The believers so wanted ‘Abdu'l-Bahá to come to America—they yearned for Him! Yet repeatedly He resisted, saying that His invitation would be the unity of the friends. They had to get "in shape" before they were ready for Him. (Do we need to do this as we ready ourselves for the Anniversary?)
The excerpt from a tablet below shows just how serious He was about what the friends needed to do. Such a lesson for us now, at this time when things are so difficult in the world!
". . . If the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful long for the visit of Abdu'l-Baha, they must immediately remove from their midst differences of opinion and be engaged in the practice of infinite love and unity. No Bahai must open his lips in blaming another one, he must regard backbiting as the greatest sin of humanity, for it is clearly revealed in all the Tablets of Baha’o’llah that backbiting and faultfinding are . . . the destroyers of the foundation of man. . . . If ye are yearning for my meeting, and if in reality ye are seeking my visit, ye must close the doors of difference and open the gates of affection, love and friendship. Ye must pulsate as one heart, and throb as one spirit. . . . Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 4 (May 17, 1911), pp. 6-7.
On the first day, He met with journalists on the ship, even before setting feet on actual land. He explained that that He had come “to visit the peace societies of America because the fundamental principles of our Cause are universal peace and the promotion of the basic doctrine of the oneness and truth of all the divine religions.”
I have a note that the S.S. Cedric actually sailed into the NY harbor on the 10th at 9 pm. (This was a few days before the Titanic hit the iceberg. Can you imagine if He had sailed on the Titanic, as suggested by many of the friends?) On the morning of the 11th from the pier Juliet glimpsed the Master on the deck, “charged with power, the sweep of a robe, a majestic head, turban crowned—my heart stopped.” Mr. Kinney was called to come on board and returned with the message that the Master wanted the friends to disperse and meet Him at four pm at the Kinney’s. There is the priceless story of how everyone obeyed, but Juliet, Marjorie Morten, and Rhoda Nichols hid to get a glimpse of Him. To their dismay, the motorcar parked directly in front of them, and as the Master stepped into the car, He turned—and smiled at them!
Later that day there were hundreds at the Kinney’s. Imagine being in that crowd, after so much yearning.
April 12: Oh, the excitement! ‘Abdu'l-Bahá on day 2 of His visit to NY spoke at the MacNutt home and then later at Ms. Phillips' studio. One source says there were about 1000 at each gathering! Can you imagine? And the Press. . . .
"This is most happy visit. I have crossed the sea from the land of the Orient for the joy of meeting the friends of God."
"This long voyage will prove how great is my love for you."
"May this city [NY] become the city of love. . . ."
I want to learn more about the artist, Ms. Phillips.
April 13: Today (in 1912) ‘Abdu'l-Bahá meets a flow of visitors, including ministers Rev. J.T. Bixby, at Marjorie Morton's home, where there was an "immense crowd."
Clara Barton died. [Incidental fact.]
Tomorrow night at 11:40 pm, the Titanic will hit an iceberg. Can you imagine the drama of hearing about that disaster?
"I beg of God that day by day your faces may become brighter; day by day you may draw nearer to God; day by day you may take a greater portion from the outpourings of the Holy Spirit so that you may become encircled by the bounties of heaven." PUP talk on April 13, p. 9–10
April 14: ‘Abdu'l-Bahá visited and spoke at the Church of the Ascension and met Dr. Percy Grant (whom Juliet Thompson wanted to marry at one point--but it wasn't meant to be). He began by referring to the Bible verse Grant had read: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face." (Can you imagine being face to face with ‘Abdu'l-Bahá?) He went on to discuss material vs. spiritual civilization and the need for unity. He also spoke at the Carnegie Lyceum, saying He was pleased at the bonds of union He perceived and describing the role of the Prophets. See 239 Days 21-23 and PUP 11, 14.
TONIGHT the Titanic hits the iceberg. I always thought the Titanic disaster occurred before the Cedric arrived, but it was after. It must have given the friends something to think and talk about, as they had urged Him to come on the Titanic.
April 15: ‘Abdu'l-Bahá had a flow of visitors. He met with the NY Peace Society and gave a talk at the home of Mountfort Mills. The NY Herald had a report.
The Titanic sank at 2:20 am, so perhaps some heard the news that day and then it gradually spread--without the benefit of televised news or the Internet--can you imagine?
