# Persia and the Regeneration of Islam *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > Thepaperreadwas- beenand are beingconverted.In European > Turkey, and morenotablyin AsiaticTurkey, > PERSIA AND THE REGENERATION OF votaries and propagandists ofthe newmove- > ISLAM. mentsare increasing yearly.I conversed with > someof these in Baghdad,and foundthem > By Bernard Temple. > zealousand sanguine. In Egypt,itappears, > A Societywhichseeks,amongotherworthy Bahais are becomingnumerous. Morocco, > objects,"to increasethe tradeof the realm Algeria,Tunisand Tripoli,I am told,arenot > byextending thesphere ofBritish commerce," beingleftunvisited. The northern provincesof > may be presumed to have practical concern India provide a large potential harvest-field, > withthepossibilities of economicprogressin wherethereare alreadymanysowers,and I > backwardcountries. But it is on a higher havemetBahaisin Bombay, Karachi,Quetta, > ground- thoughthat is nota low ground - Peshawar,Rawalpindi,Lahore, Delhi and > thatI venture to submit tothislearnedSociety Lucknow-all proselytes from Islam. Outside > certainoftheresultsof mylongtravelsinthe theMoslemworldBahai missionaries, quietly > East. This Societyis an outcome,and its purposefuland steadfast,are carryingthe > ofthe" Kitab-ul-Aqdas " > multifarious workis an expression, ofan order teachings (theMost > of civilisationhitherto attainedonlyby ad- Holy Book) intomanyunsuspectedregions. > vancedWestern nations; and itis mypresent Converts have been wonamongthe Sikhsof > purpose to show that some Eastern nations Amritsar and the Brahmansof Benares,in > have lately,undercircumstances of romantic whichcities I have met a few of themin > interest,become possessed of a powerfulfriendly converse ; among the Buddhistsof > impulse to ascend to the same superiorplane. Ceylon, Burma and Siam; and amongthe > Not everyacorngrowsintoan oak. This Taoistsof Chinaapd the Shintoists ofJapan. > is trueof otherthingsbesidesbotany. It is Japan,indeed,is said to be provingparticu- > true of religiousmovements.Therefore the larlyresponsiveto the call. Many Persian > worldhas generallybeen heedlessof small Jewsin Tehranhave becomeBahais, and I > beginnings. Sometimesthe worldhas had have beenprivileged to attendsome of their > cause toregret itsinattention.Europe,at the secretorsemi-secret assemblies.TheseJewish > present time,is notshowing itselfregardfulof Bahaistellmethatin Hamadan,inPersia,one > theriseofthenewreligiousmovement, called oftheoldestJewishsettlements in theworld, > "Bahaism," in Persia. Asia is bynomeans where the reputed tombs of Esther and > unmindful ofthephenomenon. Is Europewise Mordecaiare shown,at least a thirdof the > in itsindifference? Jewishcommunity has openlyorsecretly gone > Let us reflect,fora moment, uponthe be- overto thenewmovement.No Christian mis- > ginning ofIslam. When theProphet took to sionaryto the in > Jews any part of theworld > preachingin the wildsof Arabia,to semi- can boasta triumph equal tothis. The Par- > barbaroustribesof idolatrousnomads,Con- sees of Bombay,who have preserved their > stantinople was the capital of Christendom.religiousand racial integrity forcenturies by > Muhammad himself had tofleeforhislifefrom dintofan impenetrable aloofness, arenow,for > hisownkithand kin at Mecca. Yet in less thefirst timeintheirhistory, beginning to show > thana hundredyearsthe SaracenicEmpire signs of doubtingthemselvessince Bahai > extended from Lisbonin Portugalto Karachi influences reachedthem,and manyParsees > in India; and to-daythe Christian cathedral have actuallybecomeBahais,whileothers(I > ofSt. Sophiais a Muhammadan mosque. have been toldby one of theirnumber)are > Europe's unconcern regarding Bahaism in heldback onlyby social restraints.A more > Persia,andbeyond,has noteventhe excuse intellectual formof Bahai proselytism has > that the beginningis small. Alreadythe expandedintoEurope,and has beenfruitful in > numberof Bahais in theworldis statedto Russia, Germany, France,and England. 1 > exceedtwomillion, thoughthefounderofthe founda largecommunity ofBahaisflourishing > Faithwas stillpreaching whenMr.Gladstone in Baku. The numberof Bahais in London > was preparingto hurlhis last thunderboltsis appreciable : smallercirclesexistin Man- > at the House of Lords. Not less than one- chester,Liverpool,Edinburgh, and Glasgow. > fifthofthepopulation ofPersiais estimated to The United States of Americapromiseto > haveembracedBahaism. Nor are adherents become a great Western strongholdof > recruited solelyfrom the Shiah sectof Islam. Bahaism,and manyAmericanshavebeenat > SunniMuhammadans in large numbers have the pains of mastering the Persianlanguage > > withthe sole object of studying the Bahai to overlookthe truemissionof Persia'snew > scriptures and commentaries in theoriginal. prophet.Accordingto thisundoubtedly well- > I have had the privilegeof manylong and informed authority :- > earnesttalkswithoneof theseAmerican con- BahaUllahhasknown howtotransform Babism > verts- a gentleman ofculture andscholarship - intoa universal which > religion, is presented as the > inhischarming Persianhomein Tehran,who, fulfilment andcompletion ofall theancient faiths. > though enjoying large private means, is de- The Jews await the Messiah, the Christians the > votinglaboriousand even drudging yearsto return ofChrist, theMuslims theMahdi,theBud- > the cause,withthat calm,settledenthusiasm dhiststheFifthBuddha,the Zoroastrians Shah > whichBahai teacherscommonly show. An Bahram, theHindoosthere-incarnation ofKrishna, > - Baha > Americanlady has composeda Bahai hymn andtheAtheistsa better socialorganisation. > Ullah represents all these,and thus destroys the > ingood literary Persian,whichwas shownto rivalries and the enmities ofthedifferent > mebya PersianBahai whenI wasin Isfahan. reconciles religions; > themin theirprimitive purity, andfrees > Canada also is beginning to give friendly ear them fromthecorruption ofdogmas andrites.For > to the newteaching,especiallythe citiesof Bahaismhasno clergy, no religiousceremonial, no > Montreal, Quebec,andToronto. Beforegoing publicprayers ; itsonlydogma is beliefinGodand > further, perhapsI oughtto statethatI am not in His Manifestations Moses, > ^Zoroaster, Jesus, &c., > a Bahai. BahaUllah). Ritualholdsnoplaceinthereligion, > which must beexpressed inalltheactions oflifeand > Significance of Bahaism. accomplished in neighbourly love. Monogamy is > What thenis Bahaism? There are still universally recommended. A universal language, and > people in EuropewhoconfuseBahaismwith thecreation of tribunals between nations, are to > Babism. That is notan unnatural mistake. suppress wars. > The Bab was the firstand the lesserof two Bahaismis thusmade out to be a sortof > teachers,and his followers called themselves spiritualVolapuk or Esperanto - a world > Babis,untilthe secondand greaterteacher, religion. This is the truth. EveryBahai > Baha (or Baha Ullah) appeared,who super- wouldendorseit. The Bahai scriptures would > seded the Bab, as the Bab himself had fore- confirm it. But I ventureto hold that it is > told. The relationbetweenthe twoteachers notthe wholetruth. I would evensuggest > is comparedby Bahais with that between thatit obscureswhat,forpracticalpurposes, is > John the Baptist and Jesus- the former pre- a greater truth. The factis that Bahaism, in > pared the way forthe latter. To call the itsessentialcharacter, as I understand it,is > Bahais " Babis" is, therefore, like calling nota religion, but a religiousmovement.If > Christians" Baptists." Babis, properlyso- itwerea religion itschanceof diffusion would > called- thatis, followers oftheBab, whohave probably be small. Like Theosophy, itmight > notbecomefollowers of Baha Ullah- number captivatehereand therea fewintellectual or > no moreperhapsthana fewhundred.Prac- romantic souls,becomea fashionin salonsof > ticallytheyarean extinct sect. philosophicalunrest,and sink softlyinto > Bahaism,then,is notBabism. Whatis it ? oblivion.Thirteen hundred yearshaveelapsed > I shallnotreferinquirers to Bahai literature,since the youngestof the world'sgreatreli- > whichis now copious and- thanksto the gionswas born,and humanity seemstohave > splendidindustry of thateminent Orientalist,crystallised intotwo main classes: one,too > Professor E. G. Browne - accessible. As an warmly attachedto theoldcreedstobe turned > Asiatic travellerI have learntthat a wide away fromthem; the other,too coldlyin- > differencemaydividethetheory of a religion different to be stirredby any new creed. > fromits practice. For myownpart,I have Bahaismappearsas the complement of reli- > notbeen contentto examineBahaismin the gion. It is, in verybrief,the Protestantism > " but of Islam. It comesto inauguratethe Re- > recondite pagesofthe Kitab-ul-Aqdas," > have investigated it inthemindsof menwho formation in Asia. Its spiritis anti-papal, > professand preachitstenets,especially in its anti-episcopal, anti-clerical. The Bab was > nativehome. Learned Europeanwriterson the JohnHuss of Persia; Baha Ullah was > thesubjecthave notalwaysappearedto