The Master lodged at the Midland Adelphi hotel which was located in the best part of the city [London]. After getting settled there, Mr. Dreyfus informed the Master that Mr. [Edward Granville] Browne had expressed sentiments of regret and indicated that he had learned from his past mistakes; he mentioned how great an honour it would be to see the Master during His visit here, and accounted his failure to see Him during His previous travels as one of his losses in this life. Upon hearing this, the Master said:
“One should not place one’s trust in such people. What he has said is of no importance to me whatsoever. During my sojourn in America, there were people who showed deference to me and fellowship with me, compared with whom people such as Browne are not worthy of mention. Even in New York, the renowned Carnegie - the richest man in America - invited me to his home several times, and I declined. The consul general of Persia made repeated entreaties on Carnegies behalf, and I said, ‘If he were poor, I would visit him at his home. Since, however, he is the richest person in America and enjoys great fame there, it would not be prudent [for me to visit him].’ What I mean to say is that I pay no mind to people like Carnegie, though they show me the utmost deference. What, then, can be said of people like Browne, whose only aims are to advance their own interests and pursue their ulterior motives”
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, December 13, 1912, Liverpool, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)