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| Shoghi Effendi, right |
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| Louisa Mathew, right |
Can you imagine visiting 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the ship, in Naples? He had visitors from the U.S., Canada, and England, who would then sail with Him. Louisa Mathew (who had met Him in Egypt and perhaps in Akka in 1908) was one of these! She had no idea then that He would suggest she marry an African-American lawyer she had also met in Egypt. . . .
It is so very sad that the 14-year-old Shoghi Effendi could not go to N. America--and indeed, he was never to see these shores. I think it was one of the deep regrets of his life, and undoubtedly he missed his grandfather greatly during His travels.
Mahmúd writes: Friday, March 29, 1912 [aboard the Cedric]
Some American Bahá'ís who were waiting for the steamer boarded the ship to see `Abdu'l-Bahá. Among them were Mr and Mrs [Percy] Woodcock and their daughter from Canada, Mr and Mrs Austin from Denver, Colorado, and Miss [Louisa] Mathew, a friend from London, who made the rest of the journey with them to New York.
It became known that a group of physicians from Naples was to board the ship to examine the eyes of the passengers. The ship's doctor had already given his opinion about the infection of Áqá Khusraw's eyes. When these physicians examined the passengers' eyes they said that the eyes of Shoghi Effendi and Mírzá Munír-i-Zayn were also infected and that they must leave the ship. The efforts of `Abdu'l-Bahá, His companions and the American friends were of no avail and apparently were not in accord with God's mysterious will and plan. The physicians insisted that even if these friends continued their journey to New York, they would not be allowed to disembark and would have to return. Therefore `Abdu'l-Bahá asked the three to obey.
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I really don't know anything about Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock and their daughter from Canada, or Mr. and Mrs. Austin from Denver. Did they go to Naples specifically to travel with the Master? Wouldn't you have loved to have been there with them?
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I really don't know anything about Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock and their daughter from Canada, or Mr. and Mrs. Austin from Denver. Did they go to Naples specifically to travel with the Master? Wouldn't you have loved to have been there with them?
so ... an opera is born ... it starts off with the telling of a tragedy ... images of the fall of rome , the black plague, the trail of tears, waterloo ... all of this and more ... war famine pestilence ... very very heavy, very dark, the dark dark pit before man can Baha'u'llah .... we catch of glimpse of Don Quito rushing through the maddening crowd , the tempest in a teapot if you will ... wondering what the signs means ... Go Home Turks ... but this is not some simple opera of tragedy and tears, nor will the wit of a well timed jester appease the appetite ... after all this is not a pilgrims quest ... it is The Mystery of God in our midst ... O Thou The Prophet of God ... do you hear the trumpets ... O Thou The Prophet of God ... can we soar above these ashes .... O Thou The Prophet of God .... The Mystery deepens ... glad tidings ... 1 dh
ReplyDeleteedit ... should read ... before some men can know of Baha'u'llah ... thanks ... 1 dh
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the daily report on the Master's travels... it brings us that much closer to the Perfect Exemplar.
ReplyDeleteChris in Hilo