`Abdu'l-Bahá departed for Egypt on board the steamer Kosseur London accompanied by two attendants, Mírzá Munír-i-Zayn and 'Abdu'l-Husayn. Upon arrival he telegrammed the Bahá'í in Haifa that he was in Egypt. Shoghi Effendi was asked to come two days later. [AB133-168; ABF5; BBRXXX; GPB280; AB134-135; Bahá'í News #12 16Oct1910 pg206; the Message from the Universal House of Justice dated August 29, 2010]
• See letter from Sydney Sprague to Isabella Brittingham which indicates that He left sometime before this date.
• GPB280 and AY84 say He departed in September.
• After one month in Port Said He embarked for Marseille but turned back to Alexandria owing to His health. In a letter to Munírih Khánum He stated that His intention was to proceed to America or South Africa. [GPB280, ABF5]
• He stayed for a few days in the Victoria Hotel but then moved to a rented house in Ramleh, a suburb of Alexandria, where He stayed for about one year. [GPB280, AB136; Memories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Ali M Yazdi (1899-1978) who was a child at the time.]
• Early in May of 1911 he moved to Cairo and took up residence in nearby Zaytún. [AB138]
• It was during this period that a sudden change occurred. A journalist who had previously been hostile towards Him took a new tone. [AB136]
• The Russian poet Isabel Grinevsky, the Oriental Secretary of the British Agency, Ronald Storrs, Lord Kitchener, George Zaydán, eminent writer and celebrated editor as well as clerics, aristocrats, administrators, parliamentarians, men of letters, journalists and publicists, Arabs, Turks and Persians all sought out His company and met with Him. This period could be considered the first public proclamation of the Faith. [MRHK348, AB136-139; CH226]
• See AB138-139 for a description of His triumphs during this period.

When 'Abdu'l-Bahá was about to depart on his first voyage to the West, He wrote to Albert Smiley, host of the annual Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration. On the 22nd of August, 1911 while in Thonon-les-Bains, France, He wrote to H.C. Phillips, secretary of the Mohonk arbitration institution. These letters were unique because He usually didn't initiate correspondence. He was, undoubtedly, making arrangements to speak at their annual conference as Ali Kuli Khan had recently done.
• The letter. [SoW Vol 2 No 15 December 12, 1911 p3]
• While crossing the Atlantic on the S.S. Cedric He told a newspaperman, "I am going to America at the invitation of the Peace Congresses of that place, as the fundamental principles of our Cause are universal peace, the oneness of the world of humanity and the equality of the rights of men..." When the ship docked in New York and the plank was lowered, the press clambered aboard to interview him and he told them, "Our object is... the unity of mankind... I have come to America to see the advocates of universal peace..." [Who Will Bell the Cat: The Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Lake Mohonk by Janet Ruhe-Schoen]
• These meetings at Lake Mohonk were instrumental in the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. [Wikipedia]

The beginning of `Abdu'l-Bahá's first Western tour [AB139]
• `Abdu'l-Bahá departed from Egypt with a party of four on the S. S. Corsica for Marseilles, Thonon-les-Bains and London. [AB139; GPB280; SBR22, SoW Vol 2 no.10 8 September, 1911 p7]
• Subsequent research has shown that the ship was not the S.S. Corsica as stated in GPB280 but rather the L'Orenoque. See 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris page 6 note 47.
• See BW1:130 for a list of cities He visited between 1911 and 1913.
• It is believed that funds for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's teaching journeys to the West were provided by an oil-rich believer in Baku, Áqa Músá Naqiof (alternate spelling Musa Naghiyev)(yet another alternate spelling Báqirof) (1849-1919). [AY11; ABF295note684]
  • For more on Musa Naghiyev see Wikipedia and The Baha'is of the Caucasus: From Russian Tolerance to Soviet Repression {2/3}.

`Abdu'l-Bahá took up residence at Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Leman (Lake Geneva). [AB140; GPB280; SBR219]
• While there He encountered Zillu's-Sultán, the eldest son of the Sháh of the time, Násirid-Dín Sháh. It was he who had ratified the execution of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs and at least 100 others. The whole family was in exile in Geneva at this time. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was very courteous to this man who had been such an inveterate enemy of the Cause. [DJT172, AY19, GPB201] .
• The Master sent for Juliet Thompson who had been waiting in London for His permission to join Him.
• During His stay he had a visit from Annie Boylan, a member of the New York community that was experiencing disharmony. Unaware of Bahá'í election procedures, a group that was unhappy with the disunity and ineffectiveness of the Council had organized a vote to be rid of several of its Council members. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had written to the community a short time before recommending that the Council be expanded from 9 to 27 members so that all factions could be represented. He also recommended that women be included on the Council and that the name be changed to "the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York". This apparently addressed the problem of disunity because the New York community went on to contribute significantly to the progress of the Faith on a national level. [DJT181, BFA2p338]
• Horace Holley, who lived at Quattro Torri, Siena, Italy at the time, along with his wife Bertha Herbert and baby daughter Hertha, visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the 29th and 30th of August. Please see his Religion for Mankind p 232-237 for a pen portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
• He met with Elizabeth Stewart and Lillian Kappes who were on their way to Tehran. [find reference]
• It would appear that He returned to Marseilles and travelled to London by sea. [SCU22-23]

`Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in London accompanied by His secretary, Mírzá Mahmúd and Khusraw, His servant. This marked His first visit to the country and lasted 29 days. [ABL53, AB140; GBP280; SBR22, 148, BW4p378, In the Footsteps of the Master p.5]
• CH149 says He arrived 8 September and 3 September as per the UK Bahá'í site.
• Those Bahá'ís who assembled to meet him were listed as: Lady Blomfield (in whose home at 97 Cadogan Gardens He stayed), Mrs Thornburg-Cropper, Miss Ethel Rosenberg, Miss Gamble, Miss Herrick, Mrs Scaramucci, Miss Elsie Lee, Mr Catanach, Mr Cuthbert, Mr and Mrs Jenner, Miss Yandell, Miss Julia Culver, Mrs Stannard, Mr and Mrs Eric Hammond, The Rev Harrold Johnston, The Rev Cooper Hunt, Miss Juliet Thompson, Mrs Louise Waite, Mrs Movius, Mrs Claudia Coles, Mr Mountfort Mills, Mr Mason Remey and Miss Drake Wright. Mr and Mrs Dreyfus-Barney provided translation. In addition there were a number of Persians who took the opportunity to meet Him. [BW4p377]
• As described by Lady Blomfield those who came to see him were: "Ministers and missionaries, Oriental scholars and occult students practical men of affairs and mystics, Anglican-Catholics and Nonconformists, Theosophists and Hindus, Christian Scientists and doctors of medicine, Muslims, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. There also called: politicians, Salvation Army soldiers, and other workers for human good, women suffragists, journalists, writers, poets and healers dress-makers and great ladies, artists and artisans, poor workless people and prosperous merchants, members of the dramatic and musical world, these all came; and none were too lowly nor too great to receive the sympathetic consideration of this holy Messenger, who was ever giving His life for others' good." In addition there was a representation from the Bramo-Somaj Society, a Hindu reform group. [CH150-152]
• See BW4p377 where Lady Blomfield reported that Prince Jalalu'd-Dawlih entreated to be received by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and when in His presence fell prostrate and implored pardon for his crimes. (see 1891 19 May) [BW4p377]
• Among the list of visitors were: Professor Edward Granville Browne, Mr Tudor-Pole, Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. [BW4p377]
• See BW4p381 for the story of a homeless, suicidal man who had seen a picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in a newspaper in a shop window.
• See BW4p382-383 for the story of the persistent journalist who imposed upon the appointment of two ladies from Scotland who had journeyed all that day and intended to make the return voyage that same evening.
• For details of His stay in England see AB140–58 and GPB283–5.
• It is implied that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was attended by Dr Lutfu-lláh Hakím while in London. [BW4p380]
• During His stay in London 'Abdu'l-Bahá received death threats by anonymous letter and he was advised to give up He planned journey to Egypt. He ignored them. [BW4p 387]
• During His stay in London He had professional photographs of Himself taken by the Irish photographer, James Lafayette (1853-1923). "...to have a picture of oneself is to emphasise the personality, which is merely the lamp, and is quite unimportant. The light burning within the lamp has the only real significance." [SBR25, BW4p383-384, ABF84]

'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Miss Ethel Jenner Rosenberg for a Unity meeting at White Lodge, 8 Sunnyside, Wimbledon (since demolished). [ABL44-45, In the Footsteps of the Master p.9, SYH40]

'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper at 31 Evelyn Mansions, Carlisle Place, Victoria.
• In the afternoon 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Miss Anett Schepel and Miss Alice Buckton, Vanners, Byfleet, Surrey (since demolished), some 20 miles out of London. He spoke with a number of working women from the Passmore Edwards' Settlement who were visiting while on holidays. (The Passmore Edwards' Settlement began in 1890 as one of the first "settlements" run by socially-conscious middle-class educators for the benefit of local working people and their children.) The talk has been entitled, "The small house and the path to true happiness". ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks, SYH39]
• Alice Mary Buckton (1867-1944) wrote many plays and poems. Her play Eager Heart was seen by 'Abdu'l-Bahá on His second visit to England. She became a member of the Froebelian Society which was formed to reform educational methods. She persuaded Anett Schepel who had worked at Pestalozzi-Froebel Haus in Germany to move to England and together they worked to improve child education, opening a school in St John's Wood. [ABL85-86, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p9-10]

`Abdu'l-Bahá gave His first public address in the West in the City Temple Church in Holborn, London to an audience of over 2,000 people. He proclaimed that "This is a new cycle of human power…the gift of God in this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religion." [ABL17-20, AB140; BW2:227; GPB283–4, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p11]
• He spoke at the invitation of The Reverend R J Campbell. Mr. Wellesly Tudor-Pole read the translation. [CH154]
• Dialogue between Rev Campbell and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [SoW Vol 2 No 11 27 September 1911 p3, 4-7]
• For the text of His talk see AB140–2.
• For the words He wrote in the pulpit Bible see AB145. The church was bombed in World War II and the pulpit Bible was destroyed. The church was rebuilt in 1958.
• For a photo see BWNS792.
• SoW Vol 2 No 11 27 September 1911 p3, 7-8.
• See A New Cycle of Human Power: Abdu'l-Bahá's Encounters with Modernist Writers and Artists by Robert Weinberg.

Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper gave a reception for 'Abdu'l-Bahá at her home 31 Evelyn Mansions, Carlisle Place, Victoria for about 45 people. [ABL46-47, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p12, SYH40]
• His talk has been entitled, "Persian-English friendship and a brief history". ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks]

`Abdu'l-Bahá addressed the congregation of St John's, Westminster, His second address to a Western audience. He also met with members of the Salvation Army who were singing outside. [ABL21-25, AB145; SBR8, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p13, SYH38]
• For text of His talk see AB147–8 and 'Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks.
• He spoke at the invitation of Archdeacon of Westminster, Albert Wilberforce, grandson of famed abolitionist William Wilberforce. The invitation had been extended to Him during a private audience in the home of Lady Blomfield. [CH153-154]
• 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent an invitation to the Archdeacon asking him to meet with Him. He turned Him down with a message, "We are all one behind the veil." 'Abdu'l-Bahá replied, "...and the veil is thinning quite." When Wilberforce met with 'Abdu'l-Bahá he found that there was no separation between them. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary - The Great Tour p99]
• See also Star of the West Vol. II No. 12, p. 12.

"Each one of you should have a copy. Read, memorize and reflect upon it. Then, when accusations and criticisms are advanced . . . you will be well armed."[The Brilliant Proof]

The Brilliant Proof was first translated by Ali Kuli Khan and published by the Bahá'í News Service in Chicago in 1912 in which it said: "Written in response to published attacks on the Bahá'í Religion by the British clergyman Peter Z Easton" (1846-1915). [Collins7.15 p41]

Peter Easton (1846-1915) was a Presbyterian in the Synod of the Northeast in New York who had been stationed in Tabriz from 1873 to 1880. While 'Abdul'Bahá was in England Easton attempted to meet and challenge him. He made those around him uncomfortable and 'Abdu'l-Bahá withdrew him to a private conversation and then after which he left. Later he was able to have printed a polemic attack on the religion, Bahaism — A Warning, in the Evangelical Christendom newspaper of London (Sept.-Oct. 1911 edition.) It was published in the Appendix of The Brilliant Proof (p70-80) [Bahaipedia]

For more on Peter Easton see 'Abdu'l-Bahá (p149-152).

Lady Blomfield in her book The Chosen Highway (p183) described such a visit and the affect it had on 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Misses Marion Jack and Elizabeth Herrick, at 10 Cheniston Gardens, Wright's Lane (sometimes given as 137a High Street, Kensington). About 80 people were present. [ABL48-49, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p14; SoW Vol 2 No 12 October 16, 1911 p5]
• The talk was stenographically recorded and published as Discourse by 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Unity Meeting of Misses Jack and Herrick. September 22nd, 1911. For full text see NBAD233-234 as well as WUAB1236-1237.

Abdu'l-Bahá travelled by train from London to Bristol going from Paddington Station to Bristol Temple Meads arriving at mid-day. He stayed at the Clifton Guest House at 17 Royal Crescent which was owned by Major Wellesley Tudor Pole. After a short rest carriages were ordered and an extensive drive was taken through some of the world-renowned beauty spots around Bristol and neighbourhood. After the evening meal 'Abdul-Bahá addressed a gathering of about 80 friends in the Guest House Salon [SoW Vol 2 No. 12 October 16, 1911 p7; AB156, ABL81-84, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p15-16, SYH39-40; Some Sacred Spaces in the United Kingdom Slides 2-21]
• During His stay in Bristol, He had a photograph taken. [ABF84]

The Master rose early, as was His custom, and from 5 to 8AM dictated letters and cablegrams. He then breakfasted with all the members of the party and guests. Another country drive followed and then He gave several private interviews to friends who had just arrived from London, Edinburgh and elsewhere.
• After lunch the Master went all over the Guest House blessing and dedicating each room to the service of Bahá'u'lláh and promising that the house would become a centre of peace and rest for pilgrims from East and West. He also blessed the Oratory and all the workers in the house, calling them all into his presence and telling them of the dignity of labour and true service. Again we sat down nineteen to supper, and again the Master blessed the gathering and showed great joy and animation.
• About mid-day the Master returned to London after expressing the intention of returning again someday. He wrote a beautiful prayer and blessing in the Visitors' book. [SoW Vol 2 No 12 October 12, 1911 p7]

'Abdu'l-Bahá visited Byfleet for a second time by motorcar. He stayed the night and returned the evening of the next day. [ABL86, 99, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p.17]
• He committed the poor, saying they were very poor. [SYH39]
• Mrs Thornburgh Cropper had place her motorcar at His service. She and Ethel Rosenberg who had visited Him in 'Akká were lovingly attentive to Him. [BW4p384]

A farewell reception was given for 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the hall of 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. [SAR87-88; 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.

`Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk that has been entitled, "Eleven essentials: the Bahai principles as taught by Abdu'l-Baha in London". ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks]

He left London for Paris. [AB154; SBR25, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p22]

• See ABL113 for details of His last day in London. He left from Victoria Station.
• He was accompanied by many Bahá'ís from England who attended many of the public meeting at which He spoke in Paris. This group included Marion Jack, Ethel Rosenberg, Lady Bloomfield and her two daughters. [NBAD47, SYH42]
• He remained in Paris for nine weeks. [AB159; GPB280]
• For details of His visit see AB159–68.
• For `Abdu'l-Bahá's talks given in Paris see PT.

In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk at His apartment at #4 Avenue de Camoens. During the talk Muhammad Qazvíní and Siyyid Hasan Taqízádih entered the room. The former had written an introduction for and was the force behind the publication of Kitáb-i-Nuqtatu'l-Káf, a book that supposedly was an early history of the Faith but in reality was heavily biased to the the views of Mírzá Yahya. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had had Mírzá Abdu'l-Fadl write a refutation to the book. Both men had additional dinner engagements with 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His visit. ['Abdu'l-Bahá's Meetings with Two Prominent Iranians, World Order, Fall 1998 Vol 30, no 1 pp35-46, ABF71-76]
• In the afternoon all were invited to meet Him at #22 rue Ledru- Rollin pré-Saint-Germais-sur-Seine outside the walls of Paris. The purpose was to visit a project run by Mons. V. Ponsonaille and his wife to provide some comfort to the poor children in an underprividged quarter of the city. For an account of this event see Glimpses of Abdul'Bahá in Paris by Alice Beede.[ABF76-79; SYH45]
  • See A Glimpse of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris by Alice R. Beede. [SoW Vol 2 No 18 February 7, 1912 p6]

In the morning He gave a talk at His apartment on the The First Principle—Search after Truth. [PT135-137; ABF180-181, SoW Vol 3 no1 p3-4]
• `Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk later entitled The Evolution of the Spirit at 15 Rue Greuze, Paris, the home of the Dreyfus-Barneys. [Paris Talks p88-94; ABF182-186]

In the morning at His apartment, 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on The Second Principle—The Unity of Mankind and the third principle, that religion should be the cause of love and affection. [ABF186-191; PT138-141]
• In the afternoon He visited the art exhibition Salon d'automne at the Grand Palais. The theme that year was decorative arts. He would have seen the works of some of France's top furniture designers.
• In the evening he attended a reception at the home of the operatic composer Herman Bemerg. [ABF188-189]

In the morning in His apartment 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about The Sixth Principle—Means of Existence. [PT151-154; ABF198-200]
• In another talk on this day He spoke about how He wished the friend to progress spiritually. [PT151-154; ABF200; The Desires and Prayers of 'Abdu'l‑Bahá]

In the morning in His apartment 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on The Seventh Principle—Equality of Men. [PT154-155ABF201]
• He spoke again, presumably in the evening but that talk has not been translated. [ABF201]

In the morning in His apartment at 4 Avenue de Camoëns, He spoke on the theme of non-interference in religion and politics, the ninth principle. [PT157-160; ABF202-204]
• Juan Cole has suggested this talk took place at the Dreyfus residence on the evening of Saturday the 18th of November. [`Abdu'l-Baha on Democracy and the Separation of Religion and State]
• Another translation of the talk can be found in Sen McGlinn's book, Church and State: A Post Modern Political Theology p223-226; 404-409.
• His second talk for the day was in the home of Hippolyte and Laura Dreyfus-Barney. This talk has been entitled Concerning Body, Soul and Spirit. [ABF205-207]

In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in His apartment on The Eleventh Principle—The Power of the Holy Spirit. [PT163-166; ABF209-210; SoW Vol 3 No 2 April 9, 1912 p6-7]
• In the evening He spoke in the home of Monsieur Dreyfus. The talk has been entitled "Involvement of the faithful in political life, and showing justice in all walks of life. ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks]

'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about the press coverage given to a train accident that claimed the lives of some 20 people in Paris the previous day. He compared this to the apparent indifference to the news that 5,000 people had been killed in the bombing in Tripoli as the Turkish-Italian war raged on there. [ABF221-223; The Cruel Indifference of People towards the Suffering of Foreign Races]
• This talk was published in the Star of the West Let There be Peace.

In a comment not in the transcript of the talk in Promulgation of Universal Peace He is recorded as having said that the Italians left their country:

"in order to persecute the poor Arabs…is nothing else than avarice and greediness".

To Him the occupation of Libya was "an illegal assault.

[Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine by Kamran Ekbal p19]

• Later in the day He spoke at the home of Mademoiselle Gastea, An Address on Truth. It was published in SoW Vol 2 No 18 February,1912 p3-6.
• 1911-11-25 — Further to the criticism that had been directed toward the Faith, 'Abdu'l-Bahá offered words of encouragement. [ABF227-229; We Must Not Be Discouraged by the Smallness of Our Numbers; PT116-118]
• 1911-11-26 — 'Abdul-Bahá was invited to speak at Temple du Foyer de l'Ame at 7bis, rue Duval (today rue du Pasteru-Wagner). This was the church established by poet and orator Charles Wagner, a liberal Lutheran pastor who was involved in a movement to unite all the reform Protestant churches. [ABF230; Words Spoken by 'Abdu'l‑Bahá in Pastor Wagner's Church (Foyer de l'Ame) in Paris; PT119=123; SYH44]
• 1911-11-27 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in His own apartment in the morning and in the evening at the residence of Edwin and Josephine Scott. Neither of these talks has been translated into English. [ABF235-237]
• 1911-11-28 — In the morning he gave a short talk about the meaning of the spiritual principles on which be had been speaking previously. The talk has been entitled This Great and Glorious Cause [PT167-168; ABF237-238; Eleven Principles; PT127]
• 1911-11-29 —
  In the morning he gave a talk in His apartment. It has not been translated into English.
  • It is possible that the following incident took place that day. A woman came from America to seek out 'Abdu'l-Bahá because her young daughter had told her that Jesus had returned. [ABP238-239; 1911-11-30 —
    It was about this time that 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent four Bahá'ís to Germany to assist with the teaching and the consolidation of the Faith. They were: Lady Blomfield, a Mrs Earl, Mírzá Asadu'lláh-i-Isfáhaání and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. They remained in Stuttgart until the 7th of December.
    • Lady Blomfield then travelled to Vevey, Switzerland to be with her daughters and to continue working on the collected talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá for publication. They stayed at the Hôtel Belvedere. [ABF255-256, 275]
  • 1911-12-01 —
    In the evening in the home of Hippolyte and Laura Dreyfus Barney at 15 Rue Greuze 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave His last talk in Paris for this trip. [PT168-172; ABF240-243; SoW Vol 2 No 16 December 31, 1911 p6]
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about the future of Paris. He said that He could see the day when Paris is "bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit". [SYH48]
  • 1911-12-02 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Paris for Marseilles by train from the Gare de Lyon arriving late in the day. Little is known about His stay in that city save for one talk. [ABF246]
    • See ABF256-260 for some of the places that 'Abdu'l-Baha visited while in Paris for which the visits are undated. Included in the list is His visit to the Senat of the French Republic [PUP72].
    • There are also a number of undated talks and fragments of talks the have been published in a variety of sources. [ABF261-264]
    • See ABF264-268 for a list of persons with whom 'Abdu'l-Bahá had undocumented visits.
  • 1911-12-06 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on materialism at a meeting of theosophists, possible at 25, Boulevard Baille. For the text of this talk see ABF247-254.
  • 1911-12-07 —
    'Abdu'l-Bahá departed Marseilles for Egypt on board Le Portugal. It travelled to Beirut via Alexandria and Port Said and reached Alexandria on the 12th of December. [ABF255-256; AB167; GPB280; SBR25]
    • Letter from Ahmad Sohrab. [SoW Vol 2 No 16 December 31, 1911 p9]
  • 1912-00-00 —
    The publication of The Brilliant Proof by Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl Gulpáygání in Chicago by the Bahai News Service, 1912. The first edition notes state that it was written December 28, 1911, in Syria, "by the pen of Mirza Abul Fazl Gulpaygan."
    • 239D93 says this book was written by Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl in answer to a London minister's criticism of the Cause.
    • The publication of this book marked the end of an early era of Bahá'í teaching in the West. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá continued his journeys in the United States and Canada, He delivered hundreds of public talks and private addresses which were tailored to Western audiences. The fresh outpouring of teachings which resulted from these encounters produced a new Bahá'í literature of the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the West. Examples include the following: The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by `Abdu'l-Bahá During His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912, compiled by Howard MacNutt, (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1922-25); Paris Talks: Addresses Given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1912); 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London.
  • 1912-03-25 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá's second Western tour

    'Abdul'-Bahá and His party embarked from Alexandria on the White Star Line Liner RMS Cedric for New York via Naples. They departed Naples on the 30th of March and made a call at Gibraltar. Three of His party were forced to leave the ship for supposed "medical' reasons. Among them was His grandson, Shoghi Effendi. [AB171; GPB281; ABF274; ABTM50-52; SYH50-51]

    • Boarding in Naples to join Him on the Atlantic crossing were Louisa Mathew and the Woodcock family, Percy, Aloysia and their daughter, May as well as Mr and Mrs Austin from Denver, Colorado. [SYH49, 52; ABPp18n.96]
  • 1912-04-11 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in New York. [AB172; GPB281; APD3-5; SoW Vol 3 No 3 p3; Mahmúd's Diary p38-39]

    As the ship that finally brought "'Abdu'l-Bahá to the shores of the American continent passed by the Statue of Liberty, He threw His arms wide open in greeting, saying "There is the new world's symbol of liberty and freedom. After being 40 years a prisoner I can tell you that freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition. Unless one accept dire vicissitudes he will not attain. When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed a release." ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Their Midst p.56; SYH54]

    • He remained on board doing interviews with a number of newspapermen. Edward Kinny was called to come on the ship and the rest of those awaiting were told to leave the pier, proceed to the Kinney residence and wait for Him. [Mahmúd's Diary p38-39; DJT233-234]
      • See World Order Summer 1973 p45 for the story of disobedient Juliet Thompson and her friend Marjory Morton who remained behind on the quay to get a glimpse of Him.
    • One of the newspapermen to interview Him was Wendell Phillips Dodge who boarded the SS Cedric at quarantine and interviewed 'Abdul-Bahá coming up the bay. The article he wrote was given to all of the New York newspapers, and, through the Associated Press, was sent, though boiled down considerably, to newspapers throughout the world. See SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p3 for the article.
    • When asked why He had come to America He said that He had come at the invitation of the peace congresses. [SYH53; MD8]
    • He stayed at the Ansonia Hotel at 2109 Broadway. [Luminous Journey 14:37, SYH55]
    • Talk at the home of Mr. Edward B. (Saffa, or Serenity) Kinney and his wife, Carrie (Vaffa, or Certitude), 780 West End Avenue, New York to some 200 people. This was the first private home in which 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on His American tour. [PUP3]
    • One of the Persians in the Master's suite had cabled Alice Ives Breed in New York City, about the Master's arrival date. Thus alerted, Ali-Kuli Khan directed the Persian Consul, Topakian (an Armenian businessman), to officially greet 'Abdu'l-Bahá with full courtesies. Mr Topakian carried this out, and the Master was much pleased with his services. [AY85]
    • During His tour `Abdu'l-Bahá visited 49 cities and made approximately 400 addresses of which 185 were recorded. The combined audience for His talks is estimated to be 90,000 people. [SBBH1:110; Luminous Journey 1:37; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America 1912-2012]
    • For a chronological list of talks given by `Abdu'l-Bahá while in North America see PUP473–8 or Index.
    • For details of His journey see AB171–339.
    • Ward, 239 Days; Balyuzi, `Abdu'l-Bahá; The Diary of Juliet Thompson; many editions of Star of the West and numerous biographies of Bahá'ís of the time as well as other books carry information about `Abdu'l-Bahá travels and talks.
      He was accompanied by:
      • Sayyid Asadu'lláh Qumí
      • Dr Fareed Amin Ullah, He was a nephew of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and served as his translator during His tour of the West. Because of his disobedience, both he and his father were expelled from the Faith. See AY102-103 and AB230.
      • Mírza Mahmúd-i Zarqání. He was a member of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage for both the Western and European tours. He wrote an account of the travels in a book entitled Kitáb-i Badáyi'u'l-Áthár and called "Mahmúd's Diary" in the English translation. [APD151]
      • Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. He had originally come to the West to assist Mírzá Abú'l-Fadl Gulpaygání in 1901. He remained and worked at the Iranian Consulate until 1912 and during this time he translated much of the correspondence between 'Abdu'l-Bahâ and the Western believers. After the American tour, he returned to the Holy Land. After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he rejected the authority of Shoghi Effendi and was expelled. [APD155]
    • See video entitled 'Abdu'l-Bahá and New York City.
  • 1912-04-12 —
    Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt, 935 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, [PUP4]
    • Talk at Studio of Miss Phillips, 39 West Sixty-seventh Street, New York. [PUP7; DJT239; Mahmúd's Diary p39-41]

      In this talk He commented on the actions of Italy in Libya and denounced Itally as a nations that does not follow Christian ideals:

      "Consider the sad picture of Italy carrying war into Tripoli. If you should announce that Italy was a barbarous nation and not Christian, this would be vehemently denied. But would Christ sanction what they are doing in Tripoli?"
      [PUPp4]
  • 1912-04-13 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Morten, 141 East Twenty-first Street, New York [PUP9; Mahmúd's Diary p41-42]
  • 1912-04-14 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke from the pulpit of the Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street, New York at the invitation of Percy Stickney Grant who was later reprimanded by his bishop, Bishop Burch, for inviting 'Abdu'l-Bahá, unbaptized, to sit in the red plush Bishop's Chair behind the alter rail. This was in violation of church protocol and created a great controversy. [ABF22, 239D:21–3, PUP11, 239 Days in America Day52; Mahmúd's Diary p43-44; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p6]
    • Talk at Union Meeting of Advanced Thought Centers, Carnegie Lyceum, West Fifty-seventh Street, New York. [PUP14]
  • 1912-04-15 — Talk at the home of Mountfort Mills, 327 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP16; Mahmúd's Diary p44-45]
  • 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]
  • 1912-04-18 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall L. Emery, 273 West Ninetieth Street, New York. [PUP25; Mahmúd's Diary p46-47]
  • 1912-04-19 —
    Talk at Earl Hall, Columbia University, New York. [PUP29; Mahmúd's Diary p47-48]
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited The Bowery Mission accompanied by Edward Getsinger and Juliet Thompson as noted in her unpublished Diary. They arrived with two heavy bags of quarters to distribute to the poor and spoke with hundreds of impoverished men. [OPOP165-168, PUP32]
    • He invited Mary William, a rare female journalist who wrote under the name of "Kate Carew". Her signature style was one of scepticism.
  • 1912-04-19 —
    During His time in New York 'Abdu'l-Bahá saw a play by Charles Rann Kennedy called The Terrible Meek about the crucifiction of Christ. He later came to His hotel room to see Him. [Luminous Journey 21:42]
    • At some point Juliet Thompson introduced him to Lebanese poet and artist Khalil Gibran who created a portrait of HIm. [Luminous Journey 22:07]
      • The original pastel of the Master painted by Khalil Gibran is in the archives at the World Center in Haifa, although it is not on display in the Archives Building. [National Bahá'í Review No 8 August 1968 p3]
    • Howard Colby Ives met with Him at His hotel. His description of the account ends with "But life has never been quite the same since." [Portal to Freedom Chapter 2]
  • 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]
  • 1912-04-21 —
    Talk at Studio Hall, 1219 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C. [PUP37, APD14; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p9]
    • Talk at Universalist Church, Thirteenth and L Streets, Washington, D.C. [PUP39; APD16; Mahmúd's Diary p50-54; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p10]
    • An article in the New York Times described the talks He gave while visiting that city. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I from Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26]
  • 1912-04-22 — Talk at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP43, APD22-24, AY86; Mahmúd's Diary p54-55]
  • 1912-04-23 —
    Talk at Howard University, Washington, D.C. Howard University had been founded in 1867 to educate the newly freed slaves and by 1912 it was one of the foremost black universities in the country. It is reported that well over a thousand students, faculty members, administrators and guests jammed into the Rankin Chapel as 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke with Louis Gregory standing beside Him. The Howard University Journal, 26 April 1912, published His entire address. [PUP44, APD29, 239Dp40; Mahmúd's Diary p50-54; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p14]
    • To recapitulate His talk, `Abdu'l-Bahá emphasized the personal sacrifice of Northern whites for southern blacks in the course of the Civil War, and that African Americans (as the descendants of emancipated slaves) should therefore be grateful to whites in kind. In so saying, `Abdu'l-Bahá invoked history (or a certain view of it) in order to make history—by completing the unfinished work of the Emancipation Proclamation. ['Abdu'l-Bahá's 1912 Howard University Speech: A Civil War Myth for Interracial Emancipation by Dr Christopher Buck p134]
    • See as well TMTW51.
    • Coralie and George Cook arranged for 'Abdu'l-Bahá to speak at Howard University. Both were professors at Howard,, she the Chair of Oratory and he was professor of Commercial and International Law and later the Dean of the School of Commerce and Finance. [AWD70, 165]
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá attended a reception at the Khan residence in the Persian embassy where He met Admiral Robert Peary. In the words of Juliet Thompson `Abdu'l-Bahá had told the Admiral, "That `for a very long time the world had been much concerned about the North Pole, where it was and what was to found there. Now he, Admiral Peary, had discovered it and that nothing was to [be] found there; and so, in forever relieving the public mind, he had rendered a great service." [DJT272-273]
    • It was on this occasion, at a dinner for the elite of Washington, that 'Abdu'l-Bahá asked, "Where is Mr Gregory? Bring me Mr Gregory!" when He saw that a place had not been set for him at the dinner table. Khan fetched Mr Gregory and 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a place for him on His right. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on the oneness of humankind and Agnes Parsons, who was seated on His left, asked a question about spiritual healing. [SYH59]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. about the Titanic disaster. [PUP46; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p12; YouTube 'Abdu'l-Bahá - Life After Death]
    • Talk to Bethel Literary Society, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP49; SoW Vol 3 No 3 pg5]
  • 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]
  • 1912-04-25 —
    Talk to Theosophical Society, Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP58; SoW Vol 3 No3 pg22-23, ]
    • Message to Esperantists, Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP60; APD47; SoW Vol 3 No5 Pg7-8]
    • The Turkish Ambassador Díyá Páshá hosted a "royal feast" for 'Abdu'l-Bahá and a number of dignitaries. He gave a short talk afterward. [Mahmúd's Diary p60-61]
    • He gave a talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons. [PUP62, APD46-49; SoW Vol 3 No 5 P7-8, Mahmúd's Diary p59-62]
    • Theodore Roosevelt visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Parsons' home on this date. He was not the President at this time. [MD464n59]
  • 1912-04-26 —
    'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at President Taft's All Saints Unitarian Church to the Women's Alliance on the subject of the varieties of light, the effulgence of the Sun of Reality in its original essence, and of the waiting souls with pure hearts who are like unto clear spotless mirrors, whose eyes and ears become enlightened by the appearance of the Sun of Reality. [APD50; 239D45; MD62-64]
    • Before lunch He spoke in the home of John J. White at the invitation of Mrs White. Lunch was taken at the Parsons home with the Turkish Ambassador as a guest.
    • On this day He spoke with the US Treasurer, Lee McClung. [Luminous Journey 30:24]
    • In the early evening He addressed a gathering in the Parsons' home. The subject of the talk was the interpretation of the Old Testament statement concerning the creation of man in the image of God. After the meeting, `Abdu'l-Bahá went for a stroll in a park to recuperate. [APD51]
    • In the evening 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke ing the Memorial Continental Hall in the new national headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution on 17th Street, NW, between C and D Streets. He shared the podium with Samuel Gompers, the President of the American Federation of Labor. Gompers made a plea for the women of the working classes and 'Abdu'l-Bahá drew a parallel between the advancement of women in the West and in the East citing the new building as an example of the power of women.
    • None of His talks for this day has been recorded in The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
  • 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]
  • 1912-04-28 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá gave private interviews in the morning then called on the Turkish Ambassador, Diya Pasha. [APD56-59] . He spent considerable time with the Turkish ambassador, Zia Pasha while in Washington. [AY86-87; Luminous Journey 36:45]
    • For a list of some of the well-known individuals whom the Khans brought into 'Abdu'l-Bahá's presence see AY88.
    • During His time in Washington He toured the Library of Congress with the Parsons. He went to the Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to the graves of the parents of Agnes Parsons. [Luminous Journey 31:56]
    • At some point during His stay in Washington former president Theodore Roosevelt came to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Parsons' residence. Mahmud reports that this took place on April 25, after the reception at the Turkish Embassy. [Luminous Journey 34:26; MD]
    • Alice Pike Barney, the influential artist and thespian and an important member of the Washington arts scene, hosted a luncheon and two evening receptions at her studio for 'Abdu'l-Bahá. She had met Him earlier when she accompanied her daughter Laura to Akka in 1905. [Luminous Journey 34:59]
    • Ali Kuli Khan, one of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's former secretaries in Akka and who, by this time was the chargé d'affairs at the Persian Legation, tried to arrange a meeting for 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the White House and for Him to speak to the Congress but scheduling did not work out. He hosted receptions for 'Abdu'l-Bahá and arranged for prominent diplomats to met Him. [Luminous Journey 36:00]
    • At a meeting at the Persian Legation where a meal was being served, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and arranged for the place of honour on His right for African-American lawyer Louis George Gregory. At this time he was a thirty-seven-year-old, Fisk- and Howard-educated African American lawyer from Charleston, South Carolina. He was president of the Bethel Literary and Historical Association, the oldest African American organization in Washington and he was one of the most prominent members of the capital's African American community. Even so, at this time in Washington where one third of the population was Black, it was expected that he would not eat with Whites. [Luminous Journey 38:36; 239Days Day 12]
    • At this time there were only about 15 Black Bahá'ís in the Washington Community and events were not fully integrated following the example in the segregated city. Pauline and Joseph Hannen held integrated gatherings and became proponents of racial integration. [Luminous Journey 42:00]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Washington for Chicago. [239D:46; AB184; SBR81]
      • Accompanying Him were Louise Mathew and Mrs Moss, a stenographer. [SYH62]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Chicago some 12 hours late due to mechanical failure. [239D:47]
  • 1912-04-30 —
    Talk at Hull House, Chicago, Illinois where He spoke about racial unity. Hull House was a immigrant community centre, one of the earliest in Chicago, founded by Jane Addams of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. [PUP67, MD70; 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Historic Meeting with Jane Addams by Ruth Moffet]
    • Talk at Fourth Annual Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Handel Hall, Chicago, Illinois. [PUP69, MD71]
      • The NAACP's co-founder, writer and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, was in correspondence with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and published His talk as well as His photo in the organization's magazine, The Crisis Vol. 4, No. 1 (May, 1912) pp14-16. [BWNS1310; Luminous Journey 45:04] iiiii
      • The website for the current day on-line magazine and a collection can be found in the Smithsonian Museum.
      • His talks in Chicago attracted such prominent Black people as Alain LeRoy Locke, Ida B. Wells and Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the founder of The Chicago Defender, the most influential Black newspaper. [Luminous Journey 45:26]
      • See FMH152 for the story of Grace Ober inviting Dr. Du Bois and 60 others from an NAACP Convention in Pittsburg 6-10 July, 1931, to their tenement flat for tea.
    • In the evening He greeted the closing session of the public meeting of the Bahá'í Temple Unity where more than a thousand people had gathered. After His address he donated 2,000 francs to the Temple Fund. The meeting was held in the Drill Hall, Masonic Temple, Chicago, Illinois. [PUP65, SYH67]
  • 1912-05-01 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá laid the cornerstone of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette. [SYH67-68, CT102; 239D:51; AB186; GPB288, 349; MBW143; Luminous Journey 47:00]
    • Talk at Dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár Grounds. [PUP71]
    • The cornerstone had been offered by Mrs Nettie Tobin, a member of the Women's Teaching Assembly. [AB186]
    • See SYH65-66 for the story of how the Foundation Stone made it to the building site.
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá asked delegates from the various Bahá'í communities and Bahá'ís from different backgrounds each to dig the earth to lay the stone. Corrine True, Lua Getsinger and several other women turned the sod. After the stone had been laid 'Abdu'l-Bahá declared that "The temple is already built." [AB186–7; Luminous Journey 47:00]
  • 1912-05-02 —
    Talk at Hotel Plaza, Chicago, Illinois, [PUP72]
    • Talk given 2 May 1912 at the Chicago Plaza Hotel by Abdu'l-Bahá translated by John Walbridge
    • 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 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]
    • 1912-05-04 — Talk to Theosophical Society, Northwestern University Hall, Evanston, Illinois. [PUP87; Luminous Journey 50:00]
    • 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]
    • 1912-05-08 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá took a morning train from Pittsburgh, arriving in Washington DC that night for His second visit to that city. [239D:64; AB189; SBR81]
      • He and His entourage moved into the apartment of William P. Ripley who had vacated it for this purpose. [APD59-60]
    • 1912-05-09 — `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a capacity gathering at the Parsons' home. He noted that religious ministers in Washington were denouncing Him and the Cause. [APD61-63]
    • 1912-05-10 —
      At the instigation of Agnes Parsons, `Abdu'l-Bahá's sat for sketches by prominent English sculptor Theodore Spicer-Simson who made a portrait medallion of the Master. See Medallions for pictures of his work. A second medallion was later designed by another well-known artist, Louis Potter. [Luminous Journey 33:21]
      • In the morning Agnes Parsons took 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the Capitol then to the Washington Monument where they took the elevator to the top.
      • He spoke to a small group in the Parsons' home in the afternoon and at the Studio Hall in the evening. [APD63-66]
      • In The Diary of Juliet Thompson p285 it is reported that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had been horrified by the prejudice He observed against Black people in Washington.
    • 1912-05-11 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá left Washington for New York City, arriving the same day. [239D:64–5, AB190, APD66-67]
      • Talk at the Hudson Apartment House at 227 Riverside Drive, New York. [PUP111, DJT282]
    • 1912-05-12 — `Abdu'l-Bahá took a ferry to New Jersey then a train to Montclair where He addressed the congregation of the Montclair Unity Church before returning to New York to speak to the International Peace Forum at the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on West 104th Street, New York where He spoke to 2,000 people. [239D:66; AB191, PUP113, PUP116]

      He used the situation in Libya as an example of the senselessness of war. See Promulgation of Universal Peace p119]

