May 9. On this date in 1900, 'Abdu'l-Karím-i-Tihrání addressed American Bahá'ís about his meetings with Ibrahim George Kheirallawho, along with Anton Haddad, had founded of the first American Bahá'í community. After a pilgrimage to Haifa, he came to believe that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was equal in rank to his brothers Mírzá Muhammad 'Alí, Díyá'u'lláh, and Badi'u'lláh.

 

May 9. On this date in 1900, 'Abdu'l-Karím-i-Tihrání addressed American Bahá'ís about his meetings with Ibrahim George Kheirallawho, along with Anton Haddad, had founded of the first American Bahá'í community. After a pilgrimage to Haifa, he came to believe that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was equal in rank to his brothers Mírzá Muhammad 'Alí, Díyá'u'lláh, and Badi'u'lláh. 

STATEMENT OF ABDUL KERIM TO ALL THE AMERICAN BEHAIS.

— — — — — — — — — - New York, May 9, 1900.

Dr. Kheiralla repudiated the authority of our Lord, Abbas Effendi, some months ago, for reasons best known to himself, and was inclined to favor Mohammed Ali, the half-brother of our Lord. Kheiralla's denial of his Master, Abbas Effendi, is well known to the Behais in Chicago, and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The rumors of the state of affairs has caused confusion among the Behais in other cities. Our Lord and Master, Abbas Effendi, becoming informed of Kheiralla's denial of Him, commissioned me to come to America to settle these differences and to bring about peace and harmony, and to unite all the Behais.

I argued and discussed our differences with Kheiralla for several days, and succeeded in proving to him that his attitude toward Abbas Effendi was a mistake. Kheiralla then volunteered to make a public retraction of his statements, and to make a written statement of the same to Abbas Effendi. All of which Kheiralla did on Tuesday evening, May 8, 1900, at Genealogical Hall, before an audience of two hundred Behais. A stenographic report of the meeting was taken and copies forwarded to the Council boards. We now hope and pray to God to strengthen Kheiralla's heart and keep him in the path of righteousness and firm and loyal in the interests of his Lord and Master, Abbas Effendi.

God is most merciful and is the greatest Forgiver. We must try to forgive each other because none of us is infallible. We, one and all, should prove our gratitude to Dr. Kheiralla because he was the first person to bring the Behai teachings to this country, and for this the Americans must be forever indebted to him. We should pray that he will keep to the right course now, and we must all look upon him as our spiritual teacher and brother.

(Signed) Abdul Kerim.