Traveling Fellowship/October 19, 1919
| Traveling Fellowship October 19, 1919 |
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| YE ARE LEAVES OF ONE TREE | Traveling Fellowship | YE ARE DROPS OF ONE SEA | |
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| Issued Now and Then | New York, October 19, 1919. | 31 St. Mark's Place |
Salutation from Baha'o'llah[edit]
"The source of all these utterances is Justice. It is the freedom of man from superstition and imagination, that he may discern the manifestations of God with the eye of oneness, and to consider all affairs with keen sight."
Co-ordination of Heart and Mind[edit]
What is guidance? The following incident well illustrates this new sense, which is a quality of intuition in action. Guidance whispered to Albert Vail to have some notices printed at a shop in Portsmouth, which was quite contrary to the recommendation of the friends. He obeyed the gentle voice of guidance and was led to a printer who is the secretary of a labor union. The printer, it seems, was hungering and thirsting for the truth which Mr. Vail had to offer. The little card of notices became the means of uniting two great rivers of thought which are now becoming one. For it was this episode which brought the secretary and some co-workers to hear the lectures at Green Acre, and then the invitation followed to talk to the union as a body. So deep was the impression made by Albert Vail and Mr. Randall, that a few nights later a committee came to Green Acre again to discuss plans with W. H. Randall for amalgamation of effort between Green Acre and the unions for next Summer. But that is another story and will appear later. This all happened through following guidance. The confirmation came in a remark made by the secretary—"Labor is longing for men who are unselfish and know God in their hearts, at last we have found two."
Watchful Waiting[edit]
We are waiting, patiently waiting, to find out whether the central and western part of this country has become as a grave-yard, as a dormitory or simply inactive; in any of these cases, there would be no news for we have no obituary column. Baha'o'llah hath said He would raise up a new Creation if we neglected this most great opportunity. Mayhaps the special correspondent of the "Traveling Fellowship" may have to take a voyage through the country and discover friends of the New Creation. Several years ago the writer was called to Ramlegh to undertake a trip to India. After several weeks Abdul Baha said, "no, return to thine own country," "but Master, I thought I was to go to India." "So did Columbus," replied Abdul Baha. "Go thou to America and discover a new America."
THE HILL TOP CROUP[edit]
A new group has been formed in New York, which is both unique and peerless in its mode of service to humanity. It was brought from the Pacific Coast city of Los Angeles by its founder, Murray Schloss, and it took concrete form at the studio of Mr. and Mrs. Burr, 47 Washington Square South. The object of this group is almost unthinkably selfless, for it has no propaganda of its own but serves as a clearing house for all propaganda of the new civilization. It offers itself as a vehicle for the "Light" of the "New Day" no matter under what form and name. It supplies a platform, audience and sympathetic hearing to all pioneers. To the best of our knowledge it is the only femininist movement in this country, all others being strongly masculine in their endeavors to persuade people to accept their propaganda. Hail to the brother who conceived this ideal of group functioning—"Give all—ask for nothing."
A Tablet of Abdul Baba[edit]
BAHA PLEADS FOR NATIONS LEAGUE[edit]
Abdul Baha Abbas, the leader of the religious movement based on the brotherhood of man, which started in Persia two generations ago and has spread surprisingly in different parts of the world, has written to former Governor Sulzer a letter strongly favoring the League of Nations. "The Servant of God," as his disciples call him, visited New York after being exiled from his native land for his pious teachings and while here became acquainted with Mr. Sulzer.
The letter, dated June 18, 1919, and written in Haifa, Syria, reads, as translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi of Chicago, as follows:
"To the Honorable William Sulzer, ex-Governor New York, greetings:
"O thou, who art the well-wisher of humanity, felicitations!
"Your epistle concerning the League of Nations has been received and read with great joy.
"I am hopeful that the members of the League of Nations, especially President Woodrow Wilson, the well-wisher of the world, shall be confirmed in this, that in accordance with the teachings of Baha'o'llah there shall soon be established a Great Tribunal, the members of which shall be composed of the best men and women from all the Governments of the earth. This Great Tribunal must be the guarantor of universal pcace.
"The present is the beginning of the dawn of universal peace. The hope of the world is this—that the sun of universal peace may rise with a supremacy that shall entirely dispel the darkness of war and its infamous disgrace.
