View of Edinburgh today

He drove in the morning to Castle Hill to visit the Outlook Tower museum. Professor Sir Patrick Geddes, a man renouned for his pioneering work in the field of education and social reform, the founder and president of the Outlook Tower Society, was there to receive ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and show Him round that very interesting museum of history, sociology, and geography. Later in the day ‘Abdu’l-Bahá drove down the Royal Mile and past Holyrood Palace, the ancient home of Scottish kings, and along the equally famous King Drive. (Now Queen’s Drive).

Piper on the Royal Mile, Ediburgh

In the evening He addresses the Esperanto Society at the Freemason’s Hall in George Street. Their impressive programme, with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s photograph, announced the gathering as a ‘Meeting of Edinburgh Citizens to Greet Abdul Baba (Abbas Effendi)’. The hall was packed. Many were standing and some three hundred had, perforce, to
stay outside…

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s address was chiefly concerned with an auxiliary international language. Sir Patrick Geddes spoke afterwards to propose a vote of thanks.

H.M Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Centre of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh by pp. 363–364

He had been invited by Mrs Jane Elizabeth Whyte, ‘one of the noblest and kindliest women that I have ever met,’ wrote Ahmad Sohrab. A friend of Mrs Thornburgh‐Cropper, Mrs Whyte had traveled with her on a visit to the Master in ‘Akká in 1906. Mrs Whyte’s husband, Alexander, was a leading figure in the United Free Church of Scotland and a former Moderator of its General Assembly. Their expansive manse at 7 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh’s New Town district was a fine Georgian house, attached to St George’s United Free Church…

Charlotte Square today

On the train journey to the Scottish capital, the Master told His company that the work of teaching the Bahá’í Faith was only just beginning in the city and that they should associate with the people with exemplary devotion. ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá stayed at the Whytes’ home with Ahmad Sohrab while the rest of His entourage stayed in a hotel. The Whytes had prepared for the Master a room on the third floor with its own fireplace, which gave it ‘an air of comfort and a glow of peace’.

The manse in Charlotte Square quickly took on the appearance of Lady Blomfield’s home at 97 Cadogan Gardens. Eminent citizens, Esperantists, Theosophists, suffragettes, churchmen as well as students from the East packed into its elegant, high ceilinged drawing room to pay their respects to one about whom they had heard much.

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, p. 149–50

Abdu’l‐Baha addressed the friends gathered at 97 Cadogan Gardens

‘Civilization is like unto a moving hill of sands, Today it is here, tomorrow it’s many thousand miles away. It is subject to constant transference . . . Who knows what course of nobler and higher civilization is not made ready for the East – the cradle of spiritual civilization, the foundation of the moral life of man, the mainspring of divine effulgences and the horizon from which the Day‐Star of hope is arising with resplendent beauty? When the material civilization joins hands with divine civilization, then the world will have reached the goal of a new order of things. There there will be no poverty, no squalor, no crime, no shame. There will be no night and no winter. Eternal day and perennial spring will gladden all hearts.’

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, pp. 142–143

——

2 January 1912

‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the Cedar club. In the evening He addressed The Women’s Freedom League at Essex Hall

Charlotte Despard, the prominent suffragette, welcomed ‘Abdu’l‐Bah. to the Cedar Club House, maintained by the Women’s Service League which provided food to needy mothers and assisted their young children with nutrition. The Master and His entourage entered a large assembly room, still draped with the green and red decorations of the Christmas season. At two long tables, some 60 women and more than a hundred children sat, enjoying an afternoon tea. ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá was invited to speak from a podium but as was His wont, He walked straight to the impoverished women and spoke as He mingled with them, pacing up and down the aisle between the two tables, His face beaming.

‘I am very glad’, He said, ‘to be among you, who are blessed in God’s name with children. They are the true signs of His spiritual love. The most divine gifts of God.

These little ones will grow to be fruitful trees. We must look to them for the founders of many beautiful families. Let their education be directed in the ways of purity and useful service. Here are the seeds of the future race and upon them may be granted God’s blessing.’

