Unity Triumphant: The Call of the Kingdom ========================================= Exported from Holy-Writings.com on 2026-06-18 1 clipping 1. AZZ riphfs (inoktdk? thou of ~ a r r r h t i o nw) a d ks the Author. First Edition - , - 1923 Second Edition - - 1925 Printed in Great Britain by KING & J A n m s n , LTD.,Blackfriars. London, 8.E. - . . - ~. PAGE 16. RELIGION I N ACCORD AND SCIENCE WITH REASON . . 1. .. 20. THESPIRITOF INVESTIGATION. 2 1. UNIVERSAL . IIARNONY 22. UNITYTRIUMP~ZANT. 23. UNITYMEETINGS . 24. SPIRITUAL SPRINGI ~ M E S . 25. NEEDOFYERSONAL~MANIFESTATION. . 147 . 26. THESUNOF TRUTH 1I . - 27. THEFEAST OF R ~ V A N 29. OUTSTANDING . OF BAH/L'u'LLAE 2 8 . - CHILDHOOD EVENTI N THE . WORLD'S 1. .PICTURE 2. PICTURE OF 'ABDU'L-Bd . . . OF MASJEIRIQU'L-ADHICAR 3. L E ~ FFROM A CALENDAR IN CONSTANTI- 1 HISTORY - . I i OF BAHA'U'LLAH. . 30. TABLET ~. Ii 31. A CHRISTIAIV MISSIONARYAND BAHU MARTYRDOMS : ~. i 32. BAHA'~ PRECEPTS. I 33. KINDNESS TO ANIMALS . 1 OF THE MOSTR.ZERCIFUL . t 35. WORDSOF BAHA'u'LLAHAND 'ABDU'L- 1. 36. HISTORIC NOTE . NATIONS . 38. B A ~ ' u ' L L ~THE H , NEWNAME . vi. ". FOREWORD. testimony and intrOOuction is written under the impelling power of the Spirit, '. to bear-witness to the Truth of the Reve~ olBaha 'u 'llAh. PRAYER OF JESUS. the desire to spread a knowledge of His ' _ ...~/";" in the world, it is published as a thank- in accordance with the directions of "And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are and the kindly help and encourage- Mine, and I am glorified in them. ment~f confirmed believers in the Baha'i Cause. " Holy Father keep through thine own Name :;Inasmuch as it is an introduction, the Sacred those whom Thou hast given Me, that they all . may be One, as we are. . . . . -_•.'. -' of the Baha'i Revelation are quoted With " N?ither pray I for these alone, but for them . reference to those of previous .Revelations . In order that readers may ,search for themselvesá' ' also which shall believe on Me through their -'1'OInthose sources, and fonn their own conclu- word: " That they all may be One; as Thou Father, sions. Those who do not wish to refer to Prophecy 'are asked, for their own sake, and for the sake of art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may the world, to consider the righteousness of the be One in us." Baha'i 'Teachings, and decide after just investiga- (John, Chap. xvii., verso 10, 11, 20.) . . ,tion, whether they do not meet the extreme need of the present day, morally, intellectually, and . • spiritually. ' 'á:"Whom say Y e that I am? " was the question . . which the Spirit put to the individual, throUgh Jesus. And some were able to say: "Thou art th~ Spirit of the living Goa." Likewise, the Spirit puts that question to us, to-day, through Bahil'u'llah. It is the same ques- .~ ~- be asked : " ~ h e what n more is there to with power to cast out evil spirits, which are not of It. It knocks at the door of the heart of every in; me had not come for them to be dividual; and each one who 'is.wise will answer his own door to the Spirit, and not leave that t o any ~ other. It is only the spirit within which can answer the Visitation of the Spirit. For only not depend on acquired. cumbersome knowledge which becomes rusty with age, and which is often used as a blind to veil the Truth. That lesser . knowledge which only serves Time, should -never ' be allowed to obscure the greatest of all know- ledge, which is the Knowledge of God. That is the eternal Well of everlasting Life. Whatever their outward privations-mqy be, those who drink Twenty thousand martyrs, in o w own day, for- from it sever thirst. It - has power to quench the " fires of animosity" ;for the hatred and animosity which crucified Jesus are to-day quenched. H e is And some are even yet, in 1923, joyhlly making 9z3 to-day honoured in every language, and in all the same reply, because some elders think they can regions of the world. Enthroned in all hearts is - . extol themselves by putting God out of the Courts He. His 'Teachings are a Standard of ~ u d ~ m e n t . of His own world. I f they believe they can, why His Life inspires the resurrection of the individual. are not all the history books burnt? Nay, they H e reigns in hearts the world over, and will ever cannot, for all that the Spirit saith is confirmed, reign in His own Station, the Well-Beloved Son of - from everlasting to everlasting. And if history books do not teach that; what is the use of them? many brethren. " Spirit ever stands for Reality. Many have testified, and are testifying, their hith in the Revelation of BahA'u'lla. And it will be readily seen that no one person, w k b v e r his or her qualifications or worldly station may be, The obligation to propagate the Teaebines of rested on His disciples, W b t , we may &, will ever be able to deal exhaustively, or a&- quately, with so great a subject. That is some- * J- J i B d dbe * state of the world, if instead of Q a howledge of them, they had carefully con- thing for which the world may be grateful, and it is mentioned in order to convey the understanding c d e d , hidden, and idolised them? It is not the that this present endeavour, inasmuch as it is a lack of knowledge concerning His Teachings, but testimony, is a testimony of faith, that the writer, &e failure practise them, which has brought after examining the Teachings of BahA'u'llAh, and calamities upon the world. after investigating to some extent, by no means ex- w h a t its conditions would have been had they haudively, the Prophecies relating to it, and after never been known is unimaginable. Those who bringing the Teaching to bear upon the problems, havc practised them have been the salt of the earth- spifitual, moral, intellectual, and social, which to- ms is Imndeniable. Jesus revealed the Fatherhood day exercise her own mind and the mind of the , oi ~~d ;and throughout His lik, which is from all world generally, has come to the joyful conclusion eternity, has prayed, and has taught men pray, that Bahh'u'lIbh has brought Divine Light to the * for the coming of the Father's Kingdom on earth world, and in This D a y is H e Whom God bath sent, a Personal Manifestation of His Spirit, even as Jesus was. The pen fails to define the Signs- m e slab3ect; dealt with, being of vital h p o h n c e came of His Appearance. In brief, then, this - to the happiness of the whole world, should in- testimony acknowledges Him to be what He terest all people, whatever their Religion, or Race, claimed to be ; as Jesus to-day is acknowledged to or Nation. And as this becomes evident, readers he what H e claimed to be. Whereas, in the begin. will know, that apology for not presenting i t would ning, His claim was not openly acknowledged, save be more in place than any explanation for doing so- by a few. A Revelation comprehending a11 previous 33,eve- It is hoped that this contribution, made by one latjons is given to the world by BahA'u'llAh. The without claim to any special ability, may, perhaps quintffsence of ~ h i c his : that all Revelations of for that reason, reach others, who believing, will the Tnlth, past and present, are in H a m o n y - '- -."- --a i l" =-nr * z * .; - i4 I Although many persecutions were heaped upon been revealed by the Prophets and Him by worldly despots, Bahti'u'llhh has, during 40 tions of God, in accordance with the =Pa- yeam of Exile and 'confinement, recorded the ut- e Age, at different stages of the world's terance of the Holy Spirit in the rich and melodious languages of Persia and Arabia. In face of aU opposition H e has bequeathed to the world .the Treasury of the Divine Will for this New Age. And it is very necessary that those within and with- of ancient rulers and their kingdoms out the Churches, of every Religion, should know eir failure to heed the Prophets and what the Spirit saith unto them To-day. The Divine Will for To-day is revealed in the Sacred Writings of BahA9u'11Ah, and expounded in the Tablets of the Greatest Branch. Those Writ- ings are gradually being translated into English and other languages, and will be translated into the universal auxiliary language; and whed the course of time have obscured the Light given world becomes fully aware of them, they will be successive Revelations, Religion, through mis- as eagerly read as the Holy Books preceding them ; d e h n d i n g , has often been the cause of divi- for they prescribe the Divine Remedy for the Re- ligious, Social, and Industrial troubles of our day. which stands so clearly for the promotion of Unity There are many in the world to-day who, while 'and Brotherhood, some, as already mentioned, are perceiving the need of Unity, are frankly confew sacrificing their lives, because opposers in their ing the lack of spiritual power so essential to it. 1 biind desire to suppress it, instead of proving them- To bring about TJnity, even in any one Religion * s be temples of the living God, have l ~ ~ o m e ~ l v e to or Nation, seems to them a .stupendous and i m p s - :as " whited even as Jesus found in sible task. Whereas, the reason for their depres. His Day, when through lack of spiritual insight, sion and failure is that their aim is not great those who should have welcomed, crucified Him. enough. It is incomplete. For the Oneness of all The world is largely unconscious of the Divine is the Truth of the matter, and knowledge of fiat Drama which has been witnessed since the appear- Truth, the only Key to Harmony : glimpses of ance of the BBb, and is still being witnessed by Ci 7 angels in heaven and on earth, yet " H e that watcheth over Israel slumbereth not, nor sleeps," while to these things, many in the world, and of it,. are heedless, or rushing to and fro after ephemeral things. There are millions of Jews, Christians, and Mu- bmmadans in the world, and it is not possible, either by argument, persuasion, or the sword, to get them to reject one Religion for another. But it is possible for them all to arrive at the under- standing that the aim of the Founders of all these Religions is One and the same ;and that they each serve specifically an Age in the progressive order of the Divine Plan to create Harmony in the world. They are the Supreme Concourse, moved by the Spirit, to promote Unity. How pitiful, then, are the misunderstandings which have blinded their followers to such an extent that they have perse- cuted each other most cruelly, believing it to be in their Names ! Since each has given Light in accordance with the capacity of the Age, and has pointed to further Revelation in the hlness of time to come; surely it is the disposition to idolatry which has blinded the world to the simple truth of the continuity of revelation. When it is seen and understood, all will cease to worship the Lamp, and abolishing prejudices, be able to walk in the Light of Oneness, and glorify God by " consorting with each other with fragrance," as to-day Bahb'u' llbh exhorts them to do. FAHA'U*LLAHTO CHRISTIANS : CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO ;'~tProcloim: surely the Father hath come and JERUSALEM : B t hfulfilled that whereunto you were promised in '"nd when H e was come nigh even now at the be Kingdom of God. Thisis the word which the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the a&- m veiled when H e said t o those around Him that ciples began ki" $hey could not bear it ; but when the stated t i n e "iLu r s ~ended and the Hour arrived, the Word shone voice for all t saying : @l forth from the Horizon of the Will . k ad ... , " Beware, 0 Concourse o f the Son, cast it not " Blessed is the King that cometh in the Name ' Behind Y e , but hold thereunto! .... This of the Lord. Peace in heaven, and glory in the [ Light hath appeared from the Orient and h t h highest. " i journeyed toward the Occident until it came unto I And some of the Pharisees from among the thee in these Latter Daus." - I I said unto H i m : "Muster, rebuke T h y ;:. verily, H e the Son beareth witness to Me, and " I bear witness t o H i m . . . . ~ disciples." ,And He answered, and said unto t h e m : Then tell Me : D o the children know the " ~ I f i 7 f these should hold their peace, the stones Father and confess H i m ? Or do they contradict would immediate1y cry out." Him as the people contradicted H i m before? Jesus t o Jerusalem : " In this Day it behoveth you t o proclaim in Q Jerusalem, Jerwalerm, which kinest the this Greatest Name among the Nations. D o you Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto ~hooseto be silent whilst trees and stones are call- thee ;how often would I have gathered thy children ing out,in the loudest voice : together, as a hen doth gather her chickens, under " Surely the Lord hat?&come, the posses so^ oj her wings, and Y e would not ! Great Glory ! " Behold your house is left desolate : and verily verily, W e have opened unto you the Gates of I I sag unto ?IOU, Y e shall not see Me, until the time the Kingdom ; come when Y e shall say, Are closing the door of your houses before I I " Blessed is Me that cometh in the Name of the M y Pace ? " Lord. " ' (" Lawh-el-Aqdas," (The Gospel according t o Luke.) Bahci'z~'lZ6~h's Message to Christians.) THE LORD OF HOSTS. '' THUSS P ~ K E T HTHE LORD OF HOSTS, SAYING, BEHOLDTAR MAN WHOSE NAME IS TBE BRANCH : AND HE SHALL GROW U P OUT OF HIS PLACE, AND BE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD : j// -t EVENHE SEIALL B ~ THE D TEMPLE LORD; AND HE SHALT, BEAR THE GLORY, OF THE AND SHALL I 'ABDU'L-BAHA THE GREATEST BRANCH i SIT AND RULE UPON HIS THRONE : AND THE COUNSEL II OF PEACE SHALL RE BETWEEN THEM BOTH." CENTRE OF THE COVENANT (Zechariah, Chap. 6, ver. 11.) AMONG THE NATIONS. i t THE GREATEST BRANCH. -. ra,**--ea& PROCLAMATION 'ARnllTPT R A ~ ; THE ~ O R I Z O N SOF THE THE WORLD WILL B ITIS THE HOUR OF THE,UNITY OF THE SONS OF MEN, AND THE DRAWING TOGETHER OF ALL CLASSES. THE LIGHTOF KNOWLEDGE HATH APPEARED BEFORE WHICH THE DARKNESS OF EVERY SUPERSTI- TIOUS FANCY WILL BE ANNIHILATED. 1% SHALL CEASE BETWEEN NATIONS, AND BY THE WILL OF GOD THE MOST GREAT PEACE SHALL COME. THE UNIVERSAL B A H ~ TEMPLE I THEFIRST MAS-EQQU'L AP_HKAR WAS BUILT AT I--ABAD (CALLED BY THE RUSSIANS ASKHABAD), IX RUSSIA.ONTHE PAGE FOLLOWING IS A PICTURE OF THE SECOND B d ' f TEMPLE, OR MAS* RIQU'L-ADII~R, TO BE BUILT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN,CHICAGO, ILL., U.S.A. DESIGN BY LOUIS J. BOURGEOIS. " INFORM THE TEMPLE IS NINE-SIDED. FROM DOME T O FOUNDATION I T IS A UNIQUE CREATION. IT IS SAID BY EXPERT ARCHITECTS T O REPRESENT T H E F I R S T ORIGINAL IDEA IN ARCHITECTURE SINCE T H E 1 3 T H CENTURY. INGEOMETRIC ORNAMENTATION I T THE FIRST MASHRIQU'L-A-AR IS SAID TO CONTAIN ALL THE KELIGIOUS SYMBOLS O F TO BE BUILT IN AMERICA, THE WORLD. BUTMORE THAN ALL THIS, THE NOBLE W I L L M E T T E , CHICAGO, ILL. SYMBOL OF TEE SPIRITUAL ORB,OR SUNBEHLND THE SAVIOUR OF MANKIND. THE WONDERFUL NINE- FOUNDATION STONE LAID POINTED ST.4R, FIGURING I N T H E STRUCTURE O F T H E BY 'ABDU'L-BAHA, MAY 1st. 1912. TEMPLE ITSELF, AND APPEARING AGAIN AND AGAIN IN ITS ORNAMENTATION, A S SIGYIFICANT O F T H E SPLRI- TUAL GLORY IN THE WORLD TO-DAY. '' THETEMPLE WILL BE A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR ALL MANKIND. ITSDOORS WILL NEVER BE CLOSED. NO PRIESTETOOD W I L L E V E R OFFICIATE W I T H I N I T S WALLS. ABOUT IT WILL BE GARDENS AND FOUN- TAINS. BEYOND THESE, A SERLES OF BUILDINGS DEVOTED TO TITE APPLICATIOY OF TRUE RELIGION TO LIFE. OXLYWORSHIP AND PR-IISE CAN BE VOICED IN T H E TEMPTS ITSELF." (Literary Digest, Aug. 1920.) WITH THE MOST MELODIOUS VOICES IN THE GAL- LERIES BUILT IN THE TEMPLEOF THE MACERIQU'L . AKKAR. THEPRAYERS OF THE LORD SHALL BE 2- ' CHANTED IN A MANNER TO ATTRACT HEARTS AND SOULS. " "BLESSED IS HE WHO LISTENS TO THE RIVER OF LIFE ! " REVELATION OF BAH~U'LLAH IS UNITY TRIUMPHANT ALLAH'U'ABHA ! e SATISFACTION. t " He who invi&th the people in My Name, k W T may be assumed that in the M e r e n t schools he is of Me." (BahA'uyW.) a a:% spiritual s8tisfrction : and in our travels we have found at times that we have hrd to let some things "You &all put crowns on their heads : crowns % go in order to receive the satisfaction which belongs set with brilliant jewels which shine like stars : to fuller pastures. Probably, in all fields of search cram of everlasting brightness that will not :*%A : we have found something we could not let go, fall off." ('~bdu'l-B&&.) + perceive it leads to Unity : for the things we have . to let go are merely our prejudices---or the preju- a- : dices of other people-against a further knowledge of it. : . Tmth is a280 satisfaction : And the utmost satis- faction is to be found in the Teachings of - i i ' .- . ~... -. . ..... . -- Bahi'u'llih. They are a Lighthouse of Spiritual '&&&'i Revelation is the Qiblih* of Salva- Guidance to those of all Religions, who are crying whole world, did the world but know it : out for that promised Light, w5ich is the special need of this Age : for many know, and confess, they have it not. The Revelation of Bahb'u'llirh is not exclusive. Coming to those who worship God under different Names, and to those who accept no Religion, it fulfils the Prophecies of God, and meets the highest social aspirations of Humani- tarianism. Securing all that is of the highest sight, rstanding; as friends and lovers, " of one Bahi'u'lllh saves ,Religion from drowning in the n a house. " Sea of Names : and elevates the Host by distin- have no greater Scriptural proof than that guishing the Light from the lamp which holds it, ,-#I be found in " Hidden Words " (Bahh'u'llih), calling upon all to worship God only. agr Creator bespeaks joy and gladness, for all who " There is no God, but God," says M&ammad, and all the Prophets with one accord have ex- claimed : " Glory be to God !" So the First Com- ~ ~ nature of things, have been expounded by His mandment of Moses is confirmed in every New !;.- Prophets, and are written i n the Sacred Scriptures Dispensation of Ehe Spirit, to keep mankind in the of all Religions, and all the " free thought " in straight Path of accomplishment, away from the the world cannot change those Laws. The Truth ruts of fruitless idolatry. &: - cannot be overthrown, and nobody is wise who FY In this Day of the Lord, Bahii'u'llih brings thinks contrary t o it. Bahi'u'llHh assures each essential Laws to establish the Kingdom of God, individual of God's Love, and of the ecstatic joy on Earth, in order that the Glory of God may be- of life, which enables those who keep His Laws to come manifest before all eyes. The Name of 5 rise triumphantly glorious, even over death itself. BahH'u'llih stands for the Glory of God. For fulness of life in' Gad's Kingdom, on earth, For this Jesus lived, and H e suffered crucifixion, and throughout eternity, is the prophecy of the because religious men took offence at His claim to Religion of God. hethe Son of His Heavenly Father. *"&iblih," the Point to which devoted ones turn in reverence, as Christians to the East. p. - --*- s - p a- p ---a- -- . d - I n an elementary Persian text book, used in o the fairminded schools, it is written, " Justice half Religion is." k in God and in The same little book states as a proof of God's m h other, is in all things provided, and Love to individuals, that H e gives t o each " a be 'met with recognifion, responsive generosity, Mother." This proof none can misunderstmd, for and true thankfulness on our part- it is not a mere matter of words. It is written in Satisfaction, joy, and gladness will become i d - many Scriptures that " God is Love," and by the vidud and universal experience, when all arise from power of His Spirit, many have sacrificed their the bed of indifference, and by the power of the lives to prove that Faith. Spirit of God, decide to take and to offer to If then, Justice is half Religion, the other half the overflowing Cup of Generosity which must be Mercy and Generosity : for it is God the Bahi'u'llith offers to Humanity, to-day. Merciful, the Generous, the Giver, Who through The Day of Grace inaugurated by Jesus, has Bahi'u'llith addresses each one of His children with had a long spell of centuries and has suffered con- the utmost Divine Love and Courtesy : siderable abuse. And it will be remembered that He was aware it would be so; for when it was " 0 SONOF SPIRIT ! suggested by His disciples that the goodly disposed Justice h loved above all. Neglect it not if thou should be separated from the evil doers, H e re- desirest Me. By It thou zsilt be strengthened ether until the to perceive things with thine own eyes and not with the eyes of men, to know them b y thine This Day is the Harvest of the seed-sowing of own knowledge, and not by the knowledge of Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and of all the Mani- any in the world, Meditate on this-how thou efore them, when oughtest to be. Justice is of M y Bounty to * the wheat will be gathered into the barn of reality, thee, and of My Providence over thee; therefore anJ the chaff scattered by the winds of circum- keep it ever before thy sight." stance, or discarded as stubble. All that is not of Seeing then, God's Love in the nature of things, - reality will perish in the realms of forgetfulness, or God willing, become purified in the fires of hearing of it through His Moly Prophets, and each experiencing it through a Mother's love, should remorse. we be i~elvonsiveto the wonderful bounty of The Call of the Kingdom is Now ! Now is the God ? Since Justice enables ~u to see things with accepted time ! 24 P L3 - ... - .- -- - - - DIVINE PRINCIPLES THE FOUNDATION AND TRUTH OF BEING. T is now over fifteen years since the writer of this grateful testimony was attracted by the - Holy Fragrances of BrthB'u'llivh, ' through a handful of His followers, who at that time met at the Higher Thought Centre, in London. A room had been engaged there for the purpose of expounding the Bahb'i Teachings, and many were the questions put by earnest students to Miss Ethel J. Rosenberg, to110 had made the pil- 1 perception; for it i s a Divine out-pouring grimage to Acca, and having sojourned in the .Spiet to meet the needs of Humanity, and home of the Master, had many beautiful stories t o rs its own sacrificial proof to demonstrate its tell of His constant kindness to all arouna Him, as well as much important Teaching to impart, which she herself had received direct from Him. The beautiful and indefinable spiri'i peculiar to the Bahd'i Dispensation was always evident in those gatherings, and through our persistent questioning of-both ancient and modern Seers. some of us sought, and found, intellectual satisfac- =. ~ I t was natural that this magnanimous claim tion, as well. should excite persistent questions, for some were Most of the Teaching given at the. Higher present who thought they had found Truth in a Thought Centre was of the nature of practical measure deliglitfully entrancing in one or other modern metaphysics, pertaining to healing, and , we of' the different presentations of Metaphysical individuil and general welfare. It was based on the hypothesis of Divine Principles as the origin, foundation, permanence, and Truth of Being, and as aid to individual perception of Truth. * (Ir Truth of Being." Grace Western). ideas which had too long h a m p e d our spirit in the name of theology. So being set h e from aU &~uld not grow in grace, " to the measure of the that, and believing the Truth had set us free, we rejoiced in a study of Divine Principles, with the understanding that t h y were b r current e x p r e sion-in all personalities. There was no mere " divine immanence," or My Father's House are many mansions : I go, to " spark " of divinity within us, not in our concep pkpare a place for you." tion of ourselves, such as is now conceded by How lovable and tender this assurance concern- theology, but potentially, the complete " image ing the Heavenly Kingdom, into which, through and likeness " as stated in Scripture, which is His own mind, Jesus so graciously permitted His natural and common between Father and Son, just waiting to be discovered and demonstrated, as bit by bit we unwrapped ourselves from the mental " swaddling clothes " which bound us; so it was with a " reverent recognition of our Divine birth- right, that we claimed our kinship with the ~ l m i g h t.y"* The study of Divine Principles had sef us free from the meshes of theology, and given us a deeper insight into the Teachings of Jesus. W e took Him our sake, and for the sake of righteousness, because to be the Word, t%e Light, the Truth, and the the tree of God's planting must bear fruit, and Way of Life, expressed Personally, to lighten the the Manifestations of God in each Visitation are Path of His followers throughout the Christian Era ; sufficient, until the further Light which H e promised in the fulness of Time, sfiould Come. ante, and sustainea by food some " know not of." For the " Spirit within us " bore testimony to the : They always bear the fruits of reality, and they fact, that H e had demonstrated Ris Divine quali- ties to the utmost; and since we per-ceived, and '- never mock one by unacceptable propositions. SO the children of the Kingdom have now a con-ceived ourselves to be the children of the (" The Builder and the Plan." Urrola N. Gestefeld). C right. we find that in the heart of God there is i?ofunderstanding, and is real, cannot be a place for every one, and Glory be t o Him ! The w- Call to His Kingdom, is Now ! *-&we brothers and sisters in the Heavenly The prpohe of this endeavour is that some md Jesus has been named our Elder who may read will become interested in that Call. her+,because He consciously demonstrated the For it is to those who know not of it these words h of Being, and as far as is generally known, e written, in the hope that their keen interest LefScst to be called the Son of God. At the walked this earth H e was known as the will be aroused in the Sacred Writings of their own Day, and in the Divine Laws revealed through !&gotten Son of God, and men gnashed their the Supreme Pen of Bahi'u'llHh. at such a claim. It mas accounted blas- His Call to the Kingdom, is Now! Have we k n y in those dark days, but now, it is taken as heard it? What is our reply? D o we pass it on, b t t e r of course. For - --- .," wnrJ ;n +he - - the fin+ .."ill 1U W or remain deaf and dumb? The Kingdom of -ed all tl and nLOWwe kno Heaven cannot be controlled by selfish seekers ear~enly ,ther, is real bla after their own glory. The most honourable ma t there should be children of the Spirit, was places are filled-by those who can drink the Cup of Sacrifice. Lqt us take a time of reverent hard for men to understand. Hence theologi- k4bbrications and the interminable discussions silence, alone, sometimes, in remembrance of those keen those who affirm, and those who deny, who have drunk that Cup for us, if we cannot do t Divinity of Christ ! so in the fellowship Remembrance, to which their The immaculate conception takes place in the Sacred Hearts invited us. ind, when we are born of the Spirit, and is the W e may not abase ourselves before Them. lception which we have of ourselves and each That is not what They came for. Such abase- othep. There is a little clarifying verse which nlns : ment has been in the past one of the greatest religious mistakes, and contrary to the spirit of .%66 Though Christ in Bethlehem a thousand times resurrection : for They bave ever called us to be born. fellowship with the Highest. There has never g If He's not born in you, your hope is all for- been any discourtesy from Them, to us. Quite $ lorn. y 9 the contrary. They are blind imitators who feign- P1. ing obeisance, teach others to abase themselves ; The example of Jesus is naturally and essen- but the holy, loving, and devoted reverence which tially the judgment, the resurrection, and the life 30 IL 31 - of us all. For by His life H e brought us into con- scious active communion with the Father, proved the resurrection of His Spirit, and thus gave us ii RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. everlasting Life. :Am Early acquaintance with the Bahh'i Teachings, !. H R O U G H O U T the 19th century " Free- will naturally, in a Christian country, find many so entranced by the beatific vision of Jesus, which * U dom " was the parrot cry of the unthink- ing majority, and the constant watchword makes clear such hossibilities for the children of g 4 . d high-minded men : yet this corxmon cry did men, that they may hesitate to examine their own mt uf itself bring about political freedom to Scriptures concerning the present-day Revelation, ;+. women. Women had to claim it. which in them, is promised. But it is hoped, that With many, freedom becam; little more than a when they remember Jesus promised it, they can- fetish, or a licence, a sort of beautiful doll which not refrain from examining the matter. For . grown-up people liked to play with, and which surely, all must soon become aware that the Light often led them into chains ; as idolatry of any kind of Divine Intelligence illumines the path of C.: alysys does. W e know some statesmen have k * humanity with resplendent beauty, in our own actually gone so far as to say, they would rather day. P see England " free " than " sober " ! Though To turn aside from it is to court disaster, and to [ ' havingit is clear there will not be much freedom worth become lost i s the labyrinths and cross-currents for any country which does not get free 7 % from the ravages of strong drink. And good of mental confusion; for it is the Re-appearance of that Spiritual Light, which lighteth the whole &: patriots of every land who have worked in the face of ignominy to set humanity free from it, will re- world. I t awakens the individual consciousness to F-"; a knowledge of divine origin, and so con- joice to know that it is a Bahh'i Precept that f i m s the claim of Jesus, I'lato, and Socrates; ac " alcoholic liquor shall not be used as a beverage" ; and is the Divine response in the nature of things-- g for it has blighted many a brilliant career, and to the need of this bewildered world. wrecked the happiness - of millions of homes. Notwithstanding the many blessings of freedom, which last century has bequeathed to this, the abuse Ft of it has left us with such an undesirable c r o ~of &a conditions, that the special work of this 20th cen- *-'.