source: http://guardianshipofthebahaifaith.org/ridvan/Ridvan%20No%2014%20August%202010.pdf
Visiting Charles Mason Remey
The second Guardian of the Baha’i Faith
By
Donald A. Harvey and Jacques Soghomonian
September 5th, 1972
Jacques and Donald journeyed
Monday 4th September 1972 by
highway from Marseille to Florence
in view of visiting the Guardian of
the Cause of God and of the Faith of
Baha’u’llah. They arrived late in the
evening and it was only the
following morning, Tuesday 5th
September that they took contact at
the Pensione.
There they found Mason Remey in
high form, sitting in an easy chair in
his room. He welcomed them with
open arms one and the other, and the
conversation began almost
immediately.
Mason emphasized how much Pepe
is a very special servant to the Cause
through his total service, abnegation
and entire fidelity to him Mason, to
his physical person presently
confined to his room. Mason
declared how much this fact should
be known to all the peoples as it will
be anyway sooner or later, this we
can all be sure.
Then the topic of the present
confusion throughout the world and
more particularly in the Baha’i Faith
was brought up. Mason declared
quite bluntly that there are
pretenders as there always were, but
especially in our times and for times
to come. These pretenders claim for
themselves the Guardianship of the
Faith of Baha’u’llah and thereby will
mislead many peoples as is the case
in partisan and election political
campaigns. No matter how this
continues Mason declared that there
is but one single Cause of God and
that each of us can be certain that
there is but one Guardian of the
Baha’i Faith. This he has repeated
several times during this initial
conversation, and he has insisted
very strongly on this fact of unicity
and of the authenticity of the
Guardianship of the Cause of
Baha’u’llah. He said that none of us
should ever be discouraged whatever
the circumstances for ultimately this
truth of the guardianship and of a
single Guardian would be at last
seen and recognized by all the
peoples living upon this Earth.
The Guardian said that our present
day situation surrounding us is very
confusing indeed. Jacques and
Donald asked him, since so many
efforts of the Sans-Guardian groups
and those of the followers of
numerous pretenders to the
Guardianship of the Cause, those of
today and those to come, if it would
be useful that large excerpts and
developments of “Some Answered
Questions” be circulated
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everywhere. Mason immediately
answered them to do nothing of the
kind, so not to add to the great
confusion which prevails now in the
Faith among all the friends. It would
be well instead for each of the very
few friends who really follow the
Guardian (and for him four or five of
them at this moment would be
sufficient) to pursue on doing his
best in presenting this Message
which is destined to all the peoples,
to the peoples that they may meet in
these times to come. The friends
must not engage in arguments
(polemics) which only shrouds
fundamentals and makes things yet
more confusing then they are at
present, but to know well themselves
what Baha’u’llah expects from each
and from all in order to be able to
present with some degree of success
this Message to the peoples of the
earth, beginning thereby with those
who show a definite desire for the
search for truth. Answering a
question Mason said that mysteries
are created solely by men.
To another question put forth to
Mason concerning the Revelation of
John The Divine and the
corresponding chapter of the New
Testament in the Bible where it is
spoken of the Lamb of God who will
sit upon the Throne of God
surrounded by the faithful and where
he will unfurl the scrolls, Mason
confirmed that the Lamb of God is
in fact the Guardians of the Cause of
Baha’u’llah. These verses revealed
by John the Apostle in the Chapter
of Revelation in the very Last Days
would be literally accomplished in
due time.
Mason made mention of the Number
One, the Unicity of God and of His
Cause and that of the Guardianship.
He spoke also about the Number
Seven as being a number of religious
significance down through the ages
and more particularly so during
these present times and those to
come (The Seven Lights or Candles
of the Spirit). Each of the true
followers of Baha’u’llah and of the
Guardianship which is inseparable to
this Cause should be as each of these
lights. Mason reminiscing while on
this subject recalled an hymn in the
Methodist Church: “Keep the home
Light burning”, never let it die
down, keep it well in evidence
before the whole world. Such is the
requirement for the Seven Lights for
the times we are now living in. It is
incumbent for all concerned to
insure that whatever surrounds and
protects that Light from outside
winds (in other words, the
Lamp itself) will be constantly
maintained in good condition so that
it will correctly fulfill its purpose.