That night the Master was invited to speak at Essex Hall to the Women’s Freedom League, of which Mrs Despard was the President … More than a thousand suffragettes were present. After Mrs Despard’s stirring introduction, the Master began to speak on the subject of the equality of men and women, His remarks, often witty, eliciting laughter and a shower of approval. After every few sentences the crowd burst into applause…

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, p.p 145–146

——

3 January 1912

 The artist Felix Moschelles came and painted ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s portrait in oil

I believe the Master has bought from Paris several hundred overcoats for the poor of Acca and Haifa to protect them from the cold of the winter, and these overcoats are now on their way for distribution. Is not this wonderful that while Our Beloved is here day and night He is thinking of the poor of the Orient.

The interviews continued till noon while people were gathering in the drawing room. The number of people are being constantly increased and the parlor is filled to its capacity, many persons standing or sitting on the floor.

The talk of the Beloved today was on the general education which is bestowed upon humanity by the Holy divine Manifestations, how in every age they are the real educators of the human world, how they raise an ignorant nation to the high summit of Knowledge, Therefore, in this age the Universal Instructor of Mankind is Baha-ollah. He confers life to humanity. He grants the heavenly gifts. He is the divine Messenger…

…We had our dinner at 6.30 pm and at 7.30 Mrs Cropper came with her auto to take the Master to Mrs Dunlop, White Lodge, Sunnyside, Wimbledon by Mr Hammond, the author of the Splendor of God. There were many Theosophists present and the Master spoke from their own standpoint; the evolution of the single atom through the various Kingdoms of being; in every stage going into the making of a certain composition and in every form appearing with a distinctive virtue. Then He
spoke about the eternal dominion of God which is not accidental or temporal but everlasting. Therefore His holy Divine Manifestations have appeared always and His grace is never-suspended.
They were all pleased and Mr Hammond thanked the Master for His gracious acceptance of invitation.

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

——

4 January 1912

What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers.

Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love. When the heart of man is aglow with the flame of love, he is ready to sacrifice all – even his life. In the Gospel it is said God is love. There are four kinds of love. The first is the love that flows from God to man; it consists of the inexhaustible graces, the Divine effulgence and heavenly illumination. Through this love the world of being receives life. Through this love man is endowed with physical existence, until, through the breath of the Holy Spirit – this same love – he receives eternal life and becomes the image of the Living God. This love is the origin of all the love in the world of creation.

The second is the love that flows from man to God. This is faith, attraction to the Divine, enkindlement, progress, entrance into the Kingdom of God, receiving the Bounties of God, illumination with the lights of the Kingdom. This love is the origin of all philanthropy; this love causes the hearts of men to reflect the rays of the Sun of Reality.

The third is the love of God towards the Self or Identity of God. This is the transfiguration of His Beauty, the reflection of Himself in the mirror of His Creation. This is the reality of love, the Ancient Love, the Eternal Love. Through one ray of this Love all other love exists.

The fourth is the love of man for man. The love which exists between the hearts of believers is prompted by the ideal of the unity of spirits. This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love reflected in the heart. Each sees in the other the Beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in love. This love will make all men the waves of one sea, this love will make them all the stars of one heaven and the fruits of one tree. This love will bring the realization of true accord, the foundation of real unity.

But the love which sometimes exists between friends is not (true) love, because it is subject to transmutation; this is merely fascination. As the breeze blows, the slender trees yield. If the wind is in the East the tree leans to the West, and if the wind turns to the West the tree leans to the East. This kind of love is originated by the accidental conditions of life. This is not love, it is merely acquaintanceship; it is subject to change.

Today you will see two souls apparently in close friendship; tomorrow all this may be changed. Yesterday they were ready to die for one another, today they shun one another’s society! This is not love; it is the yielding of the hearts to the accidents of life. When that which has caused this ‘love’ to exist passes, the love passes also; this is not in reality love…

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks pp. 192–95

——

5 January 1912

This morning when I entered in the Presence of Our Lord I found Him indisposed. Last night He said, He could not sleep He had fever, the climate not agreeing with Him. I was very sorry but He came out and at about 9 o’clock the interviews started. Every evening at midnight or after midnight, Our Beloved gets up and for at least two hours He prays and communes with the Infinite and when He gets up in the morning, He again prays for more than one hour. Does not this teach us a lesson in prayer with God, Our Maker who sustains us, provides for us and protects us?..

