April 27, 1912 Smiles and tears of lovers

Today, in 1912, was the last day `Abdu'l-Bahá was in Washington D.C. (for now). Mahmud's diary entry is distinctive in at least two ways: One, he speaks of himself in the "I" voice, which seems rare, and mentions that he recites a poem. This helps us to realize his role as a traveling companion to `Abdu'l-Bahá, not just as a chronicler. Two, he uses effusive adjectives (magnificent, most blessed, most great) at the end, so we know that the last night in D.C. was quite spectacular. The East-West connection is again emphasized, the fact that `Abdu'l-Bahá offered distinctive messages to various people (a judge, Admiral Peary, a bishop, relatives of President Taft . . . ] is noted. We can imagine the excitement but also the dismay of those who didn't want to see Him leave their midst.


Here's Mahmud's entry:  Saturday, April 27, 1912  [Washington DC]
Mrs Parsons offered the Master a sum of money but He said that she should distribute it among the poor. No matter how much she supplicated, He would not accept it, saying, `If we had not had the money necessary for the expenses of the voyage, we would have accepted your offer.'

The Treasurer of the United States had lunch with the Master. This gentleman was very happy and smiling as he bade farewell to the Master. Later, the Master went to the home of an official to say goodbye. The man embraced Him, weeping with joy. When I saw the smile of the Treasurer and the tears of the official, I recited this poem: `The smiles and tears of the lovers are from another world.'

The Bahá'í meetings and the outstanding qualities of the Master have received such acclaim that today, out of jealousy, some narrow-minded Christian clergymen spoke out against the Cause.

Since this was the last night of the Master's stay in the this city, Mrs Parsons held an elegant reception for dignitaries and city officials in honor of `Abdu'l-Bahá and on behalf of the Orient-Occident Unity Society. Three hundred people in formal attire assembled in the spacious rooms, which were beautifully decorated with flowers and ornaments. When the Master came downstairs, each guest, man and woman alike, approached Him with the utmost reverence to shake His hand. They introduced one another and paid Him their respects. The guests then went into the dining room to partake of the repast prepared for them, including beverages, cakes, ice cream and coffee.

     After they had eaten the guests were ushered into the music hall while the Master sat in another room to receive those who wished to see Him. He answered all their questions. To a Washington judge He said: `It is possible to establish among the powers of the whole world the unity which is found among the states of the United States of America.' To some doctors He stated, `I hope that you will raise the standard of universal peace.' To a mathematician He said, `I hope that you will try to teach the truth and principles of divine religions to different nations just as you are teaching mathematics to different persons in your school.' To Admiral Peary, the explorer of the North Pole, He said, `I hope you will discover the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.' The Master spoke to a bishop, saying, `My hope is that you will abandon harmful imitations, spread the truth of the teachings of Christ and remove all those dogmas that are against science and reality.' To the chargé d'affaires of Switzerland, the Master described His sojourn in that country. To some relatives of the President of the United States [William Howard Taft] He spoke about divine civilization. To a member of Congress, He said, `Just as you are exerting yourself for the good of America, so must you expend your energy for the benefit of all the nations of the world.' He also spoke to the head of the United States Patent Office and the General Consul, the President of the Peace Congress and other well-known personages.

When this magnificent meeting ended, the guests came to `Abdu'l-Bahá one by one to shake His hand and to say goodbye. The night was one of the most blessed nights and that meeting one of the most great and important meetings.

_______

Juliet has her own version of that day.  She specifies the Treasurer's name (Lee McClung), and says that he had been one of the "idols" of her early adolescence. The year before she had seen him and he had made fun of her conversion, but there he was in the audience at a meeting with `Abdu'l-Bahá! 

Several other dramatic things occurred for Juliet in Washington.  One was that the Master asked if she wanted to paint Him there, and she agreed to it. (She had learned that just before He arrived in NY, Mrs. Gibbons had received a tablet in which He said, "On my arrival in America Miss Thompson shall paint a wonderful portrait of Me.") She tried to paint Him at Agnes' house, but the light was "weak" and she despaired at the thought of using the wallpaper (with tiny bunches of flowers on it) as a background for His head, so she asked if He would pose in NY instead.  He consented "freely and sweetly." 

Juliet also had a potent talk with the Master, in which He told her, through and interpreter, that He had met many people who had been affected by her. "You are not eloquent, you are not fluent, but your heart teaches. . . . You will be confirmed. A great bounty will descend upon you. You will become eloquent. Your tongue will be loosed. Teach, always teach. The confirmations of the Holy Spirit descend upon those who teach constantly.  Never feel fear. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. . . ." Surely this was an astonishing interchange--one we might all envy.  Juliet comments, "How can I ever feel fear again when I have to mount the dreaded platform?"

So--what fears do we have that we can shed because of the promise of divine assistance?  How can we ever realize that `Abdu'l-Bahá can be as intimate with us now as He was with those early believers so privileged to be beside Him? 

(I am off to Chicago early this morning!)