National Teaching Committee Bulletins/1922/Undated/Text
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NOTES OF A MONTH'S PILGIRMAGE THROUGH MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA,
By Martha Root.
Who will care for and sow pure Bahai seeds in ilexico, Guatamala, and Central America? Ovr Beloved, Abdul Baha, the Center of the Covenant, in His great Divine Plan, expressed His Desire: “If one breath of Life be blown over them, great results will issue therefrom."
The purpose of this communication to the Bulletin is to visualize ie See tunities down there, then loving Bahais at home wili do what Abdul Baha guides them.
"QO ye believers of God! Do ye not look upon the smallness of your number and the multitudes of the nations. Five grains of wheat will be endued with heavenly blessing, whereas a thousand tons of tares will yield no results or efrects. One fruitful tree will be conducive to the life of society, whereas a thousand forests of wild trees offer no fruits. The plain is covered with pebbles, but precious stones are rare. One pearl is better than a thousand wildernesses or sand ; ssyecially the Pearl of Great Price, which is exndued with Divine Blessing. ee long thousands of cther pearls will be born from It. When that earl geaetie ee and becomes the intimate of the pebbles, they also all change into pearls.
Who will »resent herself or himself as a soul through whom the Holy Spirit can create a living, spiritual pearl in these countries? If Habais wild esate rores ee Martha Root, Cambridge Springs, Pa. and designate one soul to whom they will write a friendly letter once a month and enclose literature (whether they get aneeers or not, for some can read English who cannot write it and all can always get it translated) a spiritual bond of love could be quickly formed between those neighbor countries and us. Then as Abdul Baha said of South America, "Praise be to God, the Call of the Kingdom has been received in South America, and the seeds of Guidance have been sowed in those cities and regions. Certainly the heat of the Sun of Hosl+ ity, the rain of the Eternal Bounty and the Breeze of the Love of God will make them germinate; have confidence!"
The short jovrney of one month in Mexico and Central America cae TOvesuer 10 to December 9, 1921, meant meeting many souls, speaking in schools and colleges, both Catholic and Protestant and in various societies on the Universal Principles of Baha'o'llak, Abdul Baha said: "Speak as I spoke when in America, speak on the Principles." Bahais will then find that people inquire: What is the movement? Is He a Idanifestation of God? "Fire the gun noiselessly" is a little joke, but it contains truth. Abdul Baha said not to antagonize, but to speak with wisdom, tenderness and loving kindness. Then every heart and every institution yearns to hear more.
These new friends have,in this month's trip, heard of the Universal Principles,
heard of Baha'o'llah and Abdul Baha and they feel the Spirit of this age. Now they
are prepared to hear what the Bahai Cause is and to receive literature. Abdul Baha
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says: "Correspondence is half meeting." Please send a note of love with the Crea~tive Word. he Center of the Covenant told us: "This is the most great work! Should ye become confirmed therein, this world will become another world, the surface. of the earth will become the delectable Paradise, and eternal Institutions be foundeq." =
Newspaper editors were interviewed; they were interested and some good articles speared.
The state of unrest in Mexico need not deter any traveling Bahai teacher or any one who can go down there to work and to teach. ("Dost thou prefer to die upon thy bed?") There is great need for English and American scnhocls for both girls and boys in Mexico and Guatamala. Who could go down and start one, even on a small scale? Traveling salesmen take all kinds of gocds down to sell. One could also go and sell a good family Doctor Book, in Spanish ~-- postcard to Cambridge Springs will "fetch sample" -- and in that way, going from home to home in cities and country, one would be able to meet the »eople and spread the Messagé, and later sell Bahai books; or take the Bahai books along. HEARTS ARE READY!
llexico City, perhaps the oldest city on the American Continent, has a population of one million souls. It is cosmopolitan and its societies have many deep thinkers.
The Bahai did not know one person. She went first to call uwoon the President. liore than a hundred soldiers stood around the palace office oduilding, which extended the entire length of the Cathedral Plaza. She explained she was pelnee es to the President of the Republic of Mexico Baha'to'llah's Solution of the Economic icvencciaae She showed several introductory letters of recommendation "to whom it may concern. The soldiers ushered her from one official to another until she reached the private secretary of the President. He spoke English perfectly. She explained about the Bahai Cause and gave to the President through him three of the most important books and a Covenant photograph of Al oda Baha. :
iliss Root addressed the Theosophists at their first annual convention in Mexico City. She was invited to speak again the following Sunday and an open Forum followed. They are wonderful souls, the thinkers of Mexico. The four largest schools and colleges, both Catholic and Protestant, opened their doors for addresses on Universa Peace and the Oneness of Humanity. At one of the finest Catholic schools in Mexico 200 girls all took- notes and their final examination in Engliah would be their resume of this lecture, "The Women of the Orient." These girls were from every state in the Republic of Mexico, glorious girls with the Spirit shining in their eyes. Girls such as these will be the spiritual torch bearers for wmiversal education and equality of men and women among the intelligent people sprung from the ancient Aztec civilization far antedating our own. They may become the loved disciples in the "Land of Tomorrow."
Talks were also given in Sunday Schools and Junior organizations in. churches of the capital.
