stroll with the Master

Dear friends on the blog,

The following is the plain text version for the Badi Blog of this
historic article that took place in a Chicago park in 1912; one
caption to a picture says a "typical" Baha'i meeting. Imagine, a
meeting in a park with the Master present being "typical!" But I
suppose He promised to be there if we meet in the right spirit, so I
suppose this is not as far fetched as it seems at first blush. I can
send you the illustrated version as in the original Star of the West,
if you contact me.

A Stroll with `Abdu'l-Baha
Culminating in a typical Baha'i meeting under the trees of Lincoln Park, Chicago
-from Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 4, p. 27

By Honore J. Jaxon

During Abdu'l Baha's stay in Chicago at the Plaza Hotel, it became a
matter of frequent occurrence for him to take a morning or evening
stroll in Lincoln Park that magnificent pleasance where lawns and
woods extend northward from the hotel for several miles along the
shore of Lake Michigan.

On these occasions it was usual for him to accept the escort of any of
the friends who might have the good fortune to be on hand and at
leisure at the time of starting; and one of the most interesting of
these episodes was the one of which there is presented herewith an
outline as illustrated by the camera of a friend who although belated
at the start had been guided through the mazes of the park to the
place where the little party was pursuing its way among the trees.

Near the lake ward side of the middle portion of the park is an
unusually well stocked zoological department. The many strange and
beautiful forms of bird and animal life herein presented proved very
interesting to Abdu'l Baha, as he walked among them with a man nor
which somehow reminds one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi, and
the all consciousness said to have been displayed by that lovable
saint in his communings with the birds and animals of his day; and it
was here that Abdu'l Baha was moved to grant per mission for the first
of the pictures taken during this stroll the occasion chosen being at
a time when the cortege found itself grouped very conveniently for
camera purposes between two lines of iron palisade.

Photographic operations being thus pleasantly initiated, Abdul Baha
next consented to a group picture which was suggested to the minds of
some of the ladies while the party was descending a broad and noble
flight of masonry stairs that had been built to accommodate a steep
inflection of the footway as it passed through a wooded deli.

From this point, Abdu'l Baha directed 'his course to a place where
springing from the midst of heavy bushes on either shore a single
arched footbridge rises high above a wide lagoon, whose dark waters
are said to have closed over many a discouraged soul that had chosen
the crown of the bridge as the place from which to cast a final
"longing, lingering look" at earth and sky. The landscape disclosed
from this viewpoint is indeed one of the fairest in Chicago; and it is
worthy of remark, that it includes in its nor thermos reaches the spot
where on the distant horizon the grounds of the coming Chicago
Mashriqu'l-Azkar slope down to meet the waters of the lake.
"Beautiful" was the comment made by Abdul Baha in English, and with
quiet but loving emphasis, as he gazed northward from the parapet of
the bridge. His glance comprehended tooth the widespread panorama and
the placid waters beneath, and there sprang into being among the
friends present a strongly marked impression that he was moved to
special prayer by becoming innately aware of the thrilling human
experiences connected with the scene.

Before leaving the bridge Abdul Baha acceded to another group picture
while the friends were seated at the summit, and also to a remarkable
full length picture of him self alone, which has been reproduced as
the frontispiece of this issue. The course of the morning's walk then
turned back toward the animals' quarters; and here, while apparently
engrossed in contemplating the movements of a majestic polar bear,
Abdul Baha delighted the friends by exhibiting coincidently the
charming sense of humor and the all consciousness which are alike so
strongly marked in him. No sooner had the picture been taken of Abdul
Baha standing alone on the bridge, then the friends commenced to
express to each other their desire to secure a similar picture that
would show the beautiful silver locks that fl& down from under his
turban and ripple across the collar of his robe at the back. His
seeming absorption in study of the great bear suggested to all,
simultaneously, that this was the opportune moment; and a joyful
conspiracy was at once entered into everyone quietly tip toeing out of
range, while the active agent of the proposed photographic larceny set
up his tripod and prepared for a time exposure that would insure a
satisfactory clearness of detail in the desired picture.

Soon a perfect focus was obtained and apparently everything was
ready, but just as the members of the little group were holding their
breaths in thrilled anticipation of success at the very moment,
indeed, when the operator had seized the bulb, the pressing of which
would open the shutter and start the exposure of the film Abdul Baha
turned suddenly around with a delighted little chuckle, and playfully
smote the would be thief across the back of his neck with a light
touch of his walking cane, thereby conferring one unique distinction
which the recipient of this "love tap is probably cherishing as a
happy memory!

And now came the most striking feature of the morning's experience
and the subject of the closing photographic illustration. From the
episode of the bears' den, Abdul Baha led the friends toward the lake,
and taking one of a number of seats conveniently disposed under a
group of trees, invited the friends to likewise be seated. They found
themselves arranged in a circle, and, after dictating an answer to a
letter which had teen read to him that morning as he had walked along,
Abdul Baha suddenly commenced talking to them in a strain of intimate
and friendly counsel which exalted the hearts of all present and
warmed the determination of each one to be doubly on guard against any
future possibility of becoming a cause of disunion or discord. Two
striking gems we herewith reproduce:

"Some of you may have observed that I have not called attention to any
of your individual shortcomings. I would suggest to you, that if you
shall be similarly considerate in your treatment of each other, it
will be greatly conducive to the harmony of your association with each
other."

And then, as a concluding delight of the mornings spiritual feast,
this charming illustration of the subject of organization:

"I want you to be organized like a flock of the doves of Heaven, whose
attitude and conduct toward each other is a symbol of that which will
take place among human beings when human beings shall become willing
to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit." With these words, the home
ward course was taken, and so concluded a typical and memorable Bahai
meeting in a park, which will ever hereafter be associated in memory
with the blessed influence of the "Servant of Baha."

Caption to photograph of Baha'i meeting in Park, SW, Vol. 3, No. 4, p. 29:
"I want you to be organized like a flock of the doves of heaven, whose
attitude and conduct toward each other is a symbol of that which will
take place among human beings when human beings shall become willing
to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

--
John Taylor

badijet@gmail.com