A Brief History of Roy Wilhelm and the
Annual Souvenir Unity Feast of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
by Joel Nizin
Hand of the Cause Roy Wilhelm
EARLY HISTORY OF TEANECK
In the north central portion of Bergen County, New Jersey is a long strip of land named Teaneck. Much of the land was originally owned by the Phelps estate, the founder having been the United States Minister to Germany. Here, he endeavored to recreate a replica of the Black Forest of his native Germany. He imported and planted thousands of evergreen and hard wood trees throughout the place. This is also the town that May Maxwell ( May Boles ) was born and lived in as a child and youth. In 1907 Mr Louis Bourgeouis moved to this area and built a home and in 1908 he designed and built a home for Mr. Roy C Wilhelm, his mother Laurie and father Otis. This was the beginning of Bahá’í history in Teaneck. As soon as they became settled they began having meetings and tried to attract the sparsely peopled district (there being only about two or three thousand inhabitants. )
ROY WILHELM (1875-1951)
The year 1907 marked the greatest experience in the formative years of Roy Wilhelm’s Bahá’í life. In April of that year Roy Wilhelm, accompanied by his mother, went on a pilgrimage to attain the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at 'Akka in the Holy Land. The words of welcome uttered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as translated into English, were written down by Mr. Wilhelm immediately afterward and quoted in a letter written to his fellow Bahá’í teacher, Mrs. Mariam Haney: "Welcome! Very welcome! I have been waiting for your coming. It is with God's help that you have reached 'Akka . . . You represent all the American believers . . . Thank God that you came."
In 1909 the American Bahá’ís, under the initiative of the Chicago group, elected a national Bahá’í body to represent all the Bahá’ís of North America in their united effort to purchase land and plan the construction of the House of Worship recently completed in Wilmette, Illinois. From that year until his retirement from active Bahá’í service in 1946, with the exception of a single year of illness, Roy Wilhelm was elected annually to the Bahá’í Temple Unity and to the later National Spiritual Assembly, and for years served as its treasurer. No other American believer has achieved a comparable record. Mr. Wilhelm also generously donated the Teaneck properties to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States who have maintained the property since 1951.
Upon his death, he was appointed by Shoghi Effendi as a Hand of the Cause of God. “Heart filled (with) sorrow (for) loss (of) greatly prized, much loved, highly admired herald (of) Bahá’u’lláh's Covenant, Roy Wilhelm. Distinguished career enriched annals (of) concluding years (of) Heroic (and) opening years (of) Formative Age (of) Faith. Sterling qualities endeared him (to) his beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. His saintliness, indomitable faith, outstanding services local, national, international, (his) exemplary devotion, qualify him (to) join ranks (of) Hands (of) Cause, insure him everlasting reward ( in ) Abha Kingdom. Advise hold memorial gathering (in) Temple befitting his unforgettable services (and) lofty rank.” —SHOGHI December 24, 1951.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá PLANS TRIP TO NEW JERSEY
In June 1912 after the banquet given to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the Great Northern Hotel in New York City by the friends, 'Abdu'l-Bahá stated to Mr and Mrs Edward Kinney, Mr Howard McNutt and also Mrs Florian Krug His wish to give a Feast to the American Bahá’ís and that it should be held out of doors in the country, saying that Bahá’u’lláh loved the country and that “the city was the abode of bodies but that the country was the abode of the spirit.”
Quoted in Promulgation of Universal Peace 20 June 1912 , talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York with notes by Howard MacNutt. “I am about to leave the city for a few days rest at Montclair. When I return, it is my wish to give a large feast of unity. A place for it has not yet been found. It must be outdoors under the trees, in some location away from city noise—like a Persian garden. The food will be Persian food. When the place is arranged, all will be informed, and we will have a general meeting in which hearts will be bound together, spirits blended and a new foundation for unity established. All the friends will come. They will be my guests. They will be as the parts and members of one body. The spirit of life manifest in that body will be one spirit. The foundation of that temple of unity will be one foundation. Each will be a stone in that foundation, solid and interdependent. Each will be as a leaf, blossom or fruit upon one tree. For the sake of fellowship and unity I desire this feast and spiritual gathering.
Whatsoever is conducive to unity is merciful and from the divine bounty itself. Every universal affair is divine. Everything which conduces to separation and estrangement is satanic because it emanates from the purposes of self. Consider how clearly it is shown in creation that the cause of existence is unity and cohesion and the cause of nonexistence is separation and dissension. By a divine power of creation the elements assemble together in affinity, and the result is a composite being. . .”
This committee discussed many places and finally arrived at the discussion of holding it out in West Englewood at the place where Roy Wilhelm lived. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when advised of this said very good, very good and suggested it would please him if it was agreeable to Roy. Needless to say Roy was happy to comply. The date was set by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as June 29, 1912 a Saturday and telegrams were immediately sent to groups and individual believers throughout the county.
Entrusting the arrangements to Mr. Howard MacNutt and giving him a $100 to defray the expenses, 'Abdu'l-Bahá left for Montclair. That West Englewood should be the place selected seemed almost inevitable for the idea appears to have sprung into the minds of several of the friends almost simultaneously. And it was natural that it should, for the suburb was just across the Hudson River from NYC, in beautiful country covered with pine and evergreens and, since 1908 Roy Wilhelm had been sending hay wagons to the ferry landing each year to bring sixty or seventy of the friends to this spot for an outdoor gathering.
In the north central portion of Bergen County, New Jersey is a long strip of land named Teaneck. Much of the land was originally owned by the Phelps estate, the founder having been the United States Minister to Germany. Here, he endeavored to recreate a replica of the Black Forest of his native Germany. He imported and planted thousands of evergreen and hard wood trees throughout the place. This is also the town that May Maxwell ( May Boles ) was born and lived in as a child and youth. In 1907 Mr Louis Bourgeouis moved to this area and built a home and in 1908 he designed and built a home for Mr. Roy C Wilhelm, his mother Laurie and father Otis. This was the beginning of Bahá’í history in Teaneck. As soon as they became settled they began having meetings and tried to attract the sparsely peopled district (there being only about two or three thousand inhabitants. )
ROY WILHELM (1875-1951)
The year 1907 marked the greatest experience in the formative years of Roy Wilhelm’s Bahá’í life. In April of that year Roy Wilhelm, accompanied by his mother, went on a pilgrimage to attain the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at 'Akka in the Holy Land. The words of welcome uttered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as translated into English, were written down by Mr. Wilhelm immediately afterward and quoted in a letter written to his fellow Bahá’í teacher, Mrs. Mariam Haney: "Welcome! Very welcome! I have been waiting for your coming. It is with God's help that you have reached 'Akka . . . You represent all the American believers . . . Thank God that you came."