Distinguished men in the Cabinet and directors of the University of Mexico, ambassadors and consuls were met and the Cause explained. No addresses are here given but correspondence and literature are being sent.
One Bahai was met in Mexico City. A Bahai article in the largest. daily the day
before Miss Root left, brought him at once to the hotel. He is from Palestine out
it was in New York about five years ago that he first heard the Message. He wili
help the right kind of Bahai young man to get into business in Mexico. There are
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100,000 Palestinians in Mexico. Perhaps some Bahai young man from the Near East could go. This Bahai in Mexico is a sincere, beautiful soul. He wili help with any Spanish translating and in distributing Bahai literature. He travels a great deal “rough Mexico. He is hungry to hear from the friends. He only met the Bahais a ew months in New York and then returned to Mexico. It is wonderful to have one “irm Bahai down there who will help the others who go. Tears stood in his eyes as ne asked after the health of Abdul Baha; he said he was sad he had not done more for his Lord in Mexico -- but he has done much. (He does not kmow of the Ascension of the Beloved.)
An important part of the trip was interviewing the Directors of the best libraries, placing a few dooks and arranging for others to be sent later. The three weeks' journey included cities North, South, East, and West. On the trains people were met from large cities the Bahai could not visit. One woman from San Luis Potosi was much interested in the equality of men and women and carried the literature to her city.
Guadalajara, population 125,000, the "Chicago of ilexico" and the second largest city of the Republic, is a 16 hour ride west of the capital. It was a city of 40,000 before Chicago was even a fort. The winsomeness of its climate and the charm of its people have given it the name "The Pearl of the Occident." It has an annual mean temperature of 70. Teachers who go to some of these cities will find the climate heavenly. Only 99 more miles of railroad remain to be built by the Southern Pacific to connect Guadalajara with Los Angeles, San Francisco and all parts of the United States. It is already a great railroad center. As soon as political conditions quiet, inhabitants there say it is a conservative estimate that tourists, a thousand a day in winter, will again pour into this ancient, picturesque city.
The three largest colleges and a private school arranged for addresses and the Theosophists asked the Bahai to give two talks. One magazine eidtor was met who had heard of the Bahai Cause while he was in New York. He used an article of the Cause and the Temple with photograph of the Mashrel'vl'Azkar. He is writing a book and one chapter will be devoted to the Bahai Revelation. His brother is one of the secretaries of thé President of the Republic and the magazine goes to the palace of the President. The owmer of the largest daily also used an article and a Bahai book was presented to him. A woman in this city has established the first Prison Reform work in Mexico, she helped the people of the city to establish symphony concerts Which are given each week in the plaza and she established the first Woman's Club there. She is a "feminine Carnegie" in wholesaling what she receives. She says of religion: “If people have any, let them show it by DOING SOMETHING!"
One of the British officials in Guadalajara said he had met Abdul Baha. This official was a Captain of the British forces in the Palestine campaign. He was one of those instrumental in getting two railroads to Haifa and suggestions of the great harbor work. He says no other place has such an ideal geographical situation for commerce with the whole world as has Haifa. The very pivot of commerce and traffic _ will be changed by this wonderful new force that is about to play its part in that region -~ which has Asia at its back, Africa at its feet and Europe at its front door. This official*kmnows Major Tudor Pole. Invited to tea, the Bahai gave this man a copy of "Divine Philosophy" and her only photograph of Abdul Baha.
Returning to Mexico City to address the Theosophists again, Miss Root came on tc
Puebla. This is the third city of the Republic with a population of over 100,000.
Historically and from a military point of view it is significant. Puebla has more
than sixty great cathedrals. In this city the Bahai was a guest of a Congressman's
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wife. They had met previously on the journey from Laredo. Her hostess was a
Catholic, interested in psychology. One talk was given in a Protestant College and
calls were made at the library and upon officials.
This hostess presented the Bahai to the wife of the Governor and the latter invited Miss Root to be her guest on the Pullman to Vera Cruz.
Vera Cruz which means "The Rich City of the Holy Cross" is the main eastern gateway to the Republic by sea. If the commercial and civilized center of the world in the century ahead shifts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Mexico will become the "bridge of the world's commerce." Its geographical position between the two great oceans and between the two great continents of North and Scuth America is momentous.
Only one day was spent by the Bahai in Vera Cruz. She placed books in the libraries and met four statesmen.
Officials in Mexico City had said it was far too dangerous at this time, to go down over the southern Mexican border by rail into Central America -- especially for a woman, They said if anything happened it was not possible to send aid quickly. Ostensibly Miss Root traveled to Vera Cruz to embark for home, but always the urge to go on to Guatamala, Central America was in her heart, just as it had been before she left home. Down in Mexico City she had had a vision in which Abdul Baha assured her He would send some one with her. In Puebla and Vera Cruz it was not possible to get the passport vised for Central America. She determined to take a chance on getting it vised at the border. She told the official in Vera Cruz she had decided to go to Guatamala by train over the frontier. (It would have taken so long to go by water, waiting for ship, Miss Root could not remain away from home that long.) The genial officer replied: "You may be the only one on that car, but I'll send a man over with you to help you buy your ticket, "The ticket was bought at 4 p.m. The Bahai went aboard the train at 9 p.m. -=- the train unlighted and not a person on the platform except the conductor. Then lamps were lighted and gradually the car filled till every seat was taken. Thanks to Abdul Baha, the second passenger to enter the car was a lovely German woman who could speak English, She took her seat directly across from Martha -- and her ticket was to GUATAMALA, THE SAME DESTINATION AS THE BAHAT'S!
