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Abstract:
Biography of Shoghi Effendi from the close standpoint of the author's personal experiences.
Notes:
HTML mirrored from bahaiprayers.net and bahairesearch.com. Purchase book from grbooks.com.

Also available as optimized high-quality PDF scan [45 MB] and in Microsoft Word format, with added vector images and added information not available elsewhere, including three articles from Bahá'í World, both prepared by M. Thomas (2023).


Shoghi Effendi:
Recollections

by Ugo Giachery

Oxford: George Ronald, 1973
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Contents
1PREFACE
PART 1: The Personality of Shoghi Effendi
5 IAN APPRECIATION
10IIPILGRIM IMPRESSIONS
16III HIS SPIRITUAL VIRTUES
16 His Great Faith
18 The Guardian and the man
19 His humility and selflessness
20 His involuntary connection with the Divine Source
24 His eagerness
25 His perseverance
26 His generosity
29IVHIS LITERARY GIFTS
35 Translations
37 Original literary work
37 As historian
40 Correspondence
42 His artistic ingenuity
PART 2: The World Centre of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh
51 VBIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD CENTRE
61 VITHE QUEEN OF CARMEL
68 VIITHE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE SHRINE OF THE BAB
72 The Arcade
89 The Octagon
97 The Drum or Clerestory
100The Crown and the Dome
109     VIII     THE GARDENS SURROUNDING THE SHRINE OF THE BAB
119 IXTHE GARDEN NURSERIES
121 XPILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH
123 XITHE GARDENS AT BAHJI
127 XIIEMBELLISHMENTS TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH
138 XIII THE MANSION OF BAHJI
148 XIVTHE INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES
148 The Nature of the Archives
151 The Project Begins
158 Plans Become a Reality
170 XVTHE FIRST MASHRIQU'L-ADHKAR OF THE HOLY LAND
173 The Obelisk
EPILOGUE
175 Events connected with the passing of Shoghi Effendi
184 The Sepulchre of Shoghi Effendi
APPENDICES
189 IEarly Descriptions of Shoghi Effendi
195 IILetters to Angeline Giachery
199 IIIThe Writings of Shoghi Effendi
205 IVGenealogy of Shoghi Effendi
206The Family of the Báb
208 VThe War in Africa
209 VIThe Tablet of Carmel
212 VIIGuido M. Fabbricotti, the Marble Firm
213 VIII Giacomo Barozzi, the Architect Vignola
214 IXNames of the Doors of the Shrine of the Báb
214 XAndrea Palladio, Founder of Neo-Classic Architecture
217 XIPlants Used by Shoghi Effendi
220Glossary of Architectural and Building Terms
223 References
This humble work is dedicated to my dear wife Angeline whose love for Shoghi Effendi and utter dedication to the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh are far greater than my own.
[page 1]

Preface

The date of November 4th, 1957, will remain for the author of these Recollections the day of anguish, of sorrow and bewilderment. In a modest hotel in the city of London, the earthly, fruitful life of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, came abruptly, and unexpectedly, to an end. To the writer, it was as if the light of wisdom, solace and righteousness had been extinguished forever: something similar to an apocalyptic darkening of this planet.

A radiant and useful existence had suddenly ceased, leaving a multitude of co-religionists throughout the world stunned and grief-stricken. It was an unequalled and widespread feeling of despair and irremediable loss that filled the hearts wit poignant pain that could never cease; the end of an age of comfort and assurance, of light-hearted joy, the joy of one's adolescent years, when dreams, aspirations and idealism came into existence from the tranquil life revolving around the unity of the family, with its power of love and security, the source of our inspiration, fortitude and strength.

The greatest gift received from the Omnipotent, during my lifetime, was the privilege of being closely associated with Shoghi Effendi for a number of years. No words will ever be able to describe the depth of my devotion and of my abiding love for him, nor the transformation I underwent under the influence of his warm and tender affection; an influence that changed my character, my outlook on life, my habits, and opened my eyes to the unending vista of new aspirations and horizons.

In later years, I have felt the urge to communicate to others the power of his love; thus the decision to write down some of my observations and experiences. It is a recollection, however inadequate - an effort to render him due justice and to recall for others the life of such a unique and precious personage. I sincerely trust that future scholars will undertake to produce a detailed life history of him whom I consider to be the 'true man of the century'.

Much merit for my efforts goes to my dear wife, Angeline, who with her encouragement and patience has guided me to the completion of the manuscript. Deep thanks and appreciation go to our dear friend Beatrice Owens Ashton, for her many suggestions and the reviewing of the text, to Marion Hofman for her skilful editing, and to the painter Reza Samimi for his extraordinary and moving crayon portrait of Shoghi Effendi. My sincere thanks go also to the hosts of friends who have urged me to put in writing what I have verbally expressed in Bahá'í gatherings in various continents of the world. It is my hope that the reading of these Recollections will enkindle and strengthen, in the hearts of many, a deep love and admiration for Shoghi Effendi, that we may all dedicate our lives, as he did, to the service of the Cause of God which he so greatly loved, and that we may emulate him in placing such services ahead of any personal motives or restraint.

UGO GIACHERY

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