*; .:** i Harmony, is exceedingly difficult : so difficult, icism of perso nal friendIs, wbLO showi bejudice have rendereld conversati that without clear Spintuul Guidance, such a task could not be accomplished. There are many organisations on foot to-day, , '' You are no child of mine," have fathers been which, representing only partial good, gather their b w n to say to their children, " if you do not be- armies together to attain supremacy and prefer- eve " this, or that. Or, '< out of my house you ence over organisations representing other partial go, if you refuse to fetch my beer." And children good. The natural result being that there is chaos who would have refused to go for beer, have had to and unnecessary hardship for many good people in to the tap room for their father, because their their efforts for religious, political, social and in- i$- mother's heart was breaking. Such episodes do dustrial reform. Though as St. Paul told us, " all not help children to keep the Fifth Commandment things work together for good to those that love E. of Moses. God." And Bahi'u'llih looking out on such a ., Alas ! the hopes of many fathers even to-day are world of confusion, has declared in the Name of ,- centred on the turf, and their minds concentrated God, that Religious, Political, Social, and Indus- k@ on the beer glass; because, as the late Venerable Dean of Peterborough (one time Vicar of St. trial prejudices must be abolished. 'This will mean the abolition of much futile slavery on the Matthews, Leicester,") used then so clearly to ex- - - - -& a d e s i ~ e t ~ plain with emphasis : " .-Gambling part of those who wish to save the world from destruction by inadequate means. For those who profit bzanothefs loss." advocate them have often in the past been known How can anybody keep the Commandments of to be cynical concerning the efforts of other people, God who claims the right of freedom in un- - brotherly indulgences? Those who try can only not knowing that all good is One. Temperance societies, for instance, have ignored Industrial supply instances of the folly of making a god of C C Freedom," which, like some other things, is questions. Socialism has scorned Religion as fraudulent, and Religion repudiated Socialism as good for good purposes and bad for bad ones. materialistic. And it cannot be denied that each - Many to-day regard the honour - - of -- -- - the - - - - turf -- - --- - as ld dismiss God as fictitious, and cl re there -- in- --. has had a measure of truth in its objections. This only proves the impartiality of Truth, which can- 'are of their d u ti'~ to their own childrei not be seen with a biassed mind. When belong- - or to the nloth~rnf them- I t i q nmnnino that c ~ l f - ing to more than one organisation for reform, & respecting persons can t u n away from that which many a time have the hearts of some been stabbed is really hono&able, and belittle their own i n W l i gence by extolling honour which is a fictitious affair, and, with the enemies of society, dismiss all consideration of their solemn obligations made in the presence of' witnesses, to their own chosen partners in life. It is a pity there are both men and women who so delude themselves. May the $HERE has been in times past, and very spirit of understanding open the eyes of any who properly, a great outcry against the fierce- ) have not seen the truth in such matters. ness of industrial competition. Often it ' " A man's only bondage is his word," says the US ask : " Are we on earth, or Prophet Jeremiah, and it is for each to decide to bell? " And Kingsley, who was not him- whom he gives his word. H e can give it to the @ tortured in the mills of industry, has wondered truest and best of Friends, or to the Tempter. His behalf of his fellows, " if there will be any com- Creator is benign, and i t is ordained in the nature %tition in heaven ? " of things - that Man has, for s test, the freedom of PZ Gmnting, of course, that heaven is a condition of choice. %cart and mind, that it is essentially communal h d not individualistic, the reality within should &ow evidences without, and it would not then . --- could have any place. that work don€:faithfully a spirit of service is acceptable as an act of worship, f seems to dispose of the spirit of competition, and $ by giving a benevolent incentive to heavenlier P i- ' :, graces, it suggests not only industrial harmony, - . but the 2ossibility of bringil ssed benedictioIn: "Pea -- on earth, and Goodwill towards men." What- ever one's religious, social, or political views may ' be, no one would object to that most desirable state 'Br* d b things. capable How we are, much when stranger, happy in ourhow workmuch more ! Surely such practicable demonstration of Religion would 1 reasonable beings-but to be always wanting to win the adherence of all men, and very soon make &la,-, n t h ~ rnpnnle is to rob life of its courtesies atheism, anarchy and rebellion obsolete; for we -- ---- are raised by our ideals, and such thoughts would 'Jndustrial competition savows too much of corn- then have no place in the common mind ; therefore L1~i t-mtakes - the ~ o e t r vout of life, and robs in- honest lovers of humacity should not scoff at idealists, for " High aims overleap the bounds of F- -- low successes." W e are brothers and sistersi and part in making the very universe ring with joy. if we have not attained perfection, we shall inci- The iov of satisfaction-to be experienced by all : dently help each other by aiming at it. There are worlds of endeavour to conquer, which would give men a rest from conquering each other. ,,break away refusing to be sharpened; and no Competition lets loose the wolf spirit, and k b t s and shoes which cripple us. Pure food and though " all the ways of man are right, in his own F nn a l h c t ; t l ~ t p a- hpnlltifirl fnlit: nuts. and other eyes ; the Lord meigheth the spirits." The spirit of envy, jealousy, and selfishness is engendered by competition ;yet these are forbidden and despised, and incompatible with peace. Spiritually, emo- tionally and psychically, conlpetition is unmercihl, tbat"' all things which we need, will be added unto unjust, vainglorious and unsound : a satanic de- Z" W,in measure pressed down and running over, be- vice to oppress the so& of men. It has resulted yond anything which n-e can think, or speak." in riches being heaped up superfluously upon the - That, we know, is the generous promise of God. few, and too often left many deprived of the bare But alas ! The ravages of competition have not means of existence. Even the young, in some , only been evident in industry. I n Science, Art, countries, have been known to commit suicide, be- Literature, and even in Religion itself, the desire cause failure to pass examinations in " the clumsy dust of ancient knowledges " has doomed F: of the false to attain glory, and to dominate the . true, has also been known. It is unnecessary to them to military service and despair. They have I, dwell upon it. But in this time of re-construction preferred not to live, rather than to live under such we should see to it that the true, in all lines of cnlel and insane conditions. To do one's utmost in the way of service and attainment should satisfy - tion of the Religion of God is One. Therefore all h u g h which one passes from Washington effort, whether it be religious, political, social, in- muare, into Fifth Avenue, New York. There dustrial, or humanitarianshould be directed with &e rich have repaired. And it is hoped that the due appreciation and regard to that Divine gich in this world's goods w i l l hasten to b m e the Economy which has made all things One. Other- wisest and most honest of people, that they may wise, heavenly zeal is consumed. Competitive achieve the feat which the Lord Christ said : " is effort is selfish, separative, unsatisfactory, and is more difficult than the passing of a camel through not in accord with the Divine Policy which cares a needle's eye." There are rich in all lands, even for all, provides for all, and comprehends all. the poorest of lands. And when so many are in F a r Truth being One and indivisible, spiritual extreme need, this requires csp'lanation. values cannot be used in a spirit of rivalry and in- dependence under separate banners, through failure to appreciate their relation to each other and to the Source from which they spring ;any more than fractions can be used without regard to their rela-. tive value to each other and to the Whole Number \%%en the rich cease to oppress the poor because which governs them. - all, have inscribed George Washington's standard But it is not all, we gratefully remember, who on heart and mind, we shall see the endeavour for would trifle with the Oneness of natural and one Financial standard throughout the world. 1 z spiritual Law. Some there are who agonise even Then, neither the dollar, nor the pound, the 3 now in conflicting organizations which cry out franc, the mark, or the rupee, will have advan- like locusts for sustenance : while many are broken - tage or disadvantage. For Life is One, and in in the endeavour to support them. And this is their relation to each other they all represent life bound to happen when that which is partly true values. The unfortunate will not always be sub- does not relate itself with the wliole. The wise ject to further misfortune, by becoming the slaves . of the money market as they are to-day. There s I and the honest relate themselves with the whole Truth. George Washington must have felt this, are different sorts of slavery which need to be I when he exclaimed : " Let us raise a Standard to I which the wise and the honest can repair. The Event is in the hands of God." I f memory serves I correctly those words are inscribed on the Arch standards in finance, morals, industry, religion, 40 41 i and in an human relationships. But it is not enough to aspire separately. It is necessary for individuals and natio~isto aspire together, in order to secure the refreshing fairriess in these matters, which is their heart's desire. 'ABDU LBAHA Melodious individual voices have reverberated ON INDUSTRIAL UNREST. through the centuries', and are now blended into One Voice, which is calling all to Unity. BDU'I said ' You have Jesus yearned in prayer for Unity. The Bahh'i tioxied me about strikes. This question u- Teachings come in answer to that prayer, calling is and will be the subject of great - diffi- all to gather in that ,which is the ripe Harvest of culties. Strikes are due to two causes. One is His seed-sowing. the extreme sharpness and rapacity of the capi- The Principles of BahbYu'lliH are Pillars of talists and manufacturers : the ,other, the excesses, Strength, in establishing Unity. They enable us the avidities, and ill-will of the workmen and arti- to see that to be free, is not enough; because sans. It is therefore necessary to remedy these Humanity is One Family, and an all-comprehend- two causes. " ing glance should enlist the practical help of every F " But the principal cause of these difficulties lies one, in establishing Unity and Harmony the world in the I.aws of the present civilization : for they ,-* over. i- lead to a small number accu~nulatingincomparable fortunes, beyond their needs, whilst the greater The Human Ideal, should be Hannony and number remains destitute, stripped, and in the Oneness. Then will all see with God's Sight, and greatest misery. This is contrary to justice, to the effort for Unity, will incidentally set indi- humanity, to equity; it is the height of iniquity, 4.: viduals free from the greatest of all bondage-the the opposite to what causes divine satisfaction. bondage of self. 5 t! " This contrast is peculiar to the world of man : e V i t h other creatures, that is to say with nearly all ,. . animals, there is a kind of justice and equality. Thus in a shepherd's flock of sheep, inva troop oE deer in the country, among the birds of the prairie, of the hill, or the orchard, almost every animal - \ \ I receives a just share based on equality. With munity would be quite destroyed. Thus, there is them such difference in the means of existence is a great wisdom in the fact that equality is not not to be found : so they live in the most complete imposed by law; it is therefore preferable for peace and joy. ". - moderation to do the work. The main point is, by " It is quite otherwise with the human species, means of laws and regulations to hinder the con- which persists in the greatest error, and in absolute stitution of excessive fortunes of certain indi- iniquity. Consider an indindual who has amassed viduals, and to protect the essential needs of the treasures by colonising a country for his ~rofit.He masses. For instance the manufacturers and the has obtained an incomparable fortune, and has industrials heap up a treasure each day, and the secured profits and incomes which flow like a river, poor artisans do not gain their daily sustenance; whilst a hundred thousand unfortunate people, weak and powerless, are in need of a mouthful of accept it. Therefore laws and regulations should i bread. There is neither equality nor brotherhood. be established which would permit the workmen So you see that general peace and joy are destroyed, the welfare of humanity is partly anni- hilated, arid that collective life is fruitless. deed, fortune, honours, commerce, industry, are In- to receive from the factory owners their wages and a share in the fourth or the fifth part of the profits, according to the wants of the factory, and the I I in the hands of some individuals, while other people I n other words the workmen should receive wages are subject to quite a series of difficulties and t o which assure them adequate support, and when limitless troubles ; they have neither advantages, 1 nor profits, nor comfort, nor peace." " Then rules and laws should be established t o I regulate the excessive fortunes of certain private to satisfy the workmen with the amount they I individuals and to limit the misery of millions of receive, so that they may be able to put a little the poor masses ; thus a certain moderation would aside for days of want and helplessness." be obtained. However, absolute equality is just as " When matters are thus fixed, the owner of a impossible, for absolute equality in fortunes, factory will no longer put aside daily a treasure honours, commerce, agriculture, industry, would which he has absolutely no need o f ; and, the work- end in a want of comfort, in discouragement, in men and artisans will no longer be in the greatest disorganisation of the means of existence, and in misery and want, and will not be subjected to the llniversal disappointment : the order of the com- greatest privations at the end of their life." ~ I D l - \I (G Without taking into consideration that the longer rebel and revolt, nor demand beyond their fortune is disproportionate, the capitalist succumbs rights : they should no longer go out on strike, they under formidable burdens, and gets into the should be obedient and submissive, and not ask for greatest difficulties and troubles ; the administra- impossible wqes. Bct the mutual rights of both tion of an excessive fortune is very difficult and associated parties will be fixed and established exhausts man's strength. ") according to custom by just and impartial laws. In ~tis then clear and evident that the repdition case one of the two parties should transgress, the of excessive fortunes amongst a small number of courts of justice would have to give judgment and individuals, while the masses are in misery is an by an efficacious fine put an end to the transgres- iniquity and an injustice. I n the same way abw- sion ;thus order will be reestablished, and the diffi- lute equality would be an obstacle to life, to wel- culties settled. The interference of courts of justice fare, to order, and to the peace of humanity. I n and of the Government in difficulties pending be- such a a just medium is prefernble. I t , tween manufacturers and workmen is legal, for the lies in the capitalists being moderate in the ac- reason that current affairs between workmen and qisition of their profits, and in their having 3 manufacturers cannot be compared with ordinary for the poor and needy; that is to affairs between private persons, which do not con- say, the workmen and artisans should receive a tern the public, and with which the Government fixed and established daily wage, and have a share should not occupy itself. I n reality, although they in the general profits of the fac.tor~." appear to be matters between private persons, c c It would be wen, with regard to the social these difficulties between employers and workmen rights of manufactulrers, workmen and artisans, produce geneml detriment : for commerce, in- that laws be established, giving moderate profits to dustry, agriculture and general affairs of the manufacturers, and to workmen the necessary country are all intimately linked together. If means of existence and security for the future. one of these suffers an abuse, the detriment affects Thus, when they become feeble and cease working, the mass. Thus the difficulties between workmen get old and helpless, and die leaving children under and nlanufacturers become a cause of general age, these children will not be annihilated by excess detriment. " of poverty. And it is from the income of the "The Court of Justice and the Government have factory itself, to which they have a right to derive therefore the right of interference. m e n a diffi- the means of existence." occurs between two individuals with refer- " I n the same way, the workmen should no ence to private rights, it is necessary for a third to - &ap-$w-'.p .ail& \ i! & - ? f i Laura Cliflord Barney. I t is contained in t b 1i settle the question ; this is the part of the Govern- ment; then the question of strikes-which causes A?'nel.ican edition of 1918, but inamtrial 1 trouble to the country and is often connected ttVubh are wor1d-roide, it zs given here fm t b with the excessive vexations of Ehe workmen, as benefit of those who might not o t h e 4 a e know of' well as with the rapacity of manufacturers-how the Solution portmyed by 'Abdu'l-Bahd, the could it remain neglected? " Semant of God. " Good God ! I s it possible, that seeing one of his fellow creatures starving, destitute of every- thing, a man can rest and live comfortably in his luxurious mansion? H e who meets another in the greatest misery, can he enjoy his fortune? Therefore, in the Religion of God, it is prescribed and estaBIished that wealthy men each year give a certain part of their fortune for the main- tenance of the poor and unfortunate. This is the foundation of the Religion of God, and the most essential of the Commandments. " " While man is not forced by the Government, whenever by the natural tendency of his good heart, and with the greatest spirituality, he makes provision for the poor, it is most praiseworthy, and well pleasing to God and man." " Such is the meaning of the good works in the Divine Books and Tablets."- The above dhcourse on " Strikes,'' is taken from an " Appendix," to the London 1908 edition of " Some Answered Questions," Collected and Translated from the Persian of 'Abdu'l-Bahh, by -- - - - ---- -- pp- - - . pp 7 c * - > s*ra *r --4 * i r l i * ' . - , 7 - -. = --a,- *'C * 4aLL& ,<-A 'j * I I To bring mirthfulness to every weeping one ; To become salubrious water to every thirsty one ; To be the cause of glory to every fallen one; THE -BEWARE TABLET. And to be charitable to all the p r . I HE Friends of God and Handmaidens of Beware ! Beware ! Lest ye offend any heart ! the Merciful must render service to the Beware ! Beware ! Lest ye hurt any soul ! (3 Oneness of the Human world, and 13eware ! Beware ! Lest ye deal unkindly to- show love and a 5 i t y to all the children of men. ward any person ! They must deal with the utmost devotion, good- Beware ! Beware ! Lest ye be the cause of will, love, and kindness, towards all Humanity." hopelessness to any creature ! His Highness, Bahi'u'llih, addressing the Should any soul become the cause of grief to any World says : one heart, or of despondency to any one soul, it " Ye are all the leaves of One Tree, the fruits of were better for him to hide himself in the lowest One Branch." Therefore the law of relationship, strata of the Earth, than to walk upon the Earth. brotherhood, kinship, fatherhood and motherhood, Should any soul desire the abasement of his Kind, is established and proven amongst all the families undoubtedly nonentity were better for him : his of the Human Race. nonexistence better than his existence, and his Endeavour Ye, with a11 your heart and soul, so death better than his life." that you may live and act in accordance with the " Therefore my advice to you is : Endeavour as Teachings of Bahir'u'llih. much as you can to show kindness to all men, t o To become a shelter and an asylum to every deal with perfect love, affection and devotion with oppressed one ; all the individuals of Humanity. Remove from To assist and uplift every vanquished one ; amongst yourselves, racial, patriotic, religious, To be a skilled physician to every sick one ; sectional, political, commercial, industrial, and To bestow a swjfi healing antidote to every agricultural prejudices ; so that ye may become wounded one ; the founders of the structures of the Oneness of To inspire with confidence every fearful one ; Humanity. All countries are One country; all To grant tranquillity and composure to every nations are the children of One Father. The agitated one ; struggle for existence among the ferocious wolves To gladden the heart of every depressed one ; has become the cause of all these differences, and 50 51 & V - strifes; otherwise the expanse of the World is and be assured of it, by evidences in the lives of spacious, and the Table of the Bounties of the Almighty is spread in all regions."" Then, indeed, will the Glory of dod ';cover Upon Ye, be Baha El Abha ! the earth." Have not the Prophets, of every (Signed) 'ABDU'L-BQHA ABBAS. Age proclaimed that " these things shall be ? " God's Will is good-will to all mankind, and One can scarcely read this Tablet of Bahb'u9- this knowledge should incline all to attune their llbh with concentrated attention without being hearts to the countless melodies of the Divine conscious that the Voice of God is calling, or Message for To-day, and to recognize that the without experiencing a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some Bahais have called it "The Beware Tablet," not only for obvious reasons to THE LORD OF HOSTS be found in the Tablet itself, but perhaps also I with an inner knowledge of the necessity of has been manifested in accordance with the ful- exercising constantly that divine kindness to filment of Prophecy, and is calling all men to which we have ever been called by the Messengers unite under the Banner of Universal Harmony. of God, in every Age. Divine kindness has been made manifest to the To-day, that Call is again made clear by world through Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu'l-&ha, I Bahb'u'llbh, the Nightingale of SignXcances. the Greatest Branch, even as in former Time, I Divine kindness has been manifested by Him, and it has, been manifested by Jesus, the Christ, 1 has been exemplified in the life of 'Abdu'l-BahA, Whose teaching and the teaching of the Prophets I I the Greatest Branch. anticipated the appearance of Bahh'u'llah and I When that kindness which blends the human 'Abdu'l-Bahit in the world. I with the divine is manifested the world over, It remains for each and all of us to manifest from each to all, in accordance with the Divine good-will to each other by the power of the Exhortation, all will become conscious of the Spirit which gives life to us all, in order that the I presence of the living God, for we shall in each Kingdom of God may be realized on Earth. I other, see glimpses of God-likeness, face to face, I * Translated by Mirsa Ahmad Sohrab, Washington, D.C. Nor. 11, 1910. i I 'i \ I ance with the necessities of the Time it has become I due, and the inclination to dismiss Prophecy with its broader scope as something belonging to the THE UNIVERSALITY realms of uncertainty, has hidden the all-embrac- LI I OF ETERNAL TRUTH. ing Purpose of Religion from view. So we may not forget, that Truth is indivisible. OWARDS the end of His time on Earth, W e must know that it is the Spirit of Truth which i I I I (3 things Jesus clearly said there were " other " which H e had to say unto His disciples, which then, they could not bear : but that at a time when no man knoweth, " Another moves the Prophets and Saviours of the world to deliver the ITniversal Messages of God. They always invite individual co-operation : therefore Prophecy cannot be dismissed, for i t is laden with would come in the Spirit of Truth, and guide them just and righteous Purpose for the whole of into all Truth." H e also said when offering the Cup at the Feast of His own Passover, " I will The recognition of Divine Universal Principles not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until . is necessary to the happiness of individuals and that day when I drink it new with you in My Nations. This knowledge will incidentally Father's Kingdom." (Matt., Chap. 26, ver. 29.) bridge that painful difference of opinion between Nearly 2,000 years have passed since those words Christians of some denominations concerning were spoken with a meaning which covered the whether they should take an interest in the right- Passing of the Son on the cross of rejection, and eous government of the world ; for application ot the coming of the Father's Kingdom to establish the principles of Righteousness to national and the Glory of God on Earth. international affairs will naturally make it easier Yet, free as we have believed ourselves to be, for every one to live up to their Religion. Where- Christians, in common with those of other Reli- as unjust social relationship between individuals gions, have confined themselves to the habit of not or nations deprives many of hope, either in this looking beyond the Teaching of the Founder of life or the life to come. Righteous Principles are their own Religion-as that Teaching relates to all-comprehending and will put party politics out individual salvation. This tendency, together of court. with the disposition to idolatry and place-seeking To-Day, the comnlanding Voice of God speaks rather than to obedience, creates a difficulty in through BahA'u'llAh, and we know it to be the accepting further Revelstion now, when in accord- same Volce of Righteousness which has spoken - -- through all the Manifestations of God Who have appeared under different Names : from 'Moses, Abraham, Jesus, or Mlgemmd, who all saw afore- time that Divine Event which has come to pass UNIVERSAL through the travail of their Soul-the rising of the PRINCIPLES OF B A H ~ U ~ L L A H . Sun of Righteousness in the world of Humanity to make all men One-the establishing of the HICH are Rays from the Sun of Right- eousness now penetrating the mind of Kingdom of God, on Earth. Mankind, for they represent important Bahi9u'll& comes in the Spirit of the Father, therefore all we hold dear for the individual in the Measures of Justice, now over-due, and are essen- Name of Jesus, H e gives in overwhelming tial to the establishing on Earth, of measure; but His Teachings, fulfilling Prophecy, THEMOSTGREAT PEACE. contain also further Revelation of God's Will con- cerning Universal affairs, and the Divine Will is clearly expressed in the Principles given to the world by Him. They are the Ropes of God given for the world's salvation in this time of difficulty and transition, and to which all who desire the protection of God should cling. For they are essential to establish on Earth, the Most Great Peace. Being Principles of Righteousness, tbey are easy to understand, and should readily find n home in every heart. GOTTEN. PO. SOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM. \ \ / i I A list of BahB'i publications will be appended Handmaidens of the Merciful are moved by for those interested in further study of the Bahb'i the power of the Spirit coming through Faith, and in the Sacred Writings of Bahb'u'l- ~ ~ h b ' u ' l l i h ;(the same Christ Spirit which filled 1Ah and cAbdu'l-BahB, seekers after Tmth may Jesus) to spread the knowledge of the Oneness of I find that which is more prccious than rubies, be- God and the Oneness of Mankind. cause it pertains to eternal life. I This is to be found through the Holy Books of As Jems, an earnest student of the Scriptures, God's Revelation which have been given in the recognising Himself in them was undoubtedly the past, is found in the present Revelation of Bahi- best exponent of them, in His Day, so Bahh'u'llbh 'u'llbh, and will be found in as many more Revela- in accepting Him, makes clear that the same Spirit tions as may be necessary to bring Mankind into is evident in all the Manifestations of God-that complete rapport with the Laws of God, which being one and the same Spirit, It proceeds from pertain to general resurrection from the deadness the only Source of Majesty. So H e delivers to of trespasses and error. us His Message, containing the greatest of all The mines of wealth contained in God's Revela- = Knowledge, the Knowledge of God. It is obvious tions to Mankind are now opened up to us afresh, therefore, to those who see with the eye of the and more than they have ever been, through the Spirit, that Bahh'u'llhh is the very Sunrise of penetrating Sight of Bahb'u'llih, who, seeing their Inner Meaning to be One Harmonious Whole, H e expounds God's Laws for to-day, in clear courteo~lslyinvites us to investigate and consider and pristine purity, in order that His Covenant it for ourselves, that we may participate in His with God amongst the Nations may be fulfilled. Vision of Eternal Truth which the all-compre- and that Heavenly Kingdom, which Jesus earned hending Generosity of our God has provided for for, be established on Earth. us. Clearly, H e shows, we are the inheritors Bahi'u'llbh, manifesting the Spirit of the Father, of the Kingdom of Heaven. I n Unity, we are left, in accordance with Prophecy, His own Be- rich indeed, but by separations and divisions we loved Son, 'Abdu'l-RahB, to be the Centre of His have made ourselves poor. Covenant amongst the Nations, to establish the The Inner Meaning of God's Revelation is the Kingdoni of God on Earth. And by His hard and Cup of Oneness which Bahd'u'llih offers. And loving labour of delight, 'Abdu'l-Bahb has be- those who accept it with understanding are im- queathed to the world wisdom and guidance, neces- pelled to offer it to others ; for the Friends of God sary to protect the Cause of God from error. - - aa-rurrrw- -- - 7 \ I n the lives, and through the Sacred Tablets and They have made sincere attempts, but without ' Holy Writings of BahH'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi, the Guidance which comes from God, Man cannot the Spirit earnestly 'says to all : " Come !" And bring Peace to the world. H e has been trying unless the world heeds this Divine Invitation, it ever since the world began, and has miserably is inevitable that great calamities will overtake it. Jesus was the clear exponent of the Sacred It will be seen by all who consider them that Writings before Him, and it will be seen that the Principles of Bahd'u'llAh contain the very Bahit'uYll& and 'Abdu'l-Bahb are clear exponents essence of Peace : individual and universal. They of the Divine Scriptures given before their appear- are absolutely without prejudice. No se&h in- ance. Their own Sacred Writings are therefore terest can be conserved when they are established. as precious as the records concerning Jesus; for And with these Pillars of uprightness and guiding they make His sayings perfectly plain-and fulfil lines of construction-with Christ Jesus the magni- the promise of further Divine Guidance. Jesus ficent Corner Stone, the rich gift of our Generous gave us a New Commandment, W e have not God-we can with perfect confidence proceed to kept it very well. He was the Corner Stone, establish the Kingdom of God on Earth. wbich the builders of His Day refused. He BahH'u'llih has Covenanted with God, for this. prayed for the Kingdom of God to come. Gathering up the desires and aspirations of the Bahi'u'llhh brings Laws and Principles of Guid- Heavenly Messengers TVho have appeared before ance, of universal importance-which are essential Him, H e has made His Covenant with sacrifice, to it. He, therefore, coming to proclaim the Glory in order t o establish the Most Great Peace. of God, is the Desire of Nations to-day, and God's Therefore, in this Day, a New Dispensation of i own Answer to the prayer of Jesus-" Thy King- dom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth, as it is the Spirit of God has come to us through Bahi'u'lldh, and leaves from the Tree of L i f e are I in Heaven. " given for the Healing of suffering Nations. I I Statesmen of many lands are assembling, and not knowing that H e Who is the " Desire of A brief historic note will be given on another page, indicative of the outline of this most thrilling Nations " has come to declare Universal Princi- Event of all Time-the Coming of the Kingdom ples which are the Will of God, they are acting of God on Earth. I t will be seen that the Rib, on behalf of the Nations in a way which has not blessed be His Name, the Door ! through which yet brought Peace. Light came, bears the same relation to Bahb'u'lldh - -- -- 7 Ae'*%..@.k I ., i as John the Baptist bore to the Conling of Jesus- ~~h~ fllffered martyrdom for that reason, and like- wise madyrdorn happened to the Bhb. But every calamity which has occurred in the history of the A UNIVERSAL B&A'i Cause, has proved to be a great blessing AUXILIARY LANGUAGE. fraught with benign consequence. T is written of men and nations that " a What, for instance, could have seemed a greater little child shall lead them." Yes ; and misfortune to the English people, the French, the 1 German, the Italian, or those of any country, than I to have a Divine Revelation coming to the world I in a tongue unknown to then1 ! How much trouble " They shall not hurt or destroy in all my Holy has arisen to Christians, because they have been unable to read exactly what Jesus said in the langu- Mountain : I For the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge I age in which H e spoke, or in which His sayings of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." I were first recorded ! It is not impossible that some 1 meanings have crept in which mere not exactly And we know it is the word which the Lord His. So great is the power of His Spirit however, bath spoken, for it is coming to pass. Even at the that it would have been impossible for any recorder time when men repudiate simplicity for leader- I to conceal It. It is recognisable by the simple ship i t is significant that this is so, for ''although minded, and is something we can each know and be sure of, in spite of diiliculties. Yet, neverthe- the leaders of the people cause them to err,"- " the zeal of the Lord of Hosts doth accomplish ! I less, it would have been joyous to have been able 1 to read His meanings in the tongue in which He When Bahir'u'llhh in the zenith of His Man- spoke to His disciples, or even for all the Nations hood, was confined with His companions in prison, to be able t o read them in one and the same by despotic governments, and religious fanaticism, I language. And indeed, we have the means for this at hand. How true it is, that " there is with the heavy chains of persecution around their pecks-for teaching in God's Name that the I nothing which we may think or speak, which the Spirit has not power to accomplish !" " bonds of affection and Unity between the song of m,en should be strengthened; that diverJity of . religions should cease, and differences of race be * I 0nnulled ;and proclaiming that fruitless strife and 62 63 1i ruinous wars should pass away-that all men should was 19 years of age, the language was more or less live as brothers," and that the " most Great Peace ready, and Zamenof and his colleagues celebrated shall come," God was preparing a little child (who its birth in a college festival; but the author was listened at his mother's knee, in another part of still too young to pubfish his work, and decided t o the world)--to do a mighty work in furthering one wait five or six years. While attending the univer- of the Principles which the Divine Mind through sity he gave all his spare time in those most precious Bah6'uYllAhwas promulgating as essential to usher years of youth to the study and perfection of his in, and secure, Universal Peace. That child after- invention. After many disappointments, he suc- -- wards became Dr. Zamenof, who is now renowned ceeded in publishing it at his own cost, in 1887." for presenting to the world the International Auxi- liary language, known as Esperanto. q, " Thus we see Esperanto - is the outcome of years " Dr. Zamenof was born in 1859, at Bielestock, of patient perseverance on the part of a man of in Poland. The inhabitants there consisted of genius. Now, it can be learned at the cost of a four different elements : Russians, Poles, Ger- few hours pleasant study per week, during a period mans, and J ews : all speaking different languages, of six months. Of what national language can and living at enmity with each other. The young this be said?"* boy was strongly impressed with the fact that an How good it is to have, in the face of such alien language is a primary cause of international apparently overwhelming difficulties, this practical hatred, and at an early age he pondered over the assurance that there is, as Shakespeare wrote, " ,4 strange dierence between the creed his mother Divinity which shapes our ends." And without taught him, " the brotherhood of man," and the doubt many could point to other events, events actual opposite of this, which he saw on all sides. which have contributed to '' The One far-off Child as he then was, he acutely sorrowed for the Divine Event," of which Tennyson sang, and to world, and gradually became filled with an un- which " the whole Creation," has now moved : faltering ambition to change all this. From this For, even in the darkness of the night which the determination he never swerved, although of world has known, it has approached us so nearly as course, he found as he grew up, that the boy's t o have taken place in our own Dag ! idea of unlimited power was exaggerated. Neter- Now He, Bahh'u'llhh, the Desire of Nations, has theless, while at school and at college, he still fr Come, of necessity bringing with Him Divine j persevered in his endeavour to unite all men in a . common tongue . . . " " I n 1879, when he * (Margaret L. Jones. 66 Esperanto Manual.") - - ----'*l--~~-~"+"~Wa r k \ Laws and Principles which-will make all men One. Is not this that to which all Ages have aspired? . Let us read'how His Beloved. Son, 'Abdu'l- Bahh, b e * q set free from the bonds of oppression, ABDU L-BAHA IN PARIS. laboured throughout the world to promulgate those DDRESSING the Paris Esperanto Group, Principles of salvation, and decide, when we February 12th, 1913, at a banquet given have read, what we are going to do, now H e has left in his honour a t the Hotel Modern in that us, toward spreading a knowledge of them, and city, after a brief introduction by M. Bourlet, the what part we shall take in getting them established, President of the Paris Esperanto Society, and what support and encouragement we shall give 'Abdu'l-Bahh said : to those who are bent on this great Purpose? " One of the revealed Principles of the Universal W e know we can do nothing of ourselves. It is, Religion is the establishing of a Universal as BahA'u'lldh has taught us, " the Executive R w e r of God's Spirit, which enables His servants to perform His orders." undertakings are divided into two kinds-universal and specific. The result of every universal effort is infinite, and the outcome of every specific effort " I n this age, those human problems which create a general interest are universal ;their r e d t s are likewise universal, for humanity has become interdependent. The international laws of to-day are of vast importance since international politics are bringing nations nearer to one another. It is a general axiom that in the world of human endea- vour, every universal affair commands attention and its results and benefits are limitless. There- fore let us say that every universal cause is divine, and every specific matter is human. The universal light for this planet is from the sun ; and the special light here to-night, which is electric, illumines - w -- --- - - -- --- - - ' , >1 this banquet hall through the invention of man. the Arabic language grew to be the means of In like manner the activities which endeavour to inter-communication. and thev became as one establish solidarity between nations and to infuse nation. They all speak the Arabic language to the spirit of universalism in the hearts of the chil- this day. In Syria if you ask any one of them he dren of men'are like unto divine rays from the Sun will say, ' I am a n Amb,' thoUgh in reality he of Reality, and the brightest ray is the coming of is not. Some are Greeks, others Jews, etc. W e the Eniversal Language. Its achievement is the say, ' This man is a German, the other an Italian, greatest virtue of the age, for such an instrument will remove misunderstandings from amongst the S a Frenchman, an Englishman, etc. All belong to the great human family, yet language is a barrier C. peoples of the earth and unite their hearts. This % &I - between them. The greatest working- basis for mediunl will enable each individual member of the bringing about Unity and Harmony amongst the human fanlily to be informed of the scientific nations is the teaching of a universal tongue. accomplishments of all his fellow men. Writing on this subject, 50 (now 60) years ago, " The basis of knowledge and the excellencies of His Holiness Bahi'u'llh said that complete union endeavour in this world are to teach and to be - hetween the various sections of the world would be taught. To acquire sciences and to teach them in an unrealised dream as long as an international turn depends upon language, and when the inter- language was not established." national auxiliary language becomes universal, it " Misunderstandings keep people from mutual m - is easily conceivable that the acquirement of know- association and these misunderstandings will not ledge and instruction will likewise become s be dispelled except through the medium of a universal. ' comnlon ground of communication. Every intel- " NO doubt you are aware that in the past ages ligent man will bear testimony to this." a common language shared by various nations " The people of the Orient are not Eully in- created a spirit of solidarity amongst them. For formed of the events in the West, and the West instance 1300 years ago, there were many diver- cannot put itself into sympathetic touch with the gent nationalities in the Orient. There were East. Their thoughts are enclosed in a casket. Copts in Egypt, Syrians in Syria, Assyrians and The Universal language will be the key to open it. Babylonians in Baghdad arid Mesopotamia. Western books will be translated into that There existed among these peoples rank language and the people of the East will be in- hatred but as they were gradually brought nearer formed of the contents : likewise Eastern lore will through common protection and common interests, become the property of the West. Thus also will k -- -- - -*d*---*,%,k.nn*-*- 1 \ i X * those misunderstandings which exist between the the future conferences and congresses will be car- different Religions be dispersed. Religious preju- ried on in Esperanto. I n the future two languages dices play havoc among the peoples and bring - will be taught in the schools, one the native tongue, about warfare and strife, and it is impossible to and the other the International Auxiliary remove,them without a language in common." "I am an Oriental and on this account I am shut "Consider to-day how difficult is human commu- out from your thoughts and you likewise from nication. One may study fifty languages and yet mine. A mutual language will become the travel through a country and be at a loss. I mightiest means of universal progress towards the myself know several of the Oriental languages union of East and West. It will make the earth but know no Western tongue. Had this Univer- , I one home, and become the divine impulse for sal language pervaded the globe, I should have human advancement. It will upraise the Standard studied it, and you would have been directly in- of Oneness of the world of Humanity and make formed of my thoughts, and I of yours, and a the earth a universal commonwealth. I t will be special friendship would have been established the cause of love between the children of men and create good fellowship between the various creeds." . between us. " Please send some Teachers to Persia, if you I " Praise be to God that Dr. Zamenof has con- structed the Esperanto language. It has all the can, so that they may teach Esperanto to the young people. I have written asking some of them to I potential qualities of universal adoption. All of come here to study it. I us must be grateful to him that in his noble efforts "I hope that it will be promulgated very rapidly, I I in this matter he has served his fellow men well. then the world of humanity will find peace. AU H e has constructed a language which will confer the nations will associate with each other like I divine benefits on all peoples. w i t h untiring mothers and sisters, fathers and brothers, and effort and self-sacrifice on the part of its devotees each member of the body politic will be fully in- 1 i t gives promise of universal acceptance. formed of the thoughts of all. " Therefore every one of us should study this "I am extremely grateful to you, and thank you I language and make every effort to spread it, so for these lofty efforts, for you have gathered at I that each day it may receive a wider recognition, ihis banquet to further this language. Your hope I be accepted by all nations and Governments of the is to render a mighty service to Humanity and for I world, and become a part of the curriculum in all this great aim, I congratulate you from the bottom the public schools. I hope that the business of of my heart." THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. W O R L D made up of contending factions is a world diseased and suffering ;because, " a house divided against itself cannot stand." Physically, this round globe is " One Home " for Mankind ; a generous gift of the Creator, containing wonder upon wonder, and bounty upon bounty, yet to be discovered. All the Designs of God are generous above the con- ception of men, and His Ideal Man, who reflects His Glory, the most glorious gift of all. The reader now knows the Principles of Bahb' u'llih, which come as God's gift To-day for the Healing of the Nations, and we are all aware of AnPIAlOC 11 AVRIL the unrest in the world, and ~f the need for re-con- struction, even in our o m country. But there are other countries suffering more, and bearing things which have long been too unbearable- through religious, political, racial, social, agricul- tural, industrial, commercial, and other prejudices. - Therefore, every Nation would, if aware of it, Jeudi welcome with a '' loud voice," and with " glad hosannas," Hiin U'ho comes, in the Name of God, . . - to tell us that in this Day, f c Prejudices of all kinds must be forgotten." When we hear that whole nations are from time UnlP bL f bL't.Zlll+lr I/ Lever du !3oleil: 5.17 t IL~urgbc. qKf. B/rz. flrtur- Coucher 8 6. 42 yrtudd?: U~bn.U. UbbGh.. 12 h . & & I Tttrouc: 6.48 t o time well nigh massacred, or occasionally some " 150 villages demolished," because of prejudices -- -- - 7 ,w* YU*" ~ ~ - ~ ~ A ~ d Y & F x i of one kind or another, we clearly see that nothing and the large figure below tells us i t is the 7th. short of the abolition of prejudices could remedy The right section gives the name of the month as such unhappy conditions ; conditions which were Rebi-ul-Akir, and the date as the 21st. These more familiar to Bahi9u'll&, and others who live indicate respectively the official year and the in the East, than they are to us, to whom they ordinary M+ammadan year. W e also learn that only become known through those who have the month of Nisan has 30 days, and Rebi-ul-Akir travelled and sojourned in those regions. Let us 29. The small characters beneath the large 21 tell take note of some of the differences which tend us that it is the 164th day of Ksssim. This is the to perpetuate them, bearing in mind while we do reckoning of the Turkish peasant, who knows SO that " Order is Heaven's first law." nothing of months. The year for him has two " A striking instance of the confusion arising divisions, Kassim, which begins on the 8th of from conflicting chronologies and modes of reckon- November, and Hidrelis, on the 8th of May. The ing time appears on the previous page. It is the Hebrew characters at the foot of the page inform replica of a leaf taken in 1911 from an ordinary us that it is Thursday 22 Nisan 5671. Thus our I " tear off " calendar in every-day use in business indicator has four dates for the year, four names houses at Constantinople." for the month, and six numberings of the day for I " A glance will suffice to show that it is not the this particular Thursday. But we have not pene- simple affair to which we are accustomed at home ; trated all its mysteries. I n the French section but a closer examination reveals complexities to ' we meet with the startling assertion that noon is which the six languages in which it is printed are 11 minutes past 5 to the Turks, and that 12 o'clock but the threshold. " Turkish time is 49 minutes past 6 with us. This I ' 1 ''At the top of the page we are living in the year is accounted for by the fact that the Turkish day 1329 ; half-way down in 1911 ; and at the foot in begins at sunset, and is divided, like ours, into 5671. This bewildering anachronism is followed two periods of 12 hours each. Hence on the 30th by another. I n the section printed in French it of June, noon and midnight are 24 minutes past is the 20th of April, and in the Greek section on 4, whilst on the 10th of December they are 29 the left it is the 7th, for the Greeks adhere to the Old Style. The narrow strip across ihe middle minutes past 7." " All this may look like an ingenious puzzle, but ~ of the leaf is Bulgarian. Turning to the Turkish it is a serious necessity to the man of business. In section at the top, the confusion increases, for transactions with the Government on this ~ a r t i - I on the left hand we find that the month is Nisan, cular Thursday, 20% of April, 1911, he has to be 74 75 - - - -- pp I-. I i - A - careful that documents were dated 7th of Nisan, 1327. I n those with a Turkish merchant, a bill of exchange or cheque had to be dated 21st Rebi- d-Akir, 1329. I n buying produce from a farmer his receipt or order was 164th Krrssim. I n deal- ings with a Greek firm it was important to remem- ber that it was the 7th, not the 21st, whilst in W n g an appointment with a Turk for 1 o'clock . - but Judzo-Spanish. lingual confusion. "" This is, perhaps, the acme of If we who know and speak only one tongue do not always understand each other, we may well believe that the suspicions 2nd hatreds and mur- derous outbreaks we read of from time to time must, in a great measure, be due to misunderstand- i ings consequent on such confusion; and not alto- in the afternoon it was necessary to write 1.1 gether because the hearts of those who live in those minutes past 6. As the time of sunset varies every regions are less human than our own, as we have day, clocks and watclies must be altered constantly. been prone to believe. Some people carry two watches, one marking What, then, is the Divine Remedy? W e have European, the other Turkish time ; but many use seen, from a perusal of the Principles of Bahb'u'- one watch with two dials." llbh, that a Universal Auxiliary Language is part " W e have not exhausted the information con- of it. And a mere glance d the leaf of this tained in the leaflet. For the Greeks the day is calendar would make it impossible for anyone t o Great Thursday (Mega16 Pempt6), for the ignore such merciful remedy. How could a Armenians it is the Annunciation of the Holy Universal Teacher be understood without it ? Only Mother of Jesus (Avedis Soorp Asvadzazin), and with great difficulty. Some would die before they the Washing of the disciples' feet (Vndnaluvaeen). knew Him, for it takes devoted men of learning 'Therefore, the man of business must remember and enthusiasm to translate a Message into every that Greek and Armenian establishments are tongue. The Message of BahA'u'llAh inspires closed. " many to undertake this difficult service. Other- " There are newspapers at Constantinople in wise we should not be able to read of it in English. Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Arabic, and Persian. The conditions of the world and the Time in One constantly hears in the streets Skipetar and which we live undoubtedly require a Universal Vlach, the forn:er the speech of the Albanians, the Auxiliary Language. A nd, equally, t6e appli- latter of the \Vai!achians. The babel is increased cation of all the Principles of BahA'u'llBh is essen- by vario~isEuropean tongues, with an occasional tin1 for the Healing of the Nations. dash of Kurdish or Georgian. Among the news- p I As already remarked, there could be no papers is one in Hebrew characters, not in Hebrew, * (See Turkey and the Turks," !?y Z. Duckett Ferriman. 191 1 " 76 Mills & Boon). / I greater trial to those who are earnestly waiting for 'ABDU'L-BAHA IN LONDON a Divine Message whatever language they speak, AT THE CITY TEMPLE. or to whatever couxi'try they belong, than for it to be given in a tongue unknown to them. Yet so it After enduring, in company with His Father is ; for the Heavenly Fragrances from the Ridvin Bahh'u'llAh, persecution, confinement, and Exile, (Garden of Paradise) find Utterance in this Day, I-. under the Pekian and Turkish Governments for a in the rich and melodious languages of Persia and period of forty years, when the Turkish Constitu- Arabia. tion was formed-'Abdu'l-Bahh, being regarded as This seems strange at first, yet the Wisdom a political prisoner-was set free. of it clearly coincides with the Divine Purpose. I t I n 1911 He visited England, coming first to will test the sincerity of seekers after Truth, serve London, where H e addressed large audiences of to abolish prejudice, and incline all to a Universal different denominations through Kis interpreters. i1 tongue more quickly and more easily learned, and remain a Sacred Treasury for all time, which em- braces and is complementary to earlier Sacred Utterances. H e afterwards visited Paris, Stuttgart, Switzer- land, and Buda-Pest. " On September llth, the first Sunday after His I *The Bahh'i Teachings advocate the adoption of arrival in England, H e spoke from the City a universal calendar in which the year is divided Temple pulpit to the evening congregation at the into 19 months of 19 days each, with 4 or 5 '' inter- special desire of the Pastor, the Rev. R. J. calary " days between the 18th and 19th months, Campbell. the New Year commencing at the Vernal Equinox, " Though 'Abdu'l-Bahb's coming had not been and the years being numbered from the date of the advertised, the Church was filled )to its utmost Proclamation of the Bhb in A.D. 1844. capacity. Few who were there will ever forget 'Abdu'l-Bahh interpreted the 1,335 days the sight of that venerable figure clad in His *,, i spoken of at the end of the Book of Daniel as kc Eastern garb, ascending the pulpit stairs to address "< [ I: :I- " 7 1 meaning 1,335 solar years after the Hegira, i.e., I a public gathering for the first time in His life. ' A.D. 1957. Andsaid: That this should be a Christian place of worship " By that time the Bahb'i Teachings will be in the West has its deep significance. Universally spread; a IJniversal Language " Mr. Campbell introduced the visitor with a I adopted; few simple words, in the course of which he said : I " And the MOSTGREATPEACE inaugurated." " W e as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, \ '- - * Given through Dr. Esslemont on his visit to Acca Jan.-Feb., 1920. --- - - -."-- I - __- -" I I I 1 I n f Who is to us, and will always be, the Light of the greatest welfare of Mankind. Enmity is now the World, view with sympathy and respect every result of prejudice only. movement of the Spirit of God in the experience " I n the ' Hidden Words,' Bahd'u'llhh -says : of mankind; and therefore we give greeting to ' Justice is to be loved above all.' Praise be to 'Abdu'l-BahB in the name of all who share the God, in this country the Standard of Justice has Spirit of our Master and are t ~ i n gto live their been raised. A great effort is being made to give lives in that Spirit. all souls a true -place. This is the desire of all " The Bahi'i Movement is very closely akin to, noble natures. This is to-day the Teaching for I think I might say identical with, the spiritual the East and for the West. Therefore the East purpose of Christianity. " and the West will understand and reverence each " 'Abdu'l'BahA said : other, and embrace like long parted friends who " O Noble Friends, seekers after God ! Praise have found each other. be t o God ! To-day the Light of Truth is shining '' There is One God. Mankind is One. Let us upon the world in its abundance. The breezes of worship Him, and give praise for all His great the Heavenly Garden are blowing throughout all Prophets and Messengers, who have manifested regions. The Call of the Kingdom is heard in aH His brightness and glory." lands, and the breath of the Holy Spirit is felt in all hearts that are faithful. T h e Spirit of God is " INSCRIPTION I N THE OLDBIBLE." giving Eternal Life. I n this wonderful Age, the East is enlightened, the West is fragrant, and everywhere the soul inhales the holy perfume. " This is the Holy -Book of God, of Celestial in- " The Sea of the Unity of Mankind is lifting up f spiration. I t is the Bible of Salvation, the noble its waves with joy, for there is real communication .. Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and between the hearts and ininds of men. The its Light. It is the Divine Bounty. The sign i Banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men of the Guidance of God." see it, and are assured with the knowledge that 'ABDU'L-BAHA ABBAS . this is a New Day. . . . (" 'Abdzc'l-Bahci i n London," pp. 3-5.) " I n the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals. This i is no longer necessary. Nay, rather co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the 'ABDU'L-BAHA can understand is partial. It is not complete. AT ST. JOHN'S, WESTMINSTER. Divinity is actual Truth and Real existence, and not any representation of it. Divinity itsel£ con- " On September the 17th' 'Abduyl-Bahh, at the tains all, and is not contained. request of the Venerable Archdeacon of West- " Although the mineral, vegetable, animal and minster addressed the congregation of St. John man all have actual being, yet the mineral has no the Divine after the evening Service. knowledge of the vegetable. It cannot apprehend ;r " With a few warm words characteristic of his it. It c a m t imagine or understand it. whole attitude Archdeacon Wilberforce i n t w " It is the same with the vegetable. Any pro- duced the revered Messenger from the East, who gress i t may make, however highly it may become had crossed seas and countries on His Mission of developed, it will never apprehend the animal nor Peace and Unity for which He had suffered forty understand it. years of captivity and persecution. " It is the same with the animal. However " The Archdeacon had the Bishop's chair placed much it may progress in its own kingdom, how- for his Guest on the Chancel steps, and standing - ever refined its feelings may become, i t will have beside Him read the translation of 'Abdu'EBahh's no real notion of the world of man or of his special 1 address himself. intellectual faculties. I " 'Abdu'l-Bahi said : " The animal cannot understand the roundness 1 " 0 Noble Friends ! -0Seekers after the King- of the earth, nor its motion in space, nor the cen- 1 dom of God! Man all over the world is seeking tral position of the sun, nor the power of eledri- for God. All that exists is God : but the Reality city; nor can it imagine such a thing as the all- 1I of Divinity is Holy above all understanding. pervading ether. " 1 " The pictures of divinity which come to our " Although the mineral, vegetable, animal, and mind are the product of our fancy; they exist in man himself are actual beings, the difference be- \ the realm of our imagination. They are not ade- tween their Kingdoms prevents members of the I quate to the Truth. Truth in its essence cannot lower degree from comprehending the essence and I be put into words. nature of those of superior degree. This being so, I " Divinity cannot be comprehended because it is how can the temporal and phenomenal compre- comprehending. hend the Lord of Hosts? " Man, who has also a real existence, is compre- " I t is clear that this is impossible ! I hended by God : therefore the Divinity which man " But the essence of Divinity, the Sun of Truth, shines forth upon all horizons and is spreading its and bear the Message of God, fitted to the Age in rays upon all things. Each creature is the re- which they appear. The One Light is in them cipient of some portion 'of that power, and man, all, and they are One with each other. But the who contains the perfection of the mineral, the Eternal does not become phenomenal : neither can vegetable, and the animal, as well as his own dis- the phenomenal become Eternal. tinctive qualities, has become the noblest of created " Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said : ' W e all beings. It stands written that he is made in the with open face, beholding as: in a mirror the glory image of God. Mysteries that were hidden he of Cdd, are changed into the same image from discovers. And secrets that were concealed he glory to glory, as by the spirit of the Lord.' " brings into the light. By Science and by Art he brings hidden powers into the region of the visible world. Man perceives the hidden law in created PRAYER. things and co-operates with it. " 0 God the Forgiver! 