34 / Become Brilliant Lamps

34

Become Brilliant Lamps

Before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left New York, the Bahá’ís wanted to give Him some money for His trip back home, but He would not accept it. He said, “Distribute it among the poor on my behalf. It will be as though I have given it to them. But the most acceptable gift to me is the unity of the believers, service to the Cause of God, diffusion of the divine fragrances and adherence to the counsels of the Abhá Beauty.”1

The Bahá’ís gathered gifts for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sister, Bahíyyih Khánum, and other women of His household. He told them:

I am most grateful for your services; in truth you have served me. You have extended hospitality. Night and day you have been ready to serve and to diffuse the divine fragrances. I shall never forget your services, for you have no purpose but the will of God and you desire no station but entry into the Kingdom of God. Now you have brought presents for the members of my family.

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VOYAGE OF LOVE

They are most acceptable and excellent but better than all these are the gifts of the love of God which remain preserved in the treasuries of the heart. . . . . These jewels must be kept in boxes and vaults and they will eventually perish but those jewels remain in the treasuries of the heart and will remain throughout the world of God for eternity. Thus I will take to them your love, which is the greatest of all gifts. . . .

I, however, have accepted your gifts; but I entrust them to you for you [to] sell and send the proceeds to the fund for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Chicago.2

On the morning of December 5, many Bahá’ís from New York and other cities came to the S.S. Celtic to say good-bye. There were so many visitors that they filled the first class lounge, and more were standing and sitting outside the lounge. Ma¥múd wrote, “The sobs and lamentations of both the young and the old could be heard from afar. . . . As He moved among the friends, the Master spoke to them words of exhortation and admonition, consoling their hearts as He bade them farewell.”3

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visitors on the ship included Juliet Thompson, Carrie and Edward Kinney, ‘Alí Kulí Khán and his wife, Florence, and Agnes Parsons. He left them with these words:

This is my last meeting with you, for now I am on the ship ready to sail away. These are my final words of exhortation. . . .

The earth is one native land, one home; and all mankind are the children of one Father. God has created them, and they are

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BECOME BRILLIANT LAMPS

the recipients of His compassion. Therefore, if anyone offends another, he offends God. It is the wish of our heavenly Father that every heart should rejoice and be filled with happiness, that we should live together in felicity and joy. The obstacle to human happiness is racial or religious prejudice, the competitive struggle for existence and inhumanity toward each other. . . .

Beware lest ye offend any heart, lest ye speak against anyone in his absence, lest ye estrange yourselves from the servants of God. You must consider all His servants as your own family and relations. Direct your whole effort toward the happiness of those who are despondent, bestow food upon the hungry, clothe the needy, and glorify the humble. Be a helper to every helpless one, and manifest kindness to your fellow creatures in order that ye may attain the good pleasure of God. . . .

It is my hope that you may become successful in this high calling so that like brilliant lamps you may cast light upon the world of humanity and quicken and stir the body of existence like unto a spirit of life. This is eternal glory. This is everlasting felicity. This is immortal life. This is heavenly attainment. This is being created in the image and likeness of God. And unto this I call you, praying to God to strengthen and bless you.4

“It is the wish of our heavenly Father that every heart should rejoice and be filled with happiness, that we should live together in felicity and joy.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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