Appendix 1

New (actually old) information that I've found recently.

Searching through some old LSA files I found what looks like an early transcript/translation of Mahmud's Diary with a different sequence of events.

The current print version of the Diary mentions the following (see 2- The basic source):

"Upon leaving the meeting, He gave ten pounds for the poor. Later, sitting in Professor Black's home (the note says the name was unclear "and could be Blake.) surrounded by admirers, He showered kindness upon all. The professor accompanied the Master to the town of Worcester, located about 50 miles from Boston. "

This led me to question the fact that he rested at Blakeslee's house in Boston THEN left for Worcester.  But is is unlikely since a couple of paragraphs later it specifically states:

"In two hours we reached Worcester. The Master accepted the professor's invitation to rest for a while in his home. After tea Abdu'l-Baha went to the meeting at the university, "

The document that I recently found contains the following:

"When leaving He gave Ten Pounds (English money) towards the help of the poor.  He sat in the automobile of Professor ------------- which was surrounded by the people.  He showed kindness to all.  The said Professor accompanied the Blessed One to the town of ---------- which is a distance of fifty miles from Boston ........."


Unfortunately there's no date on this document but it was found among other documents with dates ~ 1970's (a couple of decades earlier than the current translation/edition of the Diary of 1997), so I'm guessing that this is a translation of an early Farsi edition, probably made around the same time that the Talk was translated and given to Clark U. in 1971. 

This could answer my question about "a house in Boston" and where was it that The Master went before traveling to Worcester, and after visiting the Denison House.

20 - The End

I conclude this blog on the day that I learned that my spiritual father passed away.  He brought me to the Baha'í faith.  He called me at home  early 2008 and my life changed after that.  I sorely miss you, Pete.


This is all I know about this significant event, the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to our town.  He was here! It happened 100 years ago!

I'd appreciate, on behalf of the Baha'í Community of Worcester, MA, if anybody could share any extra piece of information around this topic. As I find more info, I'll publish it as it comes.


Thanks for accompanying me in this journey.  Thanks Master.  Thanks Peter.

Dedicated to Peter Richt.

19- 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Blakeslee IV - The Conclussion

The "First Contact" between The Master and Prof. Blakeslee - This is the point is where I'm still lacking a meaningful source.  So far I only have circumstantial evidence about it.

Worcester has the distinct honor of having been visited by The Master, and it seems like a sizable number of people were able to listen to him.  Did this contact with the community started a spark?

Abdu’l-Bahá returning to his home on Haparsim
  Street in Haifa, Israel. Source: Baha'i Media Bank

Some questions left without answers:

1. Did Blakeslee have a house in Boston?  Where was it that The Master went before traveling to Worcester, and after visiting the Denison House? (see Parts "2 - The basic source" and  "10- Discussion/thoughts II").  I'm hoping the friends in Boston have something more about this.
2.  Which is the lake that 'Abdu'l-Bahá stopped to admire during his trip?   It must likely is either Cochituate Lake in Natick or Sudbury Reservoir in Framingham (see Part "10- Discussion/thoughts II").  Maybe the friends in Framingham have an idea about this.
3.  Was there any special motivation for Prof. Blakeslee to invite 'Abdu'l-Bahá?  I'm in the process checking and re-checking the papers of Prof. Blakeslee at the archives of Clark University.  I plan to check the papers of the president of the university, Stanley Hall, also, assuming that he left something written before/after the talk.
4. When and how did the invitation reach The Master? Maybe somewhere in somebody's archives there's a copy of this letter/communication.  The future will tell.
5. Did Prof. Blakeslee and The Master meet before this day? Where?
6. Many years ago, the friends in Worcester used to have a ceremony to commemorate the visit which involved a visit to Crystal Park (in front of Clark U., across Main Street ) like "walking the Master's path" (that's my title).  Did 'Abdu-l'Bahá visit the park? or did he go directly from the gymnasium to the reception at the president's house then back to Cambridge?

18- 'Abdu-l-Bahá and Blakeslee III (Lake Mohonk)

The Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration was a "per invitation" very famous peace conference.  'Abdu'l-Bahá was invited to participate and he arrived May 14th and stayed until the 16th, 1912.

Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America

In her book Abdu'l-Bahá in New York: The City of the Covenant ,  Eliane Lacroix-Hopson mentions:

"In 1911, 'Abdu'l-Bahá had exchanged correspondence with Mr. Albert Smiley, Founder and President of the Conference... He had been invited to be the featured speaker at the 18th Annual Conference and the Master had scheduled His visit to the United States to include this important event.

      These Conferences were attended by prominent people of New York, Washington DC, and other cities and countries. 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke on the first day on "The Oneness of the Reality of Humankind." Many in attendance were impressed and came on the platform to thank Him, some embracing Him with emotion."

Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America

According to Mahmud's diary

"This conference was the greatest of all the peace conferences in America. It was held in a most ideal location and many dignitaries and delegates from various countries had been invited to attend. Lake Mohonk is four hours away from New York by train. At the train station special landaus were waiting to take the guests to the conference site. The Master took one of these and went to the Hotel Lake Mohonk. He praised the beauty of the place and the scenic grandeur of the route as His carriage drove for about an hour amidst green valleys, wooded hills, woodlands, waterfalls and natural springs."

Prof. Blakeslee did not attend the conference, nor he could have read the talk ahead of time since the conference was only about a week before to his visit to Worcester.  But he probably knew of The Master's presence, and my guess is that around this time he might have done some effort to send him an invitation, knowing that he will be in the vicinity.

17- 'Abdu-l-Bahá and Blakeslee II (London Congress)

Source: Open Library

`Abdu'l-Bahá had been invited to speak at the Universal Races Congress in London (July 26-29, 1911) while he was in Egypt, but couldn't attend. He sent two letters to the congress one apologizing for not attending and another was an actual tablet.  Both have been published in Star of the West Vol.2 #9 pages 3-5.  The proceedings of the congress shown on the left printed the tablet as well as an introduction by the chairman.  Also, both has been published in the following blog Bahaistravelwest (thanks to the anonymous author).

Did Blakeslee attend this conference and was impressed by The Master's tablet? Or did he read the publication afterward? From the publication it's not clear his attendance, although he is listed as part of the "HON. GENERAL COMMITTEE".  So it is very likely it was there that he heard the message of `Abdu'l-Bahá and the Baha'i cause in Persia for the first time, remember that his focus was more on the Far East.

16- 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Blakeslee I

What was the series of event that culminated in a visit from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Worcester?  How did Prof. Blakeslee meet The Master?

At first I wondered whether Blakeslee was Baha'í or whether he had any Baha'í friend in Worcester.  After all the National Convention was held in Worcester in 1924, and Florence Morton, a Worcester Baha'ís, was then elected treasurer of the NSA, therefore there must have been a thriving Baha'í community in Worcester, right?  Wrong!

According to Roger M. Dahl, archivist at the National Baha'i Archives,  

"The earliest membership lists are from 1916 but George Blakeslee was not found on any of the early membership lists. We also do not have any Bahá’ís listed as living in Worcester in 1916." 

The first Baha'is are not recorded in the membership files of National until 1920, these were (again, from Roger Dahl)  

"Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Struven, Arthur Hathaway. The following Bahá’ís are listed in Worcester in the 1922 membership list: Arthur A. Hathaway, Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Struven, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Green, Ellen M. Burt."

1910-Charles Mason Remey, seated second from left and
Howard Struven,second from right, with some eastern believers.

Source: Worldwide Community of Baha'u'llah

I don't want to imply that these people barely became Baha'is in 1920. Howard C. Struven, along with Mr. Charles Mason Remey, had been traveling around the word in 1909 visiting Baha'i communities in Hawaii, Japan, India, Burma, etc. and even visited The Master in Acca (Star of the West, vol. 2 #1).  More on these early Baha'is in a latter post.





A very significant clue came from a friend in Spain (Amín Egea), he told me:

"Regarding Blakeslee, as you probably know he was a pacifist. He launched the Journal of International Relations and launched a series of conferences at Clark university at which he invited personalities of his time to speak about social and peace issues. He was quite famous for this and his conferences, after the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference, were second in importance in the USA in what regards the peace movement.

At the Universal Races Congress (London 1911) one of the speakers spoke of him and his work for peace. And when the proceedings were published Blacksleee briefly mentioned ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s tablet to that congress in a review of it. So he knew the  Faith before the Master visited the USA."

15- Prof. Blakeslee

Source: China and the Far East
September 13 - 19, 1909

"George Hubbard Blakeslee taught history and international relations at Clark University from 1903 until his retirement in 1943. Dr. Blakeslee created and edited the first journal devoted to the study of international relations: the Journal of Race Development (it was later renamed the Journal of International Relations and in 1922 it merged with Foreign Affairs). He also founded at Clark University in 1909 a pioneering series of conferences about international relations." 

Born in New State on August 27, 1871, he later graduated  and obtained a master degree from Wesleyan University (1897).  He later continued studying at  "Leipzig University and Oxford University between 1901 and 1903. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1903."
He passed away in Worcester on May 5, 1954.

Mahmud's diary says ".....sitting in Professor Blacks's home surrounded by admirers, He showered kindness upon all. The professor accompanied the Master to the town of Worcester, located about 50 miles from Boston."  Did Prof Blakeslee have a house in Boston?    According to a friend, Lisa Welter:

"A US Federal census search for George H. Blakeslee  found him living at 24 Richards Street, Worcester with his wife Edna in 1910. By 1920, he's living at 21 Downing with wife Edna and three children, George, Frank and Edith.."   

