The Master Leaves Haifa for Egypt

In August 1910 Sydney Sprague was in Haifa, staying at the home of his father-in-law. On 29 August he wrote to Isabella Brittingham:

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> I have a very big piece of news to tell you. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has left this Holy Spot for the first time in forty-two years, and has gone to Egypt. . . . Everyone was astounded to hear of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure, for no one knew until the very last minute that He had any idea of leaving.

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The afternoon of the day He left, He came to Mírzá Asadu’lláh’s home to see us and sat with us awhile beside a new well that has just been finished and said that He had come to taste the water. We did not realize that it was a good-bye visit. Then He took a carriage and went up the hill to the Holy Tomb (of the Báb).

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That night, as usual, the believers gathered before the house of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to receive that blessing, which every day is ours, of being in His presence, but we waited in vain, for one of the sons-in-law came and told us that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had taken the Khedivial steamer for Port Said. We could hardly believe it was true, so great was this news.

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Think how happy we must be that after forty-two years in this cage, the Divine Bird has spread His wings and in perfect freedom flown away.

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Asked by the Bahai News for an account of the departure, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s attendant, Siyyid Asadu’lláh-i-Qumí, wrote:

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> ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did not inform anyone that He was going to leave Haifa. The day He left He visited the Holy Tomb of the Báb on Mt. Carmel, and when He came down from the mountain of the Lord, He went direct to the steamer. This was the first anyone knew about the matter.

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