National Teaching Committee Bulletins/1921/November 7/Text

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TEACHING TOUR THROUGH TEXAS AND MEXICO[edit]

As some of the friends have been asking about "Martha's" travels of late, and as Martha is always immensely alive and full of the joy of service; always about the business of the Kingdom -- namely, sowing the seeds in the soil of hearts we are most happy to share herewith the following account which brings to your attention a record of some splendid work accomplished in the Southwest. We do not know of any other friends or teachers who have travelled through the Republic of Mexico with the exception of the blessed servers, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Frankland of California, who visited Mexico in 1909.

"Therefore, the believers of GOD throughout all the Republics of America, through the Divine Power, must become the cause of the promotion of Heavenly Teach- ings and the establishment of the oneness of humanity.......... Regarding the teach- ing of the inhabitants of those countries, the believers must strengthen the tie of friendship......" ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Martha Root of Cambridge Springs, Penna. left her home October 25, 1921, for a short teaching trip in Mexico. She came to Washington, first, for her pass- port. Quite remarkably she received it within twenty-four hours. Mrs. Parsons and Mariam Haney entertained her; Mason Remay helped at the passport offices. Mrs. Ledyard placed her car at Miss Root's disposal and went with her several places. Mary Little also assisted.

The first stop was at Atlanta, Go. Miss Root writes among other facts: "I had a most happy little visit with Mr. Eugena V. Debs out at the Federal Prison. I promised the authorities I would not write anything anent my interview, but suffice it to say we talked of the Realities. Mr. Dabs is one of the great souls I have met. For nearly a year I have written him each week and sent many of the Bahá’í books. He has read them carefully and has a very comprehensive grasp of these vital, Bahá’í Principles. My hope is that every Bahá’í will LOVE Mr. Debs and extend to him every courtesy ------ people believe in the Bahá’í Cause through deeds, not words. Mr. Dabs is giving his life for the oneness of humanity. Lincoln could not have been more sincere, more thoughtful, more kind, more strong than is this beautiful soul. I love his character and look upon him as one of my de rest brothers. (Everything I write you about the Cause, I write him.) If socialism will embrace the Spirit of the Bahá’í Cause, Bahá’í-Socialism can be one of the mightiest influences to uplift the masses. Please LOVE Mr. Debs; I feel ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is writing him a Tablet.

"The next afternoon, October 30, I addressed the Bahá’ís of Atlanta and their friends in the breakfast room of one of the hotels. Dr. J. C. Oakshatte, 405 Grand Building, Atlanta, Ga., has been doing faithful work there for many years. Any Tablets or other precious Creative Word you have would be deeply appre- ciated in these southern centers, and they would be passed on. Not so many Bahá’ís travel south and they do not have the wealth of news many of you are privileged to enjoy. If each one who reads this would send one Tablet or one book south, it would be like a spiritual spring shower to thirsty, beautiful souls. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has expressed the desire for teachers to go south. He also says, "Correspondence is equal to half-meating."

Leaving that same afternoon, Miss Root spent one day and evening in Memphis, Tenn. She thus met Prof. George W. Henderson (colored) head of the Henderson Business College which through its Correspondence School alone has graduated one million students. He is young, a devoted Bahá’í, wide-awake, fluent speaker, musician and holds the record of the fastest combined typist and short- hand writer in the United States. He has written for several leading magazines.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in a very recent Tablet says: "Prof. George W. Henderson has established a Bahá’í College------that college has developed and the students. are studying the Divine Teachings and also the necessary sciences and arts. That revered Professor has been and will always be favored. The meetings which are formed at that college are bestowed upon with an emanation from the meetings of [Page 2] the Supreme Concourse." He has also sent a wonderful Tablet to the instructors and students of the college.

A big meeting held at 10:30 A.M. that day in the school and about 50 seniors and instructors from Howe Institute were also guests. A talk was given in the evening to the night students. Teachers, friends, people in the boarding houses all seemed attracted and afire with the beauty and the importance of the Bahá’í Cause.

