Saying Goodbye on the Celtic

A retelling for children, based on Mahmúd's Diary (entry of December 5, 1912).

On December 5, 1912, a big ship called the Celtic was waiting in the harbor of New York. She would carry 'Abdu'l-Bahá across the ocean to a city called Liverpool, in England.

For almost eight months 'Abdu'l-Bahá had traveled across America. He had arrived in this same harbor in April, and now He was leaving from it.

A man named Mírzá Maḥmúd was traveling with Him, and he wrote down in his diary what happened that day. He tells us that a great many friends came onto the ship to say goodbye, from New York and from other cities too. There were so many that the big lounge of the ship could not hold them all. Some sat inside, and others stood outside the doors. Young and old were crying, because He was going away.

'Abdu'l-Bahá walked among them, comforting them. Then He gave them His last words. "This is our last day and my last meeting with you," He said. "In a few minutes our steamer will leave these shores and this is my last exhortation to you." And in His talk He said this:

We must also be kind to the people of the world and forget all religious, racial, patriotic and political prejudices. The whole earth is one globe. All nations are one family.

A prejudice is an unfair idea about people, such as thinking that people of another religion, race or country are worse than we are. 'Abdu'l-Bahá asked His friends to forget all such ideas and to be kind to everyone.

He also told them what kindness looks like: making someone's heart glad, giving food to the hungry and clothes to those who have none, and loving everyone, even their enemies.

Then the time came to leave. One by one the friends shook His hand and left the ship. They stood on the wharf, crying and praying. As the Celtic moved out to sea, the crowd of friends waved to their Master until He was far away in the distance.

This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see "Farewell Aboard the Celtic".

Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání, M.. (1998). *Mahmúd's Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání*. George Ronald.