Covenant of Baha’u’llah

City of the Covenant

Source: ‘Abdu’l-Baha In New York: The City Of The Covenant

“June 19 [1912] was an historic day for the Baha’is of New York. On that day, Abdu’l-Baha names their city the “City of the Covenant.” Also, He spoke of the “Tablet of the Branch  revealed by Baha’u’llah in Adrianople, and proclaimed His own station as the “Center of the Covenant.” What a highly dramatic, almost terrifying moment in history! The Son of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet of God for our time, suddenly lifting the veil of His humanity, appearing in the Glory of the Power of the Covenant, the Power of Creation! It happened with the swiftness and blinding energy of a bolt of lightning, transporting its two witnesses, early Baha’is Juliet Thompson and Lua Getsinger, into a spiritual whirling of exaltation and fright.“

The Master did not “tour” the country, He deliberately chose New York as the hub of His travels as He pointed out: “I have always returned to New York, because I wished New York to advance greatly…” Consequently, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s stay in New York City was the longest in one place: 85 days out of 239 in the country. The length of this sojourn and the demanding schedule that He engaged in while in the city are further evidence of the attention the Master bestowed on this community.

‘Abdu’l-Baha found the New York of 1912 to be a place of tolerance by comparison with other racially segregated societies and planned the first Baha’í interracial marriage to take place here. This was an event of great significance at the time, confirming the Master’s statement that interracial marriages are “a service to humanity.”

New York City welcomed ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Religious congregations, peace societies, and universities vied to invite Him. Baha’ís and others alike, attracted by His love and wisdom, followed the Master from place to place.