Baha'i History in Postcards
There are wonderful photographs from that time, many of them available online, accessible in new ways that the internet has made possible. But, for details, the photographs are not really very good. Postcards, however, are colorful, can show great details of a time and place, and can give a wider perspective.
My goal is to expand my small collection of historical postcards and share scenes that compliment Baha'i history, in the United States and around the world. Who knows where we will go on the journey, but the possibilities are endless.
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One can’t mention Baha’i History in Postcards, without sharing an image of one of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, sent by Abdu’l-Baha to the Baha’is in America on postcards the first few days after WWI when mails could be sent after years of isolation. Two postcards were sent, one in English and the other in Persian. I’m hopeful that in 2016 when we will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Tablets of the Divine Plan that more photographs of these postcards will be made available.
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The High Bridge in Lincoln Park in Chicago, where in 1912 visitors could gaze over the city and its tall buildings to the south. When Abdu’l-Baha stayed at the Plaza Hotel, he often took walks in Lincoln Park with visitors, mostly to give the overworked staff the opportunity to take a break from the crush of visitors.
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The Masonic Temple on State and Randolph was tallest building in Chicago at one time. However, the architects, still learning about elevators, didn’t build enough of them and it took too long for people to go up and down to attend the meeting in the large halls at the top of the building. Despite the very popular lower floors of shops and middle floors of offices, the building was demolished in 1939.
The memory of this building remains strong in the Baha’i History of Chicago. The first classes that taught about the Baha’i Faith were given here, some of the earliest members of the Baha’i community has offices here, early meetings of those Baha’is were held here, as well as a meeting where ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke during his first visit in 1912.
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A postcard mailed on October 30, 1913, shows the Market Square in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the only city in Wisconsin visited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1912 traveling by train from Chicago on Sept. 15 and returning Sept. 16.
Kenosha was one of the earliest Baha’i Communities in the U.S., having been established in the 1890’s.
Sunday, September 15, 1912 From Mahmud’s Diary
[Chicago — Kenosha]The friends were waiting with their automobiles at the railway station to take the Beloved to the hall of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.278 The Master went onto the stage of the auditorium and sat on a chair. It was a divine and joyous festival, the people like heavenly angels of the utmost spirituality, prayerfulness and gratitude. `Abdu’l-Bahá spoke briefly but effectively about the victorious power and penetrating influence of the Cause of the Blessed Beauty. He then went to a long table that extended the length of the hall which was covered with a variety of multicolored flowers.As lunch was being served, the young friends, having received `Abdu’l-Bahá’s permission, sang songs of praise to Him, accompanied by a piano. The Master then gave an account of the persecutions and hardships of Bahá’u’lláh, the time spent in the Most Great Prison, the Turkish revolution and the changes that took place after the establishment of a constitutional form of government in Turkey. `God removed all obstacles’, He said, `and provided all the necessities, thus enabling `Abdu’l-Bahá to reach this place and have the pleasure of seeing you.’The friends then brought their children to Him to be blessed. He took the children onto His lap one by one and gave them flowers, fruits and sweets. Mr Jackson said:Every time we have held a public entertainment for the friends we have left two seats vacant at each end of the table, one in the name of Bahá’u’lláh and the other in that of `Abdu’l-Bahá. We constantly longed to witness a day such as this. We have now attained our highest hopes and our eyes have seen the light of the Master.Another person said, `When the clergymen were informed of your arrival, they announced in the churches that this evening the prophet of the East will speak at the Kenosha Congregational Church.’After lunch `Abdu’l-Bahá left the hall of the `Mashriqu’l-Adhkár’ and went to Mrs [Henry] Goodale’s home, where the friends were overjoyed and uplifted to hear Him speak. He said to them, in part:The Cause of God has always appeared from the East but it has been more effective in the West. Once Badrí Páshá279 said in an address, `Gentlemen, Westerners have taken everything from us: the sciences, the arts and the laws they took from the East. Now we fear that they may wrest from us the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, as well.’ Those were his words. But Bahá’u’lláh is neither of the East nor of the West, neither of the South nor of the North. He is holy above all these directions. He is heavenly and godly.`Abdu’l-Bahá’s address in the evening at the Congregational Church was on the unity of the Manifestations of God, that they are one in essence and that the differences among their followers is due to obsolete imitations. His explanation of the divine teachings gave new life and insights to the audience. After His talk, everyone came to Him to pay Him their respects. -
This is the Grand Ballroom for the LaSalle Hotel, at 10 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, around 1912. ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke here on May 2, 1912, to the Federation of Women’s Clubs. From his talk:
“To accept and observe a distinction which God has not intended in creation is ignorance and superstition. The fact which is to be considered, however, is that woman, having formerly been deprived, must now be allowed equal opportunities with man for education and training. There must be no difference in their education. Until the reality of equality between man and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social development of mankind is not possible. Even granted that woman is inferior to man in some degree of capacity or accomplishment, this or any other distinction would continue to be productive of discord and trouble. The only remedy is education, opportunity; for equality means equal qualification. In brief, the assumption of superiority by man will continue to be depressing to the ambition of woman, as if her attainment to equality was creationally impossible; woman’s aspiration toward advancement will be checked by it, and she will gradually become hopeless. On the contrary, we must declare that her capacity is equal, even greater than man’s. This will inspire her with hope and ambition, and her susceptibilities for advancement will continually increase. She must not be told and taught that she is weaker and inferior in capacity and qualification. If a pupil is told that his intelligence is less than his fellow pupils, it is a very great drawback and handicap to his progress. He must be encouraged to advance by the statement, “You are most capable, and if you endeavor, you will attain the highest degree.” Promulgation of Universal Peace
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This is the book I wrote last year with Arcadia Publishing, featuring 199 archival photographs of the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois. In 2012 we will celebrate the Centenary of the visit of Abdu’l-Baha to the West. He laid the cornerstone of this building on May 1, 1912, and the whole story, with photos taken on that day, is told in the book. You can read the first chapters at Amazon.
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State Street at Noon in Chicago, an undated postcard that shows a busy noon hour around 1910-1915. The scene looks north to the State Street elevated stop where the Chicago Theater is now. Marshall Fields in on the right, look for the clock, and just the bare outlines of the Masonic Temple.
The Masonic Temple has dedicated meeting rooms for Masons at the top, but many floors of stores and offices. This is where the first Baha’i classes were taught, early Baha’is like Edward Getsinger has his office there, and in Drill Hall “Abdu’l-Baha gave a talk on April 30, 1912, to the Baha’i Temple Unity Convention
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Baha’i Temple, Australia
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Greetings by religion (this is informational)
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