Charity

A day or two later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá talked about charitable works: "As charitable works become praiseworthy, people often perform them merely for the sake of fame and to gain benefit for themselves, as well as to attract people's admiration. But this does not render needless the teachings of the Prophets because it is spiritual morals that are the cause of training one's innate nature and of personal progress. Thus will people offer service to one another with all their hearts for the sake of God and in order to fulfill the duties of devotion to Him and service to humanity and not for the purpose of acquiring praise and fame.

Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 158

Already in AB's day relief funds had been established. He encouraged the Save the Children Fund. The Haifa Relief Fund had been created to alleviate the misery of the local population -- twice the Master contributed fifty Egyptian pounds. After the first contribution His name was placed first on the contributors' list. After receiving the second, the Military Governor, G.A. Stanton, wrote a letter of gratitude in which he stated, 'Please accept on behalf of the committee of management, my very sincerest and most grateful thanks for this further proof of your well-known generosity and care of the poor, who will forever bless you for your liberality on their behalf.'

Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 77