Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1912-1, ascending sort newest first

date event tags firsts
1912 Oct Shoghi Effendi was enrolled in the preparatory school associated with the Syrian Protestant College in Beirut. The 1912-1913 academic year was a turbulent time in the Middle East region because the Italo-Turkish war had spilled over into the area. Owing to the fact that the Syrian Protestant College flew an American flag it had some degree of protection from the warring factions. [PG8-9] Syrian Protestant College, Lebanon; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Beirut, Lebanon; Lebanon
1912 1 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in San Francisco about midnight. [239D:165; AB286] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; San Francisco, CA; California, USA; USA
1912 3 Oct After the visitation of many friends in the morning, in the afternoon, at the invitation of Mrs Goodall, the Master and friends went to the Golden Gate Park outside of the city where again He met with visitors and answered questions of reporters.. [MD303-304; SoW Vol 4 No 12 October 16, 1913 p206-207] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; San Francisco, CA; USA
1912 7 Oct Talk to Japanese Young Men's Christian Association, Japanese Independent Church, 576 Sycamore Street, Oakland, California. [PUP343]

He said in part:

    When we review history from the beginning of human existence to the present age in which we live, it is evident all war and conflict, bloodshed and battle, every form of sedition has been due to some form of prejudice--whether religious, racial or national--to partisan bias and selfish prejudice of some sort. Even today we witness an upheaval in the Balkans, a war of religious prejudice. Some years ago when I was living in Rumelia, war broke out among the religious peoples. There was no attitude of justice or equity whatever amongst them. They pillaged the properties of each other, burning each others' homes and houses, slaughtering men, women and children, imagining that such warfare and bloodshed was the means of drawing near to God. This clearly proved that prejudice is a destroyer of the foundations of the world of humanity, whereas religion was meant to be the cause of fellowship and agreement. The Promulgation of Universal Peace p343
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; Oakland, CA; California, USA; USA
1912 8 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto. [239D:166 AB288, PUP348; ]
  • There were two thousand in the audience. [AB288]
  • "He spoke to fifteen hundred students". .. [LGHC176]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at universities; Universities; Palo Alto, CA; USA
    1912 8 Oct The start of the the First Balkan War when Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia constituting the Balkan League and having large parts of their ethnic populations under Ottoman sovereignty, attacked the Ottoman Empire, terminating its five centuries of rule in the Balkans. The seven-month campaign ended in the Treaty of London (30 May 1913) brokered and mediated by the great powers of Europe, including the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. They sought to prevent further conflicts in the Balkans and to maintain stability in the region.

    The main provisions included the following:

  • Serbia expanded its territory, gaining control of Kosovo, parts of Macedonia, and northern Albania.
  • Greece acquired southern Epirus, southern Macedonia, Crete, and the northern Aegean islands.
  • Bulgaria received Thrace up to the outskirts of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) and parts of Macedonia.
  • Montenegro also saw territorial gains in northern Albania and Kosovo.
  • Albania was created as an independent state, with the great powers of Europe guaranteeing its sovereignty.
  • The division of Macedonia: The treaty stipulated that the majority of Macedonia would be under the sovereignty of Serbia and Greece, with Bulgaria gaining a smaller portion. This division sowed the seeds of future conflicts and territorial disputes in the region.
  • The deportation of people according to their "ethnical" backgrounds was stipulated in this treaty for the first time in history and was soon to lead to unprecedented atrocities and new forms of racism and racial prejudice committed later in Europe, especially by the Nazis. Unprecedented atrocities were committed by all parties involved and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, mostly Greeks, Bulgarians and Slavs now designated as "Turks", were deported eventually to the Asiatic parts of Turkey, putting an end to Ottoman rule in Southeastern Europe. [Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine: Abdu´l-Baha's Viewpoints Regarding the Middle East by Kamran Ekbal p16]