In 1909 the American Bahá’ís, under the initiative of the Chicago group, elected a national Bahá’í body to represent all the Bahá’ís of North America in their united effort to purchase land and plan the construction of the House of Worship recently completed in Wilmette, Illinois. From that year until his retirement from active Bahá’í service in 1946, with the exception of a single year of illness, Roy Wilhelm was elected annually to the Bahá’í Temple Unity and to the later National Spiritual Assembly, and for years served as its treasurer. No other American believer has achieved a comparable record. Mr. Wilhelm also generously donated the Teaneck properties to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States who have maintained the property since 1951.
Upon his death, he was appointed by Shoghi Effendi as a Hand of the Cause of God. “Heart filled (with) sorrow (for) loss (of) greatly prized, much loved, highly admired herald (of) Bahá’u’lláh's Covenant, Roy Wilhelm. Distinguished career enriched annals (of) concluding years (of) Heroic (and) opening years (of) Formative Age (of) Faith. Sterling qualities endeared him (to) his beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. His saintliness, indomitable faith, outstanding services local, national, international, (his) exemplary devotion, qualify him (to) join ranks (of) Hands (of) Cause, insure him everlasting reward ( in ) Abha Kingdom. Advise hold memorial gathering (in) Temple befitting his unforgettable services (and) lofty rank.” —SHOGHI December 24, 1951.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá PLANS TRIP TO NEW JERSEY
In June 1912 after the banquet given to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the Great Northern Hotel in New York City by the friends, 'Abdu'l-Bahá stated to Mr and Mrs Edward Kinney, Mr Howard McNutt and also Mrs Florian Krug His wish to give a Feast to the American Bahá’ís and that it should be held out of doors in the country, saying that Bahá’u’lláh loved the country and that “the city was the abode of bodies but that the country was the abode of the spirit.”
Quoted in Promulgation of Universal Peace 20 June 1912 , talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York with notes by Howard MacNutt. “I am about to leave the city for a few days rest at Montclair. When I return, it is my wish to give a large feast of unity. A place for it has not yet been found. It must be outdoors under the trees, in some location away from city noise—like a Persian garden. The food will be Persian food. When the place is arranged, all will be informed, and we will have a general meeting in which hearts will be bound together, spirits blended and a new foundation for unity established. All the friends will come. They will be my guests. They will be as the parts and members of one body. The spirit of life manifest in that body will be one spirit. The foundation of that temple of unity will be one foundation. Each will be a stone in that foundation, solid and interdependent. Each will be as a leaf, blossom or fruit upon one tree. For the sake of fellowship and unity I desire this feast and spiritual gathering.
Whatsoever is conducive to unity is merciful and from the divine bounty itself. Every universal affair is divine. Everything which conduces to separation and estrangement is satanic because it emanates from the purposes of self. Consider how clearly it is shown in creation that the cause of existence is unity and cohesion and the cause of nonexistence is separation and dissension. By a divine power of creation the elements assemble together in affinity, and the result is a composite being. . .”
This committee discussed many places and finally arrived at the discussion of holding it out in West Englewood at the place where Roy Wilhelm lived. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when advised of this said very good, very good and suggested it would please him if it was agreeable to Roy. Needless to say Roy was happy to comply. The date was set by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as June 29, 1912 a Saturday and telegrams were immediately sent to groups and individual believers throughout the county.
Entrusting the arrangements to Mr. Howard MacNutt and giving him a $100 to defray the expenses, 'Abdu'l-Bahá left for Montclair. That West Englewood should be the place selected seemed almost inevitable for the idea appears to have sprung into the minds of several of the friends almost simultaneously. And it was natural that it should, for the suburb was just across the Hudson River from NYC, in beautiful country covered with pine and evergreens and, since 1908 Roy Wilhelm had been sending hay wagons to the ferry landing each year to bring sixty or seventy of the friends to this spot for an outdoor gathering.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in NEW JERSEY
'Abdu'l-Bahá on the steps of the Wilhelm home - 1912
As related in “239 Days 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Journey in America” by Allan Ward on pages 97- 103 - “'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Montclair, New Jersey, on Friday, June 21,1912 staying in a house He had rented in advance. Most of His time was occupied in talking with the people who came to see Him. On Sunday morning, June 23, 'Abdu'l-Bahá told the Bahá’ís more of the history of the Faith. As He came into the living room where the people were gathered, He said to one of the incoming friends, "You are always smiling." Mr. Frank E. Osborne replied, "Surely our faces should reflect happiness in this presence." 'Abdu'l-Bahá replied, "Yes !—This is the day of Baha' ullah; the age of the Blessed Perfection; the cycle of the Greatest Name. If you do not smile now, for what time will you await and what greater happiness could you expect?''
'Abdu'l-Bahá left Montclair at 8:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, and, after transferring to four different streetcars, arrived at Roy Wilhelm's home in West Englewood, New Jersey. This was the large outdoor gathering—the Unity Feast—to which 'Abdu'l-Bahá had invited the friends before He left New York. He rested as the friends arrived and sat in a circle in the shade of the large trees. Then He spoke to individuals as He walked among them. Addressing the entire group He said, "This is a new Day and this hour is a new Hour in which we have come together.... True Bahai meetings are the mirrors of the kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected.... First, you must become united and agreed among yourselves...."
When He had finished, the meal was ready; but just as it was announced, thunder was heard, and large raindrops began to fall. 'Abdu'l-Bahá walked to the road, taking a chair, and several friends grouped around Him. As He sat, His face turned upward, a strong wind began to blow, the clouds began to disperse, and the sun shown through. Then He rose and walked back into the grove. After the meal of Persian food 'Abdu'l-Bahá anointed the two hundred fifty guests with attar of roses. After dark, as the friends sat on the lawn with candles, 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke, ending as He walked into the darkness, "Peace be with you. I will pray for you."
On the glorious day set aside for this unique gathering friends, neighbors and strangers from the East, West, North and South, rich and poor, white and black all one in the Spirit, truly a marvelous demonstration. Some of the people present that day included:
Bertha Clark, Mary Ford, Silvia Gannett, Maude Gaudeaux, Lua Getsinger, Mrs Gertrude Harris, Mr Hooper Harris, Bertha Herklotz, Ali-Kuli Khan, Florence Khan, Mr and Mrs Edward Kinney, Florian Krug, Marjorie Morten, Grace Ober, Grace Robarts, Martha Root, Charlotte Segler, Irwin Smith, Juliet Thompson, Neval Thomas, Amalie Tyler, Roy Wilhelm, and his mother and many more too numerous to mention. About 450 persons were gathered and had all kinds of personal experiences both Spiritual and material - their impressions being likewise different.
Some relate a storm (rain) which took place but passed away after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá prayed; others speak of His loving Majestic Person; again some talk of the gathering; while others relate the anointing with rose water.”
We can readily understand the remark of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Roy and his mother “Your house is blessed.” The feast material was paid for by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá personally and supervised also, cooked in the Kinney home in NYC and brought out to West Englewood by Mr Kinney in a few taxi cabs. Other Persian food was delivered by ferry across the Hudson River in large new garbage cans.
