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