April 12, 2012 This long voyage . . .

Oh, the excitement! ‘Abdu'l-Bahá on day 2 of His visit to NY spoke at the MacNutt home and then later at Ms. Phillips' studio. One source says there were about 1000 at each gathering! Can you imagine? And the Press. . . .

Among His words:

"This is most happy visit. I have crossed the sea from the land of the Orient for the joy of meeting the friends of God."


"This long voyage will prove how great is my love for you."


"May this city [NY] become the city of love. . . ."

Mahmúd writes:  Friday, April 12, 1912 [New York] [He dates it the 11th, but these events occurred on the 12th]

Some friends came to visit `Abdu'l-Bahá. A newspaper reporter came and asked about the purpose of the Master's journey. He replied:

I have come to visit the peace societies of America because the fundamental principles of our Cause are universal peace and the promotion of the basic doctrine of the oneness and truth of all the divine religions. Differences between religions are due to misunderstanding and imitation. If these imitations were to be eliminated, all religions would be united.

The Master gave many such eloquent responses to the reporter's questions and ended with a discussion about the rights of women, the discouragement of polygamy and other social ills.

As `Abdu'l-Bahá had been mentioned in the newspapers as `The Prophet of the East', He said to the correspondent,`I am not a prophet; I am a servant of God. My name is `Abdu'l-Bahá [the servant of Bahá]'. Although the Master disclaimed the station of a Prophet, many newspapers, in describing His many qualities and attributes, continued to refer to Him as the `Prophet of the East' and the `Messenger of Peace'. 

After He had revealed several Tablets in honor of some of the assemblies in America and had given instructions regarding the arrangement of meetings, He granted an audience to other representatives of the press who had earlier telephoned asking permission for an interview. He spoke at length about the unity of the principles of religions, the necessity for universal peace, the importance of a spiritual civilization, as well as the importance of education and the progress of women. The reporters took down all of His statements and published them in the newspapers. Representatives from other magazines and journals took more photographs of the Master and printed them in their publications. As a result, there were continuous calls requesting public and private meetings with Him. The friends also telephoned inquiring about the Master's health and well-being.

There was a public meeting in the afternoon at the home of Mr Howard MacNutt and another meeting that evening at the home of Miss Phillips. The Master expressed His happiness at meeting with the friends, exhorting them to be obedient to the Will and Testament of Bahá'u'lláh and to distinguish themselves among the peoples and nations of the world. Hundreds of people attended each meeting, all standing as the Master entered and calling out `Alláh-u-Abhá'. When the time came for Him to leave, each went forward with great joy and happiness to shake His hand and to beg confirmation from Him. When `Abdu'l-Bahá went to the waiting carriage, they stood surrounding it until He drove away.