    • 1912-05-13 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá, very unwell, attended a reception and gave a talk to the New York Peace Society at the Hotel Astor where He was the guest of honour. [239D:67; AB192, PUP123, APD67]
      • Various personages paid tribute to Him. The Consul General of Persian, General Topakyan referred to `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Beauty of God and the Glory of the East [Luminous Journey 56:06]
      • In the evening there was a meeting at `Abdu'l-Bahá's residence with people from India and Japan. He spoke to them in detail, saying: "India had a great civilization in former times. That civilization spread from that part of Asia to Syria and Egypt; from Syria it was extended to Greece from whence it found its way to Arabia and Spain. Again, from Spain it spread over most of Europe. The world of man, however, has not yet reached its maturity. The time will come when this material civilization will be infused with divine civilization. Universal peace will be realized and people will become angelic. That will be the time of the world's maturity." [MD]
    • 1912-05-14 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá attended the eighteenth annual Conference on International Peace and Arbitration at Lake Mohonk, presenting the first address during the second session of the conference. [239D:67–9; AB193; ABF15; MD101]
      "His early public references in North America to the purpose of His visit there placed particular emphasis on the invitation of the organizing committee of the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference for Him to address this international gathering." [BWNS1297]
      • The Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration was founded in 1895 and was held annually until 1917 for the purpose of creating and directing public sentiment in favour of international arbitration, arbitration treaties, and an international court. For archives see Swarthmore College Peace Collection.
      • These meetings at Lake Mohonk were instrumental in the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. [Wikipedia]
      • Picture.
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent Zia Baghdadi back to the city to obtain a carpet to be used as a gift for the president of the International Peace Society and His host, Mr Smiley. Baghdadi rode a freight train to New York, awoke the sleeping residents at 2 a.m., boarded the first train for Lake Mohonk, begged to ride on the mail run and arrived just as 'Abdu'l-Bahá was shaking Smiley's hand at 10 a.m. [Luminous Journey 58:00] iiiii
      • See Who Will Bell the Cat: 'Abdu'l-Bahá at Lake Mohonk by Janet Ruhe-Schoen.
      • See "The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact" by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson. This article looks at the circumstances around 'Abdu'l-Bahá's participation in the 1912 Lake Mohonk Arbitration Conference and the urgency and timeliness of His message over the subsequent decades. The article also reviews efforts of the Bahá'í community to promote world peace in the decades that followed.
      • See a photo of Lake Mohonk in the article The Cause of Universal Peace; 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson.
    • 1912-05-19 —
      In the morning He spoke at the Church of the Divine Paternity, Central Park West, New York. [PUP126; DJT287]
      • `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Jersey City to speak in the Unitarian Church, the Brotherhood Church, Bergen and Fairview Avenues, of which Howard Colby Ives is the pastor. [SEBW143; 239D:70–1; AB194, PUP129]
    • 1912-05-20 — Talk at Woman's Suffrage Meeting, Metropolitan Temple, Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, New York. [PUP133]
    • 1912-05-22 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Boston, arriving the same day. [239D:71; AB198]
      • He stayed at the Hotel Charlesgate (or Hotel Charles). [Luminous Journey 59:32; MD]
      • That evening the first meeting in Boston was held for the American Unitarian Association Conference at the Tremont Temple Baptist Church, the largest of all of the churches in the region and purported to be the first Integrated church in America. The President of the Republic, Mr Taft, was also a member of this important association. Present at the conference were some 800 Unitarian ministers representing the Unitarian churches in America and Canada. In addition, there were nearly two thousand others assembled. The presiding officer of the meeting was the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts [Robert Luce], who introduced the Master to the audience. [MD]
    • 1912-05-23 —
      The Bahá'ís of Cambridge, Massachusetts, celebrated `Abdu'l-Bahá's birthday at the Breed home with a cake bearing 68 candles. (Significantly, He did not stay for the festivities. He forgave this time, but had forbidden the celebration of His birthday. Six years before He had told Khan and other pilgrims that besides Naw-Rúz, the Holy Days were only for the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, that His birth on the twenty-second/twenty-third of May was 'only a coincidence'.) `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed the group on the importance of the Báb at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. Breed, 367 Harvard Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. [239D:72; AB199, PUP138; AY89]
      • Before arriving in the early evening, He had proceeded to Worcester and addressed Clark University there. [AY95; Luminous Journey 1:00]
    • 1912-05-24 — Talk at Free Religious Association, or Unitarian Conference, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP140]
    • 1912-05-25 — Talk at Huntington Chambers, 30 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP143]
    • 1912-05-26 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá left Boston and returned to New York, arriving in the evening. [239D:73; AB201]
      • Talk at Mount Morris Baptist Church, Fifth Avenue and 126th Street, New York. [PUP147]
    • 1912-05-28 — `Abdu'l-Bahá and His party were evicted from their hotel because of the `coming and going of diverse people' and the `additional labours and troubles' caused to the staff. [239D:74]

      Talk at Reception at Metropolitan Temple, Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, New York. [PUP150]

    • 1912-05-29 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP154]
    • 1912-05-30 — Talk at Theosophical Lodge, Broadway and Seventy-ninth Street, New York. [PUP156]
    • 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]
    • 1912-06-01 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York. [AB206]
      • He had His first sitting for the portrait painted by Juliet Thompson. [DJT299]
      • He sat for her a total of six times but she could paint in only three of the sessions. The last session was on June 19, 1912.
    • 1912-06-02 — Talk at Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street, New York at the invitation of Percy Grant. [PUP163, ABF22; SoW Vol 3 No 10 September 24, 1912 p24]
    • 1912-06-03 — `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Milford, Pennsylvania. [AB208]
    • 1912-06-04 — `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York. [AB208]
    • 1912-06-08 —
      Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York, [PUP171]
      • `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Philadelphia. [239D:88; AB209]
    • 1912-06-09 — Talk at Unitarian Church, Fifteenth Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [PUP172]

      Talk at Baptist Temple, Broad and Berks Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [PUP176] [MD126-127]

      The following day the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on these two talks. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service2018-11-26]

    • 1912-06-10 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Philadelphia and returned to New York, arriving the same day. [239D:88; AB211]
    • 1912-06-11 —
      Talk at Open Committee Meeting, Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP183]
      • Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP183]
      • Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP186]
    • 1912-06-12 — Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP187]
    • 1912-06-15 — Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP189]
    • 1912-06-16 —
      Talk at Fourth Unitarian Church, Beverly Road, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. [PUP190]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt, 935 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York. [PUP194]
      • Talk at Central Congregational Church, Hancock Street, Brooklyn, New York. [PUP197]
    • 1912-06-17 — Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP204]
    • 1912-06-18 —
      Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP205]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a recording of His voice on an "Edison Talking Machine" (a cylinder phonograph). ['Abdu'l-Bahá's Journey West: The Course of Human Solidarity Fig5.1, AY320]

        An authorized translation of the text of the recording has been made available. See here for more background information.

    • 1912-06-19 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá clarified His station as the Centre of the Covenant. It is widely believed that He named New York the `City of the Covenant' on this occasion but no substantiation can be found, however, Shoghi Effendi noted that He did call New York City the "City of the Covenant" (CoF158; GPB288 refer). [239D:93; AB220; BBD55, ABNY51; DJT315-316]
      • This proclamation was made to about 125 people gathered in HIs house at West 78th Street.
      • The text of HIs talk can be found at SoW Vol 5 No 15 (December 12, 1914), p227-228. The translation of this talk was done by Dr Ameen Fareed. Notes were taken by "E. C. M." and revised by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Fareed at Montclair on the 25th of June, 1912. [LGHC410n82] Also see [LGHC165-166].
      • This same day 'Abdu'l-Bahá named Lua Getsinger "Herald of the Covenant" while in Juliet Thompson's studio for the sixth sitting for His portrait. [LGHC157]
        • See 239D:92–93 for a description of this event.
      • It was on this day that 'Abdu'l-Bahá received a manuscript from Mirzá Abu'l-Fazl. He had it translated and printed, and called it The Brilliant Proof.
    • 1912-06-20 —
      Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP206]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá agreed to a photographic session at the renowned Gertrude Kasebier's Studio. He approved and chose the proofs He liked. [ABNY51; LGHC159]
      • In a talk He stated His intentions to hold a Unity Feast. [SoW Vol 3 No 10 September 8, 1912 p23-24]
    • 1912-06-21 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Montclair, New Jersey for a 9 day stay. [239D:97; AB221]
    • 1912-06-23 —
      Talk at Montclair, New Jersey. [PUP210]
      • Lua Getsinger, Juliet Thompson and Georgie Ralston, in defiance of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wishes, joined Him at Montclair. He had asked Lua to go to California again to prepare the ground for His arrival. To delay her departure she removed her shoes and stockings and walked through poison ivy. 'Abdu'l-Bahá prescribed an apple and a pomegranate for her recovery and two days later her feet and legs had returned to normal. Their next ploy was to tell 'Abdu'l-Bahá that she couldn't go because He had asked Juliet to paint her portrait and she had to stay for the sitting. This brought only laughter from 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [DJT211-312; LGHC159-161]
    • 1912-06-29 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá hosted a Unity Feast in the Evergreen Cabin at the Wilhelm properties in West Englewood, New Jersey. [239D:102; AB223, PUP213]
      • For pictures of this event see 239D:100–1.
      • Some years later, in 1953, Curtis Kelsey helped to rebuild and enlarge Evergreen Cabin, built on the spot where 'Abdu'l-Baha was host at the first Unity Feast in America. [BW15p470]
      • See Shoghi Effendi's comments to Roy Wilhelm about West Englewood, 14 November 1932. [BN No 80 January 1934 p5]
      • A Brief History of Roy Wilhelm and the Annual Souvenir Unity Feast of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Joel Nizin.
    • 1912-06-30 — `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York after visiting Mr Topakyan, the Persian Consul General, in Morristown. [239D:103; AB225–6]
    • 1912-07-01 —
      Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP216]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on the subject of poverty and the alleviation of the discrepancy between the rich and the poor.
      • Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP218]
    • 1912-07-05 —
      Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York, the home of Howard MacNutt. [PUP218]
      • Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP220]
      • On this occasion 'Abdu'l-Bahá assigned Howard the task of deepening a group of Chicago Bahá'ís on the importance of the Covenant and instructing them not to associate with Covenant-breakers. Howard failed to complete this task and continued correspondence with associates of Kheiralla. For more information see this date.
    • 1912-07-06 — Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP225]
    • 1912-07-14 — Talk at All Souls Unitarian Church, Fourth Avenue and Twentieth Street, New York. [PUP228]
    • 1912-07-15 —
      Talk at Home of Dr. and Mrs. Florian Krug, 830 Park Avenue, New York. [PUP236]

      Mahmud has dated this visit to the Krug home at 14 July. [MD169-170]

      • Dr Krug was opposed to the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá however Grace was determined to have 'Abdu'l-Bahá visit their home. Immediately upon meeting 'Abdu'l-Bahá all opposition melted. [WMSH64; AY113]
      • After speaking in the Krug home 'Abdu'l-Bahá summoned their son Carl Krug (probably Charles) to ride home with Him. Seated in the taxicab, He instructed Carl to write what He was about to say. Then 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "You must be very grateful to your mother—you must appreciate her greatly—you do not realize her station now or what a great honour she has bestowed on your household. She will be one of the famous women of America. You must appreciate and love her very much. All will know of her servitude." [BW8p676] Note: This reference has dated this event as the 2nd of June. It is likely that it took place on the 15th of July.
      • See AY112-113 for the story of Dr. Florian Krug and his second wife, Grace.
    • 1912-07-21 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá received an invitation from the Consul General of Turkey. He took the ferry then a tram to travel to the Consul General's house. The meeting was attended by a number of prominent men and statesmen. The Consul's brother-in-law requested permission to take His photograph.
      • In the evening he was invited by the Armenian Memorial Society to attend a gathering at which He spoke. The talk was not recorded because Mahmud arrived late to the meeting. [MD175]
    • 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.
    • 1912-07-24 — Talk to Theosophical Society, The Kensington, Exeter and Boylston Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP239]
    • 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.
    • 1912-07-26 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá's and His companions took up residence at one of the two Parsons home in Dublin, NH, a resort area. The house in question is named "Day-Spring". [APD7376]
      • See FMH49.
    • 1912-07-28 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá's spoke at the Parsons home. [APD79-80]
      • See 239 Days.
    • 1912-08-04 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a group of 28 black people on the importance of unity and friendship between the races and announced that Louise Mathew and Louis Gregory were to be married. [SYH71]
      • Mahmúd, page 189-190 stated that this event took place on the 2nd of August.
    • 1912-08-05 — Talk at Dublin Inn, Dublin, New Hampshire. [PUP245]
    • 1912-08-06 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, Dublin, New Hampshire. [PUP247]
    • 1912-08-11 — Howard Colby Ives visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá at an inn where He was staying in the mountain summer resort of Dublin, New Hampshire. At this time he was still the preacher of the Brotherhood Church and was studying all available literature on the Faith. Subsequent to the visit he received his first tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha dated the 26th of August. [PtF124-131; SEBW144]
    • 1912-08-16 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá journeyed to Green Acre by car, arriving the same day. [239D:123; AB240]
      • Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP253]
      • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's activities while in Green Acre see AB240–51.
      • For the story of Fred Mortensen see 239D:126–9 and AB247–51.
      • See also Green Acre on the Piscataqua.
    • 1912-08-17 —
      Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP261]
      • Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP263]
      • Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP264]
      • Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP270]
      • See a photo of Eirenion Hall, built in 1897, where 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a number of talks. It was lost in a fire in 1924
    • 1912-08-23 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Malden, Massachusetts, for a week-long stay, making trips to Boston and Cambridge. He stayed in the home of Miss Marie P. Wilson [239D:131; AB251–2; BW5p84; Abdu'l-Bahá in America 1912-2012]

      'Abdu'l-Bahá spent a total of 10 days in the house of Miss Wilson. Upon her passing in 1930 she willed the house to Shoghi Effendi and he asked the National Assembly to manage the property on his behalf. On the 27th of September, 1935 he executed a deed of trust transferring the property to the Trustees for the benefit of the NSA. [BW7p84]

      At some point during the visit He attended the wedding of Ruby Breed, the younger sister of Florence Breed. The wedding was held in the Breed home and was presided over by an Episcopalian minister. [AY96]

      On this date a short report was published in The Boston Post that noted ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s plan to speak on the pressing issue of peace. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26]

