LarryK32

I was reading wiki and was on the Abdul-Baha page.

When he came to America the article said that he could've come no the Titanic but instead chose a slower voyage for a longer sea trip.

Is this true? O_o

Aaron

That is true. The reason that he said he chose to do that was because he did not need such an expensive voyage.

LarryK32

Yes. The article said that he told someone to donate the rest of the money to charity.

arthra

What happened:

'Abdu'l-Bahá wintered in Egypt. The lavish expenditure of His energies, during the three months' sojourn in London and Paris, had heavily taxed His physical strength. A period of relative rest was necessary before embarking on a tour of the United States which was bound to be much more taxing. In the meantime American Bahá'ís were pleading hard for His presence in their midst. They raised œ3,200 sterling for the expenses of His journey. 'Abdu'l-Bahá thanked them and returned the money. It was suggested to Him that He might travel in the Titanic, about to make her maiden voyage. But He preferred a slower boat, and a long sea journey. He chose the S.S. Cedric which sailed from Alexandria on March 25th 1912.

~ H.M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 171

Early the next spring He started out for America, despite continuing ill health. Once across the Mediterranean He might have sailed on the Titanic. Some of His fellow-travelers, on the Cedric with Him as far as Naples, urged Him to book passage on what would be the maiden voyage of that magnificent luxury liner which the whole world was watching, a ship of which it was said 'even God could not sink it'. This would have been a logical choice, but later He told the believers why He did not sail on her: 'My heart did not prompt me to do so.'

Instead, He remained on the Cedric, and she docked in New York April 11. On April 14, in the night, the Titanic hit an iceberg off Newfoundland and went down with an awesome loss of life, 1500 people, and today she lies on the ocean floor.

~ Marzieh Gail, Arches of the Years, p. 78

That afternoon in Washington, He spoke of the sinking of the Titanic; He was grieved that some of His fellow-passengers had transferred at Naples, from the Cedric to the Titanic. He said: 'At first it is very difficult to welcome death.' Then He told them: 'These disasters sometimes take place that men may know that God is the real Protector.'

~ Marzieh Gail, Dawn Over Mount Hira, p. 188


Abdul-Baha commented on the Titanic disaster:

Within the last few days a terrible event has happened in the world, an event saddening to every heart and grieving every spirit. I refer to the Titanic disaster, in which many of our fellow human beings were drowned, a number of beautiful souls passed beyond this earthly life. Although such an event is indeed regrettable, we must realize that everything which happens is due to some wisdom and that nothing happens without a reason.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 46