Other traveling companions were Mexicans, Spaniards, Germans and French. Forty soldiers went with this train to protect it, The train remained over nights in cities. (Forty trains a day used to go over this road before the revolutions.) The German woman's son came to the border to meet his mother. He and the Central American Consul there are friends and because of this the Central American Consul arose from his bed and vised the Bahai's passport at 6 a.m. Had the son not attended to this, the Bahai could not have left until four days later and would then have been obliged to travel alone. The son looked after the customs, baggage and everytning.
The most dangerous part of the journey had been the night of November 27 and day of November 28. When she was stepping off the train at home on December 15, she heard of the Ascension of the Beloved on November 28.
She says in her notes: "Precious friends, the same Beloved who spoke to us
from Acca to the United States, to Mexico and to all other parts of the world,
speaks to us now just as tenderly from the fair Kingdom of Abha, He has told us
how we may always commune with him -- through the Power of Ya Baha El~Abha!--There is one beautiful way to tell Him and the reople of this world how much we
love Abdul Baha, our Center of the Covenant -~ it is to try to love as He loved,
try to serve as He served, sacrifice as He sacrificed, be happy as He was happy.
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He was made FLESH and DVELT among us to teach us how to LIVE THE LIF. We can delight Abdul Baha, we can bring joy to the Supreme Concourse. He has told us: "His Ancient Graces are universal and His Spiritual Favors world=encircling, All that Se hath given to others, He will confer upon you a thousand fold. Do ye not look upon your shortcomings and capacity. Behold His All-Hmbracing Love and Clemency!"
Miss Root came safely, the German mother and son taking her to a good hotel in Guatamala City and later inviting her to their home,
All one pamorama is the country of Guatamala, Central America! In Guatamla City was established the first capital of the Central American Federation and it is the logical place for the new capital when again the little countries federate
— (You may say it is Tegucigalpa, Honduras, but wait and see; it will not be!)
Guatamala climate is like Paradise. Its nectars are made from home-grown "apples of Hesperides," “amber grapes of the banks of the Rhine," and delicious medlars of Japan. When Central America evolves from the revolutionary stage, Guatamala will be an important metropolis of the world. To initiate the Bahai Cause there is to prepare the spiritual stage not only for the happiness of the ancient, intelligent Indians and the Spanish, but hither will flock immigrant men of the Latin race with hearts full of vision; Saxons with their inflexible character and Americans with their capital and conmon sense.
The population of Guatamala City is 125,000. Just as in Mexico City so here, the Bahai went first to get an interview with the President of the Republic. It took several days, but on the first day she left the Bahai books and explained about the Bahai Cause to the Secretary of the Minister of Foreign Relations, Permission was later given for an interview. The card read "Monday or Tuesday at 2.30 p.m. at the palace." Miss Roct went Monday but the President asked her to wait until Tuesday afternoon -- and Monday night came the revolution! Machine guns were in action over the city all night. The palace was surrounded by 500 soldiers, the President was kept a prisoner there and his cabinet imprisoned in the fortress.
But the Bahai Message had also been given to the Liberals, some of the very men who next day went into offices under the new government. Miss Root arrived in Guatamala Wednesday night and the revolution broke the following Monday night. The bombarding continued two nights and Thursday morning the Bahai left for the coast and sailed for New Orleans. (This was the ship she had engaged passage on the first day she arrived in Central America. It was doubtful whether the train would be run to connect with this ship, but it was.)
Everything was accomplished that had been planned for the Bahai Cause. People of calibre from every party were met, the library visited, also interviews with altruistic women and business men -- but no colleges or schools were in session. Opportunities in Guatamala to spread the Cause are good. Any one who feels the call to go can get information by writing Miss Root. An American school would be welcomed, One beautiful young woman in Guatamala was looking each day for the Second Coming of Christ. She said during the revolution: "People are all going, but the Lord is coming!" If she secs this New Day she will be a flame of pure spirit.
---00000--=
Miss Root spent one day in New Orleans visiting all the newspapers and other
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centers. Already she has heird from the editors and from souls in Louisiana who
saw the newspaper articles and ammediately wrote for information and where books could be bought.
---00000-- After one has perused the foregoing account by Miss Martha Root, and has grasped the significance of her worthy endeavors in the Se pathway of Service, we cry out from the depths of our being
eeestnse @te@#eeeests
eles ,observe how great has been the influence of the Heavenly Power... Indeed to GOD belongs Power in the past and in the future."
oo ®
Blessed is Martha for having become "severed. from rest and composure," her “effort ennobled and exalted" so that she was so truly confirmed in spreading the Glad-tidings and in establishing affinity between so many hearts.
MH,