From Mahmud's Diary: The Master was shown several newspapers that had published His picture and articles about His talks and yesterday's meetings. So great is the influence of the Cause of God that a zealous clergyman has made objections to Dr [Percy Stickney] Grant, the minister of the Church of the Ascension who had invited `Abdu'l-Bahá to sit in the chair reserved for the Viceroy of Christ. He asked why the minister had permitted `Abdu'l-Bahá to sit on the chair. Although he objected to the Master's talk, he could find no justification for his complaint. Other clergymen replied to his objections in a newspaper article, referring to his discourteous attitude. Thus he was obliged to write an article himself in which he stated that he had no doubt about the knowledge and importance of the teachings of `Abdu'l-Bahá and that his intention had been only to point out that the church's rules and regulations had been broken. The bishop of the church was introduced to `Abdu'l-Bahá by Mr Mills. The bishop expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the Master's visit to the Church of the Ascension, saying, `I am very optimistic and pleased about the teachings of this Cause. You are the first great visitor from the East who has brought such important tidings to the West. Until now no one could imagine that such a great cause could exist in the East. This blessed journey is the cause of praise and gratitude.' As the bishop listened to the Master's remarks about the dangers of blind imitation and prejudice, and on the fundamental unity of all religions, the necessity for universal peace, the agreement between science and religion, and a divine civilization, and so on, he became very respectful, and left with gratitude and humility. In thanking the Master the bishop said, `You are the first great traveler from the East to the West to come with such noble principles.' I then recalled the statement of the Master on the ship when He said, `Up to the present time no one has traveled, with a purpose like ours, from Persia to America . . . Ours may be said to be the first voyage of Easterners to America.'
(see http://bahai-library.com/books/mahmud/index.html)
BACKGROUND to the JOURNEY
Since I am just now (May 29) re-reading Eliane Lacroix-Hopson's "'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York: The City of the Covenant" (having found an on-line version of it) I will post a bit of background to Abdu'l-Bahá's journey. In her words:
"In 1911, 'Abdu'l-Bahá made His first historic trip to Europe, then He returned to Egypt, in Ramleh, a suburb of Alexandria, until the spring of 1912. On March 25, the Master and His retinue boarded the S.S. Cedric in Alexandria, heading for the United States. The American Bahá'ís had sent thousands of dollars for His journey, urging Him to leave the Cedric in Italy and travel to England to sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. But the Master returned the money for charity and continued His voyage on the Cedric.
"'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage was an unusual mixture of Easterners and Westerners. The Master usually wore a long robe, white or light tan, a dark aba (overcoat) and a white turbaned headdress on His flowing, silky white hair. The Persians in His entourage wore Western clothing and the red fez. At Naples, a few Americans and an English believer, Miss Louisa Mathew, joined the traveling party for the rest of the trip.
"At the table, "the intermingling and assembling together of the Easterners and the Westerners attracted the eyes," wrote Mahmud. It also caused misunderstanding and distrust due to the war between Turkey and Italy at the time. However, during the voyage, the officers of the ship asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá to address a public meeting which they arranged in the lounge. Among the large number of people attending were the consuls of Russia and Italy, who conversed regularly with the Master afterwards.
"Twenty five years later, a woman who as a child had traveled on the Cedric told a Bahá'í that she had never forgotten her personal encounter with the Master. "A glance that burned" into her soul and frightened her, lest she had displeased Him, and the kindly smile which released her "from terror." She recalled that everyone had remarked about "His majestic bearing, His kingly walk, and above all the strange white light that followed Him everywhere."
Don't you love the memory of the "strange white light"?
"This long voyage will prove how great is my love for you."
"May this city [NY] become the city of love. . . ."
I want to learn more about the artist, Ms. Phillips.
April 13: Today (in 1912) ‘Abdu'l-Bahá meets a flow of visitors, including ministers Rev. J.T. Bixby, at Marjorie Morton's home, where there was an "immense crowd."
Clara Barton died. [Incidental fact.]
Tomorrow night at 11:40 pm, the Titanic will hit an iceberg. Can you imagine the drama of hearing about that disaster?
"I beg of God that day by day your faces may become brighter; day by day you may draw nearer to God; day by day you may take a greater portion from the outpourings of the Holy Spirit so that you may become encircled by the bounties of heaven." PUP talk on April 13, p. 9–10
April 14: ‘Abdu'l-Bahá visited and spoke at the Church of the Ascension and met Dr. Percy Grant (whom Juliet Thompson wanted to marry at one point--but it wasn't meant to be). He began by referring to the Bible verse Grant had read: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face." (Can you imagine being face to face with ‘Abdu'l-Bahá?) He went on to discuss material vs. spiritual civilization and the need for unity. He also spoke at the Carnegie Lyceum, saying He was pleased at the bonds of union He perceived and describing the role of the Prophets. See 239 Days 21-23 and PUP 11, 14.
