Master in New York and Chicago

Master in New York and Chicago

Scanned and proofed by John Taylor; 2006 August 17

In his diary for Saturday, April 13, 1912, Mahmud wrote the following entry: “Among the prominent people who called upon the Master were the President of the New York Peace Society [Mr W. H. Short] and an important inventor of armaments [Mr Hudson Maxim]. It happened that both were visiting 'Abdu'l-Baha at the same time. It was interesting to see the power and majesty with which the Master spoke to these two about serving the world of humanity and public welfare.” Both left His presence with joy and devotion.” (41-42) Here is the text of that interview, as reported later on in Star of the West.

 

INTERVIEW OF W. H. Short, SECY. N. Y. PEACE

SOCIETY AND HUDSON MAXIM WITH ABDUL BAHA

AT HOTEL ANSONIA, NEW YORK CITY,

APRIL 15TH, 1912.

Notes by Howard MacNutt.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. W. H. SHORT.

- Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 7, July 13, 1912, p. 4

Abdu’l-Baha: "You are very welcome; am most happy to greet you. I have looked forward with much pleasure to this meeting. Welcome! Welcome!”

Mr. Short: "It gives me great happiness indeed to meet Abdu’l-Baha. I too have looked forward to this meeting. The New York Peace Society extends him greetings and welcome to our city and our country."

A. B. "You are indeed a servant to humanity. A servant to humanity is a servant to God. Your mission is a high, holy and sanctified one; there could be no greater, no holier mission than that of bringing peace to this warring world. Therefore I have waited for you with the greatest longing.

"In this day the majority of mankind are endeavoring to destroy the foundations of the happiness of the world. How many are engaged in the invention of means for the destruction of human kind; how many are employed in the science and practice of war; how many are occupied in various kinds of strife and antagonism; how many stand ready to shed the blood of innocent men, their brothers!

So it is that history is blackened with this record of human intention and accomplish anent. Every hour war is threatened upon some new pretext; today patriotism is its basis, tomorrow religious prejudice, racial egotism, territorial greed, commercial selfishness it matters little what the excuse may be blood is shed and human beings torn to pieces upon battlefields. Political interests clash; a great war follows; sadness, gloom and cruelty envelop the world.

"But you are endeavoring to uplift the standard of peace in the world. You must continue to work until the world is released from these prejudices which are bringing about such inhuman conditions. For the clouds of war will surely vanish from the horizons. There is no doubt that your work is the greatest work and its outcome certain."

Mr. S. All the members of the New York Peace Society feel the truth and inspiration of what you have said."

A. B. "You must rest assured and let there be no traces of doubt in your souls that God is your Assister and Helper. The Heavenly confirmations will descend upon you more and more. God will protect you and give you new strength continually. Your world-motives will conquer the world of men; all obstacles will disappear before your advance; no earthly power can resist the onrushing power of Peace. For this power is assisted by the Power of God and that which is divinely assisted must prevail.

Consider how the Cause of Christ was confirmed. How many resisted it! What mountains of obstacles were raised against it! What hostile forces sought to destroy its foundations! Yet the kings and emperors of the world could not resist its spread and establishment. No power of earth can withstand the inflow of the Spirit of Truth. If earthly kings and kingdoms come in its way, it will conquer and they will be overthrown, always. For your cause is Truth itself and Truth is Omnipotent. If all nations arise to prevent, they will be vanquished and you will be victorious [Visitor much impressed.] You are a servant of God, not a servant of this world. A servant of God is he who gives some benefit to the world of man."

Mr. S. "We belong to a race [Anglo Saxon] which has wielded the power of oppression. We have been the oppressor, not the oppressed. The whole matter of World Peace presents a different aspect to the western mind.

"Justice, human rights and religion are controlling motives of the men of the New York Peace Society. We must confess that hitherto Americans have not felt the welfare of Eastern countries to be as important as the development of our own interests. We have not known enough of the ideals of other countries.

