08 - In Galilee by Thornton Chase

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.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section eight of In Galilee by Thornton Chase. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings on the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater. In Galilee by Thornton Chase,

(00:23):
Section eight The Feast of Fellowship, the last evening before
we left Akka, Abdul Baha asked us to meet all
the friends at supper and to speak to them as
mister mac Nutt and mister Harris had done. When there
about forty gathered in the large upper balcony room at

(00:45):
nine o'clock, Abdul Baha excused himself from visitors in the
tent and came to us. He took a napkin from
a plate at the table, and handing it to one,
said be owing jaw come here. Then he gave a
napkin to another, and so on to all, placing each

(01:06):
guest where he desired him to be. It was a
beautiful example of hostship and personal attention. When all were seated,
he walked up and down and around the long table,
teaching us of the bounty of God and its victory
over the hearts of men words of heavenly encouragement, after

(01:29):
which he withdrew to his visitors awaiting him in the tent.
His words were as follows. It is a good gathering.
Thank God that believers are gathered around this table from
every part with utmost sincerity, unity and friendship. I beg

(01:55):
of God that as we are gathered in this contingent
world world around this table, we may also be gathered
in the world of the Kingdom and be united. I
hope that the gathering together of the believers may be
the source of unity and harmony of all the people

(02:18):
of the world. That this physical table may be a
symbol of the heavenly table. Christ said that he was
the heavenly bred, which was sent down from Heaven, and
this bread means the heavenly table. I hope tonight that

(02:38):
heavenly blessings may descend upon you, that you may be
born again, a new spirit, a new power, a new life.
God's abundances and favors are boundless without end, and the
blessings of Baha'u'llah are like a boundless ocean. One wave

(03:03):
of the ocean of his blessings will cover drown all
the mountains of the world. Now these waves are rolling
upon your heads. I hope you will be drowned in
these waves. You will get endless, boundless blessings and bounties.

(03:25):
This material world is very dark, and this handful of
dust is very narrow. I hope that the doors of
divine worlds may be opened before your faces, that you
may soar up in a space whose light is eternal,
enter a garden whose fruits are everlasting, become the center

(03:49):
of human virtues and the appearances of divine perfections. Your
hearts be adorned with the commemoration of God, your faces
illumined with the light of the love of God. That
your ears may hear the melodies of sanctity. Your spirits

(04:10):
may be gladdened with divine glad tidings, your tongues may
move in praising God. In short, that you may attain
to such a station as to be called the children
of the Kingdom. The courses served were of delicious foods,

(04:31):
ending with sweet confections and oranges. The Persian pilgrims ten
or more were on the left of the long table,
wearing red fezes, aged men with white fezes, green and
white turbans flowing robes, full beards, faces of dignity, sweetness,

(04:54):
and rare intelligence bordered the table. Many of them were
old believers who had passed through the fires of persecution,
and several were closely related to some of the martyrs.
A finer, more dignified, or as notable an assemblage would
be hard to find. Some of their names will be

(05:17):
remembered when those of kings are forgotten. There were children
also at the table, but only one woman, Missus Agnew,
although the ladies of the household were doubtless present, seeing
and hearing, though not in sight. After the meal, mister Agnew,

(05:37):
mister Scheffler, and this servant spoke as requested. The utmost
attention was paid by all, even those grave and reverend
seniors before whom we were as little children in knowledge.
Then sweet old Merza Hayder Alley came near the head
of the table, and, sitting next to Mirza Assador, talked

(06:01):
wisely and pleasantly for a few moments. Then all arose,
embraced each other and us, and retired to their quarters.
The world's maturity. There are no apparent miracles at Aka,
but the great miracle is the spreading of the word

(06:24):
and the knowledge of the Bahaigh revelation over the world
from that prison spot, that apparently helpless source. During the
last fifteen years. It is marvelous. It appears everywhere. It
is being accepted by advancing souls of every race and religion.

(06:47):
It is attracting attention from journals and magazines of many
countries Russia, India, Persia, France, England and America. All the
powers of nature are working with it. Abdul Baha said,
hitherto the world has been as a child at the breast,

(07:11):
able to receive and manifest, but little of the powers
of the spirit. Now it is entering the age of
its maturity, and it is possible for the divine teaching, confirmations,
bounties and spiritual laws of God to appear perfectly, because

(07:32):
now there is capacity. In olden times, it was said
by God that the sign of the true prophet should
be that what he said should come to pass. Truly,
this is the sign of today. The words of the
blessed Perfection Baha'u'llah and those of Abdul Baha penetrate the

(07:56):
hearts of men to the core. They do not return
void to him who sent them. Forth they affect the lives.
They uplift the souls. They give new birth to the
spirits of men. They draw all together in the one
name of God. They cause godly characteristics to take the

(08:17):
place of animal qualities. They bring love, peace, union, harmony, service, happiness,
and joy in place of hatred, strife, oppression, and greed.
The words uttered within those prison walls have gone forth

(08:37):
through all the world, carrying the gifts of God to
the hearts of men? Are these things of God? Can
an evil tree bear such fruit? Can the helpless, the powerless,
the prisoners, the despised, the oppressed manifest such power, such strength,

(09:00):
such victories, Save by the might of the all glorious One.
Praise be to His Holy Name moreover the world, in
every part, in each plane of life, in science, art, invention, discovery,
in thought, and ideal, in word and deed, is carrying

(09:24):
out daily, with increasing and rapid growth, the very conditions
that the blessed Messenger of God declared should be. Was
this a prophet, a man of God? One needs but
to take his words, the hidden words, and live them.

(09:46):
He will know for himself, and not by the knowledge
of another. He that doeth the works shall know whether
they be of God. End of Section eight. Recording by
Nicholas James Bridgewater, recorded in London, England,