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    LIVERPOOL, most famous people to have visited LIVERPOOL

    last up date September 2021

    by the way this story has now been viewed by over 500,000 views

    Hundreds of the Bahai's have celebrated the 100 years since Abdul-baha visited Liverpool.

    The 100yr celebration was held at the Adelphi Hotel were Abdul'baha stayed

    Dignitaries including the High Sheriff representing Queen Elezebeth ll was there on the night.


    'Abdul-Baha visit to England started in Liverpool

    arriving by ship from New York

    LINK TO BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04nqhc0#play





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    Hi, and welcome to my story.

    I am John Nolan a member of the Baha'i community of West Lancashire, MOBILE tel. phone number 07714 32 22 52
    I am known as theantiquesman www.theantiquesman.com and over the next months I will be writing the story of an incredible man and in my opinion the most important person to ever set foot in my City, The City and Port of Liverpool.

    So who is this incredible man, you may say.

    First let me apologize to the people who have visited Liverpool over the years. Sorry This story is NOT about you.

    To His Holiness the Pope, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, David Cameron,
    sorry John, Paul, George, Ringo,
    and the Anfield legends of, Bill Shankly and Kenny Dalglish,
    My story is not about Howard Kendall the Goodison King himself or
    Norman Wisdom or Omid Djalili, OMID who.............ha ha

    https://www.qlocal.co.uk/liverpool/n...w-51083998.htm

    None of theses people are mentioned or featured in my story even though they have all walked through the streets of Liverpool and I and members of my family have met them all.
    I do admire all those people on my list . They have all walked proudly through the streets of Liverpool, O' I forgot Maggie May who also walked through the streets of my city, But none of them feature in my story.




    My story is about `Abdu'l-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh.

    Over one hundred years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, arrived in the United Kingdom for the first of two visits. He was 66 years old, in failing health, and had been an exile from Persia since childhood.

    He and His family had spent forty years imprisoned by the Ottoman authorities in the Holy Land, and it was only in 1908 that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was finally free.

    From that moment His mission was to take His Father, Bahá’u’lláh’s message of peace and religious renewal to western societies.


    As I am a Scouser,( that is some one born in Liverpool) I have taken it on myself to tell this story, in my own style, in my own way. I am no writer and have no experience in the field of writing. I make no apologies. If you do notice grammar and spelling mistakes, you can blame the Christian Brothers at St Mary's College Crosby.

    As I am sure you know, Liverpool people are famous for their comedy, humor and story telling and of cause their famous one liners.

    Well my story starts off with a big one liner, an Ocean Liner.

    White Star liner "S.S. Celtic " known as Celtic 2, the first of 4 nearly identical ships built by Harland and Wolf at Belfast, Ireland.





    a post card




    The most incredible person to walk the streets of my Liverpool
    and bring with Him the most important one liner ever spoken on any stage even the Landing Stage.

    " THE WORLD IS JUST ONE COUNTRY AND MANKIND ARE ALL ITS CITZENS."

    This story is about a very, very special man and a very special pair of feet. The feet of 'Abdul-Baha of the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh translated ( The Glory of God) as I said the founder of the Bahá'í Faith.

    No, No, No, I know I have mentioned religion. Do not let this put you off reading the rest of the story. I Promise I will not mention Politics.

    Have I still got your attention.

    This story will put another meaning to the song " You will never walk alone " signature tune to Liverpool Football Club & Athletic Grounds Co Ltd. (that is the full name)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma3Nax8yyOE


    'Abdu'l-Bahá which in English means Servant of the Glory of God.
    Known to the Bahai's as The Master.

    My story is about this man 'Abdu'l-Bahá and His 2nd visit to England that took place over 100 years ago this December in 1912.
    He was born ‘Abbás Effendí, and was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh ( The Glory of God)

    Going back to when I was a small child, my father who was a Merchant Seaman was not at home very often, away on the ocean liners, so my mother would read to me bed side stories. They aways start off, Once upon a time.

    This story of mine is slightly different

    I am now a lot older, I am now 76, So my story starts off with,


    ONCE UPON AN AGE.................


    'Abdu'l-Baha glimpsed on board the S.S. Celtic as He sailed away from New York City bound for Liverpool, England, 5 December 1912. His parting words expressed the wish "that the East and West may embrace each other in love and deal with one another in sympathy and affection. Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find rest...

    WORDS - So approcate today




    When I was in my teans I heard it said in an Irish pub on Byron Street, Liverpool
    " to go to Heaven you would first have to change ships at the world famous Port of Liverpool."

    Well this is what Liverpool looked like back in 1912 at the time of 'Abdul-baha visit.

    May be the pub story was right and that was the reason for 'Abdul-Baha visit to my city.



    I can imagine what it must have been like back then the day of 'Abdul-baha arrival, cold, wet, the mist, the smell of smoke and the noise of the fog horns as the S.S.Celtic came in to dock escorted by those noisy tug boats hooting away. What a sight it must have been. I still get excited remembering seeing my fathers ship the Canadian Pacific liner "Empress of Canada" and my sister waving good by as she sailed to North America from that very spot, or should I say that Blessed IS THE Spot.

    and the House
    and the place
    and the city
    where mention of God is made and His praise glorified.



    at the time of His arrival in Liverpool, Isabel Fraser wrote,

    'ABDUL-BAHA arrived in Liverpool from New York on the White Star liner S.S.Celtic, December 13th 1912. The ship was late and it was about nine o’clock before it docked. Miss Elizabeth Herrick, formerly of Liverpool, now of London, had gone up to Liverpool a day ahead to arrange for the addresses. M Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney had come from Paris to meet Abdul-Baha and a group from Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds, in all about a dozen, watched the great liner come slowly up the stream, literally out of the dark night. Suddenly we caught sight of Abdul-Baha in the ship’s bow, and as she hove to he walked slowly down the long deck till he stood quite alone, in the very center of the center deck.. All eyes on the landing stage were at once riveted upon him as he peered over the ship’s side into the rain and gloom of Liverpool. The huge modern boat made a fitting frame for the Master-symbol, as it is of this outpouring of power, designed as it is to bring brothers into closer touch, and Abdul-Baha, the Center of this dispensation, appeared standing in command.



    the

    This is the only known photograph taken of Abdul-Baha while 'Abdul-Baha was in Liverpool.

    This is an abstract taken from a local newspaper of the day.

    To the little group of 12 people on the landing stage it seemed ages before the first, second and third-class baggage was arranged in the customs hall, and the porters and reporters dashed aboard. Finally we caught sight of the Well-Beloved’s white turbaned head, and directly back of him, as they came slowly down the gang-plank, one of the Persians carried a tiny Japanese orange-tree from California. Laden with fruit, it looked like an offering from the tropics as it swayed in the gusts of the broad Mersey.

    It was left to one PERSON ********* to look after the 30 pieces of baggage. The Custom Offices did not even open a single bag.

    The newspapers of the day where filled with stories of 'Abdul-Baha.

