When the news came that 'Abdu'l-Baha was on the way to
America, John Bosch
had such an overwhelming desire to see Him he started for New York on April 12,
1912. At Chicago, hearing that 'Abdu'l-Baha was in Washington, he went there
instead, only to find that 'Abdu'l-Baha had not yet left New York. So he
hurried on to that city, arriving very early on a cold and snowy morning. As
soon as he had secured his room in the Hotel Ansonia he stole to 'Abdu'l-Baha's
suite and was admitted almost immediately. Relating his experience to a friend,
he said:
When I entered the room I had a pocketful of questions to
ask 'Abdu'l-Baha, but when I saw Him I suddenly felt quite empty. I never took
the questions out. Eventually 'Abdu'l-Baha told me all that I had wanted to ask
Him. Foolishly I remarked that I had come three thousand miles to see Him, and
He smilingly replied, "I came seven thousand miles to see you." I
told Him that I, being a foreigner, had not the capacity of a speaker and that
my work so far had been to circulate books and a few pamphlets. 'Abdu'l-Baha
said: "You are doing very well; you are doing better than talking. With
you it is not words or the movement of the lips; with you it is the heart that
speaks. In your presence silence speaks and radiates." Then tea was
brought in and after we had both partaken of it 'Abdu'l-Baha said: "You
are now one of the family. You may come and go as you please."
(Adapted
from ‘In Memoriam’ section of The Baha’i World 1946-1950: ‘John David Bosch’,
by Charlotte M. Linfoot)
