SOUVENIR FEAST OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ
BY
KEITH RANSOM-KEHLER
(From Star of the West)
“True Bahá’í meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected. In them the lights of the Most Great Guidance are visible. They voice the summons of the heavenly Kingdom and echo the call of the angelic hosts to every listening ear.”—‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ.
THE ineffaceable traces of His visit to America were left by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the hearts of His friends. He occupied that house, spoke under this tree, or walked through a certain park; which makes them profoundly precious to those, who in imagination, can heighten them to become the conveyors of His actual Presence.
These physical objects, however, can only survive within marked limits of time and space. It is in those institutions of eternal significance, impregnated by the Spirit of the Master, founded by Him upon the solidarity of the human heart, upon the divine yearning within the human soul that makes all aspiring men everywhere of one kindred and of one family; it is in such foundations, hallowed by His Creative Word, that the very Power and Purpose of His Life are actually expressed.
Such is the annual meeting continued as a “Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” and founded by Him personally at West Englewood, New Jersey, in June 1912.
Each year on this anniversary, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm and his mother lovingly welcome as guests of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the Bahá’ís and their friends from all over the world.
Several hundred gathered on June 25th, 1927, to commemorate the founding of the Feast and the visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá fifteen years ago.
The weather was favorable, so after a picnic lunch in an adjoining grove, these friends gathered in the shade of the trees overhanging Evergreen Cabin, to listen to a most interesting group of addresses delivered by representatives of different races, nations and creeds. The universal and inclusive character of the addresses confirmed the advent of a New Age, struck as a keynote by Mr. Wilhelm in his graceful introductory remarks.
Mr. Mountfort Mills, who has so adequately brought from Haifa after his long sojourn with Shoghi Effendi the peace and refreshment of that unique and potent spot, read the Words uttered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the occasion when that now historic group first gathered here as His guests.
This was followed by a vigorous exposition of the Bahá’í teachings and principles set forth by Mr. James F. Morton. Mr. Morton, a scholar, scientist and linguist of note, eloquently told the story of how the breadth and sanity of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh had rescued him from atheism and the cynicism of a materialistic outlook.
Mr. Morton was followed by the Rev. Richard Bolden, pastor of the Harlem Immanuel Church, who spoke with the fire and feeling of his gifted race, on the significance of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a racial unifier.
Mrs. Marie B. Moore read from the[Page 264]
Utterances of Bahá’u’lláh with interesting illustrations and comments. She was followed by Mrs. Mary Hanford Ford, who, with the grace and forcefulness that have endeared her to two generations of Bahá’ís, set forth the inner meaning of such a gathering, convened from so many races, lands and climes.
Dr. H. H. Proctor, Congregational minister from Brooklyn, gave a stirring account of the work of his colored congregation in building a church, to be opened in the fall, in which many sects and denominations will worship. One of the rooms in this edifice will be dedicated to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
A feature that contributed an element of true loveliness to the meeting was the music furnished by one of the village choirs. Due to some inadvertence the organ, which was to have been delivered by truck to the Log Cabin, failed to come, so the church members carried it several blocks in order to contribute the music for the occasion. The voices seemed unusually beautiful in the soft air and lent great charm to the program.
The feature of outstanding importance at the Souvenir meeting was the presence of Rúḥí Effendi Afnán, who but a few days before had arrived from Haifa, Palestine. The most striking characteristics of this pleasing young man are sanity and modesty. Gifted with exceptional clarity of thought and native penetration, he brings to the work of the Cause a true spiritual ardor, that usually does not accompany the attitude of the student.
To the average man an ideal is something wistful, elusive, withdrawn, impractical. To the social benefactor and man of vision the ideal is not the antithesis of the practical: the ideal and the practical go hand in hand; the antithesis of the ideal is the brutal. The only distinction between the ideal and the practical is a difference of tense: the practical is present; the ideal is future. And if today’s ideal does not become the practice of tomorrow, then it was not an ideal at all, but a phantasy, a chimera, a vagary. It is with the definite assurance that today’s teaching will become tomorrow’s action that Rúḥí Effendi Afnán continually speaks of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. To his enlightened eyes “the glory of the coming of the Lord” is already existent, and the government of Bahá’u’lláh already established, through that leap of the mind that sees the present order of brutality and chaos replaced by the “healing of the nations.”
In his brief speech he developed a very interesting theme on the reconciliation of science and religion.
There is always an exuberance in such Bahá’í gatherings. The picnic supper in the grove was a joyous reunion of old friends and new, a merry material feast following such a noble spiritual banquet. It was most gratifying to note a large number of new Bahá’ís, inducted into the Cause during the past year.
At the evening session, Mr. Hooper Harris, of New York, one of the most impressive and informed speakers in the Cause, gave a brief survey of some of the fundamental Bahá’í teachings, followed by Rúḥí Effendi Afnán, who, with his marked lucidity and restraint, set forth our most important principles.
The memorable day was brought to a close by a prayer and benediction from a local minister.
Bahá’í meetings continually demonstrate the efficacy of the teachings of the Founders of the Faith. Particularly is it noticeable in this sacred spot in West Englewood where the Divine Exemplar traveled the path and pointed the way. “You must know,” said ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “that God is compassionate towards all; you must love all from the utmost depths of your heart . . . You shall by no manner of means prefer yourselves before others. Let all your thoughts be turned toward the rejoicing of hearts . . . Let each one amongst you be illumined, be spiritual, be divine, be glorious, be of God, and be a Bahá’í.”
