17 / A Blessed Anniversary

17

A Blessed Anniversary

During His travels in New York, some of the Bahá’ís planned a small celebration for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s birthday, which was on May 23. One day—though the exact date is not known—they baked a cake as a surprise, and took taxis to the Bronx. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was in the first taxi, and when they stopped at a park, He got out and walked ahead of the others.

A group of boys gathered around ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and started to laugh at Him. Two or three of them threw stones. Some of the Bahá’ís were concerned and hurried to help Him, but He told them to stay away. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá just smiled as the boys taunted Him and pulled at His clothing.

Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá turned to the Bahá’ís and said, “Bring me the cake.”

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They were shocked—no one had told Him about the cake. Some said, “But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the cake is for your birthday.”

He repeated, “Bring me the cake.”

One friend brought out a large cake with white icing. The boys grew quiet and stared at it hungrily. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took the cake and looked at it with pleasure. Then He asked for a knife, which was also brought to Him. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá counted the boys, then cut the cake into the same number of pieces. Each boy took a piece of cake, ate it, and then ran away, contented.1

On May 22, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá traveled to Boston, Massachusetts. That evening, He spoke to nearly three thousand people—including many elected officials and eight hundred Christian ministers from Unitarian churches around the United States and Canada. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was introduced by the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, who said, “Tonight we express our highest respect and heartfelt gratitude in this great gathering for this highly revered and peace-loving personage who has come from the East to the West to promote the principles of the oneness of humanity and universal peace.” The entire audience stood and gave Him a long ovation.2

On May 23, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá traveled to Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. As He watched the green countryside during the fiftymile trip from Boston, He said, “I wish that Bahá’u’lláh had come to these regions. So fond was He of such scenery that often while traveling, wherever the country was more beautiful and more verdant, He would ask His company to make a stop. Once while passing by the shore of a lake, the green country, the purity of the water and the beauty of the

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weather were so lovely in the eyes of Bahá’u’lláh that He asked that the caravan be stopped and all remained there for several hours.”3

In the early evening, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in Cambridge, a city near Boston, and went to the home of Alice and Francis Breed. The Breeds’ daughter, Florence Khán, had held a special luncheon in ‘Abdu’lBahá’s honor in Washington, D.C., with her husband, ‘Alí Kulí Khán. Alice and Francis Breed had traveled widely, and their luxurious home was filled with treasures from such places as Russia, Alaska, and China. Beautiful greenhouse flowers decorated the home, and the Bahá’í children had gathered wildflowers as well. Alice Breed baked a cake for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit—but her first cake fell, so she had to bake another.

May 23 is an important day in the history of the Bahá’í Faith. On that date in 1844, in Shíráz, Persia (now Iran), a young man known as the Báb (“the Gate” in Arabic) announced that a new Messenger of God would soon appear. The Báb Himself was also a Messenger of God. He devoted His life to preparing the world for the Prophet to follow—Bahá’u’lláh. Also on May 23, at midnight, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born in Tehran, Persia.

Both the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are revered in the Bahá’í Faith. They are the only two Messengers of God known to have lived on Earth at the same time. The Bahá’í calendar begins in 1844, the year of the Báb’s announcement.

On that May evening in Cambridge, in addition to remembering the Báb, the Bahá’ís wanted to celebrate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s birthday. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá graciously accepted their kindness. But He felt that the Báb’s Declaration was much more important than His own birth. He spoke to the group about the importance of that event:

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This is 23 May, the anniversary of the message and Declaration of the Báb. . . . On this day in 1844 the Báb was sent forth heralding and proclaiming the Kingdom of God, announcing the glad tidings of the coming of Bahá’u’lláh and withstanding the opposition of the whole Persian nation. Some of the Persians followed Him. For this they suffered the most grievous difficulties and severe ordeals. . . . They sacrificed their lives most willingly and remained unshaken in their faith to the very end. Those wonderful souls are the lamps of God, the stars of sanctity shining gloriously from the eternal horizon of the will of God.

The Báb was subjected to bitter persecution in Shíráz, where He first proclaimed His mission and message. A period of famine afflicted that region, and the Báb journeyed to I¦fahán. There the learned men rose against Him in great hostility. He was arrested and sent to Tabríz. From thence He was transferred to Mákú and finally imprisoned in the strong castle of Chihríq. Afterward He was martyred in Tabríz. . . .

He withstood all persecutions and bore every suffering and ordeal with unflinching strength. The more His enemies endeavored to extinguish that flame, the brighter it became. Day by day His Cause spread and strengthened. During the time when He was among the people He was constantly heralding the coming of Bahá’u’lláh. . . .

The Báb has admonished us . . . to be completely attracted by the love of Bahá’u’lláh, to love all humanity for His sake, to be lenient and merciful to all for Him and to upbuild the oneness

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of the world of humanity. Therefore, this day, 23 May, is the anniversary of a blessed event.4

After ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk, Alice brought out the cake. It was decorated with sixty-eight candles, for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s age, and tiny flags from the United States, Iran, and England. She asked ‘Abdu’lBahá to light the first candle, then each person took a turn lighting a candle. Ma¥múd wrote, “Mrs. Breed, indeed, lit the candle of servitude and steadfastness that evening, and in doing so, became the recipient of bounty from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s presence.”5

‘Abdu’l-Bahá kindly allowed Alice Breed to serve the cake on this occasion, but He did not want the Bahá’ís to celebrate His birthday. Instead, He said the day should only be associated with the Báb. Since the Bahá’ís wanted to have a day on which they could celebrate ‘Abdu’lBahá, He gave them November 26, which became known as the Day of the Covenant.

A few days later, on May 26, Florence had her own birthday. She visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at His hotel with her father, Francis. Florence noticed that her father seemed worried. She told him, “There is nothing to be afraid of. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is very kind. He is always friendly and considerate.”

“I’m not afraid, but I don’t know what to say to Him,” her father answered.

“Oh, you can at least thank Him for His great kindness to me, during my visit to Him in 1906.”

“Oh yes! Yes indeed. I can do that.” Francis seemed relieved.

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When they arrived in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s room, a Persian interpreter was there to help them. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked how they were and asked about their family. Then Francis said, “I want to thank you, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, for your hospitality and your many great kindnesses to my daughter when she went to Persia.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá seemed moved. “Why do you thank me?” He said. “You are my own family.”

When they left, He filled Florence’s arms with white roses.6

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