'Abdu'l-Bahá left Montclair at 8:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 29, and, after transferring to four different streetcars, arrived at Roy Wilhelm's home in West Englewood, New Jersey. This was the large outdoor gathering—the Unity Feast—to which 'Abdu'l-Bahá had invited the friends before He left New York. He rested as the friends arrived and sat in a circle in the shade of the large trees. Then He spoke to individuals as He walked among them. Addressing the entire group He said, "This is a new Day and this hour is a new Hour in which we have come together.... True Bahai meetings are the mirrors of the kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected.... First, you must become united and agreed among yourselves...."
When He had finished, the meal was ready; but just as it was announced, thunder was heard, and large raindrops began to fall. 'Abdu'l-Bahá walked to the road, taking a chair, and several friends grouped around Him. As He sat, His face turned upward, a strong wind began to blow, the clouds began to disperse, and the sun shown through. Then He rose and walked back into the grove. After the meal of Persian food 'Abdu'l-Bahá anointed the two hundred fifty guests with attar of roses. After dark, as the friends sat on the lawn with candles, 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke, ending as He walked into the darkness, "Peace be with you. I will pray for you."
On the glorious day set aside for this unique gathering friends, neighbors and strangers from the East, West, North and South, rich and poor, white and black all one in the Spirit, truly a marvelous demonstration. Some of the people present that day included:
Bertha Clark, Mary Ford, Silvia Gannett, Maude Gaudeaux, Lua Getsinger, Mrs Gertrude Harris, Mr Hooper Harris, Bertha Herklotz, Ali-Kuli Khan, Florence Khan, Mr and Mrs Edward Kinney, Florian Krug, Marjorie Morten, Grace Ober, Grace Robarts, Martha Root, Charlotte Segler, Irwin Smith, Juliet Thompson, Neval Thomas, Amalie Tyler, Roy Wilhelm, and his mother and many more too numerous to mention. About 450 persons were gathered and had all kinds of personal experiences both Spiritual and material - their impressions being likewise different.
Some relate a storm (rain) which took place but passed away after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá prayed; others speak of His loving Majestic Person; again some talk of the gathering; while others relate the anointing with rose water.”
We can readily understand the remark of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Roy and his mother “Your house is blessed.” The feast material was paid for by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá personally and supervised also, cooked in the Kinney home in NYC and brought out to West Englewood by Mr Kinney in a few taxi cabs. Other Persian food was delivered by ferry across the Hudson River in large new garbage cans.
Abdu'l-Bahá's Unity Feast - 1912
DIARY OF JULIET THOMPSON
'Abdu'l-Bahá hosted over 250 guests at the Unity Feast
“Almost a week passed before we saw our Lord again. Then, on the twenty-ninth of June, we met Him at West Englewood. He was giving a feast for all the believers in the grounds around Roy Wilhelm's house, the "Feast of Unity" He called it. I went with dear Silvia Gannett. We walked from the little station, past the grove where the tables were set—a grove of tall pine trees—and on to the house in which He was, He Whose Presence filled our eyes with light and without Whom our days had been very dim and lifeless. Ah, there He was again! Sitting in a corner of the porch! I sped across the lawn, forgetting Silvia, forgetting everything. He looked down at me with grave eyes, and I saw a fathomless welcome in them. For a while we sat with Him on the porch. Then He led us down into the grove. There He seated Himself on the ground at the foot of a pine tree and called two believers to His right and left. One was Mrs. Krug in her very elegant clothes, the other a poor and shabby old woman. But both faces, the wrinkled one and the smooth, pretty one, were beautiful with the same radiance. I shall never forget that old woman's shining blue eyes. The great words He spoke to us then have been preserved.~ I will not repeat them. Besides I remember them too imperfectly. But He said one thing which woke my whole being: "This is a New Day; a New Hour." By the time He had finished, the feast was ready, but just as it was announced a storm blew up—a strange, sudden storm, without warning. There was a tremendous crash of thunder; through the treetops we could see black clouds boiling up, and big drops of rain splashed on the tables. The Master rose calmly and, followed by the Persians, walked out to the road, then to the end of it where there is a crossroad. A single chair had been left there and, as I watched from a distance, I saw the Master take it and sit down, while the Persians ranged themselves behind Him. I saw Him lift His face to the sky. He had gone a long way from the house; thunder still crashed and the clouds rolled frighteningly low, but He continued to sit perfectly motionless, that sacred, powerful face upturned to the sky. Then came a strong, rushing wind; the clouds began to race away; blue patches appeared above and the sun shone out. And then the Master rose and walked back into the grove. This I witnessed. Later, as we sat at the tables, two hundred and fifty of us, He anointed us all with attar of rose. I was not at a table but sitting under a tree with Marjorie Morten and Silvia. The Master swept toward us in His long white robes, forever the Divine Shepherd.
'Abdu'l-Bahá greeting guests - 1912
"Friends here" He smiled, "Friends" In His voice was a thrilling joy. With a look that shook my heart, so full was it with the musk of His Love, He rubbed my face hard with the attar of rose. He passed among all the tables with His little vial of perfume in which Grace Robarts swears was almost as full at the end as in the beginning) anointing the forehead of every one there, touching and caressing all our blind faces with His tingling fingers. Then He disappeared for hours. Lua, too, went off alone, an exceedingly naughty purpose in her mind. The Master had just told her that she must leave very soon for California. So now she deliberately walked in poison ivy, walked back and forth and back and forth till her feet were thoroughly poisoned. "Now, Julie," she said when the deed was done "He can't send me to California." To me the most beautiful scene of all came later, when the Master returned to us after dark. About fifty or sixty people had lingered, unable to tear themselves from Him. The Master sat in a chair on the top step of the porch, some of us surrounding Him—dear guilty Lua with her poisoned feet, May, Silvia, Marjorie, and I and a young colored man, Neval Thomas. Below us, all over the lawn, on each side of the path, sat the others, the light summer skirts of the women spread out on the grass, tapers in their hands to keep off mosquitoes. In the dark, in their filmy dresses, they looked like great moths and the burning tips of the tapers they waved like fireflies darting about.
Then the Master spoke again to us. I was standing behind Him, close to Him, and before He began He turned and gave me a long, profound look. His talk of that night has been recorded. It was a resounding Call to us to arise from the tomb of self in this Day of the Great Resurrection and unite around Him to vivify the world. Before He had finished He rose from His chair and started down the path still talking, passing between the dim figures on the grass with their lighted tapers, talking till He reached the road, where He turned and we could no longer see Him. Even then His words floated back to us—the liquid Persian, Ali-Kuli Khan's beautiful, quivering translation, like the sound of a violin string. "Peace be with you," this was the last we heard, "I will pray for you." Oh that Voice that came back out of His invisibility when He had passed beyond our sight. May I always remember, and hear the Voice.