It seems unlikely that he had a home so far from his work place (specially in those years, where a 50 mile trip would probably take over 2 hours, unless it was some relative's or friend's. He did get a degree at Harvard, so he had acquaintances around the area.(nowadays I do know that some Clark professors actually live in the Boston-Cambridge area).

Blakeslee's signature
Source: (I'd better don't say)

Prof. Blakeslee was an "orientalist".  His focus of research was mostly the Far East. Some of his books have been digitized, and are easily found doing a web search (Barnes & Noble offers lots of them free for their e-reader).  He doesn't seem to have written much (if anything) about the Middle East, specially Persia (from what I've found so far, please correct me if I'm wrong).  So, how come did he invite 'Abdu'l-Bahá to come to Clark?  And how come The Master acceded to come with such a busy schedule? (he already had two commitments in Boston and Cambridge)  Was Blakeslee a Baha'i? Did he know any Baha'i living in Worcester?  These are some of the questions that I've been dealing with since last Summer.  Some answers and hypotheses in the next blog.  Stay tuned.



Biographical sources:  Archives and Special Collections at Clark University and Wikipedia

14- Clark University II

Clark University campus ~1920. 
Center right Crystal Park is visible.

Source: Archives and Special Collections,
Goddard Library, Clark University

In 1912, by the time of the visit of 'Abdu-l-Bahá the physical plant university consisted primarily of the first building, Jonas Clark Hall the science building, and the library (now Jefferson Academic Center). 

Jonas Clark Hall, early 1900's (Science Building on the left)
Source: Archives and Special Collections,
Goddard Library, Clark University

'Abdu-l-Bahá's talk was given in the gymnasium that was locate in the basement of Jonas Clark Hall.  Eventually this became the women's gym when men got a larger facility.  Nowadays some structure of the old gym (poles) can be seen when you enter the building through the front door (room 001).

Source: Archives and Special Collections,
Goddard Library, Clark University

The president's house (on the Northeast of Jonas Clark Hall; where the current library is located).  This might have been the place for the reception after the talk.

This house was torn down in the 1960's to make space for the new Goddard Library.

Modern day Jonas Clark Hall and campus green.  Can you find Eugenio in the picture? (hint: I used to teach there 2001-2006)  Can you also find Sigmund Freud?

Sincere thanks to Fordyce Williams, Coordinator of Archives and Special Collections of Goddard Library for her help and making available these great images.

13- Clark University I

Jonas Clark Hall, Summer 2011
(I took that picture!)

Clark University was founded in 1887 by Jonas Clark "as the first all-graduate school in the United States. Until Clark instituted undergraduate programs in 1902, the university offered only Ph.D.-granting programs.  G. Stanley Hall, professor of psychology and pedagogy at Johns Hopkins University, is appointed the first president of the University"  

The first students (all male) started in 1989, the first female student was admitted in 1896, and the first African-American in 1909.   In 1900 the founder, died leaving an endowment for the founding of Clark College which started in 1902 and Carroll D. Wright, U.S. Commissioner of Labor, is the first president of the college.  The first undergraduate women didn't enroll until 1942.

Granville Stanley Hall (1844 –1924)
Source: Wikipedia

In 1909  "programs celebrating Clark University's 20th anniversary bring eminent scholars to Clark, including Carl Jung and, of course, Sigmund Freud. It was Freud's only visit to America."

In 1910 "Professors George Blakeslee, hailed as one of the founders of the field of international relations, and G. Stanley Hall edit the first Journal of Race Relations, which later becomes the Journal of International Relations. It is the first scholarly journal dedicated to international relations."

Sources: About Clark.  and  Historical timeline

12 - A prayer

O God! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow—assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs of guidance. 

O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thy angels, make me victorious in the promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the helper of the weak and the defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained. 

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá 

Calligraphy by Mishkín-Qalam (1826-1912)

 

11- Comments on newspaper articles

About the "Before" articles"
1- *The talk was advertized for 4 PM
2- The Telegram article compared the Baha'is to the Mormons a couple of times
3- They got the business of The Bab all messed up
4- Many other details are also wrong.  I hope nowadays reporters are not that bad!
5- They're looking forward to seeing Him in some exotic clothing :-)
6- *He was invited by Prof. Blakeslee, chair of the history dept.

