The eighth day on board ship. Mahmúd reports that the sea is calmer and the winds more favorable. Also, `Abdu'l-Bahá's health is improving, and "companions are even more honored and thankful to be in His court of bounty and favor." Can you imagine being among them? And don't you wish they had all left diaries of their minutes, hours, and days with the Master? Not to mention photos of those days on board the Cedric?
Mahmúd also writes: Monday, April 1, 1912 [aboard the Cedric]
A narrow-minded clergymen on board came to visit the Master. `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke extensively to this visitor according to his capacity and discussed in detail the problems of people who veil themselves from reality. The visitor left Him most reverently. . . .
In the afternoon, as `Abdu'l-Bahá was walking in front of His cabin, Mr and Mrs Austin joined Him. They told Him about the founder of the famous school in Rome, Mrs Montessori. The majority of the students are orphans whose parents perished in the earthquake in Messina. She has managed the school in such a way that now most of the schools in Europe and America are following her standards. `Abdu'l-Bahá said:
The more the Catholics showed prejudice, the more they were debased. Only now have they shown willingness to accept the new measures. Otherwise, these persons are the most prejudiced of all religions. At present, in every quarter of Paris, the Catholic clergymen observe only trifling religious rituals. Officially they are engaged in attending to funerals and other ceremonies and have nothing at all to do with other matters. God has disgraced the ministers of religions. Whatever they do debases them more and more. The decay of the nations and the degradation of the people have always proceeded from the ministers of religion.
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I know that 'Abdu'l-Bahá's perspective is true and valid, but it is a little hard to read such statements, about anyone. Perhaps this is why we don't have clergy in the Faith--to prevent the decay of nations and degradation of the people! But beyond that, we know that we are to see with our own eyes, interpret the Word for ourselves. Don't you wonder what He said to the
"narrow minded" minister, that the latter would leave so reverently?
Many transformations to come, on this journey of light!
One thing is for certain. `Abdu'l-Bahá is always very clear, there is no muddying the waters when near. We may think, however `Abdu'l-Bahá always knows. ...... ...... "There is no other possible explanation .... .... " ... .... ... glad tidings
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