"The question of universal peace is one of the principles of the teachings of Baha'o'llah. These teachings have other principles that make them complete, such as: The investigation of truth and reality and the abandonment of old superstitions; the oneness of humanity; unity and religious amity; that religion must be the cause of concord; that all religions must conform with science and reason; that there must be no religious, racial or national prejudices; that there must be a oneness of language, that is, the adoption of a universal auxiliary language, so that every mind shall know two languages—one the national tongue and the other the universal language; that there must be a solution of social problems and economic questions based on justice to all; that there must be equality of the rights of women and men; that righteousness and justice must prevail, and that there must be education and freedom for all the sons and daughters of Mother Earth.
"With the efforts of your President the matter of universal peace has come forth as expounded in the League of Nations.
"Through the favor of the True One, and by the Word of God, I pray the League of Nations shall soon become a fact; that universal peace shall thenceforth be established; that then the brotherhood of man shall be recognized, and that your honor and the people of your country, may continue a manifestation of their confirmation.
"Praise be to God!
"Love and benediction.
FOREIGN ITEMS[edit]
In a recent tablet Abdul Baha says: Praise be to God that the divine cause is in the utmost vigour and promotion in all the regions of the world. Soul-cheering news is being received from Persia and Central Asia. The divine friends with perfect steadfastness in the Covenant are living and conducting themselves in accord with the spiritual teachings. Blessed souls like unto candles are shining and with the utmost sanctity and holiness have arisen to serve the cause.
One of the remarkable incidents of the world war happened to Mr. Dreyfus-Barney. When he offered his services to his country they kept transferring him from town to town until in bewilderment he wondered what it all meant. At last he was located in a small city in Southern France and put to work censoring mail. In a few days a large package of letters arrived for the American believers from Abdul Baha. He wondered no longer.
At the suggestion of Abdul Baha, Dr. J. Edal Behram of Surat, India, is journeying to this country to serve the cause. He has arrived as far as London, but hopes to sail about October 24th for New York. The Doctor saw Abdul Baha in London in 1911 and since then has been a most enthusiastic worker in the Station of servitude. A hearty welcome awaits our brother from far off India.
Bagdad, Messapotamia.—Doctor Mirza Aflatoon reports that the friends are overjoyed to hear the news of the activities in the Occident. A tablet has been received from Abdul Baha calling upon the believers of Bagdad to arise and instruct the people in the cause of God. All restrictions have been removed and the meetings are open to all. A new spirit has been born and there is a readiness to serve the cause in every way. Groups of consultations are forming and systematic plans are being devised.
A Bahai library has been opened in Bagdad for the use of inquirers.
The house of Baha'o'llah in which he lived during his two years' sojourn in Bagdad is being protected and the surrounding houses have been bought by a new believer, Haji Mahmoud. The spot is being preserved for a future universal temple.
Haifa, Palestine.—Mirza Aneyetullah Esphahani writes that pilgrims are arriving at the rate of as many as twenty a day from Persia, London, Russia and India. Many feasts are held and the happiness of the friends is completed when Abdul Baha meets them nightly and discourses to them on divine subjects thus uplifting and inspiring their hearts with the ideals of the kingdom.
Our Russian Brother[edit]
Ishkabad, Russia, is stirred with spiritual activity. It is the first city in the world to have a Mashrekol-Azkar, or temple of the future. Also it is the first city of the Orient to have a Bahai newspaper. The friends of that city have started a paper called "The Star of the East," and it is published in Persian.
The "Traveling Fellowship" extends hands across the sea congratulations to its spiritual contemporary. Oh, Orb of the East, send us some of thy rays that we may exchange news and become united in the hand of brotherhood.
We see by the Spanish papers that Martha Root is receiving wonderful press notices in the South American papers. There is a full account of her visit in the "Jornal de Commercio." of Rio de Janeiro, and an article about the Bahai Cause in Spanish, also long articles in "Jornal do Brasil," of Domingo,
The Message of the Prison Walls[edit]
For years the prisoners in the great prisons of the world have been reading the message from the "World's Greatest Prisoner to His Prison Friends."
His prison friends are now sending a message to the world's greatest prisoner. These are the things that gladden the heart of Abdul Baha. A careful perusal of the following sent from a little group in the California States Prison will show how fervently these souls are preparing themselves for the new day civilization for which the great prisoner of Acca has suffered and striven:
To Abdul Baha Abbas, Acca, Palestine.