    The News headlines read

    "The Prophet of Peace"

    "Persian Mystic in Liverpool"

    The Daily Post and Mercury headline in Liverpool read "Twentieth Century Messiah."

    according to The Christian Commonwealth Newspaper

    'Abdul-Baha received a warm welcome from His English Followers.
    3,000,000 followers (world wide) at the time called him Master and the quality of their discipleship is compounded of reverence and love.

    at this point I must make it clear that 'Abdul-Baha said he was the Servant of Baha'u'llah, His Father and at no point did 'Abdul-Baha say he was a Prophet.

    To Bahai's He is the Servant of God. The Master.

    From my research I have found this article written on the day of His arrival.

    As a Western stranger coming in to the Masters ( 'Abdul-Baha ) presence for the first time acknowledges an emotion akin to awe, and after a few minutes' speech with Him, feels the stirring of a deeper spirit of devotion than the ordinary amenities of social intercourse are calculated to arose.

    another news paper article printed

    'Abdul-Baha mission of peace and universal brotherhood is like the coming of the four winds into the valley of dry bones, in Ezekiel's vision, is much more than a picturesque Eastern figure in the unromantic setting of Western civilisation. He is a prophet.

    To Bahai's he is the Servant of God, the symbol of the unity of religions and races which it is His mission to promote.

    An interesting note in one the newspapers.
    ABDUL BAHA ABBAS can be seen by appointment during his stay.
    Communications addressed to the Secretary 97, Cadogan Gardens SW, London

    I wonder who lives their today.


    Abdul-baha stayed two days in Liverpool, staying at the newly rebuilt 3rd Adelphi Hotel.( By the way I had my marriage ceremony at this hotel.)

    There has been some dispute as to which Hotel 2nd or 3rd He stayed at. As in the diary of the day it says He stayed in the Adelphi Hotet nine months after it was built. But the Hotel was not official opened 1914

    Pictured below

    THE FIRST


    SECOND

    This is the hotel that we can see today and the one as a boy I went to see many famous people who where staying at the Adelphi, including the famous Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans and of cause his famous horse "Trigger", who in the 1950's made a grand entrance from the mezzanine floor to the main lounge and even signed the visitors book with his hoof. It is also the Adelphi Hotel that I got married in back in January 1992.

    THIRD

    The original Adelphi Hotel was opened in 1826 by it's owner James Radley. It became the most popular hotel in the area, and gained a reputation throughout Britain and Europe. In 1876 a new hotel was built. In 1912, the great hotelier, Arthur Towle, acquired the hotel and rebuilt it in the manner of the great ocean liners that where docking less than a mile away at the Pier Head. It was this hotel I believe Abdul-Baha to stay at.


    When 'Abdul-Baha came up the River Mersey and then up the gang plank from the floating landing stage at the Pier Head where he had docked.




    The first thing that he would have seen was St Nicholas Church on the left and on the right the newly built Royal Liver Building, opened in 1911, the building was the purpose-built home of the Royal Liver Assurance group, which had been set up in the city in 1850 to provide locals with assistance related to losing a wage-earning relative. (The name Royal Liver traces it's roots back to the public house of the same name). One of the first buildings in the world to be built using reinforced concrete, the Royal Liver Building stands 300 ft tall and was the tallest building in Europe. This record stood for more than 19 years after Abdul-Baha's visit. Furthermore it was the tallest building in Liverpool and the United Kingdom up untill 1963.

    By the way a few years ago I came across the deeds to this beautiful building and also the other two buildings that make up the Liverpool water front. Liverpool people call it the Three Graces. Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and The Mersey Docks and Harbor Board Building The Liverpool Daily Post carried a story about this fantastic find.

    http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...2534-29112360/

    In 1912 Liverpool had no Cathedral whereas today it proudly has two. The Anglican Cathedral, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Today the City boasts of having two as can be seen clearly in this song written by Pete McGovern and sung by The Scaffold who in the 1960s were a comedy, poetry and music trio from Liverpool, England, consisting of Mike McGear (real name Peter Michael McCartney, the brother of Paul McCartney from the Beatles fame), Roger McGough and John Gorman.

    "If you want a cathedral,
    we've got one to spare, in my Liverpool home."

    "IN MY LIVERPOOL HOME" was the famous song of the 1960's


    I was born in Liverpool, down by the docks,
    My religion was Catholic; occupation - hard knocks.
    At stealing from lorries, I was adept,
    and underneath overcoats each night I slept.

    CHORUS: "In my Liverpool home, D..A..D..D..
    in my Liverpool Home, G..G..D..D..
    We speak with an accent exceedingly rare;
    G.. G. .D.. D.. / (we) meet under a statue exceedingly bare.
    [ G.. G.. D..D../A..A..D..D.. If you want a cathedral,
    we've got one to spare, in my Liverpool home."
    Back in the Forties the world it went mad,
    and Hitler he threw at us all that he had.
    When the smoke and the dust had all cleared from the air,
    "Thank God," said my old man," the Pier Head's still there."

    Over at Anfield* the shirts they are red. *LIVERPOOL.
    And the players play football as though they were dead.
    While over at Goodison* the shirts they are blue, *EVERTON.
    and the football they play is fantastic to view.

    If it's football you're wanting, the team at the top,
    is the team that they're singing about in the Kop;
    this city has got two great teams it deserves;
    Liverpool ... First Team, and Liverpool Reserves.

    I took a walk along Lime Street one day,
    I saw a "Young lady" a-heading my way;
    "Have you got the right time, love", says I to the lass,
    She said, "I've got the time, Jack, if you've got the brass."

    When I grew up, I met Bridget Mc Cann;
    she said, "You're not much, but I'm needing a man;
    I want sixteen kids, and a house out in Speke;
    well, the flesh it was willing, but the spirit was weak.

    Walton Gaol is the place for a quiet week-end.
    Climb over the wall, and you'll meet all your friends.
    You can sit and watch telly, drink whisky and beer
    and chalk on the prison walls; "Kilroy was here".

    We've got wide open spaces like the Wavertree Park,
    where it's unsafe by daylight and more so by dark
    We've got places of culture like Dingle and Speke,
    where they play "tick" with hatchets, and fight with their feet.

    We've got romantic places like the Cast-Iron Shore,
    where you can find someone else's back door,
    We had John, we had George, Ringo and Paul,
    the Liverpool Spinners, and the St George's Hall.

    Way out in Kirkby, the kids they wear clogs,
    there's eight million kids there's ten million dogs.
    They play "tick" with hatchets, I tell you no lie,
    and they call you a "cissy" if you've more than one eye.

    When my last whistle blows & the "Ref Up There" says;
    "You've supped your last Guinness,lad, it's the end of your days,"
    Take my ashes to Old Trafford and spread them around,
    and they won't win a match while I'm haunting the ground.
    ************************************************
    ************************************************
    ************************************************
    ************************************************

    After His arrival 'Abdul-Baha was driven by automobile from the dock side to the Adelphi Hotel

    This is some abstracts from a diary kept of His visit.

    The Diary

    - please note this Diary was written by Mirza Amahad Sohrob who was at the time 'Abdul-Baha's secretary and interpreter and close companion.
    May I say as I come from a Roman Catholic background the easiest way for me to explain Mirza Amahad Sohrob relationship and roll after the death of 'Abdul-Baha is to use the expression Judas. As Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas. On the death of 'Abdul-Baha , Sohrob seized the opportunity to play God, Today he has few followers if any, who may not even know which side of the face they have been kissed on. (refering to the kis of Judas.)

    Accord to Wikipedia, Mírzá A?mad Sohráb (1893–1958) was a Persian-American author and Bahá'í who co-founded the New History Society and the Caravan of East and West in New York, and was excommunicated from the Bahá'í Faith in 1939

    December 13th 1912

    The steam Ship Celtic was due to dock at 8 pm.
    As the ship came into dock on both sides of the River Mersey for many miles the lights of the Piers were illumining the horizon.

    On leaving the ship ‘Abdul-Baha gave 50 shillings to the musicians that had played during his journey..

    The steamer docked just at 7.50 pm and there were about 12 believers waving their hats and handkerchiefs and welcoming ‘Abdul-Baha to Liverpool. Amongst them there was Mrs Isabel Fraser and Mrs Herrick. The Master came out two or three times and waved His Hands to them.

    Remember Bahai's call ‘Abdul-Baha The Master, a name given to Him by his Father Baha’ullah

    Mon. H. Dreyfus came up on deck. The Master embraced him and kissed both cheeks.

    Four newspaper men surrounded ‘Abdul-Baha asking Him questions. He told them about His trip into America etc which appeared the next day in the newspapers.

    The Captain, the stewards, the sailors, servents, maids and the passengers, all of them came to the Master and expressed their pleasure and happiness.
    One of the maids told Him, she had never met any person on the steamer who has been as kind and as generous as the Master was to all of them.

    The Master immediately left with Mon. Dreyfus and Mirza Mahmoud for the Adelphi Hotel and Ahmad was left behind to attend to 25 -30 pieces of baggage.

    The customs officers did not even open one single package or trunk and they were most polite and decorous.

    9-30 pm arriving in the hotel, a lovely appointed quarters . It is only nine months since the hotel was rebuilt, the entrance is all of white marble and even the high walls of each floor is of long pieces of marble

    The Theosophical Society of Liverpool has invited the Master to speak and He may speak tomorrow night. 14th Dec 1912

    The President of the Theosophical Society and the Minister will call on 'Abdul-Baha tomorrow morning and arrange the details.

    ‘Abdul Baha was most pleased with His reception in Liverpool. He said because the people of England just at this moment when the Ambassadors of the Great Powers are gathering in London to discuss the terms of Peace Negotiation concerning Balkan allies are most interested in any movement which spreads the benign influence of Peace.

    14th Dec.1912

    This morning the President of the Theosophical Society, a very intelligent and bright woman, called on Our Beloved and had a very interesting interview. It was arranged that The Master may speak at their hall tonight at 8.pm.

    Then Mr Fraser, the Minister of Pembroke Church was introduced and he invited Abdul Baha to speak tomorrow night at his church. Pembroke Church is an open forum wherein all the great thinkers of the age address the people. It holds about 1500 people. The Master accepted the invitation.

    Then He dictated many cablegrams to all parts of the Orient and to New York, Washington, Chicago and San Francisco giving the news of His safe arrival.
    Mon. Dreyfus brought in many many letters from the Orient. Abdu'l-Baha read some of them and the rest must wait their turn. He said I have brought from America many letters yet unopened and here are some more.

    Then He called to take a walk through Liverpool. He turned right out of the hotel and walked along Lime Street, passing on His right Lime Street Railway Station and the old Empire Theatre which was demolished in 1924 for the building of the new theatre which can be seen today.

    On His left was St Georges Hall. One thing that struck His notice was the poverty of many people. It was a common sight to see children with shabby dresses, bare footed walking in the streets; beggars standing at the corners who received money from 'Abdu-Baha. Women and girls with most untidy dresses. It was really sad to see so much poverty in England with Englands boasted civilization.

    this is the view 'Abdul-Baha would have seen on that day,
    note in the far distance the Wellington statue.



    ‘Abdulbaha walked on till He reached a square where the Statue of the Duke of Wellington was placed on a high column more than 40 ft High. The Master asked “Whose statue is this man? They have placed him so high."

    The statue was of The Duke of wellington Wellington

    Then He turned up London Road and entered a department store where He bought a pair of warm gloves for Himself. We returned, with many people looking and staring at Him.

    A young man came to the Master, took out of his pocket a newspaper, and showed the Master His picture. It was yesterday's Liverpool paper announcing His approaching arrival. The young man said: "I have read everything about you! You are teaching beautiful lessons." And then he vanished from the sight, perhaps never to see 'Abdul-Baha again, yet receiving a divine Blessing which he will never forget.

    Arriving back at the hotel for lunch Monsieur Dreyfus was there and all had a good dinner in the beautiful Adelphi dining room.

    Sayad Assadollah went in to St John’s Market to buy rice, meat, celery etc for the evening meal. He is going to cook an excellent polow. (rice dish)

    Then the Master had tea and spoke about the wonderful Bounties of Baha-ullah. He said were it not for the Favors of the Blessed Perfection this unity and love between the Orient and Occident would have been impossible. There is no bodily relation between us yet these people are showing us so much affection. Praise be to God that His Holiness Baha-ullah is protecting all His believers, both in the East and the West under His Royal wings. All of them are guarded, cared for tenderly beneath His Imperial Canopy. Here to more graphically illustrate how Baha-ullah is protecting His believers under His wings, He opened wide His two blessed hands, His two divine eyes closed, His face wreathing with celestial smiles and heavenly happiness, He slowly brought them together. You could imagine, as He was bringing together His hands, that the divine Bird is slowly closing Hiswings under which all the little birds are being sheltered.

    Then Monsieur Dreyfus came in and the Master spoke about several interesting events of His trip in California USA.

    Just then a telegram was received from London stating that the friends are arranging a large welcome reception for Abdul Baha on Tuesday afternoon and a large meeting for Friday night at 10 pm.

    At eight o'clock the Master and the rest of the party went to the Theosophical Society. The President came herself to the hotel with an automobile. Her name is Mrs Armour. There was quite a large audience considering the short notice. It was a foggy and rainy night. The Master spoke on the three aspects of humanity. The animal nature, the human nature and the spiritual nature, encouraging the audience to develop their spiritual nature, not to devote all their times to material or human problems of life and try to become the image and the likeness of God. Toward the end He admonished them to be ever watchful for the coming of the Promised One whose dominion is never-ending, whose potency is eternaland who is the Very Mercy of God to humanity. Toward the end He recited how the Persian Bahais have become the embodiments of these heavenly virtues in Persia by devoting their
    lives to the promotion of these eternal principles of divine life. Then He ended His address by saying: "I hope that you will assist them in the establishment of the Kingdom upon this earth, so that conjointly you may become the means of transforming this world into another world, heavenly progress may be realized, spiritual powers may be obtained, divine bounties encircle humanity and this nether world may become the world of the Kingdom"
    Then He shook hand with all those who were present. Coming back we had a Persian supper prepared by Sayad Assaollah in His own room. Mon Dreyfus being present.

    Pembroke Chapel
    December 15. 1912

    This is the early morn of Sunday. The Master had had His tea and is praying for our confirmation and assistance. Every morning He prays for all the believers throughout the world so that they may receive aid and assistance from the Divine Source. He said: At all times I supplicate and implore at the Threshold of Baha-ullah to encircle His faithful ones with the spiritual powers, to illumine their hearts, to expand their thoughts; so that they may become enabled to raise the standard of International Peace, to serve the world of humanity and to attract the souls to the Kingdom of Abha.
    Today Abdul Baha is the centre of the great spiritual awakening and through His wonderful words of life people are being awakened and realize the deeper and more significant life of the spirit.

    This morning we called on Him early and He spoke to me about the concentration of one's powers: "The water flowing from one spring has more force and energy than if the same water is divided between eight springs." He said "Try always to concentrate your activities in one channel and let that one be the Cause of Baha-ullah! Then you shall see how the confirmations of God are descending." He spoke a great deal along these these lines which really helped and assisted. Since I have left N.Y. I am beginning to realize more and more His tenderness and His love for all humanity, His desire that all humanity may advance, that all the children of the Father may become characterized with divine attributes.

    Later on, Ahmad Yazdi who is the Consul of Persia in Port Said and is one of the most beautiful Bahais arrived from London. The Master loves him very much and most of the forenoon He was speaking with him. Then He took a long walk through the city centre district with Mon. Dreyfus and Ahmad Yazdi, returning about one o'clock.

    Meanwhile Mirza Mahmoud made nearly 50 packages of the Arabic newspapers which we brought from N. Y. City This newspaper contained the translation of The Masters address in Arabic in the Jewish Synagogue in SanFrancisco. This translation was made by Doctor Zia Bagdadi and its circulation in the Orient
    will have a great effect.

    When the Master returned He took His lunch in His own room and we went downstairs in the Louis XVI Salon.

    After lunch Monsieur Dreyfus came in and Sayad Assadollah told us some of the incidents in connection with His trip in America which made us laugh.

    It was during tea drinking that the President of the Theosophical Society of another city, a young intelligent man came to call on the Master. Having heard His last night's address he was greatly interested and asked questions about reincarnation, the expected coming of their Great Teacher etc. "I believe" he said "that you are the promised Teacher of the Theosophists. In you I see all the prophecies fulfilled." The Master explained to him the
    question of reincarnation and said "The promised Great Teacher was Baha’u’llah." "Yes," "So far as the teachings are concerned we believe in all that you teach, the only difference, then, that exists between the Theosophists and the Bahais is this: The
    Theosophists are yet waiting for the coming of the Great Teacher and the Bahais believe that He has come."
    "Bravo" the Master said "You have well explained the issue."
    Then He told him about the Jews and their expectation of the Messiah but when He came, they did not recognize Him. Our Beloved kissed him and prayed for him most eloquently.

    Then Miss Herrick brought flowers and a little lady from Manchester who has come especially to meet the Master; then a man who had a sorrowful tale of being cast in the depth of despair, desiring to commit suicide. He was very earnest about it. He has a wife and four children. He cannot take care of them. His wife has left him with two of his children; the two others are with him. He does not believe in God. He has no faith. His wife and children are unhappy and in order to release them from this wretchedness he is contemplating suicide. Then the Master speaks in gentle words of advice, consolingly, helping him upward, building up the palace of his life, assisting him to realize his duty,most lovingly telling what to do, to be happy, to cast away these imaginations, God loves him, God cares for him, God likes to see him a conqueror in the face of difficulties and little by little the man feels, senses the Presence of a Superior Being from heaven, he realizes a happiness, a joy, quite distinct. "Then I should go back to my wife, I must go to work, I must throw away these thoughts" "Yes." "All right." And he goes out of the room with a new smile on his face, a new light shining in his pathway, a new star shining in his horizon.

    Then Miss Herrick tells a pathetic story about the elevater boy in her hotel. This boy reading articles about Our Master becomes interested. Miss Herrick after giving him some literature asks him: what has he learned about Abdul Baha. "Madame", he says very politely "I have learned that Abdul Baha likes to see all the poor children wear shoes and stockings and not walk in this cold winter bare footed in the streets."

    The Manchester old lady says she is the only Bahai in that city. "I hope you will teach many souls. etc" Then several other men and women came, each receiving blessings.

    At half past six the Master goes to Pembroke Chapel.
    The Minister, Rev. Fraser gives an eloquent introduction.
    The Church is crowded to the door, fully fifteen hundred people, all waiting anxiously to hear the Pearls of Wisdom falling from His blessed lips. Then the Master arises from His chair, everyone is on his or her feet.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Alternative Account by Isabel Fraser - After a few appreciative words of welcome by the Rev. Donald Fraser, Abdul-Baha
    addressed the congregation at Pembroke chapel, at the evening service, December 15th. Mr Fraser welcomed this herald of peace and expressed his deep appreciation and honor at having Abdul-Baha in his church. He made a remarkable picture as he
    stood in the pulpit, which at first he hesitated to ascend, saying that he did not like to be above the rest of the people. But when it was pointed to him that he would not be above some of them - the gallery - and that they could hear better, he complied.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    He speaks on the unity of religions, international Peace, discarding prejudices, doing away with the blind imitations, illustrating His address with the atrocities which are committed in the Balkans etc. It was a powerful address, full of fire, enthusiasm and I tried my best to convey not only the words but something of His all-embracing spirit. After the address the Minister requests the Master to utter the benediction and the large audience arises with bowed heads receiving the wondrous and effective words of the mainspring of prayer.

    P U L P I T

    The Minister is most pleased, the people come forward to shake hands and the Cause of
    Baha’u’llah is heard for the first time publicly before such a large audience in Liverpool.

    We return to the hotel and the Master, Mon. Dreyfus, Ahmad Yazdi and the rest of us have dinner in the dining room.
    This is really a wonderful start! The meeting of tonight had something of the life and breath of the gatherings in America. The Master said soon there will be a Bahai meeting here.
    Already there are many people who are most interested and they are going to teach.

    From the time of our arrival we have not seen the sun and we may not see it for a long while. It has been raining, mist and fog making the horizon gloomy.

    Tomorrow morning at 9.45 am we will leave for London arriving there at 1.40 pm. The
    friends in London are notified. They have been doing some great preparations.




    continuing in draft
    ************************************************
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    **************************************************
    ***************************************************
    Abdul-Baha was asked to give two talks while he was in the City

    Not in the main churches.