    • 1912-08-25 — Talk at the New Thought Forum, Metaphysical Club, Boston, Massachusetts about women's rights. [PUP276, 239Dp131]
    • 1912-08-26 — Talk at Franklin Square House, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP280]
    • 1912-08-27 — Talk at Metaphysical Club, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP284]
    • 1912-08-29 — Talk at Home of Madame Beale Morey, 34 Hillside Avenue, Malden, Massachusetts. He spoke on "Religions of the World". [239Dp132, PUP289]
    • 1912-08-30 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá left Malden for Boston. He left Boston by train for Montreal, arriving at midnight. [239D:132; AB132; BW8:637]
      • He stayed in Montreal for ten days, living for four nights at the Maxwell residence. [239D:132]
      • See also `Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada.
    • 1912-09-01 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk at the Church of the Messiah, corner of Simpson and Sherbrooke Sts in Montreal. (Architects: The Maxwell Bros. Built 1907, destroyed by fire 1937) [PUP297]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell, 716 Pine Avenue West, (now 1548 avenue des Pins, ouest) Montreal, Canada. [PUP302]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell, 716 Pine Avenue West, (now 1548 avenue des Pins, ouest) Montreal, Canada. [PUP306]
    • 1912-09-02 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell, 716 Pine Avenue West, (now 1548 avenue des Pins, ouest) Montreal, Canada. [PUP308]
    • 1912-09-05 —
      Talk at St. James Methodist Church, 463 Saint Catherine Street, West, Montreal, Canada. [PUP312]
      • See the film Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada.
    • 1912-09-09 — `Abdu'l-Bahá was taken to the Grand Trunk Railway station where departed Montreal on His way to Buffalo arrived in Buffalo by train from Montreal. [239D:139; AB265]
    • 1912-09-12 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá left Buffalo for Chicago, passing by Niagara Falls and arriving at about 8PM at the LaSalle Station where He was received by the awaiting friends. Among them was Saichiro Fujita. [239D:142; MD257-259]
      • He went to the home of Corinne True by automobile. [239D:142; AB266]
    • 1912-09-13 — The True home was inundated with visitors and among them, a group of black believers. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk in the evening. The three large rooms on the ground floor were filled to capacity and He walked from room to room as He spoke. [MD260-262]
    • 1912-09-14 —
      In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá walked along the shores of Lake Michigan. In the afternoon He spoke to the Theosophical Society to a rousing response.
      • For pictures of outing in Lincoln Park see the photos between pages 278 and 279 of Mahmúd's Diary.
    • 1912-09-15 —
      In the morning`Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to Dr. William Frederick Nutt, a friend of Kheiralla. (Nutt later broke the Covenant) Observers say that both Dr. Nutt and the interpreter were left trembling after He made his remarks.
      • Shu'á'lláh, son of Mírzá Muhammad-'Ali was in America at the same time. The previous May he had written to the Kenosha Evening News decouncing 'Abdu'l-Bahá and proposing a meeting between himself and 'Abdu'l-Bahá to settle their differences. In July Kheiralla had written to the same newspaper in support of Shu'á'lláh. [MD264n277]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá, his party of six plus Fujita departed to Kenosha but they missed their train. He told His fellow travellers not to be concerned over this, as there would be a good reason for it; travelling on the next train they come across the wreckage of the first, which has been in a collision. [239D:145; AB267]
      • Upon arrival they were taken to the hall of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár where they were served lunch. After lunch they went to the home of Mrs Henry Goodale.
      • In the evening He spoke at the Congregational Church on the unity of the Manifestations. [MD226] Now called First Congregational Church of Kenosha, 5934 8th Avenue. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in America 1912- 2012]
    • 1912-09-16 —
      In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá departed for Chicago
      • He gave a talk at Home of Mrs. Corinne True, 5338 Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [PUP320]
      • In the evening He told His party to pack and move to the hotel. [MD268]
    • 1912-09-17 —
      Mírzá 'Alí-Akbar Nakhjavání arrived from Malden and was allowed to join the group along with Fujita. [MD270]
      • `Abdu'l-Bahá and entourage left Chicago for Minneapolis at 10AM. The date of His departure was probably the 16th [239D:146; AB273] however, Muhmúd gives it as the 17th. [MD268]
      • They arrived late in the evening and stayed at the Plaza Hotel. [MD271]
    • 1912-09-20 —
      Talk at Home of Mr. Albert L. Hall, 2030 Queen Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. [PUP325]
      • Talk at Home of Dr. and Mrs. Clement Woolson, 870 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. [PUP329]
        • For more information on Clement Woolson see his Find a grave eulogy.
      • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Minneapolis for Omaha, Nebraska, arriving the same night. [239D:20]
      • AB279 says this was 21 September.
    • 1912-09-21 — `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Omaha, left at midnight and arrived three hours later in Lincoln, Nebraska. [239D:151]

      News reached Àbdu'l-Bahá of the impending conflict in the Balkan Peninsula. [Àbdu'l-Bahá in America

    • 1912-09-22 — While passing through Lincoln, Nebraska 'Abdu'l-Bahá's intention was to return the visit of William and Mary Bryan who had met Him in Akka in 1906. Upon telephoning they learned that Mr Bryan was not at home but Mrs Bryan invited Him to their home for tea. (Mr Bryan was on a campaign tour for the future president, Woodrow Wilson. Bryan later become his Secretary of State.) [MD281; 239D152; ABW74; SoG221] iiiii
    • 1912-09-23 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Denver in the afternoon. [239D:152; SoG221-222; MD282-283]
    • 1912-09-24 — Talk at Home of Mrs. Roberts Denver, Colorado. [PUP334]
    • 1912-09-25 — Talk at Second Divine Science Church, 3929 West Thirty-eighth Avenue, Denver, Colorado . [PUP337]
    • 1912-09-26 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Denver and arrived in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. [239D:158]
    • 1912-09-27 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Glenwood Springs for Salt Lake City. [239D:159]
    • 1912-09-28 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Salt Lake City. [239D:159]
    • 1912-09-30 —
      Thornton Chase, the first American Bahá'í, Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá, passed away in California before 'Abdu'l-Bahá'í and His retinue arrive. He was buried at Inglewood. He had been named Thábit (Steadfast) by the Master. [BBD71; BFA2:XVII]
      • See SoW Vol 3 No 12 16 October, 1912 p1-7 for a tribute to him upon his passing.
      • For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
      • See as well Bahá'í Encyclopedia.
      • See "Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá" . [BW3p84–85; BW4p118–119]
      • See the article Chase, Thornton: The First Bahá'í from the Western Hemisphere by Richard Francis.
      • For a biography see Thornton Chase: First American Bahá'í by Robert H Stockman, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, 2002.
      • During the early years of the Faith in North America the Bahá'ís were unclear about the station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. There were those who thought Him an ordinary man who had applied the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh flawlessly through His effort. Others believed Him to be the return of Christ. See ABF244-246 for his letter to Wellesly Tudor-Pole on the station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
      • And a draft of a portion of the Stockman book, Love's Odyssey: The Life of Thornton Chase.
      • Upon hearing of his passing 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said, "This revered personage was the first Bahá'í in America. He served the Cause faithfully and his services will ever be remembered throughout ages and cycles." [SoW Vol 4 No 11 p.189]
      • Photos of the grave of Thornton Chase in Inglewood Park Cemetery.
      • Directions to his grave. Find a grave.
      • His publications:
        • A number of pamphlets, See Bibliography of English-Language Works on the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths, 1844–1985 by William Collins, George Ronald, Oxford, 1990 page 66-67.
        • In Galilee and In Spirit and In Truth, first published in 1908. This was a record of his pilgrimage. [Collins7.634]
        • The Bahai Revelation, first published in 1909. This book was an introduction to the Faith intended for a Christian audience. [BEL7.629]
      • See the trailer for a film entitled Steadfast-The Thornton Chase Story by Mithaq Kazimi and produced by Sam Baldoni.
      • See the Thornton Chase Website created by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Inglewood, California and The Thornton Chase Committee to honour the legacy of Thornton Chase.
    • 1912-10-01 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in San Francisco about midnight. [239D:165; AB286]
    • 1912-10-03 — After the visitation of many friends in the morning, in the afternoon, at the invitation of Mrs Goodall, the Master and friends went to the Golden Gate Park outside of the city where again He met with visitors and answered questions of reporters.. [MD303-304; SoW Vol 4 No 12 October 16, 1913 p206-207]
    • 1912-10-07 — Talk to Japanese Young Men's Christian Association, Japanese Independent Church, 576 Sycamore Street, Oakland, California. [PUP343]

      He said in part:

      When we review history from the beginning of human existence to the present age in which we live, it is evident all war and conflict, bloodshed and battle, every form of sedition has been due to some form of prejudice--whether religious, racial or national--to partisan bias and selfish prejudice of some sort. Even today we witness an upheaval in the Balkans, a war of religious prejudice. Some years ago when I was living in Rumelia, war broke out among the religious peoples. There was no attitude of justice or equity whatever amongst them. They pillaged the properties of each other, burning each others' homes and houses, slaughtering men, women and children, imagining that such warfare and bloodshed was the means of drawing near to God. This clearly proved that prejudice is a destroyer of the foundations of the world of humanity, whereas religion was meant to be the cause of fellowship and agreement. The Promulgation of Universal Peace p343
    • 1912-10-08 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto. [239D:166 AB288, PUP348; ]
      • There were two thousand in the audience. [AB288]
      • "He spoke to fifteen hundred students". .. [LGHC176]
    • 1912-10-10 — Talk at Open Forum, San Francisco, California [PUP355]
    • 1912-10-12 — Talk at the synagogue Temple Emmanu-El, 450 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California. [PUP361, ABF408]
    • 1912-10-13 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Phoebe Hearst at her estate, at her invitation. [239D:168; AB307; MD326-331]
      • She was estranged from the Faith because one or two individuals had tried to extort money from her but her invitation was sincere. [MD326; AB307–8]
    • 1912-10-16 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to San Francisco. Mrs Hearst asked Him if she could accompany Him. [AB308; 239 Days; MD330]
      • "Alas, even the benefits of this heavenly visit were tarnished by the actions of one member of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage...there was one spoiler, the nephew of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wife, Dr Ameen Fareed....Fareed would never have been allowed on Phoebe's property had he not been accompanying the Master because she had had difficulties with him and his father years before. Fareed took advantage of the Master's visit to the Hacienda to forge a letter, purportedly from 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself, asking her for funds. Phoebe was all too familiar with people trying to get her money and did not take the bait. It further confirmed that her wariness in associating with many in the Bahá'í community was justified." [LWS261]
    • 1912-10-17 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá discovered His signet ring was missing and for the rest of His trip He signed, rather than seal, every Tablet He wrote or dictated. [Historical Dictionary of the Bahá'í Faith pg. xxxvii, AY101-102]
    • 1912-10-18 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Los Angeles, arriving the same day. [239D:169; AB309]

      Having heard that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was in Los Angeles, Mabel Rice-Wray took children Edris and Colston to the hotel where the Master was staying. They spent over an hour with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His room. Both Edris and Colston sat on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's knee and were given cookies. Some years later, in response to a letter from their mother, 'Abdu'l-Bahá bestowed the name Rawshan ("brilliance") on Edris, and Ruqi on Colston, and revealed in their honour the well-known prayer for children that begins: "O my Lord! O my Lord! I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy ... " [Find a grave Edris Rawshan Wray]

    • 1912-10-19 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the grave of Thornton Chase in Inglewood. [239D:169; AB309; MD337-339]
      • The purpose of His journey to Los Angeles is to visit the grave of Thornton Chase. [AB309]
      • Upon visiting his grave 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said "This personage is worthy of having the friends visit his grave. The traces of this personage will ever shine. This is a personage who will not be forgotten. For the present his worth is not known but in the future it will be inestimably dear. His sun will ever be shining, his stars will forever bestow the light. The people will honor this grave. Therefore, the friends of God must visit this grave and on my behalf bring flowers and seek the sublimity of the spiritual station for him and have the utmost consideration for the members of his family. This personage will not be forgotten." [SoW Vol 3 No 13 4 November, 1912 p14]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said:
        "As many times as possible-at least once a year-you should make it a point to visit his tomb, for his spirit will be exhilarated through the loyalty of the friends, and in the world of God will it be happy. The friends of God must be kind to one another, whether it be in life or after death." [SoW Vol 4 No 13 p225]
    • 1912-10-20 —
      Shu'áu'lláh, who had been living in Pasadena at the time, had persuaded a newspaper editor to write two misleading articles in which he tried to show that because of his biological relationship he was bound to inherit the station of the Prophets. At a public meeting a reporter pressed 'Abdu'l-Bahá about him and His reply was to quote Christ when asked about His relationship with His brothers. [MD339-340, 490n325]
      • In the evening He gave an address on unity to a large crowd assembled in an auditorium. [MD341]
    • 1912-10-21 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Los Angeles for San Francisco. [AB310]
    • 1912-10-25 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Sacramento and arrived at noon the same day. In addition to members of His entourage, Mirza Mahmud, Dr Ameen Allah Fareed and Ahmad Sohrab Mirza Ali Akbar and Fugita, He was accompanied by some of the friends and among them were Mrs Goodall, her mother Mrs 'Cooper, and Mrs Ralston. Upon His arrival at the Central Pacific Arcade Station He was met by Christine Fraser, who operated a `Home of Truth' in Sacramento. The Homes of Truth were based on the teachings of New Thought developed by Emma Curtis Hopkins. Christine Fraser and Carrie York, another associated with the Home of Truth, took Him to their facility for lunch. [239D:171; SBBH6 Community Histories p245-246]

      At 5PM He arrived at His hotel, the Hotel Sacramento and gave a talk. The following day an article appeared in the Sacramento Bee reporting on the talk. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26; PUP370; MD348-351]

    • 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]
    • 1912-10-28 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Denver at midnight. [239D:175; AB316]
    • 1912-10-29 — During a 24-hour stopover in Denver, Àbdu'l-Bahá met Cardinal John Murphy Farley who had come from New York to dedicate the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on behalf of the Pope. [239 Days website; MD356-357]

      See a provisional translation of a talk Àbdu'l-Bahá gave in Port Said on the 23rd of Jun 1913 on His meeting with the Cardinal.

