May 31, 1912 The material and spiritual worlds

Fanwood, New Jersey: Two talks; refreshing countryside

Fanwood Train Station (built 1874)

Mahmúd writes: "At the request of Mr [William H.] Hoar, the Master visited a sanatorium [in Fanwood, NJ], visiting with the friends and holding two meetings, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. In both meetings He proclaimed the Word of God and spoke of the teachings of the Blessed Beauty [see PUP 161–63]. Many were attracted to the Divine Voice. As the village of Fanwood is a summer resort and its fields and countryside very green and refreshing, it was very much enjoyed by the Master. But when they pleaded with Him to prolong His stay for a few days, because of the excessive heat and soot in New York, He said: `We have no time for amusement and fresh air. We must engage ourselves in service to the Threshold of Oneness.'"

He did spend the night, as there is a departure scene at the train station to come tomorrow.

Ward notes that He conducted a morning public meeting [perhaps at the sanatorium?] and presented an afternoon meeting in the Town Hall.

In the town hall talk, He spoke about the difference in the material and spiritual world, about how imitation destroys religion, and about the importance of the Prophets of God. He ends his talk with these inspiring words:

     ". . . the Prophets of God have come to unite the children of men and not to disperse them, to establish the law of love and not enmity. Consequently, we must lay aside all prejudice--whether it be religious, racial, political or patriotic; we must become the cause of the unification of the human race. Strive for universal peace, seek the means of love, and destroy the basis of disagreement so that this material world may become divine, the world of matter become the realm of the Kingdom and humanity attain to the world of perfection."

William Hoar, a Canadian, was a Disciple of Abdu'l-Baha.  I must include a post on what that means!

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Fanwood was founded in 1895 around the Central Railroad of New Jersey, which passed through during the 1800s.  The old Fanwood train station, built in 1874, stands as the oldest original train station in Union County and remains the center of many community activities.  It houses the Fanwood Museum and is a meeting place for various groups.

See book on Fanwood:  <http://books.google.com/books?id=4rMQTm4PEF4C&lpg=PP1&dq=fanwood&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false>