As a rule we meet only immigrants and discontented wanderers from foreign lands. But recently this has been changed and the aspect is wider. Our press is not the reflector of foreign news. Our people travel in distant countries; but few important and influential foreigners come to visit us. Our purpose in the Peace Society is not only to establish the doctrines of peace but to defend the principles of human brotherhood; to acquaint the people of this country with foreign matters and provide opportunity that they may meet and know foreign men. Therefore we take advantage of every opportunity to introduce such men to our people. We will be very glad and greatly honored to arrange a reception under the auspices of the New York Peace Society at which `Abdu’l-Baha can address a large assemblage, meet our friends and exchange mutual sentiments. I have just come from the home of Mr. Carnegie. He is not able to go out owing to a throat affection, but will be glad to receive `Abdu’l-Baha at his home. Mr. and Mrs. Carnegie will attend the Peace Conference at Lake Mohonk in June. As I understand `Abdu’l-Baha will be there also, the meeting with Mr. Carnegie might be mutually arranged then. Acquaintances and friendships begun at Lake Mohonk will be most pleasant at a reception thereafter."

A. B. "I go to Washington next week. Is there time enough before departure to arrange the plans suggested?”

Mr. S. "It would be better if we had more time. Something could be arranged, but it is doubtful."

A. B. "How many days in advance would be necessary?"

Mr. S. "There should be at least two weeks.

Almost any date would be suitable except Friday, May 10^th.”

May 13th finally decided upon.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. HUDSON MAXIM.

Mr. Short remaining.

Mr. Hudson Maxim, scientist, inventor and expert upon explosives, was then announced.

He entered.

Abdul Baha. "Welcome! Welcome! Very welcome!"

Hudson Maxim. "I am glad to hear you speak English"

A. B. "My life has been spent in the Orient where foreign languages are seldom used. Otherwise I would have acquired English. Language is the great barrier between nations. When thoughts are interchanged destinies become one. All languages are difficult of acquirement for the real language is deeper than the outer words"

H. M. "Are you speaking in Turkish?"

A. B. "In Persian. I also speak Turkish and Arabic; Turkish is very difficult. In the East it is thought that acquiring Turkish is equivalent td the study of three other tongues."

H. M. "I understand you are a messenger of peace to this country. What is your opinion about modern war? Shall the great nations maintain armament and defenses as a guarantee or warrant against war? [presenting papers] Here is an article I have written upon this subject. Shall the nations have an international police navy which protects and insures peace in the world, or shall they disarm and have no navies?”

A. B. "Everything that prevents war is good.”

H. M. "Christ said He came to make war. Caesar was great in history because he was great in battle and military skill."

A. B. "We have the history of the world for nearly six thousand years. Before that there is no record. During these six thousand years there has been constant war, strife, bloodshed. We can see at a glance the results, achievements and outcomes of war. The history of warfare and strife is known, the effect apparent. Have we not a sufficient standard of experience in this direction? Let us now try peace for awhile. If good results follow, let us adhere to it. If not let us throw it away and fight again. Nothing will be lost by the experiment."

H. M. "Evolution has now reached a period in the life of nations where commerce takes the place of warfare. Business is war, cruel, merciless."

A. B. "True! War is not limited to one cause. There are many kinds of war and conflict going on, political war, commercial war, patriotic and racial war; this is the very civilization of war."

H. M. "Do you consider the next great national war necessary?"

A. B. "I hope your efforts may be able to prevent it. Why not try peace for awhile? If we find war is better, it will not be difficult to fight again; but if we find that peace is the glorification of humanity, the impulse of true civilization, the stimulus to inventive genius and the means of attainment to the good pleasure of God, we must agree to adhere to it and establish it permanently."

H. M. "There is much newspaper talk about the United States fighting Japan. There is no prospect of it whatever. We don't want to kill good customers. Commercial energy is more profitable to us. Competition of commerce is as severe, trying and as cruel as wars of olden time. Science has made war expensive; so expensive it don't pay to fight. We make more money by being peaceful, so long as the other fellow keeps quiet and sticks to business. If an English navy came over here and bombarded New York a week they would injure themselves more than us. The expense of ammunition and equipment would cost a great deal more than the damage inflicted by their guns and shells. You are right in advocating peace. I am an advocate of peace from another standpoint. I would make war so expensive that the nations could not afford to fight and therefore would agree to maintain peace."

