Thornton Chase died on 30 September 1912 in Los Angeles, of complications following unsuccessful surgery. Chase managed a note to his friend John Bosch while in the hospital. The surgery was not successful and Chase was in pain some 5 days before dying, probably of cancer. ʻAbdu'l Bahá was on a train "en route" to California at the time; He immediately changed his plans and went to Los Angeles to visit Chase's grave. There he praised Chase's qualities highly, instructed the Baháʼís to hold a commemoration of Chase annually at his grave, and encouraged Baháʼís to visit the gravesite. It a site of many Baháʼís visited that year and a more permanent memorial was to be raised. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá wrote a prayer for Chase that includes:Verily he guided the people to Thine ancient pathway, and led them to Thy way of rectitude.