Editing Dublin, New Hampshire (section)

== The visit from ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá ==
[[File:Picture of Abdul-Baha.jpg|thumb|264x264px|Photograph of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá]]
In 1912, [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]], the son and chosen successor of the [[Baháʼu'lláh]], the Prophet-Founder of the [[Baháʼí Faith]], visited Dublin for 23 days, from July 25 to August 16, on his [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's journeys to the West|journey through the United States]] to spread the Bahá’í teachings after his release from 40 years of imprisonment.<ref name="Finishing the Work">{{Cite web|title=Finishing the Work|url=https://bahai-library.com/tussing_abdul-baha_dublin|access-date=August 8, 2021|website=bahai-library.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=Centennial>{{Cite web|title="Centennial of Abdu’l – Baha’s Visit to Dublin"|url=https://dublinhistory.org/newsletters/centennial-of-abdul-bahas-visit-to-dublin/|access-date=August 8, 2021|website=Dublin Historical Society|language=en-US}}</ref> Spending the most consecutive days of his journey in Dublin, he gave many talks ranging from gender equality, the immortality of the soul, industrial and economic justice, the elimination of racial prejudice, spiritual and material education, Biblical symbolism, theology, the coming together of people from the East and the West, and other Bahá’í principles.<ref name=Centennial/><ref name="Finishing the Work"/>
[[File:Louis-and-Louisa-Gregory.png|left|thumb|196x196px|Louis G. Gregory and his wife Louisa Mathew Gregory]]
In Dublin, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá stayed with Agnes Parsons, a Bahá’í socialite from Washington, DC, and a summer resident of Dublin whose home once stood on Windmill Hill Road.<ref name=Advocate>{{Cite web |last=Gurney |first=Margaret |title=Bahai's Honor 1912 Event – The Dublin Advocate |url=https://dublinadvocate.com/2012/07/bahais-honor-1912-event/ |access-date=November 3, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> The first of his two high-profile addresses in Dublin was at a gathering at the Parsons' boathouse on [[Dublin Pond]], owned now by the [[Dublin School]], with local non-resident African-American servants who worked in town.<ref name=Centennial/><ref name="Finishing the Work"/> In this gathering he spoke on the need for unity and amity between blacks and whites<ref name="Finishing the Work"/> and announced the interracial marriage of two young Bahá’ís, [[Louis George Gregory|Louis Gregory]], an African-American lawyer, and Louisa Mathew, a white English woman, whom he had previously suggested to marry each other.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stockman|first=Robert H.|title=Abdu'l-Bahá in America|publisher=Baha'i Publishing|location=Wilmette, Illinois|date=2012|page=223}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Corson|first=Pete|last2=Journal-Constitution|first2=The Atlanta|title=Interracial couples that changed history|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/national/interracial-couples-that-changed-history/FlcDlfh3wto6RgzmGsFzcL/|access-date=August 8, 2021|website=ajc|language=English}}</ref><ref name=Centennial/> This act was considered radical at the time, with interracial marriage still illegal in many states.<ref name=Centennial/>

Asked to speak at the local Unitarian church one Sunday, an event attracting some 300 people,<ref name=Centennial/> ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá spoke on the subject of spiritual education. The anniversary of his historic visit and address is commemorated annually by the church, known now as the Dublin Community Church.<ref>{{Cite web|last=The Worcester County Bahá'í Community|title=Commemoration of Abdu'l-Baha's Visit at UU Church in Dublin, NH.|url=https://worcesterbahais.org/events/commemoration-abdul-bahas-visit-uu-church-dublin-nh-10425|url-status=live|access-date=August 7, 2021|website=The Worcester County Bahá'í Community|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051506/https://worcesterbahais.org/events/commemoration-abdul-bahas-visit-uu-church-dublin-nh-10425 |archive-date=August 9, 2021 }}</ref> Rev. Howard Colby Ives, a Unitarian minister,<ref>[https://bahaichronicles.org/howard-colby-ives/ Howard Colby Ives]</ref> wrote of that day,<blockquote>What His subject was I do not recall, nor does a single word of His address remain with me. My memory is all of the quiet New England church; the crowded pews, and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá on the platform. His cream-colored robe; His white hair and beard; His radiant smile and courteous demeanor... And His voice! Like a resonant bell of finest timbre; never loud but of such penetrating quality that the walls of the room seemed to vibrate with its music.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Portals to Freedom: Chapter 8|url=http://bahai-library.com/books/portals/8.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-08|website=bahai-library.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405120830/http://bahai-library.com:80/books/portals/8.html |archive-date=2004-04-05 }}</ref></blockquote>
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá spent time at the Dublin Inn, which has since been purchased and donated to the Bahá’í community as a space for gathering, prayer, meditation, and historic preservation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dublin|first=Dublin Inn|last2=NH|title=Dublin Inn|url=https://centenary.bahai.us/photo/dublin-inn|access-date=August 8, 2021|website='Abdu'l-Bahá in America|language=en}}</ref><ref name=Advocate/>