THE DESTINY OF THE TEANECK PROPERTY
The grove has been purchased by the Bahá’ís and is set aside by the Guardian as a permanent memorial to 'Abdu'l-Bahá visit to American in 1912. The Guardian says a monument, not a building, is to be erected. In a Tablet to Roy Wilhelm from 'Abdu'l-Bahá reprinted in Star of the West Vol IV N 14 November 23, 1913 and translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, August 2, 1913 Ramleh, Egypt, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote, “O thou my dear son! Thy letter, dated July 13, 1913, was received. Its contents indicated the firmness and steadfastness of the believers in God and told of the holding of a divine meeting in your radiant charming country place. Praise be unto God, that that day was spent in the utmost joy and happiness. That annual memorial meeting will be the souvenir of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, especially when it is passed with infinite delight and gladness.”
Then the Master spoke again to us. I was standing behind Him, close to Him, and before He began He turned and gave me a long, profound look. His talk of that night has been recorded. It was a resounding Call to us to arise from the tomb of self in this Day of the Great Resurrection and unite around Him to vivify the world. Before He had finished He rose from His chair and started down the path still talking, passing between the dim figures on the grass with their lighted tapers, talking till He reached the road, where He turned and we could no longer see Him. Even then His words floated back to us—the liquid Persian, Ali-Kuli Khan's beautiful, quivering translation, like the sound of a violin string. "Peace be with you," this was the last we heard, "I will pray for you." Oh that Voice that came back out of His invisibility when He had passed beyond our sight. May I always remember, and hear the Voice.
THE DESTINY OF THE TEANECK PROPERTY
The grove has been purchased by the Bahá’ís and is set aside by the Guardian as a permanent memorial to 'Abdu'l-Bahá visit to American in 1912. The Guardian says a monument, not a building, is to be erected. In a Tablet to Roy Wilhelm from 'Abdu'l-Bahá reprinted in Star of the West Vol IV N 14 November 23, 1913 and translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, August 2, 1913 Ramleh, Egypt, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote, “O thou my dear son! Thy letter, dated July 13, 1913, was received. Its contents indicated the firmness and steadfastness of the believers in God and told of the holding of a divine meeting in your radiant charming country place. Praise be unto God, that that day was spent in the utmost joy and happiness. That annual memorial meeting will be the souvenir of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, especially when it is passed with infinite delight and gladness.”
SELECTED STORIES OF THE ANNUAL SOUVENIR UNITY FEAST
The Souvenir of 1918
THE SOUVENIR OF 1919
From an article in Star of the West June 1919-Feb 1921 pp 134-135 by Martha Root are the following exerts.
“The Mystery of God, Abdu'l-Bahá, the living Center of the Covenant on earth today, filled and thrilled all hearts at the eight annual feast held in West Englewood, NJ June 28, 1919. Bahá’ís know Abdu'l-Bahá as the “The Branch” foretold in our Bible. On this feast day of commemoration it was significant that the peace of the world (after WW I) was signed. New York’s bells and whistles rang wild with demonstrations of joy.
Rain and cold had prevailed in the morning, but the sun shone out gloriously warm and bright as some 150 pilgrims assembled. This Eden-like pine grove where Abdu'l-Bahá in 1912 have his first feast to eastern believers, is a natural, living temple of forest charm and woodsy fragrance. Thrushes fearlessly sung there in the heavenly atmosphere. Joyous Bahá’ís brought food for themselves and others, for both dinner and supper. It was a holy feast. Rays of the Holy Spirit reflected the light and love of Bahá’u’lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá upon the polished mirrors of hearts. Faces were full of light; the happiness of everybody made the woods vibrant. Just as in the days of pentecost there was spoken the one tongue - love.
Certainly it was a cosmopolitan feast. They were gathered from nearly every “kindred, and tongue and people and nation.” English, French and Germans were represented. A professor from the Imperial University of Tokyo journing in this county gave a speech on spiritual advancement in this land. A Serbian writer, in his speech explained that although he spoke many European languages fluently, it was only through Esperanto that he could communicate with his brothers in Japan and China. He advocated Esperanto as a universal language and said that Abdu'l-Bahá's life was well known in 107 Esperanto periodicals because Abdu'l-Bahá stood for a Universal language. A Scandinavian present has since translated a booklet descriptive of the Cause into Danish. A Jewish woman spoke eloquently of the uplift to womanhood the Bahá’í Movement had brought. Several Bahá’ís on their way to other states and countries to teach the Cause were introduced and friends were also present from Riverside, New Haven, Bridgeport, Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago. One hundred friends attended the evening meeting in the home of Mr. Roy Wilhelm.
Friends in the afternoon, visited the Bourgeois home near the grove where they were inspired by the marvelously beautiful model of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Temple which Mr. Bourgeois has designed. This model is full of a new splendor which is brought by the using of curves. It is the geometrical line of the starry heavens and the wonderful combinations of line create a living tracery as the pictures of life in activity. It also gives the impression of fire flames, which is the symbol of the greatest aspirations. No one has attempted to describe this great new art which gives the essence of all religious art of the past, uniting it harmoniously with awe and reverence when they behold this model. Some who do not know the teachings when they see the Temple model instinctively exclaim, “I am on holy ground.”
An artist attended the feast a few moments and the next day was so inspired by the spirit of the place she came again to paint it. Without knowing much about the Revelation and nothing of the temple with its circles and curves, she instinctively started painting her picture in circles, something she had never done before. The principal feature of her beautiful canvas is its pathway of light. She did not know that Abdu'l-Bahá had walked this path but she said: “I do not know why, I feel I must make this a pathway of light and glorious sunshine.”
THE SOUVENIR OF 1928
From an article in Star of the West Vol 19 #5 August 1928 pp 147-149 are the following excerpts. “. . .The occasion this year, as in all previous years, was a marked success, for at least three hundred people attended from all parts of the country.
Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, presiding at the afternoon meeting, expressed the desire of all Bahá’ís that the speeches delivered on this memorable occasion should be explanatory of the Bahá’í Teachings, thus all invited guests could join, in thought, with the universal aspects of the program. The entire group, therefore, in its harmonious attitude, magnificently demonstrated the principle of The Oneness of Mankind . . .
The result or effect of the program was well stated by Dr. Susan I. Moody when she declared: "It was, I think, a wonderful and beautiful convocation, and the comprehensive views expressed were of a character to attract people unacquainted with the principles of the Movement. I appreciated the broad scope of the talks very much and tried to conduct my own part of the program along the same universal lines."
Carrying out the plan arranged, the addresses assumed the form of a symposium of the Bahá’í Teachings, each speaker giving a short exposition of some vital principle.
Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, opened the program. His remarks were introductory and he particularly stressed the need of the world for unity, and the necessity of a world program to accomplish it.
