April 22, 1912 Poems and songs of praise

Washington D.C.

Last year at this time I was reading Agnes Parsons' Diary and was intrigued to discuss the thread of the arts, so I will share that again.  `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at "Studio Hall" yesterday (in 1912) morning, where the weekly Bahá'í "Sunday School" was held.  A confusion exists, as the diary says that Studio Hall was in the home and gallery owned by Alice Barney-Hemnick, "Studio House," which was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1960. But D.C. Baha'is tell me these were two separates places.  In any event, He did visit "Studio House" and must have found Alice an interesting person!  Alice, says Agnes, created roles for herself in various theatrical productions, with elaborate costumes. She was the arts scene of DC! I'm sure I would have loved her!  She was the mother of Natalie Barney (flamboyant and famous for her lifestyle and soirees in Paris) and Laura Dreyfus-Barney, the compiler and translator of Some Answered Questions, who studied art in Paris and married the first French Bahá'í.  ah, the day of courageous and sometimes eccentric early Bahá'ís. I would have fit in so well in that era!  When we visited the Smithsonian museums last year we saw a beautiful portrait of Alice (painting on right, below). 

Agnes notes that later that day she arranged for `Abdu'l-Bahá to see Mrs. [Florence Fleming] Noyes dance, "in order that He might say whether, from the ethical standpoint, there was any value to her work." He was amused by this, saying, "I've done almost everything, but I've never watched dancing." After seeing her dance, He said it was very good and blessed her work. (DAP 16)

Agnes also asked `Abdu'l-Bahá about Mr. F.D. Millet, an artist beloved in both Europe and America who had died in the Titanic disaster. `Abdu'l-Bahá said, "Where one has been devoted to his work in life--art, or whatever it may be, it is regarded as worship and he is undoubtedly surrounded by the mercy of God."

I sense in Agnes' questions guidance about the role of the arts in terms of the spiritual life--and confirmations on the part of `Abdu'l-Bahá.  Surely He saw and enjoyed creativity in what He encountered, and we can take this as an affirmation. Yet He also warned against "sensationalism."  At dinner on the 22nd when the subject of the play "The Terrible Meek" came up, `Abdu'l-Bahá said, "If, instead of making it sensational, he had taken certain incidents in the life of Christ, the play would have had great value." Then, He "touched on the salient points in the life of Christ in a most wonderful manner." (DAP 27) On that same occasion, a Mrs. Randolph played the piano for `Abdu'l-Bahá and He spoke of the healing power of music. Agnes also put on a Persian costume (I think designed by Alice, who had a reputation as a flamboyant dresser), and He laughed and shouted: "Mrs. Hemmick! The costume has many bright colors." Juliet was there, having arrived from NY. 

Oh, to be there! 

Mahmud notes that on the 22nd, "A meeting was held with the Bahá'ís. When the Master arrived, the friends greeted Him with poems and songs written in His praise. He spoke about the events during His long travels, the union of peoples from the East and the West, the greatness of this century and the appearance of the Greatest Name. He concluded the meeting by chanting a beautiful and moving prayer. The friends rushed to His side; one shaking His hand, another holding onto the hem of His robe and yet another with tears of joy and in the utmost happiness. When the Master left the gathering, the friends lined up in two rows as He passed through their midst. He approached His automobile and again the friends rushed towards Him like moths circling around the candle of the Covenant.

"In the afternoon, the Master spoke at another gathering about the sinking of the Titanic. He prayed for the souls of the passengers and expressed His condolences to their survivors. In the evening, Mrs Parsons held a dinner in His honor to which all the friends were invited.  At the table, `Abdu'l-Bahá said:

'Consider the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty, what He has done, how He has brought us to the house of such a personage, who in the utmost love has prepared such a feast in our honor. The power and influence of the Word of God have united the East and the West! How perfect are His heavenly favors and how all-embracing His divine bounties!'"

I am grateful that multiple accounts of these meetings exist, so that we get various perspectives! 

`Abdu'l-Bahá ends His talk with this statement:  "There is evidence that the Bahá'ís are spreading the blessings of unity and progressive development throughout the world under the direction of divine guidance and purpose, while other movements which are only temporary in their activities and accomplishments have no real, universal significance." (PUP 44)

And here we are in 2012, still doing so. . . .
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 Our last trip to DC resulted in some fun impostering. Here we are on Margaret's steps pretending to be Alice Pike Barney (me), Agnes Parsons (Margaret Mattinson), Joseph Hannen (Lex Musta), and Laura Dreyful-Barney (Mona Khademi--who is actually writing a book about Laura).

The next three photos are actually in front of Studio House.  For Mona and myself it was rather like making a kind of pilgrimage, standing at the gate of the studio where 'Abdu'l-Bahá had come several times to meet Alice.  The building is now the Latvian embassy--and we did have permission to shoot footage there.  There is a plaque on the wall saying that Alice had given the property to the Smithsonian.