Beloved Master:
Through the gracious kindness of Mrs. Louise R. Waite of Los Angeles, Calif., who is known to us as Sister Shahnaz, rays from the light shed upon the path by the Bahai teachings have penetrated the walls of San Quentin prison and the curtain of ignorance and doubt, which previously hid from us the spiritual beauties of life, has been lifted.
As earnest seekers after truth which will help us to a full realization of the words of Baha'o'llah, "there is no prison but the prison of self," we humbly ask your blessings on our studies, and your prayers that we may be the instruments through which the divine law may operate, and so give us the power to lead our associates, who now number more than eighteen hundred, to the gateway of knowledge that shall prepare them to share in the "Most Great Peace" which will soon spread its wings above the children of this earth.
Cheerfully your servants in the Most Great Cause of Humanity, and Students in El Abha.
(Signatures following represent several nationalities and races, one being a Chinaman—Fong Wing.)
A Militant Bahai[edit]
President Wilson, in a recent speech about the "Covenant of Nations," told the following story, which if we change the word "fighting" to Service well applies to the friends.
"This is an effective covenant. It is carried out by the attitude of the Irishman who went into one of those antique institutions known as the saloon, and saw two men fighting in the corner. He went to the bartender and said, 'Is this a private fight or can anybody get in?'"
In the true Bahai spirit we are abolishing private service and making a law of mankind that is everybody's business and everybody can get in, and consequently all will serve. Then the "oneness of mankind" will be a fact and not a theory.
Mrs. May Maxwell has returned to Montreal from Green Acre, much to the disappointment of the New York friends, who hoped she would pass through their city on her way home. Mayhap she will pay us a visit soon as she holds that hope out in her recent letters.
Ghodsea Ashraf sailed recently for Haifa, where after a brief stay she expects to go to Teheran if that is the wish of Abdul Baha. Ghodsea has been in this country a number of years educating herself for service among the women of Persia. She has left a host of friends here who wish her happiness and strength in her new undertaking and assure her a warm welcome if she returns to these shores.
Sunday, October 5th, inaugurated a wonderful new series of activities at St. Marks Church in the Bouwerie under the direction of Dr. Guthrie and Urbain Ledeoux. At eight P. M. Dr. Guthrie holds a symbolical service until eight forty-five. At nine moving pictures and community singing begins in the church to last until midnight so that all who wish may wander in from the chilly street.
News From the Atlantic to the Pacific[edit]
DETROIT[edit]
Albert Vail, on Sunday, September 28th, spoke at the Congregational Church in Detroit. A free and enthusiastic discussion followed upon the Bahai Cause. The friends were invited to come again whenever they wish to hold a meeting. He spoke again Monday at the Unitarian Church upon, the Bahai solution of the existing economic conditions.
Mrs. Mary Hanford Ford spent a week in Detroit speaking before the numerous women's clubs. She received the cordial appreciation that one should whom Abdul Baha has called that "Heavenly Speaker."
BOSTON[edit]
The Bahai Fellowship of Boston opened for its service to humanity on September 29th at 120 Charles Street.
It opened on a broad platform. As Mr. Norman H. King, who with his good wife has charge of the place, says, "No subject or speaker with a message tending toward fellowship or new civilization construction will be refused a hearing, nay, rather, open forums and discussions will be encouraged."
WASHINGTON[edit]
The Rev. Simon Peter Drew, the colored "Billy Sunday" of Washington, D. C., lately accepted the Bahai Revelation. He has extended an invitation to the white people to attend his church, and to Mr. Edwin Young, a Bahai teacher, to address his congregation, and arrangements have been made for co-operative work. Mrs. Marie Watson of Washington and Mr. Edwin Young will speak in October at the Negro Labor Congress on "The Banishment of Prejudice" and "The Oneness of Mankind."
At Mrs. Marie Watson's studio, 1929 18th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., meetings are held for inquirers about the Bahai Movement every Saturday night and out of town visitors are welcome.
Obedient to the suggestion of Abdul Baha in the Divine Plan, Louis G. Gregory immediately after the great New York Congress, hastened to the Southern States to bring the message of the New Day to his colored brethren. He has traveled through the Virginias, North and South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and Kentucky.
Roy Williams has been assisting him in this great undertaking.
