'Abdu'l-Bahá at Clark University

A retelling based on Mahmúd's Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání (George Ronald, 1998), entry for 23 May 1912. The narrative is in our own words; the words in quotation marks are as the diary records them.

On 23 May 1912 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who was staying in Boston, went to Worcester, Massachusetts, to visit Clark University. Mahmúd's Diary records that the university's head, whom it calls Professor Hall, had himself invited the Master. This was G. Stanley Hall, the psychologist who was Clark's first president.

The day began in Boston with visitors. At noon 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the guest at lunch of a society that maintained a house for the poor of Syria and Greece. There He spoke about poverty and detachment, and on leaving He gave ten pounds for the poor. Afterwards He sat with visitors at the home of a professor (the diary gives the name as Black, though the editor notes it is unclear), and this professor went with Him to Worcester, about fifty miles away.

On the road, as they passed through green countryside, the Master spoke sorrowfully of Bahá'u'lláh, saying:

Would that the Blessed Beauty could have come to these regions! He loved such scenery very much.

Whenever He saw green and fragrant country He asked the driver to stop. Near the shore of one lake the landscape, the clear water and the pure air pleased Him so much that they stopped there for a while. The whole party stood and waited while He spoke of the Blessed Beauty in mournful terms.

They reached Worcester after two hours. 'Abdu'l-Bahá rested for a while at the professor's home, took tea, and then went to the meeting the university had arranged for His visit. More than a thousand students and faculty had gathered. Professor Hall thanked Him for coming, and the Master spoke on the value and importance of science.

After the address some distinguished guests and seekers were invited to a reception. The president, who had himself invited 'Abdu'l-Bahá, served the Master in person. A number of Japanese, Chinese and Turkish students came to meet Him and were glad to hear His words. When it was time to leave, 'Abdu'l-Bahá took both of the president's hands in His. He told him that He was very pleased with him and delighted to see his university, that he was serving the world of humanity, and that He would pray for him. He ended:

I shall never forget this meeting, and I shall always remember and mention your services.

He returned to Boston in an automobile the university's head had provided for Him.

This account is retold for the Bahá'í Story Library; it is a paraphrase, not the original text. See Mahmúd's Diary (Mírzá Maḥmúd-i-Zarqání, tr. Mohi Sobhani, George Ronald, 1998), entry for 23 May 1912.

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