April 23, 1912

Washington D.C.:  Unity of East and West / Race Unity—two important threads

I want to write today about Ali Kuli Khan. I confess I’ve had a crush on him for years and find the romance and marriage between him and Florence Breed of great interest (the first Persian-American marriage in the Bahá'í community).  I’ve always been spellbound by the writing and talks of Marzieh Gail (their daughter) and once introduced her at Green Acre.  Sally Eiler [now Cordova] helped me to craft the introduction, and Marzieh commented on its beauty. In 2005, when I was steeped in research about the Japanese-Russo War and the Peace Treaty of 1905, I was fascinated by the fact that Ali Kuli Khan was at Green Acre on the day the Japanese delegates visited, invited by Sarah Farmer, a known peace activist. Khan wrote to Florence that it was the most important day in Green Acre history—and there have been so many important days!  He was 26 in 1905 and so handsome!

The Master with Ali Kuli Khan and Florence Breed Khan

What amazes me about him is a story I just read in Amy Renshaw’s Voyage of Love: `Abdu'l-Bahá in North America.  Here’s a paraphrased and condensed version: Khan had grown up in Tehran; he was bright and studious and a talented poet. For a short time he found work as an interpreter, but when that job ended, he couldn’t find another. He became friends with one of Iran’s princes and would party—play music, dance, sing, recite poems, tell stories, drink alcohol and smoke hashish, even though they were Muslim.  His brother became a Bahá'í  and taught some of his friends, who stopped attending Khan’s parties. Khan decided to attend Bahá'í  meetings to find fault with them and persuade his friends to abandon it. He eventually began to change his mind and experienced a “resurrection from the dead.”  Immediately, he wanted to work for `Abdu'l-Bahá as a translator but didn’t have the money to make the journey to Akka. So, he dressed as a dervish, a poor wanderer who traveled on foot. He went with two friends; they walked through valleys and mountains, sleeping outside. They planned to go through India but found Persians were no longer allowed to enter India, so they headed back to Tehran. He attended many Bahá'í  meetings and told stories of his days as a dervish.  One night, during a blizzard, he impulsively convinced his friends to leave again for Akka. With ten men, he headed out without luggage or supplies.  They reached Rasht and asked for passports to Russia but were denied, as Khan’s relatives had sent a telegram saying the young men should be sent home.  But Khan convinced the Governor (who was secretly a Bahá'í ) that he would be useful to `Abdu'l-Bahá in Akka as a translator. The governor relented; Khan proceeded alone. 

He sailed across the Caspian Sea to Baku, with only about a dollar and the clothes he was wearing. There followed a few weeks of almost unbelievable hardship, but finally he arrived in Haifa, where he knelt and kissed the ground.  It was 1899, four years after he became a Bahá'í.  When he went to the house to meet `Abdu'l-Bahá, his heart “pumping wildly,” he fell to the floor upon entering.  A few minutes later `Abdu'l-Bahá  sent for him, welcomed him, and noted he had suffered much and that He needed him. “You with your knowledge of English, are one of those souls promised me by Baha’u’llah.” Then He handed Khan some letters; Khan saw they were in Arabic and panicked, as he had not studied Arabic.  `Abdu'l-Bahá  smiled and put some candy into his hand, saying, “Go, and eat this candy. Rest assured, the Blessed Perfection will enable you to translate the Arabic into English. Rest assured that as time goes on you will be assisted to translate from the Arabic much more easily than from the Persian.”

Khan was filled with an “indescribable new power.” For more than a year he was with `Abdu'l-Bahá  every day, translating letters using reed pens from Japan.  Then `Abdu'l-Bahá  asked him to go to the United States to translate for Mirza Abu’l-Fadl. Khan was so distressed at the thought of leaving `Abdu'l-Bahá that he wept and beat his head against the wall.  The Master said that he would be doing a great service in America, adding,  “I will be with you at all times. You must go forth now and give to others the bounties that have been given you here.”

