Green Acre and Sarah Farmer's Free Platform

In Issue 5 of Volume 8 of the *Star of the West,* dated the 5th of June, 1917, a short article titled "Green Acre in 1917" looked ahead to the summer conferences at Green Acre — the gathering place on the Piscataqua River at Eliot, Maine, that Sarah Farmer had founded in 1894. Since the previous summer, the friends of Green Acre had been "counting the days" until they could return.

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Sarah Farmer had died during the previous year, and a Bahá'í service had been held at her home in South Eliot. Her spirit, the writer hoped, would rest over the summer's conferences "even more gloriously" than before, "for now she is free from the prison-house of the body."

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The *Star* then reminded its readers how 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself regarded the place. Among His first words after returning to 'Akká from His journey through Europe and America, it reported, were words about Green Acre, spoken one evening when the friends had gathered to meet Him:

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> The significance and usefulness of this unique place lie in the > fact that it offers a free and unrestricted platform to the > citizens of every nation and the adherents of every religion.

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At Green Acre, He explained, people of different creeds gathered every summer, and leaders of many movements and schools of thought gave lectures, so that every subject could be discussed "with that full liberty of conscience which is enjoyed in the United States." He gave the credit to Sarah Farmer, and said that her plan must be carried out "to its logical conclusion — a universal platform for all mankind, irrespective of race, religion or nationality."

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He also remembered His own week there in August 1912. Because the name Green Acre was similar to that of 'Akká, He said, He had been made very happy on arriving. There had been a large meeting every evening, at which He spoke on spiritual subjects. He described the pure water and the pine woods, where Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl had once given talks under trees that came to be known as the "Persian pines."

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The article also printed counsel the Master had given in Paris to friends interested in Green Acre: those who spoke there should aim at "the investigation of reality," not the presentation of dogmas, and the conferences should serve universal peace, brotherhood and "the study of the fundamental principles of all the religions."

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Sarah Farmer had visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 'Akká in 1900. After her death Green Acre continued, and in time it became a Bahá'í school.

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*A retelling based on the **Star of the West**, Volume 8, Issue 5 (June 5, 1917). For the fuller account, see the original.*

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