show the MàrtinLuther. Therein,to my mind, > ~an adequateappreciation of this distinctionlies the force,the promise,I may say the > •between dead doctrinesand livingimpulses. historical momentousness, of Bahaism. > Thus,even the mostcarefulof the shorter Smallmindsrunlightlyto extravagances of > .summaries of Bahai teaching,whichappears eulogyand of denunciation.Let it appear > in theFrenchencyclopaedia ofLarousse,seems thata nobleandvenerable institution has out- > > lived its uses,and thereare men who will tothepotentialities of anyhumanmovement- > overwhelm it withvituperation. Of thissort, It is a limitation of present-day fact. You- > as a rule,is theanti-clerical fury.Theremay have onlyto considerthatthe Muhammadan- > naturally comea timeinthedevelopment of a convertsto Bahaismnumbermorethantwo > great religionwhenits priests, who are its million,and the non-Muhammadan converts > teachers, cease to be a helpand evenbecome onlya fewthousand, to perceivethe strength > a drag. It is confessedly so withteachersin of the statement.The Bahai drçam of a > otherdomainsof knowledge.The graduate world-wide propagandais doubtlessa proper, > who goes forthfromhis university to do and may even be a reasonable,object of > intellectual prodigiesin the worldmight,if aspirationand endeavour.My concernhere > compelled to remainforlifeundercollegiate is withwhatis actuallybeingaccomplished. > tutelage,degenerateinto a pedant. But to > say that a religionon arrivingat spiritual Historical Comparisons between > maturity maybe justified, in certaincircum- Eukope and Asia. > stances,in freeingitselffromecclesiastical If the Reformation in Christendom be- > bondsis notto sanction vilification ofall sacer- broughtintoviewforcomparison - so faras > dotal institutions. Probablyno religionhas comparison can go- withthis new Reforma- > been,orcouldbe,rearedthrough theperilsof tionin Islam,someremarkable parallelswilb > unpopularinfancy, and the difficulties of appear. In earliestdays, several centuries > juvenescence, exceptby priests. It is only beforethe Reformation dawnedin Europe, > whenpriestly poweroutstays itsoffice,orover- Christianity divided itself into two great > stepsit,orcorrupts it,thatitincurs justblame. Churches, the Greekand the Roman,which- > History, unfortunately, provides manyexamples neveragaincommingled, andto thisdaydwell > of clericalabuse: buthistory also glowswith apart,the one ruledby its Patriarchs,the > therenown of priestly workswhichhavecon- otherby its Popes. Islam similarly, in its- > tributed totheuplifting ofmankind. youngyears,splitup intotwogreatChurches, > Islam,like otherreligions, owes its growth the Sunniand the Shiah,whichneverafter- > and its greatnessin large measureto its wardsrecombined, and stillremainmutually > priests. Unhappily, it also owesto themits antagonistic, the one underits Caliphs,the > decayand itsdownfall.Thisis no irresponsi-otherunderitsImamsortheirsuccessors. In > ble pronouncement ; it is theverdict of those bothcases priestly zealotrywidenedthegulf > who have,perhaps,the best rightto be the and keptitopen. One ofthe cherished aims > judges- representative Muhammadans. I have of Bahaism is to bringSunnisand Shiahs > movedaboutthe Moslemworldforfourteentogether againin a reformed faithoflove. > years,and everywhere in mytravels-in India, pretensions > Priestly to temporalpower,in > in Persia,andinArabia-earnestMuhamma- Christendom as in Islam,brought Church and > dans (notBahais) have urgedupon me the State intofrequent conflict,and generallyit > same strongconviction.This is far from was thepeople,distracted betweentheircivil' > implying thatthewholeof Islam has become dutiesand theirreligiousfears,whosuffered > consciousof itsdegradation and of thecause. most. Bahaismseekstoreconcile thespiritual > Enlightment is, as yet,limitedalmostentirely andtemporal authoritiesin Islam byshowing > totheinconsiderable literateclasses,and the thateachis a necessary adjunctof theother > uninstructed millions stillpreserve muchofthe theChurchperforms thereligiousfunctions of > old superstitious venerationfor Mujtahids, theState; theStatedischarges thecivilobliga- > Mullahs,Syeds,Dervishes, Pirs,Imamzadehs, tionsoftheChurch. > and otheradorablepeople. Butthenewanti- Abuseof priestly power,in Christendom as > clericalidea is surelyspreading, and it seems in Islam,provoked fromtimeto timesporadic > to be thespecialmissionofBahaismtopropa- outbreaks of whatmaybe called premature > gate it to the ends of the Moslemuniverse. Protestantism, and in both religionsthese > Some ofthe mostlearnedPersianBahaisto revoltswereextirpated byfireand slaughter. > whomI have submitted thisviewof Bahaism The massacreby Pope InnocentIII. of the > at Tehranconferences have acknowledged its hereticalAlbigensesin Languedoc,whose > justness,and haveobjectedonlyto the impli- offending was thattheyanticipated Lutherby > cationthatthe energiesof the newteaching threecenturies, could be matchedby more > arelimited to theregeneration of Islam. This tfyanone agonisingtale fromthe historyof > limitation is notof mymaking. I am thelast earlyIslam. > to presume toseta boundofmyownimagining When we get down to later times, the- > > parallelism growscloser. Fromthe twelfthdiffusion of satiricalepigramsand allegories, > century a change appeared in the universal directedagainsttheheadsof theChurchand > acceptanceby the Christiannationsof the againstthemonks.Last summer, whenI was > orthodox faithof Rome. In that age there in Isfahan,the bazaar was excitedby the > brokeupontheChurcha floodofheresy which secretcirculation of a lampoonrepresenting > nopersecution was able thoroughly to stemtill AghaNejefi(one of themostpowerful Mujta- > itfinally overspread halfthesurface ofEurope. hids in the Shiah clergyand the supreme > Men openlybegan to thinkforthemselves in religioushead in CentralPersia) standing > religious to > matters, rejectparticular teachings crestfallen beforethe Throneof Judgement, > of the Papacy, and to protestagainst the whileAllahpouredscornand wrathuponhim» > despotismof the clergy. The Waldensesin Anti-clerical pamphleteering of this sortis > Lombardy, Germany, Flanders, Spain, France, now common in many Persian cities,though > and England,setup theBibleas theirsolerule itis stilltimidand furtive.Christian protests > of faith, and renounced entirely the arbitraryin 1508wereparticularly loudagainstthe use > usagesandtraditions of ecclesiasticism. Like of the Latin tonguein the servicesof the > the Albigenses,theysuffered, but the fireof Church. The religiousreformers in Persia > rebellion was nowtoo bigto be extinguished,are nowbeginning to make a corresponding > thoughfora timeit could no more than grievance oftheuse ofArabicinthemosques» > smoulder.JohnHuss in Bohemia,following But it was MartinLutherwho gave co- > theteachings ofWycliffe in England,sethim- herence, energy and permanenceto the > selftorestore thepurity and simplicity ofscrip- scatteredforcesof ChristianProtestantism. > turalChristianity, ard was excommunicatedAnd- so faras the movement yetextends-it > bythePope. When,undera safeconduct, he is Baha Ullah who has wrought the same > wenttotheCouncilofConstance to defend his wonder for Muhammadan Protestantism. > opinions before theclergyofall thenations, he MartinLutherbeganthecampaignbyassert- > was seized,orderedto recant,and, refusing, ing the rightsof humanreason. The same > burntto death. Similarly,in the twelfth was thefirstplankin Baha Ullah's spiritual > of the Muhammadanera a change platform.Indeed Bahaismdeliberately uses > century > appearedin theuniversal acceptanceby the theweaponagainst itself byinsisting its > that > Moslem nations of the Orthodoxy of Mecca own teaching shall be subjectedby every > andof Kerbela. Similarly, therebrokeupon individual to hisprivatejudgment. Luther's > the MussulmanChurcha floodof heresy firstcollisionwiththePope arose out of the > whichno persecution was able thoroughlysale of " indulgences." The theory ofindul- > to stem. Similarly,the Bab, defyingthe gences in the RomanCatholicsystem, itwill > fanaticism of the Shiah hierarchy, shook by be remembered, was that many saints and > his fieryeloquencethe supportsof whatmay pious men had donemoregood worksand > be called the Papacy of Islam,in seekingto bornemoresuffering thanwas required forthe > restore the of Muham- remission of their sins : the surplus consti- > simplicity Quranic > the > madanism ; and in like mannerwas excom- tuteda treasureforthe Church,which > was authorised to distribute in exchange > municated.Thereafter, beguiledbyperfidious Pope > pledgesofsafety, he delivered himself intothe forpiousgifts. In themindsofthe ignorant > handsofhis enemies, believing thathe would an indulgencebecameequal to a licencefor > be permitted to justify opinionsin open sin. One of the most perniciousreligious > his > from thepretensions of > controversy, as no threatcouldmovehim abuses inPersiaarises sell to > and, > the > to retract, he was some of the priests to people > duringhis imprisonment > executed. places in