    In a talk at the Japenese Independ

  • Imperialism/colonialism; Ethnic divisions; History (general); Balkans; London, England; United Kingdom
    1912 10 Oct Talk at Open Forum, San Francisco, California [PUP355] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; San Francisco, CA; California, USA; USA
    1912 12 Oct Talk at the synagogue Temple Emmanu-El, 450 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California. [PUP361, ABF408] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at synagogues; - Interfaith dialogue; - Judaism; San Francisco, CA; California, USA; USA
    1912 13 or 14 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Phoebe Hearst at her estate, at her invitation. [239D:168; AB307]
  • She was estranged from the Faith because one or two individuals had tried to extort money from her but her invitation was sincere. AB307–8]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Phoebe Hearst; Hearst estate; Misconduct of believers; California, USA; USA
    1912 16 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to San Francisco. [AB308; 239 Days] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; San Francisco, CA; USA
    1912 17 Oct 'Abdu'l-Bahá discovered His signet ring was missing and for the rest of His trip He signed, rather than seal, every Tablet He wrote or dictated. [Historical Dictionary of the Bahá'í Faith pg. xxxvii, AY101-102] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Rings; Seals; Oakland, CA; USA
    1912 18 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Los Angeles, arriving the same day. [239D:169; AB309]

    Having heard that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was in Los Angeles, Mabel Rice-Wray took children Edris and Colston to the hotel where the Master was staying. They spent over an hour with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His room. Both Edris and Colston sat on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's knee and were given cookies. Some years later, in response to a letter from their mother, 'Abdu'l-Bahá bestowed the name Rawshan ("brilliance") on Edris, and Ruqi on Colston, and revealed in their honour the well-known prayer for children that begins: "O my Lord! O my Lord! I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy ... " [Find a grave Edris Rawshan Wray]

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, prayers of; Mabel Rice-Wray Ives; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; USA
    1912 19 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the grave of Thornton Chase in Inglewood. [239D:169; AB309; MD337-339]
  • The purpose of His journey to Los Angeles is to visit the grave of Thornton Chase. [AB309]
  • Upon visiting his grave 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said "This personage is worthy of having the friends visit his grave. The traces of this personage will ever shine. This is a personage who will not be forgotten. For the present his worth is not known but in the future it will be inestimably dear. His sun will ever be shining, his stars will forever bestow the light. The people will honor this grave. Therefore, the friends of God must visit this grave and on my behalf bring flowers and seek the sublimity of the spiritual station for him and have the utmost consideration for the members of his family. This personage will not be forgotten." [SoW Vol 3 No 13 4 November, 1912 p14]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said:
    "As many times as possible-at least once a year-you should make it a point to visit his tomb, for his spirit will be exhilarated through the loyalty of the friends, and in the world of God will it be happy. The friends of God must be kind to one another, whether it be in life or after death." [SoW Vol 4 No 13 p225]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Thornton Chase; Cemeteries and graves; Inglewood, CA; USA
    1912 20 Oct Shu'áu'lláh, who had been living in Pasadena at the time, had persuaded a newspaper editor to write two misleading articles in which he tried to show that because of his biological relationship he was bound to inherit the station of the Prophets. At a public meeting a reporter pressed 'Abdu'l-Bahá about him and His reply was to quote Christ when asked about His relationship with His brothers. [MD339-340, 490n325]
  • In the evening He gave an address on unity to a large crowd assembled in an auditorium. [MD341]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Covenant-breakers; Shuaullah; Los Angeles, CA
    1912 21 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá left Los Angeles for San Francisco. [AB310] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; USA
    1912 25 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Sacramento and arrived at noon the same day. [239D:171]
  • Talk at Hotel Sacramento, Sacramento, California. [PUP370]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; San Francisco, CA; Sacramento, CA; USA
    1912 26 Oct Talk at Assembly Hall, Hotel Sacramento, Sacramento, California. [PUP376]
  • In His talk 'Abdu'l-Bahá said that, "the greatest need in the world today is international peace," and after discussing why California was well-suited to lead the efforts for the promotion of peace, He exhorted attendees: "May the first flag of international peace be upraised in this state." [The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Sacramento for Denver. [239D:172; AB316]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; Sacramento, CA; California, USA; Denver, CO; USA
    1912 28 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Denver at midnight. [239D:175; AB316] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Denver, CO; USA
    1912 29 Oct During a 24-hour stopover in Denver, Àbdu'l-Bahá met Cardinal John Murphy Farley who had come from New York to dedicate the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on behalf of the Pope. [239 Days website; MD356-357]

    See a provisional translation of a talk Àbdu'l-Bahá gave in Port Said on the 23rd of Jun 1913 on His meeting with the Cardinal.