A. B. "The product of human invention, genius and the outcome of human disposition to kill and fight have well nigh reached their limit. It seems as if the art of war could not be carried further. In ancient times when nation fought against nation, probably one thousand would be killed in battle, the expense would not be great, the outcome of victory decisive and final; but in modern times the science of war has reached such a stage of perfection that in twenty four hours one hundred thousand could be sacrificed, great navies sent to the bottom of the sea, great cities destroyed in a few hours. The possibilities are incalculable, inconceivable; the after effects even more dreadful than the initial shock. In Egypt, the fellaheen who till the Nile banks gather four or five harvests from the soil. Suppose they are called away from their peaceful pursuits, take up arms, expend their possessions for powder and go to war. The first consequences are grievous enough, but the after-results are even more deplorable. The country suffers beyond all power of estimation; agriculture is crippled, abandoned, sustenance fails, poverty and suffering continue long afterward. Furthermore, how many wars there have been in the Orient during past centuries; war and peace in constant succession; but your country America remained unaffected by them or their consequences. The news of war might reach Europe and America long after it had happened. But all this is changed in the present century. As soon as war is declared in any part of the world, all human attention is directed toward it; commerce and the machinery of nations are paralyzed; the whole world thrown into a condition of grave uncertainty. Therefore it is evident that the time has come to end war and establish peace. This is an exigency and requirement of the present century."

H. M. "Fewer are killed in modern engagements than in the battles of ancient times; the range is longer and the action less deadly."

A. B. "How about the war between Japan and Russia?

H. M. "Less men are killed in war in a year now than are killed by our industries through preventable accidents."

A. B. "War is the most preventable accident.”

H. M. "The short sword was more deadly in battle than the quick firing gun, for the reason that massed men come together in hand to hand conflict and the slaughter was fearful. At Mukden two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers retreated without loss. In ancient times many thousands would have been overtaken and killed. War is no more dangerous now than automobiling."

A. B. "History shows that in war between the Roman and Persian Empires extending over a period of twenty years, in which one hundred thousand men were engaged upon each side, only five or six thousand were killed. In modern warfare there are bombs which kill men like stripping leaves from a tree. An Egyptian general who had served in war against England was accused of cowardice at a meeting in Syria. He asked those present, 'Have you ever seen an English shell? When you see one explode among troops you will be excused for defeat and cowardice'”

H. M. [Making diagram.] "The effect of a bomb is not so great as expected. Most of its force is expended upward into the air. It is impossible to mass men close enough to it for a full utilization of its energy. If its explosive energy could be expended in the right direction, it would do plenty of killing."

A. B. "The greatest intelligence of man is being expended in the direction of killing his fellow man. The discovery of high explosives, perfecting of death-dealing weapons of war, the science of military attack, all this is a wonderful manifestation of human intelligence; but it is in the wrong direction. You are a celebrated inventor and scientific expert whose energies and faculties are employed in the production of means for human destruction. Your name has become famous in the science of war. Now you have the opportunity of becoming doubly famous. You must practice the science of peace. You must expend your energies and intelligence in a contrary direction. You must discover the means of peace; invent guns of love which shall shake the foundations of humanity.

The guns you are now building cause the death of man; you must build guns which will be the cause of life to humanity. Henceforth your life and energy should be given to this blessed purpose. You must work and experiment along this line. This work and accomplishment will be more wonderful than all you have done heretofore. Then it will be said by tile people of the world, this is Mr. Maxim, inventor of the guns of war, discoverer of high explosives, military scientist, who has also discovered and invented means for increasing the life and love of man; who has put an end to the strife of nations and uprooted the tree of war. This will be the most wonderful accomplishment of any human being. Your name will glow with mention throughout the history of ages and ages. Then will your life become pregnant and productive with really great results. Consider this: the inventor of high explosives has discovered the means of universal peace; an active worker in the science of war has become a factor in the assembly of love! Then will your name be recorded in the pages of history with a pen of gold. No man in history will equal you in fame and greatness. You will be doubly renowned. God will be pleased with you and from every standpoint of estimation you will be a perfect man."

ABDU'L-BAHA WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE FRIENDS IN CHICAGO.

FROM NOTES TAKEN BY ELLA GOODALL COOPER AND ELLA M. BAILEY

Photographs by Muriel Jones and A. C. Killius.

- Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 7, July 13, 1912, p. 6

`Abdu’l-Baha's meeting with the children of the friends in Chicago on Sunday morning, May 5th, was an event that shall

ever be remembered by all who were present. Although many lived considerable distance and found it necessary to arise as early as five o'clock, yet promptly at the appointed hour of eight, about thirty-five children were on hand to greet him and receive the spiritual baptism in store for them.