PHILADELPHIA[edit]
The Philadelphia Assembly hold their regular weekly meetings on Friday evening at the home of Mrs. Mary J. Revell, 2532 N. Colorado Street, and on Sunday evening in the Hall at 60th Street and Girard Avenue. Philadelphia had several visits from Mr. Chas. Mason Remey and many attended these meetings.
In a short time Philadelphia hopes to have a meeting in a different section of the city every night in the week.
CHICAGO[edit]
Our Chicago correspondent, Carl Scheffler, writes:
"The Cause in Chicago is progressing splendidly. The unity of the friends has become very close. The old differences have seemingly all passed, and a genuine love is co-ordinating and uniting their efforts. I am sure that this winter will be the beginning of wonderful strides."
At Wilmette, Illinois, near Chicago, the place of the temple grounds, a series of Friday evening lectures are being held on World Reconstruction.
The young peoples' group of Chicago and the assemblies in Detroit and Kenosha are conducting similar campaigns and report that the Bahai Program for World Reconstruction is interesting many.
SEATTLE[edit]
Mrs. Dora A. Dunbar writes us that Mrs. Ida A. Finch has arrived in Seattle and is addressing the neighborhood groups recently formed in that city. She is on her way to Japan. Mrs. Dunbar further states that a widely attended "Feast" was held at the apartment of Mrs. Lathrope and that the friends in Seattle are very active.
PORTLAND[edit]
Mrs. Addison of Portland, Oregon, was much interested in the Oregon Summer School in the "education" classes, for the opportunity came to her to present the fundamental principles of Baha'o'llah, and many were given the message, and have shown real interest.
Fellowship Traveling[edit]
The Traveling Fellowship received a letter from Mirza Ahmad Sohrab dated Pittsburg, October 10th. He addressed the Pennsylvania College and several clubs. From Pittsburg he was to go to Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, arriving on the Pacific Coast about November 15. O ye Children of Light, there is great significance in this western journeying of the messenger of Abdul Baha.
Our brother, Jim Stone, of Fernandina, Florida, has made an inquiry regarding the Spanish booklets. It may be of interest to know that we have been obliged to get out a second edition and it is at the disposal of the friends at cost price, two-fifty per hundred.
We arise to remark that Livingston, Montana, is very much on the map. Our brother, Peter Maus, has co-operated both spiritually and materially, for through his effort twenty names have been added to our list.
We see in the press that an excellent article has appeared from the pen of Albert Vail in the Spiritualistic paper called the Progressive Thinker. The article is entitled, "A Revelation of the Springtime of God," and shows forth the significance of this great day of God.
In a paper called "The New Era," of Riverton, N. J., Charles Mason Remey has been receiving notices of his talks given thereabouts and a series of articles are now appearing on "The Bahai Temple," "The Bahai Faith," and "The Universal Religion."
Abdul Baha gently remarked on one occasion when being interviewed by an American believer, "Abdul Baha is a member of no committee."
"Controversies are words and not significances, theories, and not realities."
NEW YORK ITEMS[edit]
Mrs. Florian Krug is holding her Monday afternoon meetings at her apartment, 129 East 69th Street.
The September number of "Reality" has come forth arrayed in a blue and golden garment. It decorates the news stands and shines forth the most striking and artistic of all magazines. Its contents sing the "Glad Tidings" of its new raiment and will gladden the souls of those who read.
The Community Church of New York City burned down. Mrs. Wandeyne Deuth reading of it in the newspaper, wrote to the Rev. John Hayes Holmes, the pastor, offering him the use of the "Reality" rooms for his congregation as a temporary home.
The church sent a unanimous vote of thanks, and the Rev. John Hayes Holmes added acute saying that it would go down in the history of the church that in their hour of need, the Bahais had come forward to aid them.
There has been so much going on at the House of Reality the past month that this little rag is not large enough to contain a list of its activities, but in passing we mention a farewell meeting given to W. H. Randall and Albert Vail Thursday, October 2d, and a meeting held Monday, October 6th, for the women doctors who were at that time holding an international convention. This is, indeed, most noteworthy and due to the universal spirit of Dr. Ida Noyes McIntire, of Everett, Washington. May Baha'o'llah be upon her.
One of the largest and most beautiful meetings held in New York in a long time was that of Miss Juliet Thompson's on Friday, October 3d. Her meetings have weathered the test of time for many years so the light has been kept blazing in this great city.
