Admiral Peary and the North Pole

On 23 April 1912, at a reception at the Persian Legation in Washington given by ‘Alí-Qulí Khán and his wife Florence, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was introduced to Admiral Peary, the explorer who had reached the North Pole. Juliet Thompson was there, and wrote in her diary:

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“A delicious thing happened when the Master greeted Peary, who has just succeeded in publicly disgracing Captain Cook and proving himself, and not Captain Cook, the discoverer of the North Pole. At that moment, in the Embassy, he looked like a blown-up balloon. I was standing beside the Master when Khán brought the Admiral over and introduced him. The Master spoke charmingly to him and congratulated him on his discovery.

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Then, with the utmost sweetness, added these surprising words: For a very long time the world had been much concerned about the North Pole, where it was and what was to be found there. Now he, Admiral Peary, had discovered it and that nothing was to [be] found there; and so, in forever relieving the public mind, he had rendered a great service. I shall never forget Peary’s nonplussed face. The balloon collapsed!”

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Four days later, at Mrs Parsons’ reception, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to the explorer: “I hope you will discover the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.”

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