    In the afternoon He gave a public talk at the home of Mrs Sidney Roberts and in the evening He spoke at the Church of the Messiah. [MD357; 239Days175]

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Denver, CO; USA
    1912 30 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá left Denver for Chicago. [239D:175] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; USA
    1912 31 Oct `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Chicago and gave a talk at the Plaza Hotel. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [239D:176; PUP381].
  • It is likely that 'Abdu'l-Bahá encountered Rabindranath Tagore who was to become a well-known Bengali poet and musician who would reshape Bengali literature and music and be the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. [Rabindranath Tagore: Some Encounters with Bahá'ís by Peter Terry; Wikipedia]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; Rabindranath Tagore; Bengal Renaissance; Chicago, IL; USA; India
    1912 1 Nov Talk at Home of Mrs. Corinne True, 5338 Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [PUP383] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; Corinne True; Chicago, IL; USA
    1912 4 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá left Chicago and arrived in Cincinnati the same day. [239D:179] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Ohio, USA; USA
    1912 5 Nov Talk at Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. [PUP388]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Cincinnati for Washington DC. [239D:179]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; Cincinnati, OH; Ohio, USA; Washington, DC, USA; USA
    1912 6 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Washington DC. [239D:179]
  • Talk at Universalist Church, Thirteenth and L Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP390]
      In this talk He made reference to the situation in the Balkans:
      "How savage and fearful the ferocity of man against his fellowman! Consider what is taking place now in the Balkans, what blood is being shed. Even the wild beasts and ferocious animals do not commit such acts. The most ferocious wolf kills but one sheep a day, and even that for his food. But now in the Balkans one man destroys ten fellow beings. The commanders of armies glory in having killed ten thousand men, not for food, nay, rather, for military control, territorial greed, fame and possession of the dust of the earth. They kill for national aggrandizement, notwithstanding this terrestrial globe is but a dark world of grossest matter. It is a world of sorrow and grief, a world of disappointment and unhappiness, a world of death.
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; Washington, DC, USA; USA
      1912 7 Nov Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP397]
        In this talk He made reference to the changing world order:
        "Consider events in the Balkans today where a great conflagration of war is furiously raging and so much blood is being shed. Virtually the whole world of humanity is mourning and lamenting because of the revival of these calamitous conditions. Governments are in the process of change and transformation. The sovereignty of oriental nations is tottering; outcomes are wrapped in the greatest uncertainty."
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP400]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; Arthur Parsons; Washington, DC, USA; USA
      1912 8 Nov Talk at Eighth Street Temple, Synagogue, Washington, D. C. [PUP411]
    • See PG100 where 'Abdu'l-Bahá referred to this talk to illustrate the extraordinary reception He was given during is travels to the West.
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at synagogues; - Interfaith dialogue; - Judaism; Washington, DC, USA; USA
      1912 9 Nov Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP411]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP415]
    • Talk at Bahá'í Banquet, Rauscher's Hall, Washington, D. C. [PUP418]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Arthur Parsons; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; Washington, DC, USA; USA
      1912 10 Nov Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C .[PUP421]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hannen, 1252 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke of Bahá'u'lláh's faithful Ethiopian servant, Isfandiyar, and his service to the family of Bahá'u'lláh's family while He was in prison in the Síyáh-Chál. [PUP425, 239D181-182]
    • Talk at 1901 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C. [PUP428]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; Arthur Parsons; Joseph Hannen; Isfandiyar; Washington, DC, USA; USA
      1912 11 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Baltimore by train and arrived at Camden Station at 11AM. He was accompanied by Dr. Ameen Fareed and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab (interpreters), Mirza Mahmud, Mirza 'Ali Akah, Mirza Valiollah Khan, Dr. Zia Bagdadi, and Saya Assadollah [239D:183; AB329]
    • At noon He spoke at the chapel of the Unitarian Church on the unity of religions and the oneness of God. The chapel was packed with Johns Hopkins University faculty members and many local professional men.
    • After the address he shared lunch at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Struven with more than 50 people.
    • He left Baltimore about 3PM and on his return to New York He passed through Philadelphia, where He met the Bahá'ís on the train platform. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Baltimore by Allison Vaccaro and Edward E. Bartlett]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; Trains; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; USA
