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Introduction
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Page 1
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Introduction
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1 |
In December 1914, through a conversation with friends who
had met `Abdu'l-Bahá, and the loan of a few pamphlets, I
first became acquainted with the Bahá'í teachings. I was at
once struck by their comprehensiveness, power and beauty.
They impressed me as meeting the great needs of the modern
world more fully and satisfactorily than any other presentation
of religion which I had come across -- an impression
which subsequent study has only served to deepen and confirm.
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2 |
In seeking for fuller knowledge about the movement I
found considerable difficulty in obtaining the literature I
wanted, and soon conceived the idea of putting together the
gist of what I learned in the form of a book, so that it might
be more easily available for others. When communication with
Palestine was reopened after the war, I wrote to `Abdu'l-Bahá
and enclosed a copy of the first nine chapters of the book,
which was then almost complete in rough draft. I received a
very kind and encouraging reply, and a cordial invitation to visit
Him in Haifa and bring the whole of my manuscript with
me. The invitation was gladly accepted, and I had the great
privilege of spending two and a half months as the guest of
`Abdu'l-Bahá during the winter of 1919-1920. During this
visit `Abdu'l-Bahá discussed the book with me on various occasions.
He gave several valuable suggestions for its improvement
and proposed that, when I had revised the manuscript,
He would have the whole of it translated into Persian so that
He could read it through and amend or correct it where necessary.
The revisal and translation were carried out as suggested,
and `Abdu'l-Bahá found time, amid His busy life, to
correct some three and a half chapters (Chapters I, II, V and
part of III) before He passed away. It is a matter of profound
regret to met that `Abdu'l-Bahá was not able to complete
the correction of the manuscript, as the value of the book
would thereby have been greatly enhanced. The whole of the
manuscript has been carefully revised, however, by a committee
of the National Bahá'í Assembly of England, and its
publication approved by that Assembly.
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3 |
I am greatly indebted to Miss E. J. Rosenberg, Mrs. Claudia
S. Coles, Mírzá Lutfu'lláh S. Hakím, Messrs. Roy Wilhelm
and Mountfort Mills and many other kind friends for valuable
help in the preparation of the work.
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4 |
As regards the transliteration of Arabic and Persian names
and words, the system adopted in this book is that recently
recommended by Shoghi Effendi for use throughout the
Bahá'í World.
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5 |
J. E. ESSLEMONT
Fairford, Cults,
By Aberdeen.
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6 |
The Promised One of all the peoples of the world hath appeared.
All peoples and communities have been expecting a
Revelation, and He, Bahá'u'lláh, is the foremost teacher and
educator of all mankind. -- `ABDU'L-BAHÁ.
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