Soon it was the dinner hour at the Western Pilgrim House,
and my dream of being in the presence of our beloved Guardian was coming true.
Shoghi Effendi and Rúhíyyih Khánum had already entered the dining room.
I stood with the group of friends outside the dining room waiting for others to
go in. They said to me, "Go on in. Go in!" But I hesitated. Then I
was gently pushed by Milly Collins into the room. There I saw him —"The
sign of God," the "priceless pearl!" My heart stood still. I
could not speak or move until he came toward me smiling and took my hand,
saying, "Welcome, Mrs. Brown. We are very happy to see you and have you
with us. Please sit here"; he indicated a chair opposite him at the dinner
table. The warmth of his greeting and his gentle courtesy made me feel
comfortable and happy. I sensed his quiet, deep, spiritual strength. Shoghi
Effendi asked me about my daughter. He looked a long time at the pictures of my
family, and I gave him the message each one had sent him his greetings and a
special message, which I relayed to him. He said, "Tell your son that I
hope his wishes to serve and help will be gratified." Looking again at the
photographs, the Guardian said that he would pray in the Holy Shrines for my
family. Then in a gentle and loving manner he inquired about the believers in
California and spoke of some of the early Bahá'ís whom I had known — Helen
Goodall, Ella Cooper, Phoebe Hearst, and Lua Getsinger. Often as we sat with
Shoghi Effendi he seemed to know what was in our hearts, for he answered
questions that were in my own heart but which I had not asked.
- Ramona Brown (Notes from pilgrimage in 1954; ‘Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: Recollections of the
Early Days of the Baha’is of California’)
