June 9, 1912

Philadelphia: Unitarian Church and Baptist Temple; the Master's heart elated; farewell

Unitarian Church

Mahmud writes: "There were two large public meetings held in two churches. In the morning, at the Unitarian Church, `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on the reality of divine existence and the meaning of the words of Christ that `the Father is in the Son'. He gave the glad tidings of the Manifestation of the Greatest Name and explained some of the new teachings, concluding with a prayer chanted in Persian. The audience was so transformed that everyone wanted to be near Him, if only for a moment. But it was impossible for all.

Philadelphia's Baptist Temple, now a center for the arts

The second meeting was held in the evening at the Baptist Temple. As the distinguished pastor had previously announced the visit of `Abdu'l-Bahá and the address He was to deliver, and had also invited dignitaries and statesmen from Washington DC and vicinity, this meeting was of great significance. The Master delivered a detailed address on the methods of natural philosophy and of divine religion and then explained the teachings of the Supreme Pen. His explanations made a great impression, attracting all to His presence, such that everyone expressed humility and sincerity. They appeared to be very happy and honored to be in His presence. The Master's heart was elated with the meetings in Philadelphia and often made mention of them."

Isn't it wonderful that the Master's heart was elated--especially after the trouble He was experiencing with Amin Farid (see June 7 & 8).

Baptist Temple, interior

Rob Stockman has a much longer description of that Sunday in Philadelphia, noting the confusion in Mahmud's chronology.  (What I have quoted above comes from Mahmud's entry on June 8.)  Rob writes: "Sunday morning began early with a gathering of Bahá’ís in the hotel parlor. He asked them about their activities and when they said they held the Bahá'í Feast every nineteen days, He spoke about gathering for it “in the utmost love”; “each one of you must think how to make the other members of your assembly happy and pleased.”  At eleven A.M. He spoke to the Unitarian Church about how “the realm of Divinity” is “wholly sanctified above human comprehension” and therefore God’s light was sent forth and reflected to humanity through the pure souls of the Manifestations of God. The latest divine messenger was Bahá'u'lláh, who proclaimed “the oneness of God and the unity of the world of humanity.” One aspect of this oneness was “that men and women are equal in the sight of God and that there is no distinction to be made between them.” Consequently, Bahá'u'lláh “promulgated the adoption of the same course of education for man and woman.” He again stressed that “equality between men and women is conducive to the abolition of warfare” because “mothers will not give their sons as sacrifices upon the battlefield.” `Abdu'l-Bahá closed with an exposition about “harmony of science and religion”; “religion must stand the analysis of reason.”

"Acres of Diamonds"

"`Abdu'l-Bahá returned to the Rittenhouse Hotel to a crowd awaiting Him, where He spoke briefly, took questions, and met various people. Among the subjects He addressed was the unity of blacks and whites, for a black Bahá'í from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was present. After a walk in the park and a rest, He went to the Baptist Temple, where 2,500 people were in attendance. Its pastor, Russell Conwell (1843–1925) was one of America’s most remarkable clergymen. A Civil War veteran, lawyer, author of ten books, and ordained American Baptist clergyman, he arrived in Philadelphia in 1882 with only two years of ministerial experience. Within four years his new pastorate, Grace Baptist Church, had outgrown its brand new building and needed an even larger facility, called Baptist Temple. Conwell began to tutor adults in university subjects and the resulting effort soon evolved into Temple University, one of Philadelphia’s most distinguished institutions of higher education, of which Conwell was the first president. By 1912 Baptist Temple was also surrounded by three hospitals founded by the church. When Martha Root, a prominent Bahá'í speaker and journalist, visited in 1931, she commented how much Baptist Temple resembled the Bahá'í vision of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Bahá’í House of Worship and its numerous charitable dependencies.  Conwell has acquired permanent recognition in books about American religion and culture because of a speech, Acres of Diamonds, that he gave some 6,000 times around the world about the capacity of the average person to succeed in life and become prosperous.  His optimism for the ability of the average person to succeed was also reflected in Temple, “the great people’s university” he created.

Russell Conwell in 1916

Toward the end of his life, Conwell told Root that "the Baha'i Movement is the biggest Movement in the world today for world-wide Christianity, and `Abdu'l-Bahá is the Peace Prophet of this age. I know because I spent seven months in the orient and I saw that millions of Muhammadans, Buddhists, Jews and other orientals have come up beautifully into Christianity through becoming Bahá'is. I cabled to Egypt, asking `Abdu'l-Bahá to speak in my church (Baptist Temple)—and when He came to this country He did."

