A Question at the Door

*A retelling for children, based on **Portals to Freedom** by Howard Colby Ives (George Ronald, 1937).*

1 / 9

When 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited New York in 1912, the Bahá'ís there had a group called the *executive committee*. To *execute* means to carry out, or to do. The committee's job was to get things done.

2 / 9

One day the committee asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá to be present at their meeting.

3 / 9

For half an hour or so, the friends talked things over. 'Abdu'l-Bahá listened.

4 / 9

Then He calmly stood up to leave. At the door He stopped and looked at all their faces. For a moment He said nothing. Then He said that He had been told this was a meeting of the executive committee.

5 / 9

"Yes, Master," said the chairman.

6 / 9

Then why, He asked, did they not execute?

7 / 9

Howard Colby Ives, who wrote this story down, said that 'Abdu'l-Bahá always put the most weight on deeds. And He did not ask others to do anything He did not do Himself.

8 / 9

*Howard Colby Ives heard this story from one of the friends who was there, and wrote it down. This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["Why Do You Not Execute?"](/stories/pf-why-do-you-not-execute).*

9 / 9