Folklore in different lands was presented by university men at this International Summer University. One felt the spirit of different countries through the extraordinary presentation of the poetry and songs of various nations. It inspired one to visit the lands where the songs are sung. One needs to see an international university in an international setting to realize how cosmopolitan and broadening is its effect.

Every shade of opinion, (religious, political and others), was represented at the Esperanto Congress. In the main meetings controversial topics were avoided, but thirty-three international associations held conventions in Esperanto, discussing their particular subject from an international point of view.

Two Bahá’í Esperanto Conventions were held as part of this Eighteenth Universal Esperanto Congress. The Congress took place in the same Free Church of Scotland where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke in January, 1913. Dr. Immanuel Olsvanger, representative of the Zionist Movement in Great Britain, and considered one of the most fluent Esperanto speakers in the world, graciously consented to act as Chairman at the first Bahá’í session, August 2nd. He spoke in his introduction of the friendly relations between these two important movements in the Near East. Then he presented the writer who spoke on, “The Positive Power of Universal Religion,” in which she clearly set forth the Bahá’í teachings. She answered the questions in the general discussion which followed. Then Mr. Friedrich Gerstner, of Hamburg, Germany, editor of La Nova Tago, gave a short stereopticon talk showing slides of ‘Akká and Haifa, Palestine, and the progress of the Bahá’í Cause in different lands. The musical conductor was Mr. Benneman, of Germany, who had so ably conducted at the grand concert the evening before and the following day he appeared on the Summer University program as the speaker on “German Folklore and Popular Songs;” and Miss Elizabeth Herrick and Mrs. Arthur Brown, of London, read from the Words of Bahá’u’lláh.

The audience included the two daughters of Dr. Ludovik L. Zamenhof—Dr. Sofie Zamenhof and Miss Lydia Zamenhof,—both distinguished Esperantists. Heads of important schools were present, as were also Church of England clergymen, pastors, leaders of religious movements in the Occident and Orient, several members of the International Language Committee, Presidents of Peace Societies. Among the nations represented were the United States, Great Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Rumania, Australia, Holland, Austria, Japan, and many others.

Professor Ernest A. Rogers, Head of the Montezuma School, Los Gatos, California, spoke eloquently at the second Bahá’í Convention, in Esperanto on August 4th. He had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America in 1912. The writer presided and outlined the Bahá’í principles. Mr. Gerstner gave a stereopticon talk showing notable pictures in Bahá’í history. Little Miss Mollie Brown, of London, nine years old, founder of the “London Garden of Justice” recited Words of Bahá’u’lláh. Miss Pagan, head of the King Arthur School, in Edinburgh, who had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in 1911, sent a wealth of roses for this session. (Everyone, from every country, who had personally met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in their own land, came forward and did something for these two Bahá’í Conventions.) Lady Blomfield, a Bahá’í from London, who came especially to assist with the Bahá’í meetings and conferences, arranged the flowers for both these sessions. The decorations were unique and so artistic they will long be remembered by all the Congressists. Miss Julia Culver, of Chicago, although she was not able to be present, did a very great deal for the success of these two Conventions.