They were gathered in a circle in the middle of the beautiful parlor of The Plaza, the parents and friends making another circle behind them.

When Abdu'l-Baha entered all arose. While he took the seat prepared for him, the children sang without accompaniment, "Softly His Voice is Calling Now."

Then followed the scene that is indelibly stamped upon the minds and hearts. He called each child to him in turn, took them in his lap, petting and stroking the hair arid hugging and kissing the little ones, pressing the hands and embracing the older ones, all with such infinite love and tenderness shining in his eyes and thrilling in the tones of his voice, that when he whispered in English in their ears to tell him their names, they answered as joyfully and freely as they would a beloved father. To each child he gave a little different touch, patting some on the breast, some on the back and some on the head. He blessed them all. There was no suggestion of haste and a hush fell upon the group a quiet, vibrant, eloquent silence making many to feel that it was just such a picture Jesus must have made and which has touched the hearts of all child lovers for these two thousand years.

The children's joy and his own happiness seemed to culminate when one dear little tot ran to him and fairly threw herself into his arms. When he let her go she stood for a second and then suddenly laughed aloud with perfect joy, which found its instant echo in a ripple around the whole circle.

`Abdu’l-Baha then stood and spoke as follows: You are the children of whom His Holiness Christ has said, you are the denizens of the Kingdom; and according to the words of Baha’u’llah you are the very lamps or candles of the world of humanity, for your hearts are exceedingly pure and your spirits are most delicate. You are near the source; you have not yet become contaminated. You are like lambs, or like a very polished mirror.

My hope for you is that your parents may educate you spiritually, giving you the utmost ethical training. May your education be most perfect so that each one of you may be imbued with all the virtues of the human world. May you advance in all the degrees, be they material degrees or spiritual degrees.

May you all become learned, acquire sciences and arts, acquire the arts and crafts; may you be useful members of human society, may you be conducive to the progress of human civilization; may you be a cause of the manifestation of the divine bestowals, may each one of you be a shining star, radiating the light of the oneness of humanity towards the East and West; may you be conducive to the unity of mankind; may you be conducive to the love of the whole. May the reality deposited in the human entity become apparent through your efforts. I pray for all of you, asking God's aid and confirmation in your behalf.

"You are all my children, you are my spiritual children. The spiritual children are very dear, they are dearer than physical children, because it is possible for physical children to prove unspiritual but you are all spiritual children, therefore you are very dear; you are most beloved. I wish for you progress along all degrees. May God aid you. May you be surrounded by His gaze of kindness, and may you be nurtured and attain maturity under His protection. You are all blessed."

`Abdu’l-Baha then divided a bouquet of flowers which was upon the center table, and also gave to each child an envelope full of rose petals. He then walked slowly around the circle, laying his hand in blessing upon each little head, his face beaming with divine love as he murmured a tender word to each one.

The children thought they were dismissed, but he made them still more happy by taking them all into Lincoln park to be photographed with him.

`Abdu’l-Baha then expressed a desire to walk alone and strode majestically away, with his hands clasped behind him. All eyes followed him. He walked over to the noble Lincoln statue nearby and for a few moments stood gazing up at it, making a remarkably impressive and significant picture -- the lonely figure of our immortal Lincoln gazing down upon him who is today giving to the world spiritual emancipation.

Many of the children lingered under the trees or played upon the grass in the glorious spring sunshine, seemingly reluctant to leave the place where Abdu'l Baha had so abundantly blessed them, or, perhaps, with the hope that some further expression of his love for them might be forthcoming ere they returned to their homes; nor were some of them disappointed, for, as he came toward a group of little ones under the trees, he gathered them in his arms and submitted to another photograph.

This glimpse of Abdu'l Baha with the children of the friends in Chicago, would not be complete without reference to the beautiful photograph of him and little Musette Jones, reproduced on page 2 of this issue. It was taken in his suite of rooms at The Plaza. A copy of it was later presented to him and over her heart he wrote the word "Rouhieh," meaning Spiritual.

Group photo caption: “You are all my spiritual children.”

TABLET FROM ABDU’L-BAHA TO THE FRIENDS IN CHICAGO.

- Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 7, July 13, 1912, p. 7

Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, May 13, 1912, New York City.

YE beloved friends of Abdul Baha! Two days ago, through the protection and providence of the Blessed Perfection, I reached New York. Since my arrival I have met the friends of God and associated with them.

