proof is the collapse of the Caliphate after thirteen centuries.

[...]

For the sake of this point, teaching the Faith to the Shi'ah is easier than to the Sunnîs... But, this is the belief of the people of Bahá... So don't admit anyone into the Community, unless he has professed the truth of the Pure Imáms,

(Shoghi Effendi Through the Pilgrim's Eye, Volume 1 by Earl Redman - GEORGE RONALD, OXFORD)

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unqualified obedience and unswerving faith in the NSA, they are directed by spiritual forces.

Shoghi Effendi wishes us to give unqualified obedience to and have unswerving faith in the National Spiritual Assembly, because they are directed by spiritual forces.

https://bahai.works/Bahá’í_News/Issue_18/Text

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The mayor of Haifa asked us all to strive to be "better Bahá'ís!!"

The mayor of Haifa was introduced as one who takes a personal interest and has used his position to speed the progress. Mayor Amram Mitzva reminded us that the Bahá'ís share Haifa and that the Bahá'í World Centre is the heart of Haifa, the two are interlocked and that one cannot see Haifa without the "hanging gardens" (the Israeli reference to the Bahá'í World Center). He asked us to join together in prayer for peace and stability and no more war -- he asked us all to strive to be "better Bahá'ís!!"

(Impressions of Bahji, by Kevin Locke, 2001-05)

https://bahai-library.com/locke_impressions_bahji

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a counter clockwise circumambulation of the Shrine.

Following the Readings we all commenced a counter clockwise circumambulation of the Shrine. This is the first thing I've done every time I've visited Bahjí but this circumambulation, the first from this trajectory was new and fresh.

(Impressions of Bahji, by Kevin Locke, 2001-05)

https://bahai-library.com/locke_impressions_bahji

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"This is the photograph of Baha'u'llah."

The entire pilgrim group of Persians and Westerners entered the center room of the three chambers allocated to the Archives, then turned into a side room. There Dr. Lutfu'llah Hakim, guide for the Pilgrims, stood beside a cabinet. As we approached he drew aside a covering which draped a cabinet, softly announced, "This is the photograph of Baha'u'llah."

I had seen the miniature painting of Baha'u'llah during the dedication of the American House of Worship in Wilmette, lovely, exquisite, a bounty to view. But here before me, inches distant, was the stark reality of a photograph of the Manifestation. I had not known one existed.

I pushed close to the venerable photograph, taken in Turkey when Baha'u'llah as prisoner was exiled to Palestine, taken after the stressful period when he had been poisoned by His envious half-brother, His health depleted, His hands forever after to tremor. A passport photograph, untouched, unflattering.

(The Great Adventure: Chapter 40: Pilgrimage by Florence Mayberry, pp. 135-146, Ottawa, ON: Nine Pines Publishing, 1994)

https://bahai-library.com/mayberry_great_adventure_pilgrimage

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When Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned in Tihran, the Russian Ambassador went about twenty times to the Shah to plead in His behalf.

January 4. On this date in 1908, Helen Mirrell Goodall, later named a Disciples of 'Abdu’l-Bahá, and her daughter Ella Goodall Cooper arrived in Acre to visit 'Abdu’l-Bahá. They would later write a book about this visit, titled Daily Lessons Received at Akka: January 1908, which among other things chronicles Haji Mirza Haydar-Ali's description of Bahá'u'lláh's exile accompanied with "Cossack and Russian horsemen to protect Him from the Persian horsemen" after "the Russian Ambassador went about twenty times to the Shah to plead in His behalf." The book also recounts "The privilege of viewing the pictures of the Holy Bab and Bahá'u'lláh was accorded us just before we left Akka. This remarkable photograph of the Blessed Beauty is the only one in existence. How perfectly that noble Face and Form embody the Words, 'The King has come! The Kingdom and Power, the Glory and Majesty are His! He is the Lord of mankind, the Ruler of the Throne and of the dust!' and at the same time express with such Power the utmost Gentleness and Love."

The book contains many observations of 'Abdu’l-Bahá's household, daily routine and other visitors. The ladies also chronicle some the lessons they received, such as this recounting of the Exile of Bahá'u'lláh by Haji Mirza Haydar-Ali.

When Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned in Tihran, the Russian Ambassador went about twenty times to the Shah to plead in His behalf, saying, "This man has no fault. He is faultless. Why do you imprison Him?" The Shah answered that Bahá'u'lláh must be punished because He had ordered the attack on his life (see history). The Ambassador said, "That is not a reasonable supposition; for, if He had ordered such an attempt, He would have ordered a bullet put in the gun instead of merely powder and small shot." The Shah acknowledged this reasoning but was determined to hold Bahá'u'lláh responsible so as to have a pretext for keeping Him in prison.

