Persian Dress Aboard the Cedric
bahaistories.com archive · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
On the voyage to America aboard the Cedric in April 1912, some of the American friends requested that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ask the Persians travelling with Him to alter their attire to suit the circumstances of the time and place, changing everything except their Persian hats and coats. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied, ‘What harm is there in it? I do not care much about what is unimportant and what is not harmful to the Cause. They are trifles.’
Source: Mahmúd’s Diary, April 3, 1912 (aboard the Cedric); cited in Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 53.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: approval-seeking).
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/approval-seeking
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
Too Much Austerity Is Not Good
Travelling east across America, 'Abdu'l-Bahá refused sleeping-car berths so as not to depend on bodily comfort. The next night He had six berths reserved, saying too much austerity was not good, and insisted that all share equally.
Across the Sea on the Cedric
In 1912 'Abdu'l-Bahá sailed from Egypt to New York on the ship Cedric. He cared for His companions, spoke to the passengers, and had to say goodbye to three friends, Shoghi Effendi among them, at Naples.
The Crossing on the Cedric
Mahmúd's Diary records 'Abdu'l-Bahá's voyage on the Cedric from Alexandria to New York in March and April 1912, including the day at Naples when three of His companions, Shoghi Effendi among them, had to leave the ship.
Why the Master Bore the Hardships of Travel
Riding to a hotel in Chicago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that He bore the hardships of His travels in America because He feared that, after Him, self-seeking persons might disturb the love and unity of the friends.