A few months ago, I had the privilege of having Gayle Morrison as a houseguest. We had marvelous talks, and she helped inspire us (my husband and I) to work on a documentary film about the journey. So, we are now in the process--without a budget, without "official" encouragement, but with a hope in our hearts to carry this out. People such as Gayle are absolutely necessary--as muses, mentors, collaborators, researchers, friends.
While I was on my knees, the phone rang. It was Dick Grover, Green Acre's director. He wanted to know if I could write a play about Louis Gregory and present it that summer! Stunned by both the timing and the content of his call, I immediately said yes. My next thought was, how will I be able to afford to go up there? His next statement was, "And we'll pay your way."
Mysterious are the ways of the spirit! I went to Green Acre that summer after writing the play, which was taken directly from material in Gayle's book. I had a group of willing volunteers to act in it, but they balked when I tried to teach them the Black National Anthem to sing at the end. I pleaded, and finally they agreed to try it, and it was after that song that we received a standing ovation at the end of the play. Victory!
Since then, I've thought about Louis Gregory's role at Green Acre, visited his cottage (before it was torn down), gone to his grave (twice as part of the black men's gatherings on the last day, where the public joins them to experience a sea of beauty, song, and drumming), and of course prayed for his assistance in many things. He and Louisa (and how important it is to mention his wife, a white woman from England) had a union brought about by the Master Himself! This is dramatized by Mike and Karen Sadar Watt, and I also have a script I've used with two actors relating the story.
My own preparation for embracing the cause of race unity comes from having liberal parents during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1958, the Little Rock schools were shut down because of strife over 9 black students being integrated into Central High School. My mother, on the school board there, was harshly criticized for her stance on integration; my father marched in Selma; we all participated in various marches and protests. Becoming a Baha'i for me was a direct outcome of years of awareness of the importance of racial unity and justice. . . .
So, reading about Louis Gregory a few years later was a thrilling thing! I am still amazed at his capacity to deflect the prejudice of his time and to inspire us with his knowledge and constancy!
With that as a personal background to the story, let me take up his Washington story.
By the way, there is a website you might wish to go to for a succinct summary of Gregory's life:
http://bahaiheoresheroines.blogspot.com/2010/05/louis-gregory-first-hand-of-cause-of.html
Here is Harlan Ober's telling of the story (versions of which can be found in Mahmud's Diary, To Move the World, Agnes Parsons' Diary, The Diary of Juliet Thompson, and so forth), from the website above;
"During the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha in the United States in 1912 a luncheon in His honor was given in Washington by Mirza Ali-Kuli Khan and Madame Khan, who were both Baha'is. Khan was at that time charge d'affaires of the Persian Legation in the capital city. Many noted people were invited, some of whom were members of the official and social life of Washington, as well as a few Baha’is. Just an hour before the luncheon 'Abdu'l-Baha sent word to Louis Gregory that he might come to Him for the promised conference. Louis arrived at the appointed time, and the conference went on and on; 'Abdu'l-Baha seemed to want to prolong it. When luncheon was announced, 'Abdu'l-Baha led the way and all followed Him into the dining room, except Louis. All were seated when suddenly 'Abdu'l-Baha stood up, looked all around, and then said to Mirza Khan, Where is Mr. Gregory? Bring Mr. Gregory! There was nothing for Mirza Khan to do but find Mr. Gregory, who fortunately had not yet left the house, but was quietly waiting for a chance to do so. Finally Mr. Gregory came into the room with Mirza Khan. 'Abdu'l-Baha, Who was really the Host (as He was wherever He was), had by this time rearranged the place setting and made room for Mr. Gregory, giving him the seat of honor at His right. He stated He was very pleased to have Mr. Gregory there, and then, in the most natural way as if nothing unusual had happened, proceeded to give a talk on the oneness of mankind."
This occurred on April 23, 1912.
