How
poignant are the records of the early days of the Baha'i Faith in the West,
when the freshness and beauty of the spiritual Springtime awakened the souls
and led them, quickened and aflame to the knowledge of Baha’u’llah, often to
the very Presence of ‘Abdu'l-Baha in the Prison of ‘Akka. Such is the record,
the divine significance of the conversion of Thomas Breakwell, a young
Englishman living in the Southern States of America, holding an important
position in a cotton mill, spending his long summer vacations in Europe. During
his vacation of 1891 he crossed on the steamer with Mrs. M., and as she found
him interested in Theosophy she mentioned a group of friends in Paris whom she
said were interested in kindred subjects. Although she knew nothing of the
Baha’i teaching and had closed her ears to its message, yet she was impelled to
bring this youth to see me on their arrival. I was at that time in a small
apartment connected with the beautiful home of Mrs. Jackson – which she had
placed at my disposal, when my family had left for the summer.