McCormick Pilgrim Notes 1933
Extracts from Notes of Talks Given by Shoghi Effendi in Haifa As Remembered by Mrs Margery McCormick Nov 3-16, 1937
Vol 93 Remey Archive. 26 pages of pilgrim notes not circulated at the request of Margery McCormick (see McComick to CMR Jan, 19, 1938, vol. 100)
"The war is inevitable. The calamity immediately following humanity is the war, not an earthquake. Asked if true that two-thirds of the people be taken as mentioned in the Bible he said that it might be so but the Bible was just an allegory. There will be great results from the war, in fact the suffering that will be universal will bring humanity to accept the Cause. They will come in great masses. Baha'is will not be exempt from this suffering.
The immediate future is very dark, the distant future is very bright."
Shoghi, Pilgrim notes, pg. 2, Vol. 93
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"what is the World Order of Baha'u'llah? The World Order of Baha'u'llah is the sum total of all the institutions revealed by Baha'u'llah through which "HIs Spirit works". Shoghi pg. 4 vol. 93
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"Faith and character. A believer may have the greatest faith - even to the extent of being willing to give his life for the Cause, and yet have great moral weaknesses. In speaking of the followers of the Bab, Shoghi Effendi said, "They were heroes but not saints." Martha Root is a hero and a saint." Shoghi pg. 5-6, vol. 93
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"The administration is like an infant at present. Later on it will be perfected by the International House of Justice. Every idea must be incarnated in an institution to produce its full effect." Shoghi, pg. 8, vol. 93
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Shoghi teaches that Peter succeeded Jesus Christ, not Paul, peter and paul did not get along well. Paul adulterated the message of Jesus. pg. 8, vol. 93
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"The Guardian has in his possession Tablets received by the Persian believers from Abdu'l-Baha. When these are translated they will fill about twenty-six volumes. These must be made known through translation before the INternational House of Justice is formed because all revealed laws must be known before the International House of Justice begins to legislate since this House of Justice will only make laws on such matters as have not been provided for. " pg. 13, vol. 93
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'The functions of the Guardian and the International House of Justice do not conflict in any way. It was made clear to us that the House of Justice will only legislate upon such matters as in the opinion of the Guardian, have not been expressly provided for in the revealed laws and ordinances of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha. It is for the Guardian to decide. The Guardian is the Interpreter of the Revelation but cannot establish laws. The east already has the laws of the Aqdas and is functioning under them. Asked if these laws were going to be something of a shock to the western believers, the Guardian said that it might be difficult for them but that explanatory notes, which would be added, would do much to clarify their meaning. These laws of the Aqdas must be obeyed, providing they do not conflict with the laws of the existing government the loyalty of the American believers is marvelous but it is going to be much easier for them to accept the principles of Baha'u'llah than to live up to His moral teachings and laws. The principle of moderation is everywhere in the teachings -- even in religion.
The American Baha'is have often been mistaken about Chapter 12, page 72, Some Answered Questions. The Christians have felt that this referred to Christ, but as Christ was born of the Holy Spirit. He did not find existence through Jesse.
Neither does this prophecy refer to Abdul Baha but to Baha'u'llah. Both the rod and the branch refer to Baha'u'llah out of the stem and out of the roots of Jesse. Abdu'l Baha refers in this chapter to the "Lordly Branch and Incomparable Branch" and He would never have referred to Himself in that way. Baha'ul'lah is a branch in relation to the Tree of Divinity but Abdul Baha has branched from the tree of Manifestation.
Guardianship will last until the next Manifestation in about a thousand years.
The World Order of Baha'u'llah is fundamentally different from Catholicism because the Pope legislates and the authority rests completely with him.
The Administrative Order of Baha'u'llah comprises four elements:
1. Autocratic - Guardianship
2. Democratic - Universal House of Justice
3. Aristocratic - Hands of the Cause
4. Theocratic - Whole administrative order as revealed by Baha'u'llah.'
Shoghi pg. 18-20, vol. 93
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The teachings of Baha'u'llah stress the moral and the ethical rather than the metaphysical." pg. 21
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"The Hidden Words and the Seven Valleys will have no commentaries made upon them as they are matters of personal spiritual illumination. However, in the matter of administration and the laws of Baha'u'llah, the Guardian will inset on a proper interpretation and understanding." Shoghi pg. 23, vol. 93
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"Finding yourself in a group with a covenant-breaker does not constitute association." pg. 25
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"Mohammad Ali was appointed the successor to Abdul Baha by Baha'ullah in the event of his being faithful to the Master - which he was not. He is badly paralyzed at present. He has three sons living. ONe son lives next to the Mansion at Bahje, two are in Haifa. (Mohammad Ali's male line was to have succeeded him -had he been faithful.). pg. 26 vol. 93
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"He spoke of the marvels of the Hebrew Prophets who were real Prophets just like Baha'u'llah - only differing in degree; Prophets giving a revelation, not just receiving inspiration like poets and artists. Isaiah was the most important of the Prophets of Israel. Shoghi Effendi divides hi prophecies into three classifications; first concerns the references to the coming of Baha'u'llah; second, the return f the Jews to the Holy Land; third, the Jews' brilliant future, for they certainly shall become the admiration and envy of friend and foe. " pg. 27, vol. 93