The passing of Abdu'l-Baha

Copy of Mrs. Krug's Talk on the Passing of Abdu'l-Baha at West Englewood, N. J. Wednesday Evening, November 28, 1934.

Dearly Beloved Friends;

To give you a word picture of this very important event without some of the intimate details is impossible. Since the room is filled with Believers only, I will speak freely. On the 19th of November 1921, Dr. Krug and I arrived in Haifa. The ship weighed anchor about four o'clock in the afternoon, Ruhi Afnan and Fugita met us at the pier. After the custom formalities were over we drove at once to the American Pilgrim House. The Beloved Master was waiting inside the gate to welcome us with a love ineffable. I noticed how tired He looked, my spirit sank and I said to Ruhi Afnan, "Has the Master been well of late?" He replied, "Yes". After escorting us into the house and telling us to be seated the Master inquired with His usual solicitude as to our health, the comfort of our journey etc, and to tell us how happy He was that we had come. Suddenly He arose asking us to follow Him, led the way out of the house up the street to the gate of His own residence into His garden and up a flight of outside stairs to a room over the garage that had been built during our absence of the past year. He turned, smiled and said: "Now I am going to give you and Dr. Krug my room". I burst into tears, I don't know why, such a feeling of apprehension came over me. His grandson Ruhi Afnan tried to comfort me by saying: "The family are all very happy Mrs. Krug that the Master has decided to move back into the big house, as we were anxious about His sleeping out here alone".
Friends, the last nine days in which we were blessed with His presence on earth, His life from hour to hour was so busy and beautiful to watch, that after my early morning visit each day to the Shrine of the Bab, I stood at my window to catch as many glimpses of the Master as possible. In the morning He would often seat Himself in the garden under the grape arbor to receive the many visitors seeking His wisdom. There were Generals in gaudy uniforms, Arabs, again a poor man or woman asking alms. He was so beautiful and serene with a sweetness of spirit that I never noticed before. There was an air of finality and completeness around Him. The first private interview that Dr. Krug and I had with the Master in His reception room, I knelt at His feet and held my miniature up to Him to bless. He looked at it intently with an expression on His dear face unutterably sad and said: "It is most beautiful, but put it away, do not wear it while you are in Haifa as my enemies will use it against me. Then He chanted a short commune, placed the miniature upon His heart for a moment and returned it to me. Again that same feeling of sadness came over me.
A few days before His passing the Master had fever. Ruhi Afnan suggested to Dr. Krug and me that we go to Abdu'l-Baha and ask Him to please rest more. We went. Dr. Krug begged Him not to make the physical effort of walking daily to the American Pilgrim House to meals. The Master replied: "Very well, for your sake Dr. I won't go any more". I left His presence again in tears and said to the doctor; "We creatures through our love and devotion for the Master put our finite wills over His and when He grants our requests we are sadder than before".
The next morning, Friday, He said to His daughter Ruha Khanum, "Today, Kasro must be married". Friends, I will digress for a moment and give you a brief history of this remarkable man, - Abdu'l-Baha's body servant. Many years ago while the Master was still a prisoner in Acca, one of the Hindu(/Hindy) Baha'is on his way to visit Him, passed through a slave market in one of the large cities in India and saw a forlorn child aged six years standing on the block to be sold. The pilgrim's heart was so moved at this pitiful sight that he bought the poor boy and took him with him to Palestine. Abdu'l-Baha had him educated, brought him up with His own family and he has proved to be a most faithful servant. There are no words to describe his sincere devotion to the entire family. Kasro's bride was a daughter of one of the Persian martyrs and she too was brought up in the prison with the family. Friends, I am certain, after Abdu'l-Baha's Ascension, Kasro in his agonized grief would have killed himself had he not been married. Think of the Master's foresight. Kasro's wedding ceremonies took place early in the afternoon. The Master called us about five o'clock to His reception room. The bride was seated at His side. All those in His presence were very happy. Abdu'l-Baha with a twinkle in His eye looked at me and said: "Dr. and Mrs. Krug must have a second honeymoon here" I replied: "Inshalla Beloved" (God willing). The Master was very much amused at my answer. After His Ascension, those last words addressed to me were very precious memories. Saturday He was not well, He saw none of the visiting Pilgrims. In the afternoon His daughter Moneveh Khanum found Him with Baha'u'llah's Coat wrapped around Him without a pillow under His head on the divan in His room, she said to Him: "Master, please permit me to put a pillow under your head if you are not feeling well." He replied: "No, my head is not worthy of a pillow, all other heads are allowed pillows, but not mine". Oh friends, the pathos of those last days of servitude!
