October 4, 1912

San Francisco; Japanese believers; renewal; irony of human rapacity 

Mahmud writes: "After morning prayers, two Japanese Bahá'ís came to see `Abdu'l-Bahá. The Master expressed His happiness on seeing their faith and sincerity in the Cause, saying:

This is an historic event. It is out of the ordinary that an Iranian should meet Japanese people in San Francisco with such love and harmony. This is through the power of Bahá'u'lláh and calls for our thankfulness and happiness. If it be said that Bahá'u'lláh brought a man from heaven and another from earth and caused them to meet midway between the earth and heaven, do not be surprised. The power of Bahá'u'lláh makes all difficulties simple. I like the Japanese greatly because they are audacious and intelligent. Whatever they turn their attention to, it becomes a success.

The visitors invited the Master to come to Japan to promote the potential of the Japanese people and asked His permission to contribute articles on the Faith to the Japanese newspapers. He readily granted their request and showed them great kindness.

In the afternoon a representative from the [San Francisco] Post came to interview the Master, who said to him:

In this enlightened age everything has been renewed -- sciences have been renewed, new arts have come into being, new skills have appeared, new thoughts have been expressed, new inventions have come to light and new discoveries have been made. In reality, the world of being has become a new world. Thus, the principles of religion also must be renewed.

To a journalist from the [San Francisco] Bulletin He said:

God created man after His own image and likeness . . . but now, behaving contrarily, man has become more merciless and fearless than rapacious beasts. A beast kills only one animal each day for his food, while merciless man tears apart a hundred thousand people in a day merely for fame and dominion. Should a wolf tear a sheep apart, they would kill it; but if a man massacres a hundred thousand men in blood and dust, he is given an ovation and is pronounced a marshall or a general. If a man kills another or sets fire to a house, he is condemned as a murderer; but if he annihilates an army and overturns a country, he is called a conqueror and is admired. If a man steals a dollar he is thrown into prison but if he plunders the homes of people and lays waste a city he is called a commander and is praised."

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We need to remember that Fujita was with the Master on this part of the journey--and that Asians and particularly Japanese were an important ethnic group in the Bay area (and perhaps also the brunt of prejudice).  Here's another example where the Master sees the good--and praises! 

This quote about the renewal of things may be the same one (retranslated) that we often use about the arts.  

ah! If only 'Abdu'l-Bahá could have gone to Japan--and around the world! We are so lucky that He came to America. 

I am realizing the journey ends in only 61 days. . . . Mahmud has been a companion, all of these days, as have many others. While it is rigorous (even to read and think about the journey!) I will be quite sorry to see it end.  I will be standing on the pier with a wet handkerchief, like Juliet!