INTRODUCTION BY MRS. JEAN NELSON PENFIELD
`Abdu'l-Bahá's talk at Woman’s Suffrage Meeting
20 May 1912
Metropolitan Temple
Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street,
New York
"PERHAPS no two subjects before the world today have awakened so much fear in the minds of the people as the Disarmament of the Nations and Enfranchisement of Women. They both look toward the ideals of equity and justice among men. And it is a significant fact that many of the notable peace workers, after years of labor, have come to the conclusion that Universal Peace must follow and will depcnd upon the interest of women in the councils and electorates of the world. It is interesting to remember tonight as we discuss these two subjects that these two great movements have gone side by side.I have the great honor tonight to present to you one of the most distinguished advocates of both Women's Suffrage and Universal Peace, the Persian Prophet, Abdul-Baha who is in our midst. He will speak to you in his own language, interpreted by Dr. Fareed.
I suppose most of you are familiar with the history of this distinguished man; a man who was for forty years a prisoner in the Fortress of Akka-a prisoner held by Turkey-and only released in 1908, when the new government was adopted. I cannot use better language than that of one of his followers when I describe Abdul-Baha in these words: "Abdul-Baha wishes to be known as 'The Servant of Humanity.' He seeks no higher station than this, yet when one understands all this means, one realizes the combination of humanity and exaltation which it implies."
We hope, tonight, that we may hear from this distinguished man not only something of the situation and condition of the women of Persia, but something of the relationship which these two great movements-Woman's Suffrage and International Peace-bear to each other.
I have the great honor to introduce to you Abdul-Baha."
Mrs. E. Jean Nelson Penfield,
Chairman of Woman's Suffrage Party of New York (60,000 members),
Star of the West, Vol. 3, Issue 8, pp. 15 and 18
"... The most momentous question of this day is international peace and arbitration, and universal peace is impossible without universal suffrage. Children are educated by the women. The mother bears the troubles and anxieties of rearing the child, undergoes the ordeal of its birth and training. Therefore, it is most difficult for mothers to send to the battlefield those upon whom they have lavished such love and care. Consider a son reared and trained twenty years by a devoted mother. What sleepless nights and restless, anxious days she has spent! Having brought him through dangers and difficulties to the age of maturity, how agonizing then to sacrifice him upon the battlefield! Therefore, the mothers will not sanction war nor be satisfied with it. So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This is true and without doubt."
New York Times article on talk.
"It has been objected by some that woman is not equally capable with man and that she is deficient by creation. This is pure imagination. The difference in capability between man and woman is due entirely to opportunity and education. Heretofore woman has been denied the right and privilege of equal development. If equal opportunity be granted her, there is no doubt she would be the peer of man. History will evidence this. In past ages noted women have arisen in the affairs of nations and surpassed men in their accomplishments. Among them was Zenobia, Queen of the East, whose capital was Palmyra. Even today the site of that city bears witness to her greatness, ability and sovereignty; for there the traveler will find ruins of palaces and fortifications of the utmost strength and solidity built by this remarkable woman in the third century after Christ. She was the wife of the governor-general of Athens. After her husband’s death she assumed control of the government in his stead and ruled her province most efficiently. Afterward she conquered Syria, subdued Egypt and founded a most wonderful kingdom with political sagacity and thoroughness. The Roman Empire sent a great army against her. When this army replete with martial splendor reached Syria, Zenobia herself appeared upon the field leading her forces. On the day of battle she arrayed herself in regal garments, placed a crown upon her head and rode forth, sword in hand, to meet the invading legions. By her courage and military strategy the Roman army was routed and so completely dispersed that they were not able to reorganize in retreat. The government of Rome held consultation, saying, “No matter what commander we send, we cannot overcome her; therefore, the Emperor Aurelian himself must go to lead the legions of Rome against Zenobia.” Aurelian marched into Syria with two hundred thousand soldiers. The army of Zenobia was greatly inferior in size. The Romans besieged her in Palmyra two years without success. Finally, Aurelian was able to cut off the city’s supply of provisions so that she and her people were compelled by starvation to surrender. She was not defeated in battle. Aurelian carried her captive to Rome. On the day of his entry into the city he arranged a triumphal procession—first elephants, then lions, tigers, birds, monkeys—and after the monkeys, Zenobia. A crown was upon her head, a chain of gold about her neck. With queenly dignity and unconscious of humiliation, looking to the right and left, she said, “Verily, I glory in being a woman and in having withstood the Roman Empire.” (At that time the dominion of Rome covered half the known earth.) “And this chain about my neck is a sign not of humiliation but of glorification. This is a symbol of my power, not of my defeat.”
Among other historical women was Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great. Russia and Turkey were at war. Muḥammad Páshá, commander of the Turkish forces, had defeated Peter and was about to take St. Petersburg. The Russians were in a most critical position. Catherine, the wife of Peter, said, “I will arrange this matter.” She had an interview with Muḥammad Páshá, negotiated a treaty of peace and induced him to turn back. She saved her husband and her nation. This was a great accomplishment. Afterward she was crowned Empress of Russia and ruled with wisdom until her death.
The discovery of America by Columbus was during the reign of Isabella of Spain, to whose intelligence and assistance this wonderful accomplishment was largely due. In brief, many remarkable women have appeared in the history of the world, but further mention of them is not necessary.
Today among the Bahá’ís of Persia there are many women who are the very pride and envy of the men. They are imbued with all the virtues and excellences of humanity. They are eloquent; they are poets and scholars and embody the quintessence of humility. In political ability and acumen they have been able to cope and compete with representative men. They have consecrated their lives and forfeited their possessions in martyrdom for the sake of humanity, and the traces of their glory will last forever. The pages of the history of Persia are illumined by the lives and records of these women.
The purpose, in brief, is this: that if woman be fully educated and granted her rights, she will attain the capacity for wonderful accomplishments and prove herself the equal of man. She is the coadjutor of man, his complement and helpmeet. Both are human; both are endowed with potentialities of intelligence and embody the virtues of humanity. In all human powers and functions they are partners and coequals. At present in spheres of human activity woman does not manifest her natal prerogatives, owing to lack of education and opportunity. Without doubt education will establish her equality with men. Consider the animal kingdom, where no distinction is observed between male and female. They are equal in powers and privileges. Among birds of the air no distinction is evidenced. Their powers are equal; they dwell together in complete unity and mutual recognition of rights. Shall we not enjoy the same equality? Its absence is not befitting to mankind."
`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 135-138
20 May 1912
(excerpt from) Talk at Woman’s Suffrage Meeting
Metropolitan Temple
Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street,
New York
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