July 26, 2025 • 16 mins
Delve into the fascinating life and journey of Thornton Chase, widely acknowledged as the first person of Western descent to embrace the Baháí Faith. Chase was a pivotal figure in organizing Baháí activities in Chicago and Los Angeles, making him a well-respected figure within the Baháí community. His 1907 pilgrimage to Akka profoundly impacted him, particularly his three-day encounter with `Abdul Bahá. So taken was `Abdul Bahá by Chases character, he bestowed upon him the title of Thábit, meaning steadfast. Upon his return, Chase penned his pilgrimage experiences, producing a richly detailed and emotive depiction of `Abdul-Bahás home, family, and personal demeanor in Akka. Published in 1908 as In Galilee, this insightful account stands as a notable contribution to the genre known as pilgrims notes.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section four of In Galilee by Thornton Chase. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater. In Galilee by Thornton Chase,
(00:22):
Section four The welcome Mirza Munir and Mirza Noora Deen,
sons of the famous and learned Gnoba Zayin, and Mirza
Houssein Afnon, a student at the Beirut College. All English
speakers were with us during the few minutes until the
(00:43):
arrival of Abdul Baha. Someone said the Master, and he
came into the room with a free striding step, welcomed
us in a clear, ringing voice, Marahbaw marhbaw, Welcome, Welcome,
and embraced us with kisses as would a father his son,
(01:08):
or as would brothers after a long absence. It is
no wonder that some have thought that the Master loved
them more than all others, because he hesitates not to
express his love, and he truly loves all humanity. In
each one. He is the great humanitarian, and each friend
(01:33):
is to him the representative of all mankind. He bade
us be seated on the little divon. He sat on
the high, narrow bed at one side of the room,
drew up one foot under him, asked after our health
our trip. Bade us be happy, and expressed his happiness
(01:56):
that we had safely arrived. Then, after a few minutes
he again grasped our hands and abruptly left us. The
friends also went out and left us alone. We looked
at each other. I think we had not spoken at all,
except to answer yes or no. We could not. We
(02:17):
knew not what to say. But our hearts were full
of joyful tears because we were at home. His welcoming
spirit banished strangeness, as though we had always known him.
It was as if after long journeyings, weariness, trials, and searching,
(02:38):
we had at last reached home. The world of wanderings
was left at the outer gate. We had entered into peace, joy,
love home. Those were moments of deep happiness. Yet I
could not fully realize the great blessedness of that meeting,
(02:58):
which was the goal of my hope. But now its
remembrance has become my joy and the treasure of my heart.
I was filled with wonder at his simplicity, with admiration
for his strength and dignity, and love for his tenderness.
These mingled with the light and thankfulness, possessed me Abdulbaha.
(03:27):
I have been asked to describe abdul Baha, but hesitate
to do so. It is not his personality that he
wishes the friends to consider. Yet so many long to
know even a little of the appearance of this one
whom they love. Not having seen that, I will try
(03:50):
to tell of his as he appeared to me. I
saw a strikingly handsome man, tall and and kingly. He
wore a white fez with the small turban kerchief wound
around This, the symbol of wisdom and learning among Mohammedans,
(04:13):
was the only outward insignia of his station. A long
dark coat or cloak was worn over a dove colored undercoat.
He is not thin or anemic, but has the appearance
of strong health. Although of medium height, he is commanding
in appearance, and I can never think of him as
(04:36):
less than six feet tall. His bright, fair face, light
brown in complexion, was framed in silvery white beard and mustache.
Usually his hair or much of it, was tucked up
under the fez. His nose was large, straight and strong.
(05:00):
The mouth was rather full and very gentle, deep under
the broad forehead, and shaded by white, thick eyebrows. Shone
the wondrous eyes, large, prominent, brilliant, penetrating and kind. Around
the dark pupil and brown iris is that wonderful blue
(05:24):
circle which sometimes makes the eyes look a perfect blue.
