Rosamand Dale
Owen
She
was the author of 'Author of ‘My perilous life in Palestine'. Her statement and
accounts are historically correct. In his memoirs, manuscript, typed, pp.
78-81, Ibn-al-Baha Badiullah deals at length with Mrs Rosamond Templeton’s good
offices for mediation. Her attempt at mediation or arbitration between two
parties aborted as Sir Abbas Effendi backed out of the arrangement at the
eleventh hour.
LETTER FROM MRS. TEMPLETON.
A TEST SEPARATING WHEAT FROM THE TARES.
Haifa, Syria, January, 1900.
To the Chief Representatives of
the Religion of the "Bab" in Persia—Honorable and Venerable Effendis:
During a recent visit to Abbas Effendi to discuss certain business matters, which will be explained in the letter which follows, he asked me to examine and to judge the differences between himself and his two younger brothers, Mohammed Ali Effendi and Bedi Ullah Effendi.
He made this request because I am writing a history of my sojourn in Syria, including an account of my acquaintance with the Sect of the "Bab" at St. Jean d'Acre, and also because of the friendship, lasting during ten years, which has existed between the family of the sainted Beha'u'llah and myself.
This task I accepted and prayerfully considered, sending him the following letter after an interview with Mohammed Ali Effendi and Bedi Ullah Effendi:
During a recent visit to Abbas Effendi to discuss certain business matters, which will be explained in the letter which follows, he asked me to examine and to judge the differences between himself and his two younger brothers, Mohammed Ali Effendi and Bedi Ullah Effendi.
He made this request because I am writing a history of my sojourn in Syria, including an account of my acquaintance with the Sect of the "Bab" at St. Jean d'Acre, and also because of the friendship, lasting during ten years, which has existed between the family of the sainted Beha'u'llah and myself.
This task I accepted and prayerfully considered, sending him the following letter after an interview with Mohammed Ali Effendi and Bedi Ullah Effendi:
"Haifa, Syria, November 30th, 1899.
To Abbas Effendi, the Chief of
the Religion of the 'Bab' at St. Jean d'Acre—Venerable
Effendi: I came to see you to discuss money matters, without
consulting your brothers, Mohammed Ali Effendi and Bedi Ullah
Effendi. When I said to them that I had asked for this money
they were very much pained. I, therefore, have the honor to inform you that it
is not necessary to trouble you further concerning my financial affairs.
"As Bedi Ullah Effendi has rendered me many services he would have the right, in truth, to accept a pecuniary recompense, but your two brothers insist that they will not accept this recompense, although they are in great need.
"Therefore, it is not necessary to put you to any pains concerning this wrong. During the visit which I made to you, you were good enough to ask me to judge between you and your brothers, in order that the history I am writing should be a trustworthy one, a history which will be read, probably, in Europe, in America, in Syria, and in Persia.
"After due reflection I find that I have only one request to make at present: The principal accusation which you made against your brothers was that they have refused to obey you as the chief of the religion of "Bab" at d'Acre.
"You state that your authority is based on a Testament given by your venerable father, and you say that this Testament is in your possession and that it has been read by Colonel Bedrey-Bey. On leaving your house I went directly to the house of your brothers in order to present to them your objection. Their answer is that they are absolutely ready to obey the Testament, which has been given by their father on condition that they can see this Testament written by the hand of Beha'Ullah. This question,therefore,is a simple one. Effendi; I propose that you, Abbas Effendi, Mohammed All Effendi, Bedi Ullah Effendi and myself, with three witnesses chosen by you and three chosen by your brothers, an interpreter, an English photographer whom I will bring— I propose that these twelve persons shall meet at the sacred tomb of your father at noon on the 7th of December to read the Testament of Beha'U'llah and to take a photograph of that Testament. You said that I had judged between you and your brothers without hearing the two sides, your side and theirs; therefore, Effendi, in order to avoid this fault with which you justly reproached me I have written to Mohammed Ali Effendi and to Bedi Ullah Effendi, asking that they also shall present their Testaments during the reunion at the tomb of your father. Will you be good enough to give me your answer, written in Arabic, in your own handwriting, as I have asked the same courtesy from your brothers?