"Conwell’s comment about “worldwide Christianity” seems to refer to a nonsectarian movement that accepts Jesus in a general sense and the highest spiritual and ethical principles for which He stood, though such principles no doubt would be defined differently by different persons. Late nineteenth-century Unitarians and liberal Protestants often spoke this way, sometimes envisioning a universal religion emerging out of the scaffolding of the love for Jesus and adherence to the Golden Rule provided by their versions of Christianity. The World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893 was partially motivated by the belief that by bringing representatives of the religions together in Chicago, a “common religious discourse or a common community of sentiment for what was widely perceived as an emerging global society” could emerge.  While by 1912, clashes between religious representatives at interfaith gatherings and wildly different visions of how to implement a universal religion had dashed the hopes of many Christians, it would appear that Conwell still held to part of the dream, and saw parts of it implemented in the Bahá'í Faith.

`Abdu'l-Bahá arrived at the church at 8 P.M. Even though the collection had already been taken, `Abdu'l-Bahá had some money put in the plate for Him. Conwell “greeted him most cordially, taking both his hands in his own, and seated him with evident pleasure and joy.” After a brief introduction by Dr. Conwell, `Abdu'l-Bahá gave a lengthy and comprehensive talk. He began by discussing the investigation of reality. Animals are “utterly lacking spiritual susceptibilities” whereas humans possess a capacity “beyond the range of the senses.” Not all accept this; materialists “state that nothing is entitled to belief and acceptance except that which is sensible or tangible.” In this sense “the animal is the greater philosopher because it is completely ignorant of the Kingdom of God, possesses no spiritual susceptibilities and is uninformed of the heavenly world.”[9] The comment anticipates `Abdu'l-Bahá’s description of cows being philosophers, two months later.

But the “pathway” of “religion, the road of the divine Kingdom” is available to people, thanks to the “the holy Manifestations of God; for They are, in reality, the foundation of the divine religion of oneness.” They are the “source of human enlightenment, training and ethical improvement—the magnet which attracts the love of God because of the knowledge of God it bestows.” Though Conwell no doubt would have wanted to hear more emphasis on Jesus—about whom `Abdu'l-Bahá said little—in general, this was a reasonable description of the sort of divine religion many liberals sought.

`Abdu'l-Bahá then fleshed out the sort of training and ethical improvement Bahá'u'lláh had in mind by describing ten principles: investigation of reality, the unity of humankind, religion must be a source of fellowship, the agreement of religion and science, the casting aside of prejudice, principles of economic adjustment, equal standards of human rights, universal education, a universal auxiliary language, and equality of men and women. At Lake Mohonk he had enumerated eight principles; the list had now grown longer. He closed with a call to turn away from a material view of reality and toward the Holy Spirit:
"The body of man is in need of physical and mental energy, but his spirit requires the life and fortification of the Holy Spirit. Without its protection and quickening the human world would be extinguished. Jesus Christ declared, “Let the dead bury their dead.” He also said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” It is evident, therefore, according to Christ that the human spirit which is not fortified by the presence of the Holy Spirit is dead and in need of resurrection by that divine power; otherwise, though materially advanced to high degrees, man cannot attain full and complete progress.

Afterward, `Abdu'l-Bahá met with some people in Conwell’s private study. . . ."
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 An interesting note:  from <http://www.thebaptisttemple.org/history>

"Among the most notable changes over the years was the 1951 installation of the Chapel of Four Chaplains in the west end of the building's lower level. The multi-denominational chapel was constructed to honor the heroism of four World War II Army chaplains of different faiths (one of whom was the son of Grace Baptist Church pastor Reverend Daniel Poling) who gave up their life preservers to save others on the sinking U.S.S. Dorchester, which had been torpedoed off the coast of Greenland.  In the mid-20th century, The Baptist Temple became a stop for some of the country's most important intellectual and political figures. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke there, as did anthropologist Margaret Mead. Anne Sullivan and her famed pupil Helen Keller spoke at the Temple as did General Eisenhower when he was president of Columbia University. Alistair Cooke and Edward R. Murrow also delivered commencement addresses at The Baptist Temple. The University purchased the Temple in 1974. The building was certified by the Philadelphia Historical Commission as an Historical Building in 1984, and in 2003 it was designated by the American Institute of Architects as a Landmark Building. Today it is called Temple Performing Arts Center and it is Temple University and Philadelphia's newest venue for arts, events and ideas."

Inside Baptist Temple today

Someday, of course, the name `Abdu'l-Bahá will be included in the list above, among the other important figures. 

 When I lived in Philadelphia, I went to the Chapel of Four Chaplains a number of times--once to be honored--as people could be nominated for service awards, and Baha'is were frequently among them. I remember being thrilled to be in the building that the Master had visited. 

All in all, the visit to Philadelphia was an eventful few hours, the trip to Philadelphia, bringing many people in contact with the Master.