- 1912-08-30 —
'Abdu'l-Bahá left Malden for Boston. He left Boston at 9AM by train for Montreal, arriving at midnight and was met by Sutherland Maxwell. He took only two of His attendants with Him, Mírzá Ahmad Sohrab and Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, HIs chronicler. [239D:132; AB132; BW8:637; MD230-231]
- In spite of the lateness of the hour a group of friends and a newspaper publisher, Mr John Lewis of the Montreal Daily Star were waiting to see the Master at the Maxwell home. The following the headline read, “APOSTLE OF PEACE HERE, PREDICTS AN APPALLING WAR IN THE OLD WORLD”. That newspaper and The Gazette provided extensive coverage of the visit. It is noteworthy that the newspaper coverage in the Montreal papers were noticeably free of journalistic quirks and extravagances. [AB256-257; MD226-227; Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I from
Bahá'í World News Service
2018-11-26]
- He stayed in Montreal for ten days, living for four nights at the Maxwell residence. [239D:132]
- See also the film `Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada by Fred Rohani.
- 1912-08-31 —
His first act in the morning was to heal the sick child of a neighbouring family, the Birks. The nine year old had been an invalid all her life. Caressingly He laid His hands on her head and shoulders and then told the family that she must go out every day, in the middle of the day, on the ground, and that in time she would be entirely healed. Nine months later, she was perfectly healthy and strong. On leaving their home He went directly to their store and bought a number of watches and rings which He used as gifts on the rest of His trip. [ABC53; MD227-230]
- In the morning the pastor of the Unitarian Church came with several others to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá. The Master discussed the elimination of religious superstitions and prejudices which are contrary to science and commons sense and which are obstacles to the attainment of the foundation of truth of the divine religions. [MD227]
- He granted an interview with a newspaper reporter. His questions were about His life and the history of the cause. [MD228]
- In the afternoon, at the invitation of Mr. Maxwell, 'Abdu'l-Bahá went for a ride in the carriage. His comment, when He saw the college buildings was:
"As only material education is imparted and only natural philosophy is taught, these universities do not produce highly talented scholars. When both the natural and divine philosophies are expounded, they will bring forth outstanding souls and evince great advancement. The reason for the success of the Greek schools was that they combined both natural and diving philosophies". [MD228]
- They visited the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame. He gazed at the vast cathedral, its ornamentation and numerous statues and spoke of its grandeur and embellishments. Standing in an open sped at the entrance, He said:
"Behold what eleven disciples of Christ have accomplished, how they sacrificed themselves! I exhort you to walk in their footsteps. When a person is detached, he is capable of revolutionizing the whole world. The disciples of Christ met together in consultation on top of a mountain. They pledged themselves to undergo all manner of hardships, to accept every affliction as a bounty and to consider all difficulties easy to overcome. 'He who is tied to a family, let him arrange to leave it; he who is not should remain single. He should forgo his comfort and his life'. Consulting thus, they descended from the mountain and each on went a different way and never returned. It is for this reason that they were able to leave behind such achievements. After Christ, the disciples truly forgot themselves, and not merely in word." [MD228-229]
- In the evening there was a well-attended meeting at 'Abdu'l-Bahá's residence and following the talk many requested private interviews. Among those was the president of the socialist organization who invited the Master to speak to his group. [MD230]
- Among those who came was the Reverend F.J. Griffin, the minister of the Church of the Messiah, Unitarian, who was to introduce Him to his congregation on the following morning. 'Abdu'l-Bahá presented him with an armful of American Beauty roses. [ABC57]
- The list of those attending this first reception included: Martha McBean, a cousin of Sutherland Maxwell, someone who shared with him the distinction of being one of the two first declared believers of Canadian birth, Mrs V S Pomeroy with her daughters, Mary and Elise and Elizabeth Cowles, Miss Anne Savage (librarian), Mrs George S Thompson, Percy Woodcock, Prof Armstrong (McGill University), Dr Carmichael, Dr Johnson, Mr Wright, Mr John Lewis (editor of the Montreal Daily Star) and Mr Archie Eddington and his wife. [Excerpts from the account of Amine De Mille from ABC55-57]
- Attending as well were the two children of the Maxwell household Mary Maxwell and Eddie Elliot, the mother of a servant. He would later become a member of the Montreal Local Assembly and was the only member of his race to become a Bahá'í in Montreal in his lifetime. [Excerpts from the account of Amine De Mille from ABC55-57]
- 1912-09-01 —
'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk at the Unitarian Church, the Church of the Messiah, located on the corner of Simpson and Sherbrooke Sts in Montreal. (Architects: The Maxwell Bros. Built 1907, destroyed by fire 1937) [PUP297; ABC17-22; MD230-237]
- Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell. [PUP302; ABC17-22]
- Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell. [PUP306ABC23-25] It was during this address that His taj fell from His head and His hair tumbled down. He continued to speak in this state for more than half an hour. [MD236-237; MD297-308]
- 1912-09-02 —
On this day He and HIs companions moved into the Windsor Hotel where He rented three rooms. At the hotel He was able to accomodate much larger numbers of seekers. [HD237-240]
- Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland Maxwell. [PUP308; ABC26-30]
- 1912-09-03 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed Socialists and Labour leaders of the day in Coronation Hall, 204 St. Lawrence Street. [ABC31-36, 48; HD240-242]
- 1912-09-04 — Accounts of the friendly reception He received from the local press regarding His talk to the Socialist's Club were read to Him through translation.