…At twelve o’clock the Master entered the Drawing room and delivered a farewell address, expressing His hope that the seeds which He has sown in the ground of the hearts may develop and grow and bring forth many harvests.

Today He did not go out, because it was rainy, foggy and very damp. The afternoon was devoted to many more interviews. The wife of an Englishman who has been serving in the Turkish Government for 40 years came to see the Master. This Englishman was working with another Englishman who was given the title of “Rastam Pasha” by the Turkish authorities . It so happened that the Master knew Rastam Pasha when he was the governor of Lebanon. “He was a good man” Our Beloved said. “He was more loyal to the Turkish government than most of the Ministers. If Turkey had five Ministers like Rastam Pasha, she would not have met so many difficulties”. Then the Master told
us several intimate stories about this man which in turn surprised and delighted our guest. The story of Rastam Pasha’s hunting with the Emperor of Russia and how he saved the latter was very dramatic. Another story was about his loyalty in keeping fast during the month of Ramazan, although he was a Christian. Then the story of Sultan Abdul Aziz sending a necklace to Queen Victoria and its subsequent sequal was most interesting.

Later on a celebrated painter came and the Darwinian theory of evolution was discussed, its fallacy proved, the two kinds of evolution “horizontal” and “perpendicular” material & spiritual touched upon. Later Mrs Cropper brought her auto and the Master was whisked to Miss Herrick’s meeting where we found more than 150 people (a group of friends) all anxiously waiting the arrival of the Master. He gave a very spiritual lecture, the subject of which it is hard to say. But it was about the negligence of the people about God and their submerging in the Sea of Materialism.

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

It was a very lovely church. The stairs leading to the wide platform as well as the platform itself were of pure, white marble. The Master stood in the center of the platform looking in the faces of the large audience. His was a heavenly picture, standing there supreme and often walking or fixing his turban and uttering words of love and good will to all the nations and religions. The address made a profound impression upon the hearers. They all listened most attentively. After the address, the Congregation sung the song of “ring out the old, ring in the new” Then the Minister in a few words thanked the Master for His “words of life” and requested Him to close the service by a benediction. The prayer was as regards the Balkan situation.

The other Persians leaving Miss Gamble’s house go to a wrong Catholic Church. They sit through the long, weary sermon for the Master to come out but they were disappointed. After our arrival they came home with their story. It made the Master laugh very much and in connection with this the Beloved told the story of a blind Mohamadan who goes by mistake into a Jewish synagogue.

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

——-

30 December 1912 – A 19 day feast was held at the home of Mrs Robinson

At 8 o’clock there is a unity Feast at the house of Mrs Robinson and Mrs Sigmundo, 166 Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale. Mrs Cropper with the Master comes to take some of us in the auto. When we arrive at the meeting we find many people gathered; especially a deaf man and wife who have lived in Alexandria and knew the Master most well. After talking with them a few minutes He starts speaking on the material and spiritual reciprocity and co-operation and explaining the real meaning of the nineteen day’s Feasts. After the address He shook hand with everyone and we were driven back home. …

… I forgot to write you yesterday that the Minister of the church last night instead of reading from the Gospel as it is their custom, read the Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about Peace and love. He read it with such effect and such power that you could hear a pin drop. In Conservative England this is a very remarkable event, amounting to a miracle…

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

——

31 December 1912 – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited Oxford to address a meeting at Manchester College

The visit to Oxford was one of notable interest. The meeting between ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the dear, revered higher critic, Dr. T. K. Cheyne, was fraught with pathos. It seemed almost too intimate to describe, and our very hearts were touched, as we looked on, and realized something of the sacred emotions of that day. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá embraced the Doctor with loving grace, and praised his courageous steadfastness in his life’s work, always striving against increasing weakness, and lessening bodily health. Through those veiling clouds the light of the mind and spirit shone with a radiant persistence. The beautiful loving care of the devoted wife for her gifted, invalid husband touched the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. With tears in His kind eyes He spoke of them to Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper and myself on our way back to London: “She is an angelic woman, an example to all in her unselfish love. Yes, she is a perfect woman. An angel.” This lady was Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne, the very specially gifted poetess.

Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway pp. 168–169

‘Should Prayer take the form of action?’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá – ‘Yes: In the Bahá’í Cause arts, sciences and all crafts are (counted as) worship. The man who makes a piece of notepaper to the best of his ability, conscientiously, concentrating all his forces on perfecting it, is giving praise to God. Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity. This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, he is giving praise.’

‘What is the purpose of our lives?’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá – ‘‘To acquire virtues….

‘Does the soul progress more through sorrow or through the joy in this world?’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá – ‘‘The mind and spirit of man advance when he is tried by suffering. The more the ground is ploughed the better the seed will grow, the better the harvest will be. Just as the plough furrows the earth deeply, purifying it of weeds and thistles, so suffering and tribulation free man from the petty affairs of this worldly life until he arrives at a state of complete detachment. His attitude in this world will be that of divine happiness. Man is, so to speak, unripe: the heat of the fire of suffering will mature him. Look back to the times past and you will find that the greatest men have suffered most.’

‘Can a departed soul converse with someone still on earth?’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá – ‘A conversation can be held, but not as our conversation. There is no doubt that the forces of the higher worlds interplay with the forces of this plane. The heart of man is open to inspiration; this is spiritual communication. As in a dream one talks with a friend while the mouth is silent, so is it in the conversation of the spirit. A man may converse with the ego within him saying: “May I do this? Would it be
advisable for me to do this work?” Such as this is the conversation with the higher self.’

See further questions and answers from the evening in Paris Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pp. 189–192

‘Abdu’l-Bahá spent Christmas Eve fairly quietly.

Reporters had a long interview with ‘Abdu’l-Bah. on Christmas eve. As usual they wished to know where He had come from and why He was there in London. He told them of His journeys in the United States; of the conferences He had attended, the addresses He had delivered; of His aim and purpose, to disseminate the Teachings of Baha’u’ll.h, to call upon the people to abandon their prejudices, realize their oneness, dwell in peace; for the greatest of all things in this epoch and era was the establishment of world peace, the uniting of religions and nations. He told them He was glad that London was the scene of a conference convened to terminate the war in the Balkans.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Centre of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláhby H.M Balyuzi pp. 348–149

Christmas Eve was a comparatively quiet day at the Blomfield’s apartment. After receiving a few visitors, ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá reflected on the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with the trials of the Virgin Mary and the poverty and hardships of the Holy Family, and concluding with the crucifixion. But today, they worship His name,’ the Master told the small gathering,
. . . they commemorate His birth in thousands of churches, they celebrate His virtues and they spread sumptuous feasts. Kings glory in His name. Emperors are proud to wear the golden crowns of Christendom, royalties in their luxurious palaces sing the hymns of praise and glorification because the Son of Man was born. But the King of Kings was born in a stable, He did not have a place to lay His head, He was shunned,
persecuted, a crown of thorns adorned His heavenly brow. This has ever been the custom of the people, to worship those who are dead, to martyr those who are living. Sitting down to dinner that evening, the Master told His companions that He was not hungry, but that He had agreed to come to the table because Lady Blomfield had insisted. Two despotic monarchs of the East had not been able to command Him and bend His will, He laughed, but the ladies of America and Europe, because they were free, gave Him orders.

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, p. 136

25 December 1912

Throughout Christmas morning guests arrived to wish ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá the season’s greetings….
‘To each who came to Him on that Christmas Day,’ observed Elizabeth Herrick, ‘He gave a spiritual present – compatible with the capacity of each; for ‘Abdu’l Bahá’s method of teaching the people so that they become moved with conviction, is through the heart.’

At noon ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá spoke to those gathered about the marvels of the 20th century, linking the great stirring that occurs in the world with the birth of every Manifestation of God. Later He was taken to Mrs Thornburgh Cropper’s home to meet Lord and Lady Lamington.

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, pp. 136–7

…dinner was served. The table was most beautifully decorated with roses, lilies, nasturtium, other flowers and holly. It was a very artistic spread and the Master expressed His surprise when He entered in the dining room. “Beautiful! Beautiful” He said in English. We had turkey and many other dainties. After the dinner the Master went to His room to rest. At three o’clock Mrs Cropper came in to take the Master to her home where it was arranged for Lord and Lady Lamington who were in Persia last year to meet Our Beloved.

