‘ ABDU ’ L-BAHAS JOURNEY TO CANADA AUGUST 30 TO SEPTEMBER 9, 1912

‘ABDU’L-BAHAS JOURNEY TO CANADA

AUGUST 30 TO SEPTEMBER 9, 1912

On his tour of North America ‘Abdu’l-Baha travelled to Canada for nine days. He only

stayed in Montreal though he passed through Toronto and Oakville

Montreal was a prosperous city where the gap between the wealthy and the

poor was increasing. There was entrenched discrimination owing to

colour and ethnic background

The weather was also especially inclement this year.

People were very concerned about the growing tensions and threat of

war in Europe

Union Station , Toronto where ‘Abdu’l-Baha changed trains

‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed with May and William Sunderland Maxwell (a renowned architect) for

three days in their home in Montreal

The Maxwells’ home

The room where ‘Abdu’l-Baha slept

From the night that he arrived, ‘Abdu’l-Baha had a steady stream of visitors

from all walks of life and was plagued with questions and enquiries

‘Abdu’l-Baha moved from the Maxwells’ to Hotel Windsor, Montreal

In St. James Methodist Church , Montreal, ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave a talk to the 1200 strong congregation about the principles of the Baha’i Faith

A tram similar to the one the master took while in Montreal

Reverend Charles EsteNegro United Church Montreal Young People’s Baha’i Group 1929

Top row left: Eddie ElliottFirst row second from left: Mary, daughter of May

Maxwell

W. Peterson, Principal McGill University

Arhbishop Msgr L. J. P. BruchesiArchbishop of Montreal

French and English newspapers reported on his talks, most praised him but a few criticized him. Each newspaper seemed to focus on one

aspect of his talks

“Persian Teacher to Preach Peace”

“Racialism wrong says Eastern Sage”

The Montreal Gazette Reported his talk on the need to abolish racism and it quoted him: “God the Almighty has created all humanity from earth, from

the same element”.

“There was wonderful breadth and depth of feeling in that sermon at the Unitarian church in Montreal. It was not the message of a fanatic or a hermit, or a man unconversant with modern thought and modern life. It was Eastern, yet it was Western…”

(Journalist, Toronto Star )

Paris 1901 or 02; May Maxwell (then Bolles) sits next to Thomas Breakwell, wearing head scarf

Of His visit to Canada ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, “The time of the sojourn was limited to a number of days, but the results in the future are inexhaustible”

ReferencesWard, Allan L. (1979). 239 Days: ‘Abdu’l-Baha’is journey in America. Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, pgs 131-137. Church, Hugh (2009) as quoted in The Badi Blog. http://badiblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/abdul-bahas-visit-to-canada.html. Correct on August 23, 2011. Van den Hoonard, Will; Echevarria-Howe, Lynn. (1994). Black roses in Canada’s mosaic: Four decades of black history. http://bahai-library.com/unpubl.articles/black.roses.html. Correct on July 30, 2009. Nakhjavani, Violette. (2011). The Maxwells of Montreal: Early years 1870-1922. Oxford, George Ronald Publisher, pgs. 275-285.