28 / The Journey West

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The Journey West

The Bahá’ís of California had sent telegrams begging ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to visit them. Finally, He agreed. In September, He wrote, “It is because the friends of California, and particularly those of San Francisco, have so frequently called and pleaded, expressed despair and wept and sent incessant supplications, that I have determined to go to California.”1

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was exhausted. He said, “How will the great distance to California be traversed? We have no choice, as in the path of God we must regard troubles as blessings and discomforts as greatest bounties.”2 On the journey west, He stopped again in Chicago. He also visited Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska before reaching Colorado.

In Glenwood Springs, Colorado, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took a rare opportunity for rest. Ma¥múd described the beautiful surroundings outside the Hotel Colorado, which was built in 1893: “Three magnificent mountains stood in the distance on three sides, each

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crowned with trees and adorned with flowers of many hues. They were like peacock feathers and had a unique beauty from every viewpoint.”3

‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the Vapor Caves, which are natural underground steam baths that continue to attract many visitors today. Hot mineral water from nearby hot springs flows through the caves. Visitors sit in stone alcoves, breathing the soothing steam vapor. The Ute Indians considered these caves to be a sacred place of healing for centuries. They are the only known natural steam caves in North America. The temperature in the caves is about 110 degrees Fahrenheit, so people visit them for about ten to twelve minutes at a time.

After visiting the caves, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Today I am relieved of fatigue. We have been to many lovely places during this journey but because of our work we had no time to look at the scenery. We did not even think of a moment’s rest. Today, however, we have had a little respite.”

When He returned to the hotel, He stood in the garden and said, “It would be good to eat here.”4 The hotel manager had the waiters set up a large table in the garden for lunch. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave the waiters generous tips both before and after lunch.

That afternoon, sad news arrived for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by telegram. Thornton Chase, who lived in Los Angeles, was seriously ill and in the hospital. Thornton was the first Bahá’í in the United States, and he had visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká in 1907. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá loved Thornton very much, and was sad to hear of his illness. The group left Glenwood Springs that night.

The train passed through the Rocky Mountains, and Ma¥múd wrote that the mountains rose “like walls from the railway bed,

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formidable and immense. Gazing at their summits one felt as if the mountains would fall down. There were some special roofless observation cars on the train so that passengers might have a full view of the majestic mountains.”5

As He passed these lovely scenes, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave thanks for spiritual aid from Bahá’u’lláh. He said, “Truly, were it not for . . . His assistance, what could I have done? Just one person alone in the east and west of America, in the mountains and wilderness—it is no light matter. . . . See how His aid and favor descend upon us. This trip fills us with wonder! Offer thanks to the Blessed Beauty that He has bestowed such confirmations upon us.”6

‘Abdu’l-Bahá stopped in Salt Lake City, Utah, then arrived in San Francisco on October 1. A group of Bahá’ís welcomed Him at a lovely house He had rented. The house was surrounded by a large garden, and its porch was filled with a variety of fragrant potted flowers and plants. Ma¥múd wrote, “The enthusiasm, eagerness, excitement, joy and singing of the believers surrounded ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. . . . These ecstatic friends offered thanks for the bounty of attaining His presence and being near to Him.”7

‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent telegrams to the Bahá’ís in the East, saying, “Rejoicing among friends of God in San Francisco. Truly confirmations are overwhelming and happiness complete.”8

‘Abdu’l-Bahá enjoyed traveling across the San Francisco Bay to Oakland, where gatherings were held at the elegant home of Helen Goodall and her daughter, Ella Goodall Cooper. It was a fifteen-minute ride by ferry. From the boat, the brightly lit buildings of San Francisco could be seen. Ma¥múd wrote, “The splendid buildings and towers adorned

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with brilliant lights seemed to be golden palaces set with colored jewels. Lights from the homes crowning the high hills appeared like a string of pearls. The Master enjoyed the scene and whenever He went that way He praised it highly.”9

In 1904, a fifteen-year-old girl named Ramona Allen had been invited to visit Helen Goodall’s home with her mother, Frances Orr Allen. Later, Ramona wrote, “That was the most important day of my life.”

Helen was a quiet, gentle, and dignified lady with white hair. She spoke in a soft voice and made everyone feel welcome in her home. Her daughter, Ella, had a happy and enthusiastic spirit. They had learned about the Bahá’í Faith in 1898, and Ella had visited ‘Abdu’lBahá the following year. A Japanese servant named Kanichi Yamamoto, or “Moto,” worked in their home, and he was also a Bahá’í.

When Ramona and her mother arrived, Helen and Ella greeted them with radiant and welcoming smiles. They served tea. Then they told their visitors about the Bahá’í Faith and the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was the first time that Ramona had heard the word “Bahá’í.”

Ramona was very interested in religion. Her parents had allowed her to attend various Sunday schools during her spiritual search. Ramona was “spellbound” as she listened to the story of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Bahá’í teachings. She later wrote, “I had finally found that for which I had been searching. I turned to my mother and said, ‘I believe this!’, for I had instantly accepted Bahá’u’lláh and His Teachings. . . . Throughout my life I have never had any doubts.”10

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A few years later, when Ramona was in her late teens, Ella invited her to visit with some of her friends who were interested in the Bahá’í Faith. They began to meet each week. Ella called the group of girls her “Peaches,” or “Peach Tree,” and they called her “Mother Peach.” At the meetings, Moto served them tea, cheese puffs, and cinnamon toast.

The Peaches continued to meet for about fourteen years. Ella told them stories about the Bahá’í Faith, taught them prayers, and shared letters she and her mother received from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. There were very few Bahá’í books available, so many of the teachings and prayers came from copies of letters ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote to various Bahá’ís.

Ramona and her family eagerly visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when He arrived in San Francisco. Ramona wrote, “That exhilarating, magic moment of seeing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the first time was like seeing the sun burst forth through the soft, rosy glow of dawn. . . . He appeared to be enveloped in a beautiful, ethereal, luminous light. The room seemed flooded with sunshine. Flowers were everywhere, and their fragrance filled the air. . . . My heart felt as though it would burst with joy and happiness . . . ”

Ramona gave Him some yellow roses from her family’s garden. He smiled and thanked her lovingly. She wrote, “His gentle, smiling eyes touched my soul; they seemed to tell me that He knew what was in my heart and everything about me. I felt as though I were in another world.”

After He spoke to the group that had gathered, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá served them tea in small crystal glasses. Ramona said it was “the most delicious

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tea I had ever tasted. It was light amber-colored Persian tea which He had brought with Him. To this day I can remember its fragrance and taste its sweetness.”

Ramona found that “The happiness of that first meeting has remained with me all of my life. We knew that we were blessed and privileged to be in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We were full of deep joy as we basked in His love.”11

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