"If you refuse to show and to photograph the Testament upon which you found your authority, you cannot require the acceptance of that authority, for it is certain that if the Testament gave you this authority you would be quite ready to read it before witnesses and to send photographic copies of it to Persia.
"As Bedi Ullah Effendi has rendered me many services he would have the right, in truth, to accept a pecuniary recompense, but your two brothers insist that they will not accept this recompense, although they are in great need.
"Therefore, it is not necessary to put you to any pains concerning this wrong. During the visit which I made to you, you were good enough to ask me to judge between you and your brothers, in order that the history I am writing should be a trustworthy one, a history which will be read, probably, in Europe, in America, in Syria, and in Persia.
"After due reflection I find that I have only one request to make at present: The principal accusation which you made against your brothers was that they have refused to obey you as the chief of the religion of "Bab" at d'Acre.
"You state that your authority is based on a Testament given by your venerable father, and you say that this Testament is in your possession and that it has been read by Colonel Bedrey-Bey. On leaving your house I went directly to the house of your brothers in order to present to them your objection. Their answer is that they are absolutely ready to obey the Testament, which has been given by their father on condition that they can see this Testament written by the hand of Beha'Ullah. This question,therefore,is a simple one. Effendi; I propose that you, Abbas Effendi, Mohammed All Effendi, Bedi Ullah Effendi and myself, with three witnesses chosen by you and three chosen by your brothers, an interpreter, an English photographer whom I will bring— I propose that these twelve persons shall meet at the sacred tomb of your father at noon on the 7th of December to read the Testament of Beha'U'llah and to take a photograph of that Testament. You said that I had judged between you and your brothers without hearing the two sides, your side and theirs; therefore, Effendi, in order to avoid this fault with which you justly reproached me I have written to Mohammed Ali Effendi and to Bedi Ullah Effendi, asking that they also shall present their Testaments during the reunion at the tomb of your father. Will you be good enough to give me your answer, written in Arabic, in your own handwriting, as I have asked the same courtesy from your brothers?
"If you refuse to show and to photograph the Testament upon which you found your authority, you cannot require the acceptance of that authority, for it is certain that if the Testament gave you this authority you would be quite ready to read it before witnesses and to send photographic copies of it to Persia.
Rosamond Templeton."
Emin Abdul Nour Effendi, the
honorary dragoman of the English Consulate of Haifa, was good enough to present
this letter to Abbas Effendi, and the English Consul was so courteous as to pay
a visit to Abbas Effendi in order to set the matter before him, both these
gentlemen having agreed to help me, not in an official, but in a friendly
capacity, as the question is a moral and not a political one:
Abbas Effencli said to these gentlemen, in the presence of Ferrick Pasha, the military commander of St. Jean d'Acre, of Colonel Bedrey-Bey and others, that he refused my request to read the Testament, and Emin Abdoul Nour Effendi brought me this answer in person, as Abbas Effendi had not acceded to my prayer to send a written answer. I also wrote to the two younger brothers the following letter:
Abbas Effencli said to these gentlemen, in the presence of Ferrick Pasha, the military commander of St. Jean d'Acre, of Colonel Bedrey-Bey and others, that he refused my request to read the Testament, and Emin Abdoul Nour Effendi brought me this answer in person, as Abbas Effendi had not acceded to my prayer to send a written answer. I also wrote to the two younger brothers the following letter:
Haifa, (November 30th, 1899.
To
Their Excellencies, Mohammed Ali
Effendi and Bedi Ullah Effendi.
Your venerable brother, Abbas Effendi, has had the goodness to ask me to examine and to judge the differences between himself and you. As the principal accusation of Abbas Effendi against yourselves is that you have refused to obey his authority, and that the authority he claims is given him by the Testament of BehaU'llah, your sainted father—this being the accusation, there is one sole meana of satisfactorily judging these differences—namely, to examine the three Testaments, that of Abbas Effendi and the two which you possess. As Abbas Effendi has begged me to examine these differences, he has given me the right to ask that his Testament be submitted to an examination, but you, Effendis, have not accused your brother to me, and I have no right, therefore, to ask that your Testaments should be inspected.
