GROWTH OF ORTHODOX BAHA’I COMMUNITY IN INDIA - PART - 3

Second Guardian of Baha'i Faith

Shoghi Effendi appointed in his own life time, his successor to an American Baha’i, Charles Mason Remey under the direction of Abdu’l Baha as he wrote in his Will and Testament that: “…It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life time him (next guardian) that shall become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing.”  

Mason Remey was born in America on 15^th May 1874. He declared himself a Baha’i in the age of about twenty six and half year on 31^st December, 1899 on the hand of May Ellis Bowles (later Mrs. May Sutherland Maxwell, the mother of Ruhiyyih Khanum). Mason would later become close to the members of the Holy Family: Baha’u’llah’s eldest Son and Successor, Abdu’l Baha, Baha’u’llah’s daughter, Bahiyyih Khanum and his great grandsons, Shoghi Effendi. A tablet was sent from Abdu’l Baha on 3^rd May 1906 to Mason Remey, which was of tremendous importance as it portended his role in the distant future as the second Guardian of Faith:

“Verily I beseech God to make thee under all circumstances. Do not become desponded neither be thou sad. Ere long, thy Lord shall make thee a sign of guidance among mankind.” Many other tablets received by him from Abdu’l Baha in which he has addressed him as “O my dear son”

Mason Remey in India: He traveled most of the cities of the world in different countries and he came in India too in 1910 and visited Calcutta, Baroda, Banaras, Agra, Delhi, Mount Aboo and Bombay. In 1950, Shoghi Effendi, the first guardian, invited Charles Mason Remey to Haifa, the World Administrative Centre of the Faith, and henceforth make it his home. On 9^th January 1951 Shoghi Effendi in his proclamation informed the Baha’i world that “at long last” he had established the first International Baha’i Council (the embryonic Universal House of Justice)—the supreme legislative organ of the Baha’i Administrative Order. As the distinguished head or President of this embryonic UHJ he appointed Mason Remey, an appointment that had tremendous implications which Baha’i world as a whole failed to grasp undoubtedly due to the fact that during the seven years that remained of shoghi Effendi’s ministry, the International Baha’i Council remained in an inactive state never functioning as collective body. Mason Remey wrote a letter for his proclamation of guardianship in Ridvan 1960 to Charles Wolcott, the Secretary of National Spiritual Assembly of USA to address to the Annual National Convention. As he was the president of embryonic UHJ, was the Second Guardian of Baha’i Faith.

GROWTH OF ORTHODOX BAHA’I COMMUNITY IN INDIA - PART - 2

Abdu'l Baha, the Successor of Baha'u'llah

According to the written Will and Testament of Baha’u’llah called the Kitab-i-Ahd, his son Abbas Effendi, known as Abdu’l Baha who was born in Tehran on 23^rd May, 1844, was the successor of Baha u llah. His position in the Baha’i Faith is: The Interpreter of the Word of God, the Centre of the Covenant and thus the leader and the guide of the Baha’is throughout the world after his father’s passing and - last but not least – the Exemplar of the Baha’i Faith. He occupied the above position in 1892, when he was 48 years old. Since early childhood i.e. when he was 9 years old, he was exiled and imprisoned, and freed in the year 1908 when he was 64. It was after achieving this freedom at the age of 66 that he was able to fulfill his heart’s desire to spread the Faith and promulgate the healing words of his father, by traveling through Europe and United States of America during the years 1910 to 1913. Many books, tablets and prayers on almost all subjects concerning personal and social life of Baha’is were revealed by him, to which the Baha’is refer today and in the days to come. He died in on 28^th November, 1921, at the age of 77, The Heroic Age and the Covenant Epoch came to an end.

Shoghi Effendi, The First Guardian, Successor of Abdu'l Baha

As per Abdu’l Baha’s Will and Testament, Shoghi Rabbani was appointed his successor.  He was born in Acre (Akka) on 1^st March, 1897. He was only 24 years old and studying in England when he received the news of the passing of his beloved grandfather. Abdu’l Baha stated in his Will and Testament that Shoghi Effendi would be the Guardian of the Cause of God and the Interpreter of the Word of God after him. Also he wrote in the Will and Testament about the continuity of Guardianship in Baha’i Faith. Althogh so young in age, He powerfully and efficiently shouldered his great responsibility. He established the administrative order according to the teachings of Baha’u’ llah and Abdu’l Baha, built the shrines of the Bab, Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha and also the Baha’i Archives and all the beautiful surrounding gardens in Haifa and Akka. He revealed a great number of books and tablets in Persian and English. The very most valuable benediction he bestowed upon the Western world was to translate the books, tablets and prayers of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha into English, a task which only he could achieve and that also perfectly and with such skill. He passed away to the Abha Kingdom in London on 4^th November, 1957, at the age of 60. He was the first guardian of Baha’i Faith for about 36 years.

A. Parikh
Hand of Cause of God,
Secretary, National Baha'i Council of India.