The Master took an elevator ride down from the seventh floor and went for a ride in an automobile to the foot of Mount Royal where they took the cable car where they could see the city spread out below them.
Upon returning to the Maxwell home He read letters from the East.
At a meeting in the evening at Mrs Maxwell's home, `Abdu'l-Bahá gave an address on spiritual brotherhood and the economic principles upheld by the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh which will be the cause of the salvation, prosperity and liberation of the nations of the world. Among the guests were Americans, as well as Turks and Arabs clothed in their splendid robes.
[HD242-244] - 1912-09-05 —
He was visited by the Bishop of Montreal visited Him and expressed his pleasure at the meetings being held and gratitude for "the address concerning the purpose of the Manifestation of Christ and the other holy Manifestations." 'Abdu'l-Bahá invited him to the talk in the Methodist Church later that day. [239D136; MD244-246]
- Talk at St. James Methodist Church, 463 Sainte Catherine Street, West,
to a gathering of 1200. In the talk He indicated that Canada shared much the same destiny as the United States. [PUP312; ABC37-43, 48; AB264-265]
Praise be to God! I find these two great American nations highly capable and advanced in all that appertains to progress and civilization. These governments are fair and equitable. The motives and purposes of these people are lofty and inspiring. Therefore, it is my hope that these revered nations may become prominent factors in the establishment of international peace and the oneness of the world of humanity; that they may lay the foundations of equality and spiritual brotherhood among mankind; that they may manifest the highest virtues of the human world, revere the divine lights of the Prophets of God and establish the reality of unity so necessary today in the affairs of nations.
- See the film Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada by Fred Rohani, produced by Faramarz Rohani and narrated by Laylee Delaine.
- 1912-09-06 — 'Abdu'l-Bahá had caught a cold the previous evening and so His departure was delayed for a few days. During this time He only went to the Maxwell home and many came to visit Him at the hotel. [MD246-248]
- 1912-09-07 —
A group of people came to visit Him at His hotel. He explained that just as in the physical world, in the realm of religion there is a time of heavenly and spiritual springtime.
- In the afternoon the Master spoke about the oneness of the fundamental truths of the religions of God. [MD248-249]
- 1912-09-08 —
On His last full day in Montreal with the friends 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "I have sown the seed. Now water it. You must educate the souls in divine morals, make them spiritual, and lead them to the oneness of humanity and to universal peace." [239D137; HD249-250]
- See 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada: A compilation from written accounts by Marlene Macke.
- 1912-09-09 —
The hotel bill for $700 was paid and the party was taken to the railroad station. The chief officer at the Customs and his assistants passed the baggage through indicating that the baggage of the Bahá'ís did not have to be inspected.
- A grand party of well-wishers were on hand to bid Him farewell. The train departed for Buffalo at 9AM. [HD250-252] iiiii
- 1962-09-00 — To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Canada, the National Spiritual Assembly published 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada. It included his addresses in Montreal, letters addressed to Canada, and newspaper reports of his Canadian sojourn. Appropriately, the front cover featured a photo of the door of the Maxwell residence. [Collins 3.1 p9; CBN No 160 April 1963 p4]
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