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October 28, 2010

Interviews with ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Haifa

Some Questions and Answers. Written shortly after the interviews with ‘Abdu'l-Baha, from notes taken at the time, by Charles Mason Remey, while in Haifa, Syria, May, 1910.

Question: Many of the American believers desire to worship daily in accordance with the Teachings. What prayers should they use daily? No instruction has yet been revealed for them regarding daily worship.

Answer: Later on I will give instructions.

Q. Was Baha’u’llah of the seed of Jesse?

A. Yes. He was the ninth generation in succession from Jesse, but this was not the Jesse of the Bible.

Q. What is the Command regarding the giving of tithes: Is it 19% of the increase of one's capital, or is it the one nineteenth part of one's income?

October 24, 2010

Mount Carmel was physically visited by “all the prophets” – many times by Elijah and Christ, twice by Muhammad.

"The gathering of the friends is very good. In one month's time it will be very fresh and green here. This wilderness is where Baha'u'llah has crossed. This is the place where the tent of the Blessed Beauty was pitched. Many of the Divine Teachings and Tablets were revealed here. This is the ground where all the prophets have trod, they dwelt here and gave the Glad Tidings that a day will come when the tent of the Lord will be pitched upon this spot. His Holiness Christ always used to cross this Mount Carmel, Haifa and Nazareth. Therefore, these cities and this Mountain have a spiritual atmosphere. If man is in the mood of quiet and meditation, and passes through here and at the same time meditates, he will feel as though this mountain and this wilderness are speaking to him. Such will be his feeling. His Holiness Muhammad came here also. He came here twice, once when He was eleven years old and once when He was twenty-eight. The cave of His Holiness Elijah is here. He used to stay there and had many pupils around him, and was wont to teach them until they were educated." (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to Harry (Henry) Randall during his pilgrimage in 1919; ‘William Henry Randall, Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, p. 173)

October 11, 2010

May “American and Persian nations …be conjoined and united in reciprocal love”

20 April 1912

Talk at Orient-Occident-Unity Conference
Public Library Hall, Washington, D.C.
Notes by Joseph H. Hannen

Tonight I am most happy in presenting myself before an audience such as this. I am an Oriental and have come into the West to meet the people of the Occident. Praise be to God! Upon the faces of those assembled here I perceive the light of God. This I consider an evidence of the possibility of uniting the East and the West, of establishing a perfect bond between Persia and America -- one of the objects of this conference. For the Persians there is no government better fitted to contribute to the development of their natural resources and the helping of their national needs in a reciprocal alliance than the United States of America, and for the Americans there could be no better industrial outlet and market than the virgin commercial soil of Persia. The mineral wealth of Persia is still latent and untouched. It is my hope that the great American democracy may be instrumental in developing these hidden resources and that a bond of perfect amity and unity may be established between the American republic and the government of Persia. May this bond -- whether material or spiritual -- be well cemented. May the material civilization of America find complete efficacy and establishment in Persia, and may the spiritual civilization of Persia find acceptance and response in America.

October 7, 2010

‘Abdu’l-Baha counsels Baha’is of Chicago before He left their city

Sunday, May 5, 1912

As it was the last day of the Master’s stay [in Chicago], there was much commotion among the friends visiting the Master’s apartment. A large number of Baha'is and their children had gathered in the hotel's salon. 'Abdu'l-Baha embraced and kissed each child with love and kindness. Giving them flowers and sweets, He said to them:

“According to Christ you are the children of the Kingdom and according to Baha'u'llah, the candles of the world of man, for your hearts are in the utmost purity and your spirits are sanctified. You are not soiled with the things of this world. Your hearts are pure and clean like the mirror. Your parents must bring you up with great kindness and must educate you in morals and praiseworthy attributes so that the virtues of the world of man may he exemplified perfectly in your characters and conduct, that you may progress in all fields of endeavor, may acquire knowledge of the arts and sciences, and may become the cause of the manifestation of eternal bounties and universal advancement.”

Then addressing the entire assembly, He said: