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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1912-12, descending — sort earliest first

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1912 31 Dec
191-		 `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
    1912 30 Dec
    191-    		 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 29 Dec
    191-    		 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 26 Dec
    191-    		 '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 25 Dec
    191-    		 '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 24 Dec
    191-    		 `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 c. Dec
    191-    		 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 (chronology); - Drama; Mary Basil Hall (Mary Esther Blomfield, Parvine Khanum); * Publications; Drama of the Kingdom (play); London, England; United Kingdom
    1912 21 or 22 Dec
    191-    		 '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]
  • For a short biography of the life of Alice Buckton see The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p97-103.
    		•  `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; - Drama; - Plays; * Arts and crafts; Loulie A. Mathews; Alice Buckton; Westminster, England; London, England; United Kingdom First time `Abdu'l-Bahá attends a theatre performance
    1912 20 Dec
    191-    		 '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 19 Dec
    191-    		 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; Huqúqu'lláh; Hájí Amin; London, England; United Kingdom
    1912 18 Dec
    191-    		 '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 17 Dec
    191-    		 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 16 Dec
    191-    		 '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; Lady Blomfield (Sara Lousia Ryan, Sara Blomfield, Sitarih Khanum); Liverpool, England; London, England; United Kingdom
    1912 15 Dec
    191-    		 '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 14 Dec
    191-    		 '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 13 Dec
    191-    		 `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 Dec-Jun 1913
    191-    		 `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 (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; - Europe
    1912 5 Dec
    191-    		 `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 (chronology); New York, USA; USA; Liverpool, England; United Kingdom
    1912 4 Dec
    191-    		 `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 3 Dec
    191-    		 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 2 Dec
    191-    		 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
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