0 Heavenly Educa- " Lastly, the perfect man, the Prophet, is one tor! This assembly is adorned with the mention who is transfigured, one who has the purity and of Thy Holy Name. Thy children turn their face clearness of a perfect mirror--one who reflects the towards Thy Heavenly Kingdom, hearts are made Sun of Truth. Of such a one-of such a Prophet happy, and souls are comforted. and Messenger-we can say that the Light of " Merciful God! Cause us to repent of our Divinity with the heavenly perfections dwells in shortcomings ! Accept us in Thy \HeavenlyKing- him. dom and give unto us an abode where there shall " If we claim that the Sun is seen in the mirror, be no error. Give us Peace. Give us Know- we do not mean that the Sun itself has descended ledge. And open unto us the gates of Thy from the holy heights of his heaven and entered Heaven. into the mirror ! This is impossible. " Thou art the Giver of all ! Thou art the " The Divine Nature is seen in the Manifesta- Forgiver ! Thou art the ixerciful. Amen." tions and its Light and Splendour are visible in " The congregation was profoundly moved, and extreme glory. following the Archdeacon's example knelt to re- " Therefore men have always been taught by ceive the Blessing of the Servant of God-Who the Prophets of God. The Prophets of God are stood with extended arms-His wonderful voice the Mediators of God. All the Holy Prophets % rising and falling in the silence with the power of snd Messengers have come horn one Holy Spirit His invocation. 1 85 - - - - -- - - - -"U rc* I &Ma-'-* -- , - ri " A S the Archdeacon said : ' T ~ l ythe East and the West have met in this sacred plWe to- night-' The hjrmn ' 0 God our help in Ages Past ' was sung by the entire congregation stand- ing, as ' ~ b d u ' l - ~ a hand i the Amhdeacon p d 'ABDUL-BAHA IN LIVERPOOL- down the aisle to the vestry hand in hand. I n 1912 'Abdu'l-BbiL toured the United States " Outside the Church, Salvationists were hold- of America, addressing assemblies of everg ReE- ing their Meeting and 'Abdu'l-Bahi was deeply gious denomination, Ethical Societies, Socialists, impressed and touched at the sight of the men, and Agnostics. And after that most successful lvomen and children, gathered together in the tour, meeting with welcome everywhere, on ~ ~ r i v - , night, at the street corner praying and singing.¶' ing in Liverpool, found also, in that city, assem- ('Abdu'l-Bahh in London.) blies awaiting Him, eager to give ear to the m a - I sage of Peace H e had to deliver to the world. I Engagements in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, and - elsewhere, made it impossible for Him to stay long 1 in Liverpool. H e addressed the Theosophists 1 there, and also the Baptists a t Pembroke Chapel. I On Sunday evening, December 15th, 1912, after being introduced by the Minister, Rev. I Donald B. Fraser, he made courteous reply, saying how delighted he was to meet sueh a large congregation, in a Church so re- nowned for its high social endeavour, and faith in God. Many had arrived from surrounding dis- 1 tricts and Manchester, long before the gates were opened. On that happy occasion, speaking in Persian, Ahmad Sohrab interpreting, Abdu'l-Bahi said : " The greatest prize this world holds is the con- summation of the Oneness of Humanity. All are the children of God. God is the Creator, the Pro- ~ -~ -~ -. . . -p -. 1i- vider, the Protector of all. H e educates all of us, and is compassionate towards men. His grace en- compasses all Mankind. The Sun of God, shines upon all Mankind. The rain of God falis for all. that it establishes fellowship between the various organizations of man. Peace not for War. f he-~eli~ion Why should we of God is for ever make it a cause of separation and alienation? It is a remedy li The gentle breeze of God wafts for all. Bumanity at large is sitting around the Divine Table of the to bestow health and recovery. Why should we ever make it a cause of disease and sickness? I/ Almighty. Why should we engage in strife? W e are all the children of God, all are His ser- 7 Why should we ever engage on the battlefield to vants. The glances of His Mercy, encircle us all. I kill each other? God is kind is H e not? Why - He has bestowed Religion - that it may be the 4 should we be unkind? What is the reason? How means of bringing together the various members i. are we benefited by being unkind? To-day, the of His Family. Yet in the Orient such a means chief means of dissension amongst the Nations is of illumination has become the cause of rancour Religion ; while in Reality, the Religion of God, between the people of various Religions. They is One. Differences lie in blind imitations which shed the blood of one another. They pillaged each have crept into Religion after its foundation. Reli- . other's property, they sacrificed each other's chil- gion is Reality, and Reality is One. It does not dren. There was great commotion and constant permit of multiplicity. His Holiness Abraham warfare going on. Darkness had encircled the was the Herald of Reality. His Holiness Moses Radiance of Religion. The Horizon of Reality was was the Spreader of Reality. His Holiness Jesus hidden by clouds of imitations and dogmas, and no was the Founder of Reality. His Holiness rays of the Sun could penetrate these clouds." Muhammad was the Spreader and Promulgator of " A t such a time His Holiness Rahh'u'll&h Reality. The Reality of Religion, is One. Funda- appeared in Persia. H e summoned the people of mentally there is no difference. The Reality of various Religions to love and friendship. A t this Religion consists in the Love of God, in the Faith time in Persia, the Jews, the Christians, the Mus- of God, in the virtue of Humanity, and in the lims, the Zoroastrians, the Buddhists, all of con- means of communication between the hearts of tending Religions, were ever fighting each o t h e ~. men. The Reality of Religion is the Oneness of Having heard the words of Bahh'u'llhh, many are the Whole of Humanity. now living in the utmost unity. What harm can " What is the IVisdom of Religion may we ask? accrue if such amity becomes permanent through- There is no doubt whatever that the Wisdom of out the civilised and uncivilised world? Religion is love and amity amongst the people; " Bahj'u'llAh declared International Peace. I n Persia, many years ago, H e declared International - Peace, amongst ~ e l i ~ i o nand s Nations, and be- tween the Races of every clime. With.the greatest power and penetration did H e arise to spread prin- ~ABDU~L-BAHA TO THE JEWS. ciples of Peace. For this, H e was thro-m into ONTINUING, at Pembroke Chapel, prison, and suffered great hardships. His proper- ties were pillaged. His friends were martyred. More than 20,000 souls sacrificed their lives, so that 0 'Abdu'l-Bahi said : '' While in America I spoke in a Taber- nacle of the Jews, I said in that Synagogue, that the Oneness of the World of Humaniity might be the misunderstandings which exist between the realized. Jews and Christians have been the cause of their " All His life Bah&'uYUAhendured great calami- separation and their hatred of each other. I f the ties and hardships. 0-ften H e was in chains. Israelite investigates Reality there is no doubt that Sometimes H e was living in Exile. Often H e was he will come to the conclusion that he must associ- incarcerated in barracks. Notwithstanding these ate with, and love his brother Christian. Hatred stumbling blocks, ever H e strove, ever H e worked, ! so that H e became able to establish amity among . must not linger any longer because the Jews to-day imagine, and in former times imagined, that Christ I the people of contending Religions. Religion was the opposer, or enemy of Moses, that His Holi- must become the cause of Love. I f it becomes ness Christ was against Moses. To the Jews, the cause of enmity, what use is there for it? I further said : You think Christ destroyed the Religion must become the cause of prosperity. foundation of Moses; but let us be fair, let us be Alas ! &4thousand times alas ! that it should have just, and investigate Reality. The Cause of Moses, become the cause of rancour ! Consider, ignorance the Religion of Moses, for 1,500 years was circum- has reached such a degree of folly, that it is the scribed within the boundary of Jerusalem. The duty of Humanity to investigate Reality. No one Bible was only found in that small locality. Other must be satisfied with mere traditions. Traditions parts of the world never heard the name of Moses. differ, and cause misunderstandings to remain. Even the people of Persia never heard the name of I'hese misunderstandings have created direful Moses. They had never seen the Book of Moses eonditions. " H e raised until His Holiness Christ appeared. the Name of Moses. His Holiness Christ Pro- mulgated the Old Testament throughout the Orient and the Occident. During the Mosaic Dis- - . I ? - - -- - - * a. "- -< . > .- 2.. "7%>W.?hS % >-"% *-- W e ~ A A ~ * + d * - * ~ - * * ~ - - * ~ - ~ 4 * ~ k - -4- rc ,J I pensation, the Bible was only translated into one is dissension between Religions. For instance, in language. But through the blessing of Christian- the Book of the Qmn, His Holiness Maammad ity, the Bible was translated into many la~guages f mentions the Name of His Holiness the Christ. I and spread throughout the world. Consider what It is from the text of the Quran, that Christ is love Christ had for Moses. His Holiness Christ called the Word of God, the Spirit of God. It is promulgated the fundamental Principles of Moses. tlie record of the Qm that Mary the mother of f The Ten Commandments H e spread throughout 8 . the world. H e made famous all the Israelitish Christ was living in the Holy of 'Holies, that she had the fellowship of the Almighty, and that food Prophets. were it not for the appearance of descended from Heaven for her. It is written in Christ, how could the people of America ever have the Quran that the Holy Spirit, addressing Mary, heard the name of Moses? Bow could the Bible said : ' Oh, Mary ! be faithful to God, for H e hath have become a household Book? All these ser- created thee pure and sanctified, and hath made vices were rendered by Jesus Christ. Now let us thee superior over all the women of the world.' find out, after these statements, whether Christ And again, it is written in the Quran that ' Christ was the enemy of &loses, or His best Friend? Be ascended into Heaven, and that H e will again just. His Holiness Christ was the spreader of the return from Heaven.' Again, that' ' Christ is Mosaic Movement. H e spread the Old Testa- Pure, and Unique.' So most of the praises and ment. Notwithstanding this, you are thinking He Commands of Christ are recorded in the Book was the enemy of Moses. Why not abandon these which is considered Sacred by 300 millions of prejudices? The Christians believe that Moses Muslims. Just think of the present misunder- was the Prophet of God, that the Bible is the Book standing between these two Religions! The pre- of God, and that all the IsraelibtishProphets were sence of misunderstanding has caused the warfare the mouthpieces of God. What harm would there of the last 1,300 pears between Christians and Mus- be, if you came out and said : ' Christ is the Word lims. Think of one Crusade which lasted 200 of God,' so that this dissension may cease? And years ! Yet Religious warfare continues ! There so that fellowship may be established eternally be- are more than 260 million Muhammadans through- tween the Jews and the Christians? I f you just out the world. You cannot destroy this colossaI say these words : ' Christ is the Word,' it will show number. Therefore if there is love and fellowship that you have investigated Reality, and dissension among the Jews, the Christians, and the Muham- p will be left behind. R madans, the Orient and the Occident will find the " When we are not investigating Reality there ; greatest composure and Peace." I Referring to the Balkan War, 'Abdu'l-Bahd worthy that we sacrifice eternal Me, a d the ever- said : lasting soul of man, for the sake of a little dust? " God is not pleased with.the horrible events Justice and Equity do not pennit it. I hope that which have been transpiring in the Balkans. They you will strive with all your might to raise the are hated by Him. Every lover of Humanity is Standard of the Onen& of Humanity, and unfurl displeased with them. There, people are killing the flag of International Peace, over all regions of each other like so many wolves. They tear each the earth." other to pieces. They shed each other's blood. They kill each other's innocent children. Just Alas ! since those words were spoken, w e have consider, the ferocious beasts do not treat their been engaged in the fiercest Warfare the world kith and kin like this. The wolf may tear to has ever known. I s Mankind to be subject to such pieces one animal, for food, which it does. But folly for ever? Divine Wisdom has decreed wolves never tear each other in thousands ! Are through RahA'u'llith, that Religion must be in I men more ferocious than wolves? Are they not accord with Science and Reason. Therefore, since more u ~ j ~than s t birds of prey? I n a t are the individuals, by Divine I i s d o m , as we have seen, II causes of all this strife? The Foundation of the can do great things, without Divine Guidance - I World of God, is Love. But Nations say, we they can go astray in& actions of diabolical fool- want to increase our dominions.' ishness and insanity. It is necessary that merciful guidance should protect humanity against insane " I will make one more statement, and close, onslaughts. Bahh'u'llAh brings to the World that and I want your careful- attention. What is this Merciful Guidance. land, this earth? I s it not this : That for a short time we live on this earth; then it becomes our grave, our cemetery? Now is it beneficial to en- gage in War, and in strife? Many generations have come, have lived for a short time on this Earth, and have gone under it. It is the Universal Graveyard of Humanity. I s it praiseworthy that we engage in warfare, shedding blood, destroying houses, pillaging the wealth of Nations and killing little children beneath the hoofs of horses? I s it " Religion h m Croo main parts. The Spirit& and the Practical. T h e Spiritml part never changes. All the Manifestations of God and His Prophets have taught the same Truth d given the same Spiritual Law. There is no divisiorr in I SCIENCE AND REASON. the Truth. The S u n of Tmth has sent forth maw r q s t o illumine Human Intelligence. T h e Ligirt " W H E R E is no opposition between Religion (3 and Science. They are the two wings is always the same.'' upon which man's Intelligence can soar " W e are familiar weth the phrases ' Light a d into the heights ;rn-th which the Human Soul can Darkness', ' Religion and Science.' But the Reti- progress. I t h impossible to fly with one m-ng gion which does not walk hand in hand with Science alone." is itself in the Darkness of Superstition and ignor- ance. " (' Abdu'l-Bahh i n " Paris Talks. ") "If Religion were contrary to logical Reason tlren it would cease t o be a Religion and be merely One of the charms o f Creation is individdality. u tradition." Without i t there could be no freedom, no unity, and no life. Whatever theories from time t o " There is no contradiction between True Reli- time have been prevalent, concerning the origin. gion and Scien.ce. W h e n Religion is opposed to nature, shape, size, duration, or position o f this Science it becomes mere Superstition; that which planet, both -Religion and Science have been is contrary to Knowledge is Ignorance." responsible for error concerning i t : error due to partial knowledge, sometimes, and sometimes to " How can a man believe to be a fact, that which an unkindly and dominating disposition. Scien.ce has proved to be impossible? I f he be- I t is, however, obvious t o all of us, that the lieves in spite of his reason, it is rather superstition World of IIumanity is made u p o f individuals. than faith. The True Principles of all Religions Therefore individuals must have been in the Mind are in conformity with the teachings of Science." of the Creator before they became visible t o each oJher. T h e fact that we are visible t o each other, " The Unity of God i s logical, and this is not should incline us to revere the Intelligence nntngonistic to the conclusions arrived at by scien- of our Creator; the All-Wise, Bountiful, and tific study." Supreme Intelligence. i If we do not think a beautiful picture an acci- lace the greatest dangers, and endure unspeakable dent, or a consequence of blind nature, why sderings (even rejoicing in them when they have should anyone presume to suppose, we ourselves, been testimony to the Truth)-in order to dis- are created without any special purpose or design? cover more about this fascinating planet, which a The highest ambition of artists, is to portray bountiful Creator has designed to be a truthfully what is visible already-with such power, Paradise for Mankind ! Even atheists want that not only the outer view is portrayed-but the Paradise. Science and Reason bespeak it. inner meaning revealed. To whom the Glory? Humanitarianism demands it. And we may be From whence do they derive their capacity? They sure the Creator likes to hear that demand. I t is inherit it truly, but do they inherit it from flesh, in harmony with the assurance, and the Loving or from Spirit? Suppose we say both. It is even Kindness of Jesus. And, before any branch of then Spirit which gives the capacity to perse- human knb~vledgehad become sufficiently mature vere. The capacity for what the world calls genius to echo the Truth of such possibility-the opening is inherited from the One Supreme Spiritual Power Chapters of Genesis stated it. Truth is echoed we name God because the Manifestations of that to-day, from all branches and fields of knowledge Power are Good. to be One, to be reasonable, to be scientific, and W e are assured by the Founder of Christianity, satisfactory. Abraham called Mankind to recog- W h o is supported in that assurance by all the nise, and worship the One True God. The first Prophets and Messengers of God who heralded point of view is the last. For the last was first. Him, that the care of Our Heavenly Father is such, I t is the Eternal ;the Divine ; the Revealed Tm&, tEat not one sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge, and that His care for us is such, " My Etern.ity is M y Creatioz. I have created " that even the hairs of our head are numbered." I t for thee. %1 Oneness is iMy Design. I have If He, Whom we all love and honour, could give Designed I t for thee" says our Creator, through such assurance, we may reasonably question b y His Messenger, Bah~'u'1lAh.(" Hidden Words. ") what authority, and at what point in the 'History of Religion, did Christianity get so into the hands One does not point to past errors and limitations oi a dominating power, that in the past, indi- for the purpose of condemnation. W e have all viduals have been put to death and cruelly tor- erred; yet the Spirit of God beckons, and gives tured for exercising their reasoning faculties? Or, us wings, beyond our human limitations. "I because their exploring nature prompted them to came not into the world t o condemn the world, 1I I 11 but that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly; and to the end that he that believeth '' he' Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth : "A harsh word is like a sword, but gentle speech is like unto milk. - The children of the world attain I 1i on Me (the Christ Spirit in Jesus) might have I life everlasting." t o betterment through this." i 1 " The Tongue of Wisdom says : " The Primal Word of the Almighty is some- " Whosoever possesses Me not, has nothing. > times called the water of Life, for it quickens the Pass by whatever exists in this world and find Me. dead souls in the desert of ignorance with the I am the Sun of Perception and the Ocean of spring of intelligence." . . . '' The seen and Science. I revive the withered ones and quicken the unseen fail to attam the measure of His Under- standing. The world of being and whatever has issued from it bears witness t o this utterance." ' the dead. I am that Light which illumines the Path of Insight. I a m the Falcon of the Al- mighty. I bear healing in My wings and teach " To-day, the best fruit of Science and Know- the Knowledge of soaring t o the Heaven of ledge is that which benefits mankind and improves Truth."" his condition. " " How often has God proven the weakness of human strength and the feebleness and impotence " The pulse of the universe is in the hands of the of the material' and phenomenal against the skil£ul Physician. He diagnoses the ilhiess and Heavenly power of His Prophets, a manifest sign wisely prescribes the remedy. Every day has its of His Chosen Ones, a clear standing light of His own secret and every tongue a melody. The ill- Road and Pathway and an accurate standard ness of to-day has one cure and that of to-morrow another. Look ye, upon This Day. Consider, 1 for recognising the proof and argument of His Truth. The people of the world long resisted and discuss its needs. One sees that existence is it ; but were finally dismayed ; nations both of the afflicted with innumerable diseases compel!ing it t o East and West wrestled with it, but were lie upon the bed of suffering. Men who are in- overthrown. toxicated with the wine of self-contemplation pre " This power was opposed, at the appearance of vent the wise Physician from reaching it. Thus Moses, by the Pharaohs; a t the manifestation of have they made the world and themselves t o suffer. Christ, by the Jews and emperors; at the rise of They know not the ailment nor recognise the cure. Muhammad by the Persian kings and Arabs. It They take the wrong for the right, the crooked for bas also been opposed by false prophets, who have the straight, the enemy for the Friend." * See "Tablet of Bah~'u'1l~h."p. 161 - - - -- -"-(- ..'" ^ '"L-' -- -lELL..*-- - _ _ _ - - - - - -- ) 5. = iQ- attempted to found a religion without the permis- growth, existence and heredity from h e race of of God ; falsely and presumptuously laying o~ang-outangs?They have regarded apes as their claim to prophethood, as is testified and recorded ancestors, but have not considered the Power, in history. The histories of Mazdak, in the days which alone has conquered the world and mbdued of King Robad ; of the Jew, 'Sad Dawlah ; of Ar- nations, as being a proof of the fact that b goon-Khan, the Mongol, in Persia; 'Ala'adin E] festations and Damning-places of this Power have Khaledge, in India ; and the French Philosophers been Divine and heavenly personages. Could during the revolution of 1792, are all warnings and the .habit of smoking, evinced by a single ourang- admonitions to the prudent. These philosophers, outang, and its likeness in body to some of the African savages, prove its homogeneity with man- wise men, kings and statesmen attempted, through their great ingenuity and the of their science and learning, to institute a religion , kind? Apes differ widely from savages in numer- ous things, such as intelligence, comprehension of of simpler laws, regulations, doctrines and princi- general subjects, capacity of attaining perfedion. ~ l e swithin the range of average capacities and etc. Shall all this be admitted as proof, while minds7 suitable to all tastes and conformable to the subjugation of Pharaohs, domination of kings the time and circumstances. Conditions proved and tyrants by the rise of a single individual, with- favourable to their desires, and the and rnili- out assistance or encouragement of any ruler, is t a w leaders submitted to their opinionr and plans. not considered evidence that a man is assisted by " But God frustrated their ideas, &sappointed an Invisible, Divine Power ? their hopes, dispersed their congregations, and Indeed7 this is strange philosophy-amaz- showed the folly of their imaginations, until their ing wisdom and discernment! HOW true is the hktories remain as warnings to men of honour and wilmin,o of the great Apostle Paul : ' B~ware, as admnitions to people of discernment and lest any man spoil you through philosophy and perception. vain deceit.' ' The stability of the Word and con- " For what reason have the doctors of Darwin- tinuance of a religion is the strongest ~ . n dfirmest ism taken the resemblance of some hllman bones as to the truth of a mission and the to those of ourang-outangs as a decisive proof of founder of a Faith. . . .' This proof is named the the fact that mankind has descended from proof of continuance or stability ; because the con- apes? Why have they considered this evidence, tinuance of a religion and the stability of the Word notwithstanding its shallowness and invalidity, establishes the truth of God, and is a testimony to being a final certificate that man has gained his its reality. It is absurd to think of God as being incapable of annulling falsehood. H e has not for- to-day to destroy Humanity-and demand its ser- gotten His promises to suppress false claimants. uice : not in the interest of a few individuals who ... This is confirmed by Sacred Writings, claim large portions of this earth, and the natural. and preserved in the utterances of the Prophets."* wealth it contains, for their own special benefit- In the light of history we may judge, fhough and who try to silence complaint by doles of it is not ours to condemn, because all are judged charity ;for that which God gave aria designed for by their deeds. So inasmuch as time has thrown all,-must be for the benefit of all. And Lo! light upon past error-we may judge. any matter, The means of obtaining it for all, God has also with profit. provided in This,Our Day ! I t is t o be ~btained There is not the danger to-day, as in the past, in an orderly way, through the friendliness of inventive power, or the spirit of exploration, Nations, by means of an International Tribund, being suppressed by Religion, or Science. Pre- and the Parliament of Man. This was a Divine sent-day dangers are of a different kind. Decree, issued through Bahh'u'llith on behalf of For Humanity, before some of us were born. And such is the result of making a god of Freedom, that . if the Nations would turn to God for His Clear what Mankind to-day requires at the hand of Science and Religion is : that all bmnches Guidance given through His Messenger, instead of holvledge, and manifestations of inventive of arguing about which should have the biggest power-shall be arrested from destructive, and Navy, or the chief right t o heap :lp destructive turned to constructive uses. Humanity, whatever amaments (which competitive spirit itself in- its colour, whatever its theories concerning the clines them t o doubt the possibility of an effective Government of the World, should agree in this. League of Nations ")-they would find all argu- merits silenced, and come face to face with the And not only agree passively, and record its vote for it, but, since wrong direction is initiated by Divine Command, given to the w o r l d of individuals, SO all individuals should accept the Humanity through Bahb'u'llbh over 60 years ago ! Divine invitation issued through Bahi'u'llAh to why will the people turn aside from such protee- becolne ' ' S ~ ~ T Sof God's Omnipresence," and tive care, and turn to mortal leaders, the blind watch, and pray, and act unitedly, with all their leaders of the blind ! might, in accordance with Divine Guidance-to In past days, when disputes concerning the shape of the Earth were silenced, the whole u70rld capture the scientific and inventive power on foot was thrilled with wonder. It is good to (See " Bahl'i Proofs." Abul Fad. pp. I 88, 189.) recount the fact that the matter was set- -- \ I tled beyond the realms of dispute, "by course proceeding in Manchester at a distance of the circumnavigating spirit of three sailors, 200 miles; or sit at home in London and enjoy a Columbus, Da ~ a m a , and finally 'Magellan, concert being given in America ! W e can travel the latter being aided by an Expedition sent out under or over the earth or the ocean quite comfort- in the commercial interests of Spain. After a ably, while '&ting a meal, reading a book, or writ- voyage of over a year, Magellan arrived a t the ing a letter, or settling matters concerning the strait now bearing his name, and, it is related by League of Nations ! Are these a few of the Pigafetti, an Italian who was with him, Magellan " greater things " referred to by Jesus, which He wept for joy, when he found it had pleased God said we should do? Even so, a still greater thing to bring him where he might grapple with the un- than all these, is to put into operation through an known dangers'of the South Sea, " The Great and International Tribunal rand Parliament of Man, Pacific Ocean. " the International and Divine Lam-that all " Magellan was murdered, either by savages, or things, and all Powers, and the means of exercising by his own men, but, taking command of his ship, . them-shall be for pacific and bountiful purposes ; his lieutenant, Sebastian dYElanco,brought it, the . not for the special benefit of those who want to San Vittoria, after a voyage of over three years, to ride over, rule, and deprive others of their heri- anchor in the port of St. Lucar, near Seville, on tage, and this, in order that they themselves may September 7th, 1522."" be glorified ! Glorified for robbing their fellows, Since those days, and in our own lifetime, we they woidd also rob God of the Glory which be- have had wonder upon wonder t o thrill us. W e longs to H i m alone! Great honour is due to all I can now fly across the Atlantic. By touching a who exercise their capacity to enrich, and serve switch we can light up a room, or a large hall, or Mankind. None are deprived by God of the joy a city. W e can speak, and recognise each other's of service. Nay, H e gives to all- the capacity to voice, at long distances; make our meanings sen7e. All honour t o those who serve faithfully. clear through Telegraphy, and the Marconi 13ut Glory is to God, the Divine Protector, the System, without speaking. From a small coastal Generous Giver of all things. town we can pick up a wireless message sent from " When the French occupied Offenburg re- a vessel a hundred miles out at sea ; listen to a dis- cently they cannot fail to have been attracted by E a monument-the only one in the town-standing f " History of the Conflict between Religion and Science." conspicuously in the market place. It is a statue, J W. Draper, M.D., LL.D. a gallant figure of the 16th century, with peaked - -- - - - \I I beard, and doublet and hose of that period. The fame rests in the blessings of millions of men who I anchor and coil of cable on which the figure leans, till the earth.' the globe at his feet, and the unrolled chart in his c c For seventy years the children of Offenburg left hand, bespeak a mariner; and the stranger who play round the monument have hewn the wonders what connection he can have with a town so far away from the sea. His astonishment in- name of Drake, not as the bold sea rover, the destroyer of Spanish might, but as the man who ( I creases when, on closer inspection, he perceives brouglbt us the potato ! ' the very singular trophy in the right hand-an u p 6 c Production, not destruction, is honoured by rooted potato plant ! Round the pedestal runs a the statue of this Englishman. What a lesson to border, in high relief, consisting of the flowers, militants of later days, comes from these humble foliage and tubers of the potato, worked into a graceful design. Seeking in the inscription for folk, to fieir own, and t o all nations! It is, we see, in accordance with True Religion, andthere- i i an explanation of the mystery, the stranger, if he fore in accord with Science and Reason." (BY I is an Englishman, learns to his amazement, that the courtesy of Mr. Z. Duckett Femiman, those the statue is that of his great countryman Sir of us who have not seen this interesting statue, I'hncis Drake. H e learns moreover that it was enjoy the benefit of his visit to Offenburg, July, erecixd in 1853, thirty years before Drake w s similarly honoured at Tavistock and Plymouth, in Surely, i t is reasonable that Science i his native land. should become the Hand-Maid of Religion; in I " But what can this population of farmers and order that Humanity may be saved from the fears vine-growers have had in common ~ i t hthe which oppress it To-Day : that Peace and Plenty, Admiral whose exploits on the other side of the globe brought him fame? What can have induced praise and thanksgiving, may take the place of - lamentation the world over, and all Creation burst - them to commemorate this foreign sailor? - into a " New Song," Psalm xcviii., as found in the " The reason is carved in deep letters in the red Book of Common Prayer. It calls upon all stone out of which the monument is hewn : ' me bringer of the potato to Europe.' Creation to join in a Chorus of Praise, in a true i and reasonable spirit of thanksgiving : For a " new I " It is not the navigator, not the warrior, which heaven, and a new earth," appear. appealed to the inhabitants of the old Black Forest town. It is the act by which he prolrided a ' re- 0 sing unto the Lord a New Song : for H e hath fuge for the poor from bitter want,' and ' whme done marvellous things. 10s 109 H I I * With His OWB right hand, and with His Holy arm r hath H e gotten Himself the victory. - The Lord hath declared His Salvation : His CHRISTMAS IN LONDON WITH righteousness hath H e openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. ABDU 'L-BAHA. H e hath remenhered His Mercy and Truth " 'Abdu'l-Bahh, in 1912, spent Christmas amid toward the house of Israel : and all the ends of t, ' fie holly and chimes of old England-the Christ- the earth have seen the salvation of our God, L +1 i mas of cheer, gift-giving, and mutual well-wishing. - Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye a "To have seen the world's greatest prisoner amid lands : sing, rejoice, and give thanks. these surroundings was a never-to-be-forgotten Praise the Lord upon the harp : sing to the g? , picture, but one hard to reproduce in words. Many harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. beautiful and touching incidents could be related 1 I of that Christmas had we the records of the hun- With trumpets also and psalms: 0 shew your- .dreds that thronged Do see him. Some he met in selves joyful before the Lord the King. little groups in the dining room of Eis flat in I Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein Chelsea, and on request he would, at intervals, I I is : the round world and they that dwell therein. address a larger gathering in the drawing room, - . , Let the floods clap their hands, and let the as people kept coming and going all day. Anon, - - 1 hills rejoice together before the Lord : for H e some distressed soul wished lor a conference alone, I conleth to judge the earth. or a peace advocate sought his advice on an im- I portant issue. With righteousness shall I I e judge the world: and the people with equity. " Many came bearing gifts-the mighty and the lowly, the rich and the poor in this world's goods. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to A detailed account of the mere happenings of the 1 I the Holy Spirit. As it was in the Beginning, is Now, and ever shall be : World without end. 3 day would mean nothing. 'fie trivial details of I life, even on a Chridmas day, are seldom regarded i Amen. in the light of a spiritual unfoldment, but i t is For God has not only shown Mercy a.nd Truth through these seemingly small incidents that this I towards the House of Israel-but to the whole Master spirit brings out into the court of objec- World of Hum.anity. tivity those principles which he teaches. Thus the - - - -- -- -- -- '*-w w- , \ J very essence of his existence is vested with the by saying, " I learned much from my travels and penetration of the spirit-so much so, that, save as hardships. Among other things, I learned t o his life manifests those principles for which he wash my handkerchiefs when occasion demanded, stands, he wishes to be forgotten as a personality. and to sew." " T o each who came to him on that Christmas " On an impulse, she ran out to a shop near by Day, he gave a spiritual present-compatible with and bought the tiniest leather sewing- box, and on the capacity of each; for 'Abdu'l-Bahi's method her return, laughingly presented it, saying that it of teaching the people so that they become moved was impossible for her to imagine a prophet sewing with conviction, is through the heart. on his buttons. ' Someone brought him an expensive gift. He '" will accept the sewing case with gratitude, and will keep it," he said, as he put it among his accepted it graciously. Holding it lovingly for a moment, he told the wealthy giver of his own things, and then added, " I am not a prophet. I simple life. " And now," he said, smilingly, am a man-like yourself.", H e laughed, and we " you see I have accepted your beautiful present, all laughed, for she was a well-known suffragette. and i t has made me very happy. I thank you for . " H e accepted it !" she exclaimed at the door, and so extremely ovejoyed was she, that one felt it. And now I am going to give it back to you. Sell it, and give the money to the poor. The rich in England are too rich, and the poor are too Ii that some deeper message or awakening beyond that which we had witnessed had been accom- plished through the simple transaction. poor.'' 1.t " The man was at first astonished, but when, ' T r o m laughter, 'Abdu'l-Bahh's face would after further conversation, he arose and took his de- parture, one felt from his attitude toward the great 1- I become stem or expressive of a great weight of impersonal sorrow, the suffering induced by the master, that a new impulse or seed had been I realisation of the hunger of humanity for spiritual planted. rest. it " Often 'Abdu'l-Bah6 would laugh outright at some little gift that showed ingenuity, and many a compliment he wafted back to America, the land I I The Real Meaning of the Advent of Christ on This Earth. I of his then recent sojourns. I "Christ's birthday is a glorious day," He said. ! " One American girl was much amused at his re- " It is necessary that these anniversary celebra- I hearsal of American experience. H e concluded I tions be observed, else man in his negligence would I - .?. .- -.A,*-. .ur-*+- - ,-. cir ,*i,~.r& v ~ ~ . u ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i v - o -p-p i ---p i -- v o i i v o i i v o i ' i * l ~ --- J )' 'r * forget all about his Creator; but we should seek to deer to graze in one pasture ;the vulture and part- penetrate the dark veils of custom and imitation ridge live in one nest.' of ancestors, perchance we may discover the reality " The people could not see that these things were taking place. The Reality of Christ was of the meaning. from heaven, though His physical body was from " The advent of Christ on this earth was a Mary. The sword was the tongue of Christ, blessed day, for it was the day on which the Sun which cut right from wrong. Many had swords, of Beality dawned; the day on which all beings were revivified. I n the world's calendar, it was f I but his sword conquered the world. 5 c The Kingdom of Christ was Heavenly and the beginning of a Heavenly Spring. " To-day the mention of Christ is on a thousand I not like the kingdom of h n a p a r t e ; it was the reality of the ancient law Christ spread, not the tongues, but when H e was on earth, H e was not thought much of, notwithstanding they were 1P: words. I3e conquered East and West by the Holy Spirit, not by force. Sects which were in awaiting his corning with great impatience. They thought that they would be his intimate friends. I the utmost animosity drank from the one fountain -that is, the Fountain of Love." i Some there were who used to cry day and night, saying, 0 God, hasten the day when the Promised 'A bdu'l-~ahd Visits the Poor on Chriitmas Night. One will manifest himself on this earth.' When On Christmas night cAbdu'l-BahS visited the He came, they knew Him not; they persecuted poor of the Salvation A m y Shelter, Westminster; H i m and finally killed Him, for they said : ' This is i where each year a Christmas dinner is provided for not the true Messiah whose coming is to be under i I those who have no homes and no friends, and, but special conditions. How is it that H e claims to be for the slielter, would have no lodgings. There from Nazareth, the son of Mary? H e was to come were about 1,000 present on this occasion. I with a sword; this man does not possess even a i A supreme test of attention transpired when staff. H e was to sit on the throne of David ; this I many of the hungry men forgot to eat and listened man does not possess a mat to sit on. H e must I y intently. In conformity with the wonderful tact conquer the East and the West; this man does 'Abdu'1'-BahB displayed on all occasions, his mes- not possess a shelter. H e was to teach the law of 1 sage to the homeless was simple, direct and short. &loses; this man is abolishing it. Jn His day, 1I " I feel to-night," H e said, " great joy and hap- justice was to encircle the world, the wolf and the I piness to be in this place, because hitherto my sheep drink from one fountain; the lion and the I meetings and visits have been mostly with the poor, and I think ss one of them. My lot has than the accumulation of wealth-thak the poor - ever been with those who have not the goods of are more acceptable than the lazy rich. A rich this world. The world consists of brothers. The man who spends his wealth for the poor is praise- poor have ever been the cause of the freedom of worthy. Consider that the poor are not born in the world of humanity; have ever been the cause a state of solvency ; they are not naturally tyran- of the up-building of the country, and have ever nous. All the tyrannv and injustice in this world laboured for the world's production. The morals comes from accumulation. The poor have ever of the poor have ever been above those of the rich ; been humble and lowly. Their hearts are tender. the poor are ever nearer to the threshold of God ; The rich are not so ! Sorrow not, grieve not ! Be the humanitarianism of the poor has ever been not unhappy! You are brothers of Jesus Christ. more acceptable to God. Christ was one of you. Bah&'u911Ah was poor. " Consider His Holiness Christ. H e appeared For forty years he was imprisoned and in dire in the world as one of the poor. H e was born of poverty. The great ones of the world have come a lowly family; all the apostles of Christ were of from a lowly station. Be ever happy on account humble origin and his followers were of the very of your kingly associates, and if in this world you poorest of the community. This is what Christ undergo dire vicissitudes, I hope tht in the king- states in the gospels, ' It is easier £or a camel to dom of God you will have the utmost happiness." go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man t o enter the kingdom of God.' This testimony of " I n generous conformity with Bahh'u'llhh's teachings that " our words should not exceed our Christ to the exalted state of the poor ones is suffl- deeds," 'Abdu'l-Bahh left twenty sovereigns and cient. I t is easy, very easy, for the poor to enter many hand£uIs of silver with Colonel Spencer, of into the kingdom of the Almighty. the Salvation Shelter, so that the poor " The poor have capacity, and are favoured at might enjoy a similar dinner on New Year's night. - the threshold of God. If wealth was a necessity, Christ would have wished it for Himself. H e lived a simple life, and one of the titles of RahH'u911Ah was ' the poor one.' I n Persian His title was darvish,' and that means one who has not n slave. All the prophets of Cod were poor. His Holiness i1 " Rapping for silence, Colonel Spencer mounted the rostrum and informed the men that they were to have this New Pear's dinner in ',4bdu'l-Bah'8's honour. H e was just leaving the hall when this announcement was made. With one accord the rnen jumped up and, waving thcir knives and forks, I I Moses mas a mere shepherd. This mill show you I that in the estimation of God poverty is greater gave a rousing farewell cheer, after which there I I - S *. 2 -- '~ i * & n * ~ - - - --- Z & ' , * MI ~ - b~ ~M r ~ a W W h 4 w - d ~ i . i a was a moment of deep silence, before 'Abdu'l- Bah& in answer to Colonel Spencer, said : " May God prosper you !" and then to the men : " May 'ABDU'L BAHA you all be under the protection of the Almighty !" (Isabel Fraser, in Everywoman, WITH THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. Dee.-Jan., 1915-16.) T the Westminster Meeting of tbe G i e t y of Friends, January 12th, 1918, 'Abdu9l- "About 6,000 years ago a Society was formed in Persia called the ' Society of Friends,' who gathered together for Silent Communion with the " They divided Divine Philosophy into two parts. That which can be acquired through lec- - tures and study in schirols and colleges : and the philosophy of the Illuminati, or Followers of the Inner Light. The schools of this philosophy are held in Silence and meditation, and by t u n i n g to the Source of Light. From that Cen- tral Light the mysteries of the Kingdom were re- flected in their hearts. A11 the Divine problems mere solved by this power of illumination. " Among the great questions unfolding through the rays of Divine Reality upon the mind of man, is the question of the reality of the spirit of man; of the birth of the Spirit; of his birth from this world into the world of God; the question of the inner life of the Spirit ; and of the fate of the Spirit after its ascension from the body. " They likewise meditate upon the scientific questions of the day, and these al-so are solved. -, \ ,/I ' Followers of the Inner Light,' they attain to a Spirit is given in reflection and meditation. superlative degree of power, and are entirely freed Though it, the Spirit of man is informed and from blind dogmas and imitations. Men rely on strengthened, Through it, affairs of which man their statements. By themselves, within them- knows nothing are unfolded before his view. selves, they solve all mysteries. Through it, one receives Divirre inspiration; " If they find a solution by the assistance of through it, one partakes of Heavenly Food. the Inner Eight, they accept it, and afterwards de- " Meditation is the key for opening the doors of clare it; otherwise they would consider it a m a t k r myst=n thathat subjective mood, withdrawing of blind imitation. himself from all outside objects, man can unfold " They go so far as to reflect upon the essential the secrets of things within himself; because he is nature of Divinity, Divine Revelation, and the immersed in the ocean of spiritual life. Manifestation of God in this world. All " Through the power of meditation man frees philosophical, divine, and scientific questions are himself from the animal nature, discerns the real- solved by them through the power of the Spirit. ity of things, and is put in touch with God. This " BahH'u911Hh says there is a sign from God in faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the I every phenomenon. The sign of the intellwt. . sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, and colossal under- ~ - silence ; because it is impossible for man to do two takings are carried out. Through it governments * -- le time. H e cannot both meak can be run smoothly. Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God. " It is an axiomatic fact that while you medi, '' Nevertheless, some thoughts are useless t o tate vou are speaking with your own Spirit. Jn- man. They are like waves ebbing to and fro in the that state of mind you put certain auestions to sea without result. y o u r S ~ i r i t the , Spirit answers, the Light b r e a k '' But if the faculty of meditation is bathed in forth, and Reality is revealed. the Inner Light, and characterised with Divine -- " YOU canaot apply thi name of ' man ' to attributes, then the results will be wonderful. < ? any being devoid of the faculty of meditation. " The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror. I Without it, he would be a mere animal. I f you put before it earthly objects i t will reflect " Through the faculty of them. Therefore, if the spirit of man is contempla- tains to eternal life; throu ---- ting earthly subjects, he will be informed of these. Breath of the Holy Spirit. The bestowal of the But if the mirror of the Spirit be turned heaven- 't: 121 %ads, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in the heart, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be attained. THE RADIANCE " Let us, therefore, keep this faculty rightly a- *- OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. directed, turning it to the Heavenly Sun and not to e Fe< earthly objects, so that we may discover the secrets PEAKING in London, at the Studio oi of the Kingdom, comprehend the allegories of Mr. Felix Moscheles, on Sunday after- & the Bible, and the mysteries of the Spirit. May we noon, Jan. lgth, 1913, 'Abdu'I-Bah& was indeed become mirrors reflecting Heavenly Reali- asked by him to make allusion to the Hague Con- ties, and may we become so pure as to reflect the ference and to the beneficence of a Universal Constellations of Heaven. " Language. H e said : " For every Age there is destined a great Move- ment, which is the sum total or Expression of that Age. I n the 19th Century, Freedom, and Liberty, and Human Brotherhood was proclaimed. But the Radiance of the 20th Century, into which we have entered, is Unity and Harmony. The Eight we declare is : The Oneness of Humanity : That the Foundation of the Religions of God is One : And the Fellowship of all Races. I n this Century Human progress and perfections will ever be advanced from the Table of the One- ness of >Humanity. All the Prophets of God have been sent for this : That they may usher in the Era of Peace. His IXoliness Christ embraced the Cross. His Holiness John gave up his head. BahA'u'llAh endured the pillory. i r " H e suffered 50 years' exile and imprisonment. All through His Life H e was exiled, imprisoned i n dark drmgeons, or incarcerated in a barrack. All " Reconciliation is at hand. But, as long as the nations will not abstain from these blind dogmas it is impossible. - I these renunciations and sacrifices mere for the sake " I t is very difficult for the Sun, to penetrate the of Humanity and the fundamental Unity of alt c l o ~ ~ dofs superstition and dogma. Therefore, if we dispel these clouds, me shall have the efficient "At a time when the Orient was wrapped in con- rays of the Sun of Reality. I tention, and encompassed in foul clouds and dark- " One of the Teachings of Bahi9u'llAh is that a I I ness : Lo, and behold ! The Sun of Reality shone Universal Language should be established-so that b . forth and flooded these regions with its rays. The everyone may study two languages : One his first effulgent ray from this illumined sun emanat- native, and one auxiliary. Then, all people will , ing from the fact that God is the One Shepherd, be enabled to associate amicably and do away with iI Who ever provides for, cares for, and protects a11 misunderstandings. I Humanity, and is ever kind to all. "All enmity between Religions comes from lack I I I of understanding. The Auxiliary language will 1 1 1 " The second ray appears through the investiga- serve to sweep away misunderstanding. This was I E tion of Reality. we have to abandon all hearsays, 1 proclaimed 50 years ago by Bahh'u9llBh. H e laid I i and investigate realities. Everything must b e down this law in the Holy Books, I seen with our own eyes, heard with our o m ears, '"nother Teaching of Bahh'n'llAh is : There I i I and demonstrated with our own minds-so that must be a Universal Court of Justice, so that all I j we may free ourselves from blind dogmas and I International disputes may be arbitrated by the I I superstitions. Parliament of Man. II " These decayed and superannuated dogmas and *" Bahb'u'llhh 50 years ago, in the Book of Aq- ! tales of the past, not being based upon Reality, das, commanded the people to establish a Universal Court of Arbitration, and surnrnoned all nations 1 have ever been the cause of contention. They to the Divine Banquet of International Peace. 1 have been causative of the laying waste of Man- I 1 kind. " For this the whole Rlrman Race must be con- "These blind dogmas have made sons inimical to their fathers, and caused them to shun their mothers. I sulted through their representatives, whose con- clusions when ratified by the people of every * (Now more than 60 years xgcj). 124 125 I country, will latterly be signed by their Ring, or can positively say the nature of the time demands President if the Country is Republic. " These representatives will gather together in a " I n the closed Century the demand was for 1 place accepted by all the people. That place will Freedom. Whoever tried to quell it failed. " " Likewise, the International Court of Arbitnr- L be under the protection of Humanity, and no I I doubt of God. tion is requisite to this Age. I t is impossible for " Then, all the disputes between nations will be any Bower to postpone it, and the World of referred to that Court for A~bitration. Humanity will assuredly rest in the cradPe of " But, if one rise in rebellion not desiring to Peace. This is one of the bounties of this Cycle. Its miracles are multitudinous. I t s discoveries are i follow this Council, then all the individuals of the 1 World will rise up against that nation. wonderful. ' ' " 'Therefore, let us all arise to serve Mankind, i " There is no doubt when this Council is brought and bring International Peace into being-spend- II into being the Peace of the World of Humanity ing all our endeavours to that end. Let us go to the I will he established. " utmost sacrifice : 20,000 Bahais have given up life I Referring, as requested, to the Hague Confer- itsel£ for this end : That the Divine commands ence 'Abdu'l-Bahb said : "The Hague Conference may be realized throughout the Globe. So that - is good but insacient. Its sphere of discussion all the children of men may live in the ut~nost is narrow. It is not representative of the elec- torate of the World. " The members of this Conference were obliged to follow the inclinations of the Governments which supported them, and could not deviate one hair's breadth fronl their instructions. Mad they been free and untramnielled you would have real- ized what could have been accomplished." " 'The Council outlined by RahA'u'llih will be t h e lad resort. It is confirmed by God : And under the protection of God. Rest as,mred this Inter- P national Court of Arbitration will come into I, * existence--for it is the demand of the time. W e 9 ki B !i P, a speech \ ._ he delivered before an assembly -.-- - of learned ------ THE SPIRIT OF INVESTIGATION. men m Pans, dur& the ~ x ~ o s i t i ooflg01:- - A - n " When the BahAis wishto make a convert to their Religion, they endeavour from the very first to confirm him in his own Religion, thus enabling calls conflicting armies to marshal thern- him to become cognizant of the principal proofs selves into lines with the main purpose of Religion, whereby the Divine Religions are demonstrated, namely, t o create Harmony in the world, and to and to distinguish a Prophet from an impostor. establish on earth the Most Great Peace; one Consequently, the Old Testeament of the Bahitis would always repeat the assurance of the exalted consists of all the Heavenly Books revealed through place ascribed to ~ h r i s tby , the Bahb'i community. the former Prophets, while their New Testament For the Aim, and the Voice, and the Pen of comprises the Tablets of Bahb'u'llhh, which in fact' Bahh'u'llhh and 'AbduYl'Bah&have been clear in reconcile these books and contain the interpreta- showing that Christ is enthroned in every heart. tion and explanation of them ! "* I n the Light of Oneness, Bahtiis accept all the . The Fifth Principle of Bahi'u'llhh points out : Prophets and Manifestations of God. 'Therefore, " Religion must be in accord with Science and no Jew, no Muslim, or Buddhist, or those of other Reason." And Solomon says : " Above all thy Religions, can become a Bahb'i without accepting getting, get understanding. " Christ. I t would be well if Missionaries would Bahir'u'llhh invites the peoples of all Religions assure themselves of this, for their own comfort. to be fair, to investigate, and to recognise from And may God bless them with this understanding. their own Scriptures, that the Founders of Reli- For it is high time that the peoples of different gion, honour each other. Why, then, dare their Religions left off proselytising each other, merely followers slay each other? Let them give their in the partial interest of Truth : when by a different answer to the God Who created them, and to the outlook all can see it together, more fully revealed, Prophets who come to the world. in His Name. in the Teachings of Bahb'u'llbh. For 'Truth being One, and indivisible, Religion was never sent into the world to create confusion, or to justify the abuse of intelligence, but to establish it. " One of the noble Christians of- Cairo, M. l ~ a & , -de t s following statement in ~-a-b- i- i e de . . " " ah;; Proofs." Abul Fazl. pp. 70, 71. 128 129 / tice ; because they are the Principles of Righteous- ness, of 'Truth, of Justice and Generosity. The UNIVERSAL HARMONY. '&spiritwithin" every individual who studies them, T was necessary, as we have seen, to have free- will testify to this. dom from religious superstition, in order to attain individual resurrection. This has - Unity is the natural sequence of all preceding come t o countless millions through the Teachings Revelation ahd attainment. Its Principles will of Jesus, as a necessary precedent to the realisation triumph over an opposition. It is evident there of Universal Harmony, and the conscious Unity has been great attainment, in all spheres. Great of Mankind, wZch comes to us through Bah6'- Manifestation of Human Power. Man ought I uYLlAh. It was this Universal consciousness which therefore now, to brace himself up with Faith, to 1I match all this Power, which has been manifested, I Jesus yearned for, when H e prayed : " That they I all may be One, as Thou Father art in Me, and garner in all the blessings, which may accrue l and 9: in Thee, that they also may be One in Us." to Humanity, through a wise direction of it. I He also taught His disciples to pray for Unity, when He taught them, " Our Father. '' Unity holds out the fruitful Basket of I The Lord's Prayer was the Key-note to Unity, Fragrances to Mankind, which can soothe and heal I which Jesus gave. a suffering world. Its riches are unfathomable : Bahi'u'llhh re-echoes, re-iterates, and gives Even as the riches of Man's inheritance on Earth, Volume to the Harmony it contains : " Consort and in the Iseavens of LTnderstanding, are count- with the peoples of all Religions with fragrance. Follow that which tends to Harmony," will be His Bugle Call, through the coming centuries. And following it, will alone save Humanity fmm the calamities which threaten it To-Day. eousness make it possible. Otherwise, it is im- ;, / The Principles of Bahh'u'llbh are Divine Guid- ante meeting the peculiar needs of this Age. And there will be no unity between individuals, or The Aim of all the Prophets throughout the Nations; no social, political, industrial, or reli- A!losaic and Christian Dispensations of the Spirit, gious Unity, however much we talk about it, points to Unity. And it should he the greatest unless these Principles of Unity are put into prac- joy in life, for the Friends of God and Humanity to assist these Heavenly Hosts, in spreading a knowledge of the Principles which make it possible. The Teachings of Bahh'u'llhh m o was known as "The Father of the Poor," are fraught witb ,:-; cc N E Dav telleth another," and " a thou- such Blessing, that they offer interest, upon inter- est, and Glory upon Glory, for all. They sumanon (U terday." sandyears in Thy sight are but as yes- all, to that for which they are created-to become the conscious children of the Most Glorious. 4: To-day is the Day of all Days ! Therefore a knowledge of them is of the utmost It gathers up the Meaning of Days. importance. For they give that very Guidance Each Day fuller than the Last must be. for To-Day, which many, in religious, political, And this Last overflows with the effulgence social, and industrial circles, are seeking, and which, in its fullness, they cannot find elsewhere. 1.. Of all the Days of God which have been. F a r Bahh'u'llhh opens the sealed Books of Prophecy in all Religions, revealing the H a b o n y of the Divine Plan in them all, and declares t o the world with the Pen of Power, that in this Day is the Scripture of them all fulfilled. Surely it is the Holy Spirit which reminds us of the Day, when Jesus, standing in the Syna- gogue, opened the Book of Isaiah, and reading, said : " This Day, is this Scripture fulfilled in your earsH-for another fuEllment has taken place. Shoilld one not be eager to understand, when coming in touch with some beautiful spiritual power and on hearing that the Sun of Truth has again arisen with great brilliance to enlighten the world, be willingly open to conviction concerning n New Spiritual Dispensation? Did not J c ~ Hinlself s Soretell it, when %3e spoke of One who should eonlc '' in the Spirit sf Truth, to guide us into all Truth " ? Then surely,, mu.st do right ! " Here we have the Spirit which all who are interested in what H e said should ask God had " placed within " Abraham voicing itself. themselves after full investigation, whether And such faith and such voicing of it, would Bahd'u'lldh is not that One. This is His claim. And the Scriptures of Religion known by diffeqnt gladden the heart of any earthly father. Why should we not have confidence that it delights the Names, tedify to the truth of it. The least anyone Heavenly Father ? cin do is to investigate in the light of the Scripture Bah&'u'llbh, by declaring the Oneness of Mau- they believe in, and consider well its meaning, kind and the Oneness of Religion, does not con- before dismissing the matter. And if it be found tradict the Faith of Abraham, but substantiates that Bahb'u'llih fulfils other Scriptures as well : it. The " Signs of the Times," which should surely that should increase and universalize interest accompany His appearance have been all around us in the Revelation of Truth which H e brings? It on every side. W e have already noticed, that in is eminently satisfactory, in that it is all-compre- EIis Day, Jesus rebuked as hypocrites those who hending. That of course is the secret of its power did not understand the "Signs of their own times," to unite. . and therefore denied Him. When first told that the Bahb'i Faith has power BahA'u'llAh has certainly made the Teachings OF to unite the people of all Religions, many say : Jesus, in this, and in other respects, especially " Impossible !" And their amazement at such a clear, and surely there is to-day universal need for proposition shows how far they are astray from the - the Guidance of the Sun of Truth. It is difficult true meaning of Religion. For it always has been to imagine the state of mind of those who have not difficult to accept the idea that some nations should found the Teachings of BahB'u'llbh in this time be left out of the Divine Plan; we should not of calamities ; for are they not just what Jesus said think this right. Some have repudiated Religion would take place at the time when another should altogether because of the superstition of those who come in the same Spirit, to give further Guidance would be satisfied if their own race and nation than H e could give at the time H e left this earth? could be saved, whatever might happen to the I t is clear that the BahBi Revelation is the others. But BahA'u'UAh tells us that " Justice natural and spiritual sequence, due at this time, in enables us to see things with our own eyes, and furtherance of the Teachings which Jesus gave ; for not by the eyes of any in the world."It is also it makes sayings of His intelligible, which have recorded that the Faith of Abraham impelled IIim hilherto seemed obscure; and it is certainly in to exclaim : " Surely the Cod of all the Earth, accord with the Divine utterances o f Jesus. There are those to-day who are asking constantly, this becomes generally known-there will be no " Where does all the modern Teaching place atheists. M&amrnad (though it is the last thing Jesus ?" Much of ' it does not take Him into on earth which many Christians suppose) honoured account, but it will be found that the BahA'i Teach- Christ, and Abraham, and Moses. This fact is ing does. For it takes of that which H e gave, made known to the world through the Teachings " shows I t , to us,"* and confirms us in it. And of BahA'u' llhh. nbt only does it confirm our Faith in Jesus : but Those who are enveloped in prejudice must in- the Bahb'i Revelation introduces us to all God's evitably spend ,their lives in trying to escape the - Messengers, even to those of other Names, not truth about many things. It is however a little acknowledged in the Hebrew, or Christian Reli- tragic d e n large numbers take their friends to gion, and thus brings to our remembrance the be enemies, and slay each other. To eliminate saying of Jesus, when His disciples complained the pain of such misunderstanding, it is mueh that others were casting out devils who were not better to have a mind ready to investigate Reality. with them : " Rebuke them not, for those who Nobody can discover anything while locked up -in are not against us, are on our side." Surely that . boxes of mental prejudice. answer holds good to-day ! It has never been the Messengers of God, but Christians cannot deny that Maammad has on their disciples, who in their mistaken zeal, are His own ground, dealt more ably with the liquor ready to " eat God up " by engendering prejudice traffic than they in some countries have yet done. and enmity. For there are many members of different Churches BahB'u'lllhh coines to put an end to religious who hold shares in brewery companies, and think strife, proving from the Sacred Scriptures of all it quite right to do so. There is not unanimity in Religions that God's Messengers Irave, in every this matter amongst Christians, but amongst instance, been bent upon the same Purpose of Muslims there is. Drunkenness is allied with creating Unity in the world. So we see that the other vices, and we cannot have heaven on earth, very essence of that which they all give is in accord unless all agree to banish them all. The day is with the all-embracing Unity, revealed in these fast vanishing, in which it was considered by some Latter Days through the Bahi'i Teachings. They manly to conserve practices contrary to the highest afford abundant satisfaction in awakening a true good of the Human Family. knowledge of the Divine origin of every individual Universal Religion which stands for Reality, (a matter whicll theology has largely left to the must be allied to Science and Reason, and when perception of Mystics)-and this should silence * See John, Chap. xvi., Vers. 1 9 - 1 5 . 137 the question-" Divine, or not divine ?"-which beloved Son crucified-in order that H e might be has been the bone of contention between enabled to forgive sinners ! From such error and Unitarians and Trinitarians, for centuries. One gross superstition, 0 our Heavenly Father deliver party practically denying their own divinity, and us ! No simple child could or would have invented the other denying the Divinity of Christ ! What- such an idea. It is enough t o alienate the whole ever have theologians imagined divinity to be? world from Religion; and it is quite enough to Mrs. Eddy, thanks be to her, settled that matter account for the lovable straightforwardness of some for Christian Scientists, by claiming Divinity for truthful children, who have been known to say : - all God's children, dismissing all arguments to the they " loved Jesus Christ, but hated God ! " contrary-as emanations of '' mortal mind. " T o love a lovable personality is perfectly natural All mean conceptions of the nature of Man have and reasonable, but to ignore example and fall arisen through clinging i o remnants of Truth, and flat on one's face in worship, is not desired. Jesus ' trying to make them cover erroneous ideas ; each did not want to be enthroned as a God, or to be adhering to that which takes his fancy most, and called " Lord, Lord," though the manifestation with it veiling the Divine beneficent Whole. .of His Divine qualities proved Him to be Lord BahB'u'llAh gives rich assurance of divine birth- of Mankind, or, in other words, made God, in right, through the power of the I I o k Spirit, Man, Manifest. To worship Him, He clearly for every individual; and so delivers us from said, did not qualify anyonr for the Kingdom of mere self-satisfaction, by enlightening all concern- Heaven-but to do the Will of the Father, did* ing the Oneness of the Human Family. Such This is in accordance with His own Words, and unanimity of the universal consciousness, must, it with the Words of all Divine Messengers. They is suggested, be the At-Onement of those Great come, always, t o seek Nan's understanding. Ones, who have laboured with such divine passion, And, coming divinely, to speak to that which even pouring out their precious life blood on is divine, though dormant, in Man; usually Man crosses, that perchance by such unquestionable has slain them. This time however, though sincerity some might believe in their Mission to Martyrs have testified their Faith by joyfully giv- es'tahlish universal Love and Harmony; and if it ing up their lives to prove it, God's Manifestation were possible, to convince the world of their Love, has not been slain. Many s~ifferingsmere heaped which is one with God's Love for Mankind. Man- upon Rim ; but I I e overcame all difficulties ; doing kind I-~asindeed been lost to reason find c:ornnlon the great work committed to I s m , radiantly. sense, in supposing that Cod wanted His own Through the clouds of moral, mental, and T h e following extracts from the Supreme Pen veiled : Thou art M y Garment, and M y of Bahb'u'llHh bear witness t o the Oneness of Garment shall never be outworn. Therefore Human and Divine relationship. abide in thv love t o Me, that thou rnayest find " 0 SON OF T H E HIGHEST SIGHT! Me i n th-eHighest Horizon !" 6 6 0 SONOF SPIRIT! I have placed zoithin thee, a spirit from Me, that thou mightest be M y Lover : W h y hast I have created thee sublim,e ! But thou hast thou forsaken M e , and sought to love degraded thyself : therefore ascend to that for another? " which. thou recast created." (" Hidden Words." Bahb'u'llAh.) What generous love in a Creator ! How refresh- UNITY MEETINGS. - ing after the mere " Thou God see-est me," which N the Generosity of the Bahi'i Dispensation has so often been used to terrify the children of men, and has left no encouragement for the indi- vidual consciousness to rise to a state of Oneness X BahiL'u911iLh has made sure provision for the social life of the Bahd'i Community. For, with the Heavenly Father. " This is the Hoar of the Unity of the sons of men, W e read, " God sent not His Son into the world And the drawing together of all classes." to condemn the world, but that the world through En 1911, when 'Abdu'l-Bahi mas in London, Him, might have life." And always One with H e gave the following discourse at a Unity Meet- the Father, Jesus Himself said : '' I came not into ing held at the home of Miss Marion Jack and the world to condemn the world, but that ye might the writer. The International Races Congres, have life, and have it more abundantly ; and to the in which Bahdis had taken special interest, many end that he that believeth on Me, might have Life coming from other lands to take part in i t in 1910, Everlasting." made that Unity Meeting specially interesting and - 8y..,. - How beautifully these words of Jesus accord iepresentative, since a number had remained in with those of Rahi'u'llLh when Me speaks to the the hope that 'Abdu'l-Bahi would come to individual for God : London, and on September 22nd, 1911, the hope " 7 have placed within thee, a spirit from Me, and expectation was rewarded by the following that thou nzightest be My Lover!" discourse : And how much more satisfying it is to know 0 Ye Friends and 'Handmaidens of the Merciful ! that our Creator is seeking our individual under- God is all Glorious ! standing, in order that me may be both lavers and I t is a cold and miserable day but as I was helpers ! anxious to see you I came here. For a man who This opens out a new vista, and suggests bound- has love, effort is rest. He will travel any distance less possibilities for the children of men. No to visit his friends. wonder that with His penetrating Sight Thank God I see you spiritually at rest. I give RahA'u'lIBh has made Courtesy the Cardinal Virtue - you this message from God : that ye may ever turn for this New Age. And how the world needs it ! toward E r n . There could, of course, be no Kingdom of Heaven, Praise God that you are near Him ! The un- without it. worthy things of this world have not deterred you from seeking the world of the Spirit. WThile in 1 harmony with the world you care not for' the things which perish. Your desire is for that which as education and progress travel from West to I East, so does the Spiritual fire travel from East to never dies, and the Kingdom lies before you. I West. hope that the Teaching of God will spread through- I hope that the people of the West may be out the world, and will cause all to be united., illumined by the Light of God, that the Kingdom I n the time of Jesus Christ there mas an out- may come to them, that; they may find eternal1 pouring of Light from East to West which Life, that the Spirit of God may spread like a fire brought the people under a Heavenly Banner, and among them, that they may be baptised with the illumined them with Divine insight. water of Life and may find a new birth. Western lands have been kindled by the Light This is my desire. I hope by the will of God of Christ. I pray earnestly that the Light in this H e will cause you t o receive it, and will make you advanced ' ~ will ~ soeiuumine the world that all happy. may rally under the Banner of Unity and receive I n the same way that you have education and Spiritual education. material progress, so may the Light of God be Then those problems which cause m e r e n e e your portion. among the peoples of the earth will be seen no God keep all of you in safety. more, for verily they are not. You are all waves (" 'Abdu'l-Bahci in London," p. 39.) of one sea, mirrors of one reflection. To-day the countries of Europe are at rest; Ed~xcationis widespread. The light of liberty is the light of the West, and the intention of govern- ment is to work for truth arid justice in Western countries. But ever the Light of spirituality shines out from the East. I n this Age that Light I - - has become dimmed ;Religion has become a matter of form and ceremony and the desire for God's Love has been lost. I n every Age of great spiritual darkness, a Eight is kindled in the East. So once again the Light of the Teachings of God has come t o you. Even I ,- SPIRITUAL SPRING TIMES. N examination of the records will show, that those Who have been fitted and ap- pointed by God to inaugurate the Spiritual Spring Times of the world, have always NEED OF PERSONAL 6een fully conscious of their Mission. They can say, as Jesus said : " My Father worketh until - r. MANIFESTATION. now, and I work." Because of necessity, they N both ancient and modern metaphysics, are conscious that the Father worketh through Divine Principle is recognised to be the them, and th,zt the work is His. origin, foundation, and truth of individual It would be difficultto imagine the beauty of the being. And this immaculate conception renders physical Spring Times, without the physical sun. valuable service to IIumimity. For it sets each And it would be more difficult to imagine the state one up with a noble outlook in life, in contradis- of the world, if the Spiritual Sun of Truth, had tinction to the " born in sin," and " miserable never, in times of " gross darkness," burst forth worm," notions, which have been a ridiculous from the Heavens of Enlightenment on the mind travesty of 'Truth, and have oppressed' Mankind, and spirit of Mankind : with re-creative ener- through long and weary centuries; and we are gies, and with such Power, that fullillkg Pro- grateful for this charter of freedom from ideas phecy, It has " Made all things New," and in Its which have hindered individual resurrection. own mysterious way, set the seal of its Power on However, though freedom has its merits, we Chronologipal calculations. need, and the world needs, whether the world will There is no mystery in the fact that such epoch- making Events, have been marked by the appear- ance of ~ i v i n eManifestations; it is history. I have them or no (and it is not in the nature of things that They could come, if we did not need Them)-those great Personal Manifestations, Who I Only the future is enveloped in mystery-the come revealing, and declaring from the Dawning present is as clear as noon-day, for those who will Place of Command-God" sTil1for the Era de- see with the eye of the Spirit. And it would be noted by their appearance. So, because we need foolish to deny the re-creative power of the Spirit them, they have always r~gpeared,as History and I to mark the present epoch even more convinc- Chronology show, at the inauguration of a New ingly, because of its gathered volumes : and v e y Era,. And, as in the Past, some accepted, and difficult to imagine it, unrelated to Prophecy ! some rejected their Guidance, so it is To-day. / . . But, nevertheless, the Guidance so greatly needed, is evident to us in the Revelation of Bahb'u'llih. without some unifging, and revivifying THE SUN OF TRUI"I'. Spiritual Power, mere individual freedom is apt to breed chaos. I n looking around, what do we see? -HE Sun of Truth is the Word of God. It Shameless, supercilious egotism, at war with itself ; and its offspring-abounding chaos. (3 illumines the Path to the Most Great Peace. Contrary winds in the mefital atmosphere create a The Reality of the Divine Religions is One. whirlwinds, and a Guiding Spirit is necessary, to All the Prophets are united in their Message, and lead all into the channels of blessing which Unity unshaken. They are like the Sun; in different affords. And what the world needs in this respect, seasons they ascend from different points on the is precisely what is always sent for its illumination. horizon. Therefore, every ancient Prophet gave If Humanity fails to see this, it must be looking the glad tidings of the future, and evew future has in the wrong direction, or is afraid to acknowledge - accepted the past. I t , because of a tendency to cling to Guidance given in the Past. " Religions are like the branches of one Tree. 0 L e branch is high, one is low, and one in the W e know it would have been far far better for centre ; yet all draw their life from one stem. One the world, if it had listened to God's Prophets in branch bears fruit and others are not laden 50 their own Day and Time, instead of waiting for abundantly. All the Prophets are Tights, they centuries after it has stoned them before affording only differ in degree; they shine like heavenly recognition; for such procrastination engenders bodies, each having their appointed place and time a disposition to stone the New Ones. of ascension. Some are like lamps, some are like W e know that Light is always Light, in what- the moon, some like distant stars, and a few are ever Age it appears : and individuals are so con- like the Sun, shining from one end of the earth stituted, that " the Spirit which God has placed to the other. All have the same ~ i ~ toh give, t within them," enables them to see it. I f this were yet they are different in degree. I f we accept the not so, life would be a very unfair thing to them. Light in one, we must accept it in all." (" 'Abdu'l-BahB in London," pp. 17, 57.) " If men followed the IToly Counsels and Teach- ings of the Prophets ; if Divine Light shone in the hearts and men were really religious, we should soon see Peace on earth and the Kingdom of God among men. 'lie Laws of G d may be likened -EXIS Feast is kept by Bahkis all over the unto the s o d and material progress unto the body. If the body was not animated by the soul, it would (3 world, to celebrate that most auspicious Event in the world's History : Bah&'uY- cease to exist." (" Talks of 'Abdu91-BAA, given Ilkh's Declaration of Himself as the Expected One, in Paris," p. 98.) Whoni the BAb had Proclaimed. " The \TTord sf God is the storehouse of all good, It was in the Garden of Ricjvhn, outside Bagdad, all power, and a11 wisdom. The illiterate fishers towards the end of April, 1868, that Bahh'u'llAh and savage Arabs were thereby enabled to solve Declared Himsel£ to be that One for Whom the such problems as were puzzles to eminent sages. people of all Ages, in accordance with the Prophe- I t awakens within us that brilliant intuition which cies of the Hebrew, Christian, M&ammadan, and makes us independent of all tuition, and endows other great Religions, have waited-the Hope of us with an all-embracing power of understanding. Israel- and the Desire of all Nations. Many a soul in the ask of philosophy, after fruit- Therefore, 'this Feast is kept during the last less struggles has been drowned in the sen of con- twelve days of April by Bahhis in commemoration flicting theories of cause and effect, while those on of the time when, being Exiled and driven from board the craft of simplicity have reached the shore place to place under despotic Governments, be- of the Universal Cause by the help of favourable cause His Teaching was gaining such hold on the winds blowing from the point of Divine Know- people wherever He went, BahA'u'llhh was about ledge. to be taken from Bagdad to Adrimople. " When man is associated with that transeend- This Holy Feast was kept in London, at the ent Power emanating from the \Vord of God, the home of the writer, on April 24th, 1920, on which tree of his existence becomes so well rooted in the occasion the following Tablet was received from soil of assurance that it remains fimm amid the 'Abdu'l-13ahh to be read to the Friends assembled : violent hurricanes of scepticism and doubt which attempt his destruction. " For this association of the part with the whole f - " O Friends and Handmaidens of God ! " To-day is the Day in which the Sun of Reality endow.: him ~i'idih the -Whole, and this unison has dawned from the I-Iorizon of existence. I t s of the particular vcith the Universal makes hiin all Daybreak is clear, and its Sunshine is bright with in a . ' ('Ahdu'l_-BahA B bbas.) such Power that obscuring clouds are dissipated, ,' " With the utmost brilliance It is luminous, and shining from the horizon of the world. This is that which causes created beings new exaltation. CHILDHOOD OF B A H ~ U Z L A H . " Consider ye, how much in this Cycle, Science T was the custom of 'Abdu'l-Bahh to g$ve out and Art are extended. to the guests who met around His hospit- How strange Arts, and New things have able Table both spiritual and material food, appeared ! sewing the latter to His guests withHisownhands. How the power of Thought has increased ! From all parts of the world, from all religions And strange inventions have become ap- and races, and for many years they met around parent. His Table of Oneness in the utmost joy and har- " This Cycle contains in itself, the Wisdom of a mony. Now, through the countless Tablets and hundred Cycles : and if you gather the Wisdom Talks which were given by Him, for them to give of this one, the results will be seen to be far greater than the results of a hundred Cycles before it. For instance, if you collect the books, which were compiled in former Cycles, and all the books and Speaking one day at Table on the childhood of epistles which are compiled in this : Those of this Bahh'u'llhh, H e said : Cycle are more than double those of past Ages. " I n the childhood of the blessed Beauty* Consider Ye the brilliance of the Sun. And re- his father realised the remarkable powers flect upon the effect which the brilliance of the latent in his boy, and used to treat him with the Sun of Truth has made upon the Human Creation. utmost consideration and respect. For his other " But a thousand times alas ! That eyes are children he had but little regard, d l his attention blind, and ears deaf, and the minds and hearts are being devoted to the Blessed Perfection. The signs neglectful of this great Bounty ! of majesty arid greatness were apparent in him "Then strive Ye with heart and soul, that sleepy from childhood. One day when he was quite a little ones may become awake! The blind have sight, child he happened to walk near his father and and the dead ones become alive ! "* mother who were sitting together. His father re- Upon Ye, be BahA el Abha ! marked : (Signed) ‘ABDU'L-BAHA ABBAS . " ' This son of ours is peerless and unequalled, 'Translated by Lotfullah S. Hakim '. and is not to be compared with any other children, father of BahA'u'llhh. H e said after that a second * ' not in any way.' demand was made and also paid. Then a third 74 " The mother said : ' He is just a little lacking demand was made, this time q u c h larger than he in height-a trifle short.' could possibly pay. On such occasions the Shah " The father replied : ' What does that matter? sent collectors to the house who took possession and 'He is perfect in every way. If his height is not sold the furniture, etc., by auction. A thing worth great it is only that his brain is nearer his heart.' ten pounds would often be sold for one pound. "From childhood he had an extraordinary power The colIectors came and pressed Mirzs Abbas of attraction which was felt by all. Everybody (Bahh'u'llhh's father) for payment. The Blessed loved Him, and people were 'so fond of Him that Beauty, then a boy of seven years, said : ' I will they always crowded around Him. He was ex- see this matter through.' ceedingly generous, and a lover of outdoor 6'The Shah was away at the time at a place ten life. Most of His time was spent in the garden days journey on horseback from Tihrbn. The or the fields. Me was very fond of talking with weather was cold and there had been a heavy snow- people. fall. The father did not wish him to go, but "Another incident occurred when he was seven BahA'u'llAh said, ' I will go,' and the boy of seven years old---just entering His eighth year. It was went. H e saw the Prime Minister and talked with customary in those days of autocratic government, him. The Prime Minister took him to tPle Shah. just as in the Middle Ages, for the Shah ta make a H e talked to the Shah as though he were a man of demand on any person, when he wanted money, thirty or forty and did not leave him until the Shah for a sum (it might be %50,000). H e would tor- had written a firman (decree) granting His request. ment the person until it' was paid. I%e Shah The ground was covered with snow. A man called several times cut pieces of the ear off those un- Assodullah Bagi, a private servant, rode with the fortunate victims. Every time the Shah became Blessed Beauty to Tihrin, keeping the child in angry he would cut a piece off. Even one of the front of him on a special saddle used for children, Viziers of Persia had pieces of his ear cut off. and they rode the ten-days' trip in two-and-a-half "One day the Shah said again, 'Cut his ear!' days, for ITis father was in distress. And at that T'he Vizier cried : ' Wait; this is not grass that time there was no telegraph. grows again when it is cut. Nothing will be left " On arrival he turned the collectors out of the of my ear.' "Once the Shah made such a demand on the I house. "'All the Ministers and people of the court would surround the Blessed Beauty. The children were very fond of Him. When he was only thirteen or fourteen Me became known for His learning. Me conversed on many subjects, and solved many THE OUTSTANDING EVENT IN problems. In large gatherings H e would &s- THE WORLD'S HISTORY. cuss matters with the mama (leading Mullahs), and would explain intricate religious questions. 0 the three wise men of the East who came Some questions pertaining to the Mu$ammadan to worship Him, to %fary His mother, I Religion had never been clearly explained which and a few others, the birth of Jesus was I were expounded by IBahi'u'IlAh. the greatest event in history up to that time. To " When H e was tweniy-tw~ yea5 old his father the majority i t was a matter of insignificance. died, and the Governnient wished Him to succeed Now, we all know that it had the greatest spiritual to His father's office, as was customary in Persia. Bahh'm'llAh did not accept the offer. Then the Every age has its Prophets send Seers, and every Prime Minister said : ' Leave him to himself. H e New Era has been denoted by the appearance of a will not descend to such a position. It is impos- Dsvine Teacher who utters prophetic warnings sibIe that He demean Himself thus. I cannot to the rulers of the earth. And though not de- understand Him 3 he has some greater purpose in sired by them, He is in reality the " Desire of view. IIe has other thoughts ;leave Him alone.* )'+ Nations," and brings Divine Laws to lift oppres- sion from the heart of Mankind. To-day, the Bounty given through Bahi'u'llBh is great, because the need wbich calls for it never was greater. And we are better equipped to make it known to the *Ta.ble talk at Haifa, Dec. 1Fth, 1919, translated by Lotfullah world than ever before. S. Wakim. Quite naturally, the greatest Event in our own time is the appearance of the Spiritual 'Teacher who was promised by Jesus in whom the world be- lieves, but Who was lifted up on the Cross of Re- jection in His Day. Many are still expecting the Promised One to " lead them into all Truth," withorit knowing that H e has come and gone I! "like a thief in the night," as was prophesied of " Upon reading the Tablee sent to her, Queen Him. But it is not too late for "every eye to see Victoria said : ' If this is of God, it will stand.' " - Him," in spirit and in truth. For we, now, see "The Czar sent one of his nobility t o investigate Jesus, though His chosen friends slept around the source of the Tablet received by him, and this Him in His darkest hour. messenger returned with such impressive accounts "The Root of alI Knowledge is the Knowledge - of his mission that the Czar became stirred with of God : Glory be to Him ! And this Knowledge visions of the ' Most Great Peace.' " ii is impossible, save through TIis Manifestations." " Above the din of many voices Bahir'u'llhh re- veals the Will of God for this Age. Wherefore . " Bahbk'llbh revealed in a Tablet to the King in Berlin the following concerning his rule : ' 0 banks of the river Rhine! W e have seen ye when He appeared, the foundations of the world I trembled. The learned ones were bewildered, and wise men confounded, save those who came near drenched in gore, because the swords of retribu- tion were drawn against ye : and ye shall have another trouble. And we hear the lamentations /I il unto Thee, and took from the Vine of Favour, of Berlin, though it be io-day in manifest glory. " ri 'I'he pure Wine of Thy Inspiration, and drank in " H e revealed to a prominent Turk (named ~j , I/ Thy Name, saying : Rais) the following Tablet : ' The Land of Mystery '' Praise be unto Thee, 0 Desire of Nations ! (Adrianople) and what is beside it will be changed, Praise be unto Thee, 0 Beloved of the hearts and shall pass out of the bands of Turkey, and com- of yearning ! " motions shall appear, and lamentations arise, and trouble become manifest on all sides. " Had the Message of Bahit'u'llhh been heeded by " , R e also uttered the following judgment upon the rulers of the earth, the world would have been Turkey (personified in Constantinople) : '0Point ! spared the agonies it has since experienced. And which liest between two seas; the throne of in- prosperity would have reached a greater height . justice hsth been fixed in thee. . . Thou shalt the world over than it has yet dreamed of, or than perish-and %hose people that are within thee shall it can now hope for, for a long time to come. lament. " I n the Na'me of God, Bahi'u'llih sent Tablets " The messengers who conveyed the Tablet to to the Czar, to the Pope, to the Emperor of Ger- Egypt were made prisoners and sent into exile and many, to Napoleon the Third, to the Shah of Per- the Tablet ignored." sia, to Queen Victoria, and others, urging all " Bah6'u'llBh predicted the downfall of the Mhe- monarchs to prepare for Peace. dive (Ismail Pasha), and that these messengers, in i i F i s short while, would be released, and would stand travelling on foot to TihrJan, and gave it to the in the presence of their beloved Master." Shah as the latter rode through the streets. H e " General ord din soon after, in his political gave it, not as a petition, but as a command sent campaign in Egypt, released those men and gave to him, saying : ' A Command from one whose them permission to return Lome, and the events authority is higher &an yours.' The Shah learned connected with the downfall of the Khedive at that the conteats and authorship of the letter. but the time are the property of history-" young messenger Badi (the Wonderful) was " Napoleon received the Tnbllet addressed to him branded to death with red-hot bricks ! When the with scorn and threw it away, saying : ' If he is executioners were lifting these u-ithiron tongues to God, I am two gads.' BahSt9u'llAh addressed a put them on his body, he declared that he wel- second Tablet to him containing tEe followirag : corned this martyrdom, seized them with his own ' Because of what thou h ~ s done, t affairs shall be hands, and applied them to his bosom. This ~ o u t h , changed in thy kingdom, and thy Empire &a12 knowing that his life would be sacrificed, had depart from thine hands as a punishment for thy sought the privilege of being the bearer of this actions. Then shalt tbatr find thyself in manifest loss, and commotion shall seize the people there, Tablet from his Beloved." "' Tihrhn, Bah&'u"ll&h blessed, and promised unless thou arisest to assist in this matter, and- that justice should reign therein."* follswest the Spirit in this straight way. Thy glory hath made thee proud. By My Life, verily, it shall not endure, but shall pass away, unless thsu takest hold of this firm Rope. W e have seen humiliation hastening after thee while thou art of those that sleep." " That Tablet is sufficient proof. It was re- vealed when Napoleon was so powerful that he said: ' On this globe I am the one God.' In such a time was this Tablet written. The world knows the downfall of Napoleon IBI., of &is exile, and his death." " BahA'u'llHh sent a Tablet to the Shall of Per- sia at s later p e r i d (from Acre). A youth bore it, *" The Revelation a f ~ ~ h d ' u ' l l ~ . Isabe~la " D. Brithingham , ~ a h A ' lPublishing S o c i e t y ; - C l i i Z , - whatever has issued from it bears witness to this utterance. " Therefore it has become known that the first bestowal of the Almighty, is the Word. The re- TABLET OF BAHA'U,LLAW. ceiver and the acceptor of it is the understanding. TABLET by Bahb'u'llAh t o the Persian It is the First Instructor in the University of Ex- "f3 Zoroastrian Bahais. Revealed in the purest old Persian language, istence and it is the Primal Emanation of God. Whatever has happened is through the reflection without an Arabic word in it. " - of its Light and whatever is manifested is the ap- pearance of its Wisdom. All the names orighate in His Name, and the beginnings and endings of " Glory is due unto God, the Discoverer, Who, all affairs are in His Rand. throughtone shower of the ocean of His Generosity, " Your letter came to this Captive of the world expanded the firmament of existence, begemmed in this prison. It brought happiness and increased it with the stars of knowledge, and summoned the friendship ;it renewed the remembrance of former people to the most high court of perception and times. Thanks belong to the Possessor of the understanding ! " . universe, ,Who permitted us to meet in the land " This shower, which is the Primal Word of the of Persia. We met, we conversed, and we Almighty, is sometimes called the Water of Life, listened. It is hoped that no forgetfulness shall for it quickens the dead souls in the desert of ignor- follow that meeting, that the revolving of the ance with the spring of intelligence. Sometimes wheel of time shall not take away its remembrance it is called the First Emanation which appears from from the heart, and that the plants of love shall the Sun of Wisdom, and when it began to shine, grow out of that which is sown and become green, the first movement became manifest and known, verdant, and imperishable." then phenomena stepped into the arena of exist- " You have asked regarding the heavenly Books. ence and these appearances were through the generosity of the Incomparable, the Wise One. The pulse of the universe is in the hand of the skil- " H e is the Knower, the Giver! H e is sancti- ful Physician. H e diagnoses the illness and wisely fied and holy above every statement and attribute ! prescribes the remedy. Every day has its own 'The seen and the unseen fail to attain the measure secret and every tongue a melody. The illness of of His understanding. The world of being and to-day has one cure, and that of to-morrow another. Look ye upon this day; consider and words, were prevented from the Splendours of the discuss its needs. One .sees that existence is Sun of Knowledge. '" afflicted with innukefable diseases compelling it to lie on the bed of suffering. Men who are in-. " Say, 0 ye sons of earth ! The Pure God pro- toxicated with the wine of self-contemplation pre- claims that which in this glorious day shall purify vent the wise Physician from reaching it. Thus ye from the stains of desire and enable ye to attain have t h y made the world and themselves to suffer. to tranquillity in My straight path, and My mani- They know not the ailment nor recognise the cure. fest road. To be severed from attachment means They take the wrong for the right, the crooked for to be separated from those things which occasion loss and lessen the grandeur of man. I f the people the striight, the enemy for the friend." of the world should attain the Heavenly Utter- " Hearken ye to the melody of this ~ A s o n e !r - ances they would never be prevented from the Stand up and proclaim. Perchance those who are ocean of Divine Generosity. " asleep may awaken ! Say, 0 ye dead ones ! The " The Heaven of Righteousness has no star, generous Hand of the Almighty is passing round and never shall have one, brighter than this. The the Water of Eternal Life. Hasten ye, and " first Utterance of the Wise One is this : 8 ye sons drink ! Whosoever shall become-alive in this day, of earth ! Turn from the night of foreignness and shall never die, and whosoever dies in this day can - turn to the Sun of Unity. This is that which shall never find Life. " benefit the people more than aught else." " Ye have written regarding the language : Both Persian and Arabic are good, for that which " 0 Friend ! The tree of the word has no better Blossom and the ocean of Wisdom shall one desires to gain from language is to attain to -never have a brighter Pearl than this : 0 ye sons of the meaning of the speaker and this can be accom- intelligence ! The thin eyelid prevents the eye plished in both. B s in this day the Sm of TVis- from seeing the world and what is contained there- dom has appeared nrld shone from the horizon of in. Then think of the result when the curtain of Persia, the more you respect that language the greed covers the heart." better it is. '' " Say, 0 People ! The darkness of greed and " 0 Friend! When the Primal Word ap- envy obscures the light of the soul as the cloud pre- peared in these latter days s number of the vents the penetration of the sun's rays. heavenly souls heard the Bfelody of the Beloved and hastened toward it, while others, finding t h d " Sklould one listen with the ear of intelligence to the deeds of some did not correspond with their this Utterance, he shall spread the wings of free- dom and soar with great jay towards the Heaven of dom is opened ! Hasten ye ! The fountain of Understm&g." - knowledge is gushing ! Drink ye! Say, 0 " When the world was environed with darkness, Friends ! 'P'he Tabernacle of Oneness is raised ; the Sea of Generosity was set in motion and Divine look not upon each other with the eye of strange- Illuniination appeared so that the deeds were dis- ness. Ye are a11 the fruits of One Tree, and the closed. This is the same Illumination which is leaves of one Branch. Truly, I say, whatever promised in the heavenly books. Should the Al- lessens ignorance and increases knowledge, that mighty aesire the hearts of the people in the world, has been, is, and shall be accepted by the Creator." He will punfy and sanctify them with the power " Say, 0 people ! \Talk ye under the shade of af the Word, and will pour forth the Light of the the Tree of Righteousness ; enter ye under the pro- Sun of Unity upon the souls to regenerate the tection of the Tent of Unity. Say, 0 thou Posses- world. " sor of Sight ! The past is the mirror of the Rrture ; " 0 People ! The word must be demonstrated look and perceive. Perchance, after the acquire- by the deed, for the righteous witness of the word ment of knowledge, ye may know the friend and is action. The former without the latter shall not attain to his good pleasure. To-day the best fruit allay the thirst of the needy nor open the doors of of the tree of Science and Knowledge is that which sight to the blind. " benefits mankind and improves his condition. " " a'he Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth : A " Say the tongue is the witness of My Truth; harsh word is like a sword, but gentle speech is like do not pollute it with untruthfulness. T6e spirit unto milk. The children of the world attain to is the treasury of My mystery; do not deliver it knowledge and better themselves through this. into the hand of greed. It is hoped that in this The tongue of Wisdom says : WThosoever possesses Dawn the universe shall become illumined ~ 4 t the h Me not has nothing. Pass by whatever exists in rays of the Sun of Understanding and Knowledge, this world and find Me. 1 am the Sun of Percep- so that we may attain t o the g o d pleasure of the tion and the Ocean of Science. I revive the Belo~eaand drink from the Ocean of Divine withered ones and quicken the dead. I am that Recognition. Light which illumines the path of Insight. I am " 0 Friend ! As there were few ears to hear, the Falcon of the Hand of the Almighty; I bear so for some tirne the Pen hath been silent in its own healing in my wings and teach the knowledge of chamber and to such a degree that silence bas pre- soaring +tothe Heaven of Truth." ceded utterance. Say, 0 People ! Words are " The Peerless Beloved says; The way of free- revealed according to capacity, so that the begin- i i I ners m a y make progress. The milk must be given bast come to see a prisoner and an exile. .... r~ccordingto the m e w r e , so that the childhood of W e desire the good of the world and the happiness 1 the world may enter into the realm of grandeur of the nations: yet they deem m a stirrer-up of I ! and be established in the Court of Unity." strife and sedition worthy of banishment. . . . " 0 Friend ! W e have seen the pure ground That aB nations should become one in faith and and cast the seed of knowledge. Now it depends a12 men brothers; that the bonds of affection and upon the rays of the Sun whether it is burned up unity between the sons of men should be strength- or is caused to grow. Say to-day through the ened : that diversity of Religion should cease, and greatness of the Peerless Wise One, The Sun of diflerence of race be annulled-what h a m is there Knowledge has appeared from behind the ueil of in this? .... Y e t so it shall be : these fruitless the Spirit and all the birds of the meadow of one- strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass awag, and the ness are intoxicated with the wine of Understand- " MOST GREAT PEACE " shall come. . . . ing and are commemorating the Name of the Be- Do you not in Europe need this also? I s not this loved. Happy is the one who finds this and that which Christ foretold? .... yet do we see becomes immortal. " . your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more (Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Chicago, freely on means for the destruction of the human Ill., Sept. 8th, 1909, and taken from " Bahk'i race than on that which would conduce to the News,'' 1910-1921.-cc Star of the West," Vol. 1.) happiness of mankind. . .. These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease and all men be as one kindred and family. . .. Let no man There are few persons now living who saw glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. . . . 9 99 Bahb'u'llkh. Professor Edward G. Browne, farnous for his knowledge of the Orient, describing his visit (Wednesday, April 15th, 1898) as the Two years after this visit of Professor Browne culminating event of his journey, says : which he describes in the Introdudion to " A " No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as Traveller's Narrative " (Cambridge : 1891), I bowed myself before One who is the object of a BahA7u'1lbh passed to a higher plane, and many devotion and love which kings might envy and years before 1 3 s ascension H e appointed His eldest emperors sigh for in vain. A mild dignified voice son, " The Greatest Branch "-' Abdu'l-Bahb bade me be seated, and then continued : ' Praise Abbas, as " the Centre of the Covenant " and the . be to God that thou hast attained! . . . Thou only Commentator of His Divine Teachings. repetition here, and in his endeavour to analyse the difficulties in which he found himseif, could not . . help recording his general impression of others; and he acknowledges - ... there were Yigm that P e G a.. A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY might become wholly- Bahk'i, and that such ~.~ - ~ -- ..~ an idea . - AND B A H MARTYRDOMS. ~ ~ is-not confined- to- - Missionayy_ --- circIe_s. - In the Western Hemisphere, we had flabtered HE hordes of darkness have always imag- ourselves that the world had seen the last of re- ined they could extinguish the Light of ligious martyrdoms, but if on; only glances at the the World, by killing the Lamp Bearers, index to Mr. Malcolm's book, it will be =day but even a slight glance at History should make seen that although he tried hard t o restrain it, plain the futility of such a course. Yet, alas! it his mind reverted again and again to the BahiL'i is not plain, to many, who should be pointing it Faith, because he was puzzled by the Power which out. strengthened weak mortals t o testify of It in Mar- W e know that although the body of Jesus was tyrdom. crucified, H e has proved the Resurrection of His The index to " Five Yea& in a Persian Town " Spirit which no man can kill. And so it is again, shows that -the pages on which the BahB'i Faith in the Present-Day Visitation of the Spirit. The and its martyrs are mentioned, far outnumber the evidences given later are sufficient to show this, indexed particulars on other matters. though they deal only with the Martyrdoms The reality of Mr. Malcolm's Christian Spirit which occurred during a few years ;but if given in is evident throughout in his endeavours and per- full, from the time of the Declaration of the Bbb, severance in the town of Yezd; for he seems t o until now, they would fill volumes. have left no stone unturned in his heroic efforts to It is, however, suggested by a Persian friend, make Christian converts. And looking on (through that it would be in place to corroborate Bahh'i his own story) from the outside, what with the statistics by the recorded impressions of one who racial, religious, political, industrial and social was not a Bahd'i, but a Christian Missionary. difficulties which surrounded him, these, increased - - I n his -- book, " Five Years in a Persian Y_ed," the-Rev. --- Napier - - - - Town, ~ a l c o-G-,C.M.S., al- by language difficulties, made it well nigh impos- sible for him to cope with his situation. - though he found Bahh'i ~_ a h ~ r d o r too n s--- revolting Without the key, how can one unlock the doors - fo - record, gilr_es - details - -- of O K-~ & for horribk which mystify the mind! Does not prejudice - MHA'~PRECEPTS. (even though uncsnscious, when born of preferen- tial habit) bolt the doors of understanding ? There- fore, Bah&'u'll&hhas decreed " the abolition of world in perfect harmony. racial, religious, political, induskrial, and social Warfare must be abolished, and i n m t i o n a l prejudices. " s to be settled by a Coucil of Arbi- ~ c u l t i e are Mr. Malcolm .----- -- records--- only one instance of con- It is commanded thae everyone should practise - A verting a BahAYito Christianity ; and - -- thus proves, that although he triedso hard to - find it, he had not - some trade, a d , or profession. Work done in a t --b - K i ~ l the o 'situation. A knowledge of &e faithful spirit of service is accepted as an act of Truth of the matter would have revealed the fact, that no BahB'i can he converted t o accept Chist. For all Bahhis accept Christ ! The difference be- tween himself and his supposed convert would be There is to be no priesthood apart from the that Bahiis recognise the Christ Spirit in all God's Messengers. It is the Spirit of the Eternal Crea- The practice of Asceticism, living the hermit, tive " I AM." Therefore IT must, as declared life or in secluded communities is discouraged. by the Prophets, Manifest Itself when necessary Monogamy is enjoined. and natural, in the Order of Time. Education for all, boys and girls equally, is com- Unlike those of less Catholic Faith, Bahhis are manded as a religious duty-the childless should forbidden to proselytise. WTe recogsise that edixcate a child. Truth is One, for G d does not speak once only The equality of men and women is 81sertea. to the world ! A n a speaking more than once, A universal ianguage ss a means of international does not contradict Himselj. communication is to be formed. Gambling, the use of alcoholic liquors as a bever- age, the taking of opium, cruelty to animals and slavery are forbidden. * Some portion of one's income must be devoted to charity. T21e administration of charitable funds, the provision for widows and f o ~the sick and disabled, the education and care of orphans, will be arranged and managed by elected Co~mcils.~ *(&mpiled by E J. ~ o s e n k r g . ) KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. and groans when he receives an injury, and com- to the Government, and is protected from I&I- - n UES'TIONED on kindness to animals, cruelty. But the poor a n i d cannot speak, it 'Abdu'l-Bahir said : 4 GUAA -:+her show its suffering, nor is it able to AAbAI,UL 0 Ye Friends of Ood ! appeal to t he Government. If it is harmed a thou- The foundation of the Kingdom of God is laid cnnd - ,- .,-----. time6 - 3 by man, it is not able to defend itself on justice, fairness, mercy, sympathy and kind- in words, nor can it seek justice, or retaliate. ness to everv - " soul. Then strive Ye, with heart and soul t o practise love and kindness to the world Therefore one must be very considerate towards ~nininlcu and show greater dndness to them than Urnll."LU, of humanity at large, except to those souls who to man. are selfish and insincere. I t is not advisable to Educate .the children in their infancy in such a show sympathy to a person who is a tyrant, a way that they may become exceedingly kind and traitor or a thief, because kindness encourages him merciful to the animals. If an animal is sick, to become worse and does not awaken him. The they should endeavour to cure it. If it is hungry, more kindness you show to a liar the more he is they should feed it. If it is thirsty, they should apt to lie, for he thinks that you know not while satisfy its thirst. I f it is tired, they should give you do know and extreme kindness keeps you from it rest. Man is generally sinful and the animal is revealing your knowledge. innocent : Unquestionably one must be more kind Then 0 Ye Friends of God ! Ye must not only -and merciful to the innocent. The harmM have kind and merciful feelings for mankind, but animals, such as the bloodthirsty wolf, the poison- you should also exercise the utmost kindness to ous snake and other injurious animals are excepted, every living creature. The physical sensibilities because mercy towards these is cruelty t o man and and instincts are common to animal and man. other animals. For instance, if you show kind- Man is, however, negligent of this reality and ness to a wolf, this becomes a tyranny to the sheep, imagines that sensibility is peculiar to mankind; for it may destroy a whole ihck of sheep. If you therefore he practises cruelty to animals. I n give an opportunity to a mad dog it may be the reality, what difference is there in physical sensa- cause of the destruction of a thousand animals and tions? Sensibility is the same whether you harm man. Therefore sympathy to the ferocious animal man or animal: : there is no difference. Nay is cruelty to the peaceful animal, so ferocious rather, cruelty to the animal is more painful animals should be done away with. because man has a tongue and he sighs, complains To the blessed animals, however, the utmost I 174 1 176 PILICIIIbUIJ Uvvuru --. -.---- ---- - it will be. This sympathy and kindness is one 'rp- of the fundamental principles of the Divine King- d~m. PURITY AND CLEANLINBGS. ' You should pay great attention to this question. DIVINE LAWS OF THE MOST Upon Ye be the Glory of A b b ! MERCIFUL* . (Signed) "BDU'L-BAHAABBAS c< HIE forcible way in which B&iL'u'U& has stated the necessity of cleanly Translated by A zizullah S. Bahbdur, Novemkr virtues and the eloquent manner in lath, 1920. Hsifa, Palestine. which he has demonstrated their properties and benefits, has never before been equalled in the heavenly books of other Religions. . . .9 9 " I n regard to cleanliness, notwith-ding the . manifest advancement of some refined nations, it is evident that this praiseworthy quality is still im- perfect among the masses." " I n books of the Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians and Hindoos, although the laws d cleanliness and ordinances concerning clean and unclean t b g s are minutely recorded, get there are very few who are really cleanly. There are many who pretend and affect cleanliness and purity by shunning those outside their Religion and abstaining from touch- ing certain animals, who appear in the most impure clothing and bodies. Even carrying at times the artificial idea of cleanliness to the extremes of melancholy. Stories and romances illustrating this subject furnish extraordinary records of a kind of acq~~ired insanity which is amazing to people of intelligence.'' " Although the American and Eraropean regions, and reach the bighest zenith of perfection f Christians, more particularly the i&abita,nts of among all nations. " 1 Holland, France, England and Germany, are far . " Thus it is revealed in the book of Aqdas : i a more advanced than other nations in the cleanliness of their persons, clothing, residences, mads and " Cleanse every impure thing with a water I/ streets, yet they do not deem it necessary 'to cleanse the soil of impurities, unless they cause which will not change by the ' three ' (colour, taste, smell,)-beware not .to use a water which is i I visible dirt. I n the New Testament no command infected by stagnant air or by any other thing. is definitely given to avoid that which is filthy and Be the essence of cleanliness among Mankind." impure. Consequently, one who has a concep- " This is that which your Master, the Mighty, tion of real cleanliness would not hesitate to eon- the Wise, has desired for you. Thus, God hath clude that perfect cleanliness as a practice is in its removed the decree of uncleanliness, from all infancy, even amongst the most refined nations things, and from other nations, as a gift from God. of the world, awaiting the time when God the Verily, H e is the Forgiving, the Beneficent. Exalted, shall bring it to the highest pitch of per- . . . All things are being submerged in the fection. f' Sea of pureness. . . . This is through My Favour. which surrounds all the creatures, so that " Now, in order to show forth the abundant and they may consort with all religions, and deliver the perfect benefits of God in this Dispensation, to Cause of your Lord the Clement. Verily, this is protect people from the melancholic imaginations the Crown of all deeds, were ye of those who current among some nations and deliver more than know ! Likewise forsake foul tanks in the houses one half of the population sf %e earth from an and be of those who are pure. Verily, we have acquired insanity, the Blessed Perfection has pro- desired to see you the manifestations of Paradise nounced an things clean. A t the same time He on earth, so that there may emanate from you has emphatically commanded a11 to avoid every- that whereat the hearts of near ones may rejoice." thing filthy and t o cleanse dresses, bodies, and " I t is necessary to explain these points, so that household furniture, etc., from every pollution. the inhabitants of America,, and Europe, who H e has revealed these ordinances in the book of owing to the universal spread of civilization during Aqdas and numerous Tablets, so that real cleanli- the last century, enjoy all the benefits of cleanli- ness and perfect purity, which are high attributes ness, neatness, and protection from fatal epidemic of heavenly souls, may shine forth throughout all diseases resulting from l~ncleanlinessmay become cognisant of the dimsters of the Orient, and be in- these ponds the inhabitants perform their ablu- formed of the reason why these ordinances have tions, while at the same time they wash their feet been revealed. For except one is informed s f the and handkerchiefs therein. The decaying leaves foulness of the baths of Persia, the putrid tanks of the surrounding trees fall into them, (this same of their houses and mosques, the impurity of the water is used by the inhabitants for drinking and drinking water of Rokara and 'Tartary : and under- cooking.) It is called ' pure water ' by the law stands how cleanliness and neatness are neglected so the inhabitants believe it allowable to use- by those two great nations, it is impossible to Therefore many of the inhabitants of B0kal.a are realise the Bounty of God th\e Exalted, Who has with ' Filiaria medinensis,' and the revealed such ordinances ; or to thoroughly under- people of Kookand with goitre. When men of stand the necessity of these laws. For it is cus- discernment ponder over the facts here briefly in&- tomary with the Persian people to have but one cated, they will be able to realise t6e Mercy of God p11blic bath for every district which contains from in instituting ordinances for the resewa at ion of a one thousand to fifteen hundred houses, and their community numbering over three hundred mil- means of bathing and cleanliness is cozafined t~ this lions. For it is impossible to change by the corn- one bath. It consists of two houses, built of stone, p l s i o n of kings or advice of'wise men, certain brick and cement : one for disrobing, the other rooted pradices of a people who believe these prac- containing the hot bath, for bathing and cleansing: tices to be commanded by their religion- These their bodies. They are frequently shaved and dye customs and habits can only be removed by new their hair in the same place. Then wmhing them- lams instituted by manifestations of the command selves with soap, they take a final plunge into the God. For instance the traditional C U S ~ Oof~ ~ same reservoir, the water of which is the foulest the Jews, extracted from the book of Meshna, and and most impure thing imaginable ; and then leave which are not enacted in the original Bible, could the bath. Such are the baths used by fifty millions not be changed by the power of any mighty kin€! of Shi'ites who inhabit Persia, Turkestan, and or philosopher. 'I'his is the case with the corrupt India. The reservoirs of 13okara and Tartary practices of the Hindoos and Magians. 'To sum which contain the drinking water of the inhabi- up; a nllmber of moral ordinances which secure tants, are also used for bathing and cleansing, like the perfecting of human virtues have been revealed the Persian baths. I n these countries a pond is from the Supreme Pen, but to explain their bene- built a t different places in ecery town and village fits Is not possible in the limits of a short treatise." and surrounded with ~nulberry trees, etc, rn " A~ hllman minds are discordant, and as it is - - ., v I usually impossible for men of sound mindv to agme ~ g ~ pthe t ,Pagan Ceeuvs of Rome, and Ke~a- upon that which"will secure the pmtection and kings of Persia, the Yemen Princes of Ancient development of peoples, tlierefore God the Arabia, and the kings and descendants of Gn& Exalt&, has assigned the enactment of such laws Khan the 3longd." 6 6 xut whatever nation acknowledges the Holy to the Manifestations of 13is o w n command, These Holy Souls, through their divine perception, ~ ~ u i f ~ ~ t aand t i oobeys n ihe H o b Law* will be- enact rules and regulations by which the support come a living nation, and enjoy victow, Permaa- and Progress of society is accomplishd and ad- ence, inffuence, and fame ; even though it may vanced for about one thousand years. Then, in seem at the beginning, weak, oppressed, and few mcordance with the law of progression and decline, in number. p i n t Was illustrated in which is one of the essential decrees of the world of the Israelites at the appearance of Moses; in the Nature, the same Divine Spirit will be manifested Christians at the Advent of Christ ; and in the in another Manifestation Who renews these laws Arabs a t the Rise of Muhamad." and regulations. . . 