Heaven; indeedthereare priests > the incrediblelength of issuing > JohnHuss and the Bab, each in his turn, who go > werebutthevoices crying in the wilderness. tickets or passes forParadiseinthe manner > It was notuntilthe sixteenth century thatthe of the booking-office of a theatre. I knowof > waveofpopularfeeling againstabsolutism in one case, in the city of Qum,wheresucha > the Roman Church broke all bounds. Erasmus ticketwas declared transferable. Baha Ullah > started a schoolofFree-thought. Free-thoughtattacked this scandal and > fiercely, thereby > has to-daybecomewidely among the threw down the gauntlet. Luthernextpro- > prevalent > intellectual classesin Persia,and was,indeed, ceededto assail theauthority of thePopeand > one ofthefirstphenomena to kindlethepro-. the doctrines of theRoman Catholic Church ina > fire of Baha Ullah. The Christian succession of printed pamphlets and sermons, > phetic to read. > populacesin Europewereinfluenced by the whichall Europeshoweditselfeager > > Baba Ullahwrotethe" Kitab-ul-Aqdas," the forms of government, withparliamentary con- > " Kitab-ul-Iqan,"and the " Kitab-ul-Ahd,,,troloverlaw,justice,and finance. Can any- > besidesnumerous lettersor "tablets," all of one supposeit to be a merecoincidence that > whichare now being¿steadilydisseminatedin Persia and Turkey the beginnings ofreli- > through Asia. When Pope Leo X. resorted giousreformation, as representedbyBahaism, > to excommunication, Lutherretorted byburn- havebeenfollowed bythefirststepsinpolitical > ingthePapal decreein public. Baha Ullah, reformation, and that the waftingof Bahai > in similarcircumstances, not less scornfullyideas to Egypt,India,Arabia,Morocco,and > deridedhis excommunicators. Graduallyin Algeriais beingaccompaniedbynewforms of > Europenoblesand princes, as well as some Orientalunrest ? Or can anyonebelievethat > priests,beganto supportthe Lutheran cause, the influence of this regenerative spiritwill > untilits suppression byviolenceceasedtobe carryno further thanthat? Let us cast but > eventhinkable.The followers of Baha Ullah onemoreglanceat theReformation in Europe > already include members of the rulingfamily and reflect > upon largerconsequences.The > its > in Persia- Viziers,Parliamentary Deputies, religiousand politicalchangesthatitinaugu- > Governors of Provinces, and severalpriestsor rated were not its end: theywere but the > Mullahs; and although persecution in Persia meansto a moresplendid reformation. "Rich > has notceased,it is nowobligedforthe most indeed,"says one of the soberestof ourhis- > partto resort to quieterand subtlermethods. torians," has been the harvestof thatgreat > One of mymostinfluential Bahai friends was, period. The spiritof inquiry, once set free, > beforehis conversion, an eminent Mujtahidor has changedand blessedthewholeworld.To > Muhammadan prelate. Pope AdrianVI., in thiswe owe in modernliterature someofthe > alarm,calledto his aid the rulersofAustria, noblestcreationsofthe humanintellect.To > France and Germany, and a lastfiercecam- thisare due thediscoveries of science,which > paignagainstheresy was thussetgoing. The havemadelifelonger,easier,brighter. Hence > sonand apostleofBaha Ullah,AbbasEffendi, have comein everylandthetriumphs oftruth > has told how the Ulema (religiousdoctors) and geniusoverprejudiceand power. This it > constrained the PersianGovernment to take is whichhas createdthe greatestof modern > activemeasuresagainsttheReformer and to republics,and has filledthe colonialworld > orderthepillageand massacreofhisfollowers. withflourishing, self-governingpeoples; has > Luthertranslated the Bible intoGerman, and revealedthe secretsof CentralAfricaand > thereby dealtecclesiastical authorityoneofits the isles of the great Pacific; has dimi- > heaviestblows. Baha Ullahhasdirected that nisheddistancebysteam,and destroyed itby > the Bible,the Quran,and his ownscriptureselectricity ; has struckoffthe fetters of the > are tobe translated intoeverylanguageinthe slave,and,lastand best,has madethenations > world. Luther,himselfa monk,assailedthe knoweach other,and in thatknowledge has > principle of monasticism bymarrying a nun. prepared, and is preparing, forthe reignof > Baha Ullah adjuresthepriestsofall religions universal peace." A Reformation onEuropean > to renouncecelibacyand to preachby their soiland a Reformation onAsiaticsoilwillnot > example,mingling in the lifeof the people. necessarilyproduceidenticalharvests.But > This personalparallelismmightbe carried beforeanyoneattemptsto makelightof the > further, butitssignificance mustnowbe suffi- potentialities of an awakenedIslam,let him > ciently apparent. History to-dayis openinga recallthesplendidproofs ofpowerwhichearly > newpage inAsia. Muhammadanism gavetotheworlderepriestly > ButtheReformation in Europe,as all know, abusecorrupted and debasedit. " TheArab > was not a m^rerevoltagainstRome. The Conquerors," weread," at first unletteredfoes > essenceof the movement is thevindication of ofartand science,soonbeganto makea pro- > the principle, independent of time,place, or gressin cultureas rapidas had been that > circumstance, thatman is, in hisverynature, oftheirarms.Theyacquired,andwerezealous > destinedto be free. Fromthereligious free- inpromoting elsewhere, thecivilisationof the > domwonbytheanti-clerical upheavalofthe Greekand Orientalworldwhich they had > sixteenth century came,in a largemeasure, subduedin Egypt,Asia Minor,and Persia. > thepoliticalrightsnowenjoyedbythegreatest Greatcitieswerebuilt,commerceand manu- > and most enlightened peoplesin theworld. facturesflourished, and schoolsarose in all > Indeed,theoutstanding civicfactof thelast partsof theSaracenicEmpire. The resultof > threecenturies is thefirm establishment almost theefforts madewas thattheSaracensplayed > throughout theWestern worldofconstitutionala greatand honourable partin theintellectual > > history of theMiddleAges. Theirquickness duredthegreatest torturesfortheir Faith. Herewe > and theirpoeticsensibility wereconspicuous find a record ofheroic devotion, bravery, andself- > in scienceand in literature in thedarkertimes sacrifice,which, asProfessor E. G. Browne says,may > of Europe,and theirserviceswereespecially perhaps be paralleled in history, butcannotbe > valuablein connectionwithmedicalscience surpassed. > and philosophy." So writesa calmand dis- TheBab hadleftbehind hima beautiful hopeas > a legacy to his followers,namely, that" He whom God > passionateCambridgehistorian.When re- shallmanifest " should arrive andcomplete whathe > generated Islamrecovers itslostinheritance in had onlyimperfectly begun.Forseveral > the domainof civilisation and culture, who (theBab) after the death of the Bab, which occurred in > years > shallsetboundsto itsfurther achievements ? 1850,themovement seemed ina precariouscondition. > It hada bad reputation withthePersianGovern- > Origin of Bahaism. ment, it waslookeddownuponwithcontempt by > some nearly all thePersians of wealth andposition, its > It maybeusefulhereto setforth briefly andno > accountoftheoriginand riseofBahaismand followers couldonlymeettogether secretly, > one dared to breathe thehated name ofBabi; indeed, > of the general natureof its teachings,as it seemed fora timeas though theMullahshad > viewedfromthe Bahai standpoint.I am succeeded in crushing outtheyoung Faithentirely. > indebtedto Mr. SidneySprague,a distin- Therewasthegreatest needforthecoming ofthe > guishedAmericanBahai, whomI had the " Piomised One,"tosavethemovement from extinc- > goodfortune to meetin Persia,forthe follow- tion,andtorestore thezealandcourage oftheper- > ingsummary ofleadingevents:- secuted Babis. Theywere notto be disappointed in > ]n theyear1844,thereappeared in Persiaa their hope,for, during theearlysixties, there arose > youth, MirzaAli Muhammad byname,whocalled one whosegrandpersonality, wonderful powers of > himself theBab,thatis the"Door" or "Gate," utterance, andinspired writings, proclaimed himto > through which mencouldarrive at theknowledge of be the"Manifestation" forwhich theBabiswere > Truth.Thesignificance ofthistitleina Muhamma-waiting ; and when,indeed,Baha Ullahpublicly > dancountry maybe appreciated whenit is recalled declared thathe wasthe"Promised One,"whose > that, accordingto Muhammadan belief, thedoorof coming theBab hadforetold, thegreatmajority of > knowledge was closed twelve centuries ago, when the the Babis hailed him with joy as theirLord and > Muhammadan Messiah, orMahdi, disappeared from Redeemer. > amongst men, and will not be re-opened the BahaUllahwas bornin 1817,and cameof a > till > Messiah comeagain. TheBabbeganhismission as wealthy andnoblefamily.As a young man,he > a " Door,"byopening thepeople'sminds tothereal became a follower oftheBab,though he hadnever > truths oftheirownreligion. Likeallgreat prophets,seenhim. His prominence as a teacherofthenew > hedidnotcometodestroy, buttofulfil.He didnot Faithledto hisimprisonment inTehran.Forsome > tellhisMuhammadan hearers thatthey hadbeende- time hewaskeptin chains, untilfinallyhiswealth > ludedall these years bya falseprophet, buthedid, was