Again and again the Russian Ambassador went to talk with the Shah about the matter, and at last the Shah confessed that he was afraid of the influence of Bahá'u'lláh, and that if he should set Him free, it would create a great tumult among the people.

The Ambassador answered, "If, then, you fear Him so much, why keep Him in Tihran? Would it not be better to exile Him to Baghdad?" This was accordingly done, and an escort furnished of Cossack and Russian horsemen to protect Him from the Persian horsemen.

The book also describes in the chapter titled THE PICTURE OF BAHA'U'LLAH their impressions on viewing the photograph of Bahá'u'lláh

THE PICTURE OF BAHA'U'LLAH

The privilege of viewing the pictures of the Holy Bab and Bahá'u'lláh was accorded us just before we left Akka.

This remarkable photograph of the Blessed Beauty is the only one in existence. How perfectly that noble Face and Form embody the Words, "The King has come! The Kingdom and Power, the Glory and Majesty are His! He is the Lord of mankind, the Ruler of the Throne and of the dust!" and at the same time express with such Power the utmost Gentleness and Love.

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They must suffer to awaken.

After the coming calamity the United States will fulfill the prophecy that the United States will suffer, then it will lead all the nations spiritually. He said that he has given up warning the friends, as they paid no heed to either the warnings of Abdu'l-Bahá nor to Shoghi Effendi. They must suffer to awaken.

https://bahai-library.com/moffett_pilgrims_notes

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Cyprus is the island of Satan

Shoghi Effendi spoke first and asked me if I was coming from England. I answered, “Bale, Qorban! (Yes, my Beloved!)” He inquired about the unity and activities of the Baha’is in England, and I replied that yes, they were united in London where I had spent much time. Then the Beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, congratulated me on my decision to pioneer to Cyprus and expressed the wish that I start corresponding with the Baha’is of Iran to encourage them to pioneer to this country as well. He said he had encouraged American, British, and Iranian Baha’is to pioneer there. Cyprus was the island where Mirza Yahya Azal, Baha'u'llah's half-brother and a Covenant-Breaker, had been banished by the Turkish government and lived for over forty years, and he explained that the name of the island had been known as the ‘sheytan jazirasi’ (the island of Satan) and wanted to know if I knew that. I replied, “Yes, my beloved.” Then he indicated that now the Baha’is must change it into the ‘island of Rahman’ (the island of the Clement One).

(The Memoirs of Shamsi Sedaghat by Shamsi Sedaghat edited by Hillary Chapman - 2023)

https://bahai-library.com/sedaghat_chapman_memoirs

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I knew he had read materials from Covenant-breakers. I told him that he would not find his answers by reading misleading sources.

Mr. and Mrs. Horton and their child came to the Center that evening for the fireside. This time he began to ask questions on the authority of Shoghi Effendi and why some people had rejected him. Right away I knew he had read materials from Covenant-breakers. I told him that he would not find his answers by reading misleading sources. He had been to the National Library and taken out The Divine Art of Living and Baha’u’llah and the New Era as well. Mr. Horton asked why there were no sects in the Faith since they existed in all other religions. I explained that Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’lBaha had written Wills and Testaments and appointed a successor after themselves thereby safeguarding the unity of the Faith. He reiterated the point that he felt he needed to understand the Faith well before accepting it and asked for patience. He said that he had first heard of the Faith from a talk by Dr. Elsie Austin to a group of lawyers in which she said that she had always been ready to challenge and make arguments until she asked herself whether she was coming to Baha’i meetings to argue or to discover the truth. As a result, she decided to inquire from the bottom of her heart, and gradually she was convinced. During our conversation, Mr. Glenford Mitchell arrived and joined our discussion. He said that Mr. Horton should investigate the Faith freely and try to coordinate what his heart was telling him with what his mind could accept.

