Amy G. Raubitschek
February 2-11, 1955
The Bab’s body was in concealment in Persia for 50 years, and in the Holy Land
for 10. Baha’u’llah revealed to Abdu’l-Baha the place for teh Shrine of the
Bab. The friends should read about this before coming to Haifa – in God
Passes By, and also the 2 chapters about the Banishment of Baha’u’llah before
going to Bahji.
Concerning the Tablet to a Physician revealed by Baha’u’llah, opposite
foods are hot and cold, sour or sweet. Science will reveal this. Take liquid
before meals; use moderation at all times.
Other worlds – (in answer to question about space ships asked by one of
the pilgrims) – there are other worlds and science will reveal this. There are
creatures, not humans, and time will disclose their structure. the Faith will
then influence them – the other worlds. The Guardian looked at numerous
sketches for Temple designed for Teheran. Rejected all of them and then asked
mason Remey to bring to the table the several sketches he had made of Temples.
The Guardian then selected: Latern (?) of one, the dome of another, the shape
and columns shown on a third, and the door of the fourth.Then he told Mason to
assemble these features and produce a sketch.the Guardian said if Mason could
do that, he would be a wonderful architect. Several days later, Mason did
reproduce the sketch and with the exception of a few changes in the shape of
the dome and columns, he seemed (i.e., the Guardian) pleased with the result.
Mason told a story of the time he was asked to design a home for the blind
and had received about 50 suggestions. he ignored them all and finally had his
sketch accepted. the Guardian jokingly said that was alright for it was for
the blind.
Asked if the 52 columns in the design for the Archives building, which
Mason Remey had designed had any significance, the guardian said they did not.
The architecture was of the Greek type. Much discussion followed as to the
proper angel to set the building on the side of Mt. Carmel so that it would fit
properly against the contour of the mountain, and look best in approaching it,
from any angle.
Ruhiyyih Khanum said the little Persian cookies we had for dessert were
like rolled brown paper baked, but the Guardian said they went well with the
custard and made a gook balance – soft custard, crisp cookies.
Pioneering – the Guardian said that families should not be disrupted nor
communities jeopardized (LSA’s) by the believers going pioneering.
The Kinneys are pillars of the Cause – the exception to the rule, when so
many of the other old believers had become inactive, but they continued right
on the serve.
Deadwood – too strong a term to use for believers who have become inactive
and are not seen nor heard from in their communities. The Guardian said they
should continue to receive their News Letters as the News Letters may stimulate
them into activity again.
There has been too much emphasis on the Fund. This subject should be
broached delicately and with dignity. Care should be taken not to hurt
anyone’s feelings.
Africa – Nearly 1000 converts in four years; formerly there were none
except the believers in Abyssinia and Egypt. If Africa becomes civilized
teaching will become more difficult. America is too civilized.
Pioneering should be done voluntarily rather than using force. If it is a
sacrifice, then it is more meritorious. Ruhiyyih Khanum asked if pitchforks
should be used to get people to move, and the Guardian said that God would move
them. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the results.
Adrianople is the “Remote Prison” mentioned in the Tablet of Ahmad.
Letters of the Living are like Apostles – higher than Disciples.
There would be a new set of Laws at the end of this Dispensation. This is
not a sign of the decadence of the Faith, but that there would be a need for
new Laws. Ruhiyyih Khanum spoke of the traffic situation in the cities which
made it impossible to reach the cemeteries which are usually in the outlying
sections of the cities, to be reached within the hour time the body must be
taken for burial according to the latest law revealed by the Guardian. The
Guardian said that is why the helicopter was developed, so that Baha’is could
conduct a burial according to the Baha’i Law. Then he said we must be
careful that the body does not fall out of the helicopter on its way to burial.
The number of the Hands of the Cause would be increased, and that all are
not necessarily appointed for life.
If advertising which is expensive is not effective after due trial, it is
better to send the money to the NSA as the NSA needs it. concentrate on the
Ten Year Plan.
Capitalism in the United States is a special kind of Capitalism.
Russia is a Dictatorship of the Proletariate.
United States fears Russia. They are two extremes.
Baha’i Plan is neither.
Freedom from prejudice is not truly practised even among the Baha’is.
Marriage is the ultimate proof of that freedom from prejudice in America.
England abounds in class prejudice.
The Guardian spoke again about Africa with 1000 converts in 4 years, and
pointed out how little progress America made in 60 years, in comparison.
There would be no more Republics, ultimately Kingship. At the time of
Soloman there was a spilt in Israel.
What we need is not union but unification. Union means a contract between
two different individuals or organizations each maintaining its own
individualism, but unification meant unity with all the same opinion and
striving for the same principles.
The Guardian spoke of the Covenant-breakers, that they are tenant on our
property.
