September 8, 1912 Nearing farewell in Montreal

Montreal; closure / seed sowing / consolation . . . 

Mahmud writes: "`Abdu'l-Bahá's discourses today consisted of divine exhortations, admonitions and expressions of farewell to the friends. `I have sown the seed,' He said. `You must water it. You must educate the souls in divine morals, make them spiritual and lead them to the oneness of humanity and to universal peace.'

In the afternoon He gave an account of His imprisonment in the Most Great Prison and of His return to the Holy Land. Someone suggested that His return to `Akká might bring trouble to Him and again cause His imprisonment. `Oh no,' He replied,

that organization has been rolled up; that system has been rendered null. Those days were so hard that all had believed that when the Commission of Investigation returned to Constantinople `Abdu'l-Bahá's life and name would be effaced. But God did not will it. As we were imprisoned for the Cause of God and not for political reasons, while in prison we were not perturbed and had no worries. However, the others thought that after I was set free I would raise the banner of independence among the Arabs and unite them with me! See, how ill-informed was such a judgment!

As this was the last day of His stay in Montreal, all the friends, both old and new, expressed their sorrow. `Abdu'l-Bahá consoled them with the glad tidings of certitude, spiritual nearness, assistance and heavenly grace."

This is the third place in which `Abdu'l-Bahá voiced a closure in the seed sowing in a location--Dublin, Green Acre, and now Montreal.

I am strangely affected by His departure from this city; it is as if I have been there in a deeply meaningful way, experiencing the Maxwell's hospitality and the Canadian response to His message.  I am grieving the departure--but as my husband says, He will "be" there again year after year as we continue to think about the anniversary.  But for me, this year's visit is a tangible discovery of the moments of transformation within the hearts of those who met Him--and at the center is May. . . .

Later, near the end of October, He writes her a letter: "O thou my daughter in the Kingdom! From the day of leaving Montreal until now I have not rested nor reposed for a moment.  From morn until midnight I was engaged in heralding the Kingdom. . . .

     I am very pleased with the glad tidings of the exaltation of the Cause of God in Montreal and the unity of the believers. Convey wondrous Abhá greetings to all. . . .

     Kiss on my behalf thy honored husband and thy dear child." (Maxwells, 285)

He also alerts May to the time when He would leave America, inviting her to be one of those who came to New York to be with Him in the final days.  I think we cannot quite imagine the mysterious connection of heart they shared. If only each of us could know a pure measure of that bond!

She is there on December 5 on the pier, as He leaves.  On December 17, He cables her: "Safely arrived London. Remembered always. Greetings Maxwell Kiss Baby. Abbas"

Violette Nakhjavani comments:  "It was as though He were permitting May to keep her eyes fixed on Him long after His ship disappeared on the horizon." (285)

As far as His admonition about leading others to divine morals and to universal peace--that is still His invitation to us. He patiently waits for us to respond. . . .
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I am preparing to journey to San Francisco, where I will help with costumes for the actors for the large commemoration and present two showings of our film excerpts. We've worked all week without sleep, to be able to complete the California section. . . .