      1912 12 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in New York at 1:00 a.m. He and His party stayed at the "Champney House" located on Riverside Drive near the Hudson River at 309 West 78th Street. [AB329]
    • Shoghi Effendi later urged the National Spiritual Assembly acquiring this property as a national executive centre. [MM2p24-25]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Champney House; New York, USA; USA
      1912 15 Nov Talk at Home of Miss Juliet Thompson, 48 West Tenth Street, New York. [PUP431; PtF147] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; Juliet Thompson; New York, USA; USA
      1912 16 Nov Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York. [PUP437] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; New York, USA; USA
      1912 17 Nov Talk at Genealogical Hall, 252 West Fifty-eighth Street, New York. [PUP437] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; New York, USA; USA
      1912 18 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the library of J. Pierpont Morgan and inscribed his album with a blessing for his philanthropy. [239D:186–7]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Moxey, 575 Riverside Drive, New York. [PUP422]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; J. P. Morgan Library; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; New York, USA; USA
      1912 18 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá had instructed MacNutt to meet with a group of potential Covenant-breakers in Chicago and warn them of the danger. He also ordered MacNutt to break all communication with Ibrahim Kheiralla and other Covenant-breakers. He had failed to do as directed. They met in the Kenny's home for the first time since his trip, where `Abdu'l-Bahá advised him that he had violated the Covenant himself and commanded him to repent before a group of New York Bahá'ís gathered there, which he did, reluctantly. [DJT371; AY121] Covenant-breakers; Howard MacNutt; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; New York, USA; USA
      1912 23 Nov A farewell banquet was held for `Abdu'l-Bahá at the Great Northern Hotel, 118 West Fifty-seventh Street, in New York. [239D:187; AB331, PUP447]
    • The hotel did not allow the black Bahá'ís to attend. [239D:187]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; New York, USA; USA
      1912 24 Nov `Abdu'l-Bahá and the white Bahá'ís served the Black Bahá'ís at a dinner at the Kinney's. [239D:187] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Kinney; New York, USA; USA
      1912 26 Nov 'Abdu'l-Bahá had no time to meet with visitors individually in the morning as He was attending to correspondence.
    • In the afternoon at a meeting with some of the friends He spoke about the Covenant and the need for divine Manifestations.
    • In the evening He spoke about man's ability to understand reality using his intelligence. [MD410-411]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; New York, USA
      1912 29 Nov Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP449] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; Edward Kinney; New York, USA; USA
      1912 2 Dec Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP452]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [PUP453]
    • Star of the West reported that 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke of India on this date although there is no mention of such a talk in Mahmúd's Diary. [SoW Vol 5 No 2 April 9, 1914 p20-21]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; Edward Kinney; New York, USA; USA
      1912 3 Dec Talk at Home of Dr. and Mrs. Florian Krug, 830 Park Avenue, New York. [PUP457; MD420-422]
    • Talk to Mr. Kinney's Bible Class, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP458]
    • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 780 West End Avenue, New York. [PUP460]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; New York, USA; USA
      1912 4 Dec `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed His last meeting in North America with a talk to Theosophical Society, 2228 Broadway, New York. [239D:193, PUP462] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Theosophical Society; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; New York, USA; USA
      1912 5 Dec `Abdu'l-Bahá sailed on the S. S. Celtic of the White Star Line from New York to Liverpool. [239D:193–4; AB337; GPB281]
    • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's final words to the Bahá'ís, spoken while on board ship. Again He made reference to the war in the Balkans. See PUP468.
    • During his time in North America 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave over 400 talks to approximately 93,000 people. He spoke in 31 moderate and progressive churches, 14 theosophical and other metaphysical gatherings, 5 universities, 3 synagogues, 1 African-American church, the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference, Hall House, and the 4th annual NAACP Conference. [Àbdu'l-Bahá's Journey Across America 18min12sec]
        "Consider what is happening in the Balkans. Human blood is being shed, properties are destroyed, possessions pillaged, cities and villages devastated. A world enkindling fire is astir in the Balkans. God has created men to love each other; but instead, they kill each other with cruelty and bloodshed. God has created them that they may cooperate and mingle in accord; but instead, they ravage, plunder and destroy in the carnage of battle. God has created them to be the cause of mutual felicity and peace; but instead, discord, lamentation and anguish rise from the hearts of the innocent and afflicted."
    • For Ahmad Sohrab's account of the sea crossing see SW3, 16:2.