TONIGHT the Titanic hits the iceberg. I always thought the Titanic disaster occurred before the Cedric arrived, but it was after. It must have given the friends something to think and talk about, as they had urged Him to come on the Titanic.
April 15: ‘Abdu'l-Bahá had a flow of visitors. He met with the NY Peace Society and gave a talk at the home of Mountfort Mills. The NY Herald had a report.
The Titanic sank at 2:20 am, so perhaps some heard the news that day and then it gradually spread--without the benefit of televised news or the Internet--can you imagine?
From Mahmud's Diary: The Master was shown several newspapers that had published His picture and articles about His talks and yesterday's meetings. So great is the influence of the Cause of God that a zealous clergyman has made objections to Dr [Percy Stickney] Grant, the minister of the Church of the Ascension who had invited `Abdu'l-Bahá to sit in the chair reserved for the Viceroy of Christ. He asked why the minister had permitted `Abdu'l-Bahá to sit on the chair. Although he objected to the Master's talk, he could find no justification for his complaint. Other clergymen replied to his objections in a newspaper article, referring to his discourteous attitude. Thus he was obliged to write an article himself in which he stated that he had no doubt about the knowledge and importance of the teachings of `Abdu'l-Bahá and that his intention had been only to point out that the church's rules and regulations had been broken. The bishop of the church was introduced to `Abdu'l-Bahá by Mr Mills. The bishop expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the Master's visit to the Church of the Ascension, saying, `I am very optimistic and pleased about the teachings of this Cause. You are the first great visitor from the East who has brought such important tidings to the West. Until now no one could imagine that such a great cause could exist in the East. This blessed journey is the cause of praise and gratitude.' As the bishop listened to the Master's remarks about the dangers of blind imitation and prejudice, and on the fundamental unity of all religions, the necessity for universal peace, the agreement between science and religion, and a divine civilization, and so on, he became very respectful, and left with gratitude and humility. In thanking the Master the bishop said, `You are the first great traveler from the East to the West to come with such noble principles.' I then recalled the statement of the Master on the ship when He said, `Up to the present time no one has traveled, with a purpose like ours, from Persia to America . . . Ours may be said to be the first voyage of Easterners to America.'
(see http://bahai-library.com/books/mahmud/index.html)
BACKGROUND to the JOURNEY
Since I am just now (May 29) re-reading Eliane Lacroix-Hopson's "'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York: The City of the Covenant" (having found an on-line version of it) I will post a bit of background to Abdu'l-Bahá's journey. In her words:
"In 1911, 'Abdu'l-Bahá made His first historic trip to Europe, then He returned to Egypt, in Ramleh, a suburb of Alexandria, until the spring of 1912. On March 25, the Master and His retinue boarded the S.S. Cedric in Alexandria, heading for the United States. The American Bahá'ís had sent thousands of dollars for His journey, urging Him to leave the Cedric in Italy and travel to England to sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. But the Master returned the money for charity and continued His voyage on the Cedric.
"'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage was an unusual mixture of Easterners and Westerners. The Master usually wore a long robe, white or light tan, a dark aba (overcoat) and a white turbaned headdress on His flowing, silky white hair. The Persians in His entourage wore Western clothing and the red fez. At Naples, a few Americans and an English believer, Miss Louisa Mathew, joined the traveling party for the rest of the trip.
"At the table, "the intermingling and assembling together of the Easterners and the Westerners attracted the eyes," wrote Mahmud. It also caused misunderstanding and distrust due to the war between Turkey and Italy at the time. However, during the voyage, the officers of the ship asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá to address a public meeting which they arranged in the lounge. Among the large number of people attending were the consuls of Russia and Italy, who conversed regularly with the Master afterwards.
"Twenty five years later, a woman who as a child had traveled on the Cedric told a Bahá'í that she had never forgotten her personal encounter with the Master. "A glance that burned" into her soul and frightened her, lest she had displeased Him, and the kindly smile which released her "from terror." She recalled that everyone had remarked about "His majestic bearing, His kingly walk, and above all the strange white light that followed Him everywhere."
Don't you love the memory of the "strange white light"?
Thank you for this unexpectedly powerful way of following the Master's journey. I'll look forward to each installment!!
ReplyDeleteAnne, no one else that I know could put such feeling and animation into this precious "documentary". I will anticipate with love the daily postings, and thank you dear sister for taking on this wonderful project.
ReplyDelete