He spoke of the Baha’is in colleges and was pleased. He said the
Libraries in the colleges were very important and that the NSA should be
concerned about this – to have Baha’i books in all the colleges possible.
Station of the master – perfection of the Divine and the Perfection of the
human. This is the Mystery never before in the world.
America must be purged with suffering and purified in order to lead the
world spiritually. Then the World Civilization and Baha’i civilization would
merge into World Order. The United Nations will pass and another evolve as a
preliminary to the Universal House of Justice. World Government should be
patterned on the United States Government, but Kingship would prevail.
Italy should send pioneers to the Italian colonies, incorporate, find land
for the Temple and buy a Hazira; multiply centers so that an NSA could be
formed. Canada must find land for a Temple and assist others in the Ten Year
Plan.
Baha’is should avoid Moslems and other Orientals. They are crafty, no
sincere, greedy, dishonest, have ulterior motives, and they may be dangerous.
Rather, concentrate on teaching natives.
First (asked if marriage could take place during this time) the Guardian
said that marriage can take place at any time. We are not to restrict humans;
the clergy are doing that now.
The Guardian said I should visit the Islands of the Mediterranean, as many
as I could conveniently reach, in the time I had. I should go by boat.
Marriage – there is no provision for alimony in the Teachings, but that
the Universal House of Justice would make this decision. Baha’i divorce is
not recognized in any part of the world now.
There are only three Temple sites not yet purchased – Italy, Canada and
Stockholm. Canada has the money which Fred Schoflacher left.
The Guardian said that Ethna Archibald, the pilgrim from New Zealand, now
living in England, should go to Africa, but not to Kampala, Tanganiki, or
Johannesburg, as they are too crowded.
In answer to a question about things in the far distant future, the
Guardian said we should not speculate on things not revealed thus far, but
concentrate on the Ten Year Plan, and study the Teachings.
“Concourse on High” are the souls whose prayers assist us and affect us;
“Hosts of the Unseen” are the powers of the Holy Spirit which assist us and
guide us.
Prophecy of Daniel -“1335” is not 1957 but 100 years after Baha’u’llah’s
declaration: 1963. We are seeing the evidence of it now.
Baha’i day of rest has not been established.
The Prophecy of Daniel would not mean Universal Peace, but recognition of
the Faith; Ruhiyyih Khanum read a passage from “The Passing of Abdu’l-Baha”.
Marriage and Divorce – Baha’u’llah made provision and laws for divorce;
non-Baha’is who marry Baha’is should be informed about the Laws for
marriage and divorce before marrying Baha’is to avoid difficulties later.
Baha’is should be free to live according to the Baha’i Laws.
Progress of the Faith – obscurity; non-recognition; persecution;
recognition; acceptance; World Order.
Progress of the Cause in England – slow to get started but once aroused,
good results. Cause no in University cities, should now be opened in Cathedral
cities. Then, opposition would begin and through this, the Cause would grow
and the opposition would fall.
Purpose of the Baha’i Faith – to bring about World Civilization. Peace,
and World Order of Baha’u’llah are not the ultimate; are only steps in the
process. There could be other Prophets, other Dispensations for the maturity
of mankind. The fruit of the Baha’i Dispensation is World Civilization.
Crime in the cities – Materialism and crime; it is useless to teach the
Cause in the cities; teach in the small villages.
Health – Baha’is should observe laws of Baha’u’llah and laws of the
cities and countries in which they live. Consult a good physician; there is
nothing in the Teachings about inoculation or vaccination. Later the House of
Justice might consider these facts, but at present there is nothing in the
Teachings.
Use moderation at all times; don’t pray too much; don’t concentrate on
material matters too much.
Muhammadanism in Africa – more readily accepted by natives than
Christianity because it is a purer faith and more authentic. Paul interjected
some of his own ideas in preaching the Faith and Peter ws unable to correct or
object because Christ made no specific mention of the line of authority.
Baha’is should distinguish between law, principles and administration.
The Guardian is now working on the codification of the Aqdas.
We have 12 more languages into which the Writings are to be translated
that called for in the Ten Year Plan. I should tell the NSA to get busy; we
have translated into one language out of the 10 we were to do.
Disperse – save yourselves and help the Cause by so doing.
England moved faster; America has done almost nothing; United States has
to be pushed, pushed. We get enthusiastic at first, but we have to be pushed
later.
Abdu’l-Baha told us to disperse and then waited twenty years for us to do
so. I should tell the friends to disperse.
Our Baha’i institutions are only a means to an end.
Pillar of the Cause is not a station or a rank but an expression of
service, strength and faithfulness, steadfastness in the Cause; pillar is not
like a hand, which is and organization of the Institutions.
He said I would come again to Haifa, and with my husband, the next time.
Courtesy of Helen Eggleston Dec. 1956 at Davison Baha’i School.
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