"But, knowing that you desire an honorable peace between you and your brother and that you are ready to take any legitimate means of establishing that peace, I take the liberty of asking that you also, Effendis, shall submit your Testaments to an examination, although, in truth, I have no right to make this request, as I have in the case of Abbas Effendi. I beg you, therefore, to meet us at the sacred tomb of your father on the 7th of December, at noon, with Abbas Effendi, three witnesses chosen by him, three witnesses chosen by you, an interpreter, a photographer to photograph the Testament, and myself. Will you have the goodness to give me an answer, written by each of you in your own handwriting, as soon as possible ? May I present to you, Effendis, my sincere good wishes ?
Your venerable brother, Abbas Effendi, has had the goodness to ask me to examine and to judge the differences between himself and you. As the principal accusation of Abbas Effendi against yourselves is that you have refused to obey his authority, and that the authority he claims is given him by the Testament of BehaU'llah, your sainted father—this being the accusation, there is one sole meana of satisfactorily judging these differences—namely, to examine the three Testaments, that of Abbas Effendi and the two which you possess. As Abbas Effendi has begged me to examine these differences, he has given me the right to ask that his Testament be submitted to an examination, but you, Effendis, have not accused your brother to me, and I have no right, therefore, to ask that your Testaments should be inspected.
"But, knowing that you desire an honorable peace between you and your brother and that you are ready to take any legitimate means of establishing that peace, I take the liberty of asking that you also, Effendis, shall submit your Testaments to an examination, although, in truth, I have no right to make this request, as I have in the case of Abbas Effendi. I beg you, therefore, to meet us at the sacred tomb of your father on the 7th of December, at noon, with Abbas Effendi, three witnesses chosen by him, three witnesses chosen by you, an interpreter, a photographer to photograph the Testament, and myself. Will you have the goodness to give me an answer, written by each of you in your own handwriting, as soon as possible ? May I present to you, Effendis, my sincere good wishes ?
Rosamond Templeton."
To this letter I received the
following reply, in Arabic, with a translation in French, which I translate
into English, as follows:
"Acre, the Castle, December 2nd, 1899.
"Virtuous and Celebrated
Authoress, Madame Templeton — May God preserve your person! We have received
with gratitude your amiable letter and have carefully considered your gracious
proposal, which has enhanced your charm and has lighted in the urn of our
hearts a brilliant flame, because it manifests your pacific disposition and
your eagerness to do good. We pray the All-Powerful God to assist your person
to bring to a successful issue your generous initiative and wise intention and
to accord to you a worthy reward.
"With regard to your invitation to attend a reunion on the 7th of December, 1899, at noon, to examine the noble Testaments and to take a photographic copy, we accept willingly, and we shall repair to the meeting with much pleasure, because Testaments are destined for publication and not destined to be hidden away. As we two are agreed and of the same opinion, we have thought it best to address you together, in order to avoid repetition, and we pray you to accept the assurance of our perfect respect and our desire that you shall always be enriched by Divine blessings.
"With regard to your invitation to attend a reunion on the 7th of December, 1899, at noon, to examine the noble Testaments and to take a photographic copy, we accept willingly, and we shall repair to the meeting with much pleasure, because Testaments are destined for publication and not destined to be hidden away. As we two are agreed and of the same opinion, we have thought it best to address you together, in order to avoid repetition, and we pray you to accept the assurance of our perfect respect and our desire that you shall always be enriched by Divine blessings.
"MOHAMMED ALI EFFENDI.
"BEDI ULLAH EFFENDI."
"BEDI ULLAH EFFENDI."
The original of this letter in
Arabic is in my possession, and if anyone in Persia desires to see it I can
send them a photographic copy. * * *
The facts and letters above cited I desire to present to the representative men of the religion of the "Bab" in Persia, adding the following suggestions: The only reason Abbas Eff'endi could have for refusing to read the Testament would be that it contained secrets sacred to his father and himself which he is not allowed to divulge, but as he has read this Testament to Colonel Bedrey-Bey, so he (Abbas) stated to me, this statement being confirmed by Colonel Bedrey-Bey himself, and as he (Abbas) stated to Emin Abdoul Nour Effendi that he had sent copies of the Testament to the Sultan of Turkey and the Padishah of Persia, he cannot refuse, on this plea, to read the Testament to his two brothers, the children of the sainted Beha'U'llah.
