[Emogene Hoagg
was an early believer who made her way from Italy to Haifa soon after she
received a cable announcement of the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. For a very
brief account of her life please visit We are
Baha’is]
Haifa, Palestine
2nd January 1922
My dearest Nelly:
Your letter of December 14th has just reached me here in
this blessed spot. Needless to say why I am here, for you will have realized
that no other thought could have possessed me after getting the cable of the
ascension of our beloved Master.
As you said you felt, I also felt. The world seemed to have
lost its axis, and I seemed to be living without a support. I had planned to go
to Genoa, but had no heart nor strength to continue the work at that time. I
left Torino, from where I wrote you, returned to Milano and took the first
steamer from Trieste which was on December 16th. The trip was a calm one and I
arrived here on the 21st.
You may imagine the grief of the Holy Family. All was so
sudden, so unexpected, that the shock to them as well as to all the friends was
extreme. For the first week after getting here I had no head to use for
anything, but since then have been very busy helping in the translation of some
important Tablets. This has left no time for letter writing, which accounts for
your not hearing from me before, as well as other friends whom I am sure are
anxious for details. There is so much to tell it would take days to write it
all, but later a full account is to be sent to all. Lady Bloomfield is here and
is now compiling an accurate account of the few days prior to the Beloved's
departure, of the cortege up the mountain to the Tomb of the Bab, and the
fifth, ninth and fortieth days after the ascension.
When they expected the remains of the body of the Bab a resting place was made in the center of what is now the middle front room; but for some reason the Master had another place prepared in the room where the remains now rest. When it was necessary to find a place for the blessed body of the Master they thought of the place already prepared in the front room, and as the Master loved so much that position on the mountain, his remains were placed in that room, You will remember the front room of the Tomb where the believers always gathered and where the Master would speak to them when he went to the Tomb? It is in this middle front room that the Beloved body rests. It is hardly yet possible to believe that we shall not see him walking in and saying "Marhaba, Marhaba!"
The Visitation Prayer that we have in the little prayer book
on page 70 is chanted at His Threshold. I have always loved this and said it
much.
There is a belief among some of the oriental peoples that
the soul is not entirely free from the body until the fortieth day after its
ascension, so on that day a feast is always given. To carry out the custom the
Holy Family gave a Feast on the Fortieth Day after the ascension of the blessed
Master. They invited over two hundred guests and they were feasted in Rouha
Khanum's house. The tables were placed in every room and the food was prepared
at the Big House. It was indeed a feat to do this, but it was beautifully
carried out to the great astonishment of all the guests.
After the feast, as is the custom, all the guests gathered
to give speeches in memory of the Master. The large central room of the
Master's House had been prepared with beautiful rugs and with draperies, even
the two end rooms of glass were thrown open and chairs and couches placed
there, while at the windows were Persian draperies. Chairs were brought from
the town so that all were seated. A small raised place was made for the
speakers. About twelve speeches were given, and some were most remarkable.
Mohammedan, Jew and Christian seemed to vie with each other in proclaiming the
virtues and in expressions of admiration and love for the Master. Some of these
speeches, if not all are to be translated and later to be sent in this account.
The Bahá'ís had no chance to enlarge upon the speeches made by the others, for
they expressed all there was to be said. One man proved by reference to the
Koran, all the Twelve Principles as given in America. Often these men gathered
would weep when one would give praises of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, or express his love and
admiration. It was most touching to be present, even if one did not understand
all that was said.
The day after the Feast, the Will of the Master was read, to
a large number of the Bahá'ís who assembled in the same room where they
gathered the day before. Again was the scene impressive. There are three parts
to the Will of the Master, each written at a different time. This makes the
Will very long. You will have before this reaches you, received the word sent
by cable, that Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grandson of the Master, is appointed
by the Master as the guardian of the Cause and the head of the House of Justice
- Universal House of Justice. I have just been helping with the translation
into English. It is very strong, There is no doubt left as to the position of
Shoghi Effendi. The Master says: "The one who opposes him (Shoghi Effendi)
and opposes them (Universal House of Justice) verily, he opposes God. The one
who rebels against them, verily, he rebels against God. The one who antagonizes
him, antagonizes God. The one who disputes with them, disputes with God. The
one who resists him, resists God. The one who denies him, denies God. The one
who turns aside and withdraws, from him, turns aside and withdraws and separates
himself from God. Upon him be the wrath of God! Upon him be the anger of God!
Upon him be the vengeance of God! "
The Master was not ill, we may say. He did not feel well on
Saturday, November 26th, but that night at midnight all fever left him and he
was normal. Toward one o'clock of Monday morning he remarked to one of his
daughters who was near him, that he felt difficulty in breathing. Those were
his last words and after a few moments his soul ascended. The parting was so
calm, so without any evidence of struggle that they could not believe he had
departed. Dr. Krug confirmed the fact.
From various remarks made to the family at different times
and which they now remember, but did not understand at the time, they realize
that the Beloved knew he was going. A few weeks before his ascension he told
them to send for Shoghi Effendi saying, that if he did not come quickly he
would not arrive "for the funeral". Yet they did not understand!
I cannot feel that his work was really finished, but that for
some divine mystery he departed now. He told the ladies of a dream he had in
which he was entering the Mosque. He thought he would give the "call"
which he did. He found that the people were entering and crowding around him.
Then he thought he would commence the prayer that follows the "call".
This he did and found that the people were following him, and continuing to
gather around him. Then he went out of the Mosque. Outside he remembered that
he had not finished the prayer, he considered for a moment then decided he
would not return to finish it. This seems very significant...
In His Name,
Affectionately
[signed] Emogene
(World
Order magazine, Winter 1971/1972)