background visuals for abdul-baha in montreal presentation

8/9/2019 Background Visuals for Abdul-Baha in Montreal Presentation

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Friday, August 30, 1912

Abdul-Baha arrived in Montreal at 8 pm.

Mr Sutherland Maxwell to greeted the

Master and had two carriages to conveythe Master and His companions to their

home.


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Saturday, August 31, 1912

In the morning, the pastor of the Unitarian In the morning, thepastor of the Unitarian Church came with several others to visitAbdul-Baha. The Master discussed with them the elimination ofreligious superstitions and prejudices, which are contrary toscience and common sense and which are obstacles to the

attainment of the foundation of truth of the divine religions. Anewspaper reporter was then announced. He had come tointerview the Master about His life and the history ofthe Cause.Abdul-Baha gave a detailed account, which was recorded by thereporter.Church came with several others to visit Abdul-Baha.The Master discussed with them the elimination of religioussuperstitions and prejudices, which are contrary to science and

common sense and which are obstacles to the attainment of thefoundation of truth of the divine religions. A newspaper reporterwas then announced. He had come to interview the Master aboutHis life and the history ofthe Cause. Abdul-Baha gave a detailedaccount, which was recorded by the reporter.


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The Master rose and, pacing the stage, gave the following address:

God the Almighty has created all humanity from dust, from the same

elements. All are descended fromone race and all are created to liveon the sameearth, under the canopy of the same heaven. As

members of humanity He created them sharing the same

susceptibilities. As created by Him all areone, without discrimination.

Heprovides for all; He trains all; Heprotects all; He is kind to all. He

has left no

difference in His bo

unties and favo

rs to

men. He raisedprophets and sent divine teachings. These teachings unite all and

generate love in human hearts. He has proclaimed the unity of the

world ofman. He deprecates all obstacles to unity and commends

everything that is conducive to harmony and unity. He admonishes all

toestablish unity at all levels. All the Prophets ofGod were raised up

to deliver themessageof love and unity to the sons ofmen. All theBooks ofGod were revealed toestablish fellowship and union. All the

Prophets ofGod were the servants of truth. All their teachings were the

essenceof truth. Truth is one; it does not accept multiplicity.

Therefore, the foundation of truth of all the religions ofGod is one.


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Monday, September 2, 1912As He was leaving the Windsor Hotel for a meeting at Mr. and Mrs.Maxwells home, he took the tram. We asked whether we could call fora carriage. He said: Oh, it matters little. This saves expense. There is adifferenceofone dollar in the fare. He was very careful over this typeofpersonal expensebut when He reached the homeofMr. and Mrs.Maxwell, He gaveonepound toeach of their servants. Although twoadjoining rooms had been set with chairs in rows, there was still notenough space. We all felt the absenceof the Eastern friends.

Everyone wished they werepresent so they too could witness theexcitement and joy that was engendered by the talk of theMaster, whospokeon the inherent imperfection of the world of nature and itsultimateperfection through divineeducation.

After theMasters talk each guest came to shake His hand andreceived His blessing yet when He went upstairs, themajority followedHim, especially the new seekers.


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Tuesday, September 3, 1912

That evening He spoke to a meeting of theSocialist Clubwith majesty and dignity. The audience lined His way andthe chairman, who was speaking as theMaster arrived,stepped forward, grasped His hand and led Him to thepodium. Thepresident introduced theMaster in most

glowing terms, concluding, Now, Abdul-Baha will teach ustheprinciples ofbrotherhood, prosperity and the upliftmentof thepoor.

As theMaster was delivering His address on economicsand the adjustment of society according to theprincipleofmoderation, the audiencebroke into spontaneousapplause, clapping their hands with joy and excitement.


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Wednesday, September 4, 1912An account of theMasters talk at theSocialist Club and its

influence was published in glowing terms in thenewspapers. The forceof His explanations and thepersuasiveness of His proofs were the talk of the day.Many newcomers came to visit Him. The friends told theMaster how happy they were to see theextent to which theCauseofGod had penetrated the hearts. Abdul-Baha saidin reply:The greatness of the teachings of Bahaullah will be known when theyare acted upon and practiced. Not oneof a hundred has as yet comeinto force. All of your thoughts should be turned toward bringing theseblessed teachings intopractice.

When translations of someof the newspaper articles wereread to Abdul-Baha, He said, again,This is all through the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty. Otherwise,even if the king of Persia had come here he would not havebeen abletobring about even one such meeting.


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Thursday, September 5, 1912

When we arrived at theMethodist Church in theevening, we saw an electric illumined sign reading:This evening the Prophet of the East will speak ontheprinciples of the Bahai Faith and the salvationof the world of humanity.

When the translation of this announcement wasread to theMaster, He said, So, people are callingme a prophet. Oh, would that they had omitted thatword!

In order to correct this impression, in the courseofHis address Heemphasized His devotion toBahaullah.