This school has a fine mimeograph. I am sure they will gladly co-operate in helping to send out the Creative Word, if you write them your suggestions. They love music, any Bahá’í songs sent them will be learned and passed on. Any books to their library will be widely loaned. The address is: Prof. George W. Henderson, Henderson Business College, Memphis, Tenn.

Miss Root left the same evening for Austin, Texas. She gave the Message to a San Antonian traveling companion en route. Miss Anna Reinke, 4410 Avenue e, Hyde Park, Austin, Texas, heard of the Bahá’í Cause eleven years ago. The results of the six days' wonderful work in Austin are the fruits of nine years of "getting ready". Miss Reinke, a perfect Bahá’í, is as sweet and smiling and lovely as the great blue morning-glories and the Queen's Crown delicate pink flowers adorning her unique bungalow. She was child of the Texas Mountains and heard of this Cause while there. She had been a shepherdess of a thousand sheep and lambs. Now she is an excellent dressmaker, sewing in the wealthiest homes in Austin. For nine years living here she has told the people of this Bahá’í Cause-------and for nine years she has sung it through the melodies of her smiles and deeds. She had met two Bahá’ís, her sister, Mrs. Fosselman of Washington, D. C., who came to the mountains to tell her, and Mr. Louis Gregory whose beautiful, faithful work throughout the South is beyond all words to describe.

Anna Reinke was one of the first in the United States to write inviting Jenabe Fazel to visit Austin. He could not come, but the thousand blue booklets and other books she prepared for his visit were ready for this six day Bahá’í whirl.

Miss Root arrived late Tuesday night. Miss Reinke had already arranged for a talk before the Texas State School for the Blind at 8.30 o'clock Wednesday morning. Two hundred and fifty young men and women applauded the Bahá’í Principles and were greatly interested. If any of the friends have any Tablets about the blind or any information that would help this school please sent it to Miss Reinke and she will see it is distributed. This advanced school fits pupils for the Texas University. It is a seed well worth watering.

Wednesday evening an address was given before the Hyde Park Christian Church which was well filled. Meantime the two had arranged and Miss Root spoke before the Anderson High School (250 students) where Mr. Gregory had once spoken.

The principal gave an after talk very sympathetic to the Cause. From 11 to 12 the same morning Miss Root spoke before Sam Houston College, 250 students. The President had met Roy Williams in Louisiana and for three years had treasured his blue booklet. In his summing up talk after the lecture he said to the students: "If you do not believe in Bahá’ísm, learn to challenge it. Learn your Christianity as thoroughly as she has learned Bahá’ísm. Take your Christianity around the world just as she is taking Bahá’ísm." Then he spoke of the many points in Bahá’ísm which he did believe.

Miss Reinke placed Mason Remey's book in this college library. Any books will be gladly placed in this library if you send them to Rev. Dr. Randolph, President of Sam Houston College, Austin, Texas.

Thursday evening a lecture was given by the Bahá’í in the Hyde Park Methodist church. The pastor invited her to explain the Bahá’í Cause in full. The church was filled for this lecture had been well announced in the papers.

Friday morning the two Bahá’ís went to Tillotson College (colored) founded by the American Missionary Association. Miss Root was given permission to speak on the Bahá’í Principles for one hour. The young men and women were enthusiastic [Page 3] The President, and asked for literature----the thousand booklets melted in the week. Mr. Fletcher, and his wife, New Englanders, took the two Bahá’ís over to the University of Texas. Here Miss Root made arrangements to speak before the Spanish department on "Opportunities in South America" but the theme was the Principles of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and how these were received in South America. After the talk, the head of the World Politics department invited Miss Root to remain until Monday and address his department in the University (this seemed the most important engagement in Austin.)

Swinging down to the Texas Capital from the university, the two Bahá’ís next placed two books in the Texas State library. The books were Mr. Dreyfus' book on Bahá’ísm and "Mysterious Forces of Civilization". The Librarian had heard of the Cause while in Washington, D. C., and said during her work in San Antonio, Texas, she had had many calls for Bahá’í books. (Query: who wishes to send books to the San Antonio city library in San Antonio, Texas, so people asking will not go away disappointed')

After lunch two feature stories were written for the Sunday papers and a . squib for the daily "Texan". Both stories carried a short account of the Temple.