About the "After" articles
1- The clothes did make an impact on the reporters
2- Still got The Bab thing wrong
3- *He talked to ~500 people

4- The Master is 65 to 68 years old (that day was actually his 68th birthday)
5- *The talk was given at the Gymnasium
6- *After the talk there was a reception at the president's house
7- In Persia "59 per cent of the people are member of the new faith."!!!  I didn't know the Baha'is were the majority of the population :-)

*  These points are important (in my opinion) to reconstruct the series/sequence of events

10- About the trip to Worcester

Several observations from Mahmud's diary:

Source: http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/denison.html

1- The trip happened after lunch at the the Greek Syrian Relief Society (church?), which used to be hosted at the Denison House in Boston according to a booklet shared by the Boston Baha'is ("In the Steps of The Master)

 2- It latter mentions sitting in the home of Prof.
Black that latter accompanied him to Worcester.  This must be Prof. Blakeslee (the editors of the books were not cleared about the name and thought it might be Blake).  I need to find out if he had a home in Boston. (more on Prof. Blakeslee later)

 

Route 9 (black) and Route 20 (Red)

3- It mentions about his trip that he asked the driver to stop several times, which means that he traveled by car (there was already train connection Boston-Worcester).  There were two major routes at the time joining the two cities: the Boston-Worcester Turnpike (Route 9) and the Old Boston Post Road (Route 20).  The first one is straighter and only about 35 miles between Boston-Worcester, I can't imagine, even today, taking route 20 which is 44 miles to Worcester and arrives in the southern part of the town, unless the condition of the surfaces were significantly different.

Lakes along both routes

 4- They stopped, at the Master's requests, at the shore of a lake to admire "the greenness of the landscape, the translucence of the water and the purity of the air".  Along Route 9 there are 3 significant lakes, coming from Boston they are Lake Cochituate (in Natick), Foss reservoir, known then as No. 3(in Framingham) , and Sudbury reservoir (in Southborough).  On Route 20 there is only one significant lake, Williams pond in Marlborough  (there are hundreds of little ponds  along both routes, but they rarely cross the roads, so it would be very hard to spot from the roads).  There's also Quinsigamond lake between Shrewsbury and Worcester that both routes cross (although at the route 9 crossing it's much wider and deep).

These maps were made with current data, the surroundings have changed from 1912, but the actual locations of routes 9 and 20 haven't changed much for what I've been able to find in old maps, and the lakes/reservoirs already existed in 1912.

Landsat image of Massachusetts. Water bodies show up black, cities in magenta
Source: http://geology.com/county-map/massachusetts.shtml

9- Discussion/thoughts I

Well, that pretty much concludes the current body of original information I have.  I need to start analyzing what I got and putting together "the story".

The points that I need to complete are:

1- Timeline of the trip
2- Route taken in the trip
3- Environment at Worcester/Clark University
4- Who was Prof. Blakeslee? Why did he invite 'Abdu'l-Bahá?
5- Was there any Baha'i in Worcester in 1912?
6- anything else?

Stay tuned.

8- Magazine article - After

Clark College Monthly. Vol. 1 No. 10 (June 1912). Page 544

 Source: Clark University's Archives and Special Collections Department, Robert H. Goddard Library. Worcester, MA. May 26, 2011.

Abdul Baha's Address

On the afternoon of Thursday, May 23, Abdul Baha, otherwise known as Abbas Effendi, leader of an extensive religious movement which was started in Persia over fifty years ago by "the Bab," gave an address in the gymnasium under the auspices of the history department. He spoke of science and its achievements in enabling man to solve mysteries and make intellectual progress, and expressed the hope that science will one day cement together by uniting the various religions, which are all ultimately based on one reality.

7- Newspaper articles - After the Talk

The Worcester Evening Gazette – Friday, May 24, 1912 – Page 8, Col. 3 

BAB RELIGION’S
LEADER TALKS TO
CLARK STUDENTS

Abdul Baha Abbas of the
Orient Also Pleads
for Science

    Clothed in Oriental costume of rich colors and his head ornamented by a glossy white turban, Abbas Effendi, or Abdul Baha Abbas, head of the new Bab religion recently arisen in the Orient, spoke to an audience of 500 yesterday afternoon in Clark university. He was a man of striking and stately bearing, and made a picturesque figure as he talked in his Persian robes.

    He had an interpreter with him, Dr. Ameen Ullah Fareed, as he was not himself familiar with English. He was introduced by Dr. George H. Blakeslee, head of the department of history, of Clark college, who arranged for the address. The Bab, as he is known officially by his followers, said little about the religion he professes, but he was rich in praise of science and the universities, declaring that in science lay the hope of ultimate solidarity for the human race.

    He said that science enables man to go beyond natural law, and it has given to the world its great array of scholars distinguished above their fellows, to whom he paid tribute. The scholar's sovereignty, he declared, is superior to that of the king. "May science proclaim the wonders of humankind," said the Bab, "may it bring about universal peace, may it cement the hearts of men together, may it make of all countries one fatherland, and may it unite all religions according to the fundamental conceptions of reality; and all religion is founded on one reality."

    The Bab gave a reception in President Hall's home after his talk, and a number met him there. 

