Life Supreme — Page 121
124. LIFE SUPREME. The clerk's name was Abdul Rahman Dehlvi. He arranged for a copy of the Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam by Hazrat Mirza. Ghulam Ahmad to be sent to Orchard from Qadian. Though. Orchard's spiritual senses were exceedingly dull in those days and he found much of its contents difficult to comprehend, parts of it inspired him and uplifted his spirits. . When he was given a two week leave, he decided at the urging of. Dehlvi, to visit Qadian. After a week of travel he reached the small isolated town of Qadian. As no one knew when he would arrive, he was not met at the station and it was necessary for him to hire a ride to the home of Mufti Mohammad Sadiq where he was to stay. Mufti. Mohammad Sadiq was a companion of the Promised MessiahHazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad-and also the first Ahmadi missionary to the United States of America. . He stayed in Qadian for two days. The highlight of his visit was an audience with Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadthe Khalifa and Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement. . Orchard describes this meeting in the following words:. I was impressed by his luminous countenance which radiated an intangible spiritual light which seemed to shine from the windows of another world. He scintillated heavenly light and, as he spoke, a charming smile animated his face. . He was an embodiment of energetic repose radiating physical, intellectual and spiritual magnetism which captivated all within his presence. I realized that I was in the company of no ordinary person. . Orchard was generally impressed by everyone he met. This is what attracted him to Islam more than anything else. While his knowledge of Islam was negligible, he reasoned that if these persons were the fruits of the faith, then it certainly had something to offer. . Shortly after his visit to Qadian, he decided to accept Ahmadiyyat -the True Islam. . Orchard was a heavy drinker and smoker. He also gambled extensively, once losing an entire month's pay gambling on cards. . He gave up drinking and gambling immediately as a result of accepting Islam. Smoking was the most difficult for him to overcome