`Abdu'l-Bahá in London

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Read online at http://www.bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/abl

Contents

Notes on authenticity

"For " Abdu'l-Baha in London", no original transcripts exist, and the following letter was written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi in this regard:

"Regarding "`Abdu'l-Baha in London": Nothing can be considered scripture for which we do not have an original text. A verbatim record in Persian of His talks would of course be more reliable than one in English, because He was not always accurately interpreted. However such a book is of value, and certainly has its place in our Literature. (24 October 1947 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, published in "Unfolding Destiny: The Messages from the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith to the Baha'i Community of the British Isles" (London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1981), p. 208.

(From a memorandum of the Research department dated 28 March 1996 at http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/authenticity.texts.html )

Discussion of authenticity

Although it is not possible to authenticate the talks in 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London given that the original is no longer available, and the book must thus be considered as a collection of (nonauthoritative) pilgrim's notes, an article at http://bahai-library.com/books/lango/lang10.html makes the following points in arguing for it more likely being among the more reliable within the category of pilgrim's notes:

  1. "...it might also be borne in mind that the expression "Pilgrim's Notes" covers a spectrum of material from the dubious to the very probably authentic"
  2. "'Abdu'l-Bahá in London was published in 1912, well within 'Abdu'l-Bahá's lifetime, and was presumably the object of close attention, given that not much Bahá'í literature was then translated into English."
  3. "...Lady Blomfield, the compiler of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London and Paris Talks, was an intimate friend of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and His family, as testified by her book "The Chosen Highway"" though there was presumably no objection at the time that it was inauthentic
  4. "...there is the following extract from a letter by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, dated 17 December 1912:"
This morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about America and the probability of his return to that country. He said: "God willing! If I go to America another time I will go differently; but it is very difficult. This first trip was made with great exertion." As I was reading one of his addresses delivered in America, he said it would be well if all his addresses in that country could be printed in one or two volumes. At present, he declared, they are all scattered and not collected. He called attention to how quickly the Paris and London addresses delivered last year were printed; and this was done through one woman, Lady Blomfield. Some one mentioned the name of a prominent wealthy woman and he said: "One of these poor, sincere and honest women is more beloved by me than a thousand millionaires; just now this Lady Blomfield is dearer to me than all the queens of the world."
(Star of the West, Vol 3, No 19)


By talk

Talks

Conversation notes

SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES OF HIS FORTY YEARS IMPRISONMENT

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