    • 'Àbdu’l-Bahá had a cabin on the upper deck of the Celtic where He had access to the larger stateroom where He often spoke. His retinue that consisted of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Áqá Siyyid Asadu’lláh (Qumí) and Mahmúd Zarqání were accommodated in second class but had access to the Master apart from when He was eating or sleeping. [ABE9-13]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Ships; S. S. Celtic; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Life of (chronology); New York, USA; USA; Liverpool, England; United Kingdom
      1912 Dec-Jun 1913 `Abdu'l-Bahá's second visit to Europe.
    • It was His second visit to Great Britain. It lasted 24 days.
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Life of (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; - Europe
      1912 13 Dec `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Liverpool aboard the S. S. Celtic at about 9PM. He was met by dozens of Bahá'ís from Liverpool, Manchester and Leads as well as Hippolyte Drefus-Barney who had come from Paris. [AB343; SBR38, ABTM273-4] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; S. S. Celtic; Ships; Liverpool, England; United Kingdom
      1912 14 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá stayed in Liverpool at the Adelphi Hotel (now known as the Britannia Adelphi hotel). His first talk was to the Theosophical Society. [ABTM274, SoW Vol III No17 9Jan1913 p3; A Supplement to Àbdu'l-Bahá in Europe, 1912-1913 p11; ABE25-27]
    • The Star of the West published an account of His crossing and the news of His arrival in Liverpool.
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Theosophical Society; Liverpool, England; United Kingdom
      1912 15 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Pembroke Chapel and was introduced by Rev Donald Fraser. [ABTM275, SoW Vol III No 17 9Jan1913 p4] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Liverpool, England; United Kingdom
      1912 16 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá and his entourage departed Liverpool for London by train from the Lime Street Station. When they arrive at Euston Station they are met by a group of about 50 Bahá'ís. He is taken by motorcar to the home of Lady Blomfield at 97 Cadogan Gardens which she again offered to Him during His stay in London. After resting He gave a talk to newspaper reporters and later gave a talk to the gathering of Bahá'ís. [AB343, ABTM276] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Trains; Cars; Mary Basil Hall (Mary Blomfield); Liverpool, England; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 17 Dec A Bahá'í arrived from Ireland to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá, possibly Joan Waring, after travelling all day and all night.
    • He made comments on the character of the American people.
    • In the afternoon He spoke to a large gathering at Caxton Hall in Westminster. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p3-4, ABTM276-277]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 18 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk at which E. G. Browne was present. He visited `Abdu'l-Bahá several more times while in London. [SoW Vol III no19 2Mar1913 p4, AB346, ABTM277-278]
    • Hájí Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardakání (Hájí Amín) arrived in London from Paris with three young Persian. He spoke neither English nor French and had had some difficulty in getting from Paris to London. He crossed the English Channel and then found himself back in Paris. His second attempt was successful. [SoW Vol III no19 2Mar1913 p4, AB346–7, ABTM278]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Edward Granville Browne; Hájí Amin (Abu'l-Hasan-i-Ardikani); London, England; United Kingdom; Paris, France; France
      1912 19 Dec Hájí Amín, the Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh, presented 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a gift from a poor workman in 'Ishqábád. He had nothing monetary to offer so he gave Hájí Amín his mid-day meal, two small loaves of bread and an apple wrapped in a handkerchief. 'Abdu'l-Bahá took the offering tenderly, ate a small piece of the stale bread and gave the rest to be passed around to the rest of the table. [SoW Vol III No 19 2Mar1913 p5, ABTM278] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Gifts; Huququllah; Hájí Amin; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 20 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá interviewed E. S. (Ethel Stefana) Stevens (later Lady Drower) who had come from Southhampton to meet Him. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p6]
      • Three years prior she had spent 3 or 4 months (possibly 6 months) in 'Akka and Haifa gathering material for a book. During her stay she had the opportunity to observe both 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Bahá'í community at close quarters. The book, called Mountain of God, was published in 1911. World Order excerpted this book in a two-part serial in 1970. [Collins7.2476}
      • She also wrote an article for the magazine Fortnightly Review. Excerpts from the article, impressions of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. can be found at the US Bahá'í site.
    • In the evening He was driven to Westminster for a meeting at the Palace Hotel, His first public talk since returning to London. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p6; SoW Vol III no 17 19Jan1913 p510]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; E.S. Drower (E.S. Stevens); London, England; Westminster, England; United Kingdom
      1912 21 or 22 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá witnessed His first dramatic performance. It was a mystery Christmas play entitled Eager Heart written by Miss Alice Buckton and performed at the Church House, Westminster before an audience of 1,200. [SoW Vol III no 19 2March1913 p 7, CH154, AB34]