Sunday, a Baha'i brother from India gave a most beautiful feast at the Shrine of the Bab. Dr. Krug and I arrived rather early and waited with the friends for the family to come, when Abdu'l-Baha's four sons-in-law entered the room without the Master, again that same feeling of dread came over me. The spiritual feast was most uplifting and the bountiful hospitality by our Parsee brother was greatly enjoyed. After the feast was ended Ruhi Afnan ran at once down the mountain to the Master's house and said to Him: "Master, all were disappointed that you were not at the Shrine". He replied: "but I was there in spirit". "When this body disintegrates and returns to dust, for that care not at all, it is as a cloud that covers the sun".
Friends, that night at supper word came that the Master had no fever and was better. We were all so happy and unified in spirit, that I doubt if ever again in this world will I feel the same. Little did I know what awaited us!
We retired as usual, but Dr. Krug had a premonition that he would be called to the Master's bedside before morning. About one-fifteen o'clock we were awakened by screams from the Master's house, "come Dr. Krug, the Master, the Master". Like a flash the doctor was up, dressed, out of the room and across the garden into the house. You see, friends, had we not occupied Abdu'l-Baha's room over the garage, Dr. Krug could not have reached the Master so quickly. I stood absolutely petrified with fear, finally I was able to slip a one piece dress over my night robe and rushed after the doctor. Friends, how can I describe that scene in the Master's bedroom! Dr. Krug stood in the center his hand raised, saying; "'Silence, our Beloved Master has ascended". I ran to His bedside and there He lay in the majesty of death. His lovely eyes were still open, but the light of love and understanding, that had for so many years cheered the souls of men was gone! My first thought was, my Adored One is freed from our endless questions, freed from His life of servitude and heartaches. I turned and knelt at the feet of His sister, the Greatest Holy Leaf, put my head in her lap and in that agonized moment she stroked my head and tried to comfort me. Friends, not one thought of herself. God has never created a more glorious woman than she.
For hours after the ascension that night chaos reigned. The house was crowded with guests, there were at least forty women believers with their babies sleeping oriental fashion on the floor in the large hall of the Master's house. Abdu'l-Baha's daughters told me at the time of Baha'u'llah's ascension the same thing took place. Finally Dr. Krug called me saying: "Fugita will make a cup of tea for the guests in the American Pilgrim House. Mr. and Mrs. John Bosh of Geyserville, Cal. Mr. Curtis Kelsey, Dr. Krug and I went over. Not a word was spoken and not a tear did I shed, the agony of His passing was too deep. I stepped out on the stoop of the Pilgrim House and gazed at the myriads of stars over my head and prayed and wished from my soul, that the material veils would be lifted from my eyes, that I might see the Hosts of the Supreme Concourse bearing my Beloved Master in Triumph to His Divine Father Baha'u'llah. As I sat in the silence of the night I was conscious that the Master's spirit like attar of roses had filled not only the town of Haifa, but the world!
In the early dawn Dr. Krug called me and said: "Come dear you must rest a little". At nine o'clock that morning there were at least two hundred Mohammedan women in the garden and on the steps of the Master's house, wailing as the news of His Passing spread like wild fire. After making my way through the crowds of mourners I entered the reception room and found Moneer Khanum, the Holy Mother with the four daughters, surrounded by friends of the family. Two Mohammedan Mufti (priests) were chanting the Koran in the hall. I said to the ladies, "Oh, can't you be alone in your agony of grief?" They replied: "No it is not the custom here, God willing, tonight we will be by ourselves". All the servants were so grief stricken, that the family was obliged to send to the Hotel in Haifa for cooks to come and prepare the midday meal. There were hundreds of people that had to be fed.
Tuesday morning before nine o'clock crowds assembled for the funeral, thousands of people. The day was cloudless. Sir Herbert Samuels, the Governor of Palestine motored all night from Jerusalem to attend the funeral. Over ten thousand men and women followed the casket up Mount Carmel, borne on the shoulders of men who truly revered Abdu'l-Baha.

OTTILIE RHEIN

1903-1979

Knight of Bahá'u'lláh

published in Bahá'í World, Vol. 18 (1979-1983), pages 610-825
Haifa, Israel: Baha'i World Centre, 1986

Ottilie Rhein, named by the beloved Guardian a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for having pioneered to the Island of Mauritius in 1953,¹ passed on to the Abhá Kingdom on 29 October 1979 in San Mateo, California. She was laid to rest in the beautiful hills overlooking an expanse of the great Pacific Ocean.

Oceans were not a barrier to Ottilie's adventuresome spirit. She was to cross and recross the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans by both sea and air. She set goals for herself and went about accomplishing them regardless of the perils she might face. As a young girl she left her native Germany to seek adventure in the United States where she settled in Chicago and managed a building in which she rented rooms. One of her tenants, Betty Powers, had in her room a photograph of 'Abdu'l-Bahá which aroused Ottilie's passing interest — she thought Him a Holy Man — but through changing her job Ottilie lost contact with the Bahá'ís until 1941 when the distress and loneliness occasioned by World War II caused her to be drawn irresistibly to the Bahá'í Temple.

After attending meetings conducted by Melvin Newport and Albert Windust, Ottilie gave her heart and life to Bahá'u'lláh. 'The Guardian will pray that, in the days to come, you may render the Faith many lasting and noteworthy services,' Shoghi Effendi's secretary wrote to her on his behalf on 10 December 1942. Almost immediately Ottilie arose to pioneer in Arizona to fill a goal of the Seven Year Plan in that State. From here she moved to San Mateo, California, where her dear Bahá'í friend, Mrs. Lisette Berger, made her welcome. San Mateo became the base to which she would return from her various international pioneering posts when necessity dictated. As a naturalized citizen of the United States she could not be away from the country for more than five years without losing her citizenship.

Ottilie was present at the International Conference in Chicago in 1953 when the beloved Guardian launched the Ten Year Crusade. All hearts were touched and a flood of volunteers arose in response to the call for pioneers. But Ottilie was always a person of action and she was one of the first to put her affairs in order and leave. She stored some of her belongings with Mrs. Berger and departed

¹ Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá'í World, p. 57.

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with only minimal luggage. She had thought of joining Rex and Mary Collison in Uganda but the Guardian had specified the settlement of virgin areas so she determined to go to Mauritius, an island mentioned by name in 'Abdu'l-Bahá'sTablets of the Divine Plan and one 'whose name was enshrined in Bahá'í history during the Heroic Age ... as the source, two years before 'Abdu'l-Bahá's arrival in America, of a contribution towards the purchase of the site of the Mother Temple of the West'.¹ She poured over maps, atlases and encyclopedias but could discover very little about the island except that it had a mixed population, that sugar cane was the chief crop raised and that French and English were spoken. But that was enough for her, and excitedly she boarded a ship at Mombasa after having visited Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika (now Tanzania). She arrived in a heavy downpour on 11 November 1953. Shoghi Effendi's cable — ASSURE RHEIN LOVING APPRECIATION — was relayed to her on 4 December by Paul E. Haney, then chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.
Ottilie's utter trust in Bahá'u'lláh enabled her to overcome the difficulties she encountered. She rejoiced at obtaining a visa which was good for six months and which later was extended to three years plus three months. With the assistance of a German missionary she found a house which offered the barest necessities but which provided a setting for Bahá'í meetings. Her first shopping expedition, occasioned by the urgent need to acquire mosquito netting, led her to a shop whose proprietor, Mr. Him Lim, a Chinese, became the first resident of Mauritius to accept the Faith. When she had enrolled two Bahá'ís and had interested a number of inquirers, Mr. Jalál Nakhjavání,² and later another Persian believer, visited the island and assisted with the teaching work. By 1956, just before her visa expired, there were forty Bahá'ís, enough to form three Local Spiritual Assemblies. Although some vacillated at the last moment, Ottilie was determined not to be deprived of victory.

By sheer determination she confirmed some new believers and induced others to change residence with the result that there were established — as she later recorded — 'three Local Spiritual Assemblies for the three years of teaching'. A strong and self-reliant foundation had been laid. This victory made it possible for Mauritius to send a delegate to the historic first Regional Convention convened at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. William Sears, near Johannesburg, South Africa, at Ridván 156. But Ottilie's service in Mauritius was at an end. Her request for an extension of her visa was refused although she called upon the Governor who listened sympathetically to her appeal and was attentive to her explanation of the Faith. This same gentleman — Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam — later became Prime Minister and addressed the Bahá'í Oceanic Conference held in Mauritius in August 1970. Ottilie had the bounty of attending that gathering and of receiving his smile of recognition.

After leaving Mauritius she remained in Kampala for a time lending much needed assistance in the production of Bahá'í literature until it became necessary for her to return to the United States to safeguard her citizenship. But her restless spirit could not be idle

¹ The Universal House of Justice, The Bahá'í World, vol. XV, p. 299.
² See 'In Memoriam', p. 797.

when the Faith needed pioneers. By 1959 she had saved enough money to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and then settle in Chile where, by living frugally, she was able to remain from 1960 until 1963. Chile was her last international venture, but in her home community of San Mateo she could always be depended upon to contribute her share to every activity. One of her greatest joys was to keep in touch with her Bahá'í friends throughout the world.

On 27 December 1978 the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritius wrote to Ottilie Rhein, addressing her as 'Spiritual Mother of Mauritius', and conveying 'deep love and gratitude on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Faith in Mauritius ... It is highly significant that God's Message for this day was planted in this island by a lady. We turn our hearts in thanksgiving to Bahá'u'lláh that you were chosen for this and we pray to Him that He may shower all His blessings on you and bring you eternal joy and happiness. Present generations may not be aware of the import of such a feat by you, but your name will forever be associated with the Faith in Mauritius and future generations will befittingly mark the event of your first coming to Mauritius. It may not be without meaning that when you landed in Mauritius on that morning of Sunday, the 11th November 1953, it was raining heavily — the happy presage of a bountiful harvest ... ' And again, on 21 February 1979, 'We were deeply touched to read the copy of the letter the Universal House of Justice addressed to you on the 29th November 1978 and appreciate your kind thoughts for Mauritius. It is incredible that a quarter of a century has elapsed since you arrived in Mauritius. The seed you planted has grown and it has no doubt been sustained by your love, devotion and sincerity in the Cause of God ... We have now seventy-four Local Spiritual Assemblies ... '

Ottilie remained in spirit a true pioneer right to the end. In her life she manifested the seven qualifications of the divinely enlightened soul mentioned by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in one of His Tablets: knowledge of God, faith, steadfastness, truthfulness, uprightness, fidelity and evanescence or humility. She was honoured at the time of her passing with the following cable from the Universal House of Justice:

SADDENED LEARN PASSING OTTILIE RHEIN DEVOTED MAIDSERVANT BLESSED BEAUTY KNIGHT BAHAULLAH MAURITIUS STEADFAST PERSEVERING IN PIONEER POSTS MANY YEARS UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. OFFERING LOVING PRAYERS SACRED THRESHOLD PROGRESS HER VALIANT SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. KINDLY CONVEY CONDOLENCES HER FAMILY OUR BEHALF. (Adapted from a memoir by VALERA F. ALLEN)

Dr Farish

From Memories of Nabil +F13 Historian of the Baha'i Faith; author of "The Dawn-Breakers."
When I was transferred from the Cairo prison to that of Alexandria, the late Siyyid Husayn Appealed to Sharif Pasha on my behalf, protesting that I, being on Ottoman subject, was wrongfully imprisoned by order of the Persian Consular authorities (who possessed no authority over me). I was straightway removed from the lower story of the prison to the higher floor, where there was purer air.
At the same time the Consul was questioned concerning my case.
In this prison I made the acquaintance of M. Faris, a Christian doctor.
He tried to convert me to Christianity, and I endeavoured to make him into a Baha'i; in this, I at length succeeded.
It came to pass that when I was in the Cairo prison, I dreamed a dream: "His Holiness Baha'u'llah, promised me, that after eighty-one days, the hardships under which I was suffering would be at an end."
Now the very day that I was removed from the lower to the upper story of the prison was the eighty-first day after my dream.
Towards the sunset hour I went up on the roof of the prison, where I amused myself by watching those who passed by.
To my amazement I saw, amongst those people, Aqa Muhammad Ibrahim, who was one of the servitors of His Holiness Baha'u'llah.
He had landed, with an escort, to buy some necessary provisions for the continued voyage. I called out to him "Come up, come up."
He was able to persuade his guard to permit him to come up to me on the roof, the guard escort accompanying him.
Aqa Muhammad Ibrahim told me that His Holiness Baha'u'llah, His family, and His attendants had been once

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more exiled. This time their destination was the castle fortress in the city of 'Akka, and now they were on their way to that prison.
This servitor was not permitted to speak any more, but he promised me, ere he was hurried away, that on his return to the steamer, he would mention my name in the Holy Presence.
I was greatly agitated by this episode.
After a few minutes Dr. Faris found me in a very disturbed state of mind.
I had previously related my Cairo dream to him, and he now said:
"To-day is the eighty-first day after your dream, and instead of being happy you are more miserable than ever. Why is that?"
I told him what had happened, that the Beloved of my heart was in that steamer and I had no means of gaining access to His HOly Presence!
The doctor then became as gloomy as myself.
"Had it not been that to-morrow is Friday," he said, "I should have been able to plan some means by which we both could go on board that ship and have the joy of seeing His blessed face."
Doctor Faris said: "Write quickly what you wish to say to Him, and I will endeavour to have your letter, with mine also, taken on board early in the morning to the Blessed Beauty. I know a young man, a watchmaker, who is a Christian--he will doubtless render this service to us."
That night neither the doctor nor myself could sleep.
Early next morning we went up on to the roof to watch the ship, which was visible from our prison. After two hours we heard the whistle of the boat, and the steamer had started.
We trembled as we saw her steaming away, and were full of sorrow that Constantine had not succeeded in doing that great favour for us.
Again we saw the boat stop for a few minutes, then, alas! she started anew.
I cannot describe the turmoil of our minds and the excruciating agony of uncertainty and expectation in those few hours until the return of Constantine, the young Christian man, who

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had undertaken to deliver our message to His Holiness, our Beloved.
The young man, however, came towards us with a packet in his hand.
As he handed it to us, he cried:
"By Heaven, I have seen the Father of Christ."
Doctor Faris, in an ecstasy with tears streaming down his face, seized Constantine and kissed both his eyes, those eyes which had seen the "Beloved."
"O young man, ours was the burning desire, the longing, and the pain of separation. Yours was the bounty and the grace of entering the Presence of the Blessed Beauty."
The packet consisted of a handkerchief which contained a Tablet, written by Baha'u'llah's own hand, addressed to me, an epistle from the Greatest Branch, 'Abdu'l-Baha, and a package of sweetmeats sent by the Purest Branch.
In the Tablet, which was addressed to "Nabil," was also written the reply to the appeal of Dr. Faris. Baha'u'llah assured the doctor "that he would very soon be released form the prison, in spite of the ill-wishes of his enemies."
According to the promise of Baha'u'llah, the doctor was set free on the third day.
He became a devout believer, and began to spread the Holy Cause among the Christians.
One of the attendants wrote a short letter to us describing how Constantine had without any difficulty succeeded in gaining admission to the Holy Presence, when he was able to present our petitions.
Immediately Baha'u'llah revealed the Tablet in answer to those petitions.
He sent for the messenger and, pouring forth divine loving-kindness upon him, entrusted into his hands the Tablet.
After a while I, Nabil, was summoned to the Governor of the prison, who ordered me to begone, and to leave Alexandria, for, he said, my presence in the country created disorder and rebellion.

Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Once, in the early days, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent an eager believer there to ’sow the seed, deliver the Message.’ The man went, and two years later returned very discouraged. “I have sown the seed. I have delivered the Message through the length end breadth of India and they will not listen. Not one single soul has declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh! What shall I do now?” And ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said rather sternly, “Go back and sow the seeds. I did not tell you to gain believers. I told you to sow the seeds.”

(Reginald Grant Barrow, Mother’s Stories: Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Early Believers told by Muriel Ives Barrow Newhall to her son, p. 39)