Shortly after his arrival ‘Abdu’l-Bahá met the Rev

Shortly after his arrival ‘Abdu’l-Bahá met the Rev. R. J. Campbell of the City Temple, together with the editor of the Christian Commonwealth newspaper. The editor noted that when Rev. Campbell entered the room, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá rose from his chair and advanced to meet him, with smiling face and arms extended. The older men grasped both the hands of the younger and, retaining them, warmly greeted him … Standing face-to-face, linked hand-in-hand, in the center of the room, these two spiritual leaders of worldwide fame, - Eastern and Western, but essentially one in their outlook on life - formed an impressive picture. During the conversation, Rev. Campbell said: "I should like you to visit the City Temple", to which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá responded, saying, "I should like to come. I know that the City Temple is the center of progress in the religious world, and seeks to promote the universal understanding." Just a few days later, on Sunday, 10 September, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the City Temple during the evening service to give His first public address in the Western world. "The visit was kept secret", wrote Wellesley Tudor-Pole, but the congregation was as usual very large, probably well over 2000 … ‘Abdu’l-Bahá then spoke animatedly for about nine minutes, in Persian, in full, vibrant tones, wrote Tutor-Pole. And the whole congregation was held spellbound … After the Master finished speaking, Wellesley Tudor-Pole read the English translation of his speech . . . After the service, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote the following in the pulpit Bible: this book is the Holy Book of God, of celestial Inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the Noble Gospel. It is the Mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of God. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 'Abbás.

Source: Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 31-32,34

Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: abdul-bahas-travels).

Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/abdul-bahas-travels