Any description of them is only an attempt, no more.
In response, the face expressed a dignity, intelligence, and nobility
which none would dare to disrespect. Conscious power and authority
(05:46):
were there enthroned. He assumed nothing. His powers were natural,
his sincerity thorough, his affection pure, his smile charmed and
attracted friends to him. He had the stride and freedom
of a king or shepherd. My impression of him was
(06:10):
that of a lion, a kingly masterful man of the
most sweet and generous disposition. I had formed an idea
of Jesus as very meek, humble, lowly, gentle, quiet, soft
and sweet, and I looked for such another one. I
(06:32):
have revised my idea of Jesus, and now as I
read his words, I see in that one of the
past a man of authority whose words were clear and powerful,
penetrating the hearts as with a two edged sword. I
found in Abdul Baha, a man, strong, powerful, without a
(06:58):
thought as to any act, act as free and unstilted
as a father with his family or a boy with playmates.
Yet each movement, his walk, his greeting, his sitting down
and rising up, were eloquent of power, full of dignity,
(07:19):
freedom and ability. In his presence, all are small, and
they are conscious of this. They show a deference to
him that could not be excelled before the most absolute monarch,
hesitating to approach him unbidden, humbly bowing when he passes,
(07:42):
and halting afar off when coming into his presence. This
was not of his doing or will, but purely from
their recognition of the spiritual power proceeding from him, and
through their intense love and respect for him. Him he
seemed utterly unconscious of their deference. He extends love to everyone.
(08:08):
He draws near to them, he invites them, he loves
to serve them, even in little things. He demands no awe,
no reverence, no separation, but is an elder brother of
affection and sweetness. He is gentle but not weak, sweet
(08:30):
and powerful, humble and mighty. No bar of restraint is
there but winsome love and attraction. His work accomplished daily
is very great, and yet much time is given to
social and official affairs. He is abrupt in manner, the
(08:51):
abruptness of power, but most courteous and charming. There is
no aloofness in him. He invites it's all to be
prisoners of love and fellow servers of humanity with him.
He spoke in brief, pithy expressions, intoned in medium pitch,
(09:12):
with a clear, vibrant voice. No words were wasted. He said,
the bounty of God is flowing. The power of the
Kingdom of God will overcome all. It will not be
long before the great result will appear. The blessed Beauty
(09:36):
has put in our hands the lamp of teachings. By
this light, the world will be illumined. America will be
enlightened very much, and from there light will be sent
to other places. I hope that the East and the
(09:57):
West will become one, also the north and the south,
and that all differences shall be removed. The power of
the Word of God will accomplish this. The midday meal,
within an hour we recalled to the noon meal, the
(10:20):
Master again welcomed us and motioned each to his seat
at the table. There were twelve Abdul Baha, Mirza Mohammed Goli,
the beautiful brother of Baha'u'llah, Mirza Mosen, son in law
of Abdulbaha, Mirza Assadullah, Mirzamonir, and Mirza noured Deen. Interpreters,
(10:43):
Shogi Afnon, grandson of the Master, Mister agnew wife and son,
mister Scheffler, and this servant. All stood in respect until
the host sat. Food was first offered him, but he
refused until all were served. When he took some also, Then,
(11:07):
looking around the table and noting that none were eating,
he said, bessmelo in the name of God, signifying that
we should eat. That one expression, accompanied with his brilliant smile,
was a blessing. After the first course we ended and
(11:30):
the plates removed, he spoke of our meeting there together
in affection, joy and harmony, saying that it was by
the power of the word of God. There might be
other meetings of people from different parts of the earth,
but they were not like this, where we were drawn
together by the fires of love in our hearts. Then
(11:54):
he talked of the necessity of decomposition of all things
before a recomposition could take place, and said that it
was the power of the word of God which decomposed
the self of man in order that he might be recreated.
