Akka-Haifa: The “kind father of all people”

All the people know him and love him - the rich and the poor, the young and the old - even the babe leaping in its mother's arms. If he hears of anyone sick in the city -Moslem or Christian, or of any other sect, it matters not - he is each day at their bedside, or sends a trusty messenger. If a physician is needed, and the patient poor, he brings or sends one, and also the necessary medicine. If he finds a leaking roof or a broken window menacing health, he summons a workman, and waits himself to see the breach repaired. If anyone is in trouble, - if a son or a brother is thrown into prison, or he is threatened at law, or falls into any difficulty too heavy for him, - it is to the Master that he straightway makes appeal for counselor for aid. Indeed, for counsel all come to him, rich as well as poor. He is the kind father of all the people. 

- Myron H. Phelps  (‘Life and Teachings of Abbas Effendi’) 

Haifa 1921: “So gentle was he, and so simple, that in his presence one almost forgot that he was also a great teacher”

Most of us here have, I think, a clear picture of Sir' Abdu'lBaha Abbas, of his dignified figure walking thoughtfully in our streets, of his courteous and gracious manner, of his kindness, of his love for little children and flowers, of his generosity and care for the poor and suffering. So gentle was he, and so simple, that in his presence one almost forgot that he was also a great teacher, and that his writings and conversations have been a solace and an inspiration to hundreds and thousands of people in the East and in the West. 

- The Governor of Phoenicia (Haifa), 1921  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘God Passes By’) 

Akka: The most wonderful Being

...Those three days were the most memorable days of my life... The Master I will not attempt to describe: I will only state that I believe with all my heart that He is the Master, and my greatest blessing in this world is that I have been privileged to be in His presence, and look upon His sanctified face... Without a doubt Abbás Effendi is the Messiah of this day and generation, and we need not look for another… I must say, He is the most wonderful Being I have ever met or ever expect to meet in this world... The spiritual atmosphere which surrounds Him and most powerfully affects all those who are blest by being near Him, is indescribable... I believe in Him with all my heart and soul, and I hope all who call themselves believers will concede to Him all the greatness, all the glory, and all the praise, for surely He is the Son of God—and ‘the spirit of the Father abideth in Him.’  

- Mrs. Phoebe Hearst  (Wife of Senator Hearst, and mother of William Randolph Hearst, while on pilgrimage; quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘God Passes By’)

Haifa 1919: Evening devotional meetings with the Master

Each evening, shortly after sunset, the friends of the East and the West around Mount Carmel gathered in the Master's salon. The Master spoke a few words of greeting, and one or two of the Persians with heavenly melody chanted the prayers and tablets of Baha'u'llah. The Master sat silent as though lost in prayer, while the waves of peace flowed from him seeming to fill the room. Then he gave a short address upon the early days of the Cause, or about the Divine Principles of Baha'u'llah and the meeting ended. We arose refreshed as though bathed in a river of light... 

- Harry Randalld  (During his pilgrimage in November 1919; ‘William Henry Randall, a Disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, by Bahiyyih Randall-Winckler)

Akka 1905: 'Abdu'l-Baha's absolute naturalness -- an utter absence of any desire or effort to impress one with his greatness

Every morning it is the custom of the household to meet in the large sitting room, where tea is served, and the little children of the family come and chant for the Master while he drinks his tea. At this first meeting, at seven o'clock in the morning, how inexpressibly I was impressed by the absolute poise of the Master; his absolute naturalness; absolute freedom. There was an utter absence of any desire or effort to impress one with his greatness, which is majestic in its simplicity. 

- Mary Lucas  (‘A Brief Account of my visit to Akka’, 1905)

Akka 1891: British orientalist E.G. Browne meets ‘Abdu’l-Baha for the first time

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 Efendi, 'the master' (Aka) [Aqa] as he par excellence is called by the Bábís. Subsequent conversation with him served only to heighten the respect with which his appearance had from the first inspired me. 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. 

- E.G. Browne  (Quoted by Hand of the Cause Balyuzi in ‘E.G. Browne and the Baha’i Faith’)