confiscated, andhe was exiledto thecityof > however, ratethem soundly - asJesus didtheScribes Baghdad, byarrangement with theSultan ofTurkey. > - fortheir hypocrisy,andfortheir distortion oftrue Whilethere, he continued to teachthepeople, and > religion. He also explained to them the truemean- his influence over them became very great. During > ingoftheirprophecies andtraditions thata Mahdi twoyears hewithdrew himself tothemountains, near > should come;foretelling the advent of Baha Ullah. Baghdad, and lived apart from men, passing histime > ThewordsoftheBab werenaturally greetedwith inprayer andmeditation. Onhisreturn, he publicly > derision'by the Muhammadan "Pharisees," and the proclaimed his mission, which was thatof establish- > Babhadto endure insultandpersecution, culminat- ing peace and religious unity in theworld. He > inginhisimprisonment anddeath.He wasshot, by calledto menof everyraceand creedto assist > order ofthePersian Government, in a publicsquare himin establishing the Kingdomof God and > inTabriz. the brotherhood of man upon^the earth.The > Thelifeoftheyoung reformer wasnotsacrificedMuhammadan Mullahsof Baghdadsoonbecame > invain.During hislifetime,greatnumbers ofearnest alarmed at havinga manof suchinfluence and > menandwomen hadalliedthemselves to hiscause, powerin theirmidst, andpetitioned theOttoman > andhad beendiligent in spreading his teachingsGovernment to remove him. Baha Ullah was > throughout Persia,sothat soonthemovement grew to accordingly summoned toConstantinople, andthence > suchan extent thatthePersian Government andthe banished to Adrianople. In Adrianople BahaUllah > Mullahs, or priests,becamealaimed, seeingin ita wrote thosefamous letters(sentlaterfrom Acre)to > seriousmenace to thesupremacy of Islam,andbe- theKingsofEuropeandto thePope,calling on > lieving thatitmust havesomepolitical aswellas re- themto abandon theirthoughts ofwarfare andto > ligiousmeaning.Orders weregiven to plunder and assistin establishing unity.The letters alsocon- > persecutethefollowers and > oftheBab, during those tained prophetical utterances which were afterwards > daikyears many thousands gaveuptheir oren- fulfilled. > lives, One suchutterance, following upona > > slight putuponBahaUllah'smission, foretold the itsprogress in theWestern world, all these things > downfall of Napoleon III. at a timewhenthis compel at leastinterest. TheyoungPersian Bab > adventurer, afterthefamous coupdétat , heldabsolute gave to his followers certainforms and doc- > poweras Emperor of theFrench.Another such trines,and somerulesdrawn up in a bookknown > utterance, following upona gracious letter sentby as the" Bayan"; butat the sametimehe con- > QueenVictoria to Baha Ullah,foretold forHer tinually proclaimed thathewasbutthéherald of > Majesty a phenomenally longandprosperous reign, onegreater whoshouldcomeafterhim,andhe > at a timewhenthemonarchy in England couldstill toldhisdisciples to be in constant expectation of > besaidtobeunder theremains ofa cloud. After a " Himwhom Godshall manifest." TheBab,indeed, > fewweeksi-pent in Adrianople, Baha Ullahwas inaugurated a greatreform, but his movement > againbanished to a stillmore inaccessiblespot,the remained moreor less Persian and Muhammadan, > littlefortress > town ofAcre,orAkka,onthecoastof andonefeelsthatit never couldhavebecome uni- > Syria. Here,with hislittle bandoffollowers, Baha versal.It remained forBahaUllah,whocameafter > Ullahpassedsomeofthemostterrible years ofthe theBab,togiveto themovement itstruly broad, > •exile,forAcrecouldonly bedescribed aspestilential, catholicanduniversal spirit.Inthe" BookofLaws," > anditseems probable thatBahaUllahwassentthere BahaUllahtellshisfollowers thatthesword must for > in thehopethatfever wouldsoonquietly ridthe ever beputaway : initsplacethe" Word " must arise. > woildofhim. BahaUllahspentmostofhistime He proclaims universal peace,andcallsuponthe > while inAcreinteaching thenewfaith tothosefew nations tosettletheir differencesbya boardofarbi- > lollowers whocouldholdcommunication withhim, tration. He pleadsfora broadspirit offriendship > in writing hisinstructions andadmonitions to the andtolerance, tobe shown to all thepeoples ofthe > Tvorld, insending epistles,or" Tablets," to followersearth : " Ye areallthefruits ofonetree," asheex- > in differentparts, andin writing a book,known as presses it. He enjoins his followers to seekfora > theBookofLaws. In 1892, after fortyyears ofexile universal language.He says: " Thisis themeans ot > and imprisonment, Baha Ullah'searthly ministryunion, ifyeknew it,andthegreatest source ofcon- > •came toan end. He leftwordto hisdisciples that cordandcivilisation, didyerecognise it." He tells > afterhisdeparture they should looktohiseldestson, parents thatthey must educate theirchildren,boyand > AbbasEffendi, as their leaderandteacher - theone girlalike,giving themthebestinstruction theycan > on whoseshoulders his mantleshouldfall,the afford, andthepoormust beeducated bya boardof > exponent andpromulgator of histeachings to the councillors tobeelected ineachcity, forheconsiders > world. thatuntil ignorance beuprooted there canbenotrue > Since1892Abbas Effendi, whothereafter as- progress. All mustlearnandpractise somecraft, > sumedthetitleofAbdulBaha(theServant ofGod), trade, orproféssion, which,ifpractised conscientiously > hasbeentheleader oftheBahaimovement, andunder anddiligently, willbe considered as thehighest act > his guidance it has grown andexpanded untilits ofworship. There arenopriests connected with this > influence hasbecome felt inallquarters oftheglobe. religion, andthosewhoteachthisFaithshouldnot > A striking example ofthiswaswitnessed bymewhen receive anypay,butsupport themselves by other > I visitedAcrein1906, andmetmenthere from India, means.Theacquisition oftheartsandsciences is > Burma,Persia,Arabia,Egypt,Turkey, Russia, recommended. Marriage is advised, and celibacy > France, England andAmerica, allassembled tolisten and asceticismare condemned.Baha Ullah > to theteaching oftheMaster (thenamebywhich wishes his religion to be one of joyand glad- > AbdulBahaisuniversally called).Thesemen, belong ness. He strongly condemns gambling, theuse > ingtovarious races,creeds andsects,weregatheredof opium,intemperance, and othervices,and > Tound onetable, breaking bread together,andgreet- he laysdownsomeinteresting hygienic laws. A > ingeachotheras brothers. Cansucha scenebe lawis givenadvocating kindness to animals, and > paralleled inanyother spotonearth ? beastsofburden arenot to be ill-treated or over- > loaded.BoththeBab and Baha Ullahpreached > Teachings of Bahaism. theemancipation ofwomen.Underthisteaching, > I am further indebted toMr.SidneySprague woman assumes herrightful position as theequalof > for the following of the principal man. In the following words,Baha Ullah tells > summary hisfollowers howthenewreligion should betaught > teachingsof Bahaism. It seems to mepre- to theworld:" Beware lest make the Wordof > ferableto give an authoritative Bahai exposi- God thecauseof ye > opposition and stumbling, or > tionlikethis,ratherthanan exposition ofmy the sourceof hatred If have a > own:- among you. ye > wordoran essence which another havenot,sayit > TheBahai movement claimsto be theDivine to himwiththetongueofloveand kindness.If > instiument forbringing religious unityintothe it be accepted andimpressed, theendis attained; > world.Thelongrollofitsmartyrs, thewonderful ifnot,leavehimto himself, andprayforhim,but > livesofits founders, its regenerating influence in do notmolest him." It willthusbe seenthatthe > Persia,thefactthatpeopleofnearly every race, message oftheBahaimovement is oneofpeaceto > creedandsecthavebeenattracted toit,andfinallytheworld, andthattheBahaisconsider this" Mani- > > festation" as butanother ofdivine truth energy.Yet they arenottwosuns. Norhasthe > outpouring > the ; thatBahaisarelovers oftheLight suncomedownfrom itsplacein theheaven inorder > from whatever horizon it mayappear,looking on togointothemirror. To-day I smashthismirror. > thedifferent " Prophets,' ' orfounders ofreligion, as To-morrow I procure another mirror, andfindthe > so manydifferent lampsthrough which thisLight suninthattoo. Thesecondmirror is notthesame > shoneforth, andbywhich all theworld hasbeen as thefirst mirror. Thesunin it is thesamesun. > illumined ; therefore Bahaism considers all religionsMosesandMuhammad arenotthesameman. The > to be divine, andpossessing theessence ofTruth Manifestation inthem is thesameManifestation. It > whichhas sincebecomeobscured by the super- maybeobjected thatthelightthatMosesshedand > stitionsandceremonial practices addedbyman. In thelight thatMuhammad shedseem different. True. > other words, theteaching oftheBahaiFaithis that In mirrors ofdifferently coloured glassthesunpre- > ■the Logos,orWord,spoken ofinthefirst chaptersents differentlycoloured appearances. Butwhatis > ofSt.John,hasmanifested itself on thisearth, in colour ? Colouris incomplete light. The seven > wastages, at various times andto various peoples ; prismatic rays, whenall