      In the afternoon He gave a public talk at the home of Mrs Sidney Roberts and in the evening He spoke at the Church of the Messiah. [MD357; 239Days175]

    • 1912-10-30 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Denver for Chicago. [239D:175]
    • 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]
    • 1912-11-01 — Talk at Home of Mrs. Corinne True, 5338 Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [PUP383]
    • 1912-11-04 — `Abdu'l-Bahá left Chicago and arrived in Cincinnati the same day. [239D:179]
    • 1912-11-05 —
      Talk at Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. [PUP388]
      • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Cincinnati for Washington DC. [239D:179]
    • 1912-11-06 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Washington DC. [239D:179]
      • Talk at Universalist Church, Thirteenth and L Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP390]
        In this talk He made reference to the situation in the Balkans:
        "How savage and fearful the ferocity of man against his fellowman! Consider what is taking place now in the Balkans, what blood is being shed. Even the wild beasts and ferocious animals do not commit such acts. The most ferocious wolf kills but one sheep a day, and even that for his food. But now in the Balkans one man destroys ten fellow beings. The commanders of armies glory in having killed ten thousand men, not for food, nay, rather, for military control, territorial greed, fame and possession of the dust of the earth. They kill for national aggrandizement, notwithstanding this terrestrial globe is but a dark world of grossest matter. It is a world of sorrow and grief, a world of disappointment and unhappiness, a world of death.
    • 1912-11-07 —
      Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP397]
      In this talk He made reference to the changing world order:
      "Consider events in the Balkans today where a great conflagration of war is furiously raging and so much blood is being shed. Virtually the whole world of humanity is mourning and lamenting because of the revival of these calamitous conditions. Governments are in the process of change and transformation. The sovereignty of oriental nations is tottering; outcomes are wrapped in the greatest uncertainty."
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP400]
    • 1912-11-08 —
      Talk at Eighth Street Temple, Synagogue, Washington, D. C. [PUP411]
      • See PG100 where 'Abdu'l-Bahá referred to this talk to illustrate the extraordinary reception He was given during is travels to the West.
    • 1912-11-09 —
      Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP411]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP415]
      • Talk at Bahá'í Banquet, Rauscher's Hall, Washington, D. C. [PUP418]
    • 1912-11-10 —
      Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP421]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hannen, 1252 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke of Bahá'u'lláh's faithful Ethiopian servant, Isfandiyar, and his service to the family of Bahá'u'lláh's family while He was in prison in the Síyáh-Chál. [PUP425, 239D181-182]
      • Talk at 1901 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP428]
    • 1912-11-11 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Baltimore by train and arrived at Camden Station at 11AM. He was accompanied by Dr. Ameen Fareed and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab (interpreters), Mirza Mahmud, Mirza 'Ali Akah, Mirza Valiollah Khan, Dr. Zia Bagdadi, and Saya Assadollah [239D:183; AB329]
      • At noon He spoke at the chapel of the Unitarian Church on the unity of religions and the oneness of God. The chapel was packed with Johns Hopkins University faculty members and many local professional men.
      • After the address he shared lunch at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Struven with more than 50 people.
      • He left Baltimore about 3PM and on his return to New York He passed through Philadelphia, where He met the Bahá'ís on the train platform. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Baltimore by Allison Vaccaro and Edward E. Bartlett]
    • 1912-11-12 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in New York at 1:00 a.m. He and His party stayed at the "Champney House" located on Riverside Drive near the Hudson River at 309 West 78th Street. [AB329]
      • Shoghi Effendi later urged the National Spiritual Assembly acquiring this property as a national executive centre. [MM2p24-25]
    • 1912-11-15 — Talk at Home of Miss Juliet Thompson, 48 West Tenth Street, New York. [PUP431; PtF147]
    • 1912-11-16 — Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP437]
    • 1912-11-17 — Talk at Genealogical Hall, 252 West Fifty-eighth Street, New York. [PUP437]
    • 1912-11-18 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the library of J. Pierpont Morgan and inscribed his album with a blessing for his philanthropy. [239D:186–7]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Moxey, 575 Riverside Drive, New York. [PUP422]
    • 1912-11-23 —
      A farewell banquet was held for `Abdu'l-Bahá at the Great Northern Hotel, 118 West Fifty-seventh Street, in New York. [239D:187; AB331, PUP447]
      • The hotel did not allow the black Bahá'ís to attend. [239D:187]
    • 1912-11-24 — `Abdu'l-Bahá and the white Bahá'ís served the Black Bahá'ís at a dinner at the Kinney's. [239D:187]
    • 1912-11-26 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá had no time to meet with visitors individually in the morning as He was attending to correspondence.
      • In the afternoon at a meeting with some of the friends He spoke about the Covenant and the need for divine Manifestations.
      • In the evening He spoke about man's ability to understand reality using his intelligence. [MD410-411]
    • 1912-11-29 — Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP449]
    • 1912-12-02 —
      Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP452]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [PUP453]
      • Star of the West reported that 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke of India on this date although there is no mention of such a talk in Mahmúd's Diary. [SoW Vol 5 No 2 April 9, 1914 p20-21]
    • 1912-12-03 —
      Talk at Home of Dr. and Mrs. Florian Krug, 830 Park Avenue, New York. [PUP457; MD420-422]
      • Talk to Mr. Kinney's Bible Class, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP458]
      • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP460]
    • 1912-12-04 — `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed His last meeting in North America with a talk to Theosophical Society, 2228 Broadway, New York. [239D:193, PUP462]
    • 1912-12-05 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá sailed on the S. S. Celtic of the White Star Line from New York to Liverpool. [239D:193–4; AB337; GPB281]
      • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's final words to the Bahá'ís, spoken while on board ship. Again He made reference to the war in the Balkans. See PUP468.
      • During his time in North America 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave over 400 talks to approximately 93,000 people. He spoke in 31 moderate and progressive churches, 14 theosophical and other metaphysical gatherings, 5 universities, 3 synagogues, 1 African-American church, the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference, Hall House, and the 4th annual NAACP Conference. [Àbdu'l-Bahá's Journey Across America 18min12sec]
        "Consider what is happening in the Balkans. Human blood is being shed, properties are destroyed, possessions pillaged, cities and villages devastated. A world enkindling fire is astir in the Balkans. God has created men to love each other; but instead, they kill each other with cruelty and bloodshed. God has created them that they may cooperate and mingle in accord; but instead, they ravage, plunder and destroy in the carnage of battle. God has created them to be the cause of mutual felicity and peace; but instead, discord, lamentation and anguish rise from the hearts of the innocent and afflicted."
      • For Ahmad Sohrab's account of the sea crossing see SW3, 16:2.
      • 'Àbdu’l-Bahá had a cabin on the upper deck of the Celtic where He had access to the larger stateroom where He often spoke. His retinue that consisted of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Áqá Siyyid Asadu’lláh (Qumí) and Mahmúd Zarqání were accommodated in second class but had access to the Master apart from when He was eating or sleeping. [ABE9-13]
    • 1912-12-05 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá's second visit to Europe.
      • It was His second visit to Great Britain. It lasted 24 days.
    • 1912-12-13 — `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Liverpool aboard the S. S. Celtic at about 9PM. He was met by dozens of Bahá'ís from Liverpool, Manchester and Leads as well as Hippolyte Drefus-Barney who had come from Paris. [AB343; SBR38, ABTM273-4]
    • 1912-12-14 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá stayed in Liverpool at the Adelphi Hotel (now known as the Britannia Adelphi hotel). His first talk was to the Theosophical Society. [ABTM274, SoW Vol III No17 9Jan1913 p3; A Supplement to Àbdu'l-Bahá in Europe, 1912-1913 p11; ABE25-27]
      • The Star of the West published an account of His crossing and the news of His arrival in Liverpool.
    • 1912-12-15 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Pembroke Chapel and was introduced by Rev Donald Fraser. [ABTM275, SoW Vol III No 17 9Jan1913 p4]
    • 1912-12-16 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá and his entourage departed Liverpool for London by train from the Lime Street Station. When they arrive at Euston Station they are met by a group of about 50 Bahá'ís. He is taken by motorcar to the home of Lady Blomfield at 97 Cadogan Gardens which she again offered to Him during His stay in London. After resting He gave a talk to newspaper reporters and later gave a talk to the gathering of Bahá'ís. [AB343, ABTM276]
    • 1912-12-17 —
      A Bahá'í arrived from Ireland to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá, possibly Joan Waring, after travelling all day and all night. Miss Waring was possibly the first native believer in Ireland. She contributed to the Wilmette Temple Fund in 1913 and on the 26th of October 1914 she married Thomas Fforde. On the 29th of June 1919 they wrote to Àbdu'l-Bahá expressing gratitude that He had survived the War. [Bahá'í Council website; Early Irish Baha'is: Issues of Religious, Cultural, and National Identity by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram]
      • He made comments on the character of the American people.
      • In the afternoon He spoke to a large gathering at Caxton Hall in Westminster. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p3-4, ABTM276-277]
    • 1912-12-18 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk at which E. G. Browne was present. He visited `Abdu'l-Bahá several more times while in London. [SoW Vol III no19 2Mar1913 p4, AB346, ABTM277-278]
      • Hájí Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardakání (Hájí Amín) arrived in London from Paris with three young Persian. He spoke neither English nor French and had had some difficulty in getting from Paris to London. He crossed the English Channel and then found himself back in Paris. His second attempt was successful. [SoW Vol III no19 2Mar1913 p4, AB346–7, ABTM278]
    • 1912-12-19 — Hájí Amín, the Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, presented 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a gift from a poor workman in 'Ishqábád. He had nothing monetary to offer so he gave Hájí Amín his mid-day meal, two small loaves of bread and an apple wrapped in a handkerchief. 'Abdu'l-Bahá took the offering tenderly, ate a small piece of the stale bread and gave the rest to be passed around to the rest of the table. [SoW Vol III No 19 2Mar1913 p5, ABTM278]
    • 1912-12-20 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá interviewed E. S. (Ethel Stefana) Stevens (later Lady Drower) who had come from Southhampton to meet Him. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p6]
      • Three years prior she had spent 3 or 4 months (possibly 6 months) in 'Akka and Haifa gathering material for a book. During her stay she had the opportunity to observe both 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Bahá'í community at close quarters. The book, called Mountain of God, was published in 1911. World Order excerpted this book in a two-part serial in 1970. [Collins7.2476}
      • She also wrote an article for the magazine Fortnightly Review. Excerpts from the article, impressions of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. can be found at the US Bahá'í site.
      • In the evening He was driven to Westminster for a meeting at the Palace Hotel, His first public talk since returning to London. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p6; SoW Vol III no 17 19Jan1913 p510]
    • 1912-12-21 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá witnessed His first dramatic performance. It was a mystery Christmas play entitled Eager Heart written by Miss Alice Buckton and performed at the Church House, Westminster before an audience of 1,200. [SoW Vol III no 19 2March1913 p 7, CH154, AB34]
      • He is reported to have said, perhaps on another occasion, "The stage will be the pulpit of the future". [Quoted by Loulie Mathews in The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom, Vol 4, No. 3 (June 1923, p69]
      • Star of the West, Vol. 19 no. 11 Feb1929, p.341 quotes 'Abdu'l-Bahá as saying: "drama is of the utmost importance. It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again,". [BW1994-1995p255]
      • For a short biography of the life of Alice Buckton see The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p97-103.
    • 1912-12-22 — On another occasion He gave an outline for a play to his hostess for the evening, Mrs Gabrielle Enthoven, which He called Drama of the Kingdom. It was expanded into a play and put to print by Lady Blomfield's daughter, Mary Basil Hall, approved by the Reviewing Committees for the National Assemblies of both the British Isles and the United States and Canada. It was published in 1933. In 1994 a production based on this outline was premiered in Perth, Australia entitled The Face of Glory: A Musical Rendezvous with the Soul. [CH155-156, Bahá'ís and the Arts: Language of the Heart by Ann Boyles, also published in 1994-95 edition of The Bahá'í World, pp. 243-272]
    • 1912-12-24 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá received many expensive Christmas gifts; He turned them all away by returning them and asking the donors to sell them and give the money to the poor.
      • That evening He visited the Salvation Army Shelter in Westminster. That night there were 1,000 men present. After His talk He departed but not before leaving twenty gold sovereigns and many handfuls of silver with Col Spencer for a similar dinner to be held on New Year's Eve. [ABTM282-283]
    • 1912-12-25 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá paid a visit to Lord Lamington (Cochrane-Baillie) who was deeply touched by the message of peace and goodwill. [PG141]
    • 1912-12-26 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about prayer, evil, and the progress of the soul in a talk at 97 Cadogan Gardens. [PT176-179]
    • 1912-12-29 —
      In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá received a visit from the Maharajah or Jhalawar. [ABTM283]
      • In the afternoon He spoke at the home of Miss Annie Gamble. [SoW Vol. 9 No 2 9Apr1918 p 24]
      • In the evening He gave a talk at the King's Weigh House Methodist Church hosted by Rev E W Lewis. [SoW Vol. 4 No 17 19Jan1914 p284-285]
      • For a transcript see 'Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks.
    • 1912-12-30 — The 19 Day Feast was held at the home of Mrs Robinson. [AB352]
    • 1912-12-31 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Oxford at the invitation of Dr Thomas Kelly Cheyne to address a meeting at Manchester College. [BW4p384-385, AB352–354, ABIM284, Journey West 20130210; Ahmad Sohrab's Diary - The Great Tour p99; The Dawn Vol 1 No 2 October 1923 p2]
      • In 1886, Cheyne was appointed Oriel Professor of Interpretation of Scripture at Oxford University, and, as an ordained Anglican priest (1864), was installed as Canon of Rochester Cathedral (Church of England) that same year. An advocate of "higher criticism" as applied to biblical scholarship, Professor Cheyne was the first at Oxford University to teach students how to apply the methods and tools of higher criticism to the Hebrew Scriptures. See An Oxford Scholar on the Spirit of Truth by Christopher Buck.
      • For biographical information see a paper by Crawford Howell Toy entitled Thomas Kelly Cheyne.
      • See Hurqalya Publications for a translation by Stephen Lambden of a Tablet to Dr Cheyne as well as the address to Manchester College.
      • After the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the elderly and infirmed professor, who was unable to walk and had difficulty speaking, went on to write the book, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions. See BWXp483 for an excerpt regarding Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
      • His second wife was the poetess Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne (1869-1931) whom he married (aged 69) on August 28th [19th] 1911 about four years after the death of his first wife. Elizabeth Gibson was the sister of the `War Poet' Wilfred Wilson Gibson. A paper by Judy Greenway, a grand niece of Elizabeth Gibson entitled "From the Wilderness to the Beloved City: Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne", pays tribute to the woman whom 'Abdul'-Bahá lauded during His visit. This paper was given at the invitation of the Oxford Bahá'í Community in December 2012, as part of the celebration of the centenary of Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Oxford.
      • See an article by Christopher Buck on Cheyne's interpretation of Isaiah's prophecies
    • 1913-01-04 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about The Four Kinds of Love in an address at 97 Cadogan Gardens. [PT179181]
    • 1913-01-05 —
      The Master spoke at the home of Miss Herrick's to some 150 people. He gave a very "spiritual" lecture about the negligence of the people about God and their submerging in the sea of materialism.
      • Elizabeth Herrick lived in London with Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper and authored Unity Triumphant:The Call of the Kingdom. London: The Unity Press, 1925. She owned and operated a hat shop under the name Madame Corelli at 137a High Street in Kensington. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913]
    • 1913-01-06 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá and His party, Síyyíd Asadu'lláh-i-Qumí, His attendant, Ahmad Sohrab, His interpreter and Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, His secretary, departed by train and arrive in Edinburgh's Waverly Station in the late afternoon. This marked the start of His only visit to Scotland,. It lasted 4 days. [SCU68]
      • Also with 'Abdul-Bahá during His time in Edinburgh were Lady Blomfield and Alice Buckton and a young Persian student, Lutful'lláh Hakím.
      • On the train He told the story of Miss Wardlaw-Ramsay of the Church Missionary Society who was a missionary in 'Acca for some 40 years. She was antagonistic to the Cause but the Master showed her all manner of kindness because she was very faithful to her Christ. When she left Akka and returned to Scotland He gave a party for her. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913 p5; SBBE1p76]
      • Upon arrival He was taken to the home of Mrs Jane Elizabeth Whyte (neé Barbour) (1857-1944) at 7 Charlotte Square. She had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá before. She and her friend, Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper, had been invited to visit her sister who was on an extended stay in Egypt during the winter of 1905-6. In March they made a visit to 'Akká. By 1912 she had become a member of the "Council" established to promote the Faith in Britain. The Whytes, along with the Theosophical Society, had been instrumental in arranging Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Edinburgh. ['Abdu'l-Baha in Edinburgh: The Diary of Ahmad Sohrab by Ahmad Sohrab]
      • Mrs Whyte's account of her meeting in 1906 is in her book Seven Candles of Unity, pp 47-49. and in her book entitled Seven Candles of Unity: the Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Edinburgh (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1991). [Scottish Women: A Documentary History, 1780-1914 by Esther Breitenbach and Linda Fleming p.213]
      • Her husband, Mr Alexander Whyte (1837-1921) was a Scottish divine; a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, he became colleague and successor of Dr R S Candlish at Free St Georges (now St George's West, 58 Shandwick Place), and then principal and professor of New Testament literature at New College, Edinburgh. [AB355, 363–8; SBR26]
      • Miss Isobel Fraser served as the advance publicity agent for the visit.
    • 1913-01-07 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a crowd of several hundred Theosophists. The Theosophical Society (founded 1875) promoted brotherhood, the importance of Eastern philosophies and the search for spiritual and psychic truths. Edinburgh had one of the most active centres in Europe.
      • In the late morning they had a tour of Outlook Tower, 549 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2ND. Outlook Tower was an educational institution which taught astronomy, natural geography, cartology etc. The tour guide was Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) who was a Scottish biologist and botanist, known also as an innovative thinker in the fields of urban planning and education; as a town-planner in Palestine he had involvement in the cypress avenue leading up to the Shrine of the Báb, and he also planned a Bahá'í House of Worship in India. [AB447, Leroy Ioas, p218, SCU68, 73-82]
      • In the evening 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to the Esperanto Society at Freemason's Hall, 96 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DH. There were 1,000 people in the hall and some 300 outside. This was His first public address in Scotland. [ABTM294, Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913]
    • 1913-01-08 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá was given a tour of the Edinburgh College of Arts conducted by the President. (74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF) This was followed by a tour of a school in the poorer district, North Canongate School.
      • In the afternoon He spoke to a capacity attendance at Rainy Hall, New College, the Mound, Edinburgh EH1 2LX.
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá attended a charity performance of Handel's Messiah at St Giles Cathedral. (Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RE) St. Giles was also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh. It was Edinburgh's religious focal point for at least 900 years.