Mason also recalled the numerical
systems having ten, or twelve as a
base, which are propositions and
inventions coming solely from men
and having no relationship with
these Seven Lights in the Baha’i
Faith. Moreover Mason indicated
that there was no direct relationship
whatsoever, even no basis for
comparison between these Seven
Lights and the Five Worlds of the
Spirit which were developed by
Abdu’l-Baha in one of the Chapters
of “Some Answered Questions’.
All throughout this series of exposes
the Guardian, more lucid than he
16
ever seemed to be before, i
ever seemed to be before, insisted
upon the fact that there is but one
Guardian, and all those who, today
follow the Guardian can ever be
certain of it whatever may happen as
coming from men, and no matter
how many detractors (there) will be.
All ready with the presentation of
the signification of the figure
“Seven”, and that of the figure
“One” (one single true Cause of God
and one Guardian only) Mason then
emphasized and insisted upon the
sentence: “There are many called
and few chosen”. He again and
again repeated this Verse, alternating
it with the declaration that, there is
but one sole true Guardian of the
Faith and that the few who follow
him and who will follow him can be
absolutely certain of that fact and
must not allow anything whatever to
lead them away from this essential
and indestructible Truth.
Jacques proposed that a prayer be
said all together and Mason asked
Jacques to lead us in prayer at this
moment. Even before the last verse
was pronounced Mason had closed
his eyes and found himself then so it
seemed intensely concentrated as in
another world. Only thereafter he
gradually come back to himself.
This interview lasted about an hour
and a few minutes over, and Jacques
with Donald took leave of the
Guardian since lunch time was
approaching, in order to meet with
him later that afternoon.
It is customary right after lunch for
everyone to take a short nap or
“siesta”. Mason remained alone in
his room most of the afternoon while
Jacques, Donald and Pepe were up
to the terrace on top of the building
for a relaxed and friendly chat,
reminiscing about many events that
were lived through by some or
another, either together or each one
on his own. Somehow a balance
sheet could thus be drawn with the
evidence that the True Faith and
Cause of God is one thing while the
actions of men, far from being
decisive and overriding, can only be
illuminated, whether favorably or
des-favorably as each case may by
the incontrovertible and unalienable
verities of the True Religion of God
such as was revealed to us by the
many Manifestations down the ages
and more particularly His Holiness
Baha’u’llah for the recent and actual
times as well as for the times to
come.
As soon as this meeting with Pepe
ended, Jacques and Donald came
downstairs to see Mason who
awakened from his siesta. He said
he was happy to see them again, and
repeated several times the Verse:
“There are many called and few
chosen” and pronounced
alternatively that there is but one
true Guardian only, of the Cause of
God. He repeated too that this fact,
nowadays invisible to the peoples,
would become subsequently and at
last clear and evident to all. He
recommended to never be
discouraged whatever events may
come to us for ultimately all will be
well. This is the Cause of God and
nothing; absolutely nothing will ever
prevail against His Plan. All will
become at last clear for all the
peoples of the Earth for times to
come.
17
Mason told Donald and Jacques “Do
you see this painting and this portrait
that I can see through the mirror of
this chest over there? Well, one can
ask himself all kinds of questions,
and there will always be questions,
always questions one can ask
without ever finding any answer.
Nevertheless we must forge ahead
and do what is to be done, gradually
as things present themselves to you
and not allow questions to stop you
as if they were obstacles. There will
be and always will be questions that
one must not try to answer nor to
solve. Only acts performed in the
right spirit will be taken in account.
Anyways every effort will always
find an ending and will inevitably
bear its fruits.”
Mason also said to Donald and to
Jacques: “Each time there are inside
bowel movements in my body and
that there is this inside growling
which forces me often to do what I
shouldn’t as I lay upon this bed, then
I know that there is something the
matter in the Baha’i Cause, that
things are not correct in the Cause
and are going bad.”