arepresent, givecomplete > those inwhomthisWordhasbeenfully manifested light.The sevenprophetical dispensations,* when > ¿»nd aremenknown as the" Prophets " or allarepresent, givecomplete Truth. It is themission > perfected, > ■" Manifestations ofGod,"andthrough them wehear ofBahaism tobring aboutsucha combination. Will > thevoiceofGodspeaking to humanity. The dis- it be contended thatsomeor anyoftheProphets > tinctiveclaimoftheBahaiFaithis thattheeternal gaveforth nolight, notevencoloured light ? Con- > Wordhasmanifested itselfin ourday,morepower- sider this: Was there evera prophét whodidnot > fullythaneverbefore, in theperson ofBahaUllah. denounce 'perjury, theft, adultery andmurder; who > Besidesthewritings already mentioned, BahaUllah, didnotenjoin charity,morality, dutifulness andrever- > whilein prison, composed several booksdealing ence? ThatiswhyBahaism contemns no religion, > withmetaphysical, philosophical and socialpro- andreverences all religions. At theworst, evenit > blems.Thesebookswerewritten in Persianand theglassofsomereligions be smoked, it admits a > Arabic, and but three or four of them have been certain quantity oflight. There are some eyes, weak > translated intoWestern tongues.Someofthebest andwatery, whichcannotbearlight at all unless it > translations arein French, namely, " Le Livre de la come through smoked glass. > Certitude " (Kitab-ul-Iqan), " Les ParolesCachées > " " > •enPersanand LesPréceptes deBahaisme " trans- Esoteric Philosophy of Bahaism.^ > latedbyM. Hippolyte and > Dreyfus, published by I havenevermettwomen,I haveneverread > Ernest Leroux, Paris. Themost important workof twobooks,whoseaccountsof Bahaiteaching > Baha Ullah,the" Kitab-ul-Aqdas " (MostHoly forme > whollyagree. It wouldnotbe difficult > Book),hasnotyetbeenfully translated. to presentto you manydifferent conceptsof > Mr.SidneySprague'sdescription ofBahaism Bahaism,gatheredin mytravel,each resting > is characterised by calmnessand simplicity. on seemingauthority.This is, perhaps,only > Forgreaterpicturesqueness of exposition one naturalin the case of a religiousmovement > mustturnfrom theWesterner to theEasterner. which,setting outto emancipatethe intellect, > A PersianBahai of highauthority, formerly a turnseach individualmindloose in a new > Muhammadan doctorofdivinity, favoured me worldof vividthoughtto reasonout its own > withthe following graphicexplanation of his faithbyitsownstrength.The following half- > newcreed:- mystical, half-transcendental, play of ideas > Thereis onlyone God. Thereis onlyone proceedsfroma schoolof esotericBahaism > Truth.Godis infinite. Truthis infinite. Man, m Persia,whoseexistenceappearsto be un- > foeingfinite,cannot know God ; cannot know Truth. knownto Europe:- > Manknows something ofGod; something ofTruth. Bahaism teaches thatman,inhis"earliest spiritual > Thisis because there hasbeena finite Manifestation weakness, has to support himselfbyprops.These > ofGod; a finite Revelation ofTruth.TheMani' propsaresevenin number. Theyareindispensable > ofGodis one. TheRevelation > festation ofTruth is aidsto man'sspiritual growth.Without them man > one. Moseswas theManifestation ; so wasJesus, wouldfaintandcollapse.Theyputhimuponhis > -sowas Muhammad, so was Baha Ullah.^ All feet, they enable himtowalk,they givehimstrength, > 4heseare one. The Pentateuch was theRevela- confidence, courage, andhope. Butstilltheyare > tion,so was the Gospel,so was the Quran, props, andas propsthey areto beusedonlytothe > so was the Kitab-ul-Aqdas.All theseare end thattheymayultimately be dispensed with. > one.Is thishardto understand ? Consider the Man'sspiritual progress, in fact,consists inlearning > sun.Thesunin theheavenis abovemyreach. to discard thesepropsone by one,as a young > Hereinmyhandis a mirror which contains thesun. * - Noah, > To mysenses there isnodifference, indegree, According to oneversion Abraham, Moses, > except David,Jesus, Muhammad, andBahaUllah.According to > between thesunin theheaven and thesunin the another version - Moses, Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, > mirror.Bothsunsgiveoutlightandheatand Jesus, Muhammad, BahaUllah. > > (6o JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS. May27,1910. > > swimmer learnsto discard floats,andtö rely more If not,whatis themeaning of thatstrangely re- > and moreon his own God-given powers.The iterated verse intheNewTestament, " He thathathr- > rationale oftheprocess is explained byBahaism as earstohearlethimhear"? Andwhat isthemeaning > follows:- oftheOldTestament Psalm, " Whoshallascend into• > Whenman,after passing successively through the the hill > öf the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy > mental stagesof brutalism, heathenism, and pan^ place? He whohathcleanhands anda pureheart ?" > theism, arrives at lastat theconception ofoneom- Can onlyMoseseverhopeto ascendthespiritual > niscientandomnipotent God,he cannot easilybear Sinai? Can onlyMoseseverhopeto haveclean- > thegreatness ofthethought. He isappalled bythe hands anda pureheart ? Bahaism remarks that when > majesty oftheDeity.He is paralysed byhisown Godfirst calledtothechildSamuel (I. Samuel III. 4)- > insignificance. He darenot approach his terribletheundiscerning boyrantoEli andsaid," HereI am, > Maker, though there is need to for > pray bounty, for forthou didst call me." Thusdoesmancontinually > love,andforlight.To hishelpcomes thefirstprop turn away hisearfrom hisGodtohislawgiver. ButEli > - anintermediary- thePriest.ThePriest, bysepa- answered, "I called thee not. It shall be if He call > rationfrom thecommon people, bydetachment from theethatthoushaltsay,Speak,Lord,forThy > carnalengrossments, by purification of bodyand servant heareth." Thusis thesecond propdiscarded. > sanctificationofmind, mayventure onbehalf ofsinful Therefore, saystheBahai" Logos" inthat same book > to kneel in before God's called" Hidden Words - > humanity supplication great > judgment-seat. Is thisideaofpriestly intercession " O Son of Spirit. The bestofall to Me is > wrong ? askedBahaism.Is itanevilthing thatman justice.Castit notasideifthoudesirest Me,and > should beginthespiritual ascentbyconfessing his neglectit not,thatthoumayest be faithful toMe, > ownlittleness andGod'sgreatness ? Bynomeans. forbyitthouwiltbestrengthened andseeallthings > ,Butwhat isa priest ? A goodandholyman.Espe- with thine owneyes, andnotwiththeeyesofmen, > ciallyhe is a man. Cannot thenall menhopeto andknow them bythineownknowledge andnotby > become goodandtomake themselves holy ? When theknowledge ofanyintheworld.Meditate this- > manrealises (ashe is destined torealise)thatheand howthoushouldst be. > thepriest arenottwodifferent orders ofbeing, but "O Son of Man. The Lighthas shoneupon > twomanifestations ofthesameorder ofbeing, the theefromthe Horizonof the Mount,and the > mission of thepriest willbe accomplished, and Spirit ofHoliness hasbreathed in theSinaiofthy > humanity willbecome a raceofpriests.Therefore, heart.Therefore cleansethyself from obstacles and > saystheLogos,through themouth ofBahaUllah, imaginations, and enter into this Mansion, that thou > as recorded in" Hidden Words " :- „ lifeandprepared > " O SonofSpirit.I haveordained mayest befitted fortheeverlasting > forthee, from to meetme,where no death,no trouble and no > theTreeofSplendour, theholiest fruits.Whyhast calamity canbefall thee." > thoulaidthem asideandbeencontented with those Man'sthird needisfora Prophet.The > thatareinferior ? Return, therefore, to thatwhich lawofGod spiritual there is wanting inmanthe > isbestfortheeintheHighest Horizon. being given, > " O Son ofMan. Letthysatisfaction to > spirit honour and obey it ; and a prophet arises > be inMe, whosedivine fervour, and > andnotinthose whoareinferior toMe,andseeknot illumination, eloquence > passionstirtheslumbering hearts ofthepeople.Birt > helpfrom anybesideMe,for nonesaveMewillever > what,asksBahaism again,is a prophet ? What > satisfythee. where DanielandEzekiel ? What > " O Son of Spirit. Myrightto theeis Isaiah, Jeremiah, > great wasthewriter oftheBookofRevelation ? They were > andcannot be denied.Mybounty to theeis over- men. AndhasnotGodmadeall menofthesame > flowing andcannot bewitheld.Mylovefortheeis intothem thesamespirit ? When > andcannot berepulsed. clayandbreathed > existing Mylighttotheeis jealousdisciples complained toMosesthatsomequite > apparent andcannot beobscured." > Whenman's first needhasthus beensatis- ordinary people intheIsraelite campwerepresuming > spiritual to playtheprophet, thegreatHebrew leaderex- > fied, and the prop discarded, a second spiritualneed claimed, " Wouldto God ye wereall prophets." > assertsitself,theneedfora Lawgiver. God,itisfelt, Andso goesthethird Therefore > hasa will; that willexpresses itselfinlaws; those prop. saysthe > laws in" Hidden Words " :- > aretobeheard andobeyed. Butjustasmaninhisfirst " Logos > self-abasement darenotspeak toGodexcept through O Son ofExistence. MyLampthouart,and > themouth ofa priest, so mandarenotat first listen MyLightisinthee;be enlightened byIt,andseek > to Godexcept through theearsofa