Gayle Morrison notes that Juliet's account "testifies to the ease with which 'Abdu'l-Baha defied convention, as if it did not in fact exist. . . . Gently yet unmistakably, 'Abdu'l-Baha had assaulted the customs of a city that had been scandalized only a decade earlier by President Roosevelt's dinner invitation to Booker T. Washington. Moreover, as a friend who helped Madame Khan with the luncheon recalled, the place setting that 'Abdu'l-Baha had rearranged so carefully had been made according to the strict demands of Washington protocol. Thus, with one stroke 'Abdu'l-Baha had swept aside both segregation by race and categorization by social rank." (53)
Whew. I think we cannot grasp the full implication of this from our 2011 vantage point. Nor can we "feel" what Louis must have experienced, having patiently put up with so many things that were hurtful. Of course, there had been theoretical talk of unity and the hope of human "brotherhood," but 'Abdu'l-Baha showed the way of actual unity. Beyond that--He showed how we can HONOR people of color and "create" for them a place of respect and privilege, which is certainly deserved.
The analogy of the pupil of the eye (being the darkest part of the eye but letting in the most light) that He wrote in at least two tablets (one of which was addressed to Sarah Farmer) helps us to SEE the beauty that exists in persons of color and sometimes favor them, thus creating the balance so sorely needed in our world. We can practice this every day, realizing the potency of 'Abdu'l-Baha's example. . . .
Words cannot convey the profundity of this lesson--and I haven't even described other aspects of it, such as Louis Gregory's connection to Howard University and 'Abdu'l-Baha's talk there on the same day as the luncheon. "When the racial elements of the American nation unite in actual fellowship and accord, the lights of the oneness of humanity will shine," He said.
This theme would continue in Chicago in three major speeches, including a session of the NAACP. Louis had gone to Chicago, but would during most of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journey be in Washington, where he would see the Master twice more.
Gayle Morrison comments on how Louis Gregory listened and learned from 'Abdu'l-Baha's talks to "find the point of contact" with an audience. (Think of it, we can do this too!) Regarding race, Gayle notes that "rather than intensify a natural preoccupation with oppression, 'Abdu'l-Baha sought to foster confidence in the power to effect change. For blacks . . . this meant, on the one hand, development of a sense of own's own beauty and worth, and on the other hand, reinforcement of the good qualities of whites through praise and appreciation. It also meant taking a larger view, broadening one's perspectives both historically and internationally" (57–58).
Can we imagine the first century of the Faith without the "noble minded, golden hearted" Louis Gregory? OR 'Abdu'l-Baha's journey without this particular story, set in our nation's capitol?
May we all reflect on the wisdom of the Master and do our part to continue the important evolution of true affection and unity among the races. . . .
(See Gayle's thoughtful comments under "comments.")
Congratulations, Anne, on your excellent blog. I'm touched and humbled by your comments about my work. Reading about Louis Gregory's transformative connection with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, especially during those days in Washington DC, it occurs to me to share a rather haunting comment that Louise Gregory made two decades later. Writing in 1933 from Eastern Europe, where she was spending extended periods helping to establish Bahá’í communities, she encouraged her husband to set aside his reservations about using "her" funds to attend the National Bahá’í Convention. She reminded him that a focus on practical realities as barriers can sometimes lead to lasting regrets: “Suppose you look back & remember how you realized too late what a mistake you made in going to your regular work while Abdu’l Baha was here & how He asked me Where is Mr. Gregory? And I had to say ‘He has gone to work!’” My first reaction on reading this passage was to wonder what Louis Gregory's life might have been like if he'd jeopardized his job at the Treasury Department, or even left it, to have more time in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's presence. Her comment suggests what a challenge it was for him to set aside his professional commitments, even to be with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Just a few years later, Mr. Gregory gave up everything—and the Gregorys gave up their home—to devote himself to traveling, speaking, and writing to promote race amity and spread the Bahá’í teachings. If he'd made that decision even sooner, a decision that was incredibly difficult on so many levels, what might have been the results in his own life or his impact on others? But beyond that, I was struck by how resolute Louise was in encouraging him, what strength that encouragement lent him in good times and difficult times. Their marriage truly became a "fortress for well-being" that enabled them both to accomplish what might have seemed impossible at the time. Thank you for sharing such inspiring stories, bringing history to life.
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