(12:14):
Mister Scheffler and I looked at each other, because that
very morning, while riding down Mount Carmel, nine miles away,
we had noted that crumbling rock and rich soil, and
had spoken the thought that came to us that the
rock had to be tested, disintegrated, and decomposed into soil
(12:38):
before its chemical values could be released and transmuted into
the higher kingdom of plant life. And there at noon
of the same day, Abdul Baha brought forth the same
subject and gave us his beautiful instructions upon it. It
(12:58):
has been often remarked that he answers the thoughts of
the friends before they are expressed to him. Another course
of delicious Persian food was served by Bashi, the young
East Indian from Bombay, who came and offered his life
as a servant in that household. And then again Abdul
(13:20):
Baha uttered words of wisdom and instruction. Then came the dessert,
and after a few words more he arose, and all
arose and stood in respectful deference as he left us
to go to his tent in the garden to supply
other souls with the food of their need. This meal's
(13:43):
experience was repeated daily, sometimes twice at noon and evening.
From our room window, we often saw him walking in
the garden meeting people, and when he could get away
for a few minutes from other cares, he would come
up to our room and talk with us. Each conversation
(14:04):
started with some simple reference to a natural thing, the weather, food,
a stone, tree, water, the prison, a garden, or a
bird are coming, or some little act of service, and
this base would be woven into a parable and teaching
(14:24):
of wisdom and simplicity, showing the oneness of all spiritual truth,
and adapting it always to the life, both of the
individual and of mankind. All of his words are directed
toward helping men to live. Unless questions of metaphysics, dogmas,
(14:47):
and doctrines be introduced, he seldom mentions them. He speaks easily,
clearly in brief phrases, each of which is a gem.
Whatever the lesson may be, it always culminates in some
teaching of unity for the whole purpose of this greatest
(15:07):
revelation is unity, the teaching of the oneness of God,
the oneness of his manifestors, the oneness of Man, the
oneness of the universe. And all this oneness is the
expression of love. It is love manifest, love that unites,
(15:29):
binds all together, that permeates all existence, and draws it
into oneness with its creator, who is Love itself, O,
Son of Man, My oneness is my design. I have
designed it for thee. Therefore clothe thyself with it. Thus
(15:52):
thou mayest be a star of My omnipresence forever. Hidden
words six five end of section four. Recording by Nicholas
James Bridgewater, recorded in London, England,
Section four of In Galilee by Thornton Chase. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater. In Galilee by Thornton Chase,
(00:22):
Section four The welcome Mirza Munir and Mirza Noora Deen,
sons of the famous and learned Gnoba Zayin, and Mirza
Houssein Afnon, a student at the Beirut College. All English
speakers were with us during the few minutes until the
(00:43):
arrival of Abdul Baha. Someone said the Master, and he
came into the room with a free striding step, welcomed
us in a clear, ringing voice, Marahbaw marhbaw, Welcome, Welcome,
and embraced us with kisses as would a father his son,
(01:08):
or as would brothers after a long absence. It is
no wonder that some have thought that the Master loved
them more than all others, because he hesitates not to
express his love, and he truly loves all humanity. In
each one. He is the great humanitarian, and each friend
(01:33):
is to him the representative of all mankind. He bade
us be seated on the little divon. He sat on
the high, narrow bed at one side of the room,
drew up one foot under him, asked after our health
our trip. Bade us be happy, and expressed his happiness
(01:56):
that we had safely arrived. Then, after a few minutes
he again grasped our hands and abruptly left us. The
friends also went out and left us alone. We looked
at each other. I think we had not spoken at all,
except to answer yes or no. We could not. We
(02:17):
knew not what to say. But our hearts were full
of joyful tears because we were at home. His welcoming
spirit banished strangeness, as though we had always known him.