 Worcester Evening Post    Friday May 24, 1912, page 3 columns 1 & 2

HEAD OF NEW RELIGION

CLARK COLLEGE SPEAKER

    About 500 persons interested in theology and philosophy listened to an interesting talk given in Clark college gymnasium yesterday afternoon, by Abdul Baha Abbas, head of the Bab religion, a new oriental faith that is said to have gained hundreds of thousands of converts in the United States and millions in the near east.
    The Bab, as the leader is called by followers of the faith, wore a characteristic Persian costume, flowing robes and snowwhite turban. He is 65 years old and
claims to have passed more than 50 years in prison in Akka, Persia.
    The religion of which he is the leading exponent had its beginning in 1944 in Persia.  The originator, who proclaimed himself the herald of the mighty one who was to be the Bab, was executed in 1855. Thousands of followers are said to have suffered death from persecution since that time.
    The present Bab, Abbas Effendi, or Abdul Baha Abbas, does not speak English and his remarks yesterday were interpreted by Dr. Ammen Ullah Fareed, his interpreter.
    He was introduced by Prof. George H. Blakeslee, head of the history department of Clark university.  His talk was devoted more to science than to a description of the new religion.

Worcester Telegram 2nd edition, Friday May 24, 1912.  

Source: Copy from Worcester LSA, the 2nd edition of the paper is not available at Worcester Public Library :-(

NEW FAITH HEAD HEARD

------------------

Abdul Baha Abbas at Clark College

----------------------

TOUCHES BUT LIGHTLY ON RELIGION

-------------------

Pays Tribute to Science and Universities

-------------------

     Abdul Baha Abbas, head of the Bab religion, the new Oriental faith which has already gained hundreds of thousands of convert in the United States, as well as millions in the near East, spoke yesterday afternoon in the Clark college gymnasium before an audience of 500 men and women interested in theology and philosophy.

    The Bab, as the followers of the faith term the leader, was clothed in the flowing robes of his native country, Persia, and were a gleaming white turban, which gave him an air peculiarly venerable and reverential.

    He is 65 years old and has passed more than 50 years of his life in prison in Persia in the town of Akka.  The religion of which he is the head had its start in 1844 in Persia in which country nearly 59 per cent of the people are member of the new faith.  A Persian proclaimed himself the herald of the mighty one, who was to be the Bab and would embody the revelation of God for the present day.

    The one who started the religion was executed in 1855.

    since then it is estimated that as many as 10,000 of his followers have suffered death by persecution.  Soon after the death of the founder of the religion, one of his followers proclaimed himself as

(Unfortunately I don't have the end of this article)

6- Newspapers - Before the talk

Worcester Evening Gazette, Tuesday, May 21, 1912.  Page 2 column 1.

Source: Worcester, MA Public Library.

ABBAS EFFENDI COMING TO GIVE TALK AT CLARK

Head of Bahamism Visits This City on Thursday Afternoon.

    His excellency, Abbas Effendi or Abdul Baha, by which name he is most popularly known, will make an address presenting the main points of the religious faith of which he is leader, at Clark university on Thursday, May 23, at 4 p. m.

    Abdul Baha is making a short tour in this country in the interests of his faith, which has many followers the world over.  To those who know of him through his work, he is a character that is held in absolute veneration and with deepest affection.  To those who have not known of this great religion, it affords an opportunity of listening to a man who has built up a religion under the most adverse circumstances.

     Bahamism began in Persian in the early 30s and 40s and was known as the Bab religion.  The followers were persecuted and the Bab was executed in 1850. Baha Ullah, from whom the religion gets its name, is the father of Abdul Baha.  The followers were fearfully persecuted so that those who did join its ranks did so only because it had something for them, and in this way only the strongest men came, for they knew the penalty.  Despite this fact, it has grown until now it has millions of followers and several hundred thousands in the United States.

    They believe that all religions are in a way revelations of divine truth, and theirs combines all customary religious teachings of Christianity with a greater liberality.  They emphasize the brotherhood of races, love, charity, sacrifice, kindliness, universal peace and language.

    Abdul Baha is 68 yeas old and was in prison at Akka, Asia Minor, for 40 years under the Turkish government.  He was released within the last three or four years from the place where, during his whole imprisonment, he directed the teachings of this vast throng.

    This affords a wonderful opportunity for the public to listen to a man who has stirred so many millions. He will probably be dressed in his native garb.

    The address will be under the direction of the department of history of Clark university, and arrangements have been made through the efforts of Prof. George H. Blakeslee. 

Worcester Telegram 2nd edition, Wednesday, May 22, 1912.  

Source: Copy from Worcester LSA, the 2nd edition of the paper is not available at Worcester Public Library :-(

ABDUL BABA TO SPEAK.

Great Religious Teacher Will Talk at Clark University Thursday.

