March 31, 1912 Change and transformation

Sunday.  The salon on board the ship is converted into a church. This goes along with one of `Abdu'l-Bahá's themes for the day--how everything is subject to change and transformation.  Other journeys are referenced--the Master remembers His frostbitten toes because of the severe cold, between Tihran and Baghdad and how His toes are still affected by cold weather.  We realize He is not young and not in the best of health; but still, He makes the journey.  For love!  For progress!  For human history!  For the sake of Bahá'u'lláh!  So much is to come. . . . 

For now, there is companionship on the ocean, the sea waves lapping the sides of the ship as it steadily makes its way to North America. . . . 

Mahmúd writes: Sunday, March 31, 1912 [aboard the Cedric]

Phoebe Hearst

The Master visited the cabins of His companions and inquired about each person's health. He then took tea in His cabin. When He came out, the American friends remarked that today was Sunday and that every Sunday morning the salon was converted into a church for prayers. He replied, `You should also go and join in.' Therefore the friends attended the prayer services. Afterwards `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to us about Mrs [Phoebe] Hearst and said that she had contributed £500 to repair the road to the Shrine of the Báb. `Abdu'l-Bahá, in turn, had sent her a very valuable ring that He had been able to purchase for a modest price. However, as she was very wealthy, the enemies of the Cause [the Covenant-Breakers] imagined that she had helped the Cause, although, as a matter of fact, she had received much more than she gave.

Today `Abdu'l-Bahá took His meal in His cabin. After a taking little rest, He invited the American friends to His cabin and spoke to them about His journey from Tihrán to Baghdád made during the severe winter without proper accommodation or clothing. `There was so much snow and it was so cold', He said, `that my feet were frostbitten. To this day my toes are affected by cold weather.' Later He gave an account of Mírzá Yahyá and his followers and of the complaints they made to Edward G. Browne:

They tampered with the contents of the history of Hájí Mírzá Jání by removing some of its passages and inserting others. They sent it to the libraries of London and Paris and through such falsehood induced him [Browne] to translate and publish the document. In order to achieve his own selfish desires, he had it printed.

In the afternoon `Abdu'l-Bahá invited all the believers to His cabin for tea. He then sent a cable to Ramleh in Alexandria informing them of His good health and inquiring after the well-being of the Greatest Holy Leaf [Bahíyyih Khánum]. At the dinner table in the evening `Abdu'l-Bahá's conversation centered around the point that every created thing is subject to change. `All created things', He said, `are subject to change and transformation. Every youth will grow old and every sapling will become an old tree and everything old will decay and perish.' Similarly, He said, each one of the religions of the world has at one time been the cause of progress but each has become like an old tree, devoid of truth. The people of this age hope that these trees will again bear flowers and fruits but this is impossible. Thus, for instance, the Hindu and Buddhist expect to regain the progress of the times of Brahma and Buddha.

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We live at the beginning of a season of newness--and we need the Master's guiding hand to remind us of how to appreciate this and share it with others.  How lucky we are to have His example and guidance!  The world awakens slowly.  But surely its pulse is quickened as He makes His way 
across the Atlantic for unknown lands.