Mrs. Keith Ransom-Kehler's passing is, indeed, an
irretrievable loss which the Bahá'í world has come to suffer at a time when her
presence in their midst was so greatly needed, not only because of her
inspiring personality, but due to her intelligent, wise and energetic handling
of the many and varied problems confronting the followers of the Faith in
Persia. For more than one year she toiled and suffered, undismayed by the
forces of darkness which so increasingly challenge the devotion and loyalty,
and hamper the progress of the work, of our Persian brethren. Nothing was
strong enough to sap the vitality of her faith and neither the opposition of
the Government, nor the slackness and inefficiency of those with whom she had
to work, could possibly discourage and dishearten her. Her faith was deep, her
energy inexhaustible. And she was, indeed, fully repaid for all that she did,
whether in connection with the teaching of the Message, or in regard to the
consolidation of the nascent administrative institutions of the Cause in the
very land of its birth.
The Guardian, fully aware of the noble gifts of her heart
and mind, has given her not only the station of a martyr but that of a Hand of
the Cause of God. In two telegrams addressed to the Tihran and Isfahan
Assemblies he has requested our Persian friends to fix her final resting place
in the vicinity of Sultanu'sh-Shuhada's grave in Isfahan.
He has also, through the following cablegram, informed your
National Assembly of his intention to do so: "Instructed Isfahan Assembly
inter Keith vicinity grave Sultanu'sh-Shuhada surnamed by Bahá'u'lláh 'King of
Martyrs.'" His instructions on this point have been immediately carried
out by the Isfahan Assembly and it is, therefore, very encouraging to learn
that our beloved Keith has been accorded such a befitting restingplace. For as
you may know, Sultanu'sh-Shuhada, to whom Bahá'u'lláh gave the title of the
"King of Martyrs" as a result of the glorious martyrdom he suffered
for the Cause, was one of the most eminent and ardent followers of the Faith,
not only in Isfahan but in the whole of Persia. His brother, surnamed by
Bahá'u'lláh the "Beloved of Martyrs" was also a very distinguished
and devoted Bahá'u'lláh, who gave up his life for the sake of the Cause. So, as
you see, the interment of Keith in the vicinity of the grave of such an
outstanding Persian believer is very befitting, and will pass down through the
ages as the symbol of the unity of the East and West.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 3
November, 1933, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the NSA of USA; Baha’i News,
no. 30, January 1934)