        And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5) [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913, ABTM297, SCU85-100]

    • 1913-01-09 —
      After a morning of receiving visitors 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a woman's group that included those of a wide spectrum of conviction on the role of women from suffragists to suffragettes to those opposed of giving women the vote.
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the painter, John Duncan, (1866 Dundee-1945) a foremost Celtic revivalist painter, on the Management Board of the College of Arts, who was guided along by Patrick Geddes. He married Christine Allen in 1912 and immediately moved to 29 Bernard's Crescent as his home and studio, where this visit took place. Both were members of the Theosophical Society. Christine Duncan née Allen (c1886-) was a spiritualist with connections to Wellesley Tudor Pole and Alice Buckton.
      • He was driven north of the city to see the Forth Railway Bridge, Edinburgh EH30 9TB. This engineering marvel, stretching 2.5 km from South to North Queensferry opened on the 4th of March 1890 and has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. [UNESCO]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at the Theosophical Society meeting at 28 Great King Street, Edinburgh EH3 6QN. "Several hundred" attended. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913 p.14, SCU101-107]
    • 1913-01-10 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to London departing from Waverly Station at 11 AM and arriving at Euston Station at 7 PM. He returned to the home of Lady Blomfield at 97 Cadogan Gardens. She devotedly placed her whole apartment at His disposal, whilst she herself (certainly in 1913) stayed a few moments away with Lady Elcho in 62 Cadogan Square (now likely 58). [AB368, SCU109-113, Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913, David Merrick p8]
      • It was the start of His third visit to England and last visit to England and lasted 11 days.
    • 1913-01-11 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá was most anxious that follow-up be done in Scotland. In and interview with Miss Buckton and Miss Schepel He encouraged them to go as soon as possible. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913, David Merrick p17]
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Caxton Hall in Westminster and after entertained a small crowd of people at His residence where He recounted stories of Bahá'ulláh's suffering. [AB368, ABTM299]
    • 1913-01-12 — He attended a dinner party at the home of Sir Richard and Lady Shapely, St. Martin's Lane, London. Dinner was followed by a talk. [PT173-176; AB369, ABTM299]
    • 1913-01-13 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Cadogan Gardens on the darkness of superstitions and imitations. [AB369, ABTM299]
    • 1913-01-14 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in the East End of London at a Congregational Church. [CH168, AB369, ABTM299]
    • 1913-01-15 — `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Bristol and stayed at the Clifton Guest House which belonged to Mr and Mrs Tudor-Pole. He was accompanied by the Persian ambassador, Dúst-Muhammad Khán. In the evening He addressed a meeting in the Guest House with 120 people in attendence. [AB369; Some Sacred Spaces in the United Kingdom Slides 2-21]
    • 1913-01-16 — `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to London and spoke at 97 Cadogan Gardens. He spoke about the diversity of those entering the Faith and the recommended way to conduct a meeting. [AB370, ABTM302-303]
    • 1913-01-17 — At some time during this short stay in London 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at a meeting of the Women's Freedom League. His remarks can be found in BNE121 (1980 edition).
    • 1913-01-18 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá received guests from the Muslim Community of Britain and was asked to speak at the Shah Jehan Mosque at Woking, one of the two mosques in England at the time and the first built in England and perhaps Western Europe. He spoke on the subject of the Unity of Religions and translation was done by Mírzá Ahmad Sohrab. [CH152, AB370, BW3p278-279, BW4p377]
      • Note ABTM303 reports that this event took place on the 17th of January.
      • Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner (1840–1899) was the builder of the Oriental Institute, founded to train Asians living in Europe for the learned professions, to the study of linguistics and culture, and for the teaching of languages to Europeans who wished to travel to the East. To cater for the spiritual needs of students of all major faiths and to provide for any who lived within reach, Dr. Leitner intended to build a synagogue, a church, a temple and a mosque. Only the Shah Jehan Mosque was completed. (Oct-Nov 1889). The Institute relied too heavily upon Dr. Leitner's personal enthusiasm and wealth and it did not survive his early death in March of 1899. The Mosque was closed and practically empty between 1899 and 1912. Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din, a prominent Kashmiri lawyer and founder of the Woking Muslim Mission, worked to repair and re-open the Mosque in 1913. It was the first formal place of Islamic worship in England and became a centre of Islam in the UK. [Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner]
      • For a photo of the gathering see BW3p280 or BWNS818.
    • 1913-01-19 —
      'Abdu'l-Bahá was the guest of Rev Dr R J Campbell for luncheon. A number of divines had also been invited. [AB371]
      • Subsequently Rev Campbell made a tour of America and 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a request that the Bahá'í community show him every courtesy. [SoW Vol 2 No 18 February 7, 1912 p10]
    • 1913-01-20 —
      Dr Felix Mosscheles held a reception for 'Abdu'l-Bahá in his home that was attended by a number of notable people.
      • 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the guest of a Rajput prince who gave a dinner party for Him.
      • In the evening He spoke at the Higher Thought Centre, His last engagement in London. [AB371]
    • 1913-01-21 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá left London for Paris. [AB371]
      • The visit to Paris lasts several weeks. [AB372; SBR220]
    • 1913-02-06 — During the morning tea 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to members of His entourage about the Crusades and the Muslim conquest of Spain and the establishment there of a Muslim civilization with many universities. [ABF341-345]

      `Abdu'l-Bahá gave His customary noontime talk on the subject of the religion of the future. In the afternoon He visited Versailles with Hoppolyte Dreyfus. [AB376]

      He met with Professor Inayat Khan (1882-1927) in His apartment at 30 rue Saint-Didier and later attended his musical recital of Sufi poetry accompanied by the vines (guitar) and the tabla. [AP2p117-119]

      Inayat Khan Rehmat Khan was an Indian professor of musicology, singer, exponent of the saraswati vina, poet, philosopher, and pioneer of the transmission of Sufism to the West. [Wikipedia; The Reconciliation of Races and Religions by Thomas Kelly Cheyne]
      A transcript of His address can be found in A Supplement to 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Europe, 1912-1913 V2.2.1 #60
    • 1913-02-13 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá delivered an address to the Paris Theosophical Society at the Theosophical Headquarters, 59 Avenue de la Bourdonnois. ['Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy compiled by Elizabeth Fraser Chamberlain p165] .
    • 1913-02-17 —
      For the text of an interview, originally published in 'Abdul Baha on Divine Philosophy, with Pasteur Monnier during which 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on the relationship between the Bahá'í Faith and Christianity, see Bahá'í Studies Review, vol. 3:1 (1993), with notes by Khazeh Fananapazir.
      • Pasteur Henri Monnier (b. 1871) was the "Professor á la Faculté libre de théologie protestante de Paris", Vice-president of the Protestant Federation of France and Pastor of the Etoile Church [from International Who's Who, 1st ed.]
    • 1913-02-21 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed "The Spiritual Alliance" at 14 rue de Trevise in Paris. ['Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy compiled by Elizabeth Fraser Chamberlain p175
    • 1913-03-30 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled from Paris to Stuttgart. [AB379]
      • He told His attendants to wear European dress and to discard their oriental headgear. [AB379]
        One of His attendants was Siyyid Ahmad Khamsí, a son of one of the Báqir-Uf (Báqiroff) brothers. [In Memoriam Spiritual father of Peru: Mentor and Counselor Mas'úd Khamsí]
      • He did not tell the Bahá'ís of Stuttgart of His arrival in advance. [AB379]
      • The party arrived on the 1st of April and took rooms in Hotel Marquardt, near the train station. Then He asked His attendant to telephone the Bahá'ís to announce His arrival and invite them to the hotel. [AB379-380]
    • 1913-04-01 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá departed for Stuttgart from Gar de l'Est accompanied by Siyyid Ahmad-i-Báqiroff, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Siyyid Asadu'llah-i-Qumi, and Mahmúd Zarqání. It was His first trip to Germany and it lasted for 7 days. [ABF537-538]
    • 1913-04-03 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a large audience in the City Museum. The talk was translated into English by Ahmad Sohrab and then rendered into German by Herr Eckstein. [AB380-382]
    • 1913-04-04 — See a photo of 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a group of friends in Stuttgart. ['Abdu'l-Bahá Champion of Universal Peace by Hoda Mahmoudi and Janet Khan]
    • 1913-04-07 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Bad Mergentheim by automobile to visit the hotel and mineral bath owned by Consul Schwarz (later named Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá by Shoghi Effendi). [AB383]
      • Later, in 1916 the local Bahá'í community commemorated the visit with the dedication of a monument, a life-sized likeness of the head of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on a granite stone about two metres in height. The Nazis removed it in 1937 but it was replaced in 2007. [BWNS524]
    • 1913-04-08 —
      `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to Stuttgart, then left in the evening for Budapest, changing trains in Vienna the next morning. To this date no travel teacher had visited Budapest and there were no resident believers. [ABM316]
      • The trip was made at the invitation of, among others, Mr and Mrs Lipót Stark. the Secretary General of the Theosophical Society, who had given a lecture entitled "The Bahá'í Movement" on the 25th of February, 1912 and the text of the lecture had been published in the Esperanto periodical Teozofia (Theosophical). [SBBR14p110]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá was accompanied by Wilhelm Herrigel to serve to translate into German. [AB384]
    • For further information on His time in Budapest see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by György Lederer in Bahá'ís in the West SBBR Vol 14 pp109-126
    • See as well The Utterance Project 9-18 April 1913
  • 1913-04-09 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Budapest and He was met by a delegation at Keleti pu Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station). Another welcoming party had been waiting for Him at the Western station where a train had arrived from Vienna. He was escorted to the Ritz Hotel (now called the Hotel Forum) on the Pest side where He was further welcomed by a delegation of citizens. To compensate for the fact that many had missed His arrival at the train station, He held a press conference in the hotel lobby. [AB384, SBBR14p110]
    • For details of His visit see AB384–8 and MRHK362–70 and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by Alice Schwartz-Salivo.
    • See Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest on the Hungarian Community website. There you will find information on the places visited by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest.
    • See 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by Gyorgy Lederer in SBBH14p102, 109-126.
    • See 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest found in SoW Vol 24 Issue3 June 1933 p85.

