‘Abdu’l-Bahá at Green Acre in Eliot, Maine 17 August 1912

This photograph was taken by Colonel Henry Culver, an American diplomat, and one of the early American Bahá’ís. As the photograph was taken, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was saying, “In Green Acre you must concentrate your forces around the one all-important fact—the investigation of Reality.” (“Green Acre on the Piscataqua” Centenary Edition (Eliot: Green Acre Bahá’í School Council, 1991) p. 112)

During the course of an address He gave in New York City on July 1, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

“I desire to make manifest among the friends in America a new light that they may become a new people, that a new foundation may be established and complete harmony be realized; for the foundation of Bahá’u’lláh is love. When you go to Green Acre, you must have infinite love for each other, each preferring the other before himself. The people must be so attracted to you that they will exclaim, ‘What happiness exists among you!’ and will see in your faces the lights of the Kingdom; then in wonderment they will turn to you and seek the cause of your happiness. You must give the message through action and deed, not alone by word. Word must be conjoined with deed. You must love your friend better than yourself; yes, be willing to sacrifice yourself. The Cause of Bahá’u’lláh has not yet appeared in this country. I desire that you be ready to sacrifice everything for each other, even life itself; then I will know that the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh has been established. I will pray for you that you may become the cause of upraising the lights of God. May everyone point to you and ask, ‘Why are these people so happy?’ I want you to be happy in Green Acre, to laugh, smile and rejoice in order that others may be made happy by you. I will pray for you.”
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912” 2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 218)

Donated to the Bahá’ís of the United States by its founder, Sarah Farmer, Green Acre is a permanent school of the Bahá’í Faith, in Eliot, Maine.