He left in 1901, stopping in Paris and London before reaching the United States.  In Boston he visited the Breed family and taught the daughter, Florence, about the Faith. A year later they were married.  `Abdu'l-Bahá  was very pleased and said, “This is an evidence that the East and West can be united and harmonized.” (Story from Journey of Love 49–55) I imagine he spent much time at Green Acre when Mirza Abu’l-Fadl was there (1901–1904). 

This is the story of the eloquent, cultured Chargé d’Affaires of the Persian Legation serving in Washington D.C.  in 1912 when `Abdu'l-Bahá  came to visit. Can you imagine his profound excitement to help host the Master there?  Of course he was in NY when the ship arrived on April 11. What a different journey (from D.C. to NY) that must have been from the one he made from Teheran to Akka as a young, impoverished man!  And what a reunion he must have had with the Master! 

According to Robert Stockman, Khan was “able to host important receptions for `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Persian Legation (the equivalent of an embassy) and invite many prominent diplomats to meet Him. Khan was also able to obtain an invitation for `Abdu'l-Bahá to visit the White House, but President Taft’s plans changed and the visit never occurred. He also helped arrange for `Abdu'l-Bahá to be invited to speak to the United States Congress, but the invitation arrived too late to be carried out. (From the forthcoming book `Abdu'l-Bahá in America by Robert Stockman)

Along with the East-West connection, race unity was emphasized in Washington D.C. Stockman also notes that  “The talks were more varied in subject that those in New York, but race unity was an important theme because of the many talks to predominantly African-American audiences. Newspaper articles about His visit totaled at least twenty-one. Because local Bahá'ís had some excellent contacts with government officials and the socially prominent, `Abdu'l-Bahá met senators, Congressmen, a Supreme Court justice, an Italian duke, the Turkish ambassador, the Treasurer of the United States, the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, labor leader Samuel Gompers, and Admiral Robert Peary (who had led an expedition to reach the North Pole).[He also sat briefly for a portrait by the well known portrait artist, F. Carl Smith.” (From the forthcoming book `Abdu'l-Bahá in America by Robert Stockman)

On April 23, Mahmud notes: “Today the Master went to Howard University, an educational institution for blacks. The hosts (mostly black with a few whites) had made special arrangements so that when the Master arrived He was welcomed by music from a band while the audience applauded with excitement and exuberance. It is difficult to describe the scene adequately. The president of the university was very cordial and introduced `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Prophet of Peace and the harbinger of unity and salvation. Then the Master rose from His seat and spoke on the subject of the harmony between blacks and whites and the unity of humankind.  The audience repeatedly applauded Him during the talk, delighted at His words. At the conclusion, the president of the university thanked `Abdu'l-Bahá on behalf of all those gathered. As He left the auditorium, group after group formed two lines, one on each side, all showing their highest respect by bowing and waving their hats and handkerchiefs in farewell to the beloved Master.

“`Abdu'l-Bahá had lunch at the home of Ali Kuli Khan. Several believers were present, including ourselves. There was a public meeting in the afternoon at the same house. The majority attending the meeting were ladies from high society. At this meeting the Master spoke about the education and improvement of women and the promotion of unity and peace in the world of humanity. After the meeting several new people arrived and sat for a brief time in the Master's presence. They so enjoyed His company they did not want to leave.

In the evening, close to bedtime, when the Master was alone and extremely tired from the day's activities, He prayed, praising and thanking the Blessed Beauty. On one occasion He said: ‘We must offer thanks to the Blessed Beauty because it is His help that has stirred the people; it is His grace that has changed the hearts. The assistance of the Abhá Kingdom has transformed a drop into a mighty ocean. The aid of the Most High has turned a gnat into an eagle, has invested an ant with the power of a Solomon and has caused the debased one to become a source of eternal honor.'

"A third meeting was held this evening in a black church. All those present paid Him the highest respect and were delighted to hear about the new teachings. The Master's talk, they felt, gave them honor and would cause them to progress. As is customary at churches, there was a collection and the Master made a contribution."

Think of the "contributions" the Master made that day to the lives He touched. Oh—to be there!