“‘Abdu’l-Baha objected to any parade or unnecessary ceremonial, particularly if He were to be concerned in it.”

‘Abdu’l-Baha objected to any parade or unnecessary ceremonial, particularly if He were to be concerned in it. Even if some degree of circumstance and formality were called for, He would reduce them to the smallest possible proportions.

When, on April 17th, 1921, He was to receive from Lord Allenby in the grounds of the Governor’s residence at Haifa the honour of knighthood for services rendered to the people of Palestine during the Turkish occupation, He evaded the equestrian procession and military reception prepared for Him, by slipping unobserved from His house and making His way to the rendezvous by some unaccustomed route. When all were in perplexity and many thought that He was lost He appeared quietly at the right place and at the right time and proceeded in the prescribed manner with the essential part of the ceremony. 

- Hand of the Cause George Townshend (‘World Order magazine, October 1936’)