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.
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. .........
Great job Eugenio and my Worcester family!!Please extend my salute to the community.
ReplyDeleteIt seems possible Boston will be a way to start for any information on the Master's connection With Professor Blakeslee. Here goes my theory; The Master came purposefully to MA for the Boston programs. Visiting Worcester might be secondary due to some acquaintance(s)of Professor Blakeslee with the Boston's host(s). It might be helpful to find out if Professor Blakeslee had any correspondent with someone in Boston. Did he had any collaboration (scholarly or otherwise) with any of the faculties at Harvard or any of the institutions around Boston or elsewhere? If the answer is yes, then knowing that person(s) might shed some light-was he/she/they Baha'i' or involved in the Master's sojourned in MA in particular and/or the US in general?
Blakeslee did part of his studies at Harvard, so he definitively had some acquaintances there. I've search several times the papers/letters that he left at Clark U. and haven't found any mention of the Master. It's still a mystery.
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