Will your Society in Persia allow me to suggest that all good persons would approve of a request sent by representative men among you to Abbas Effendi, asking him to read and to photograph his Testament, in order that this difference existing during several years may be adjusted? I am taking the liberty of writing you this letter and of asking an answer addressed to Checri Effendi, Cardahi, pour Madame Templeton, Haifa, Syria, because I wish to record in my history the decision of your honorable society.
Will you permit me to say, in conclusion, venerable Effendis, that in the beginning of my long acquaintance with the family of the sainted Beha'Ullah I respected and admired all the brothers, one as much as the other ? During these years I have seen them often, and gradually my respect for Abbas Effendi has decreased and my respect for the Effendis Mohammed Ali and Bedi Ullah has increased, both these younger brothers following strictly the religion of their father, no matter how difficult it has been for them, whereas Abbas Effendi has failed to be true to the noble principles of his noble father.
I have seen Bedi Ullah Effendi more than any of the brothers and now have a true friendship for him, founded on many experiences in which he has been most honorable.
I am sure all good and wise persons would rejoice to see this worthy youngest son of your revered Beha'U'llah relieved from the many anxieties he has suffered—anxieties which would be removed by a clear and explicit understanding of the will of Beha'U'llah, as expressed in his last Testament to Abbas Effendi, a Testament the younger brothers are willing to obey in every detail, as they have said to me many times.
If Abbas Effendi is, in truth, the noble person which he claims to be, can be refuse this legitimate request ?
Will you accept, Effendis, my sincere good wishes, desiring that your venerable days may be long and prosperous?
The facts and letters above cited I desire to present to the representative men of the religion of the "Bab" in Persia, adding the following suggestions: The only reason Abbas Eff'endi could have for refusing to read the Testament would be that it contained secrets sacred to his father and himself which he is not allowed to divulge, but as he has read this Testament to Colonel Bedrey-Bey, so he (Abbas) stated to me, this statement being confirmed by Colonel Bedrey-Bey himself, and as he (Abbas) stated to Emin Abdoul Nour Effendi that he had sent copies of the Testament to the Sultan of Turkey and the Padishah of Persia, he cannot refuse, on this plea, to read the Testament to his two brothers, the children of the sainted Beha'U'llah.
Will your Society in Persia allow me to suggest that all good persons would approve of a request sent by representative men among you to Abbas Effendi, asking him to read and to photograph his Testament, in order that this difference existing during several years may be adjusted? I am taking the liberty of writing you this letter and of asking an answer addressed to Checri Effendi, Cardahi, pour Madame Templeton, Haifa, Syria, because I wish to record in my history the decision of your honorable society.
Will you permit me to say, in conclusion, venerable Effendis, that in the beginning of my long acquaintance with the family of the sainted Beha'Ullah I respected and admired all the brothers, one as much as the other ? During these years I have seen them often, and gradually my respect for Abbas Effendi has decreased and my respect for the Effendis Mohammed Ali and Bedi Ullah has increased, both these younger brothers following strictly the religion of their father, no matter how difficult it has been for them, whereas Abbas Effendi has failed to be true to the noble principles of his noble father.
I have seen Bedi Ullah Effendi more than any of the brothers and now have a true friendship for him, founded on many experiences in which he has been most honorable.
I am sure all good and wise persons would rejoice to see this worthy youngest son of your revered Beha'U'llah relieved from the many anxieties he has suffered—anxieties which would be removed by a clear and explicit understanding of the will of Beha'U'llah, as expressed in his last Testament to Abbas Effendi, a Testament the younger brothers are willing to obey in every detail, as they have said to me many times.
If Abbas Effendi is, in truth, the noble person which he claims to be, can be refuse this legitimate request ?
Will you accept, Effendis, my sincere good wishes, desiring that your venerable days may be long and prosperous?
Rosamond Templeton.
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