Saturday was spent in writing and in visiting the State Confederate Old Ladies! Home where a short talk was given-----and now we are just starting to speak at a dance out in the Texas Mountains where Anna was a shepherdess, more anon.

The cowboys in Bee Cave; in the Texas Mountains, 25 miles from Austin, were given the Bahá’í Message at their dance on Saturday evening. The ranchmen had phoned all around that a Bahá’í was coming to the dance and about one hundred were present. At 10.30 o'clock after the Texas jigs and a rousing good time, everybody sat down and Miss Root gave the history of the Bahá’í Cause and all the vital Principles. Miss Reinke passed around the blue booklets. The cowboys were INTERESTED and showed their appreciation. A lecture had never before been given in those regions, except once in a while a candidate passes through. (Then the dance continued till one o'clock.) This was the ranch district where Anna Reinke was born and reared. The boys said: "A good farmer was lost to Texas when Anna became a dressmaker." They also said: "She has more friends than anybody else in Texas. She is always going around happy, rain or shine." She answered them: "It's my religion, boys."

Texas cow boys ought to get the Bahá’í Message for nothing would SCARE them in going around to promote the Cause in the roughest western trails.. The road to Bee Cave, that night, was scattered over with Gibraltar rocks as common as cedar brush. The path was like going up to the top of the world and coasting down. The party from Austin went in a motor truck nicely padded with hay. The men pushed the truck where it couldn't go it alone and several times Anna ordered every one off to walk up the 'accident' bends. Everything is BIG in Texas and the dangers, when there are any, are BIG too.

Sunday morning the Theosophists had a good attendance when Miss Root spoke for one hour on the Bahá’í Principles. It was a union meeting of Theosophical Societies of Austin. Their faces were full of light and they seemed so near the Truth that the veil between Theosophy and Bahá’í Cause was as gossamer. So eager were they to hear more that they arranged a Forum talk for Miss Root to address them in the evening; questions followed for half an hour. The President of the Society is one of the prominent educators of Austin. Any books for this society-- and it would be a wonderful investment spiritually to send something, for these souls are READY is the Theosophical Society of Austin, care of Dr. W. D. Gorton, 111 West Eighth Street, Austin, Texas.

Preceeding the evening talk in Theosophical Hall, Miss Root spoke before the Fred Allen Memorial Church Epworth League in South Austin, 250 boys and girls.

The Sunday papers had carried good articles explaining the Bahá’í Principles and the Temple and announcing the twelve lectures in Austin. [Page 4] The most important lecture, possibly, was the one Monday morning before the World Politics Department of the University of Texas. This is the leading university in America in its work in Latin-American history, government relations, business administration, Spanish language and library. Many students come from Latin-American countries and this school is supplementary to other universities in the United States in their further research work. This World Politics department which is one of the finest in the world, was greatly interested in Bahá’u’lláh’s Principles and these are the young men and women who will go forth as pioneers in work for justice. The university has four thousand students but only the members of this department could get into the hall, it was filled. Anything on the economic problems, universal peace, or any of these Principles, please send it to Prof. C. P. Patterson, "World Politics" Department, University of Texas, Austin, Tex.

Right after the lecture Miss Root started on to Mexico City, Mexico. She said:

"Austin is open to more Light. Mise Reinke will welcome any Bahá’í who can visit here. Work is plentiful, if any Bahá’í could come and settle. Other engagements came, the Bahá’í Cause became popular, and everywhere they invited me to come soon again and speak. The trail of Bahá’í Light that comet-like, swept Austin as its goal, was the fulfillment of the Confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Assistance of the Holy Spirit -- and another cause was the NI NE YEARS of beautiful, Bahá’í "Living the life" which Anna Reinke has done.

Sent out November 7, 1921 from the railway station, Austin, Tex., U. S. A.

(signed) MARTHA ROOT.


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