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TheMaster stood before the audience and spoke about the continuityof the Divine Bounties, thepower and majesty of the KingdomofGodand these wonderful teachings. The audience was awakened to the

Faith to

such a degree that a judge namedM

r. Riger, who

hadpreviously heard of theMaster and had come for the first time thisevening to hear Him speak, stood and said, Some have imagined thatthe succession of the Prophets and thebounties ofGod were limited.But tonight we have heard with ourown ears these divinely ordainedteachings from an Eastern prophet who is the successorof theProphets ofGod. Wewill never forget his message. There is no doubt

that these teachings of universal peace, theoneness of humanity andthe distribution of wealth are in complete accord with theprinciples ofeconomic law, theequality of rights and the adoption ofone universallanguage. These are thebasic principles for theprogress of the worldof humanity.

Theminister then stood and said, It is an error to think that the Westhas attained perfection and that the East has nobounties or teachingstooffer to the West.

Abdul-Baha has said many things which we have not heard beforeorunderstood.


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Friday, September 6, 1912

After leaving the church last night, theMaster had caught a cold andHis voice was hoarse, soeven though He had planned to leaveMontreal, His departure was delayed for a few days. During this timeHe went nowhereexcept to the homeofMr. and Mrs. Maxwell.However, many came to visit Him at the hotel.

Abdul-Bahas advice toMr. Maxwell and others was this:

You must cling to those things which prove tobe the causeofhappiness for the world ofman. You must show kindness to theorphans, give food to the hungry, clothe the naked and offer help to thepoor so that you may be accepted in the Court ofGod.


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Saturday, September 7, 1912

Today Abdul-Baha spoke to a groupofpeople who came to visit Himat the hotel. Here is someof what Heexplained:

As in thephysical world there are four seasons, so in the realmofreligion there is the season of heavenly and spiritual springtime. Whenits outpourings gradually diminish, the trees ofexistence cease tobeverdant and creeping torpor spreads, it will become like winter. Thesouls will become withered and distressed and the soil of the hearts willbecome full of thorns and thistles. There will be no flowers, nohyacinths, no greenery, nopleasure, no freshness and no cheer. Then,once again, the divine spring will raise its tabernacle. The gardens ofthe world of humanity willbecome green and verdant, full of freshnessand purity. The flowers of reality will open and the trees ofexistencewill bring forth enduring fruit. This is the law ofGod and is in accordwith the world of creation and this is the cause for the reappearanceofholy Manifestations Whoeffect renewal and change in religious lawsand commandments.


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In the afternoon theMaster spoke about theoneness of thefundamental truths of the religions ofGod and the vain imaginings andbeliefs of various peoples, saying:

The foundation of all religions is one and the aimof all creeds of the world isalsoone. All arebelievers in theoneness ofGod. All believe that a mediatorbetween the Creator and the creatures is needed. Thequestion is that to theJewsMoses is the last, to the Christians it is Christ, to theMuslims it isMu!}ammad and to the Parsis it is Zoroaster. But their differences areonlythoseof names. If these names are set aside, it is evident that their aim is one.Every divine religious law was complete for its time. The renewal of the lawsof

God and the appearanceof theManifestations of thebounties of the Lord ineach cycle are necessary. Thus thepeople who seek truth and innermeaningscan discover the divinemysteries and become awareof the secrets of theBooks ofGod. They know God tobe theSupreme, His bounties infinite and thedoors of His mercy unbarred. They believe in all the Prophets and affirm Nodifference do wemakebetween any of them [Quran 2:130]. But those whoadhere tooutermeanings only, who worshipouter form, cling to imitations and

followtheir superstiti

ons. They use the alleg

ories set f

orth in the verses

ofGo

dto deny the Causeof the Lord ofSigns. Therefore, offer thanks toGod that youhave attained unto reality, have responded affirmatively to the Call ofGod,have given up dogmatic imitations and havebecome cognizant of themysteryofoneness. Offer thanks toGod. Be grateful to your Lord.


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Sunday, September 8, 1912

Abdul-Bahis discourses today consisted of divineexhortations, admonitions and expressions offarewell to the Friends. I have sown the seed, Hesaid. You must water it. You must educate thesouls in divinemorals, make them spiritual and

lead them to theoneness of humanity and touniversal peace.

In the afternoon He gave an account of Hisimprisonment in theMost Great Prison and of Hisreturn to the Holy Land. Someone suggested thatHis return toAkka might bring trouble to Him andagain cause His imprisonment.


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Oh no, He replied, that organization has been rolled up;

that system has been rendered null. Those days were s

ohard that all had believed that when the Commission of

Investigation returned to Constantinople Abdul-Bahas lifeand name would beeffaced. But God did not will it.

Aswewere imprisoned for the CauseofGod and not forpolitical reasons, while in prison we were not perturbed and

had no worries. However, theothers thought that after Iwas set free I would raise thebannerof independenceamong the Arabs and unite them with me! See, how ill-informed was such a judgment!

As this was the last dayof His stay in

Montreal, all thefriends, both old and new, expressed their sorrow. Abdul-

Baha consoled them with the glad tidings of certitude,spiritual nearness, assistance and heavenly grace.

background visuals for abdul-baha in montreal presentation

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