    As Abdul-Baha approached His hotel and his walk about the City he would have passed The Old Haymarket where once stood against St. George Hall, on the site of what is now St. John's Gardens, St John's Church,




    the burial ground for the church, with a small chapel, was consecrated and opened for use in 1767 but the church itself was not completed until 1784. The architect of the church building was Timothy (sometimes given as Thomas) Lightoler.

    In the year it was completed, St John’s served one of the most crowded and poorest areas of the city. Mid-1780’s Burial records indicate the degree of abject poverty to be found locally. Nearly one-in-two of the deaths that occurred were of children whilst in only one–in-four cases were people able to fund their own, or a relative’s, funeral. One-in-four burials were of paupers, two-in-three of whom were from the Poorhouse.

    St. John's churchyard was closed for burials on 11th June 1865, 82,491 bodies having been interred in the grounds. St. John's Church was closed under the terms of the Liverpool City Churches Act 1897 The last Sunday service took place in St. John's on 27th March 1898.

    When the church was demolished, Peet wrote, 'For more that a century this unsightly structure has been allowed to disfigure the landscape ... as an example of ecclesiastical art the church of St. John has not a single redeeming feature....'. Under a facility granted on 11th December 1888 Liverpool Corporation was empowered to lay out the churchyard as the public gardens to be known as St. John's Gardens.

    Early Baptismal records contain a number of mentions of people from Africa, Jamaica, New Guinea and other countries. These record possible mariners or, reflecting that most unsavoury aspect of Liverpool’s past, slaves given English names.

    In Front of his hotel within 600 yards was the Church of St Peters on Church Street , which lends it's name to the street, which was in the midst of being demolished to make room for Woolworth's and it's first store in Europe. Today all that remains today is a plaque in the pavement in front of what was Woolworth's store, unfortunately there is no church's now on Church street today or no Woolworths.

    During those days in Liverpool 'Abdul-baha made two addresses, one to the Theosophical Society on Saturday night, December 14th, 1912

    Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) co founder of the society which still exists to day.






    and on Sunday evening December 15th. at Pembroke Chapel, a Baptist Church, at the top end of Pembroke Place at the intersection of Crown Street and West Derby Street. The church has now been demolished.






    continuing in draft
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    ……………………………………………………………….
    writen by the writer of the diary

    Please excuse my style. These are just the plain recital of events and no attempt for literary
    beauty and rhetorical composition.67
    Love to all
    Ahmad the writer of the diary
    …………………………………..


    On the morning of the 16th December 1912 at 9.45am 'Abdul-baha left for London by steam train from Lime Street Station. ariving at London Euston at 1.40pm



    from a post card picture circa 1910



    On Friday evening 20th December 1912 the large hall at the Westminster Palace Hotel 'Abdul-baha gave His address , His topic was the vast subject "PEACE". Sir Thomas Barclay was in the chair and in the audience where scientists, diplomats and leaders of the great movements of the day, including a large number of Orientals. So great was the overflow that many where compelled to sit on the floor and a fring standing at the outer edge extending beyond the door.

    Sir Thomas Barclay said in his address after quoting some of Baha'u'llah writings. " If I have understood Bahaism. It is singulary good Christian ring to it and I should interpret it to mean: Be a real Christian and you will be a good Bahai. But I am merely presiding, not proselytising.

    'Abdul-Baha remaind seated while he gave his talk and Mirza Amahad Sohrob translated. Years later Sohrob took his importance on being the interpreter to being the founder of his own religion. As what Judus did to Jesus Christ Sohrob did to 'Abdul-Baha.
    But that is another story.


    Since leaving London a year ago on his first visit to England Abdul-Baha has travelled far. He had been to Paris, and from thence travelled to Alexandria and Cairo. Last April he visited the United States, going as far west as San Francisco. It was in this city that he made his famous address to the Jews, speaking on the relations between Judaism and Christianity, an address which is far-reaching not only from the Jewish but from the broad Christian standpoint.

    On being asked what the Jewish attitude toward him was on that occasion, Abdul-Baha said: "Many of those present came up and shook me by the hand, and a certain Jew came to me as I was leaving the synagogue and said, ‘I am ashamed to be prejudiced any longer.’ And, again, as I was walking one day in the street another Jew came to me and said, ‘We were neglectful and heedless, and you enlivened us; we slept and you awoke us. It behooves us to remain steadfast now and look to true knowledge, and forget our nearly 2,000-year-old differences.’"

    Some Parts taken From the STAR OF THE WEST, Bahai News Journal, Vol III, No 17, January 19, 1913.

    ------------------------------------

    As you can see with all my references to the religious side of Liverpool the Spirit of Abdul-Baha still lives in the city.and on the night of ********** at the opening of Liverpool City of Culture 08 a 50 ft picture was shone on the outside walls of the Anglican cathedral for the city to see.







    ***********************************************

    'Abdul-Baha journey to Liverpool and the West will continue here
    in draft form

    Liverpool - his talks - Adelphi Hotel - Landing Stage - Lime Street Station - Ships menu.

    ***********************************************


    'Abdul-Baha Life Story in brief

    1844


    `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran, Iran on 23 May 1844 ( 5th of Jamadiyu'l-Avval, 1260 AH in the Muslim calander ), the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and His wife Navváb. He was born on the very same night on which the Báb (the founder of the Babi Faith) declared his mission. Born with the given name of `Abbás, he was named after his grandfather Mírzá `Abbás Núrí, a prominent and powerful nobleman.

    As a child, `Abdu'l-Bahá was shaped by his father's position as a prominent Bábí (follower of the Bab' ). `Abdu’l-Bahá had a happy and carefree childhood. The family’s Tehran home and country houses were comfortable and beautifully decorated. `Abdu'l-Bahá enjoyed playing in the gardens with his younger sister whom he was very close to. Along with his younger siblings— a sister, Bahíyyih, and a brother, Mihdí— the three lived in a environment of privilege, happiness and comfort. With his father's declination of the position as minister of the court; during his young boyhood `Abdu’l-Bahá witnessed his parents' various charitable endeavours, which included converting part of the home to a hospital ward for women and children.

    `Abdu'l-Bahá received a haphazard education during his childhood. It was customary not to send children of nobility to schools. Most noblemen were educated at home briefly in scripture, rhetoric, calligraphy and basic mathematics. Many were educated to prepare themselves for life in the royal court. Despite a brief spell at a traditional preparatory school at the age of seven for one year, `Abdu'l-Bahá received no formal education. As he grew he was educated by his mother, and uncle. Most of his education however, came from his father, Baha'u'llah,

    Years later in 1890 Edward Granville Browne the English professor and author described how `Abdu'l-Bahá was "one more eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration, more intimately acquainted with the sacred and Holy books of the Jews, ( The Torah ) the Christians, ( The Bible and New Testament ) and the Muhammadans ( The Koran Quran )...scarcely be found even amongst the eloquent."


    1851


    When `Abdu'l-Bahá was seven, he contracted tuberculosis and was expected to die. Though the malady faded away, he would be plagued with bouts of illness for the rest of his life.
    One event that affected `Abdu'l-Bahá greatly during his childhood was the imprisonment of his father.

    1852

    At the age of eight He was regularly being attacked in the streets by other children. His father, Baha'u'llah was imprisoned and the family's possessions were looted, leaving them in virtual poverty.
    `Abdu'l-Bahá accompanied his mother to visit Bahá'u'lláh in the infamous subterranean dungeon the Síyáh-Chál.

    He described how "I saw a dark, steep place. We entered a small, narrow doorway, and went down two steps, but beyond those one could see nothing. In the middle of the stairway, all of a sudden we heard His [Bahá’u’lláh's]…voice: 'Do not bring him in here', and so they took me back".

    1853

    Bahá'u'lláh was eventually released from prison but ordered into exile, and `Abdu'l-Bahá then eight joined his father on the journey to Baghdad in the winter (January to April) of 1853. During the journey `Abdu'l-Bahá suffered from frost-bite.

    After a year of difficulties Bahá'u'lláh absented himself rather than continue to face the conflict with Mirza Yahya his Brother He secretly secluded himself in the mountains of Sulaymaniyah in April 1854 a month before `Abdu'l-Bahá's tenth birthday.
    Mutual sorrow resulted in him, his mother and sister becoming constant companions. `Abdu'l-Bahá was particularly close to both, and his mother took active participation in his education and upbringing. During the two year absence of his father `Abdu'l-Bahá took up the duty of managing the affairs of the family, before his age of maturity (14 in middle-eastern society) and was known to be occupied with reading and, at a time of hand-copied scriptures being the primary means of publishing, was also engaged in copying the writings of the Bab. `Abdu’l-Bahá also took an interest in the art of horse riding and, as he grew, became a renowned rider.

    1856
    In 1856, news of an ascetic carrying on discourses with local Súfí leaders that seemed to possibly be Bahá'u'lláh reached the family and friends. Immediately, family members and friends went to search for the illusive dervish – and in March brought Bahá'u'lláh back to Baghdad. On seeing his father, `Abdu'l-Bahá fell to his knees and wept loudly "Why did you leave us?", and this followed with his mother and sister doing the same. `Abdu'l-Bahá soon became his father's secretary and shield. During the sojourn in the city `Abdu’l-Bahá grew from a boy into a young man. He was noted as a "remarkably fine looking youth", and remembered for his charity and amiableness. Having passed the age of maturity

    1859

    `Abdu'l-Bahá was regularly seen in the mosques of Baghdad discussing religious topics and the scripture as a young man. Whilst in Baghdad, `Abdu'l-Bahá composed a commentary at the request of his father on the Muslim tradition of "I was a Hidden Treasure" for a Súfí leader named `Alí Shawkat Páshá. `Abdu'l-Bahá was fifteen or sixteen at the time and `Alí Shawkat Páshá regarded the more than 11000 word essay as a remarkable feat for somebody of his age.

    1863

    In 1863 in what became known as the Garden of Ridván Bahá'u'lláh announced to a few that he was the manifestation of God and He whom God shall make manifest whose coming had been foretold by the Báb. On day eight of the twelve days, it is believed `Abdu'l-Baha was the first person Baha'u'llah revealed his claim to.

    Also 1863 Bahá'u'lláh was summoned to Constantinople ( now Istanbul), and thus his whole family including `Abdu'l-Bahá, then nineteen, accompanied him on his 110-day journey. The journey to Constantinople was another wearisome journey, and `Abdu'l-Bahá helped feed the exiles. It was here that his position became more prominent among the Bahá’ís. This was further solidified by Bahá’u’lláh’s tablet of the Branch in which he constantly exalts his son's virtues and station. The family were soon exiled in the late 1860s to Adrianople and `Abdu'l-Bahá went with the family. `Abdu’l-Bahá again suffered from frostbite.




    It was in Adrianople `Abdu’l-Bahá was regarded as the sole comforter of his family – in particular to his mother. At this point `Abdu'l-Bahá was known by the Bahá'ís as "the Master", and by non-Bahá'ís as `Abbás Effendi ("Effendi" signifies "Sir"). It was in Adrianople that Bahá’u’lláh referred to his son as "the Mystery of God". The title of "Mystery of God" symbolism, according to Bahá'ís, that `Abdu'l-Bahá is not a manifestation of God but how a "person of `Abdu'l-Bahá the incompatible characteristics of a human nature and superhuman knowledge and perfection have been blended and are completely harmonized". `Abdu'l-Bahá was at this point noted for having black hair which flowed to his shoulders, large blue eyes, alabaster colored skin and a slight Roman nose. Bahá'u'lláh gave his son many other titles such as "the Most Mighty Branch" the "Branch of Holiness", "the Center of the Covenant" .
    `Abdu'l-Bahá ("the Master") was devastated when hearing the news that him and his family were to be exiled separately from Bahá'u'lláh. It was, according to Bahá'ís, through his intercession that the idea was reverted and the family were allowed to be exiled together, finally exiled to the penal-colony of Acre, Palestine, now part of Israel.

    1868

    Prison in Acre
    At the age of 24, `Abdu'l-Bahá was clearly chief-steward to his father and an outstanding member of the Bahá’í community. Bahá’u’lláh and his family were – in 1868 – exiled to the penal colony of Acre, Palestine where it was expected that the family would perish. Arrival in Acre was distressing for the family and exiles. They were greeted in a hostile manner by the surrounding population and his sister and father fell dangerously ill. When told that the women were to sit on the shoulders of the men to reach the shore, `Abdu'l-Bahá took a chair and carried the women to the bay of Acre. `Abdu'l-Bahá was able to procure some anesthetic and nursed the sick.The Bahá’ís were imprisoned under horrendous conditions in a cluster of cells covered in excrement and dirt. `Abdu'l-Bahá himself fell dangerously ill with dysentery, however a sympathetic soldier premitted a physician to help cure him. The population shunned them, the soldiers treated them the same, and the behaviour of Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani (an Azali) did not help matters. Morale was further destroyed with the death of `Abdu'l-Bahá’s youngest brother Mírzá Mihdí at the age of 22.



    `Abdu'l-Bahá (right) with his brother Mírzá Mihdí



    His death devastated the family – particularly his mother and father – and the grieving `Abdu'l-Bahá kept a night-long vigil beside his brother’s body.

    Over time, he gradually took over responsibility for the relationships between the small Bahá'i exile community and the outside world. It was through his interaction with the people of Acre that, according to the Bahá'ís, they recognized the innocence of the Bahá'ís, and thus the conditions of imprisonment were eased. Four months after the death of Mihdí the family moved from the prison to the House of `Abbúd. The people of Acre started to respect the Bahá'ís and in particular, `Abdu'l-Bahá.

    1873

    As a young man speculation was rife amongst the Bahá’ís to whom `Abdu'l-Bahá would marry. Several young girls were seen as marriage prospects but `Abdu’l-Bahá seemed disinclined to marriage. On March 8, 1873, at the urging of his father, the twenty-eight-year-old `Abdu’l-Bahá married Fátimih Nahrí of Isfahán (1847–1938) a twenty-five-year-old noblewoman. Her father was Mírzá Mu?ammad `Alí Nahrí of Isfahan an eminent Bahá’í of the city and prominent aristocrat. Fátimih was brought from Persia to Acre, Israel after both Bahá’u’lláh and his wife Navváb expressed an interest in her to marry `Abdu’l-Bahá.
    After a wearisome journey from Isfahán to Akka she finally arrived accompanied by her brother in 1872. The young couple were betrothed for about five months before the marriage itself commenced. In the mean time, Fátimih lived in the home of `Abdu'l-Bahá’s uncle Mírzá Músá. According to her later memoirs, Fátimih fell in love with `Abdu'l-Bahá on seeing him. `Abdu'l-Bahá himself had showed little inkling to marriage until meeting Fátimih; who was entitled Munírih by Bahá’u’lláh. Munírih is a title meaning "Luminous".
    The marriage resulted in nine children. The first born was a son Mihdí Effendi who died aged about 3. He was followed by ?iyá'iyyih Khánum, Fu’ádíyyih Khánum (d. few years old), Rúhangíz Khánum (d. 1893), Túbá Khánum, Husayn Effendi (d.1887 aged 5), Túbá Khánum, Rúhá Khánum and Munnavar Khánum. The death of his children caused `Abdu’l-Bahá immense grief – in particular the death of his son Husayn Effendi came at a difficult time following the death of his mother and uncle.[46] The surviving children (all daughters) were; ?iyá'iyyih Khánum (mother of Shoghi Effendi) (d. 1951) Túbá Khánum (1880–1959) Rú?á Khánum and Munavvar Khánum (d. 1971). Bahá'u'lláh wished that the Bahá'ís follow the example of `Abdu'l-Bahá and gradually move away from polygamy.[ The marriage of `Abdu’l-Bahá to one woman and his choice to remain monogamous, from advice of his father and his own wish, legitimized the practice of monogamy to a people whom hitherto had regarded polygamy as a righteous way of life.



    1879

    `Abdu'l-Bahá was able to arrange for houses to be rented for the family, the family later moved to the Mansion of Bahjí around 1879 when an epidemic caused the inhabitants to flee.
    `Abdu'l-Bahá soon became very popular in the penal colony and Myron Phelps a wealthy New York lawyer described how "a crowd of human beings...Syrians, Arabs, Ethiopians, and many others", all waited to talk and receive `Abdu'l-Bahá.

    1886

    'Abdu'l-Bahá undertook a history of the Bábí religion through publication of A Traveller's Narrative (Makála-i-Shakhsí Sayyáh) in 1886, later translated and published in translation in 1891 through Cambridge University by the agency of Edward Granville Browne who described `Abdu'l-Bahá as:
    Seldom have I seen one whose appearance impressed me more. A tall strongly built man holding himself straight as an arrow, with white turban and raiment, long black locks reaching almost to the shoulder, broad powerful forehead indicating a strong intellect combined with an unswerving will, eyes keen as a hawk's, and strongly marked but pleasing features - such was my first impression of 'Abbás Efendí, "the master".

    1892

    After Bahá'u'lláh died on 29 May 1892, the Will and Testament of Bahá'u'lláh named `Abdu'l-Bahá as Centre of the Covenant, successor and interpreter of Bahá'u'lláh's writings.



    In the Will and Testament `Abdu'l-Bahá's half-brother, Muhammad `Alí, was mentioned by name as being subordinate to `Abdu'l-Bahá. Muhammad `Alí became jealous of his half-brother and set out to establish authority for himself as an alternative leader with the support of his brothers Badi'u'llah and Diya'u'llah. He began correspondence with Bahá'ís in Iran, initially in secret, casting doubts in others' minds about `Abdu'l-Bahá. While most Bahá'ís followed `Abdu'l-Bahá, a handful followed Muhammad `Alí including such leaders as Mirza Javad and Ibrahim Khayru'llah, the famous Bahá'í missionary to America.
    Muhammad `Alí and Mirza Javad began to openly accuse `Abdu'l-Bahá of taking on too much authority, suggesting that he believed himself to be a Manifestation of God, equal in status to Bahá'u'lláh. It was at this time that `Abdu'l-Bahá, in order to provide proof of the falsity of the accusations leveled against him, in tablets to the West, stated that he was to be known as "`Abdu'l-Bahá" an Arabic phrase meaning the Servant of Bahá to make it clear that he was not a Manifestation of God, and that his station was only servitude. `Abdu'l-Bahá left a Will and Testament that set up the framework of administration. The two highest institutions were the Universal House of Justice, and the Guardianship, for which he appointed Shoghi Effendi, His Grandson as the Guardian.

    Late 1890's

    During the final years of the 19th century, while `Abdu'l-Bahá was still officially a prisoner and confined to `Akka, he organized the transfer of the remains of the Báb from Iran to Palestine. He then organized the purchase of land on Mount Carmel that Bahá'u'lláh had instructed should be used to lay the remains of the Báb, and organized for the construction of the Shrine of the Báb. This process took another 10 years. With the increase of pilgrims visiting `Abdu'l-Bahá, Muhammad `Alí worked with the Ottoman authorities to re-introduce stricter terms on `Abdu'l-Bahá's imprisonment in August 1901.

    1902

    By 1902, however, due to the Governor of `Akka being supportive of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the situation was greatly eased; while pilgrims were able to once again visit `Abdu'l-Bahá, he was confined to the city. In February 1903, two followers of Muhammad `Alí, including Badi'u'llah and Siyyid `Aliy-i-Afnan, broke with Muhammad `Ali and wrote books and letters giving details of Muhammad `Ali's plots and noting that what was circulating about `Abdu'l-Bahá was fabrication.
    From 1902 to 1904, in addition to the building of the Shrine of the Báb that `Abdu'l-Bahá was directing, he started to put into execution two different projects; the restoration of the House of the Báb in Shiraz, Iran and the construction of the first Bahá'í House of Worship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. `Abdu'l-Bahá asked Aqa Mirza Aqa to coordinate the work so that the house of the Báb would be restored to the state that it was at the time of the Báb's declaration to Mulla Husayn in 1844; he also entrusted the work on the House of Worship to Vakil-u'd-Dawlih.
    Also in 1904, Muhammad `Ali continued his accusations against `Abdu'l-Bahá which caused an Ottoman commission summoning `Abdu'l-Bahá to answer the accusations levelled against him. During the inquiry the charges against him were dropped and the inquiry collapsed. The next few years in `Akka were relatively free of pressures and pilgrims were able to come and visit `Abdu'l-Bahá.

    1908

    The 1908 Young Turks revolution freed all political prisoners in the Ottoman Empire, and `Abdu'l-Bahá was freed from imprisonment. His first action after his freedom was to visit the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Bahji. While `Abdu'l-Bahá continued to live in `Akka immediately following the revolution, he soon moved to live in Haifa near the Shrine of the Báb By 1909 the mausoleum of the Shrine of the Báb was completed.

    1910

    In 1910, with the freedom to leave the country, he embarked on a three year journey to Egypt, Europe, and North America, spreading the Bahá'í message.
    From August to December 1911, `Abdu'l-Bahá visited cities in Europe, including London, Bristol, and Paris.

    This book is a good read
    http://www.grbooks.com/show_book.php?book_id=124

    ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in England from 3 September to 3 October 1911. Aged 67, He gave His first public address on 10 September. At the invitation of the Revd R J Campbell He spoke from the pulpit of the City Temple on Holborn Viaduct in London. On 17 September He addressed the congregation of St John’s in Smith Square, Westminster, where Archdeacon Wilberforce, Chaplain to the House of Commons and Archdeacon of Westminster, walked arm in arm with Him along the aisle of the church. During this visit, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also spent two days in Bristol.

    The purpose of these trips was to support the Bahá'í communities in the west and to further spread his father's teachings.
    For three years, 'Abdu'l-Baha tirelessly addressed thousands of people – including clergymen, journalists, academics, diplomats, philosophers, suffragettes, and social reformers. He also – perhaps most importantly for Him – met with, and attended to the needs of, the poor.

    1912

    In 1912 he undertook a much more extensive journey to the United States and Canada to once again spread his father's teachings. He arrived in New York City on 11 April 1912, ( this was 4 days after the sinking of the Titanic ) after declining an offer of passage on the R.M.S. Titanic,





    White Star Line S.S.Cedric, the ship that took a man of peace and a mesage of peace to the USA later became a ship of war, in 1914 Cedric became an Armed merchant cruiser and in 1915 a Troopship of war.



    Abdul-Baha told the Bahá'í believers, instead, to "Donate the cost of his Titanci ticket to charity." He instead travelled on a slower craft, the White Star Liner S.S. Cedric.
    and cited preference of a longer sea journey as the reason. Upon arriving in New York, he arranged a private meeting with the survivors of the ill-fated Titanic, who asked him if he knew the Titanic's ultimate destruction would occur, to which, 'Abdu'l-Baha replied, "God gives man feelings of intuition".



    1,343 passengers and 885 crew of which only 705 survivors reached New York.
    1595 people lost their lives.



    theses figures do not add up please check

    MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

    I said at the beginning that Liverpool and Irish people are famous for telling stories. This is a story I have heard. A Belfast man who was a stoker on the Cedric transfered to ill fated Titanic and when it was in Southampton he had too much to drink and missed the sailing of the Titanic. White Star Line replaced him with another stoker who was in Southampton waiting for work. This man, the second stoker it was reported lost his life. A week later the wife of the first stoker thought her husband had been lost on the Titanic. To the wife's surprise he returned home.

    His one liner he used to say was " some one else died for me "

    I have heard that one liner before with reference to Jesus and his death on the cross.

    Well my one liner or is it two liner ( the Cedric and the Celtic) is about Abdul-Baha, about a man WHO LIVED FOR ME.

    While he spent most of his time in New York, he visited Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Boston and Philadelphia. In August of the same year he started a more extensive journey to places including New Hampshire, the Green Acre school in Maine, and Montreal (his only visit to Canada). He then traveled west to Minneapolis, San Francisco, Stanford, and L.A. before starting to return east at the end of October. On 5 December 1912 he set sail back to Europe via the Port of Liverpool.



    During his visit to North America he visited many missions, churches, and groups, as well as having scores of meetings in Bahá'ís' homes, and offering innumerable personal meetings with hundreds of people. During his talks he proclaimed Bahá'í principles such as the unity of God, unity of the religions, oneness of humanity, equality of women and men, world peace and economic justice. He also insisted that all his meetings be open to all races.
    His visit and talks were the subject of hundreds of newspaper articles. In Boston newspaper reporters asked `Abdu'l-Bahá why he had come to America, and he stated that he had come to participate in conferences on peace and that just giving warning messages is not enough. `Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Montreal provided notable newspaper coverage; on the night of his arrival the editor of the Montreal Daily Star met with him and that newspaper along with The Montreal Gazette, Montreal Standard, Le Devoir and La Presse among others reported on `Abdu'l-Bahá's activities. The headlines in those papers included "Persian Teacher to Preach Peace", "Racialism Wrong, Says Eastern Sage, Strife and War Caused by Religious and National Prejudices", and "Apostle of Peace Meets Socialists, Abdul Baha's Novel Scheme for Distribution of Surplus Wealth. The Montreal Standard, which was distributed across Canada, took so much interest that it republished the articles a week later; the Gazette published six articles and Montreal's largest French language newspaper published two articles about him. His 1912 visit to Montreal also inspired humourist Stephen Leacock to parody him in his bestselling 1914 book Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich. In Chicago one newspaper headline included "His Holiness Visits Us, Not Pius X but A. Baha," and `Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to California was reported in the Palo Altan.
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    April 11, 1912
    Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney New York City, NY
    “Ali-Kuli Khan (c. 1879-1966) Also known as Nabilu’d-dawlih. Eminent Iranian Bahá’í. He served briefly as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s English-language secretary (1899-1901) and was subsequently sent to America where he translated several Bahá’í books into English as well as continuing to translate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s correspondence with the American Bahá’ís. He was appointed Iranian charge d’affaires in Washington in 1910 and later served in various high-ranking diplomatic posts. His marriage to Florence Breed (1875-1950) in 1904 was praised by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the first between East and West. Their daughter, Marzieh Gail (1908-93), also became an eminent Bahá’í translator. -
    —A Concise Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith, 36.

    This is one of the last photographs taken of 'Abdulbaha while in the USA.





    Back in Europe, he visited Liverpool, London, Paris (where he stayed for two months), Stuttgart, Budapest, and Vienna. Finally on 12 June 1913 he returned to Egypt, where he stayed for six months before returning to Haifa.

    1919





    `Abdu'l-Bahá on Mount Carmel with pilgrims in 1919

    During World War I `Abdu'l-Bahá stayed in Palestine, under the continued threat of Allied bombardment and threats from the Turkish commander. As the war ended, the British Mandate over Palestine brought relative security to `Abdu'l-Bahá. During his final year, a growing number of visitors and pilgrims came to see him in Haifa.

    1920

    On 27 April 1920, he was awarded a knighthood (KBE) by the British Mandate of Palestine for his humanitarian efforts during the war. `Abdu'l-Bahá died on 28

    1921

    November 1921 (27th of Rabi'u'l-Avval, 1340 AH.) On his funeral, Esslemont notes:
    "... a funeral the like of which Haifa, nay Palestine itself, had surely never seen... so deep was the feeling that brought so many thousands of mourners together, representative of so many religions, races and tongues."
    He is buried in the front room of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel. Plans are in place to one day build a Shrine of `Abdu'l-Bahá. In his Will and Testament he appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi Rabbani as the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith.

    ***********************************************************


    LINKS http://www.liverpoolbahais.org.uk/ab...n-england.html



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