September 26, 1912

Denver; best and worst of souls; meat-eating; publicity; maturity; train travel

Mahmud writes: "As He intended to leave Denver, His talks with the believers became exhortations. He said:

I hope that you will be under the protection of God, will succeed in rendering service to humanity and will always be a source of happiness to every heart. The best person is he who wins all hearts and is not the cause of grief to anyone. The worst of souls is he who causes hearts to be agitated and who becomes the cause of sadness. Always endeavor to make people happy and their hearts joyful so that you may become the cause of guidance to mankind. Proclaim the Word of God and diffuse the divine fragrances.

Someone asked Him about eating meat. He replied:

God has appointed provision for every living creature. To birds He has given beaks so that they pick up seeds. To animals such as cows and goats He has given teeth like scythes in order that they may eat grass. To carnivores He has given claws like forks and canine teeth so that they may prey because they cannot eat grass. Their food is meat. But man's food is not meat for he has not been created with means to eat flesh. God has given him beauty of form and has created him blessed and not rapacious and bloodthirsty.

The Master's train left Denver at 9:00 a.m. Some of the articles that had been published in the Denver newspapers were translated for Him. They made His heart very happy as they described the spread of the teachings of God in that city and contained translations of `Abdu'l-Bahá's words. Among them was the translation of these words:

The contingent world is like the human body that has grown from the embryonic state and reached maturity and perfection. It may be said that the development of the human being from the beginning of life to the age of maturity is but a preparation for the appearance of the power of reason. This is the age of maturity and the time of the manifestation of the Most Great Intellect and the Most Ancient Bounty so that divine and material civilizations may be joined and the perfection of the human world may dawn.

Around midnight `Abdu'l-Bahá became fatigued owing to the speed and motion of the train. We proposed that because California was still some distance away, if He would consent, it might be a good idea to stop for two or three days. At 2:00 a.m. the train reached Glenwood Springs, beautifully situated near many hot springs. We stayed at the Hotel Colorado, which is a fine hotel overlooking the river, nestled among green parks and wooded mountains."

Rob Stockman specifies: "There being no train line running due west—the Rockies at Denver were too steep and high for the trains of the day—the train first went south to Pueblo, then northwest around the Front Range, past the spectacular Royal Gorge, through the 'Two Mile High' city of Leadville, then downhill and westward along the Colorado River."

The mountains are high and the route may have been rugged--no wonder He was a bit ill.  Coming up, Glenwood Springs!  A place of such beauty and delight!

Today we filmed in Brookline (the White mansion), Boston (Tremont Temple), and Malden (the Wilson home) and had crisis (being rear-ended, in our rental car) and victory (finding the places and getting good footage).  One "miracle":  a little puppy ran up to us, no owner in sight. In trying to find the owner, we met the facility manager for the White mansion estates (38 condos now) who took us up to the bench and and platform where `Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk outside. When one stands on the platform, there is a natural resonation and amplification of the voice--it was amazing! The guy (John Nolan) told us that He quoted "So powerful is the light of unity . . . " there and that he (John) was maintaining the spot because he knew that someday the Baha'is would want to save it and have special commemorations there! It was quite a conversation. 

Flew back to Dallas, so I am so tired.