    Abdul Baba, or Abbas Effendi, as he is called by his millions of followers, the holy head of the Bab or Bahai religion, will speak at Clark university at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon.

    Professor George H. Blakeslee, head of the department of history, received word yesterday morning that his eminence would be able to address the students at that hour.

    The Bab religion has had on of the most phenomenal developments of any of the new religions of modern times, and its rapid growth is comparable to that of non of the more modern faiths unless it be Mormonism.

    The fact that in a few decades the followers of the original Bab have come to be numbered in millions and have missionaries in most of the civilized world, including this country, fore there are missionaries in Chicago and a church there, has aroused the interest of theologists and students of religious sociology all over the world.

    The Bab religion started in 1844 in Persia, in which country nearly 50 percent of the people are followers of that faith.  A Persian, by the name of Bab, proclaimed himself the herald of a might one, who was to be a Persian, and would come in the future.

    The Bab, so-called, was executed by religious fanatics in 1850.  soon after one of his followers announced himself as being the might one who the Bab had said would come and the revelation of God for the present day.  He died in 1892, and the present Bab, Abbas Effendi, is now at the head of the church, and is supposed to be possessed with divine faculties.  He has been imprisoned in Persia for 50 years, but was liberated during the young Turks' revolution of 1908.

    The Babbists would found a universal faith, laying great stress on the brotherhood of man.  To become a member of their faith they do not demand that a person alienate himself from other religious bonds.  Like the Mormons, they believe that the Baba religion is the most recent revelation of god.

    Among the things which they would bring about are the abolition of all war, an international tribunal for the settlement of disputes between nations, and universal language.  They are not explicit as to immortality and future life. Although they have been much persecuted in Persia, they have sh own a remarkable fortitude, great devotion and heroism, and their missionaries have been successful everywhere.

    Abdul Baba is now in this country visiting those who are followers of the faith, and stimulating the work of those who desire to propagate the new religion in this country.  His person is supposed to be endowed with a peculiar sanctity and he is highly revered by those who profess the Bab.  It is claimed that in this country alone the efforts of the missionaries have converted over 100, 000 people.

    The Bab is 68 years old.  He will speak in his native costume.

5- The Talk (another version)

The following source cites parts of the talk.  Its source is a document published in Egypt.

“First we speak of logical proofs”::
Discourse of knowledge in the Bahá’í writings

by Franklin Lewis

Published in Baha'i Studies Review, 10, pages 51-74
Association for Baha'i Studies English-Speaking Europe, 2001

Click to go to source

On May 23, 1912, at Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts, `Abdu'l-Bahá had used almost identical words. This talk is not included in translation in Promulgation of Universal Peace; a provisional rendering therefore follows the transliterated Persian: 

Pas ma`lum shod ke `elm a`zam-e manáqeb-e `álam-e ensani ast. `Elm `ezzat-e abadi ast, `elm hayát-e sarmadi ast...
Zirá `elm anvár ast va shakhs-e `álem mesl-e qendil-e derakhshande va tábán. Jami`-e khalq mayyet-and va `olamá zende...
Masháhir-e `olamá'e salaf rá moláheze konid ke setáre-ye `ezzat-eshán az ofoq-e abadi derakhshande ast va tá abad al-ábád báqi va bar qarár. Leházá neháyat-e sorur rá dáram ke dar in dár al-fonun házer-am. Omid-am chonán ast ke in markaz `azim shavad va be-anvár-e `olum jami`-e áfáq rá rowshan konad, kur há rá biná konad... Zirá `elm nur ast va jahl zolmat [41]

[So it is evident that knowledge is the greatest of the virtues of the human world. Knowledge is eternal might, knowledge is everlasting life... for knowledge is rays of light and the learned person is like a bright and shining lamp. All creatures are as dead, and the learned (`olamá) alive...Consider the famous learned ones of the past and how the star of their might shines from the horizon of eternity and will remain fixed and undying from the beginning to the end of eternity. Therefore, I am extremely happy to be in this academy (dár al-fonun).[42] My hope is that this centre will become great and illumine all horizons with the lights of knowledge (`olum), give sight to the blind... for knowledge is light and ignorance is darkness...] 

During the course of this same talk, `Abdu'l-Bahá praised the academic institutions of the United States, colleges and technical universities (madáres-e dár al-fonun-há). He expressed the hope that other countries would follow this example and establish schools for the training of children, and raise the banner of knowledge so that the world of humanity would be illuminated and the realities and mysteries of all beings become apparent and prejudices be dispelled.[43] Since these same institutions were champions of academic methodologies (sometimes considered materialist methodologies) and upheld theories, such as evolution, that were opposed by religious orthodoxy, `Abdu'l-Bahá's comments, in the context of those days, suggests support for such methodologies.

