In December 1914, through a conversation with friends who had met 'Abdu'l-Baha, and the loan of a few pamphlets, I first became acquainted with the Baha'i teachings.

I was at once struck by their comprehensiveness, power and beauty.

They impressed me as meeting the great needs of the modern world more fully and satisfactorily than any other presentation of religion which I had come across--an impression which subsequent study has only served to deepen and confirm.
In seeking for fuller knowledge about the movement I found considerable difficulty in obtaining the literature I wanted, and soon conceived the idea of putting together the gist of what I learned in the form of a book, so that it might be more easily available for others.

When communication with Palestine was reopened after the war, I wrote to 'Abdu'l-Baha and enclosed a copy of the first nine chapters of the book, which was then almost complete in rough draft.

I received a very kind and encouraging reply, and a cordial invitation to visit Him in Haifa and bring the whole of my manuscript with me.