lawgiver. This notanybeside Me,forI havecreated theerich, and > is themeaning ofthebookofExodus which records bestowed My grace abundantly upon thee. > (XX. 19)thattheChildren ofIsraelsaidtoMoses at "O Son of Existence.By thehandsofpower > thefootofMountSinai,u Speakthouwithus and I madetheeandbythefingers ofstrength I created > wewillhear; butletnotGodspeakwithus,lestwe theeanddeposited intheetheEssence ofMyLight; > die." Butwhat, asksBahaism, is a lawgiver ? A therefore depend uponIt andnotuponanything else, > man. A manwhohasfitted himself to receive the forMyaction isperfect andMycommand haseffect. > WordofGod. Cannot all menso fitthemselves? Doubtnotthisandhavenouncertainty therein. > > " O SonofMan. Cheerthyheartwith' delight,which everymanmustperform, notvicariously, but > thatthoumayest befitted tomeetMe,andbecome in hisownperson, erehecanenter intotheKingdom > a mirror ofMybeauty." ofHeaven. Andthus thefifth propisdispensed with. > Man'sfourth spiritual needis fora Saviour.Man Therefore itiswritten in " Hidden Words - > cannot viewhisownwickedness without dreading a " O Son ofMan, Thoudesirest gold,andWe > catastrophic penalty, he > which, believes, not himself desire thyseparation from it. Thouhastrealised > butonlya specially appointed redeemer canavert. therichesof-thyself therein, butI knowthatthy > Oppressed bythevisionofthewrath tocome,man riches lieinpurifying thyself from it. > feelsthathe mustthrow himself intothearmsofa " O SonofMan.Distribute Mypossessions among > Saviour.Bahaism hesitates to disturb man'sbelief Mypoor,thatin heaventhoumayest receive front > inthisawful subject.ttThefear oftheLord,"says theboundless treasures ofglory andfrom thestores > theOldTestament, "is thebeginning ofwisdom." ofeternal bliss. ButbyMyLife,thesacrifice ofthe > The beginning, yes,butnottheend. Whatis a spirit is more glorious, couldst thoubutseewith My > a Saviour ? asksBahaism.A man,bornofwoman. eye. > A manwithpowerto save men. The true O Son ofMan. Foreverything thereisa sign. > function ofa Saviour is thusto savebyexample,Thesignofloveispatience through Myordealand > to saveby pointing thewayofsalvation ; inother long-suffering forMysake. > to demonstrate on thespiritual " O Son of Man. The sincere loverlongsfor > words, planewhat > all theworldaccepts on thephysical plane - that sufferingas the rebel craves for forgiveness andthe > (rodhelpsonlythosewho helpthemselves. A sinner prays formercy. > Saviour is a lighthouse, nota lifeboat.Awaythen " O SonofExistence.Keepmycommand because > withthisfourth prop. Therefore says theBahai oftheloveforMe, anddenythyself ifthoulovest > bookof" Hidden Words " :- Mypleasure. > " O SonofPerception. " O SonofSpirit.Ifthoudesirest Me,lovenot > MyFortthouart,there- > fore enter therein thatthoumayest besaved. thyself,andifthouseekest Mypleasure, regard not > " O SonofMan. ThouartMypossession, and thine own,thatthoumayest die in Me andI livein > Mypossession willneverbe destroyed. Whyart thee?" > thouafraid ofthy destruction? ThouartMylight, Man'ssixthspiritual needis fora divine incarna- > and My lightwillneverbe extinguished. Why tion. ManseekstoknowGod,to sse God. Man > dreade&t thouextinction ? ThouartMysplendour,cannot ofhisownfinite power setouttolookforthe > andMysplendour willnever be veiled.Thouart infinite God. He mustwaitpatiently andhumbly > Mygarment, andMygarment willnever be worn tillGodinhisownchosen time bepleased tomani- > out. Therefore dwellin thyloveto Me,thatthou fest Himself.Sucha manifestation, accommodating > mayest find MeintheHighest Horizon." itselfto thehumanlimits of sensory perception, > Man's fifth spiritual need is fora Sacrifice.materialises as an incaination - spirit clothedwith > Whether theunderlying ideabe propitiation orex- flesh- Divinity visiblebyitshumanity - Godinman. > piation, there must be, itis thought, a great atone- Here, then, for once, a man indeed becomes the > ment, to be consummated in thesacrifice of life. mirror of hisMaker.Butwhy onlyforonce? asks > Bahaism approaches thissubject, as it approachesBahaism.According to thebookof Genesis all > thepreceding subjects, withreverence. Butwho, mankind wascreated intheimageandafter thelike- > asksBahaism, is thevictim ofthesacrifice ? A man nessofGod. All mankind is thus,in virtue ofits > offlesh andblood. Theessence of thedoctrine is divine similitude,something morethan"human": > notaffected (forthepresent purpose) bytheassertionit has someelements of thedivine.Andso the > orthedenial ofthedivinity ofthebeing whois sacri- greater incarnation appealsto all lesserincarna- > ficed,because ineither caseitis from a being walkingtions.Or, as the Old Testament marvellously > thisearth ofoursintheoutward form ofa manthat putsit- "Be ye holy,forI am holy." In the > thesacrifice is demanded. Shallman,in thelong New Testament manis adjuredto put offcor- > course of hisspiritual evolution, riseto theheight ruption andto put on incorruption ; to putoff > of striving to embody in his ownlifethegrand mortality andtoputonimmortality. Whatis cor- > examplesof the Priest,the Lawgiver,the ruption butchange,and whatis mortality but > Prophet and the Saviour, and then shrink from catastrophic change ? How shall a man put off > imitating the yet moresublimeexampleof changefulness andputon changelessness unlesshe > theSacrifice?It is recorded thatJesussaid:- attaintoa perfection from which nochange can be > "Excepta manbe bornagainhe cannot enter the betterment - unless hebecome divine ? Anincarna- > Kingdom ofHeaven."To be bornagainonemust tion,then, is perfection descended uponandmani- > first > die,because birth is essentially thebeginning of fested in onemanto showhowall other menmay > a newlife. Whatis thatwhich must dieorbe sacri- hopetoascend toandbecome manifestations ofthe > ficed? Theoldlifeofsin. There is,saysBahaism,likeperiection. Thesupreme purpose, inbrief, is to > a stillhigher view. Thatwhich is merely human turn man'sreverence uponhimself. Hereby departs > inmanmustdie,in orderthatthatwhich is divine man'ssixth prop. Therefore declares the" Logosiy > in manmaybeborn. Thisis thesupreme sacrificein " Hidden Words " :- > > 'ÓÔ2 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIKTY OF ARTS. May27,1910. > > u O Son of Spirit.I created theesublime, but long; that Islamic countriesare stranded > thouhastdegraded thyself.Therefore ascend tothat centuriesbehindthe times; that the very > forwhich thouwastcreated. inertnessof the Muhammadan worldin an > a O Son of Spirit. I havecreated theerich. age of strenuous progressprovesits senility ; > Whydostthoumakethyself poor? I madethee that,in fact,Moslemculturestandsto-day > mighty.Whydostthoudegrade thyself? From where it stood in the days of the > theEssence ofKnowledge I manifested thee. Why exactly > " ArabianNights." I shallnotattempt here > seekest thouanother beside Me? Fromtheclayof > loveI kneaded thee. Whysearchest tocontrovert any of those assumptions, because > thouforan- > other ? Turnthysight untothyself thatthoumayestthat wouldinvolveme in a comprehensive > findMestanding within thee,powerful, mighty and surveyof the social,political,and economic > supreme. conditions of 175,000,000 of the humanrace, > " O Son of theThrone. is My spreading into three continents. 1 shallcon- > Thyhearing > hearing ; hearthouwith it. Thysightis Mysight ; tentmyself withpointingout thatevenifall > seethouwith it, thatthoumayest testify to Me in theassumptions be grantedin substance, they > thyinmost soul,a supreme andthatI may countin favourof Islamichopesrather > holiness, than > 'testify tothee, inMyself a highposition. against; because they indicatethat the > " O SonofExistence.Thy heartis Myhome ; careerof Islam closelyconforms with the > purify itforMydescent.Thyspirit is Myoutlook ; normalin history.Almosteverygreatreligion > prepare itforMyManifestation. " > has passed througha phase of stagnation. > Man'sseventh and last spiritual needis fora Almost is one > heaven.Theflesh has itsdwelling-place of pain: thousandalwaystheperiodofstagnation > where shallthespirit abidein bliss? It willhave years. For just a thousand years > beenunderstood from thepresent thatthe the infant religion sleeps in the arms of its > exposition Thereafter it is a child and > predominant theme of Babaitheology is thatman priests. grown > hastobetaught tolookwithin forthatwhich hehas runsalone. For a thousandyearsthepriests > allalongbeenseeking without. Whyshould itnot nursedJudaism.In 1491B.c. we haveMoses > besowithman'sneedfora Heaven ? asksBahaism. declaring - " This shall be the priest's due > In thescientific world itwasnotuntil educationalists from thepeople,fromthemthatoffer a sacri- > realised thattheartofeducation is todraw out,not fice,whether it be ox or sheep ; and theyshall > to putin, thatthecurricula of theschools were giveuntothepriestthe shoulder, and thetwo > rationalised. Spiritual education,properly understoodcheeksand the maw. The first-fruit also of > is alsoa drawing outofthatwhich iswithin.This thycorn,ofthywine,and ofthineoil,and the > isthemeaning ofthat wonderfuldeclaration intheNew first of thefleeceof thysheep,shaltthougive > Testament : " TheKingdom ofHeaven iswithin you." him. FortheLordthyGod hathchosenhim > Surrender, thentheseventh and last prop. And outofall in the > itherefore itis written in" Hidden Words " :- thytribes,to standto minister > " O SonofExistence. name ofthe Lord, him and his sons for ever." > ThyParadise is Mylove, > and thyheavenis Mynearness. Therefore enter -In 397B.c.