4- The talk

The talk first published in Anne Perry's blog since it was rediscovered in Clark University's archives in 2011.  The original source of this talk is published in Star of the West in Farsi.  I'm still searching which volume/issue, but that will be a little hard given my ignorance in Persian :-(

‘ABDU'L-BAHA

at

CLARK UNIVERSITY:

MAY 23, 1912

('Abdu'l-Bahá’s remarks on this occasion were impromptu: apparently only a visit to Clark University had been planned, but upon receiving a very cordial welcome from a waiting assemblage of about 500 students and faculty, He responded with a brief speech. As was usually the case, His remarks were recorded by a secretary. These were later printed, in Persian, in star of the West magazine. The rendering into English which follows was done in May, 1971 by two of the Friends in Worcester, one of whom is a native Persian. The Biblical quotation used by 'Abdu'l-Bahá is apparently that found in Matthew 13:13, and the language of that verse in the King James Version has been used in the following text)


Blessed audience, I am overjoyed to be with you here today.  It had been my hope to visit this University, and now that hope has been fulfilled.

This University will be the source of great things, for science is the special merit of human beings, and is that which distinguishes man and gives him superiority over the other creatures of God.

Through the knowledge bestowed by science, human beings can discover the secrets of the Universe. With science alone can man unlock the secrets of the past and accurately forecast the shape of future events. With science he can explain the processes of nature, and can comprehend the movements of the heavenly bodies. Science glorifies man forever; it is his means of achieving honor and dignity in the world.

Science can also unlock the secrets of the Holy Books: It un covers the secret of reality. Science serves the world of reality: It can save man from the superstition of the religions of the past, revealing to him the reality of the religions of God.

Science can set man free from the captivity of nature, and diminish the power of nature's negative forces. For nature, indeed, holds all things in the Universe in captivity:  The earth, with its stones, trees and animals, the sun itself in all its glory--none can make the slightest departure from nature's laws. But man--man with the aid of science can rend asunder nature's laws and produce a new law for nature itself to follow.

Science takes the sword from the hand of nature and uses it against nature in the service of man. Solid objects are made to fly through the air at man's command, or to float on or beneath the surface of the water. The power of electricity is trapped in a glass bulb; the spoken word is held and preserved; airwaves become the carriers of messages; ships sail on land; deserts become oceans; mountains are rent asunder. North is brought closer to South; West is joined to East. And although these occurrences stand outside the realm of the law of nature, man through science achieves them, bringing art and industry out of obscurity and into the light.

Unless man is free, then all the Universe is in bondage to nature's laws. Man alone has the capacity for freedom, and it is science that is the implement of his freedom. Thus, science is the highest merit of humanity: It's glory endures; it has an eternal lifetime. The role of the King is temporary; that of the scientist has enduring glory. A man, though weak physically, if wise with the power of science can discover the secret truths of the Universe and win undying fame. For the mass of men are like those drugged in sleep, and the man of science is he who is awake; the mass of men are unknown to fame, and the man of science is renowned: Science is like a candle, and the learned man like a lantern.

And so it is that I am in utmost joy to be here at this center of learning. My hope is that this University will grow and disseminate the light of science which can illuminate the whole world, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and life to those who are as dead. For as the Bible says: "… Because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." And Christ in the Holy Book says: I will heal them.

And so it is proven that the ignorant is dead where the scholar lives, the ignorant blind where the scholar is sighted, the ignorant deaf but the scholar endowed with hearing--and the noblest of all things is science.

In this country, science is established in the schools and universities. My wish is that other countries may follow your example, raising the standard of science in the cause of overthrowing superstition. The imitation of useless forms that only divide people must be rejected; prejudice must be changed to cooperation; the banner of peace for all mankind must be raised, and all the continents of the world be shaded by the pavilion of universal peace.

Science shall unite all people, making of all the nations one country, and of all the earth one homeland. All the religions shall be one, and science can reveal this reality. For all the religions come from God, and they are reality. But now mankind is shadowed by worthless superstitions, which darken the light of the sun of reality. These clouds must be dispersed, that the reality of all religions having their source in the One God may be revealed. There is only this one reality, and all of the religions must join together, banishing prejudice and enmity. Thus will the unity of the world be realized.

Therefore, since science casts out fear and reveals the Kingdom of Heaven, I ask God to raise the banner of science higher each day, to make its star shine ever brighter, until all the populations of the world attain to understanding. Let minds advance, inventions increase, let hearts expand and understanding deepen. Let mankind make progress in all his goodly endeavors, and under the shadow of Almighty God, let the utmost happiness be realized by all mankind. For all of these things are present potentially in the world of reality, and the gift of God for unleashing this potential is science.