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

Lord Lamington, born Charles Cochrane Baillie, and his wife Mary Houghton Hozier, were close friends of a number of the early Bahá’ís in Britain. Lamington had been a colonial administrator for the Britis government, serving as Governor of Queensland, Australia, from 1896 to 1901 and Bombay, India, from 1903 to 1907. He had a strong interest in the Middle East and spoke frequently on the subject in the House of Lords. He had been entertained by the Master in Alexandria the previous year and on this Christmas Day they talked about many subjects, the Lamingtons listening attentively and referring to ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá as ‘our Beloved Master’.

Abdul-Baha at the “Salvation Army” Shelter
On Christmas night ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the poor of the Salvation Army Shelter, Westminster, where each year a Christmas dinner is provided for those who have no homes and no friends, and but for the shelter would have no lodgings. There were about 1,000 present on this occasion. It was a most impressive scene—the dinner for the homeless and the Master from the East delivering Christ’s message to the poor. As a true test of attention, many of the hungry men forgot to eat and listened intently. With that wonderful tact ‘Abdu’l-Bahá displays on all occasions, his message to the homeless was simple, direct and short. He said: “I feel tonight great joy and happiness to be in this place, because my meetings and callings have ever been mostly with the poor, and I call myself one of them. My lot has ever been with those who have not the goods of this world…

“Consider his Holiness Christ: He appeared in the world as one of the poor. He was born of a lowly family; all the apostles of Christ were of humble birth and His followers were of the very poorest of the community. This is what Christ states in the Gospels. ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.’ …It is easy for the poor, very easy for them to enter into the Kingdom of God… If wealth were a necessity, Christ would have wished it for himself. He lived a simple life, and one of the titles of Baha’o’llah was ‘the poor one.’ In Persian His title was ‘darvish’ and that means one who has not a slave.

“All the prophets of God were poor, His Holiness Moses was a mere shepherd. This will show you that in the estimation of God, poverty is greater than the accumulation of wealth—that the poor are more acceptable than the lazy rich. A rich man who spends his wealth for the poor is praiseworthy. Consider that the poor are not born in a state of solvency: they are not tyrannous. All the tyranny and injustice in this world comes from accumulation. The poor have ever been humble and lowly; their hearts are tender. The rich are not so.

“Sorrow not, grieve not. Be not unhappy because you are not wealthy. You are the brothers of Jesus Christ. Christ was poor; Baha’o’llah was poor. For forty years he was imprisoned in poverty. The great ones of the world have come from a lowly station. Be ever happy; be not sad! Trust in God and if in this world you undergo dire vicissitudes I hope that in the Kingdom of God you will have the utmost happiness!”

At the close of his talk, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá …left twenty golden sovereigns and many handfuls of silver with Colonel Spencer of the Army, so that the poor might enjoy a similar dinner New Year’s night. Colonel Spencer told the men that they were to have this New Year’s dinner in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s honor. The Master was just leaving the hall when this announcement was made. With one accord the men jumped up and waving their knives and forks gave a rousing farewell cheer.

- Isabel Fraser, “Abdul-Baha at the ‘Salvation Army’ Shelter”, Star of the West Vol. III, no. 18

‘Abdu’l-Bahá reflected on the themes of the play ‘Eager Heart’. He is taken for a drive in Richmond Park

The following morning the Master spoke again to friends assembled at Lady Blomfield’s apartment about the performance, which evidently left a marked impression on Him. After praising the actors once more, He reflected on the expectations of people who, when the Promised One appears, are unwilling to offer Him shelter.
‘They prepare palaces for Him, they decorate the streets, they arrange downy couches,’ the Master said, ‘but He, the Son of Man, cometh when no one knoweth. Through the highways and byways He walks, people unconscious of His divine presence, pursuing their own pleasure and yet expecting His arrival as a king and ruler.’
Later that same day an actress arrived to meet ‘Abdu’l‐Bahá.
‘We also have a theatre,’ the Master told her. The visitor immediately became interested and enthusiastic.
‘Where is it?’ she asked. ‘I should love to see it. Can I play in it?’
‘Our theatre,’ the Master answered, ‘is built in a country where there is eternal springtime, the streets of that city are as clean as the surface of a mirror, the lights of that playhouse are the rays of the Sun of Reality, the actors of our drama are the Holy Manifestations of God, the audience is composed of pure and sanctified souls. They play their parts with the most delicate art, they deliver their words with power and potency.
‘The stage of our theatre is the arena upon which is played the sublimest tragedy, the most terrible dramas, the most thrilling and heart throbbing events of life. Come and join our company. You have acted all your life in the material stage, now come and act on this celestial stage. Your fellow actors will assist you, will coach you in your part and step by step you will become a star shining in the galaxy of these heavenly inspired dramatists.’

