The Most Perfect Gentleman
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When in Bahá'í history
Howard Colby Ives observed, “I have before spoken of His unfailing courtesy. It was really more than what that term usually connotes to the Western mind. The same Persian word is used for both reverence and courtesy. He ‘saw the Face of His Heavenly Father in every face’ and reverenced the soul behind it. How could one be discourteous if such an attitude was held towards everyone!
“The husband of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s hostess in Dublin, who, while never becoming an avowed believer, had many opportunities of meeting and talking with the Master, when asked to sum up his impressions of Him, responded, after a little consideration: ‘I think He is the most perfect gentleman I have ever known.’”
Source: Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Annamarie Honnold), p. 92, quoting Howard Colby Ives, Portals to Freedom, ch. 8.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: courtesy).
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