A Description of 'Abdu'l-Bahá1
"Seldom have I seen one whose appearance
impressed me more. A tall strongly-built man holding himself straight as
an arrow, with white turban and raiment, long black locks reaching almost
to the shoulder, broad powerful forehead indicating a strong intellect
combined with an unswerving will, eyes keen as a hawk's, and
strongly-marked but pleasing features--such was my first impression of
`Abbas Effendi, 'the master' as he par excellence is called.... One
more
eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration, more
intimately acquainted with the sacred books of the Jews, the Christians,
and the Muhammadans, could, I should think, scarcely be found even amongst
the eloquent, ready, and subtle race to which he belongs. These qualities,
combined with a bearing at once majestic and genial, made me cease to
wonder at the influence and esteem which he enjoyed even beyond the circle
of his father's followers. About the greatness of this man and his power
no one who had seen him could entertain a
doubt."
- The reflections of Edward G. Browne, a Cambridge University scholar who first met
`Abdu'l-Bahá in 1890, and then later met `Abdu'l-Bahá during His stay in England.
Edward G. Browne, A Traveller's Narrative (New York: Bahá'í Publishing
Committee, 1930).
