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, 11 April 1912 at Home of Mr. and
Mrs. Kinney, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)