April 29, 1912

"Today I received two books in the mail:  Where Shadows Live: Alice Pike Barney and Her Friends and Wild Heart: A Life, Natalie Clifford Barney and the Decadence of Literary Paris.  They will help me understand Alice, Laura, and Natalie better, as well as their relationship to the Faith and to `Abdu'l-Bahá.  Natalie, the most bohemian of the three, is famous for her salons in Paris, and perhaps did not relate to her mother's and sister's interest in the Faith. But her life still seems fascinating. . . .

[En route to and arrival in Chicago]
Can you imagine taking a train trip with `Abdu'l-Bahá from Washington D.C. to Chicago? Today (in 1912) the train was still en route; it will arrive in the evening, as described below. It's interesting to think about Chicago being the site where the first mention of the Faith was uttered in 1892--and the first community was developed. Also it is interesting how `Abdu'l-Bahá summarizes the time spent in Washington D.C.  He will visit both cities three different times on this journey. 
Mahmud notes, on April 29: 

"In the morning the Master again praised the beauty and fertility of the countryside; a more fertile land had never before been seen. He had breakfast in the dining car. Today He spoke mostly about the days of the Blessed Beauty and had Him constantly in mind.

"The train reached Chicago at night. The city was so bright with lights it was as if it were the Feast of Lights. When the friends saw the Master at the train station, they were filled with excitement, crying out `Alláh-u-Abhá' and `Yá `Abdu'l-Bahá', their voices resounding throughout the station.

"The Master went to the Plaza Hotel. After a brief rest, He was visited by some of the Bahá'ís, to whom He said: 'You have a good city. The call of God was first raised in this city. I hope that in Chicago the Cause of God will progress greatly and that it may be illumined by the light of the Kingdom just as it is brightened by electricity.

'In Washington we always had audiences of one to two thousand in large meetings. Day and night I had no rest. A close friendship was created between the black and white people. Many came to the Faith. Even those who are not believers drew much closer. Notwithstanding all this, I like Chicago more because the call of Bahá'u'lláh was first raised in this city. I hope you will be assisted to do great service and to live together in the utmost love and harmony.'

"When the believers begged for protection from tests and trials, `Abdu'l-Bahá said to them:

'The severest tests were in Persia where properties were pillaged and the friends were martyred. They had not a moment's security. In short, I had a great desire to see you. If I hadn't this desire, the assistance of Bahá'u'lláh would not have encompassed me. It is His assistance that has brought me here, for, at the time of leaving Alexandria, when I boarded the ship, I was not well at all.'

"Some newspaper reporters telephoned, asking permission to interview the Master. He agreed that they could interview Him the following morning. After dinner, He looked out at the park and, gazing at the scenery before Him, said, `This building commands a good view; most of the parks, streets and the city's lights can be seen.'"

Allan Ward reports a headline from the April 29 Chicago Daily News: "BAHAIST CHIEF MISSING." Apparently around 170 Baha'is were gathered at the Baha'i convention, expecting to see Him on the 29th, but He went from the train to the hotel and would meet them the following day. One senses the great drama around His presence. . . .

There is little mention of the Ridvan period, and of course, the Guardian had not yet come into his own, and the holy day observances were not systematized.  Without cell phones or email, how did the friends let each other know what was happening? Hard to imagine all the details of the network of communication.  But we do know that He was excited to be in Chicago.