“supplications may be addressed to Him”

…although ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s station is not that of a Manifestation of God, nevertheless supplications may be addressed to Him. It is essential, however, that every believer should realize that while doing so he is directing his thoughts towards the Master as an intermediary between him and the Manifestation, and not as the Source of Divine Revelation and Spiritual Guidance. Provided this distinction is clearly established there can be no harm or objection in addressing prayers to ‘Abdu’l-Baha. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 1 December 1934 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the NSA of the United States and Canada; Baha’i News, no. 89, January 1935)

Sunday gatherings at the Shrine of the Báb – attended by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Every Sunday ‘Abdu’l-Bahá held a gathering of the believers at the Shrine of the Báb. In those meetings He was very happy and joyful.

There was a garden attached to the Shrine and everyone enjoyed the heavenly fragrance of its flowers. 

(Pilgrim notes by Nuru’d-din Mumtazi, 1920, published as ‘Memories of Nine Days’, translated and edited by Ardeshir Khodadad Forudi and Sheridan A. Sims; ‘Baha’i Library Online)

Drawing “an abundance of inspiration and manifold insights” from the utterances and deeds of the Master during His travels

Over the next few years, Baha'is around the world will joyously call to mind the many episodes associated with 'Abdu'l-Baha's historic journey. But this anniversary is more than a time for commemoration. The words uttered by 'Abdu'l-Baha during His travels, and the deeds He undertook with such consummate wisdom and love, offer an abundance of inspiration and manifold insights from which the body of the believers can today draw, whether in their efforts to embrace receptive souls, to raise capacity for service, to build local communities, to strengthen institutions, or to exploit opportunities emerging to engage in social action and contribute to public discourse. We should, therefore, reflect not only upon what the Master achieved and set in motion but also on the work that remains undone to which He has summoned us. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (Message to the Baha’is of the World, 29 August 2010)