Have did the close bahai friend of Abdul-Baha leave him ?

Have did the close bahai friend of Abdul-Baha leave him ?

Reasons which induced Ibrahim George Khayru'llah to forsake Abbas Effendi ( Abdul Baha ) and adhere to his brother Muhammad Ali Effendi.

IBRAHIM GEORGE KHAYRU'LLAH IN THE POSITION OF A THIRD PERSON OF BAHAI FAITH :

The Conquest of America for the Baha'i religion by means of Dr. Ibrahim George Khayru'llah literally transcribed from what the above- mentioned Kheyrolah wrote, putting
himself in the position of a third person. ( 6 )

EDUCATED AT BEYROUT.
Khayru'llah's father died while he was still a child at the breast , and his mother undertook his education, placing him first in the primary schools, and then sending him to the College in Beyrout, and thence to the American University College, where, in 1870 (A.H..1287 he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science "B.A.". ( 5 ) He was one of the five [students] who were the first fruits of this celebrated college.

RECEPTION OF KHAYRU'LLAH BY ABBAS EFENDI.

About twenty-four hours after he had disembarked, he set off from Hayfa in a carriage with Husayn the Persian, of the village of Khamna, a dependency of Tabriz, who had been appointed by Abbas Efendi to meet the pilgrims and the two went together to Akka and alighted at the house where dwelt His Holiness 'Abbas Efendi. ( 4 ) There, in the reception-room on the upper floor, 'Abbas Efendi entered and greeted Khayru'llah, saying, " Welcome to the friend ! " Then he clasped him to his breast and kissed him, saying, "Welcome to thee, O Baha's Peter, O second Columbus, Conqueror of America!" Then he sat down talking to him kindly and affectionately, and asking him about the pilgrims who went coming from America, and about the believers there. Then he asked him to stay with him in the house, and he agreed thereto and stayed there. And on the next day a military officer came and put a fez on Khayru'llah's head instead of a hat, saying to him, "Verily Abbas Efendi has ordered this fez for Baha's Peter, Columbus the Second, the Conqueror of America." After this the believers there began to send congratulations on this distinction, calling him at one time Columbus the Second, Conqueror of America, and at another Baha's Peter.

When Abbas Efendi brought Khayru'llah into the room wherein was deposited the body of His Holiness our Master Baha'u'llah, he told him that he was the first pilgrim to whom the door of this chamber had been opened for entrance" thereunto and to perform the ceremonies prescribed for the visitation. And thereafter he begun to open it for the entrance of other pilgrims.

KHAYROLAH HELPS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE BAB'S MAUSOLEUM.

Another of the distinctions which he enjoyed was the that, one day Abbas Efendi came to Hayfa and alighted at the house in which Khayru'llah was lodging with his family, and invited him to accompany him to Mount Carmel to participate with him in laying the foundation-stone of the mausoleum which was to be erected to receive the body of the " First Point " His Holiness the Bab, this honour being assigned to him instead of to Abbas Efendi's brother "the Most Great Branch" Muhammad Ali Efendi.

*So they went together, and then on Mount Carmel Abbas Efendi took a pick-axe and gave Khayru'llah another pick-axe, which one of the attendants had brought for this purpose, and, after asking help from God, they both began to dig the foundations, while the servant who was present removed the excavated earth. Thus the Work continued for a few minutes, when Abbas Efendi laid aside his pick-axe and ordered Khayru'llah to do likewise. Then he said to him, "This is an honour which none of the believers except thee has enjoyed." And he kept praising his action and his instruction of the Americans before the assembly of the believers and often did he make mention thereof in his writings. He also entitled him "the Shepherd of God's flocks in America," and presented him with the works of His Holiness Baha (to whom be glory !). As for Abbas Efendi's followers they, treated Khayru'llah with all kindness and affection.

It is worth mentioning here that Her Holiness Bahiyya Khanim "the Blessed Leaf," the sister of Abbas Efendi, gave Khayrullah her book, which was written in a beautiful hand and contained a number of Holy Tablets revealed by the Supreme Pen; and told him that it was a present from her to Baha's Peter, the Conqueror of America, who had wrought for the extension of the Faith what no other of the missionaries had achieved. And he thanked her, and put it by with other precious Writings.

Notwithstanding that Khayru'llah had repeatedly begged His Holiness Abbas Efendi before he went to visit him to send him a volume of the Holy Verses which had been revealed by the Supreme Pen so that he might compare them with his teachings, in order to guard against the incidence of error, and His Holiness Abbas Efendi had promised him this, yet he sent him nothing of what he had demanded. So Khayru'llah determined when he went to Akka to attain this supreme aim, to wit the acquisition of knowledge at first hand; and, whenever he foregathered with Abbas Efendi he used *to explain to him the teachings which he gave to the Americans, even translating lengthy sections thereof, and asking His Holiness to correct what was erroneous. But His Holiness confirmed them and praised them publicly before all the believers, both Easterns and Americans. He repeatedly declared explicitly to the American pilgrims that all which Khayru'llah had taught was correct; but whenever he had explained to the Americans any matter, and afterwards understood that his explanation was not in accordance with that given by Khayru'llah, be used to avoid disagreement saying that everything had two meanings one spiritual and the other material, and that the explanations given to them-by himself and by Khayru'llah were both correct.

Reasons which induced Ibrahim George Khayru'llah to forsake Abbas Effendi ( Abdul Baha ) and adhere to his brother Muhammad Ali Effendi.

These reasons were:

THE STUMBLING BLOCKS OF Ibrahim George KHAYRULLAH.

1- Abbas Effendi's claim to Divinity.

