Passing of Abdu'l-Baha Sources

1921.12.03 - Cablegrams

Src : Star of West Vol 12 No 19, 2 Mar 1922, p303 - PDF12-301

Family, Abdul-Baha Abbas,

Haifa, Palestine.

Cablegrams from and to Executive Board of Bahai Temple Unity

Dec. 3, 1921.

''He doeth whatsoever He willeth.'' Hearts weep at most great tribulation. American friends send through Unity Board radiant love, boundless sympathy, devotion. Standing steadfast, conscious of His unceasing presence and nearness.

EXECUTIVE BOARD,

(Signed) Lunt, Secretary.

Dec. 8, 1921.

Assemblies of Persia and the East,

Care of Rouhani, Care Dr. Moody,

Teheran, Persia.

Divine Covenant enthroned in Eternal Power and Beauty. West embraces East.

EXECUTIVE BOARD,

(Signed) Lunt, Secretary.

Dec. 15, 1921.

Abdul-Baha Family - Bahieh Khanum,

Haifa, Palestine.

If you plan special commemoration service American friends beg privilege joining. Please cable date and procedure.

EXECUTIVE BOARD,

(Signed) Lunt, Secretary.

Dec. 22, 1921.

Memorial meeting world over January 7. Procure prayers for unity and steadfastness. Master left full instructions in His Will and Testament. Translation will be sent. Inform friends.

(Signed) GREATEST HOLY LEAF.

Forty days after the ascension of his Holiness Abdul-Baha, Memorial meetings were in all Bahai Assemblies the world over, in compliance with the above word from Haifa. We hope to soon publish an account of the one held in Abdul-Baha's home. - The Editors.

1922.01.22 - Cablegram from Shoghi Rabbani to American Bahais

Src : Star of West Vol 12 No 18 p268 - PDF12-271

Cablegram from Shoghi Rabbani to American Bahais

HAIFA, PALESTINE, JANUARY 22, 1922.

WILHELMITE, N. Y.:

HOLY LEAVES [WOMEN OF THE HOLY HOUSEHOLD] COMFORTED BY AMERICANS' UNSWERVING LOYALTY AND NOBLE RESOLVE. DAY OF STEADFASTNESS. ACCEPT MY LOVING CO-OPERATION.

(Signed) SHOGHI.

1922.01.24 - Letter Accompanying Epistle

Src : Star of West Vol 13 No 1 p25, 21 Mar 1922 - PDF13-23

(Translated by Mrs. Hoagg, Ali Mohammed Bakir and Rouhi after the ascension.)

Letter accompanying above message.

Haifa, Palestine,

January 24, 1922.

My dear Corinne (True) :

The enclosed Tablet is one that the beloved Master wrote shortly before his ascension, but did not sign. The original is being sent to Roy Wilhelm, but you will find that Shoghi Effendi has affixed the seals of the Master to the original in Persia and also put a note that explains itself.

...It is to be hoped that this heart-breaking appeal of the Master will not have been in vain; that his call to the firm ones to protect the Cause for which he lived and suffered, will awaken them to the realization of what "protection'' means. Can any one longer feel that because the Master was loving and kind to his enemies, even the Naka zene, that anyone else can do as he did? It is very clear that our duty is to obey his commands regarding this and no longer play with fire. You who have been here know how strict the Master was concerning the association with the violators of the Covenant here. Yet I have seen Badi 'Ullah and his family in the house of the Master. He was the law-maker and could break his own law; but we are his flock that must be protected. I do pray that all the people

may become awakened to this duty through this saddest of appeals.

...Before long the Will (and Testament) of the dear Master will be ready for America and elsewhere. Shoghi Effendi is translating it now. How wonderfully the Beloved provided for the protection of the Cause. This will be a happiness to the sincere and a test to the weak. Let us pray that the friends in America will arise with strength and goodwill to obey and to serve. This is the least we can do now, that the beloved Master may be pleased with us, and forgive our many omissions as well as commissions...

Much love to all the friends and to each one of your family.

Affectionately,

Emogene (Hoagg).

1922.03.--- - Ethel Rosenberg on Tuba Khanum Ill

Src : Star of West Vol 12 No 19, 2 Mar 1922, p301 - PDF12-299

My dear Mrs. George:

...Tooba Khanum, I grieve, is ill with the heart. She poured out all her strength and energy in sustaining others, Mrs. Krug said, and finally collapsed from overstrain. She has been in bed for some days and is now better, I am told.

Khanum is wonderful; so are all the ladies. I will try and enclose something for you to read to the assembled friends.

...Monaver Khanum sends her love and says will you please pray for them all. They all need your prayers so much - in order that they may be strengthened and guided to carry out the beloved Master's will and wishes in every respect.

We have been to the Tomb each day for prayers and chanting. On the seventh day corn was distributed to all the poor. On the ninth (the final official day of mourning) we all went to Bahje and the Holy Shrine, 138 pilgrims, but the ladies of the household did not go. I am going again with them, later.

Yours with love,

Ethel Rosenberg.

1922.04.09 - At Rest (Poem by Albert Watson)

Src : Star of West Vol 13 No 2 p35, 9 Apr 1922 - PDF13-33

At Rest

Selection from Poem "The Dream of God''

(Copyright)

By ALBERT DURRANT WATSON

FOUR leagues from Nazareth. Hush, here he lies,

Carmel his cenotaph, his home the skies.

Who, in his name, would dare to speak of death?

Abdul-Baha, the blessed, never dies.

Farewell to Haifa! Yonder crescent moon

Tells of a land where it is always June.

Our white-sailed ships, far-speeding, bear away

Into a life where is no afternoon.

We have not lost our gifted prophet sage;

He has become the Spirit of the age;

A sea of love and purpose, power and thought

O'er which we reach our promised heritage.

It is not meet that we should grieve or weep.

The restless billows swell and heave and heap,

Then rise in vapor to the sun to fall

In tears of rain where parched meadows sleep.

Now all our fetters - warnings from the past,

With forward urging, far away we cast;

We burn our ships and climb along the stars,

Facing our steadfast future calm and vast.