He was followed by Mrs. Stuart W. French, of Pasadena, Calif., on the "Independent Investigation of Reality." Her contribution was that to properly investigate the reality at the center of all human activities one needed an adequate vocabulary, as the thorough investigation of any subject required a knowledge of its terminology. She urged that for the investigation of reality along universal lines, the Bahá’í Teachings afforded just such a vocabulary as was needed because the independent search for truth was not only one of its cardinal principles, but the very name "Bahá’í" (of the light) implied a people who were the followers of light wherever it was to be found.
Mr. Louis Gregory, of Washington, D. C., spoke on the principle, "Religion Must be the Cause of Unity," in his unusually earnest and pleasing manner, and was listened to with great attention.
Mrs. May Maxwell, of Montreal, Canada, explained the necessity for the Accord of Religion and Science. She pointed out that, however fanatical their followers may have become, the great Founders of Religion had always encouraged science and learning, and that the Bahá’ís should be especially grateful because science had in this age afforded the facilities for the promulgation of the highest humanitarian ideals.
Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher spoke on the necessity for a Universal Auxiliary Language. He said that he himself especially realized this necessity as he had traveled widely over the world, and while he spoke four or five languages, he had been compelled to learn and appreciate what a tremendous help such a universal language would be.
Mrs. Marie Moore, of New York, read the address by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at West Englewood in 1912. An especially attractive feature of the program this year was the beautiful rendering of the Negro spiritual, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," by Mrs. Dorothy Richardson, of Boston.
An interesting address was delivered by Dr. Haines (colored), Secretary of the Commission on Church Relations of the Federal Council of Churches of America. He dwelt at length on the progress being made in the South in the establishment of a better understanding and a more satisfactory basis for cooperation between the white and colored people, and referred especially to the good feeling and mutuality between the professors of Vanderbilt University (white) and Fisk University (colored) at Nashville, Tenn. He mentioned the fact that when Fisk University had an exhibit of Negro art, the city of Nashville thought it was far too good to be limited to the; University, and asked that when they got through with it the city itself might be permitted to have the Exhibit at the Watkins' Institute. This was done.
A very impressive part of the program was a greeting (read by Mrs. Amelia Collins, member of the National Spiritual Assembly) from Miss Martha Root, Bahá’í teacher now traveling in Europe, who has been absent from America for many years in the interest of the Bahá’í Cause, but who never fails to remember this Annual Souvenir Feast no matter where she may be. She stressed the purpose of such a Feast, what it now means as demonstrating the crystallization of the teachings into deeds, and what will continue to be its deep and still ever deeper spiritual significance as "the hundreds and thousands of meetings shall be held" down through the ages in commemoration of that first wonderful spiritual feast founded here and presided over by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself.
The evening session was addressed by Miss Genevieve Coy, who spoke of the trend of modern education toward universals, and a talk by Mr. Hooper Harris, who urged the necessity for a Universal Tribunal. The special feature, however, was Dr. Susan I. Moody's description of the progress of education in Persia, and especially among the women, and the work of the Tarbiat School. It is interesting to learn that all but two thousand of the twenty thousand dollars for the Lillian Kappes Memorial Fund to pay for the new building for the Tarbiat School has been raised. It is more than interesting, it is inspiring to learn, too, that, although now in her late seventies, Dr. Moody, this noble and accomplished woman, has completed plans to return to Persia in October to continue her work as a physician among the Persian women, and that she is taking with her, for the Tarbiat School, one of California's high-school teachers, Miss Adelaide Sharp, of San Francisco.”
THE SOUVENIR OF 1933
From an article in Bahá’í Magazine August 1933 Volume 24 #5 p. 150
“ . . .A special feature of the day this year was the placing of a marker at the spot in the grove where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood on that memorial day in June 1912, when he addressed the friends assembled at the feast which His bounty had prepared. Beneath the marker, - a small granite stone, - was placed a sealed copper box containing a paper signed by all those present on this occasion who were also present in 1912. The West Englewood Assembly offered this marker as a means to indicate and preserve this hallowed spot pending the erection in the future of a more permanent and adequate expression of loving memory to the one who in 1912 instituted this”good gathering,” this most happy annual occasion. Brief talks were a part of the simple but beautiful ceremony of placing the stone.”
From an article in Star of the West June 1919-Feb 1921 pp 134-135 by Martha Root are the following exerts.
“The Mystery of God, Abdu'l-Bahá, the living Center of the Covenant on earth today, filled and thrilled all hearts at the eight annual feast held in West Englewood, NJ June 28, 1919. Bahá’ís know Abdu'l-Bahá as the “The Branch” foretold in our Bible. On this feast day of commemoration it was significant that the peace of the world (after WW I) was signed. New York’s bells and whistles rang wild with demonstrations of joy.
Rain and cold had prevailed in the morning, but the sun shone out gloriously warm and bright as some 150 pilgrims assembled. This Eden-like pine grove where Abdu'l-Bahá in 1912 have his first feast to eastern believers, is a natural, living temple of forest charm and woodsy fragrance. Thrushes fearlessly sung there in the heavenly atmosphere. Joyous Bahá’ís brought food for themselves and others, for both dinner and supper. It was a holy feast. Rays of the Holy Spirit reflected the light and love of Bahá’u’lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá upon the polished mirrors of hearts. Faces were full of light; the happiness of everybody made the woods vibrant. Just as in the days of pentecost there was spoken the one tongue - love.
Certainly it was a cosmopolitan feast. They were gathered from nearly every “kindred, and tongue and people and nation.” English, French and Germans were represented. A professor from the Imperial University of Tokyo journing in this county gave a speech on spiritual advancement in this land. A Serbian writer, in his speech explained that although he spoke many European languages fluently, it was only through Esperanto that he could communicate with his brothers in Japan and China. He advocated Esperanto as a universal language and said that Abdu'l-Bahá's life was well known in 107 Esperanto periodicals because Abdu'l-Bahá stood for a Universal language. A Scandinavian present has since translated a booklet descriptive of the Cause into Danish. A Jewish woman spoke eloquently of the uplift to womanhood the Bahá’í Movement had brought. Several Bahá’ís on their way to other states and countries to teach the Cause were introduced and friends were also present from Riverside, New Haven, Bridgeport, Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago. One hundred friends attended the evening meeting in the home of Mr. Roy Wilhelm.
Friends in the afternoon, visited the Bourgeois home near the grove where they were inspired by the marvelously beautiful model of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Temple which Mr. Bourgeois has designed. This model is full of a new splendor which is brought by the using of curves. It is the geometrical line of the starry heavens and the wonderful combinations of line create a living tracery as the pictures of life in activity. It also gives the impression of fire flames, which is the symbol of the greatest aspirations. No one has attempted to describe this great new art which gives the essence of all religious art of the past, uniting it harmoniously with awe and reverence when they behold this model. Some who do not know the teachings when they see the Temple model instinctively exclaim, “I am on holy ground.”