Robert Weinberg, Lady Blomfield, Her Life and Times, pp. 133–4

At twelve o’clock Mrs Cropper comes with her lovely auto to take the Master for a ride. A young student from Bagdad and myself He takes as attendants. We drive through the London Streets and avenues, most of them decorated in honour of Xmas. Throngs of people coming out of churches are feeling their ways toward the parks. The air is warm and cloudy. Our auto threads its way to Richmond Park. We pass by the Thames. The Park is very large, the trees are bare but here and there green sward is visible. The Master comes down to walk. After a few minutes the sun floods the field with its golden rays… The Master enjoys the weather. He pushes off His fur coat. For one hour He walks, sometimes talking, sometimes silent…

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

23 December 1912

‘Abdu’l-Bahá met all day with many visitors, and walked in Battersea Park. He had an interview with the special correspondent from the Christian Commonwealth and also the editor of the Theosophical Magazine.

Today we started with music, with song the giver of joy and happiness. There was a woman, who while in the Presence of the Beloved asked Him to confirm her in the study of music. “There are two kinds of music,” He says “divine music and earthly music. Divine music exhilarates the spirit while earthly music has an effect over the body. Divine music belongs to the Kingdom of God; earthly music is of this mundane world. I hope that you will be confirmed to study both kinds of music so that you maybe able to sing the anthems of heaven and the songs of this world.”…

…Again Mrs. T. Cropper was present and took the Master in her auto to Battersea Park which is quite near. The meadows were green. Haji Ameen and Mirza Lotfollah Hakim were with us. He walked for about one hour through the Park, passing once or twice by the Thames river. Today we spoke very little, because He was speaking all morning…

…The Master first met several laboring men who had come from far to see Him. One of these men said that although I am not a Bahá’í but I like to tell you what I think of you. You are “the Napoleon of Peace”.
To another one He said: The Cause of God is like a rose-garden. As long as man is far from it, he cannot survey its artistic beauty, he cannot see how many kinds of flowers are planted therein, he cannot inhale the sweet fragrances of the roses. But when he approaches the garden, he experiences new feelings; he hearkens to the melody of the birds, the delicate perfume is wafted toward him by the gentle breeze; he beholds the variegated flowers; his soul is rejoiced by the charming scene and his spirit is refreshed.”

To another one He said: The Cause of God is like a house. As long as man has not entered therein he does not know what it contains. In the house there are many precious jewels, many rare objects the like of which cannot be found anywhere in this world. But the men in the street may pass by the house a 1000 times and know nothing about it. Only the one who has the key can enter. That key is the love of God.”…

It goes on like this all day…

…At dinner the question of Suffragists comes up. The Master tells a story which makes everybody laugh, Lady Bloomfield tells a story which makes everybody serious about the wretchedness of man denying women the vote.

It’s nine o’clock. It rains. The Master calls me: Let us go out and take a walk. I run for my overcoat and umbrella. For one hour we walk in the lighted avenues, the Master watching the windows decorated with all kinds of Xmas goods. We return wet and tired. Then again another hour of talk.

Letters of Ahmad Sohrab

Miss Alice Buckton was an earnest visitor. She had written Eager Heart, a very interesting Christmas mystery play. The performance of this mystery play at the Church House, Westminster, was honoured by the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This was a memorable occasion, as it was the first time He had ever witnessed a dramatic performance. The Master wept during the scene in which the Holy Child and His parents, overcome with fatigue, and suffering from hunger, were met by the hesitation of Eager Heart to admit them to the haven of rest which she had prepared, she, of course, failing to recognize the sacred visitors.
The Master afterwards joined the group of players.
It was an arresting scent. In the Eastern setting the Messenger, in His Eastern robes, speaking to them in the beautiful Eastern words of the Divine significance of the events which had been portrayed.

Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway pp. 154–155

]]> http://www.travelstothewest.org/2012/12/21/abdul-baha-in-london-21-december-1912/feed/ 0 http://www.travelstothewest.org/2012/12/20/abdul-baha-in-london-20-december-1912/ http://www.travelstothewest.org/2012/12/20/abdul-baha-in-london-20-december-1912/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:57:03 +0000 Kat http://www.travelstothewest.org/?p=968 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at the Westminster Palace Hotel. The Meeting was chaired by Sir Thomas Barclay, Liberal politician and former head of the British Chamber of Commerce. Miss Alice Buckton spoke, followed by Mrs.Charlotte Despard, president of the Women’s Freedom League. M. Hippolyte Dreyfus Barney of Paris closed the meeting.

A remarkable cosmopolitan gathering filled the large hall at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Friday evening, December 20th, to listen to an address by ‘Abdul-Bahá. His topic was one that is agitating many of the thinking minds of today—the vast subject of Peace.

…Among the audience were scientists, diplomats, leaders of the great movements of the day, including a number of Orientals. So great was the overflow that many were compelled to sit on the floor and a fringe standing at the outer edge extended out into the hall…

Address By Abdul-Baha

…Love is the cause of life, and hatred or animosity spell death or disintegration. Just as affinity is the fundamental principle of composition, the greater affinity, love, is the light of unity and the lack of love is the darkness of separateness. Love is conducive to existence, difference is conducive to disintegration. Love is the cause of the illumination of the whole of humanity, discord and dissension are the cause of the destruction of the human race.

All the divine messengers have come to this earth as specialists of the law of love. They came to teach a divine love to the children of men; they came to minister a divine healing between the nations; they came to cement in one the hearts of men and to bring humanity into a state of unity and concord. In this pathway, each one of these divine Manifestations of God’s love has accepted innumerable calamities and hardships. For the sake of a realization of love and concord amongst men, they have sacrificed their lives. How many persecutions have they suffered; so that they might bring into a state of harmony those contending nations and religions; so that they
might create peace and consolation between these various peoples of the earth!…

…We too must be ready to sacrifice our lives, so that this love may live. We must accept every hardship, so that this love may come to the hearts of the people. Consider carefully that for the last six thousand years there has been constant strife and warfare amongst the people. All the wars which have occurred in past history have been the basis of the destruction of the human race; love, on the other hand, has been the cause of cementing the people together…

…The great and wise men of the world have ever striven hard, so that the hearts of humanity might be cemented together by the heavenly teachers, whose mission it is to bring into the world this divine state of love.

Isabel Fraser, “Abdul-Baha in London”, Star of the West Vol. III, no. 17

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá received them, they threw themselves at his feet and wept. It was a touching scene. He took them up, kissed their cheeks and showed them much love.’
-Extract from letters written by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab Star of the West Volume III no. 19

Lady Blomfield tells of a gift Hájí Amin had brought for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The following touching incident took place one day when we were seated at table with the Master. A Persian friend arrived who had passed through ‘Ishqabad. He presented a cotton handkerchief to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who untied it, and saw therein a piece of dry black bread, and a shriveled apple. The friend exclaimed: “A poor Bahá’í workman came to me: ‘I hear thou goest into the presence of our Beloved. Nothing have I to send, but this my dinner. I pray thee offer it to Him with my loving devotion.’” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spread the poor handkerchief before Him, leaving His own luncheon untasted. He ate of the workman’s dinner, broke pieces off the bread, and handed them to the assembled guests, saying: “Eat with me of this gift of humble love.”Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway pp. 161–162

Hájí Abdu’l-.Hasan-i-Ardikání, known as Hájí Amín (c.1831–1928) was born near Yazd and became a staunch Muslim. He learnt of the Bábí religion through his wife’s brothers and became a follower shortly after the martydom of the Báb. When Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission, Hájí Amín immediately recognised His station. He travelled throughout Persia and was known for his loving kindness to all. He was appointed Trustee of the Huqúqu’lláh after the first Trustee was killed. He travelled to ‘Akká to see Bahá’u’lláh but was only permitted to see Him in the public baths. Shoghi Effendi appointed him Hand of the Cause postumously and he was also among those named as an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh.