April 29, 1912 Excerpt from Mahmud’s Diary In the morning the Master again praised the beauty and fertility of the countryside; a more fertile land had never before been seen. He had breakfast in the dining car. Today He spoke mostly about the days of the Blessed Beauty and had Him constantly in mind. The train reached Chicago at night. The city was so bright...

April 28, 1912 Excerpt from Mahmud’s Diary The Master prepared to leave for Chicago. Among those who came to see Him was the ambassador of Great Britain, who was very humble and reverent while in His presence. Many friends, believers and seekers were with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá until His departure at 5:30 p.m. As He was leaving He said to Mrs Parsons: This was the...

April 27, 1912 Excerpt from Mahmud’s Diary Mrs Parsons offered the Master a sum of money but He said that she should distribute it among the poor. No matter how much she supplicated, He would not accept it, saying, ‘If we had not had the money necessary for the expenses of the voyage, we would have accepted your offer.’ The Treasurer of the United States...

Excerpt from Agnes Parsons’ Diary On Friday morning I dressed early hoping to get over to the All Souls Unitarian Church to hear ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speak to the Woman’s Alliance, but it was quite over when I reached there and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was on His way home. I found Dr. Fareed and Mirza Sohrab at the church — they said the address had been much...

April 25, 1912 Excerpt from Mahmud’s Diary There was a special meeting for the Theosophists in the morning. The Master spoke on the distinction and superiority of human beings to the rest of creation, the various faculties of the soul, the unity of God, the need for spiritual progress and divine civilization. There were many guests and after the Master’s talk...