I am greatly pleased with the city of New York. Its harbor entrance, its
piers, buildings and broad avenues are magnificent and beautiful. Truly, it is
a wonderful city. As New York has made such progress in material civilization,
I hope that it may also advance spiritually in the Kingdom and Covenant of God
so that the friends here may become the cause of the illumination of America,
that this city may become the city of love and that the fragrances of God may
be spread from this place to all parts of the world.
- Abdu'l-Baha (From a talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney, 11
April 1912; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
