Visiting 'Abdu'l-Baha, Volume 1

Book excerpt: Among those who visit 'Akká, some have made great forward strides. Lightless candles, they were set alight; withered, they began to bloom; dead, they were recalled to life and went home with tidings of great joy. 'Abdu'l-Bahá . . .each pilgrim brings back information and suggestions of a most precious character, and it is the privilege of all the friends to share in the spiritual results of these visits. Shoghi Effendi This two-volume series on pilgrims who visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the Holy Land may be seen as a companion to 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Their Midst, about 'Abdu'l-Bahá's three-year journey (1910-1913) to Egypt, Europe and North America. The present volume covers the time from 1897 until the Master's departure on His journey to the West, while the second volume begins with His return to Haifa at the end of 1913 and covers the time until His passing in 1921. Virtually all pilgrims and many other visitors wrote down what 'Abdu'l-Bahá said, including many of His talks, both formal and informal. Their accounts provide a great wealth of stories that help illustrate who 'Abdu'l-Bahá was in the context of history and how he taught and interacted with others. Most of these accounts come from personal diaries and letters initially written in longhand, though many were later typed. They are to be considered 'pilgrims' notes', but are a fascinating and moving testimony to how 'Abdu'l-Bahá affected and transformed those He met, described in their own words. PILGRIMS INCLUDE: Mírzá Habíbu'lláh Afnán Alma Albertson Arthur and Mary Agnew Wellesca (Aseyeh) Allen-Dyar Anne Apperson Azíz'u'lláh Azízí Laura Barney May Bolles Edith and Joseph de Bons Thomas Breakwell Isabella Brittingham William Jennings Bryan Madame De Canavarro Thornton Chase Stanwood Cobb Helen Ellis Cole Ella Cooper Josephine Cowles de Lagnel Grace Crockett Charlotte, Louise and Eleanor Dixon Arthur and Elizabeth Dodge William and Wendell Dodge Hipployte Dreyfus Sarah Farmer Frank Frank Lua and Edward Getsinger Ellen Goin Ella Goodall Helen Goodall Julia Grundy Anton Haddad Mary Hanford Ford Joseph and Pauline Hannen Hooper Harris Phoebe Hearst Helen Hillyer Emogene Hoagg Anna Hoar William Hoar Herbert Hopper Marion Jack Edith Jackson Florence and Ali-Kuli Khan Yúnís Khán Ibrahim Kheiralla The Knobloch sisters Edward and Carrie Kinney Mary Lucas May and Sutherland Maxwell Howard and Mary MacNutt Edith and Marie-Louise McKay Susan Moody Harlan Ober Agnes Parsons Julia Pearson Margaret Peeke Frances Phelps Myron Phelps Mason Remey Ethel Rosenberg Sigurd Russell Edith Sanderson Mary Scaramucci Carl Scheffler Sydney Sprague Jean Stannard Ethel Stefana Stevens Howard Struven Juliet Thompson Harriet Thornburgh Maryam Thornburgh-Cropper Emma Tronvé Corinne and Arna True Robert Turner Valíyu'lláh Varqá Louise Waite Jane Whyte Roy and Laurie Wilhelm George and Rosa Winterburn Maria Wilson Edwin Woodcock