Prayer for America

On April 30, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke in Chicago, Illinois. His talk included what is often recited by Baha'is as the Prayer for America:

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.

'Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace

Election Year

What did 'Abdu'l-Baha have to say about the hotly contested Presidential election of 1912? The answer may surprise you!

The Election Year

We are Created for Love, not Enmity

From a talk given April 21, 1912 at a Universalist Church in Washington, D.C.:

I shall ask you a question: Did God create us for love or for enmity? Did He create us for peace or discord? Surely He has created us for love; therefore, we should live in accordance with His will. Do not listen to anything that is prejudiced, for self-interest prompts men to be prejudiced. They are thoughtful only of their own will and purposes. They live and move in darkness. Consider how many different nations and divergent religious beliefs existed when Christ appeared. Enmity and strife prevailed among them—Romans, Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians—all warring and hostile toward each other. Christ, through the breaths of the Holy Spirit, united them, established fellowship among them so that no trace of strife remained. Under His standard they became united and lived in peace through His teachings. Which is preferable and more commendable? To follow the example of Jesus Christ or to manifest the satanic instinct? Let us strive with all our powers to unite the East and West so that the nations of the world may be advanced and that all may live according to the one foundation of the religions of God. The essentials of the divine religion are one reality, indivisible and not multiple. It is one. And when through investigation we find it to be single, we have a basis for the oneness of the world of humanity. I will pray for you, asking confirmation and assistance in your behalf. 

'Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace

Remedy for the Healing of the Human World

From a Talk at Hotel Ansonia to Baha’i’ Friends of New Jersey, Broadway and Seventy-third Street, New York, April 16, 1912

The body of the human world is sick. Its remedy and healing will be the oneness of the kingdom of humanity. Its life is the Most Great Peace. Its illumination and quickening is love. Its happiness is the attainment of spiritual perfections. It is my wish and hope that in the bounties and favors of the Blessed Perfection we may find a new life, acquire a new power and attain to a wonderful and supreme source of energy so that the Most Great Peace of divine intention shall be established upon the foundations of the unity of the world of men with God. May the love of God be spread from this city, from this meeting to all the surrounding countries. Nay, may America become the distributing center of spiritual enlightenment, and all the world receive this heavenly blessing! For America has developed powers and capacities greater and more wonderful than other nations. While it is true that its people have attained a marvelous material civilization, I hope that spiritual forces may animate this great body and a corresponding spiritual civilization be established. May the inhabitants of this country become like angels of heaven with faces turned continually toward God. May all of them become the servants of the Omnipotent One. May they rise from present material attainments to such a height that heavenly illumination may stream from this center to all the peoples of the world. 

 'Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace

100th Anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Arrival in America

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the arrival of 'Abdu'l-Baha in New York City!

You can follow along with His journeys in the many blogs which have been created to commemorate these events. Please enjoy these beautiful and informative blogs!

• 239 Days in America
• 'Abdu'l-Baha's Travels to the West
• 'Abdu'l-Baha'is Journey in America
• The Journey West

Invitation to Centenary Event at Temple University, June 9, 2012, 3 p.m

One hundred years ago, a remarkable visitor spoke in Philadelphia and in other key cities throughout North America and Europe. The captivated audiences included university presidents, industrialists, leaders of movements like the Harlem Renaissance, as well as humble laborers and domestic workers. One prominent New York reporter remarked being “totally bewildered by the diversity of the crowd” and in a state of awe inspired by the man and the message. In Philadelphia, witnesses described leaving each gathering filled with “sincerity and humility” enkindled by a new vision of our potential as a united, just, equitable society.

The visitor was Abdul-Baha, a Central Figure of the Baha’i Faith, one of the fastest growing religions in the world, then and now; and today the second most widespread faith after Christianity, with a vibrant community in Philadelphia and the region.