    • He is reported to have said, perhaps on another occasion, "The stage will be the pulpit of the future". [Quoted by Loulie Mathews in The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom, Vol 4, No. 3 (June 1923, p69]
    • Star of the West, Vol. 19 no. 11 Feb1929, p.341 quotes 'Abdu'l-Bahá as saying: "drama is of the utmost importance. It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again,". [BW1994-1995p255]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Drama; Plays; Arts; Loulie A. Mathews; Alice Buckton; Westminster, England; London, England; United Kingdom First time `Abdu'l-Bahá attends a theatre performance
      1912 c. Dec On another occasion He gave an outline for a play to his hostess for the evening, Mrs Gabrielle Enthoven, which He called Drama of the Kingdom. It was expanded into a play and put to print by Lady Blomfield's daughter, Mary Basil Hall, approved by the Reviewing Committees for the National Assemblies of both the British Isles and the United States and Canada. It was published in 1933. In 1994 a production based on this outline was premiered in Perth, Australia entitled The Face of Glory: A Musical Rendezvous with the Soul. [CH155-156, Bahá'ís and the Arts: Language of the Heart by Ann Boyles, also published in 1994-95 edition of The Bahá'í World, pp. 243-272] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Life of (chronology); Drama; Mary Basil Hall (Mary Blomfield); * Publications; Drama of the Kingdom (play); London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 24 Dec `Abdu'l-Bahá received many expensive Christmas gifts; He turned them all away by returning them and asking the donors to sell them and give the money to the poor.
    • That evening He visited the Salvation Army Shelter in Westminster. That night there were 1,000 men present. After His talk He departed but not before leaving twenty gold sovereigns and many handfuls of silver with Col Spencer for a similar dinner to be held on New Year's Eve. [ABTM282-283]
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Charity and relief work; Gifts; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 25 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá paid a visit to Lord Lamington who was deeply touched by the message of peace and goodwill. [PG141] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Lord Lamington; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 26 Dec 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about prayer, evil, and the progress of the soul in a talk at 97 Cadogan Gardens. [PT176-179] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 29 Dec In the morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá received a visit from the Maharajah or Jhalawar. [ABTM283]
    • In the afternoon He spoke at the home of Miss Annie Gamble. [SoW Vol. 9 No 2 9Apr1918 p 24]
    • In the evening He gave a talk at the King's Weigh House Methodist Church hosted by Rev E W Lewis. [SoW Vol. 4 No 17 19Jan1914 p284-285]
    • For a transcript see 'Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks.
    • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; - Maharajahs; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 30 Dec The 19 Day Feast was held at the home of Mrs Robinson. [AB352] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; London, England; United Kingdom
      1912 31 Dec `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Oxford at the invitation of Dr Thomas Kelly Cheyne to address a meeting at Manchester College. [BW4p384-385, AB352–354, ABIM284, Journey West 20130210; Ahmad Sohrab's Diary - The Great Tour p99; The Dawn Vol 1 No 2 October 1923 p2]
    • In 1886, Cheyne was appointed Oriel Professor of Interpretation of Scripture at Oxford University, and, as an ordained Anglican priest (1864), was installed as Canon of Rochester Cathedral (Church of England) that same year. An advocate of "higher criticism" as applied to biblical scholarship, Professor Cheyne was the first at Oxford University to teach students how to apply the methods and tools of higher criticism to the Hebrew Scriptures. See An Oxford Scholar on the Spirit of Truth by Christopher Buck.
    • For biographical information see a paper by Crawford Howell Toy entitled Thomas Kelly Cheyne.
    • See Hurqalya Publications for a translation by Stephen Lambden of a Tablet to Dr Cheyne as well as the address to Manchester College.
    • After the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the elderly and infirmed professor, who was unable to walk and had difficulty speaking, went on to write the book, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions. See BWXp483 for an excerpt regarding Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
    • His second wife was the poetess Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne (1869-1931) whom he married (aged 69) on August 28th [19th] 1911 about four years after the death of his first wife. Elizabeth Gibson was the sister of the `War Poet' Wilfred Wilson Gibson. A paper by Judy Greenway, a grand niece of Elizabeth Gibson entitled "From the Wilderness to the Beloved City: Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne", pays tribute to the woman whom 'Abdul'-Bahá lauded during His visit. This paper was given at the invitation of the Oxford Bahá'í Community in December 2012, as part of the celebration of the centenary of Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Oxford.
    • See an article by Christopher Buck on Cheyne's interpretation of Isaiah's prophecies
    • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Thomas Kelly Cheyne (T. K. Cheyne); Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne; Stephen Lambden; Judy Greenway; Oxford, England; United Kingdom

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