(The Memoirs of Shamsi Sedaghat by Shamsi Sedaghat edited by Hillary Chapman - 2023)

https://bahai-library.com/sedaghat_chapman_memoirs

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More buildings to be built on Mount Carmel

On the ninth day of my pilgrimage, January 19th, 1955, we were again in the presence of Ruhiyyih Khanum when the Guardian arrived. She joined him, and then I proceeded to the door of his room. When I heard him say, “Befarmaid, Befarmaid!” I entered, greeted him, and took a seat. He wanted to know what I had done that day. I told him that we had visited the archives, and he wanted to know which archives—the small or main one. I answered that we had seen the main one. He wanted to know if we had seen the photograph of His Holiness Baha’u’llah, the painting of His Holiness the Bab, and the picture of the Master, and I answered that we had seen them all. He recounted how he had gathered many Holy relics and kept track of the names of the donors, writing these out in English and in Farsi and how he was busy erecting the buildings of the World Center which would consist of multiple buildings. The first would be the International Archives building. In the second and third epochs of the history of the Faith, the other buildings would be built. This construction would continue until the Golden Age. Mr. Remey, the Hand of the Cause of God, had designed the Archives building, the significance of which was not yet known to the believers but would be in the future.

(The Memoirs of Shamsi Sedaghat by Shamsi Sedaghat edited by Hillary Chapman - 2023)

https://bahai-library.com/sedaghat_chapman_memoirs

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Abdul Baha's contacts with British Military heads

It appears that General Allenby, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, had called upon him at Haifa a week ago and at the Master's wish had driven with him to Acre and taken tea at Bahje, outside the city. The party included Lady Allenby, General Bols, Chief of the General Staff, and also Colonel Staunton, Military Governor of Haifa, who has become a firm friend and promises to do all possible for Abdul Baha and the Movement generally.

I cannot report the intensely interesting conversation between General Allenby and Abdul Baha, because it was of a private nature. Sufficient to say, that the Commander-in-Chief was deeply impressed, and asked for literature on the Baha'i Movement, with which I have since provided him.

Abdul Baha has now been visited by all the important military personages in Palestine, including the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Arthur Money, Chief Administrator, General Ronald Storrs, Military Governor of Jerusalem, and many military heads of departments, to say nothing of a constant flow of officers and men who call upon him daily.

(Leroy Ioas Papers, 1919, p. 8 - The U.S. Bahá'í National Archives)

https://bahai-library.com/pdf/p/pilgrims_notes_us-archives_1919.pdf

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According to a prominent Baha'i historical figure, the formation of Israel was "a most remarkable bloodless revolution occurred, when 4,000,000 Moslems fled and 1,000,000 Jews marched in and began tilling their ancestral soil, and a new nation was born."

May 18. On this date in 1954, Ruhaniyyih Ruth Moffett arrived in Israel. She described the founding of that country six years previous as "a most remarkable bloodless revolution occurred, when 4,000,000 Moslems fled and 1,000,000 Jews marched in and began tilling their ancestral soil, and a new nation was born. Today the blue and white flag with the star of Bethlehem flutters proudly over the world'' youngest democracy --" "nation as eternally old as yesterday, as eternally young as tomorrow". Phonex-like, from the ashes have risen again to build a new homeland, to develop the most stupendous, life-salvaging operation ever undertaken in the whole history of mankind, and to fulfill the promise of the Ages!"

https://bahai-library.com/moffett_pilgrims_notes#1

Ruth J. Moffett was born on January 19, 1880 and met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on a train platform in Chicago in 1912. After attending one of his lectures, she became a Bahá'í and became active in service in 1919. Her teaching efforts took her throughout the Americas, Europe, Egypt and the Near East. The Greatest Holy Leaf (Bahiyyih Khanum) named her Ruhaniyyih, conoting spirituality, joy and beauty. Ruth J. Moffett died on July 5, 1978.

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Some reasons why Fazl'ollah Mohtadi Sobhi left the Baha'i faith

His first real doubts started after seeing 'Abdu'l-Baha for the first time and realizing that he was nothing like how he was described by Baha'i missionaries. Finally after seeing how Mírzá Muhammad ʻAlí was treated by 'Abdu'l-Baha and his followers he devised a plan to extend his 19-day stay in Haifa to investigate the truth (...)

He recounts many things that troubled him in Palestine. 'Abdu'l-Baha posing as a Hanafi Sunni and attending the Friday prayers at the Muslim mosque and denying he was part of a new religion, accepting Knighthood from the British crown while a number of Muslims had rejected it at the same time, 'Abdu'l-Baha's close relatives indulged in leisure and living off the money sent by Baháʼís from abroad, bias and discrimination in favor of western pilgrims over Iranian pilgrims and 'Abdu'l-Baha's constant belittling of the people of Iran in his letters to the western Baháʼís.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazl%27ollah_Mohtadi_Sobhi

http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/areprint/authors/subhi/Payam-i_Pidar.pdf

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