|
Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand
|
Pages 6-7
|
|
(3) May 9th, 1925
| |
1 |
Alláh-u-abhá
| |
2 |
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
| |
3 |
The Greatest Holy Leaf and Shoghi Effendi have asked
me to answer on their behalf your kind letters of Apr. 2nd
from Port Said and April 14th from London.
| |
4 |
We were sorry to hear that Mrs Blundell got a chill on
the steamer and was laid up for a few days after her arrival in
London. We hope that by this time she is all right again. We
had a note from her from Bournemouth.
| |
5 |
You will be glad to hear that the Greatest Holy Leaf and
the Holy Mother were able to motor to Bahjí and Ridván one
day during the Feast of Ridván, and that yesterday the
Greatest Holy Leaf motored to the Shrine of `Abdu'l-Bahá
and saw the new Gardens in which Shoghi Effendi has been
taking so much interest.
| |
6 |
Yesterday a Dutchman arrived here from Port Said, the
first Dutch Bahá'í, so far as we know. He has been a sincere
and earnest truth-seeker for years. About 9 months ago he left
his home at the Hague and walked on foot through Belgium,
France and Italy. Then he felt some inward urge to go to
Egypt, and travelled thither by a Dutch Cargo Steamer.
When the steamer arrived at Port Said Mahmood Effendi,
one of the Port Said Bahá'ís came on board and was introduced
to Mesdag (the Dutchman). They struck up a
friendship at once and after 2 days Mesdag went to live in
Mahmood's house. There he met Martha Root, Mr
Schopflocher and various other Bahá'ís, read my book and
became thoroughly interested and seems now already a firm
believer. He has already, since his arrival yesterday morning,
translated our 8-page folder into Dutch and we hope he will
be able to do much to make the Cause known in Holland and
win adherents there.
| |
7 |
I have quite recovered from my pleurisy now and am
feeling almost as vigorous as before the attack. Azizullah
Bahadur is now in Stuttgart. There is as yet no improvement
in his hand, but he is having skilled treatment now and we
hope it will be successful. He seems to be having a very
happy time with the German friends.
| |
8 |
Shoghi Effendi is much in need of rest, but fairly well.
He and all the members of the Holy Family join in loving
greetings and heartfelt prayers for your welfare. We hope you
will have a fine time in England and return to New Zealand
refreshed and reinvigorated physically and spiritually to take
up your work for the Kingdom there with new enthusiasm
and devotion. We pray that you may always be guided and
strengthened by the Divine Confirmations.
| |
9 |
With love also to Effie Baker and all the other friends,
| |
10 |
Your brother in the service of the
Beloved,
| |
11 |
J. E. Esslemont
| |
12 |
[From the Guardian:]
| |
13 |
My precious Bahá'í sister:--
| |
14 |
I wish to assure you personally of my appreciation of
your devotion to the Cause, and your earnest efforts to promote
it as well as my fervent prayers for your spiritual advancement,
success and happiness. I will always remember
you most tenderly in my hours of visit at the three holy Shrines
and beseech for you and the New Zealand friends the
blessings of our loving and almighty Master.
| |
15 |
You true brother,
| |
16 |
Shoghi
| |
|