As dinner time approached Jacques
and Donald took with Pepe leave of
Mason and would rejoin him after
dinner.
Thus about 8:30 p.m. Jacques,
Donald and Pepe, after a brief
conversation together that began
during dinner, visited again Mason.
He greeted them standing up and
with a cane in hand. He sat down in
the arm chair as Pepe said to him:
“Mason, when you will be tired, you
tell Donald and Jacques and we will
then all retire for the night.”
Mason began the interview stating
that the day about to end was a
marking success, nevertheless there
would yet be many events of all
kinds. He then quoted again the
Verses: “There are many called but
few chosen”. He also said that
things announced themselves well
yet everything could be
compromised, that is why we should
all dedicate ourselves to action, each
as he is concerned, in his family, in
his city, in his work. No one could
foretell exactly what would then
happen and what would be the future
condition of this or that person, and
that it would be wiser not to say too
much now. He then came back and
quoted the Verse: “There are many
called but few chosen ones….” And
then fixing his gaze through the
window of his room Mason told
Jacques and Donald:
“I can see over there a light and one
can ask himself questions without
ever finding an answer.” (The sun
had set, night was upon us and
across the Arno River from where
we were we could see not only one
but several lights scintillating like
big stars, coming so it appeared from
houses upon the hill. Mason during
his interview was in full possession
of his powers and no one did see him
yet as one could behold him that
evening as the True Guardian of the
Cause of God and of Baha’u’llah,
the very Centre of the Faith, the fully
lucid Captain conducting the Ship.)
Mason insisted again, and at length
this time, more then ever before
upon the fact that there is but one
True Guardian of the Faith, upon the
Verse: “There are many called but
18
few chosen”, and upon the presence
of questions in our minds, questions
which will never be resolved.
Between these things Mason asked
first Jacques and Donald if they
would have anything to say
themselves. He asked them if they
had any questions, first of all
general, and thereafter personal, to
bring to him. One after the other
Jacques and Donald related to him
their profession and entourage,
asking him if they should be
changed? In each case Mason
declared:
“Continue, pursue what you are
now doing concerning your
professional work from where you
are now, and for your family.”
Again came the theme: “There will
always be questions which will
never be answered, and it should not
deter us in any way whatsoever.”
Mason asked again and again once
more, if there were questions as if to
probe at this instant his visitors.
Upon a remark of Mason that whole
problems yet subsist in a very
special country where the Guardian
is
already served on the spot (its capital
city was mentioned earlier in the day
and Mason did not provide any
precise answer to it) one of his
visitors received from Mason this
answer: “if it would be possible for
anyone to make a brief journey there
it would be indeed a good thing.”
Another question was brought to
Mason, a question also mentioned
earlier in the afternoon and
unanswered until now: “Would
“Somaliland Coast become the
future Holy Land?” (as it was
reportedly told to someone by the
Guardian). To this Mason replied
that there would remain always
questions without an immediate
answer, or that the answer would
become evident after a long time has
elapsed. Then, at Mason’s bidding
that this question be reworded, it
was asked to him if this affirmation
made before by the Guardian would
be fulfilled before or after the Great
Catastrophe constituted by the slip
of the earths crust. He replied:
“After!”
At this very moment Pepe, who
wasn’t taking part in the
conversation, appeared at the
entrance and asked if all was well,
and upon the affirmation of Jacques
and Donald he announced he would
have to be absent briefly and would
be on his way. At this point the
Guardian declared to Jacques and to
Donald that the interview was over
and that, feeling increasing fatigue
upon him, he should think upon
retiring for the night. Pepe was
called so everything would go well
with Mason in preparing him for the
night. This was done in a jiffy and
with Mason well installed in his bed,
Jacques and Donald respectfully
took leave as he told them that this
day was for him particularly
significant and propitious in every
way.
