25 / Fred’s Ride

25

Fred’s Ride

Fred Mortensen’s heart was beating fast as he walked onto the grounds of Green Acre. He was dirty, covered from head to toe with soot, and exhausted from his long journey. Fred had traveled from Cleveland, Ohio, to Eliot, Maine, by train—but not sitting comfortably in a seat. He couldn’t afford a ticket, so he “rode the rods.”

In the early 1900s, it was common for homeless or unemployed men to travel illegally on trains. They might jump in an empty boxcar, ride on top of the train, between the cars, on a ladder, or under the train, on boards stretched across the metal rods. This was, of course, very dangerous. Sharp curves, harsh weather, and other hazards led to many injuries and deaths. Also, railroad crewmen might deal violently with trespassers, or have them arrested.

At twenty-five years old, Fred already had a long history of trouble and difficulty. As a youth, he and his friends often drank alcohol, fought, stole, and destroyed others’ property. Fred landed in jail, but

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managed to escape while awaiting trial. For the next four years, he was a fugitive. Then, as he tried to help a friend who was being arrested, some detectives noticed him. Later, Fred wrote, “in my haste to get away from them I leaped over a thirty-five foot wall, breaking my leg, to escape the bullets whizzing around about. . . .”1

The lawyer who defended Fred was a Bahá’í named Alfred Hall. In addition to handling the case, Alfred taught Fred about the Bahá’í Faith. Fred said he owed Albert “many thanks and my everlasting good will for helping to free me from the prison of men and of self. . . . It was he who told me, hour after hour, about the great love of ‘Abdu’lBahá for all his children and that he was here to help us show that love for our fellowmen. . . . Thus the Word of God gave me a new birth, made me a living soul, a revivified spirit. I am positive that nothing else upon earth could have changed my character as mine has been changed.”2

When Fred heard that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was at Green Acre and might not travel west again, he immediately decided he must visit Him. He left Minneapolis for a printers’ convention in Cleveland, but he was too excited to stay for the entire meeting. The night before he left Cleveland, he dreamed that he was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s guest at a long table with many others, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá paced and told stories, gesturing with His hand. When Fred finally met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he wrote, “he looked just as I saw him in Cleveland.”3

After surviving his 700-mile trip, Fred arrived at Green Acre on the evening of August 20. Early the next morning, he joined a group in the main hall waiting to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá came in,

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He paid little attention to Fred. Fred felt unhappy and thought to himself glumly, “It must be that He knows I stole a ride.”4

But shortly after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left the room, one of His companions returned and said, “‘Abdu’l-Bahá wishes to see Mr. Mortensen.”

Fred later wrote, “Why, I nearly wilted. I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t expected to be called until the very last thing. I had to go, and it was with a strange feeling in my heart and wondering, wondering what would happen next.”

But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá welcomed him with a warm smile and a handclasp, and told him to be seated. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Welcome! Welcome! You are very welcome.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked, “Are you happy?” He repeated the question three times. Fred wondered why he asked so often. Of course I am happy, he thought.

Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked, “Did you have a pleasant journey?”

That was the question Fred had most wanted to avoid! He looked at the floor. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked him again, “Did you have a pleasant journey?”

Fred looked up and saw that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s eyes were like “sparkling jewels, which seemed to look into my very depths. I knew he knew and I must tell. . . .”

Fred said, “I did not come as people generally do, who come to see you.”

“How did you come?”

“Riding under and on top of the railway trains.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Explain how.”

Fred looked again into the eyes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He wrote that “a

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wondrous light seemed to pour out. It was the light of love and I felt relieved and very much happier.”

Fred explained how he rode on the trains. Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá kissed his cheeks, gave him some fruit, and even kissed the hat that had become filthy on the long trip.

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was ready to leave Green Acre, Fred stood nearby. To his astonishment, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá invited him to join His party. He took Fred to Malden, Massachusetts, as His guest for a week. Then He gave Fred enough money to return home comfortably. Fred wrote, “I left for home with never-to-be forgotten memories. . . . These events are engraved upon the tablet of my heart and I love every moment of them.”5

About a year later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote to Fred, “That trip of thine from Minneapolis to Green Acre will never be forgotten. Its mention will be recorded eternally in books and works of history. Therefore, be thou happy that, praise be to God, thou hast an illumined heart, a living spirit, and art vivified with merciful breath.”6

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