In the spring of 1920 Emogene Hoagg, an early American
believer, sailed for Haifa to report to her beloved ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. One day He
called her to Him and asked her to tell Him about the Faith in America. After
recounting some of her experiences and observations she asked Him why there was
not more unity among the American Bahá’ís. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laid His hand on a book
beside Him, and said,
"In this book is a story of a man who went to a
doctor for treatment. He told the doctor his symptoms. First, he told him of
the pains in his head, and of his not being able to sleep. To which the doctor
replied, 'That is due to old age.'
Then, the man told him that he had a great deal of
pain in his stomach, and couldn't digest his food. The doctor replied, 'This is also due to old age.'
'Oh, but my arms and legs and back pain me constantly,' said
the man testily. And the doctor said, 'This, too, is old age.'
Then the man grew very angry, and asked how it was
possible that a doctor, who had studied for years to learn how to cure people
of their ills, had nothing more to say to a patient than that his illness is
due to old age. And the doctor replied, 'Your anger, too, is due to old age.' "
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, rising, replied to Emogene's question as to
the cause of the lack of unity in America, "The condition in America is due to lack of
steadfastness." And He strode out of the room.
When relating this story, Emogene added, "Steadfastness means faith, knowledge, obedience."
(Emogen Hoagg, quoted by Amine De Mille, Baha’i News October, 1973)