- thatis, one thousandyearslater > thouandtarry not. Thisis whatwasordained for we havetheHebrewprophet Malachisaying > 'tlieeinOurhighest kingdom andsupreme - " Andnow,O yepriests, thiscommandment > 4tO SonofSpirit.Thefirst majesty. > utterance is- Possess is foryou ... Ye aredeparted outoftheway; > a good,a pureandenlightened heart,thatthou yehave caused manyto stumbleat thelaw; > mayest possessa continual, eternal and immortalyehavecorrupted the covenant of Levi,saith > kingdom." the Lord of Hosts. Therefore have I also > madeyoucontemptible and base before all the > Future of Islam. as yehavenotkeptMyways, > people,according > Timewillnotpermit meon thisoccasionto but have been partialin the law." For a > •enter anyfurther intoa philosophical studyof thousand yearsthepriests nursed Brahmanism. > the teachingsof Bahaism. It willbe suffici-Accordingto authorities, Vedic Brahmanism > entlyapparent, I think, thattherehas arisen established itselfin India about 1600B.c. In > in Islam,thanksto thefreshness and fineness 550 B.c.- thatis, one thousandyearslater- > ofPersianthought, a regenerative influence of Buddhaaroseto overthrow Brahmanic ecclesia > almostincalculableenergy. It onlyremains asticism. For a thousandyearsthe priests > forme, in conclusion, to notice,verybriefly,nursedHellenic Paganism. The siege of > theargument ofthosewhothinkthatIslam,in Troy,which appears to be about the first > fallingfromits proudestate,has fallenlike recordedfact of Greek history, is generally > Lucifer,neverto riseagain. The argument, supposedtohaveoccurred, ifitoccurred at all, > as I understand it,is baseduponthefollowingabout 1200 B.c. In 146 b.c.- that is, one > .assumptions : thatIslamhas laindormant too thousand years later- Greece became a > > 27,1910. > ■May JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS. 663 > > Roman province,and so lost the powerto protagonist ofPan-Islamism, whowasveryfarfrom > workoutherownindependent destiny. Fora being a Bab,wasundoubtedly oneofthose whohad > thousandyears the priestsnursed Roman done most to inaugurate the national movement. > foundation of Quiteapartfromthequestion as to the dispute > Paganism. The half-mythical between Subh-i-Ezel and Baha as thesuc- > Romeis supposedto date from753B.c. In regards > cession,hehad never succeeded in obtaining satisfac- > 324 A.D.- thatis, one thousandyearslater- answers to the following questions: - (1) What > tory > was establishedas the State new doestheBahaidoctrine > Christianity light throw uponmeta- > religionin Rome. For a thousandyearsthe physical orspiritual truth ? (2)In whatrespect is the > priestsnursed Christianity.In the fourth system ofethics which itadvocates superior toChris- > centuryafterChristpriestlyauthority first tianity > ? (3) Canitbemaintained that, intheapplica- > asserteditselfsuccessfully in the Christian tionofthose ethics, theBahaisarematerially more > Church. In thefifteenth century - thatis, one consistent thantheChristians or the Moslems ? > thousandyearslater - JohnHuss startedthe > Reformation. Withthesehistorical M. Hippolyte Dreyfus thoughttherewas > parallels no as theChairman seemed toimply, > in mind,letus nowremark thatfora thousand contradiction, > between the fact that Subh-i-Ezel hadbeenin a > yearsthepriests nursedIslam. TheSaracenic andthe > with its datesfrom way appointed bytheBab as hissuccessor, > Empire, powerful hierarchy, factthatJater on BahaUllahclaimed tobea mani- > the eighthcentury, A.D. The spiritwhich festation ofGod,viz.,theoneforetold bytheBab > 'begat Babism and Bahaism began to himself, because theBabonly appointed hissuccessor > (manifest itselfin Persia at the close of the in orderto havean organisation ready towaitfor > •eighteenth century, thatis, onethousand years theone whomGod wouldmanifest. BahaUllah > .later. I am farfrompropounding the " one wasmuch more advanced thantheBab; hisreligion > " one,whiletheBab wasmerely a > thousandyears formula as a positive argu- was a universal > ment. I am farfromtryingto read a new Shiah reformer, and that accounted forthe difference > meaninginto the Psalmist'srhapsody,"A between them.Theinfluence oftheBahaisin the > thousandyearsin Thysightis but as yester- revolution could not be denied, a statement he > I would this : the fact that was able to makebecausehe was in Tehran > day." onlysay whentheMoham- > Islam has slumberedfora thousandyears at thetimeof therevolution, > aifords nosufficient forthebelief medan clergy took refuge in Qum. At that > justification time were quite decidednot to return to > they > thattherecan nowbe no awakening. Formy TehranunlesstheShahhimself camethereand > •ownpart,I believethateventsare shapingin anddismissed all theEuropean function- > Asia whichmay end in re-constructing apologised > the aries > employed bytheGovernment. It wasdecidedly > wholefabricof present-day internationalism an anti-foreign movement. TheBahaisthought it > and mayadd a chapterto the world'shistory wasa pitytohavesucha bigmovement degenerating > as dramatic andas momentous as anythathas intoa sectarian and clerical movement, and they > .beenwritten. askedfora constitution > therefore andeducation ; and > infact, > that, wastheprinciple ofBahaism. > Prof.G. Hagopiansaidhe had thehonour of > DISCUSSION. the of Jemal-ud-Din, about 1892, > making acquaintance > TheChairman (Professor Browne) saidthat,while when hewasa refugee from Persia, andwasinstru- > •entertaining a very great affectionandadmiration for mental in enabling himto givea lecture at the > theBabis,he wasnotprepared to admit eitherthat National Liberal Clubonthecondition ofhiscountry. > fthey weretobeconsidered asmere reformers ofIslam, He wouldbedelighted tohearfrom anytravellers in > orthatthey had exercised any great influence in bring- Persiawhether such a regeneration had yet taken > ingabout thepresent national movement inPersia. He placeinthatcountry thatitwouldbepossible in the > out > .pointed that,in a sense, the ideals of the Bahais, futuretofind the same spirit animating the people of > ivhichaimedat a universal religion anda universalthecountry as wasrecently evidenced in Londonby > language, werein sharpcontrast to thoseof the theBritish peoplewhenKingEdward, thePeace- > ^Nationalists,which aimed at the maintenance ofthe maker, .wascarried tohislastresting-place - thespirit > integrityofPersiaandofthePersián characteristics.ofprogress andpeace. > He also dissented fromthe author's viewthat > 3ahaismwas necessarily tolerant, and he con- Mr.W. A. Moore,in reply to thelastspeaker's > tendedthat the Bab had assigned to him- question,thought the conduct of theTurkish Govern- > than that which ment since the establishment of theConstitution in > selfa moreimportant position that > theBahaisweredisposed to ascribe to him. In Turkey was an absolutely conclusive proof they > bisownview itwasunfair tosaythattheMohamme-desired both peaceandprogress, andalthough things > to the national movement had not gone by any means so far or sowell inPersia, > danshadnotcontributed movement wasa > sinPersia, sinceSay)idJemal-ud-Din, thewellknown todeny that thePersian constitutional > > progressive movement wasa complete denial of fact. thefacts.Persiahadtodealwithherneighbours, > He was rather astonished at theusemadebythe andthequestion 'fcashowshewastogetalongwith > author allthrough hispaper ofthewords " priest" and them,and howtheywereto be prevented from > " priesthood," which hedidnotbelieve werecorrecttaking part in the movement. He thought Persia > wordstoemploy inreference toIslam. He didnot would getthrough if,inherexternal sheled > affairs, > thinkthere wasanything sacerdotal atallinthewhole a quietlife. He wasquitesurethatinthefuture she > ofIslam. Withregard totheauthor's glorification wouldwinonlybytheprocess of moderation, for > oftheBahais, he > personallysupported theChairman's which the modern movement inthe East had such an > contention, becauseduring theactualtroubles in extraordinary capacity. > Persia, he happened to be in Tabriz, andtheword > thathe always heardwasBabi,and thatwasthe TheChairmanentirely agreed withMr.Moore's > stickthatwas used by the reactionists to beat ciiticism of the use of the word"priest"by > theConstitutionalist party.Thetitleofthepaper theauthor.It was22years sincehewasin Persia, > seemedto himto be misleading, becauseifIslam andtheword Bahaiswasthen hardly everusedatall, > wasíegenerated inthewaytheauthor suggested, it theteimBabisbeing usedthroughout > universally the > ceasedto be Islamaltogether. Bahaism was not country. Withregard totolerance, hewasnotquite > reallya religionatall,butmore orlessa