3 / The First Call to Peace

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The First Call to Peace

Just a few days after He arrived in the United States, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave His first public talk. Juliet Thompson helped to arrange the event. Her friend Percy Grant was the minister at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, and he invited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to give a sermon in his place.

Percy was well known in New York for supporting change. Before he became minister of the church, parishioners had followed the practice of “renting pews.” They donated money in return for the privilege of sitting in a certain pew each Sunday. This was a common system at the time, and had been practiced at the Church of the Ascension for fifty years. According to The New York Times, it was “the most difficult church in town in which to obtain sittings.”1 Percy urged the church leaders to stop pew rental and become a “free church,” in order to attract new members. Although the majority of church leaders voted in agreement with Percy, some protested passionately.

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VOYAGE OF LOVE

This was the first of many controversies that Percy stirred up with his innovative ideas. He also spoke out in favor of hotly debated topics such as women in the workforce, interracial marriage, and immigration. But Percy’s interest in new ideas had never included support of the Bahá’í Faith. In fact, he had even warned his congregation against what he called “the Bahá’í sect.”

In March 1912, Juliet was astonished and thrilled to receive a letter from Percy about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit, saying, “I shall be more than happy to invite him to the Ascension pulpit in my place. I should like to show so important and splendid a person, and those who love him, whatever hospitality and goodwill can be expressed. . . .”2

‘Abdu’l-Bahá received thirteen similar invitations from churches in New York asking Him to speak—some of these invitations were even sent to Him during His ocean voyage—but He chose to accept Percy’s.

On Sunday, April 14, two thousand people packed into the Church of the Ascension. Every seat was filled. It was a week after Easter, and the altar was filled with lilies, a symbol of the holy day. Percy insisted that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sit in a tall chair of honor reserved for the bishop.

Introducing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with great respect, Percy said, “I have the honor and pleasure to welcome to this place of worship a messenger from the East, freshly bearing a message of the gospel of peace, good will and love to all mankind.”3

‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood with his interpreter, Amínu’lláh Faríd, and spoke to the congregation:

Since my arrival in this country I find that material civilization has progressed greatly, that commerce has attained the utmost

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THE FIRST CALL TO PEACE

degree of expansion; arts, agriculture and all details of material civilization have reached the highest stage of perfection, but spiritual civilization has been left behind. Material civilization is like unto the lamp, while spiritual civilization is the light in that lamp. If the material and spiritual civilization become united, then we will have the light and the lamp together, and the outcome will be perfect. . . .

Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed. . . . The unity of the human world and the Most Great Peace cannot be accomplished through material means. . . . The promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of all the Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the divine power and breaths of the Holy Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are incapable of accomplishing this. . . .

I find a strong movement for universal peace emanating from America. It is my hope that this standard of the oneness of the world of humanity may be upraised with the utmost solidity . . . so that the world of humanity may find complete tranquillity, the eternal happiness of man become evident and the hearts of the people of the world be as mirrors in which the rays of the Sun of Reality may be reflected. Consequently, it is my request that you should strive so that the light of reality may shine and the everlasting felicity of the world of man become apparent.

I will pray for you so you may attain this everlasting happiness.4

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VOYAGE OF LOVE

The audience sat with fascinated attention while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke. As He walked to the exit, groups of people hurried toward Him. A woman from the crowd rushed up to Him, tears streaming down her face as she held to the hem of His robe. She was so moved that she could not speak. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calmed her with loving words.

On Monday morning, the New York Herald reported, “Some of the congregation . . . and members of other Episcopal churches expressed astonishment that a religious leader not professing Christianity should have been invited to preach and permitted to offer prayer within the chancel at a regular Episcopal service. . . .”5

But the bishop himself came to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and thanked Him for visiting the church. The bishop said, “I am very optimistic and pleased about the teachings of this Cause. You are the first great visitor from the East who has brought such important tidings to the West. . . . This blessed journey is the cause of praise and gratitude.”6

“The promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of all the Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the divine power and breaths of the Holy Spirit.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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