On June 9, 1912, Abdul-Baha came to Philadelphia at the invitation of the founder of Temple University, Dr. Russell Conwell, who had traveled to Palestine (present-day Israel) to visit this transformative figure and son of Baha’u’llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith. Abdul-Baha was serving a life sentence as a prisoner of conscience under the Ottoman Empire at the time. In Abdul-Baha Dr. Conwell recognized an embodiment of true Christianity, and referred to him as “the Peace Prophet of this age.” With the fall of the Ottomans, Abdul-Baha was released from his imprisonment and was able to fulfill Dr. Conwell’s invitation to speak.

Dr. Conwell had invited numerous local and national dignitaries, with an estimated 2,500 people attending Abdul-Baha’s deeply inspiring talk at the Baptist Temple.

Exactly 100 years later, on Saturday, June 9, 2012, in that same room which has been restored as the impressive Temple Performing Arts Center, at 1837 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, another gathering imbued with the high ideals first enunciated a century ago will take place.

We hope you will set aside June 9 on your calendar and join us for an afternoon of inspiration and rededication to those principles of equality, justice, interfaith, inter-cultural, and racial harmony, and solid hope for the future – of our city, our families and our world, which were articulated a century ago.

A multi-generational program, bringing together an array of professional musicians, actors, other artists, and theatrical producers, with excerpts from Abdul-Baha’s June 1912 speech and fellowship, will begin at 3:30 pm at the Temple Performing Arts Center (guests are asked to arrive at 3 pm). Afterward, all are invited to a special picnic, at 6 pm, where hospitality, music and family activities will be provided at the Philadelphia Regional Baha’i Center, 2462 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Philadelphia.

In the spirit of Dr. Conwell and Abdul-Baha, both events welcome all, free of charge. For more information, updates, and to share your own reflections, please visit our blog: http://acelebrationofunity.blogspot.com/. Please feel free to share this invitation with interested friends, and please RSVP how many will attend, as space is limited, to: 100philly@gmail.com.

Hope to see you on June 9,

"To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world, to love humanity and try to serve it,
to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." - Abdu'l-Baha


Please click below for this invitation in .pdf format for you to print or share with friends:
Invitation To Centenary Event

'Abdu'l-Baha Speaking of the Message of Christ

As Christians celebrate Holy Week this week, it is interesting to reflect on the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha regarding the message of Christ. 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke these words in Brooklyn on April 12, 1912:

The divine Prophets came to establish the unity of the Kingdom in human hearts. All of them proclaimed the glad tidings of the divine bestowals to the world of mankind. All brought the same message of divine love to the world. Jesus Christ gave His life upon the cross for the unity of mankind. Those who believed in Him likewise sacrificed life, honor, possessions, family, everything, that this human world might be released from the hell of discord, enmity and strife. His foundation was the oneness of humanity. Only a few were attracted to Him. They were not the kings and rulers of His time. They were not rich and important people. Some of them were catchers of fish. Most of them were ignorant men, not trained in the knowledge of this world. One of the greatest of them, Peter, could not remember the days of the week. All of them were men of the least consequence in the eyes of the world. But their hearts were pure and attracted by the fires of the Divine Spirit manifested in Christ. With this small army Christ conquered the world of the East and the West. Kings and nations rose against Him. Philosophers and the greatest men of learning assailed and blasphemed His Cause. All were defeated and overcome, their tongues silenced, their lamps extinguished, their hatred quenched; no trace of them now remains. They have become as nonexistent, while His Kingdom is triumphant and eternal.

The brilliant star of His Cause has ascended to the zenith, while night has enveloped and eclipsed His enemies. His name, beloved and adored by a few disciples, now commands the reverence of kings and nations of the world. His power is eternal; His sovereignty will continue forever, while those who opposed Him are sleeping in the dust, their very names unknown, forgotten. The little army of disciples has become a mighty cohort of millions. The Heavenly Host, the Supreme Concourse are His legions; the Word of God is His sword; the power of God is His victory.

 'Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace

`Abdu'l-Bahá's Journeys to the West - A Summary

Mohonk Mountain House - licensed under Creative Commons

While looking for information about 'Abdu'l-Baha's travels, I came across a very nice summary over at `Abdu'l-Bahá's Journeys to the West on Wikipedia. Have you found any other sources of information on this historic journey?