July 8, 1912: The Week Ahead 1
IT HAS BEEN A sweltering weekend in New York… ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is visiting the Museum of Natural History this afternoon [July 6].
In the week ahead: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visits the Museum, has lots to say about raising children, and speaks on the binding power of religion at All Souls Unitarian Church in Manhattan.
New York City 2
During the sweltering July days ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued to receive the friends from morning until night, working with the Bahá’ís to deepen them, and to raise them up into a divine army that might spiritually conquer the world. He often prepared meals for them, prayed with them, walked with them in the garden near His house, notified the Eastern friends of the victories, introduced newcomers to the faith, spoke before large audiences—giving of Himself in ways that would drain away ordinary physical energy, and, with the giving, demonstrating the example of never-ending sacrifice. He urged the unity of the friends and deepened them in the history and the Teachings of the Faith, using many hours for explanations, and illustrations. At all times He reflected, like a many-faceted divine diamond, the various attributes which were part of the single light of God, descending on Him through the Blessed Perfection, Bahá’u’lláh.
Monday, July 8, 1912 3
After His prayers, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called to Him, one by one, the friends, old and new, who had assembled at His house. Each had a particular request or question. They came into His presence and each had a portion of this bounty. Mr Hoar’s family was invited to dine at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s home. As it was very warm and because of His heavy schedule, the Master did not get any rest until the afternoon when He went for a walk in a park adjacent to His house. He walks in the park, situated on the bank of the river, every day. Mr Moxey described ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s walks in that park in a beautiful poem.
Several friends came to see the Master in the afternoon. The name of Mr Barakat’u’lláh of India was mentioned. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“This man culls the teachings of the blessed Cause and publishes them in the name of Islam in the illusive hope of building an imaginary castle and of deriving some profit by deceiving the Muslims. But in the long run he will see nothing but manifest loss.”
At the public meeting this evening ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk was on the dual nature of man. He said: ‘There are two natures in man. The realization of human virtues and perfections depends on the ascendancy of the spiritual over the animal nature in him.’
Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York, 6 July 1912 4
By what means can man acquire these things? How shall he obtain these merciful gifts and powers? First, through the knowledge of God. Second, through the love of God. Third, through faith. Fourth, through philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice. Sixth, through severance from this world. Seventh, through sanctity and holiness. Unless he acquires these forces and attains to these requirements, he will surely be deprived of the life that is eternal. But if he possesses the knowledge of God, becomes ignited through the fire of the love of God, witnesses the great and mighty signs of the Kingdom, becomes the cause of love among mankind and lives in the utmost state of sanctity and holiness, he shall surely attain to second birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy everlasting existence.
’Abdu’l-Bahá in America, 1912-2012: Calling America to It’s Spiritual Destiny
‘Abdu’l-Bahá walks every day in the park near His house
Celebrating the Centenary: The Master in America
Curated by Anne Perry
- Menon, Jonathan. “Beating The Heat.” 239 Days in America, 8 July 2012, http://stagingtwo39.wpengine.com/2012/07/08/beating-the-heat/. ↩
- Ward, Allan L. 239 Days: ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s Journey in America. Wilmette, Ill: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1979, 109. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá, and Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani. Mahmúd’s Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling ’Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey to America. Edited by Shirley Macias. Translated by Mohi Sobhani. Oxford: George Ronald, 1998. https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary&chapter=5#section106 ↩
- ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 226. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/16#680242439 ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 