It was as if after long journeyings, weariness, trials, and searching,
(02:38):
we had at last reached home. The world of wanderings
was left at the outer gate. We had entered into peace, joy,
love home. Those were moments of deep happiness. Yet I
could not fully realize the great blessedness of that meeting,
(02:58):
which was the goal of my hope. But now its
remembrance has become my joy and the treasure of my heart.
I was filled with wonder at his simplicity, with admiration
for his strength and dignity, and love for his tenderness.
These mingled with the light and thankfulness, possessed me Abdulbaha.
(03:27):
I have been asked to describe abdul Baha, but hesitate
to do so. It is not his personality that he
wishes the friends to consider. Yet so many long to
know even a little of the appearance of this one
whom they love. Not having seen that, I will try
(03:50):
to tell of his as he appeared to me. I
saw a strikingly handsome man, tall and and kingly. He
wore a white fez with the small turban kerchief wound
around This, the symbol of wisdom and learning among Mohammedans,
(04:13):
was the only outward insignia of his station. A long
dark coat or cloak was worn over a dove colored undercoat.
He is not thin or anemic, but has the appearance
of strong health. Although of medium height, he is commanding
in appearance, and I can never think of him as
(04:36):
less than six feet tall. His bright, fair face, light
brown in complexion, was framed in silvery white beard and mustache.
Usually his hair or much of it, was tucked up
under the fez. His nose was large, straight and strong.
(05:00):
The mouth was rather full and very gentle, deep under
the broad forehead, and shaded by white, thick eyebrows. Shone
the wondrous eyes, large, prominent, brilliant, penetrating and kind. Around
the dark pupil and brown iris is that wonderful blue
(05:24):
circle which sometimes makes the eyes look a perfect blue.
Any description of them is only an attempt, no more.
In response, the face expressed a dignity, intelligence, and nobility
which none would dare to disrespect. Conscious power and authority
(05:46):
were there enthroned. He assumed nothing. His powers were natural,
his sincerity thorough, his affection pure, his smile charmed and
attracted friends to him. He had the stride and freedom
of a king or shepherd. My impression of him was
(06:10):
that of a lion, a kingly masterful man of the
most sweet and generous disposition. I had formed an idea
of Jesus as very meek, humble, lowly, gentle, quiet, soft
and sweet, and I looked for such another one. I
(06:32):
have revised my idea of Jesus, and now as I
read his words, I see in that one of the
past a man of authority whose words were clear and powerful,
penetrating the hearts as with a two edged sword. I
found in Abdul Baha, a man, strong, powerful, without a
(06:58):
thought as to any act, act as free and unstilted
as a father with his family or a boy with playmates.
Yet each movement, his walk, his greeting, his sitting down
and rising up, were eloquent of power, full of dignity,
(07:19):
freedom and ability. In his presence, all are small, and
they are conscious of this. They show a deference to
him that could not be excelled before the most absolute monarch,
hesitating to approach him unbidden, humbly bowing when he passes,
(07:42):
and halting afar off when coming into his presence. This
was not of his doing or will, but purely from
their recognition of the spiritual power proceeding from him, and
through their intense love and respect for him. Him he
seemed utterly unconscious of their deference. He extends love to everyone.
(08:08):
He draws near to them, he invites them, he loves
to serve them, even in little things. He demands no awe,
no reverence, no separation, but is an elder brother of
affection and sweetness. He is gentle but not weak, sweet
(08:30):
and powerful, humble and mighty. No bar of restraint is
there but winsome love and attraction. His work accomplished daily
is very great, and yet much time is given to
social and official affairs. He is abrupt in manner, the
(08:51):
abruptness of power, but most courteous and charming. There is
no aloofness in him. He invites it's all to be
prisoners of love and fellow servers of humanity with him.
