The Minarets of the West

Juliet Thompson wrote in her diary on 11 April 1912, the day ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in New York:

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> Between seven and eight I went to the pier with Marjorie Morten and Rhoda Nichols. The morning was crystal clear, sparkling. I had a sense of its being Easter: of lilies, almost seen, blooming at my feet. All the believers of New York had gathered at the pier to meet the Master’s ship. . . . > > During the morning the harbour misted over. At last, in the mist we saw: a phantom ship! . . .

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Closer and closer, ever more substantial, came that historic ship, that epoch-making ship, till at last it swam out solid into the light, one of the Persians sitting in the bow in his long robes, ‘abá, and turban. This was Siyyid Asadu’lláh, a marvellous, witty old man, who had come with the Master to prepare His meals.

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He told us later that when the ship was approaching the harbour and the Master saw, as His first view of America, the Wall Street skyscrapers, He had laughed and said: "Those are the minarets of the West." What divine irony! > > The ship docked, but the Master did not appear. Suddenly I had a great glimpse. In the dim hall beyond the deck, striding to and fro near the door, was One with a step that shook you!

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Just that one stride, charged with power, the sweep of a robe, a majestic head, turban crowned—that was all I saw, but my heart stopped.

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