Mrs. Marie B. Moore, of 442 Fairmount Avenue, Jersey City, N. J., has changed the night of her meeting from Thursday to Saturday evenings at eight P. M. Mrs. Frances Carre assists her. The printer got tired after the second "r" in the last issue, and we offer apologies.
Mrs. L. S. Mathews, of New York, sailed for Paris with her daughter, October 8th, and included in her luggage a sufficient number of Bahai books to start several libraries in Paris for the English speaking people.
A birthday surprise party was given to Mrs. Wandyne Deuth on September 28th at the House of Reality. There was a beautiful colation and a huge cake with nine candles as a symbol of the new creation.
Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Howard McNutt, Mrs. Florian Krug, Mrs. Inez Cook, Miss Juliette Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Holley, Miss Anne Boylan, Mrs. Allen, Miss Buck, Mr. and Mrs. Hooper Harris, Miss Claudia Johnson, Miss Bonnie, Mr. and Mrs. Baxter and the Misses Baxters and the Messrs. Gunczy, Mittler, Bradley, Hoar, Tobey and Dreyfus-Barney.
After the congratulations the friends gathered in a circle and Mr. McNutt and Mr. Dreyfus-Barney gave informal talks.
Romany Marie, of Greenwich Village, attended a meeting of the friends of "The Spirit of this Age." There was much speaking. She came away aflame. "I have found the spirit," she exclaimed—pause—"I did not care for what was said."
The gala night of the soap box talks occurred Thursday, September 18th, when Jack Romano attracted the crowd by his legerdemain. After gathering a large concourse of people, he said: "Friends, we will now go from, the ridiculous to the sublime. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, the trusted secretary of Abdul Baha, will now address you."
Mirra Sohrab was in turn followed by Mr. King, who has charge of the Bahai Unity House of Boston. He was followed by Mason Remey, who brought this, most wonderful evening to a brilliant close.
It was a soft fall night and the picture will long remain in the minds of the participants, for St. Marks Square is in the old part of town, flanked on three sides by low rambling buildings—the fourth—the old church of St. Marks, half hidden in foliage.
And from the distance came the faint hum of the Ghetto.
Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Guy of Boston passed through New York on their way to St. Augustine, Florida, which is to be their new home. For many months it has been in their hearts to leave Boston and journey to the South and spread the most great message. They attended the congress in April and filled to the utmost with the desire to spread the tidings of the "New Day" returned home. Then as Abdul Baha says, the time was ripe and all the doors which had heretofore been closed, opened. Property was easily sold, their home advantageously leased and with their two sons they are on the road. Mysterious are the ways of God, but faith is to the faithful.
Traveling Fellowship[edit]
It may be of interest to the believers to know the distribution of the last issue: United States and Canada, 3,511; Europe, 350; Egypt, 195; Palestine, 195; Persia, 245; India, 295; China, 95; Japan, 95, South America, 19; Mexico, 9; Australia, 19. Where, oh where, are Greenland's icy mountains?
Many inquiries have come in regard to subscriptions to the Traveling Fellowship. Its primary object is, first, to inform all the friends of God in this country, Canada, Europe and the Orient of the activities of this mighty cause, that through such knowledge the friends in the different centers may appreciate the magnitude of serving, Abdul Baha and may be refreshed and heartened by the efforts in other regions. Through the spirit of news, interest is aroused, which strengthened by the Holy Spirit, brings unity of endeavor. This leads to the realization that while each center is a separate unit, its identity is dependent upon its functioning in harmony with the whole body.
The price of a year's subscription is 25 cents payable in advance, to cover postage. This small amount is named that none need be deprived. The actual expense of composition, printing, paper, etc., is to be borne by donations from the friends, who can by a little extra sacrifice of worldly enjoyments send us checks. It cost $100.00 per issue. The two issues already out have been paid for by friends. We are waiting, patiently, for the flood of checks which we know will appear. The Traveling Fellowship will be exactly what the friends in this country make it; no more, no less. The first nineteen of each issue are sent to Abdul Baha. Make all checks payable to Fellowship Press Service, 31 St. Marks Place, New York City.
Ponder! Mediate![edit]
Whatever is in this world is without foundation, and finally disappears, becomes fruitless, without result and without effect; nay, rather, it is wholly forgotten, except the servitude and adoration in the Threshold of Oneness.
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