2011
Podcast 5: Striving for Peace
On October 21, 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke to a small group of friends about the pitiful causes of war, and the duty of everyone to strive for peace. He said, I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the […]
2011
‘Abdu’l-Bahá Arrives in Paris
Bonjour, and welcome to France! For the next nine weeks ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will be staying at 4 Avenue de Camoens in Paris. Throughout this period we will discuss His many talks and explore the implications of these ideas today. The […]
2011
The Master Officiates a Wedding
Before leaving London, the Master officiated a wedding of a young Persian couple. The full account can be read here, but the sweetness of the event struck me in the description of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asking the bride and groom, in turn, if […]
Lord Mayor of London
This morning I came across this curious statement made by a prominent contemporary politician speaking with regards to the global financial crisis: ‘we must compete our way to prosperity’. This sparked a personal investigation into the idea of ‘prosperity’, not […]
2011
Podcast 3: Theosophical Society Talk
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s last public address in London was delivered at the Theosophical Society on September 30, 1911. Mrs. Annie Besant, the renowned president of the Society, had called on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and asked Him to visit and speak in their new headquarters. (H.M. Balyuzi, […]
2011
Brooklands Airfield
I have been thinking a lot about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s trip to Brooklands airfield on September 29th in 1911. It strikes me that it was an accumulation of relatively unlikely, but wonderful occurrences. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who was a visitor from the East, was sighted […]
2011
A Visit to Bristol
During the weekend of the 23rd through the 25th of September, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took a side trip to Bristol, on the South West side of England. He praised the country side for its fresh greenery and spacious woods and fields. The […]
Podcast 2: St. John’s Westminster
On September 17 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the request of the venerable Archdeacon of Westminster addressed the congregation of Saint John the Divine after evening service. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p21) This weeks podcast credits: Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill […]
‘Heavenly Soldiers’
Recently, I found a compilation called “Star of the West” and I’m absolutely in love with it. I feel like I’ve discovered a chest of old papers in an attic, and each time I read an article I’m transported back […]
2011
‘You Are All One Family’
On the Wednesday following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in London, Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper gave an ‘At Home’ to the believers and between fifty and sixty were present to meet him. One of the friends, a Mrs. Drakonles, who founded The Humanitarian League over […]