Shoghi Effendi Recollections

The author of these recollections has written, not a biography, but his personal experiences of Shoghi Effendi (1896-1957), who, on the death of his Grandfather, 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921, found himself Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. For thirty-six years, Shoghi Effendi bore the daunting responsibilties of his office, guiding and encouraging the Bahá’ís. During the last nine years of his life he developed in Haifa and ‘Akká, the spiritual and administrative institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. Dr Giacery visited Haifa on several occasions during these years and spent a number of months there. The account he gives us of Shoghi Effendi is at first hand. It is a perceptive, affectionate and intimate portrayal of the gallant and self-sacrificing Guardian. And because those who served him so closely were few these recollections are so precious.

Contents
1 PREFACE
PART 1: The Personality of Shoghi Effendi
5 I AN APPRECIATION
10 II PILGRIM IMPRESSIONS
16 III 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
29 IV HIS 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 V BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD CENTRE
61 VI THE QUEEN OF CARMEL
68 VII THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE SHRINE OF THE BAB
72 The Arcade
89 The Octagon
97 The Drum or Clerestory
100 The Crown and the Dome
109 VIII THE GARDENS SURROUNDING THE SHRINE OF THE BAB
119 IX THE GARDEN NURSERIES
121 X PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH
123 XI THE GARDENS AT BAHJI
127 XII EMBELLISHMENTS TO THE SHRINE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH
138 XIII THE MANSION OF BAHJI
148 XIV THE INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES
148 The Nature of the Archives
151 The Project Begins
158 Plans Become a Reality
170 XV THE 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 I Early Descriptions of Shoghi Effendi
195 II Letters to Angeline Giachery
199 III The Writings of Shoghi Effendi
205 IV Genealogy of Shoghi Effendi
206 The Family of the Báb
208 V The War in Africa
209 VI The Tablet of Carmel
212 VII Guido M. Fabbricotti, the Marble Firm
213 VIII Giacomo Barozzi, the Architect Vignola
214 IX Names of the Doors of the Shrine of the Báb
214 X Andrea Palladio, Founder of Neo-Classic Architecture
217 XI Plants Used by Shoghi Effendi
220 Glossary of Architectural and Building Terms
223 References

Dr. Giachery visited Haifa on several occasions and worked with the Guardian himself in the erection of the superstructure of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel. Giachery here shares his personal reminiscences of Shoghi Effendi.