I am greatly pleased with the city of New York. Its harbor
entrance, its piers, buildings and broad avenues are magnificent and beautiful.
Truly, it is a wonderful city. As New York has made such progress in material
civilization, I hope that it may also advance spiritually in the Kingdom and
Covenant of God so that the friends here may become the cause of the illumination
of America, that this city may become the city of love and that the fragrances
of God may be spread from this place to all parts of the world. I have come for
this. I pray that you may be manifestations of the love of Bahá'u'lláh, that
each one of you may become like a clear lamp of crystal from which the rays of
the bounties of the Blessed Perfection may shine forth to all nations and
peoples. This is my highest aspiration.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 11 April
1912, at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinney, New York; ’The Promulgation of Universal
Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States
and Canada in 1912’)
