11 / Suffering and Glory

11

Suffering and Glory

‘Abdu’l-Bahá met many influential leaders in Washington, D.C., who treated Him with great respect. These distinguished people included the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell; former president Theodore Roosevelt; Admiral Robert Peary, who had just returned from exploring the North Pole; Mabel Boardman, National Secretary of the American Red Cross; Lee McClung, Secretary of the United States Treasury; and Øíyá Páshá, the Ambassador of Turkey.

Alexander Graham Bell was so impressed with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that he invited Him to join a meeting of leading scientists at his home. At the gathering, several of the scientists spoke about their research and discoveries. Then Alexander invited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to speak. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praised the group and spoke about the importance of science and the greatness of the modern age. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s companion Ma¥múd said that Alexander was “extremely delighted” with this talk. “The hearts of those present were so moved that when the next member arose to give

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his talk, he could only say, ‘The talk of the Master from the East was so wonderful that I find myself inadequate to say anything.’”1

Later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke with Alexander’s wife and daughter. Because his wife was deaf, Alexander used sign language to translate. He explained that the telephone was the result of his efforts to create a tool to help the deaf communicate. He had been inspired by his deep love for his wife.

The admiration showered on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from people of all walks of life made a remarkable contrast to the sorrows His Father, Bahá’u’lláh, had endured in earlier years. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was a child of eight, Bahá’u’lláh had been chained in a horrible dungeon in Tehran, Iran, in officials’ efforts to stop the new Faith. While Bahá’u’lláh suffered under the weight of massively heavy chains, His home was ransacked, and His family was thrust into poverty. At times ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had only a handful of dry flour for food. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His family shared in Bahá’u’lláh’s many trials, as He was exiled from His homeland and eventually confined in the army barracks of ‘Akká.

Describing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s experiences in the West, His grandson Shoghi Effendi wrote, “pictures from the tragic past such as these must have many a time overpowered Him with feelings of mingled gratitude and sorrow, as He witnessed the many marks of respect, of esteem, and honor now shown Him and the Faith which He represented.”2

One evening, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was driven through Washington, He poured out His heart in a loud, ringing voice:

O Bahá’u’lláh! What hast Thou done? O Bahá’u’lláh! May my life be sacrificed for Thee! O Bahá’u’lláh! May my soul be offered

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up for Thy sake! How full were Thy days with trials and tribulations! How severe the ordeals Thou didst endure! How solid the foundation Thou hast finally laid, and how glorious the banner Thou didst hoist!3

Another time, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was speaking of His Father’s sufferings, “He was so overcome with emotion that He sobbed aloud in His grief. . . . All His attendants wept with Him, and were plunged into sorrow as they heard the tale of the woeful trials endured by the Ancient Beauty [Bahá’u’lláh], and witnessed the tenderness of heart manifested by His Son.”4

For many years, the government of Turkey had persecuted and imprisoned Bahá’u’lláh and His family. Still, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá met the Turkish ambassador, Øíyá Páshá, the ambassador listened to Him with careful attention. He became a great admirer of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, visiting Him frequently and attending some of His talks. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá often invited the ambassador to join Him on drives in Washington.

Øíyá Páshá even held a banquet in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s honor at the Turkish Embassy on April 25. Many government officials attended. Two footmen in uniform opened the doors as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived with Florence and Ali-Kuli Khán. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke to them kindly in Turkish. Inside, hundreds of roses were strewn on the tables, and piled into a mound at the places of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Øíyá Páshá.

The ambassador praised ‘Abdu’l-Bahá before all the guests, saying, “The light of His honor’s quality and knowledge . . . is now shining upon all peoples, showering them with His encouragement and enlightenment. He has suffered and sacrificed everything for the purpose

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of disseminating good qualities for humanity. He has now honored us by His presence. His Honor, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, is unique in our age and is highly esteemed and treasured by all of us. With prayer to the Lord of the worlds, I wish Him a long life and good health.”5

In response, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá humbly replied, “I am not worthy of this.” Then He addressed the gathering:

Tonight is a blessed night, worthy of rejoicing and thanksgiving for several reasons. First, thanks be to God, we are in a country that is most prosperous and free. Second, at a home which is related to the sublime Turkish Empire. Third, we are the guests of His Excellency, the Ambassador, who is in the realm of morals shining like the sun. Fourth, this meeting portrays the unity and harmony of the East and the West. . . . Undoubtedly the utmost desire of the people of . . . broad ideas and sound minds, is love amongst human beings; their highest hope is for unity and harmony amongst mankind. . . .The members of the human family are in reality one; all are from one family, of one country and of one globe. This is the age of the oneness of mankind and the passing away of superstitions of past centuries. Every thoughtful person feels that this is the century of oneness and unity, and the imaginary prejudices are vanishing. Therefore, we are hopeful that the misunderstandings amongst the nations may disappear. . . .

I am thankful and grateful for the kindness of His Excellency the Ambassador, because he was the cause of gathering and uniting different people in this meeting. Undoubtedly such meetings are worthy of thanks and praise.6

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Several times throughout the night, Øíyá Páshá had tears in his eyes as he watched ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. At one point he said to Juliet Thompson, “Truly, He is a Saint.”7 When the meeting ended, the ambassador walked with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to His carriage, showing humble appreciation.

Before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left Washington, Agnes Parsons offered Him a large sum of money to help with the expenses of His trip. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gently asked her to give the money to the poor instead.

Many friends came to the train station to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá once more as He departed for Chicago. He told Agnes, “This was the springtime; we had good meetings at your home; I shall never forget them. I shall pray for divine confirmation for you that you may be assisted both materially and spiritually.”

He told the other friends, “I hope these meetings of ours will bring forth everlasting results. The greatest of all benefits is the oneness of humanity and universal peace.”8

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