First, AbdulBaha's claim to Divinity, in that he declared himself to be the Manifestation of Service, which is the greatest of the Divine Manifestations, and peculiar to the Father, the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah) alone. This is the supreme limit of Manifestation, which none claimed save only His Holiness Baha' (to whom be glory), who explicitly declared in numerous Tablets that He was the Servant, and the Visage and Very Self of the Eternal Essence. Again he declares himself to be the Enunciator (mubayyin), that is, God, as the Supreme Pen has explicitly declared in different passages. So like wise he claims to be the Centre of the Covenant, which is God alone, Baha, who Himself covenanted with Himself before the creation of the heavens and the earths that man should worship none save God alone; as when He says, exalted is He: ' Ho took the Covenant at the time of the Dawn from those who believed that they should worship none but God "; ( 1 ) and [he advanced] other pretensions which it is unnecessary to mention. ( 2 )

2- His teachings inconsistent with those of Baha'u'llah.

Secondly,, that Abbas Efendi's teachings were at variance with the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah in all respects, and were contrary to reason.

3- His duplicity.

Thirdly, that the conduct of AbdulBaha and his daily actions were like those of a double-faced man, which is forbidden in the Scriptures.

4- Dissension and discord produced by his actions.

Fourthly, that whereas His Holiness Bahaollah in many passages of His works and in the Book of His Testament, commanded this community in the most categorical manner to put aside discord, to extinguish the fire of sectarian hatred, and to consort with [the adherents of ] all religions and sects in courtesy,, love. spirituality and fragrance, Abbas Efendi made naught of this most great gift and most high and glorious aim; in that he, for his private ends and personal ambitions, laid the foundations of hatred, rancour, discord and diversity amongst the People of Baha, in such wise that he produced separation and discord between brother and sister, husband and wife and father and son. We seek refuge in God the Preserver, the Almighty, from Whom help is invoked !

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY ABBAS EFFENDI ( Abdul Baha ) TO PREVENT STRANGERS FROM MEETING HIS BROTHER.

One feature of the policy of Abdol-Baha was to attach to every pilgrim who came to 'Akka men of his own faction, to consort with that stranger-pilgrim with the utmost kindness and tenderness, wait upon him, remain with him night and day, and accompany him wherever he went. Thus passed the days of his visit without the pilgrim being able to meet one of the Holy Family or their followers, so that he would return without being informed of the truth of the matter, or of the causes of the dissension which had arisen between Abbas Efendi and Mohammed Ali Effendi. But if any one [of the pilgrims] was so bold as to ask His Holiness Abbas Efendi to permit him to meet his brother Mohammed Ali Effendi or his followers, he would grant such permission to the seeker, with a smiling and cheerful countenance, to go to meet his brother Muhammad'Ali Efendi, expressing an eager desire to he reconciled with his brother; but at the same time he would hint to the enquirer that there was absolutely nothing to be gained by this action of his. Then he would enjoin his partisans and attendants to make it clear to that pilgrim that it would be a great mistake for him to foregather with Mohammed Ali Efendi, or any of his followers, or to speak with them, and that it was one of the things which would distress the sensibilities of Abbas Efendi. So the pilgrim would refuse to meet anyone of the rival faction, even as happened to Kheiralla himself, when be refused to meet His Holiness the Branch (Ghusn) Badi'ullah Efendi when the latter came to call upon him at the inn where he was staying in the city of Hayfa. For he refused to meet the above mentioned Badi'u'llah Efendi, in consequence of what had been suggested to him by His Holiness Abbas Efendi and his followers. ( 3 )

In consequence of what has just been set forth, none of all the American pilgrims went to interview His Holiness Mohammed Ali Effendi, or Her Holiness the Mother of the" Branches " (Aghsan).

ATTEMPT TO PREJUDICE THE AMERICAN VISITORS AGAINST MOHAMMED ALI

Besides what has been mentioned, Abbas Efendi used to take every opportunity in the presence of Khayru'lláh to rise up and speak amongst his followers and attendants, and in the presence of the pilgrims and the Americans, explaining to them how he was wronged, and the vexations which he daily suffered at the hands of the Government and its agents, the origin of all of which he ascribed to the treacherous intrigues of his brother Muhammad Ali Effendi, inciting them to avenge him, inspiring in their minds angry suspicions and the very spirit of hatred and enmity, and relating to them stories to the prejudice of the Members of the Holy House, at which the natural instinct revolted. So like wise his followers also imitated his procedure, communicating to the pilgrims the infamies which they ascribe to the Members of the Holy House. Consequently some of the American pilgrims communicated these scandalous stories to the believers in America after their return from 'Akka.

Is not such conduct diametrically opposed to the Baha'i Spirit and Truth, to the Christian Spirit, and to the Spirit of the Prophets and Apostles ?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Notes :

( 1 ) i.e. of the Manifestation or Theophany.

( 2 ) page 87 "Materials for the study of Babi Religion"
by Renowned historian EDWARD BROWNE.

( 3 ) page 82 "Materials for the study of Babi Religion"
by Renowned historian EDWARD BROWNE.

( 4 ) page77. "Materials for the study of Babi Religion"
by Renowned historian EDWARD BROWNE.

( 5 ) page 72. "Materials for the study of Babi Religion"
by Renowned historian EDWARD BROWNE.

( 6 ) Since this translation was made, Dr. Khayru'llah has published the substance of the information given below in a book entitled,
O Christians! Why do ye believe not in Christ? pp. 165-192. This book was published in 1917 in the U.S.A., probably at Chicago, though no place is specified on the title page. I cite this as the ''English Autobiography."

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