- 1911-09-29 —
A farewell reception was given for 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the hall mof the Passmore Edwards' Settlement in Tavistock Place. The Settlement movement of the late 19th century was intended to bridge the ever-widening gap between the poor and the middle classes. A purpose-built building would be constructed in a working class area and young solicitors, doctors, architects and other middle class professionals would be encouraged to live there while at the same time the working classes would be free to use the building and mix with them, using the building more or less as a community centre.
It was attended by a capacity crowd of some 460 people. [SYH41, ABL31-39, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p.18; SoW Vol 2 No 13 November 4, 1911 p4]
- For more information on this remarkable philanthropist see John Passmore Edwards.
- 1912-04-16 — Talk at Hotel Ansonia to Bahá'í Friends of New Jersey,
Broadway and Seventy-third Street, New York. [PUP18; Mahmúd's Diary p45]
- 1912-04-17 —
Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York, [PUP23; Mahmúd's Diary p46] -
Talk at Hotel Ansonia, Broadway and Seventy-third Street, New York. [PUP20]
- 1912-04-20 —
During `Abdu'l-Bahá's eleven days in New York He gave 15 formal talks and countless informal one in homes and private studios. He left New York and arrived in Washington DC after a five hour train. He was accompanied by Dr Getsinger, Dr Fareed, Mírzá Valiyu'lláh Nakhjavání and Mahmúd-i-Zarqání. [239D:37–8; AB178; SBR78, APD9; Luminous Journey 18:48]
- See AY85 for the welcome He received from the Kahn family and others including Mrs Agnes Parson, Mason Remy and Joseph Hannen.
- John Bosch had travelled from California specifically to see Him. He was given a Persian name by the Master, Núrání (The Luminous). John and Edward Getsinger travelled with the party on the train from New York to Washington. [Mahmúd's Diary p48-49. SYH57]
- He stayed at the Parsons' home, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, for eight days and gave a talk every afternoon at 5PM. Agnes Parsons had had this home built to accommodate 'Abdu'l-Bahá complete with a room that could hold 150 people. It was unusual for Him and His interpreter to stay in private homes. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in America: 1912-2012; FMH47-48]
- He gave a talk at Orient-Occident-Unity Conference at the Carnegie Library on Massachusetts Avenue before an audience of 3,000. 'Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged commercial ties between the United States and Persia. 'For the Persians there is no government better fitted to contribute to the development of their natural resources and the helping of their national needs in a reciprocal alliance than the United States of America; and for the Americans there could be no better industrial outlet and market than the virgin … soil of Persia. The mineral wealth of Persia is still latent and untouched. It is my hope that the great American democracy may be instrumental in developing these hidden resources and that a bond of perfect amity and unity may be established between the American republic and the government of Persia. May this bond—whether material or spiritual—be well cemented.' [AY48; PUP35; Luminous Journey 31:06; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p7, SYH82]
- 1912-04-24 —
Talk at Children's Reception, Studio Hall, 1219 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C. [PUP54; Sow Vol 3 No3 pg7; Mahmúd's Diary p56-59]
-
Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP56, APD37-45] iiiiii
- `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Alexander Graham Bell. The day before he had visited the Master and invited Him to attend the meeting of the Scientific Society. He then spoke of the importance and the results of science, the greatness of this age and the interdependence of society. The meeting was also attended by Ali Kuli Khan who was asked to relate the history of the Faith by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. At about midnight the table was spread with bread, meat, candies, cookies, fruit and beverages. Although the Master had not yet had dinner, He spoke through Mr Bell to his wife and daughter. [239Days Day 12]
- 1912-04-27 —
During lunch at the Parsons' home 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about the proper method of taxation. [APD53-57]
- For His discourse on taxation see FWU38-43.
- In the evening there was a grand reception for some 300 people in honour of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on behalf of the Orient-Occident Unity Society. Among the guests and dignitaries are General Adolphus Greely, Admiral Wainwright, a Washington judge, Admiral Peary, a bishop, the chargé d'affaires of Switzerland, a member of Congress, the head of the United States Patent Office, the General Consul, the President of the Peace Congress and others. [MD64-65]
- 1912-05-02 —
Talk at Hotel Plaza, Chicago, Illinois, [PUP72]
-
Talk to Federation of Women's Clubs,
Hotel La Salle, Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP74]
-
Talk at Bahá'í Women's Reception,
Hotel La Salle, Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP77]
-
Talk at Hotel Plaza,
Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP78]
-
Talk at Hotel Plaza,
Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP79]
- A funeral was held for Corrine True's son Davis. Two days later 'Abdu'l-Bahá went to the cemetery and prayed for Davis. [Luminous Journey 49:48, SYH67]
- 1912-05-03 —
Talk at Hotel Plaza in Chicago. [PUP83]
- In this talk He said, ""Observe what is taking place in Tripoli: men cutting each
other into pieces, bombardment from the sea, attacks from the land and the hail of dynamite
from the very heaven itself." and denounced imperialism and colonialism by saying that men conquering other territories in our times are considered by
Him to be nothing less than "tyrants" and "murderers", and even worse than wolves. [Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine: Abdu´l-Baha's Viewpoints Regarding the Middle East by Kamran Ekbal p20]
- Afterward He gave each child an envelope with a rose petal and invited all of them to Lincoln Park for a photograph. He asked for time alone and walked over to a statue of Abraham Lincoln at which He gazed for a while. [PUP84; Luminous Journey 51:25]
- 1912-05-05 —
Talk at Children's Meeting,
Hotel Plaza,
Chicago, Illinois. [PSBW134–5, PUP91]
-
Talk at Plymouth Congregational Church,
935 East Fiftieth Street,
Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP93; Luminous Journey 50:15]
- Talk at All-Souls Church,
Lincoln Center, Chicago, Illinois.
[PUP97]
- While in Chicago He revealed a special prayer for America, "O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee..... [Luminous Journey 50:25]
- 1912-05-06 —
`Abdu'l-Bahá left Chicago, arriving in Cleveland the same day. [239D:57; AB189]
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave interviews to reporters at the Euclid Hotel. [Luminous Journey 54:00]
- Talk at the home of Dr. C. M. Swingle to an audience of forty. [PUP104; SoW Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 5-6]
-
Talk at Euclid Hall to an audience of some 500 people. [PUP101; SoW Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 29-32.]
-
"The American continent gives signs and evidences of very great advancement; its future is even more promising, for its influence and illumination are far-reaching, and it will lead all nations spiritually." – Abdu'l-Baha, PUP104.
- Both the Cleveland News and the Cleveland Plain Dealer carried articles on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's approval of marriage between the races. [SYH60]
- 1912-05-07 —
`Abdu'l-Bahá left Cleveland for Pittsburgh, arriving the same day. [239D:63; AB189]
-
Martha Root arranged for Him to talk at the Hotel Schenley to 400 people followed by private meetings with leaders of thought. The hotel is now the University of Pittsburgh's Student Union building, known as the William Pitt Union. [PUP105; Luminous Journey 55:00; Schenley Hotel]
- 1912-05-31 —
At the request of William Hoar, 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a trip to Fanwood, New Jersey. He had been invited for a rest and to escape the oppressive heat of New York but He could not stay just to rest. He addressed a meeting at the Town Hall. He showed how the leaders of religion have contributed to the wakening of it foundations. [AB205-206]
- Talk at Town Hall, Fanwood, New Jersey. [PUP161]
- 1912-07-23 —
`Abdu'l-Bahá left New York, arriving in Boston the same day for His second visit. [239D:117; AB233]
-
Talk at Hotel Victoria, corner of Newbury and Dartmouth Sts,
Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP238]
- For an interesting story about Nancy Douglas Bowditch see Wikipedia.
- Also see The Artist's Daughter: Memoirs, 1890 - 1979 the autobiography of Nancy Douglas Bowditch.
- 1912-07-25 —
Talk at Hotel Victoria,
Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP244]
- `Abdu'l-Bahá left Boston and arrived in Dublin, New Hampshire, the same evening. [239D:117; AB233; SBR82, APD72-73]
- In 2012 the Dublin Inn was purchased and donated to the national Bahá'í community by Gisu Mohadjer Cook, a World Bank executive and daughter of Hand of the Cause of God and Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir.
- 1912-08-05 — Talk at Dublin Inn,
Dublin, New Hampshire. [PUP245]
- 1912-10-10 — Talk at Open Forum,
San Francisco, California [PUP355]
- 1912-10-25 —
`Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Sacramento and arrived at noon the same day. [239D:171]
-
Talk at Hotel Sacramento, Sacramento, California. [PUP370]
- 1912-10-26 —
Talk at Assembly Hall, Hotel Sacramento,
Sacramento, California. [PUP376]
- In His talk 'Abdu'l-Bahá said that, "the greatest need in the world today is international peace," and after discussing why California was well-suited to lead the efforts for the promotion of peace, He exhorted attendees: "May the first flag of international peace be upraised in this state." [The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson]
- `Abdu'l-Bahá left Sacramento for Denver. [239D:172; AB316]
- 1912-10-31 —
`Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Chicago and gave a talk at the Plaza Hotel. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [239D:176; PUP381].
- It is likely that 'Abdu'l-Bahá encountered Rabindranath Tagore who was to become a well-known Bengali poet and musician who would reshape Bengali literature and music and be the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
[Rabindranath Tagore: Some Encounters with Bahá'ís by Peter Terry; Wikipedia]
- 1912-11-05 —
Talk at Grand Hotel,
Cincinnati, Ohio. [PUP388]
- `Abdu'l-Bahá left Cincinnati for Washington DC. [239D:179]
- 2020-12-06 —
The presentation of a webinar at the Wilmette Institute by Jan Teofil Jason entitled 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the "Other". In his presentation he discussed the newspaper coverage given 'Abdu'l-Bahá during his Western Tour, the influence of xenophobia on that coverage, and the challenges facing scholars in recovering those publications.
- A PDF of his speaking notes was been made available.
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