In concluding with the foregoing, the
Guardian is most obviously in full
possession of his faculties and in full
command of his Guardianship.
Pepe, as well as all those, believers
or not who visit him, estimate that he
is a most exceptional person alive
today, expecting to see him standing
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up without any assistance as it was
the case even not so long ago. All
expect him to outlive many much
younger persons, and in any case to
be alive upon this Earth many more
years. For none must forget that he
is the Guardian of the Cause of God
and as such he, Mason, is under the
Protection and Guidance of
Baha’u’llah no matter what says
men and women who pretend to be
what they are not and who are no
longer what they were slated to be,
all this owing to their deeds and their
utterances, above all owing to the
steps they have taken.
Over a hundred years ago
Baha’u’llah was a prisoner of men
never-
the less through the deeds and the
words of this Glorious Manifestation
the ultimate victory of the Cause of
God has been demonstrated.
Demonstrated at the same time the
errors of men, foremost the errors of
temporal 19
th
Century Rulers who
because of their conceit and their
neglect with respect to the One True
God manifested upon this Earth have
impressed upon the turn of events,
periods of tragedy and useless wars
whose consequence was thereafter to
multiply to infinity human problems,
through the fallacious actions of
human-formed groups which
continue to insist upon solving
without God - without His
Manifestation - all these problems,
all this un-orderliness, all this
confusion which can only increase,
unless each one, and all the peoples
unanimously turn to Him,
Baha’u’llah. This will be so at the
right time whatever the great
opposition strains of today and those
to yet come.
In another degree Mason, the
Guardian, the one and only unique
Guardian of the Cause of
Baha’u’llah who will remain so as
long as he lives upon this Earth, the
only Guardian for today and for
years to come, is also a prisoner, a
prisoner confined to his room
because of all the confusion and
disorder now in the Faith. This
confusion and disorder, caused by
some persons well in view who have
“risen” and have unexpectedly
deviated from the right path, has
repercussions in the very inside of
his physical body. All must know,
in accordance to the very desire of
Mason he has himself expressed
before Jacques and before Donald
during their visit to him on 5
th
September 1972, how much Pepe is
serving the True Cause while
serving the physical person of the
One who is today and tomorrow the
one and only Guardian. Each
concerned should profitably make an
examination of his own conscience
so he can determine himself which
Faith he is serving? Is it the one and
only Faith of Baha’u’llah effectively
guarded as never before so it well
seems by its one and only Guardian
whatever his present physical
sufferings which Pepe strives to
alleviate at the maximum.
Otherwise is it a pretence of a Faith
disguised with the True Name so as
to mislead the peoples in believing it
is the True Faith while in reality it is
but an aggravated repetition of past
human mistakes, mistakes having no
valid excuse whatever for those. All
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men and women who commit them
today before God and, as it will
become sooner or later visibly
evident, before all the
men and women who lived upon this
Earth at all times. Mistakes built
upon cupidity, selfishness,
particular-isms, the personal
“causes”
disguised in the garb considered to
be that of the True Cause! Even
worse than that, for God the
Almighty had revealed for all to see
an Alliance and a Covenant with all
of Creation, the summit of which is
man. Humankind today, made up of
all these men and all these women,
finds itself temporarily misled and
threatened to be fallaciously and
definitively towed away by some
persons who pretend serving
faithfully so they can mislead the
better and thus transform the Cause
into a vile commerce and become a
personal means of influence.
Nevertheless these misled are
mistaken for no one on Earth, except
obviously the One who is the True
Guardian, can ever pretend to know
this True Cause of God. It is solely
through the one and only unique
Guardian now living on Earth that
each believer can ever hope to know
this True Cause and to develop
thereby as he serves it really and
unconditionally. Aside from this
everything else is but illusion which
will but leads to naught, while the
True Cause under the Unique One is
the Living Guardian, will triumph
over all. All will be well ultimately.
Mason has always assured us ever
since we knew him as Guardian, and
he says so again with even more
force today.
Text prepared
By
Donald Harvey
With the assistance of Jacques
Soghomonian