The Times of India, in its issue of January 1922, opens one of its editorial aricles as follows: “In more normal times than the present the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which was sorrowfully referred to at the Bahá’í Conference in Bombay, would have stirred the feelings of many, who, without belonging to the Bahá’í brotherhood, sympathize with its tenets and admire the life-work of those who founded it. As it is we have learned almost by chance of this great religious leader’s death, but that fact need not prevent our turning aside from politics and the turmoil of current events to consider what this man did and what he aimed at.” Sketching then in brief an account of the history of the Movement it concludes as follows: “It is not for us now to judge whether the purity, the mysticism and the exalted ideas of Bahá’ísm will continue unchanged after the loss of the great leader, or to speculate on whether Bahá’ísm will some day become a force in the world as great or greater than Christianity or Islám; but we would pay a tribute to the memory of a man who wielded a vast influence for good, and who, if he was destined to see many of his ideas seemingly shattered in the world war, remained true to his convictions and to his belief in the possibility of a reign of peace and love, and who, far more effectively than Tolstoi, showed the West that religion is a vital force that can never be disregarded.”

His Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Winston Churchill, telegraphing to His Excellency the High Commissioner for Palestine, desires him to convey to the Bahá’í community, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, their sympathy and condolence on the death of Sir ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás, K.B.E.

On behalf of the Executive Board of the Bahá’í American Convention, this message of condolence has been received:

“He doeth whatsoever He willeth. Hearts weep at most great tribulation. American friends send through Unity Board radiant love, boundless sympathy, devotion. Standing steadfast, conscious of His unceasing presence and nearness.”

Viscount Allenby, the High Commissioner for Egypt, has wired the following message, through the intermediary of His Excellency the High Commissioner for Palestine, dated November 29, 1921: “Please convey to the relatives of the late Sir ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás Effendi and to the Bahá’í community my sincere sympathy in the loss of their revered leader.”

The loved ones in Germany assure the Greatest Holy Leaf (Sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) of their fidelity in these terms: “All believers deeply moved by irrevocable loss of our Master’s precious life. We pray for heavenly protection of Holy Cause and promise faithfulness and obedience to Center of Covenant.”

An official message forwarded by the Council of Ministers in Baghdád, and dated December 8, 1921, reads as follows: “His Highness Siyyid ‘Abdurrahman, the Prime Minister, desires to extend his sympathy to the family of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in their bereavement.”

The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force sent through His Excellency the High Commissioner for Palestine these words of sympathy: “General Congreve begs that you will convey his deepest sympathy to the fam- ily of the late Sir ‘Abbás al-Bahá’í.”

The Theosophical Society in London communicated as follows with one of the followers of the Faith in Haifa: “For the Holy Family, Theosophical Society send affectionate thoughts.”

The thousands of Bahá’ís in Ṭihrán the capital of Persia, remembering their Western brethren and sisters in London and New York assure them of their steadfast faith in these words: “Light of Covenant transferred from eye to heart. Day of teaching, of union, of self-sacrifice.”