      "…it was His hope that Budapest might become a centre for the reunion of the East and the West, and that from this city the light might emanate to other places." ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest p1; BWNS303; MRHK363]

  • 1913-04-10 —
    While walking `Abdu'l-Bahá crossed the Chain Bridge and attracted a crowd of curious onlookers who had seen His picture in the newspaper. [MRHK363]
    • He received visitors at His hotel. Among them are Dr Agnes Goosen, the Rector of the University of Budapest, Dr Alexander Giesswein, a member of Parliament and Sirdar Omrah Singh of Punjab. Professor Julius Germanus, a young Orientalist from the Eastern Academy, brings a group of Turkish language students. [MRHK364]
    • He visited the homes of several families.
    • In the evening He spoke to 50 people at the Theosophical Meeting, praising the organization and its goals. Dr Germanus interpretes the talk into German.
  • 1913-04-11 —
    Julius Germanus from the Eastern Academy called upon 'Abdu'l-Bahá at His hotel accompanied by his Turkish students. [SBBR14p112]
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited Hungarian Orientalist Professor Ignáz Goldziher in his home. He was the first person of the Jewish Faith to occupy a professional chair in the University of Budapest. and he had previously written about the Bahá'í Faith. Some time later Professor Goldziher received a carpet and a tablet as a gift from 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [SBBR14p116, AB386]
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá delivered a lecture in the old Parliament organized by the Peace Society and the Esperanto Association to an audience estimated to be 500, 800 or 1,000 depending on the source. He was flanked by Catholic prelate Dr Alexander Giesswein and Dr. Goldziher, a Jewish Orientalist. The significance of seeing an eminent Jewish scholar and a Catholic clergyman on the same stage on either side of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was not lost on the audience and they broke into applause. [SBBR14p116-117. MRHK362]
    • After the lecture a dinner was given in His honour at the Hotel Pannonia. [MRHK366]
  • 1913-04-12 —
    'Abu'l-Bahá received many visitors at His hotel including the president of the Túránian Society, Jewish-born Arminius Vambéry. He was an orientalist and one of the most colourful figures of the nineteenth century. He had some prior knowledge of the Bahá'í Faith. (Ali Kuli Khan had met him as he was travelling near Karbila disguised as a dervish, probably in 1896. [SUR73-74]) Some time later he wrote a much-publicized tribute to the Bahá'í Faith. [AB8, 386–7, SBBR14p114]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Arminius Vambéry. [SBBR14p115]
    • He was invited to speak at the former House of Magnates in the National Museum Building by the founder of the Hungarian Turanian Society, Alajos Paikert. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest p4]
  • 1913-04-13 —
    `Abdu'l-Bahá was sick and the weather was bitterly cold. He went to the studio of Professor Robert A. Nadler of the Royal Academy of Art to sit for a portrait. He gave him a total of three sittings during His visit to Budapest. [AB387, MRHK368-9]
    • "The portrait is remarkable not only because of its art, but also because of its later miraculous fate. Reportedly, after heavy bombing in 1945, only that part of the building in which the painting was hung remained unharmed." [Renée Szanto-Felbermann Two Portraits p3, Rebirth: Memoirs of Renée Szanto-Felbermann p159]
    • The painting was purchased and taken to the Bahá'í World Centre in 1972. [SBBR14p118]
    • See SBBR14p108 for a picture of the portrait.
    • In the afternoon He visited the home of Sirdar Omrah Singh. [AB387]
  • In spite of a raging blizzard a good many attended His address at the hotel in the evening. [AB387]
• 1913-04-14 —
  'Abdu'l-Bahá's plan had been to leave but His departure was delayed due to a request from the president of the Túránian Society, Count Pal Teleki, who later became the Hungarian Prime Minister two times.
  • In the afternoon 'Abu'l-Bahá visited Arminius Vambéry at his home again and some time later sent him a tablet and a carpet by the post. It was reported in "Star of the West" (February 1929) that this tablet was in possession of Arminius's son, Rusztem Vámbéry. [SBBR14p115, 125, AB387, SoW9Vol9p24]
    • See BW5p329 for the testament written by Professor Vámbéry and published in the Egyptian Gazette September 24th, 1913.
    • See SUR73 for the story of Arminius Vámbéry, while travelling with a caravan and disguised as a dervish, encountered another caravan loaded with coffins bound for burial in the vicinity of the Shrines in Karbilá'.
    • See The Dervish of Windsor Castle: The Life of Arminius Vambery by Lory Alder and Richard Dalby.
  • At a meeting of the Túránian Society in the grand hall of the National Museum 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a lecture entitled "Peace Between Nations and Religions" to some 200 people. The talk was translated into Hungarian by Leopold Stark and into English by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. [SBBR14p113; ABM318; Talk by Abdu'l-Baha Given in Budapest to the Turanian Society on 14 April 1913 (Provisional)]
  • 'Alí Abbás Áqá, a Tabrízí carpet merchant, hosted a dinner party in His honour. Among those attending was the Turkish Consul. [AB387, MRHK367, SBBR14p113]
• 1913-04-15 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá's planned departure was delayed a second time due to a severe cold. He was attended by Mr and Mrs Stark as well as Sirda Omrah Singh. He continued to meet visitors in His hotel during this period. [MRHK369]
• 1913-04-18 —
  `Abdu'l-Bahá left Budapest and travelled to Vienna by rail, reaching the city in the evening and taking residence in the Grand Hotel.

  Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said: "the freedom of Europeans, that an individual is free to do whatsoever he desires as long as he does not harm any other person," and says "In the religion of God, there is no freedom of action. Man cannot transgress the law of God, even if no harm is done to others. For the purpose of the law of God is education, for others and for oneself. In the sight of God, to harm oneself is the same as to harm someone else, and both are blameworthy." [Message 9 May 2014]

  • It is estimated that some 30 people accepted the Faith during His visit. [AB388, SBBR14p120]
  • In 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p80 it is reported that a bust of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was made during His time in Vienna. Two copies were received in Port Said via Stuttgart on the 18th of July, 1913, one intended for Ahmad Sohrab and the other for Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání.
  • Also see Martha Root: Herald of the Kingdom by Kay Zinky pp361-374 for "Àbdu-l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest".
• 1913-04-24 —
  `Abdu'l-Bahá left Vienna and returned to Stuttgart, where He arrived in the early hours of the next morning. [AB389]
  • This marked the end of HIs visit to Austria where He had spent 6 days.
• 1913-05-01 —
  `Abdu'l-Bahá left Stuttgart and returned to Paris. [AB391]
  • The start of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's fourth and last visit to France. It lasted 1 month and 12 days.
• 1913-06-09 — Paul and Mirra Richard paid one last visit to 'Abdu'l-Bahá at His hotel arriving at 9:30PM. There were 19 documented encounters/visits of this couple with 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His stays in Paris, many of them alone with Him in the latter part of His day ending at midnight. On a number of occasions He asked her to speak, other times He would send her to a meeting as the speaker and on at least one occasion she spoke on His behalf when he was too ill to attend. This was remarkable considering that neither Mirra nor her husband considered themselves as Bahá'ís. [ABFsee index]

  A short biography: Blance Rachel Mirra Alfassa (b. 21 February 1878, d. 17 November 1973 Pondicherrry, India). She was the daughter of Sephardic Jews from Turkey and Egypt. She studied art at the Academy des Beaux Arts in Paris. In 1897 she married the French painter Henry François Morisott and they had a son (b.1898). They divorced in 1908 and she married the French lawyer Paul Antoine Richard. Around 1905 she became involved with the occult movement, first in France and from 1906-10907 in Algeria. In 1914 she and Paul left for India and met the Indian mystic Sri Aurobindo at Pondicherry. They returned to France briefly 1915-1916 and from 1916 to 1920 she and Paul were in Japan. In 1920 they returned to Pondicherry and from then until the end of her life she was associated with Sri Aurobindo's ashram. After his passing in 1950 she became the head and was know as "the Mother". [ABF339n815]

  Three of her books are: Words of Long Ago by The Mother (Mirra Richard), Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publications 1994, The Mother-Collected Works Vol 2-Words of Long Ago and The Mother (Questions and Answers 1950-51.

  Paul Richard's biographical book was called Without Passport: The Life and Work of Paul Richard covers the period from his birth to 1919. He was a lawyer in the Paris Court of Appeals and it is likely that he learned of the Faith from Hippolyte Dreyfus.

• 1913-06-12 —
  `Abdu'l-Bahá left Paris for Marseilles, arriving the same evening. [AB395]

  In total 'Abdu'-Bahá spent about 171 days in Paris.

  3 October to 2 December 1911 - 60 days

  21 January to 30 March 1913 - 69 days

  1 May to 12 June 1913 - 42 days

  Total 171 days

  • See David Merrick's map for the places visited by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris.
  • See PG117-118 for 'Abdu'l-Bahá continuing concern for Paris in 1919.
• 1913-06-13 —
  `Abdu'l-Bahá left Marseilles on the S. S. Himalaya for Port Said. Sailing with Him were: Mirza Ali-/akbar Nakhjavani, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, SIyyid Asadu'llah-i-Qumi and Mahmud Zarqani. [AB395; ABF667-669]
  • He sent a telegram to Haifa instructing the many pilgrims awaiting His return to come to Port Said. Because of the great numbers who came, there wasn't sufficient hotel accommodations and a large tent was erected on the roof in which to hold meetings. [SoW Vol 4 No 7 p121]
• 1913-07-10 — `Abdu'l-Bahá went to Ismá`ílíyyah, where the weather is less humid. He took up short-term residence at the Hotel Vaseteef. [AB399–400; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p51]
• 1913-07-17 — `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Ramleh. It was hoped that the drier climate would be more salubrious than the humidity of Port Said and Ismá`ílíyyah for He was still not well. He and his attendants stayed at the Victoria Hotel initially. The remainder of His party that had remained in Port Said joined Him on the 24th of July and His daughter Touba Khanum with her son Rouhi arrived from Haifa.
  At this time Ramleh was a modern Egyptian town with all the conveniences of western civilization. It was a summer resort for the most important European officials in the service of the Egyptian government and also for the native Pashas. [AB400; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p80]

  Note: Memories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Ali M Yazdi says that He returned to Ramleh on the 3rd of July.

• 1913-07-23 — Lua Getsinger arrived at Port Said and was given permission to join 'Abdu'l-Bahá the following day. [LGHC188; AB400]
• 1913-08-01 —
  With his final year of high school over, Shoghi Effendi hastened from Beirut to Ramleh to join the Master. He, the Greatest Holy Leaf and the eldest daughter of `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Egypt. [PG9 AB401]
  • During this period Tammaddun'ul-Mulk (who had been in London during `Abdu'l-Bahá first visit) attempted to divide the Bahá'ís of Tehran and Dr Amínu'llah Farid's increasingly erratic behaviour brought Him much suffering and sorrow. [AB402]
• 1913-12-02 — `Abdu'l-Bahá boarded a Lloyd Triestino boat (then called Lloyd Austriaco) bound for Haifa with stops at Port Said and Jaffa. [AB402]

  "Having raised the warning and urged the world to work for peace, 'Abdu'l-Bahá returned on 5 December 1913 to Haifa, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Aware of the coming war, He took steps to protect the Bahá'í community under His stewardship and to avert a famine in the region. One of His first decisions upon returning to the Holy Land was to send home all the Bahá'ís who were visiting from abroad." [BWNS1297]

• 1914-00-03 — The publication of Kitáb-i Badáyi'u'l-Áthár written by Mírza Mahmúd-i Zarqání, by Elegant Photo-Litho Press in Bombay. The English translation, Mahmúd's Diary, was published in 1998 by George Ronald Publisher. [APD151]

  "Mírzá Mahmúd was a careful and faithful chronicler and engaged in assembling and publishing his work with the permission of the beloved Master . . ." (The Universal House of Justice - a letter dated April 30, 1984 addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States).

• 1924-00-00 —
  The passing of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání (b. c1875).
  • He was 'Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary on his western trip and is the author of Mahmúd's Diary. In his youth he travelled and taught around Iran and from 1903 he began travelling to and in India, learning Urdu. He also made a pilgrimage to Haifa where he transcribed Tablets and from there accompanied 'Abdu'l-Bahá on His journey to Europe and to America. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary Edinburgh p.5]
  • He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.
• 1924-00-00 — The publication of Abdul Baha's First Days in America from the Diary of Juliet Thompson by Juliet Thompson. Note that portions of these extracts differ from The Diary of Juliet Thompson published in 1983 by Kalimat Press.
• 1960-08-20 — The presentation of the doctoral dissertation of Allan Luctus Ward entitled An Historical Study of the North American Speaking Tour of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and a Rhetorical Analysis of His Addresses
• 1983-00-00 — The Diary of Juliet Thompson with a foreword by Marzieh Gail was published by Kalimat Press. The diary was of one of the earliest Bahá'ís of New York, covering her many hours with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 1909, 1911, and 1912. It was a vivid personal account of spiritual love and the tests of her faith. [Collins7.2553]
• 1993-04-01 —
  The Bahá'í community of Hungary celebrated the 80th anniversary of the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a conference. In a park near the National Museum in Budapest a plaque was erected to commemorate the talk that 'Abdu'l-Baha gave at that site on the 14th of April, 1913. Some 350 Bahá'ís from 30 countries attended.
  • A tree was planted by Rúhíyyih Kh´num. [www.bahai.hu, SCSC369, 372]
  • At this time there were more than 200 believers in Hungary.
• 1998-01-31 — The Spiritual Assembly of Budapest set up a marble plaque in the garden of the National Museum at the site where Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhiyyih Khánum planted a tree during her visit in 1993 to commemorate 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit in 1913. The ceremony opened the National Spritual Assembly's campaign marking the eighty-fifth anniversary of the Bahá'í Faith in Hungary. [BW1997-98 p 103-104]
• 2011-08-27 — The Bahá'ís of Geneva commemorated the 100th anniversary of the start of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys to the West. [BWNS854]
• 2013-04-12 — The commemoration of the centenary of the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to North America. [BWNS918]
• 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.