philosophy. surewhether, ifBahaismsucceeded in capturing. > It wasa product which camefrom theEast,andwas Persia, itwould beanymoretolerant thanIslamism. > a kindofuniversal toleration. "When, forinstance,Personally, hewasvery much disinclined tothink that > theauthor stated thattruth wasone,hewasutteringthere wasanyconsiderable number ofBabisorBahais > oneof theimmortal platitudes oftheworldwhich amongtheTurks, because, so faras he knew, the > hadbeensaidin every age. It wasa greattrufkYoungTurkish movement was identified witha > which wasalwaysstriking peopleafresh, butitdid literary movement having itsoriginentirelyinFrench > notmakea newreligion to saythattruth wasone. sources, a largeproportion oftheYoungTurks being; > Theanalogy between thesunandthemirror which Free-Thinkers. > hadbeenreferred to hada verydistinct Athanasian > touchaboutit. It reminded himofthenews- Mr.BernardTemple,inreply tothequestion of > paperwhich someyearsago ago started a column whether Bahaism was thecauseoftheawakening > on curios and antiquities, whichwaswritten bya whichwas at present visiblein Persiaand other > manwhohadcomeabsolutely fresh to thesubject,Islamiccountries, saidthatin suchbigdiscussions > andwhowasmaking discoveries every daythathaä itwasdifficult to saywhatwasthecauseandwhat > beenmadebefore, buttheresult wasthathe made theeffect.He didnotclaim forBahaism more than > thesubject muchmoreinteresting thanan expert thatitwasperhaps themost conspicuous andremark- > would havedone. He couldnothelpthinking that ableexpression oftheawakening which, undoubtedly, > someofthephilosophic truths thatwere putforwardwastakingplacein theEast,particularly in the > as representing Bahaism werein muchthesame Islamic East. So faras hehadmadea comparison > category. Theywerea product ofmodern mentality, between theMohammedan religion and Bahaism, > a process ofthought which wasgoing onalloverthe hehopedhe hadmadeit clearthathewasnota > world.He didnotagree withtheauthor thatthe Bahai» noran apologist fortheBahaireligion orits > Turkish movement was in anywayan outcome of teaching ; he merely wished, as a traveller, to give > sucha religion.He thought itwasmuch more true someof hisobservations uponthecourseof the > to saythatthereligion itselfwasa symptom rathermovement in Persiaand its meaning.Although > than a cause.Sucha movement ofthought wastaking he had in manyways a greatadmiration for > placenotonly inIslam,butinJapan, andmany of Bahaism, he was not prepared to rebutevery > theYoungTurk leaders weredistinctly free-thinkers. remark > critical thatcouldbe addressed againstit. > Theforward movement towards universal tolerationRecenttravellers in Persiawereagreedthatthe > and brotherhood tookthe formof a desirefor mostprogressive elements in thatcountry were > international agreement and universal peace,and associated directly or indirectlywiththe Bahai > was a sort of cosmopolitan movement. The movement. He quiteadmitted it wasinappropriate > Chairman had statedthatif Persiawereleft tousetheterm"priest"in connection with Islam, > alone he believed she wouldpull through. In butthedifficulty he experienced in thatconnection > onesensehe wasin complete agreement withthè wasthathe madea comparison between religions > remark. If Persiacouldbeisolated, andherinternalwhich had priests andtheIslamicreligion, which > struggle tookplaceas between theold and new maintained religious functionaries forwhoseoffice > régime , which waspractically between andgood > evil, , andstatustherewasno equivalent in theEnglish > therewasnottheslightest doubt which wouldulti- language.Whenheusedtheterm" priests" inre~ > mately win; infact, ifshehadbeenleftalonefrom lation toIslamhemeantthatthere existedinPer*ia > the beginning therewouldhavebeenno doubt andother partsoftheMohammedan world menwho > whichwouldhavewonalready.But.to suppose claimed tohavea monopoly ofknowledge regarding > thatPersiahad been,or was goingto be, left thereligion of Mahomet, andthecommon people > absolutely toherself,seemed tohimutterly toignore wereboundto haverecourse tothose learned people > > May27,içio. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS. 665 > > forthatknowledge, which wasnotobtainable other- which itrelates.SirEldonGorst's narra- > interesting > wise. The Quranwas in Arabic,a languagetionis framed very much afterthemodel oftheIndian > whichevento the Arabswas, in its QuranicAdministration Reports, withthisimportant differ- > form, practically unknown ; and theQuranand ence,thatthelatter areseldomavailable untillong > theliterature encompassing it couldonlybe com- after theexpiry oftheyearunder review.Hencethe > municated to theignorant people bya learned class, Indian reports, through theirbelated appearance, lose > which wascareful to preserve itsmonopoly oflearn- much oftheir significanceandinterest. > ing; andin thatsensehe spokeofthemullahs as The present report is dated26thMarchlast, > priests, notwishing to institute anyclosercom- and its very firstcomments deal withthe > parison between the mullahs of the East and assassination of the late Prime Minister, about > the priests of theWest. He was glad it had a monthpreviously, so it may be con- > beenpointed out thatthe movement in Turkeysidered quiteup-to-date, and'in thisand other > owed,practically, nothing to Bahaism.Whathe respects itmay'serve as anexample which many other > •had wishedto conveyin thatconnection was British official reports in various partsoftheworld > motthat Bahaismhad inspired the revolution woulddowellto emulate.On thesubject of the > in Turkey, though he was prepared to showit murder Mr.Roosevelt hasrecently spoken strongly > toadgonea considerable waytowards inspiring the andfearlessly : SirEldonGorst's remarks arecouched > movement inPersia: he wished to showthatthere inmuch thesamevein. He saysoftheassassin that > was, not in Persiaalone,but more or less throughout he was "one of those miserable creatures offeeble > theIslamic world, a realspirit ofprogress which, so intellect anddisordered ideas,whoareunconscious > faras historical comparisons went, could only be dupes of the greater criminals,whopreach violent > likened tothespirit oftheReformation thatexisted methods which theythemselves areafraid to carry > in Europe.Thatspirit hadvarious manifestations, intoeffect."Ofthevictim, Boutros GhaliPasha, > -oneof the mostmarvellous of whichwas the whofirst entered theMinistry in 1893as Minister of > Bahai movement. Another remarkable manifes-Finance, SirEldonremarks that"his deathis an > tation, if considered separately, was the politicalirreparable lossto Egypt, andthatit willbe long > revolution in Persiaandin Turkey, which hadhad before theKhediveand his country finda more > theextraordinary effectofsweeping away the old- devoted, single-minded, and capable servant." > «fashioned absolutism, the reliçtof centuries, and During1909thePressLaw, whichhad been > substituting in its placethatforwhich peoplehad revised intheearly partoftheyear, wasapplied with > beenstriving in theWestforcountless years, viz., great,perhaps toogreat, moderation. Twopapers > constitutional government withParliamentary insti- werewarned and one was suppressed, the latter > tutions.Howmuch oftheinspiration thathadgiven having beenalready suspended undertheordinary > ribetothose great movements > political wasduetosome lawbythenative tribunals,anditseditor sentenced > particular source ormanwasa mootquestion.His to twelve months' imprisonment. Another editor > :greatobject onthepresent occasion wastoshow from was sentenced to threemonths' imprisonment for > •thepoint of view of a recent travellerhow veryeffec- passing scurrilous libels on the late Boutros Pasha > tivethose various eruptive forces were, andhowinti- andanother highnativeofficial.Thesewarnings, > mately one must be connected with the other. The however, have not been enoughto prevent the > remark which hadbeenmadethatPersia couldbest extreme Nationalist journalsfromattacking the > makeprogress under thenewrégime bygetting along authorities withvirulence andcontempt, andunless > wellwith herneighbours, raised anenormous question.thisattitude is definitelyabandoned it willbtcome > While thatadvice sounded ideal,hewassorry tohave necessary, so Sir Eldonsignificantly remarks, to > -tosaythathisfeeling was,after twelve months' resi- applythePressLawwithgreat-er severitythanhere- > dencein Persia,thatit wasalmost as difficult for tofore. > a country likePersiatogetonwell,atanyratewith Thecotton crop,inspite ofa goodNileandfavour- > oneofitsneighbours, under present circumstances, ableweather, has beenmuchbelowtheaverage of > as fora lambtogetonwith a wolf. recentyears. High prices have.to some extentcom- > pensated forthefalling offoftheyield, but,never- > On themotion of the Chairman,a voteof theless, theresult comesas a great disappointment > thanks wasaccorded to Mr.Templeforhispaper, to thosewhohadhopedforsomeimprovement of > andthemeeting terminated. thefinancial position sincethecrisisof 1907. The > > — *Persia and the Regeneration of Islam (Used by permission of the curator)*