An artist attended the feast a few moments and the next day was so inspired by the spirit of the place she came again to paint it. Without knowing much about the Revelation and nothing of the temple with its circles and curves, she instinctively started painting her picture in circles, something she had never done before. The principal feature of her beautiful canvas is its pathway of light. She did not know that Abdu'l-Bahá had walked this path but she said: “I do not know why, I feel I must make this a pathway of light and glorious sunshine.”
THE SOUVENIR OF 1928
From an article in Star of the West Vol 19 #5 August 1928 pp 147-149 are the following excerpts. “. . .The occasion this year, as in all previous years, was a marked success, for at least three hundred people attended from all parts of the country.
Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, presiding at the afternoon meeting, expressed the desire of all Bahá’ís that the speeches delivered on this memorable occasion should be explanatory of the Bahá’í Teachings, thus all invited guests could join, in thought, with the universal aspects of the program. The entire group, therefore, in its harmonious attitude, magnificently demonstrated the principle of The Oneness of Mankind . . .
The result or effect of the program was well stated by Dr. Susan I. Moody when she declared: "It was, I think, a wonderful and beautiful convocation, and the comprehensive views expressed were of a character to attract people unacquainted with the principles of the Movement. I appreciated the broad scope of the talks very much and tried to conduct my own part of the program along the same universal lines."
Carrying out the plan arranged, the addresses assumed the form of a symposium of the Bahá’í Teachings, each speaker giving a short exposition of some vital principle.
Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, opened the program. His remarks were introductory and he particularly stressed the need of the world for unity, and the necessity of a world program to accomplish it.
He was followed by Mrs. Stuart W. French, of Pasadena, Calif., on the "Independent Investigation of Reality." Her contribution was that to properly investigate the reality at the center of all human activities one needed an adequate vocabulary, as the thorough investigation of any subject required a knowledge of its terminology. She urged that for the investigation of reality along universal lines, the Bahá’í Teachings afforded just such a vocabulary as was needed because the independent search for truth was not only one of its cardinal principles, but the very name "Bahá’í" (of the light) implied a people who were the followers of light wherever it was to be found.
Mr. Louis Gregory, of Washington, D. C., spoke on the principle, "Religion Must be the Cause of Unity," in his unusually earnest and pleasing manner, and was listened to with great attention.
Mrs. May Maxwell, of Montreal, Canada, explained the necessity for the Accord of Religion and Science. She pointed out that, however fanatical their followers may have become, the great Founders of Religion had always encouraged science and learning, and that the Bahá’ís should be especially grateful because science had in this age afforded the facilities for the promulgation of the highest humanitarian ideals.
Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher spoke on the necessity for a Universal Auxiliary Language. He said that he himself especially realized this necessity as he had traveled widely over the world, and while he spoke four or five languages, he had been compelled to learn and appreciate what a tremendous help such a universal language would be.
Mrs. Marie Moore, of New York, read the address by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at West Englewood in 1912. An especially attractive feature of the program this year was the beautiful rendering of the Negro spiritual, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," by Mrs. Dorothy Richardson, of Boston.
An interesting address was delivered by Dr. Haines (colored), Secretary of the Commission on Church Relations of the Federal Council of Churches of America. He dwelt at length on the progress being made in the South in the establishment of a better understanding and a more satisfactory basis for cooperation between the white and colored people, and referred especially to the good feeling and mutuality between the professors of Vanderbilt University (white) and Fisk University (colored) at Nashville, Tenn. He mentioned the fact that when Fisk University had an exhibit of Negro art, the city of Nashville thought it was far too good to be limited to the; University, and asked that when they got through with it the city itself might be permitted to have the Exhibit at the Watkins' Institute. This was done.
A very impressive part of the program was a greeting (read by Mrs. Amelia Collins, member of the National Spiritual Assembly) from Miss Martha Root, Bahá’í teacher now traveling in Europe, who has been absent from America for many years in the interest of the Bahá’í Cause, but who never fails to remember this Annual Souvenir Feast no matter where she may be. She stressed the purpose of such a Feast, what it now means as demonstrating the crystallization of the teachings into deeds, and what will continue to be its deep and still ever deeper spiritual significance as "the hundreds and thousands of meetings shall be held" down through the ages in commemoration of that first wonderful spiritual feast founded here and presided over by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself.
The evening session was addressed by Miss Genevieve Coy, who spoke of the trend of modern education toward universals, and a talk by Mr. Hooper Harris, who urged the necessity for a Universal Tribunal. The special feature, however, was Dr. Susan I. Moody's description of the progress of education in Persia, and especially among the women, and the work of the Tarbiat School. It is interesting to learn that all but two thousand of the twenty thousand dollars for the Lillian Kappes Memorial Fund to pay for the new building for the Tarbiat School has been raised. It is more than interesting, it is inspiring to learn, too, that, although now in her late seventies, Dr. Moody, this noble and accomplished woman, has completed plans to return to Persia in October to continue her work as a physician among the Persian women, and that she is taking with her, for the Tarbiat School, one of California's high-school teachers, Miss Adelaide Sharp, of San Francisco.”
THE SOUVENIR OF 1933
From an article in Bahá’í Magazine August 1933 Volume 24 #5 p. 150
“ . . .A special feature of the day this year was the placing of a marker at the spot in the grove where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood on that memorial day in June 1912, when he addressed the friends assembled at the feast which His bounty had prepared. Beneath the marker, - a small granite stone, - was placed a sealed copper box containing a paper signed by all those present on this occasion who were also present in 1912. The West Englewood Assembly offered this marker as a means to indicate and preserve this hallowed spot pending the erection in the future of a more permanent and adequate expression of loving memory to the one who in 1912 instituted this”good gathering,” this most happy annual occasion. Brief talks were a part of the simple but beautiful ceremony of placing the stone.”
THE SOUVENIR TODAY
Each year the last Saturday in June a Souvenir to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is given where congregate from all over Bahá’ís and friends, to commemorate the event which took place in 1912. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writing to Mr Roy Wilhelm gave it its name and Himself expressed pleasure at the institution of this glorious occasion, where is each succeeding year rekindled Great Love for humanity. Here have come people of all walks of life, colors and creeds and gone away happier for the experience. Words can never describe that great joy and universal fellowship which here pervades during the Souvenir - one can indeed feel the Master’s presence.
The meeting is held in front of the rustic cabin erected by Roy just below his home. The cabin was started in 1918 and complete in its present state about 1926. It is now a part of the National Bahá’í Properties. In front are beautiful lawns and shaded by pine and hemlock trees, benches and chairs are placed here and there in a colorful gathering. The event starts around noon and by mid afternoon there is a formal program consisting of: music, prayers, one or several speakers on Bahá’í topics, and the original 1912 talk of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá. The evening talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been recently discovered in the Martha Root archives and was read aloud for the first time in 1992.
