John Bosch Gives Up the Wine Trade

John David Bosch was a Swiss from Canton St. Gall who emigrated to the United States in 1879. Later he returned to Europe and studied wine-making in Germany, France, and Spain . . . And John became a Bahá’í. On May 29, 1905, he went down to the winery office very early and wrote ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: ‘… may my name be entered in the Great Book of this Universal Life … My watchword will be “Justice.” Humbly Thy servant …’

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There were many Tablets and messages for John Bosch, through all the years . . . Early in 1910 (the date on the envelope is May), the Master wrote to John: ‘According to the texts of the Book of Aqdas both light and strong drinks are prohibited.

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The reason for this prohibition is that it [drink] leads the mind astray and is the cause of weakening the body … I hope thou mayest become exhilarated with the wine of the love of God … The after-effect of drinking is depression, but the wine of the love of God bestoweth exaltation of the spirit.’

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John had forty men in four wineries under him. In one year, he crushed up fifteen thousand tons of grapes, which makes over two and a quarter million gallons of wine. ‘I thought it over,’ he said. It was not long before he decided to retire.

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