May 1, 1912 The Temple is already built!

The Master is in Chicago (in 1912), dedicating the Temple grounds!

Mahmud writes: "In the morning `Abdu'l-Bahá looked at some buildings from His balcony and enjoyed the lovely view of the park. He spoke to us, until visitors arrived, about the early days of the Most Great Prison and the sufferings of the Blessed Beauty. He sent several telegrams today to the assemblies of the East, sharing with them the glad tidings of the assistance of Bahá'u'lláh.

He spoke with the friends for a time and bestowed upon them His love. About an hour later He went to the proposed site of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship) located outside the city, where property had been purchased for the construction of this great building. By the time He arrived the friends had already assembled and had pitched a large tent for the meeting.

`Abdu'l-Bahá first drove around the site, inspecting its boundaries, and then entered the tent. The friends stood all about Him, their eyes intently fixed on His luminous face. It was in these circumstances that `Abdu'l-Bahá gave His talk on the power of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh to unite the people of the East and the West beneath the shadow of the Word of God. He also spoke about the Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs of `Ishqábád and America. He then went to the spot where He was to lay the cornerstone with His own hands. Miss Holmes presented Him with a golden trowel especially prepared for the occasion. He took it in His hand and dug the earth for the foundation stone.  Then the delegates from the American assemblies, followed by representatives of the Eastern friends, each took the trowel and continued digging the foundation. Among them were Mihtar Ardishír Bahrám Surúsh representing the Bahá'ís of Pársí background, Siyyid Asadu'lláh representing the Bahá'ís of Muslim origin, Zia Bagdadi representing the Arabian friends and Ghodsieh (Qudsíyyih) Khánum Ashraf representing the Bahá'í women of the East. When the digging was completed, the Master set the stone in place with His own hand. He then showered His love and affection on the friends and left the site. Most of the friends remained and had lunch inside the tent.

There was a reception at the Plaza Hotel later that afternoon at which the Master spoke on divine civilization and spiritual qualities. Both before and after the meeting friends and inquirers requested interviews and asked Him questions on several subjects."

Temple Dedication

Of course, there is the famous story of Nettie Tobin and the cornerstone.  This version is from Wikipedia:

"Esther Tobin, known as Nettie, was a widow and mother of two, who worked as a seamstress in Chicago around the turn of the 20th Century. Tobin, who wished to contribute to the construction of the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois was not able to contribute monetarily. Instead, during her elder years, she found a stone north of downtown Chicago which had been set aside as unacceptable for construction, at a site near her home, and offered it for the Bahá'í House of Worship. Due to her age, she struggled to move it from downtown to the northern suburb of Wilmette, occasionally with the help of neighbors and strangers. Although many stones had been sent for the dedication ceremony for the Temple, only her stone arrived when in 1912 `Abdu'l-Bahá declared that it be used as the corner stone of the Bahá'í House of Worship. It remains today in a place of honor inside a room set aside for prayers and contemplation."

"In dedicating the temple with a cornerstone brought by Nettie Tobin, he admonished that 'The outer edifice is a symbol of the inner' which was built on 'faith' and in the Bahá'í dispensation was dedicated to 'unity.' It was at the dedication ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone of the Bahá'í House of Worship that `Abdu'l-Bahá revealed the prayer for America as it called: (Actually, I think this prayer was part of His address to the convention the night before. AP)

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.”

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Having just come back from the Chicago commemoration--with the incredible program downtown and then the devotions, archives, and tea tent the next day, I am steeped with appreciation for the Temple!  But I am also too tired to describe it all.  I will create a separate posting, with images, when I can!