The minister of the Unity Church in Montclair, New Jersey, repeatedly invited me to address his congregation. Therefore, yesterday I went to Montclair and spoke before an audience composed of many hundreds of people. Truly, I say, the minister, the deacons of the church and the officers exercised the greatest love and consideration. In introducing the Cause of God and Abdu'l Baha the minister gave an address in the utmost eloquence and fluency of tongue and instead of reading from the Old and New Testaments, he said: "I will read from the new Scriptures." He then read extracts from the Words of Baha’u’llah and Abdu'l-Baha. (Extracts from the address of the minister, Rev. Edgar Wiers, will be sent to you by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab.) [See page 12.] I addressed them on the subject of Divine Unity, the oneness which exists among the Manifestations of God, such as His Highness Moses, His Highness Abraham, His Holiness Jesus Christ, His Holiness Mahomet, His Highness the Bab, and the Universal Manifestation, His Holiness Baha’u’llah. The audience listened with utmost attention and joy.

Last night by the invitation of the Inter national Peace Forum, I appeared in the Grace Methodist Church, New York City, and delivered a detailed address before an audience composed of nearly two thousand people. Irrefutable proofs and incontrovertible evidences were expounded, demonstrating the absolute necessity of establishing the Most Great Peace and International Arbitration. I proclaimed that His Highness Baha’u’llah had upraised this ensign fifty years ago in the Most Great Prison in Acca.

With utmost longing Abdu’l-Baha traveled to Chicago to meet the Friends of God. Praise be to God! he found the beloved rejoiced by the glad tidings of God and attracted to the Kingdom of God. In churches and gatherings, while in Chicago, he spoke and scattered the seeds and raised the most glorious mention of the Kingdom of Abha. You have seen with your own eyes that not one soul met him with opposition. Every soul who appeared in the presence of Abdu’l-Baha returned happy, rejoiced and assured. This became possible by the inexhaustible Bounties of the Beauty of Abha and the victory and confirmation of His Highness the Almighty. Having returned to Washington, we met very important personages, and all that was expressed was listened to with profound attention; no soul hesitated in belief; we spoke with everyone according to his merit and capacity. Many questions were asked by different important seekers on religious, political, socialistic, civic rights, scientific problems and deep spiritual subjects. Answers to every one of these questions satisfied, the interrogator. No soul hesitated in the acceptance of truth.

In Chicago you had a like experience when all questioners were equally satisfied. Now Abdu’l-Baha scattered the seeds of Truth in Chicago and the "Breeze of God" was wafted over that city. The friends of God must water those seeds and through the power and confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha must labor so that those seeds may grow and develop in that field, become verdant and green so that many harvests may be gathered. This result will be attained through unity and harmony and the love and communion of the hearts. Therefore, the friends of God must first ignite this lamp of unity in their own gathering and afterwards hoist the tent of the oneness of the world of humanity.

His Highness Baha’u’llah, addressing the children of men, said: "Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." The only difference lies herein: Some are ignorant you must bestow upon them knowledge; some are heedless you must make them mindful; some are asleep you must awaken them; some are sick you must heal them; some are children you must educate them; so that the world of humanity, through the power of God, may attain to maturity.

Man must exercise kindness toward those who are sick and immature and not be impatient or displeased. The shepherd must gather together the scattered flock and not disperse them. These are the principles of the people of Baha'. You must live and act in accord with these teachings.

Abdu'l-Baha is always expecting to hear wonderful news from you. He is ever anticipating that through the power of confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha, the world of human thought may be stirred with tremendous exhilaration in Chicago. This will be attained through the excellent conduct, the unity, the magnanimity and the spiritual utterances of the friends of God. In that time the radiant faces of the beloved ones will become illumined in the Kingdom of Abha, the fame of their union and concord will be spread throughout the east and the west and their spiritual victories will embrace the north and the south.

If, at any time, an unimportant and ignorant soul arises in opposition, do not heed him nor consider his objection of any importance. We have had in the past opposers who have been among the world's celebrities; we have had enemies like Nasser Ed Din and Abdul Hamid, two powerful kings; but all of these people, through the power of the Kingdom of Abha, have vanished and disappeared from the face of the earth and today the banner of the covenant is unfurled and waving over all the races.

Upon ye be Baha-el-Abha!

(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS.