A pioneer of the Cause of Baha'u'llah ever since its celestial light first
warmed and illuminated the West, he has, by his close association with the
person of 'Abdu'l-Baha, by his contact with all sections of society, by
his scholarly presentation of the history and fundamentals of the Faith,
and lastly by his unforgettable share in the settlement of the complex and
pressing issues that called for expert assistance in the days following
'Abdu'l-Baha's passing, achieved a standing which few have as yet
attained.
The days of his spiritual communion with 'Abdu'l-Baha and His household
within the walls of the prison-city of Akka, wherein he imbibed the
principles which he later so ably expounded to the peoples of the West;
his pre-eminent role on his return to Paris in kindling the torch which is
destined to shed eternal illumination upon his native land and its people;
the links of abiding fellowship which he forged with our Persian brethren
in the course of the historic mission entrusted to his charge by our
Beloved; the seeds which he scattered far and wide during his subsequent
travels to the heart of Asia, throughout India, beyond the remotest
villages of Burma and as far as the eastern confines of Indo-China; the
able support he lent in its initial and intermediary stages to the case of
Baha'u'llah's house in Ba_gh_dad; his unhesitating intervention with State
officials in paving the way for the ultimate emancipation of our Egyptian
brethren from the yoke of orthodox Islam; the stimulating encouragement
his visit caused to the Baha'i community of Tunis on the northern shores
of Africa; and last but not least the ability and diligence with which he
applied himself to the solution of the delicate and vexing problems of the
Holy Land in the critical years following 'Abdu'l-Baha's ascension--all
stand out as memorable landmarks in a life that was as varied in its
international aspects as it was rich in its spiritual experience.
His gifts of unfailing sympathy and penetrating insight, his wide
knowledge and mature experience, all of which he utilized for the glory
and propagation of the Message of Baha'u'llah, will be gratefully
remembered by future generations who, as the days go by, will better
estimate the abiding value of the responsibilities he shouldered for the
introduction and consolidation of the Baha'i Faith in the Western world.
Suffering as he did in his last days from the effects of a slow and
painful illness, he bore heroically his share of the afflictions of the
world, and is now in the realms of blissful deliverance partaking his full
share of the goodly reward which he certainly deserved. To me, and
particularly amid the storm and stress that have agitated my life after
'Abdu'l-Baha's passing, he was a sustaining and comforting companion, a
most valued counsellor, an intimate and trusted friend.
With much emotion and the deepest sense of gratitude I supplicate at the
holy Threshold--and request you to join with me in my prayers--for the
spiritual advancement in the realms above of a soul who by the sheer merit
of the signal services he rendered already deserves to rank highly among
the departed faithful.
May he forever rest in peace.