The meeting is held in front of the rustic cabin erected by Roy just below his home. The cabin was started in 1918 and complete in its present state about 1926. It is now a part of the National Bahá’í Properties. In front are beautiful lawns and shaded by pine and hemlock trees, benches and chairs are placed here and there in a colorful gathering. The event starts around noon and by mid afternoon there is a formal program consisting of: music, prayers, one or several speakers on Bahá’í topics, and the original 1912 talk of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá. The evening talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been recently discovered in the Martha Root archives and was read aloud for the first time in 1992.
LOUIS BOURGEOIS - Architect of the Wilhelm Properties
Wilmette House of Worship - Designed by Teaneck local, Louis Bourgeois
If Teaneck and particularly that part called West Englewood had only been blessed by the Master’s presence it would have been enough, but just across the road from the Wilhelm home on the site of the Wilbur home, was the rose garden of Louis Bourgeois where ‘Abdu-l Bahá sat and meditated and in the back of the Bourgeois home. This home is doubly distinguished first by the Master spending a night and a day there and then by being the place where Mr Bourgeois was inspired to draw the plans for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár built in Wilmette, Ill, the first in the United States. Here the first plaster model was executed. The roses from the garden were cut and sold to buy the plaster, and in the middle of the night Mr Bourgeois related to the writer, he would wake up with an inspiration and begin to sketch it at the bedside. He always claimed it was not his temple but the inspiration of Bahá’u’lláh. Mr Bourgeois is also the architect of the Wilhelm home and cabin.
AFTERNOON TALK of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on June 29, 1912 at the Wilhelm Property
From Notes by Esther Foster, reprinted in Promulgation of Universal Peace
“This is a delightful gathering; you have come here with sincere intentions, and the purpose of all present is the attainment of the virtues of God. The motive is attraction to the divine Kingdom. Since the desire of all is unity and agreement, it is certain that this meeting will be productive of great results. It will be the cause of attracting a new bounty, for we are turning to the Kingdom of Abha, seeking the infinite bestowals of the Lord. This is a new Day, and this hour is a new Hour in which we have come together. Surely the Sun of Reality with its full effulgence will illumine us, and the darkness of disagreements will disappear. The utmost love and unity will result; the favors of God will encompass us; the pathway of the Kingdom will be made easy. Like candles these souls will become ignited and made radiant through the lights of supreme guidance. Such gatherings as this have no equal or likeness in the world of mankind, where people are drawn together by physical motives or in furtherance of material interests, for this meeting is a prototype of that inner and complete spiritual association in the eternal world of being.
True Bahá’í meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected. In them the lights of the most great guidance are visible. They voice the summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of the angelic hosts to every listening ear. The efficacy of such meetings as these is permanent throughout the ages. This assembly has a name and significance which will last forever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall be held to commemorate this occasion, and the very words I speak to you today shall be repeated in them for ages to come. Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you.
Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you.
Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers.
Rejoice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u’lláh, is directed upon you.
Rejoice, for Bahá’u’lláh is your Protector.
Rejoice, for the everlasting glory is destined for you.
Rejoice, for the eternal life is awaiting you.
How many blessed souls have longed for this radiant century, their utmost hopes and desires centered upon the happiness and joy of one such day as this. Many the nights they passed sleepless and lamenting until the very morn in longing anticipation of this age, yearning to realize even an hour of this time. God has favored you in this century and has specialized you for the realization of its blessings. Therefore, you must praise and thank God with heart and soul in appreciation of this great opportunity and the attainment of this infinite bestowal—that such doors have been opened before your faces, that such abundance is pouring down from the cloud of mercy and that these refreshing breezes from the paradise of Abha are resuscitating you. You must become of one heart, one spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth.
First, you must become united and agreed among yourselves. You must be exceedingly kind and loving toward each other, willing to forfeit life in the pathway of another's happiness. You must be ready to sacrifice your possessions in another's behalf. The rich among you must show compassion toward the poor, and the well-to-do must look after those in distress. In Persia the friends offer their lives for each other, striving to assist and advance the interests and welfare of all the rest. They live in a perfect state of unity and agreement. Like the Persian friends you must be perfectly agreed and united to the extent and limit of sacrificing life. Your utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one must be the servant of the others, thoughtful of their comfort and welfare. In the path of God one must forget himself entirely. He must not consider his own pleasure but seek the pleasure of others. He must not desire glory nor gifts of bounty for himself but seek these gifts and blessings for his brothers and sisters. It is my hope that you may become like this, that you may attain to the supreme bestowal and be imbued with such spiritual qualities as to forget yourselves entirely and with heart and soul offer yourselves as sacrifices for the Blessed Perfection. You should have neither will nor desire of your own but seek everything for the beloved of God and live together in complete love and fellowship. May the favors of Bahá’u’lláh surround you from all directions. This is the greatest bestowal and supreme bounty. These are the infinite favors of God.
EVENING TALK of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
June 29, 1912, Notes by E.C.Mahmud and Translated by Ameen U. Fareed.
“In the books of the historians various happenings have been mentioned. Important and unimportant events have been recorded therein. Profitable and unprofitable events have likewise been registered therein. But in the Divine Books only the important events are recorded - events which are extraordinary. Trifling, unimportant events are not mentioned therein, for by the mention of unimportant events no results are produced. Results are brought about by the exposition of important events. Refer ye to the Holy Bible. All therein recorded are important events - most of them extraordinary. Consequently, were we to consider with the eye of justice, we will see that this gathering here this evening constitutes one of the great events, for it is extraordinary. Were ye to produce all the histories, were ye to soar and examine all the historical books of the world, you would not find a single instance during the past relating of the coming of one from Persia to America speaking the Truth of God - coming here and living with a gathering of people in the utmost love and amity and associating with them in the utmost companionship and fellowship - so much so that the hearts of the people of America were attracted to him and they listened unto his words with the utmost interest. Refer to the history of the world, and no such event as that has been recorded therein.
Praise be to God! Our gathering is the gathering of love and this assemblage of ours is for the sake of unity; this association of ours is in order to bring about and proclaim the oneness of the world of man; these efforts of ours are extended towards quickening eternally the world of humanity; these words that we speak are in order to cause the coming forth of the virtues of the human world. We have no personal desire; we have no essential purpose which is of a selfish nature. We have no material feelings; all our feelings tonight are spiritual; all our purposes this evening are of the Kingdom. Our whole wish consists in the coming forth of the Divine virtues from men. All our wish is to bring about the Guidance of God.
Were one to look fairly, we would say that today upon this planet no such gathering, such an assemblage exists. This gathering is distinguished above all the other gatherings held in the world, because this is a spiritual gathering, a shining gathering, a divine gathering, a heavenly gathering. All of you are turning towards God, and you have no purpose or wish except His Love. All of us are exerting towards benefiting the world of humanity, so that the world of humanity may become illumined, so that the eternal life may become manifest, so that the power of Divinity may come forth, so that the Fragrance of God may become diffused - that the world may become another world, the universal resuscitation may come to pass, the most great resurrection may become manifest, that the dead may be raised, the blind may see, the deaf may hear, the withered may become verdant and refreshing, the sick may receive healing, the ignorant may become knowing, those in darkness may receive light, those earthly may become heavenly. This is our purpose. This is our utmost desire. Our wish is that by the Grace and Providence of God, this most mighty gift may become manifest.
I pray on behalf of you all, and I pray to God to send this most great gift to every individual among you. It is my hope that ye shall become the cause of transforming this material world into another world, so that the teachings of all the prophets may become realized and fulfilled; so that this earthly world may be transformed into the Paradise of Abha.”
“This is a delightful gathering; you have come here with sincere intentions, and the purpose of all present is the attainment of the virtues of God. The motive is attraction to the divine Kingdom. Since the desire of all is unity and agreement, it is certain that this meeting will be productive of great results. It will be the cause of attracting a new bounty, for we are turning to the Kingdom of Abha, seeking the infinite bestowals of the Lord. This is a new Day, and this hour is a new Hour in which we have come together. Surely the Sun of Reality with its full effulgence will illumine us, and the darkness of disagreements will disappear. The utmost love and unity will result; the favors of God will encompass us; the pathway of the Kingdom will be made easy. Like candles these souls will become ignited and made radiant through the lights of supreme guidance. Such gatherings as this have no equal or likeness in the world of mankind, where people are drawn together by physical motives or in furtherance of material interests, for this meeting is a prototype of that inner and complete spiritual association in the eternal world of being.
True Bahá’í meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected. In them the lights of the most great guidance are visible. They voice the summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of the angelic hosts to every listening ear. The efficacy of such meetings as these is permanent throughout the ages. This assembly has a name and significance which will last forever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall be held to commemorate this occasion, and the very words I speak to you today shall be repeated in them for ages to come. Therefore, be ye rejoiced, for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you.
Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you.
Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers.
Rejoice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty, Bahá’u’lláh, is directed upon you.
Rejoice, for Bahá’u’lláh is your Protector.
Rejoice, for the everlasting glory is destined for you.
Rejoice, for the eternal life is awaiting you.
How many blessed souls have longed for this radiant century, their utmost hopes and desires centered upon the happiness and joy of one such day as this. Many the nights they passed sleepless and lamenting until the very morn in longing anticipation of this age, yearning to realize even an hour of this time. God has favored you in this century and has specialized you for the realization of its blessings. Therefore, you must praise and thank God with heart and soul in appreciation of this great opportunity and the attainment of this infinite bestowal—that such doors have been opened before your faces, that such abundance is pouring down from the cloud of mercy and that these refreshing breezes from the paradise of Abha are resuscitating you. You must become of one heart, one spirit and one susceptibility. May you become as the waves of one sea, stars of the same heaven, fruits adorning the same tree, roses of one garden in order that through you the oneness of humanity may establish its temple in the world of mankind, for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the nations of the earth.
First, you must become united and agreed among yourselves. You must be exceedingly kind and loving toward each other, willing to forfeit life in the pathway of another's happiness. You must be ready to sacrifice your possessions in another's behalf. The rich among you must show compassion toward the poor, and the well-to-do must look after those in distress. In Persia the friends offer their lives for each other, striving to assist and advance the interests and welfare of all the rest. They live in a perfect state of unity and agreement. Like the Persian friends you must be perfectly agreed and united to the extent and limit of sacrificing life. Your utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one must be the servant of the others, thoughtful of their comfort and welfare. In the path of God one must forget himself entirely. He must not consider his own pleasure but seek the pleasure of others. He must not desire glory nor gifts of bounty for himself but seek these gifts and blessings for his brothers and sisters. It is my hope that you may become like this, that you may attain to the supreme bestowal and be imbued with such spiritual qualities as to forget yourselves entirely and with heart and soul offer yourselves as sacrifices for the Blessed Perfection. You should have neither will nor desire of your own but seek everything for the beloved of God and live together in complete love and fellowship. May the favors of Bahá’u’lláh surround you from all directions. This is the greatest bestowal and supreme bounty. These are the infinite favors of God.
EVENING TALK of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
June 29, 1912, Notes by E.C.Mahmud and Translated by Ameen U. Fareed.
“In the books of the historians various happenings have been mentioned. Important and unimportant events have been recorded therein. Profitable and unprofitable events have likewise been registered therein. But in the Divine Books only the important events are recorded - events which are extraordinary. Trifling, unimportant events are not mentioned therein, for by the mention of unimportant events no results are produced. Results are brought about by the exposition of important events. Refer ye to the Holy Bible. All therein recorded are important events - most of them extraordinary. Consequently, were we to consider with the eye of justice, we will see that this gathering here this evening constitutes one of the great events, for it is extraordinary. Were ye to produce all the histories, were ye to soar and examine all the historical books of the world, you would not find a single instance during the past relating of the coming of one from Persia to America speaking the Truth of God - coming here and living with a gathering of people in the utmost love and amity and associating with them in the utmost companionship and fellowship - so much so that the hearts of the people of America were attracted to him and they listened unto his words with the utmost interest. Refer to the history of the world, and no such event as that has been recorded therein.
Praise be to God! Our gathering is the gathering of love and this assemblage of ours is for the sake of unity; this association of ours is in order to bring about and proclaim the oneness of the world of man; these efforts of ours are extended towards quickening eternally the world of humanity; these words that we speak are in order to cause the coming forth of the virtues of the human world. We have no personal desire; we have no essential purpose which is of a selfish nature. We have no material feelings; all our feelings tonight are spiritual; all our purposes this evening are of the Kingdom. Our whole wish consists in the coming forth of the Divine virtues from men. All our wish is to bring about the Guidance of God.
Were one to look fairly, we would say that today upon this planet no such gathering, such an assemblage exists. This gathering is distinguished above all the other gatherings held in the world, because this is a spiritual gathering, a shining gathering, a divine gathering, a heavenly gathering. All of you are turning towards God, and you have no purpose or wish except His Love. All of us are exerting towards benefiting the world of humanity, so that the world of humanity may become illumined, so that the eternal life may become manifest, so that the power of Divinity may come forth, so that the Fragrance of God may become diffused - that the world may become another world, the universal resuscitation may come to pass, the most great resurrection may become manifest, that the dead may be raised, the blind may see, the deaf may hear, the withered may become verdant and refreshing, the sick may receive healing, the ignorant may become knowing, those in darkness may receive light, those earthly may become heavenly. This is our purpose. This is our utmost desire. Our wish is that by the Grace and Providence of God, this most mighty gift may become manifest.
I pray on behalf of you all, and I pray to God to send this most great gift to every individual among you. It is my hope that ye shall become the cause of transforming this material world into another world, so that the teachings of all the prophets may become realized and fulfilled; so that this earthly world may be transformed into the Paradise of Abha.”
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