I have come from a remote land. I have seen here gatherings of honorable men of science, who have established systems for the spreading of knowledge. I will tell of these things when I return, urging all to learn the useful arts of science and technology. And my hope is that you will welcome the people of the East--from India, China, Japan, Arabia, Armenia--that upon returning to their native soil they will propagate this innovative knowledge, until the East can equal the West in science and technology. They have the aptitude, but have no means for a formal, disciplined education. Thus it is my hope that science will flourish all the more, here in the West, that all the nations of the world may thereby be enlightened, that true communication may thereby be established, and that the potential happiness of the world of humanity may thereby be revealed. May the science of the knowledge of God flourish too in East and West, that human rights and dignities may be protected, human virtues be encouraged, and that the utmost unity and harmony may prevail. This is my utmost desire. This is my purpose in visiting America.

Source: Clark University’s Archives and Special Collections Department, Robert H. Goddard Library. Worcester, MA. May 18, 2011.

3- Other sources

Other, non Mahmud's sources mentioning the trip to Worcester are the following:

ARCHES OF THE YEARS
by Marzieh Gail

Click to go to document

He paid two visits to the Breed home, which was in Cambridge at 367 Harvard Street (according to the address given in ). The first was on May 23, 1912 (and before arriving in the early evening, He had proceeded to Worcester and addressed Clark University there).  Bahá’í children had gone into the fields to gather wild flowers for the occasion,....

“First we speak of logical proofs”::
Discourse of knowledge in the Bahá’í writings

by Franklin Lewis

Published in Baha'i Studies Review, 10, pages 51-74
Association for Baha'i Studies English-Speaking Europe, 2001

Click to go to document

On May 23, 1912, at Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts, `Abdu'l-Bahá had used almost identical words. This talk is not included in translation in Promulgation of Universal Peace; a provisional rendering therefore follows the transliterated Persian: .......   

This source goes on to describe the talk (more on a latter post)

2- The basic source

The Basic source of any data concerning the trip to Worcester by The Master is Mahmud's Diary.
Online version of Mahmud's Diary


Thursday, May 23, 1912
[Boston]

........

After lunch the Master gave an elegant address about poverty and detachment, filling the hearts of all those present with hope and delight. All, both young and old, expressed their heartfelt gratitude.

Upon leaving the meeting, He gave ten pounds for the poor. Later, sitting in Professor Blacks's home surrounded by admirers, He showered kindness upon all. The professor accompanied the Master to the town of Worcester, located about 50 miles from Boston.

Passing through green and verdant plains and breathing the invigorating and pleasant air, `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke sorrowfully in remembrance of the Blessed Beauty and the Greatest Name, saying: `Would that the Blessed Beauty could have come to these regions! He loved such scenery very much.' Whenever He saw the green and fragrant countryside, He asked the driver to stop. At one place, near the shore of a lake, the greenness of the landscape, the translucence of the water and the purity of the air so pleased Him that He instructed the driver to stop for awhile. The entire group stood and waited. No one dared say anything about the delay.

The Master spoke of the Blessed Beauty in mournful terms, which deeply moved us all. In two hours we reached Worcester. The Master accepted the professor's invitation to rest for awhile in his home. After tea `Abdu'l-Bahá went to the meeting at the university, which had been arranged especially for His visit. More than one thousand students and faculty had assembled. Professor Hall thanked `Abdu'l-Bahá for coming to the meeting.

The Master spoke on the value and importance of science. The hearts of those present were attracted and their souls enkindled with the fire of love to such a degree that they soared in the heaven of knowledge, their minds indelibly engraved with the words of the Master.

After His address, some distinguished individuals and seekers were invited to a magnificent reception prepared for the Master. As the chancellor of the university had himself invited `Abdu'l-Bahá, he himself served the Master. A number of Japanese, Chinese and Turkish students came into His presence and greatly appreciated His words.

When it was time to leave, the Master took both the president's hands in His and said:

"I am very pleased with you and delighted to see your university. You are, indeed, serving the world of humanity and expending your life for mankind. Above all, I wish for you the blessings of the Kingdom and desire that you will be a cause of the spread of sciences and arts. I will pray on your behalf that God may make you a standard of guidance and that the love of God may shine upon your heart. I have seen a great love and affection in you, as well as in the professors and scholars. I shall never forget this meeting, and I shall always remember and mention your services."

Later He returned to Boston in the automobile especially provided for Him by the chancellor. The Master went directly to the home of Mrs Alice Breed.  .........

.....

1- The beginning

The purpose of this blog is to compile information about the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the city of Worcester, MA on May 23, 1912.  I want to do this to prepare for some sort of celebration that we're planning on that day this year, since I only have spotty information and I'd like to have something more coherent.  I also want to use this mean as a way for sharing what I have compiled/discovered.

This is my first attempt to do a blog, so bear with me.  A little knowledge of Spanglish might be helpful in understanding some of my writing, but since I can communicate verbally I'll assume that most visitors will understand most of what I write.