Attributes of Abdu'l-Baha seen through the eyes of two westerners: Lady Blomfield and Howard Colby Ives
First presented at the Irfan Colloquia Session #100
Louhelen Bahá'í School: Davison, Michigan, USA
October 7–10, 2010
(see list of papers from #100)
One way of looking at `Abdu'l-Bahá's legacy is by retelling of anecdotes about His encounters with the diverse array of those whom he met, taught and counseled in the course of his journeys. Such accounts have significance as inspirational literature. Accounts of `Abdu'l-Bahá's activities tell us what His words and actions meant to those who witnessed them.
In this paper the author will retell some of the stories through the eyes of two westerners who saw `Abdu'l-Bahá during His visit to the west. The emphasis will be on stories that talk about His attributes.
These two people are Howard Colby Ives and Lady Blomfield. Howard Colby Ives from the United States of America met `Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in April 1912 at the age of 46. His autobiography Portals of Freedom will be reviewed and specific stories selected. Lady Blomfield met `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Holy Land and then received Him when he visited London. Stories that His attributes and divine characteristics will be selected from her memoir The Chosen Highway. A brief biography of each of these two people will be also given.
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