He spoke in brief, pithy expressions, intoned in medium pitch,
(09:12):
with a clear, vibrant voice. No words were wasted. He said,
the bounty of God is flowing. The power of the
Kingdom of God will overcome all. It will not be
long before the great result will appear. The blessed Beauty
(09:36):
has put in our hands the lamp of teachings. By
this light, the world will be illumined. America will be
enlightened very much, and from there light will be sent
to other places. I hope that the East and the
(09:57):
West will become one, also the north and the south,
and that all differences shall be removed. The power of
the Word of God will accomplish this. The midday meal,
within an hour we recalled to the noon meal, the
(10:20):
Master again welcomed us and motioned each to his seat
at the table. There were twelve Abdul Baha, Mirza Mohammed Goli,
the beautiful brother of Baha'u'llah, Mirza Mosen, son in law
of Abdulbaha, Mirza Assadullah, Mirzamonir, and Mirza noured Deen. Interpreters,
(10:43):
Shogi Afnon, grandson of the Master, Mister agnew wife and son,
mister Scheffler, and this servant. All stood in respect until
the host sat. Food was first offered him, but he
refused until all were served. When he took some also, Then,
(11:07):
looking around the table and noting that none were eating,
he said, bessmelo in the name of God, signifying that
we should eat. That one expression, accompanied with his brilliant smile,
was a blessing. After the first course we ended and
(11:30):
the plates removed, he spoke of our meeting there together
in affection, joy and harmony, saying that it was by
the power of the word of God. There might be
other meetings of people from different parts of the earth,
but they were not like this, where we were drawn
together by the fires of love in our hearts. Then
(11:54):
he talked of the necessity of decomposition of all things
before a recomposition could take place, and said that it
was the power of the word of God which decomposed
the self of man in order that he might be recreated.
(12:14):
Mister Scheffler and I looked at each other, because that
very morning, while riding down Mount Carmel, nine miles away,
we had noted that crumbling rock and rich soil, and
had spoken the thought that came to us that the
rock had to be tested, disintegrated, and decomposed into soil
(12:38):
before its chemical values could be released and transmuted into
the higher kingdom of plant life. And there at noon
of the same day, Abdul Baha brought forth the same
subject and gave us his beautiful instructions upon it. It
(12:58):
has been often remarked that he answers the thoughts of
the friends before they are expressed to him. Another course
of delicious Persian food was served by Bashi, the young
East Indian from Bombay, who came and offered his life
as a servant in that household. And then again Abdul
(13:20):
Baha uttered words of wisdom and instruction. Then came the dessert,
and after a few words more he arose, and all
arose and stood in respectful deference as he left us
to go to his tent in the garden to supply
other souls with the food of their need. This meal's
(13:43):
experience was repeated daily, sometimes twice at noon and evening.
From our room window, we often saw him walking in
the garden meeting people, and when he could get away
for a few minutes from other cares, he would come
up to our room and talk with us. Each conversation
(14:04):
started with some simple reference to a natural thing, the weather, food,
a stone, tree, water, the prison, a garden, or a
bird are coming, or some little act of service, and
this base would be woven into a parable and teaching
(14:24):
of wisdom and simplicity, showing the oneness of all spiritual truth,
and adapting it always to the life, both of the
individual and of mankind. All of his words are directed
toward helping men to live. Unless questions of metaphysics, dogmas,
(14:47):
and doctrines be introduced, he seldom mentions them. He speaks easily,
clearly in brief phrases, each of which is a gem.
Whatever the lesson may be, it always culminates in some
teaching of unity for the whole purpose of this greatest
(15:07):
revelation is unity, the teaching of the oneness of God,
the oneness of his manifestors, the oneness of Man, the
oneness of the universe. And all this oneness is the
expression of love. It is love manifest, love that unites,
(15:29):
binds all together, that permeates all existence, and draws it
into oneness with its creator, who is Love itself, O,
Son of Man, My oneness is my design. I have
designed it for thee. Therefore clothe thyself with it. Thus
(15:52):
thou mayest be a star of My omnipresence forever. Hidden
words six five end of section four. Recording by Nicholas
James Bridgewater, recorded in London, England,
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