Sep 28th, 2008
Travel Writer
They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime, and travel throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest, and steadfast to the end, they must raise in every land the triumphal cry “Ya Baha’u'l-Abha!” (O Thou the Glory of Glories), must achieve renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet savors of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly. `Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i writings
Some people are just born to travel. Others are born to write. Some can do both.
When she was 14, she earned enough money from her writing to pay for a trip to Niagra Falls. Before she was 30 she was a seasoned newspaperwoman writing for a weekly magazine - editing the automobile section. Oh, this was in 1901.
In 1908 she heard of the Baha’i Faith and by 1909 she was a Baha’i. She met `Abdu’l-Bahá when He travelled to the United States in 1912. Inspired by Him and by the Bahá’í teachings, she determined to take the Bahá’í message to as many people as possible. So, on 30 January 1915 - in the middle of the winter and the middle of First World War and all alone - she set sail from New York on the first of her eight extended travels, four of them around the world.
She travelled to China and Japan four times, nearly froze to death crossing the Andes on a mule, spoke at about 400 universities and colleges, learned and taught Esperanto, inducted royalty into the Bahá’í Faith, facilitated the translation of Bahá’í literature into many languages, published hundreds of articles on the Bahá’í teachings in newspapers and magazines all over the world. She was an eccentric dresser but was not a light packer, travelling with `mountains of luggage’ and carrying with her everything she owned.
Thousands of people heard about the Bahá’í Faith through her efforts over a quarter of a century. You can hear her here, reciting a Bahá’í prayer.
She died on this day in 1939. She was Martha Root.
Technorati Tags: Bahai, Baha’i, `Abdu’l-Bahá, Esperanto, Martha Root, packing, travel
Dear Wendy,
thank you
faryar
nyc
It’s wonderful to hear Martha Root reciting a prayer. She sounds so normal and down to earth! She was both an amazing traveller and and amazing teacher. Incredible to think it was 70 years ago that she laid down her life in Hawaii.