May 18, 1912

New York, more activity . . . 

Allan Ward writes that the "talks and interviews continued all day long" (70), but he doesn't offer specifics. Mahmud's entry is confused with that of the 19th (Sunday)--so I will split that entry and put part of it in today's post and part in tomorrow's.

Mahmud writes of Saturday the 18th but likely he means Sunday the 19th: "Among those visiting `Abdu'l-Bahá were some New York clergymen. One of them, Dr John H. Randall, while the Master and His retinue had been absent, had spoken to his congregation about the life and teachings of `Abdu'l-Bahá. He expressed the hope that he would follow in the footsteps of the Master. So effective was his talk that many of his listeners burst into tears. He came with great humility to ask `Abdu'l-Bahá to deliver an address in his church. `Abdu'l-Bahá replied that since He had been invited to speak that week at several gatherings in Boston, He was not able to accept the invitation until after He returned. . . ."

Can you imagine members of the congregation bursting into tears, just hearing their pastor's speech about the Master?

Abdu'l-Baha will be going to Boston in 5 days, on the 22nd.  He must have felt torn about His various invitations. . . .

Today, I received exciting news from the Lake Mohonk archivist: "I am sending to you by tomorrow’s mail 4 items:  Abdul Baha’s address to the 1912 Conference; a photocopy of our guest register of May 14, 1912 with the signatures of Abdul Baha and the members of his retinue;  a paper written by Janet Ruhe about him at Mohonk; and a page of photos taken of details of the rug that Abdul Baha gave to Albert Smiley.  I’m afraid that we don’t have any photos of the 1912 conference either.  Have you checked with Swarthmore College?  All the papers related to the Arbitration Conferences were given to: the Friends Historical Library,Swarthmore Peace Collection, 500 College Ave, Swarthmore Pa  19081 several years ago so that they would be available to scholars.  (Phone: 610-328-8477)  Good luck with your research.   Joan LaChance, Mohonk Archivist


So far the Swarthmore archivist has only offered to send one "address"--it is probably the same one.  And Lewis Walker of our own archives also has offered to send it. So--I'll see what comes in!  Exciting.