9 Y. The passages above quoted are taken from "The life and sustained vitality of nations can 6. BahA'i Proofs," writLen by Ahul Fad, fie only be assured by appreciating this great gi&ift. of the BahA'i Teachings, ho~ouredfor his Mere faith in religion, without observing its laws learning and his saintly devotion to the Religion of and ordinances, can by no means secure our salva- ~ ~ andd are, given here in order that the reader tion and emancipation. Even love for God with- may benefit by his able instruction and seek fur- out compliance with His laws and Commanhents, ther colafirlnation in the reasons he gives for accept- which form the corner stone of all refigious or&- ing the Manifestation of God, in our Own Day* aeces, will be considered as mere imagination and sheer pride. Fmm id is also understood that any ~ b Faz] ~ l for the consideration of his nation which ignores and disobeys these holy laws, readers that " greater laws ~ ~ n c e m i neveW g point refusing to acknowledge the D a ~ n i n ~there- - ~ l ~ ~ ~ or referring to the preservation of society of, is a dead nation and will be finally extinkmished and the perfecting of human virtues Could not be found, than the Divine Commands from the a d destroyed ; even though it may have prevailed over the dominions of East and West, and be Supreme Pen of the Blessed Perfection, honoured by brilliant learning, glorious influence 13ah&'u911Ah. ''* and powerful annies. This is made clear by re- (+see r r ~ ~ hproofs.- l ~ i nbul Fazl. Cllapter on His Holiness fleeting upon the rise and fall of the PIlarmhs of ~~hA'~'ll'h.) I t should be recognised that Christians will naturally feel anxiQus about some social solutions. And particularly that concerning marriage. I n that matter Christians have been ahead of Muslims. I n the matter of strong drink they are behind ; destroyed. Be thou straightfornard before God - and the problems relating to family life are not at every instant, then praise H i m by the morn and merely concerned with marriage. merefore, Divine Wisdom solves difficulties from more than one point of view, as we shall find in the laws and WORDS OF . A B D U ' G B A H ~ regulations given through Bahh'u'llBh in the " The Bah&'i Temple at IAq-hbhd has nine KitBbu'l-Aqdas (Book of Laws). avenues, nine gardens, and nine fountains. So it It is not at all certain that the great multitudes is nine on nine, all nines. It is like a beautiful who pray for the Kingdom of God to come on -buquet. Imagine an edifice of this beauty in the earth, are really expecting it to come through the centre of the city, very lofty, surrounded by gm- perfecting of human virtues. I n other Religions, dens with variegated flowers, and nine avenues in- besides the Christian, what the individual beiieues, terlacing gardens, nine pools and nine faun- or confesses verbally, has too often been taken to tains,and think how delightful it must be ! T b t is certify salvation. the way it should be. It is matchless, most beauti- But in this day, Bahb'u'llbh says : ful ! Such is the design. " " Decorate yourselves with the garment of b 6 The Temple of I&¶-&Ad is unique in that is deeds; whosoever attains God's good pleasure by the first Temple of the kind that has been erected. deeds is of the people of Bahi, and he will be Many such temples shall be constructed in the spoken of before the Throne. Assist ye the King future, but this one will ever enjoy this unique of Creation, first by deeds, then by Wisdom and privilege. When its accessories are completed and utterances. Thus ye have been commanded in its full nlachinery starts running, when the melody most of the Holy Tablets from the Presence of of instrumental and vocal music arises and bursts the Clement One. upon the air with its joyous trends, when the " 1)ecorate your heads with the crown of tnlst- prayen and supplications addressed at dawn and at worthiness and faithfulness; your hearts with the sunrise ascend to the Throne of the Almighty, then robe of piety, your tongues with pure truthfulness, will the effect of the Mahriqu'l-A&k&r be evident and your temples with the mantles of courtesy." and manifest. " " Temples are symbols of the reality and divinity of God, the Collective Centre. Consider how, within a Temple, evkry race and people are seen and represented-all in the presence of the Lord, covenanting together in a covenant of love and fellowship, all offering the same melody, prayer - and supplications t o God. It is evident that the church is a collective centre for Mankind. For this reason there have been churches and teniples in all the Divine Religions. But the real Col- lective Centres are the Manifestations of God, of whom the church or Temple is a symbol and ex- pression. That is to say, The Manifestation of God is the real divine Temple and Collective THE MASHRIQU~L-ADHRAR Centre, of which the church is but a spibol." ASKHABAD, RUSSIA. " It is proved that the Manifestations of God- FOUNDATION STONE LAID the great Mouth-pieces of God-are the Collective Centres of God. The prophets of God are these NOVEMBER 12th, 1902. Collective Centres, for they are the real shepherds. The real shepherd unites the scattered sheep, as they have done iq the past. The Collective Centre has ever appeared from the Orient. His Holiness Abraham was a Collective Centre and R e appeared i in the East. His Holiness Moses was a Collective 1 I Centre and He appeared in the East. His Hculi- ness Jesus Christ was a Collective Centre and I3e i appeared in the Exst. 1 3 s Holiness Muhaulmad , was a Collective Centre appearing among the nomadic tribes of the Arabian peninsula." " To-day, His Holiness Bahh'u'llhh is the Col- lective Centre for all Humanity, and H e has come from the East." HISTORIG NOTE. "I AM Alpha ! and Omega ! " The Begin- ning, and the Ending, saith the Lod. Therefore in His Sight all things which appear are seen from the Beginning. The De- sign is His. That Eternal " I " which t o Phari- sees, Sadducees, and Greeks, was but " foolish- ness " wEen the Christ said : " Before Abraham was, I AM," is the Cause of all appearances in the visible world, and of the Manifestation, and Return, of the Spirit incarnate.* w h e n it has been pointed out that egotism .is rampant through the inability of worldly servitors to see God's Point of Guidance; and this because of the disposition to which we dl are prone, to see self only-it has not been inten- ded that any should belittle, or abase themselves, either in the sight of God, or Man, but that all should rise t o that for which they were created. Through the Power of His Holy Spirit, we can rise to the embrace of God, Our Father, Who ever waits to embrace His own. The Martyrs all knew this, and a more adequate study of the History of the Bahh'i Cause will make it quite clear : For in this Latter Day Movement to pro- mote Harmony in the world-Martyrs have taken a prominent part, in furtherance of it. * " B y ' Return,' is meant t h e Return of the Manifestation THE ~ T A S ~ I R ~ Q U ' ~ ~ -AT . ~ ASKHABAD ~ ~ ~ I K ~ ~ K of t h e Sacred Reality." See "Bahi'i Proofs." Abul Fm1. p. 255. Only a note can here be given indicative of the connection This Day has with those other Days the Bib appeared in S h i r k , Bahi'u'lliih, W h o was of God, without which, This Day could not be. about twenty-seven years of age, publicly accepted A " Thousand years," in God's Sight, are but as His Claim, and endeavoured to the utmost, to p r 6 mote the word of the B&b,both in Tihr&n and yesterday. " One Day telleth another, and the firmament showeth His handiwork." So sang Mazanderan, especially among the religious doctors at Noori, so that the renown of His knowledge and David, and so we sing. But if everybody who sings it understood it, there would be no need of +e power of His reasoning raised an excitement among the leading rnen of those districts. By this, martyrs to prove it. I n This Day, the Bib, or Gate, was born in many were led to embrace the Religion, and others were stirred to jealousy and insolence.'' Shirhz, Persia, 1819, A.D. H e prepared the way - " After H e had resided and travelled in the dif- for, and Announced 'cHim Whom God would Manifest. " As John the Baptist prepared the ferent districts of Mazanderan, H e returned to way for Jesus : So the Btib prepared the way for Tihrin, where H e continued to spread the prin- Bahi'u'llbh. Six years after the Bib had declared ciples of the religion and spiritual teachings, His Mission, H e was shot for His Faith, at Tabriz ; alpporting and encouraging the Bhbis, until the 1850. His earthly father was a merchant of wool- attempt against the life of Nasiri'd-din Shih len goods. happened. The substance of this great event is as " Bahb'uYllAh was born in Tihrhn, Nov. 1817, follows : A.D. As a child H e was distinguished for re- " A young man of Tabriz, Muhamn~edSadck by markable sagacity and spirihal discernment, al- name, who was a servant of one of the prominent though H e was not taught by anybody. Appar- Bibis, and devotedly attached to his master, be- ently, H e had acquired the elements of Persian came oppressed and bereft of reason on account of reading and writing from His father and other near the martyrdom of the latter. Having made up his kinsmen. I n His youth, His father, who was one mind to blood revenge, he divulged his secret to of the ministers of State, died, and the charge of one of his confidential friends whom he knew to be his brothers and sisters, who were all younger than one of the staunch believers of the Bbb. These Himself, fell upon Him. H e did not care to enter two went to TihrAn, concealing their intention any of the Government services, but provided sus- from all their friends, and even from the Bhbis. tenance for the whole family through the manage- As the &Ah went out of the city, sojourning ment of His inherited lands and pro~erties.When among his country resorts at Shamiran, they directed their steps toward the village of Niavaran. Qn Sunday, 15th August, 1852 (1288 A.H.), classes slew its victim as t&y chose, Some wero cut lengthwise alive; some were blown fro& they were in the vicipity gf the village, near the mortars, and s m e h p p e d pieces. The Badjja~ %yal Palace, with &e intention of carrying oul; their plot. When the =Ah went out to ride, youths of Astrabad, in order to try the strength of their arms, cut their unforhlnate mpiives intq Muhammed Sadek a d v ~ c e dand, fired a pistol shot at bini, The shot missed its mark, as the horse halves with their swor&, Among them, one who died in an incredibly horrible m a k , was S&y7 bolted, and the .&Ah being much agitated, fell off his horse and fainted. The attendants ,mshed man-Khan, the son of Ysya-Khan of Tqbriz, who forth, picked up the a&, and slew Muhammed was a most devoted fo4ower of the Bkb. When the order was issued for execution, they fist Sadek on the spot. As he was killed instantly, hq stripped him, and made holes in bis body with could aot be questioned as to what led him to c m - mit this abominable act, asd as to who had been knives. In these holes they placed l i g h t 4 wax his associate. But as he had been a servant of one candles, put a halter through his nose and paraded of the prominent Bhbis, that community was ua- him around the markets of Tihrhn. When tq justly accused of the deed, and notwithstanding candle burned down to his flesh and was consumed, they knew nothing whatever of this plot, they were they would put another in its place. Bystanders arrested and fell victim t~ the wrath of the were watching the scene and following in great revengeful S h h . Eighty of them were seized in crowds ;while he was silent and patient, not evinc- Tihrhn, and given up separately to a different ing the least trace of agitation; nor did he groan - class of people to be executed. The administra- or plead for mercy, which is the natural tendency tors deemed it advisable to have each one of thew of man under such circumstances. Nay, he ex- victims murdered by one section of the citizens, pressed great joy and cheerfulness, with a shining and thus show hatred and enmity between the dif- face, while singing and chanting verses of yearn- ferent classes of Shi'ites and the Blbis. By thiq ing, so that the hard hearts of the bystanders mere means they sought to prevent the spread of the affected with emotion, and all the inhabitants of BAb's Religion. Consequently they distributed Tihrhn, both old and young, were astonished. the helpless Bhbis to various parties of people ; one Finally, after this torture, they cut him in half to the book-keepers, one to the soldiers, one to the lengthwise, and hung the two parts on either side learned doctors, one to the merchants, carpenterg, of the old city gate of Abdul-Azim. blacksmiths, drapers; even the shoe-makers, cob- " It is said that when the matter waxed so fright- blers, rice merchants, etc. Each one of thew ful, the Iman Joma (chief leader of prayer) of Tihrdn, conferred with the and blamed him that the prominent Bbbis had no connection with for these outrages., Some state that one of the the matter, rode forth with perfect composure to foreign Ambassadors warned the %Ah that should Nivavaran, where he was imprisoned, and chained another Bhbi victim show forth such steadfastness for about four months in the gaol of TihrAn. at the time of his execution, half the people would After strict examination and enquiry, it was finally embrace Bkbism, after which checking the matter proven that Me had no connection whatever with would be extremely difficult. The %Ah therefore the criminals, and that H e knew nothing of the prohibited the taking of any action against tbe mattes. The &Ah therefore ordered that H e Bibis without investigation; but since that time, should depart to Irak Arabi, and abide in the holy the justice awarded to these devoted people has sanctuaries of the Shi'ite Imams (Kerbela, Nejef, been similar to that given by the Council of the and Bagdad), which are places of exile for the men Inquisition to the heretics of Rome. I n fact a sf distinction of Persia. Accordingly in the year man's acknowledgement of Bhbisnl before the 1269 A.H. (1852 A.D.) he departed to Irak, Governnent was considered as confessing the escorted by some of the delegates of the Persian greatest crime, which should be punished with Government, and took up his residence a t Bag- death, no matter how high a character, or what dad."-(" Bahd'i Proofs." Abul Fazl. Trans- qualifications of virtue and sanctity he possessed, lated by Ali K d i Khan.) Very often the finding of a BAbi Book in a person'q Among the earlier Martyrs was Qurratu'l-'Ayn, possession, his conversing or dealing with the named by BahB'u'llAh, T a k a , the Pure One. BAbis, or pleading for one"accused of Bibism, H e r spirit had for some time sought the Corning \v0uld be considered as a crime by the clergy. One with such longing, that being well acquainted Many a time if they found in the pocket of an with Divine Prophecy she a t once recognised the accused one a tom piece of paper bearing the BBb, through His Teachings, and set out t o meet words : ' Allah'u'Abha ! ' (' God is Glorious '), Him. But religious hatred and persecution was or the name of Beha or Bhb, they needed no fur- at that time rife in Persia, and having been driven ther witness to prove his infidelity. from place to place, H e was tfien in prison, only to be released in Rlartyrdorn. So she never saw ' W n e of the men arrested and imprisoned was I . But, with the swiftness of her keen the blessed person of Bahb'u'llAh, I3e was in the spiritual l)crception, she soon came to recognise village of Afcha, one of the surrounding districts Balrh'u'llAh as the One, Wbom, according to the of I When the report .of the attempt Declaration of the BBb, " God would Manifest." upon the &Ah's life came to H i m , H e , knowing ) I n the story of her search, her Eke, devotion, be, under the pa*lpshg i&Wiice of st- ddflk* pefsecution, and cruel Martyrdom, we have some Readers will do well to e d €I W& er d c m t s id the most brilliant and thrilling episodes of any of her life and love for the Cause of Godj WM are being written, abd those which are ardent soul in Sacred History. For she at all times fose with rapture above every trial which written more fully than herd.* From '' an abbreviated accomt of the soHoWd beset her, astonishing and charming friends and strangefs alike by her eloquence and spiritual bul events concerning the Martyrdoms in Y a d and grandeur, and by the grace and beauty of her I s f a i n , in 1903," it is difficult to quote, for we personality. Though she knew, by her clear have not known such fierce religious persecutioh vision, aforetime, what would befall her, and pre- in the Occident ; especially in our own lifetime we paring herself in prayer and meditation, after have been free from persecution, though not from bathing and robing in white, she went with blindness, superstition, or oppression. The follow- wonderful fortitude to the end which awaited her. ing passages show that religious hatred was so fierce After being taken to a garden, she was strangled in Persia at that time that the Government in that with a silken handkerchief, and while still uncon- . country could not cope with it. scious, thrown into a well by a hired murderer, .t " There were two pure women, who, while who was first made drunken, lest he should refuse mourning for their martyred dead, were attacked t o carry out this evil deed; as the first one ap- by cruel men, who first beat and tortured them, pointed t o do it, on seeing and speaking with her and then dragged them, still alive, out of their had refused, at all costs to himself, for it became houses, after which they stabbed them and chopped clear that death was certain for him, in any case, them to pieces in the presence of the bloodthirsty and he preferred not to befoul his soul with murder kro~vd. When the audacity of the rabble reached a t the time of its nearness ;for in the few minutes' this point, the Governor, finding himself powerless speech he had with QurratuYl'Ayn, he became t o stand against the rioters, fled from the city and convinced of the truth and sincerity of the Cause r\etired to the citadel for self-preservation." for which she was then giving up her life. Such '' It is reported that a baker was captured, and was the power of her eloquence, that she could that his body was chopped to pieces with meat axes, convert a hired murderer, who was not under the and that during the time of his torture, he prayed influence of strong drink. Oh! look to her, and (S&e " ~ o d ' sHeroes," Laufti Clifford Brirney, Kegan Paul.) read of her faith and devotion, all ye who may t (" i Miftvdrnj Ptrsis, 1903." Bahl'i Publishing be in danger of becoming that which ye would not Society, chicago.) / P I that God would forgive his murderers, joyfully resistance to the bloodthirsty wolves, who, stretch- giving lip his life in the Path of God, rather than ing out their claws of tyranny, killed seventeen per- deny his Faith." sons with such cruelty that the pen cannot descrik " It is reported that the number of those killed, it. Among the victims was a little child, who fell up to that day, is more than one hundred and fifty into a well, and being rescued, was the only sur- persons within the walled city of Yezd. I n the viving soul left of those noble people." surrounding small villages many people were mar- " The number of martyrs in that place was &e tyred in each place. A telegram was received in teen. I n the village of Taft the number was TihrAn to the effect that the Governor, being twenty-eight. I n Rlanshad there were ten. In pressed by the rioters, was compelled to blow one Delbala they threw a believer, alive, into a baker's of the friends of God from the mouth of a cannon, oven, and roasted him to death. Up to that date, and to behead another in the circle of the city. six women have been martyred and many have The mob put a woman in a sugar sack, over which been captured and wounded." they poured petroleum, and burned her alive. " I n a letter from the , B&'i Assembly at They tied and nailed another believer to a tree, Mashed, Persia, dated October 19,1909, news was poured naphtha and oil over him and burned the received that ' in two villages called Hasser and tree and the nian together." Namsg, in the Province of Khorassan, five sancti- " I n a village near the city there lived Jenabe fied souls were martyred, and four of our spiritual Sadre, Jenabe Nutamed-u-Shariah, Jenabe Nezam- sisters assaulted and wounded, and the ears of one u-Shariah , Jenabe Zia5-u-Shariah, with all their of the believers cut off, while other Bahbis were families and kinsmen. They were venerable Ulla- the subjects of persecution and pillage.' "* mas and Seyids, and had all received titles from " 'His Holiness Jesus Christ (may the souls of the &Ah ; yet the Mullahs sanctioned the massacre all creatures he his ransom !) has clearly pointed out of all these honourable and revered souls. The the pathway to the Kingdom of God, showing mob, excited by the clergy, attacked them wit11 plainly the shortest road to be that of sacrifice. guns, swords, etc. Though these noble souls were Therefore these sanctified souls have but followed sufficient in number to stand against them, and Christ, Who was the Dawn of Sacrificial Lights, were provided with ample means of defence, yet * and through this path have they proceeded to .the in accordance with the co~nrnandof the Blessed Kingdom of Mysteries. For the sake of such as Perfection, BahA'u'llAh, "Ilet yourselves be killed, these He said : rather than to kill," they yielded their lives without 1 + (" BahA'l News," March 41st, 1910, Chicago.) -: '' Blessed are they which are persecut&i for the Divine Manifestatioh of God id dl tfmd9b t h ri8hteousness sakit, for their's is the kingdom of aheient and mbdern. "* hhven." " Blessed are the pure in heart, fat. &any more before these, and since, hiivt! given &ey shall s& God." " Blessed are ye when men hp their lives in this Cause to establish U n i v e d d h a ~~evileyou, and persecute you, and speak aU manner of evil against you falsely for My sake, Rejoice ! and be exceeding glad, for great is your Eveliy Day, God has tried to get a c o u r k ~ u s reward in heaven ; for so persecuted they the Pro. hearing from the World of Humaniw, ahd has phets before you." therefore expressed Himself, at the Beginniner df "'n the Tablet of Aqdas, Bahii'u'llih says : each Day of Generosity, or Cycle, b u g h a " Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My human £ o m , in order to be known and understood Breezes ! by Mankind. God expressed Himself through the Blessed are the dead who are vivified by my personality of Jesus Christ, but the world was Breaths ! offended. It objected to natural means. Blessed is the eye which is enlightened by My . It sought after some less familiar way which would create B great sensation, and which Blessed is the ear which heareth My Melodies ! would controvert all that is known of the Blessed is the affrighted one who hastens to the natural and spiritual Lsws of the Universe. Sa shelter of My Name ! Humanity crucified Jesus and beheaded John the Blessed is he who hath heard of My afflictions, Baptist, because it disapproved of the Way God and has arisen to assist Me among My spoke to it. It could not, however, kill the Spirit, which ascended to the Heavenly Father. Blessed is he who is convinced by My Word ! Jesus was known as the son of a carpenter, Blessed is He who entereth My Kingdom ! and in the World's view it was presump- Verily he is from lMe, and upon him he My tion for Him to teach the Elders. Nevertheless, " Mercy, My Bomty, My Favour, and My H e opened the Rook, and expounded it in t h e Benediction ! " Synngogue, as "One having authority." As s *' This is the ransom for the Blood of the Mar- child it held his attention so completely, that He tprs ! This is the utmost desire of the chosen ones ! became lost to His earthly parents. And what This is the eternal life of the spiritual ones ! This is wonder, when he saw Himself in the Book, that the p~thwayof Jesus Christ! This is the way of He could speak " with authority, and not as the .j// I f l1 200 * (Lawh-el-Aqdas," I3ah;'u7ll~h's Mesvrge to Christians-) i -. / Scribes? " H e was born in the wrong place t o indifferent now, as' it was then; and has not yet please the people of His Day. H e was not im- found God's Lawgiver of the Present Day. It is portant enough t o rn'eet their views. H e spoke busy quarrelling over who shall make its laws ;but ! T o them i n the vernacular, and not in the G ~ e e k as we have seen, they are made and given, in His claim was unbearable presumption. Besides, accordance with the necessity of the T k e s , by how dare H e announce Himself to be the Son of God, and are Declared by Bahi'u'llAh. And God ! I t was Blasphemy ! Such a thing had though the world heeds them not, they are being never been heard of. Away with H i m ! And so written in receptive hearts. So the History of has the world received God's Messengers at the This Cause is bound to be written, Chistian Dawn of every New Day ;His Spiritual Manifests- History is written, in those hearts which enthrone tions come to " make all things New," but the world to its own hurt has rejected Them. It Bahb'u'll&h, and the Bhb, Who announced Him, prefers to manage its own afhirs without God's aid. and 'Abdu'l-BahL, the Centre of His Covenant, y e t thousands of years after they, His enemies, like Jesus, all had earthly birth places, just as @reforgotten, throughout Eternity Christ will be Moses, Abraham, M4ammad, Buddha, enthroned in every heart. That is God's doing, ~oroaster,Confucius, and we all have. for His Word accomplishes that whereunto H e some nineteen years elapsed, between the bath sent I t , in every Time of V&&ation. Annolmcement, in 1844, and the time when, with The History of the Bahi'i Dispensation is the ~i~ followers in Exile, in the Garden of Ridvhn, History of the Present Day Visitation of the w o r d outside Bagdad, 2863, Bahh'u'llAh to a few of His of God, to Mankind. As H e said something disciples, declared Himself to be the Expected through Jesus inspiring John the Baptist to an- one,Whom the BAb Declared : "God would nounce Him at the Beginnirmg of the Christian Manifest." And so great was the power of the E r a : so, to-day, H e speaks through another Spirit in Him, that during long Exile and confine- Manifestation of His Power and Glory : hi'^'- merit under the Persian and Turkish Governments Ilih, T h o comes by the Power of the same spirit a t the instigation of the Mullahs, his influence car- under another Name (to protect the world from ried to distant parts of the earth, and drew many on mere imitators-against whom Jesus warned His long pilgrimage in search of the Divine Know- disciples before His Ascension, see Matt. Ch, 24, ledge H e had to impart. versa 5-24)-and He comes to demonstrate the I n many Sacred and Holy Writings, by His Glow of God. The world is just as worldly and Supreme pen, Bah&'u'llhh has made plain the Will \ II ~f God for this Age, And sn earnest study of $ h q wi4 give awrance of &t veliditv of Mi5 clGnn. ~t'willbe ieeq that the WiU of God, expressed in His Principles apd Precepts, rqeetg *T need of these disastrous t'~mes. THB CENTRE OF W E WVENAWT Before ascending from the wrorld of visibility, irr $892, Bahi'u'llih appointed '&du'l-B&6. Wis AMONGST THE NATIONS. &loved Son and companion in Exile, to be the In a Tablet establishing the Centre of the COW @mtreof His Covenarlt;, to establish on &ark& by enant, 'Abdu91-Bahh Abbm, Bahh'uu'll$hnevmks the Will of God, the folbwing :- THEMOSTGREATPEACE. " In His Name, Who Shines from the Horizon 4'Vekily &heTongue of the Ancient gives Glad .Ti4irags to those who are in the world conemiwig the appearance of &e Greatest Name who t a k e Uis Covenant amongst the M~tions." "Verily H e is Myself : the Sbning-Place .ofMy Identityf the East Of M y Cause, the Hesven & My Bounty, the Sea of Ny Will, the Lamp of My Guidance, the P A of My Jestice, de Standard of My Lam." " The one who hath tunred to Him hath turned eo My Face, and is illurnid by the G@ of My hath scbwledged @y Daeness and con" b e d M y Singleness." ' T h e one who hath denid Him hath been d e I I * "This is the Branch that hath extended from Great Peace amongst the Nations and enduring a the Power of Thy Oneness, and from the Tree of lifetime of persecution, did H e then travel through- Thy Unity. Thou beholdest Him, My God, gazing out the world in His advanced age. For many unto Thee, and holding fast to Thy Mercy." years ;EZe has also radiated Divine Counsel from "Thou knowest O M ? , God, that I have chosen His own Table in the Holy Land, through count- Him only because Thou hast chosen Him; I have less Tablets, Epistles, and Talks given personally to elected Him only because Thou hast elected Him. Pilgrinis who have journeyed from distant parts of Therefore assist Him by the hosts of Thy Heaven the earth, in order that they might give again to and Thy earth." the world, that which they had received; also, H e 'cWelp Thou 0 God whosoever may help Him, has ever been a living example to all around Him, strengthen whosoever may advance towards Him, s f the kindly Wisdom, Grace, and Eove which it and reject whosoever may reject Him and desire was His work to impart. Him not." "O My Lord, Thou beholdest My pen moving After appointing His grandson, Shoghi Effendi, and my limbs trembling in this moment of Revela- to be the Guardian of the Bahh'i Cause, on Novem- tion, I beg of Thee by My craving in Thy Eove, 'ber the f~zth,1921, His Spirit ascended to the and My yearning for Declaration in Thy Com- Heavenly Father. There is-no doubt to hear the mand, to ordain for Him, and His Lovers, that glad Welcome : which Thou hast ordained for Thy Messengers, and the Trusted ones of Thy Salvation." " Well done! Thou Good and Faithful Ser- vant ! Enter into the Rest prepared for Thee, be- " ?Verily, Thou art the Powerful and the Mighty. " fore the foundations of the world." cAbdu'l-BahA, born on the 23rd of May, 1844 On Tuesday, November the 29th, 1921, the (the day the BAb made His Proclamation), has now temple of His Holy Spirit was laid aside. by His most arduous and self-sacrificing Labour of From 9.1.5 to 11 a.m., great multitudes of many Love, accomplished the great work to which He tongues and faiths and nations walked in the long was Divinely appointed. funeral Procession which wended its way up Not only after 40 years' exile with His father Carmel, the Sacred Mountain, where His earthly on account of their fih faith to establish the Most garment was reverently laid to Rest, in the Tomb * (Translated by Mirm Valiolah Khan Vargha ,?f ~ i h r L n , of the Bib. Eastern papers said that "A11 Haifa Dec. l l t h , 1918.) ?(Compare with Zec. Ch. 6. ver. 12. Isaiah Ch. 11. vers. 1-10.) was present ." \ 2 i *" The High Commissioner sf Palestine, Sir And so we see the fuElling of the Prophecy : Herbert Samuel, the Governor of Jerusalem, the " They shall not hurt or destroy in all My Holy Governor of Phoenicia, the Chief CJBcials of the - Mountain, for the earth shall be full of the know- - Government, the Consuls of the various countries, ledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." resident in Haifa, the heads of the various religious (Isaiah, Chap. 11, vers. 9-12.) communities, the notables of Palestine, Jews, Christians, MosIems, Druses, Egyptians, Greeks, 'Abdu'l-Bahit, the Servant of God, had accom- Turks, Kurds, and a host of his American, Euro- plished that whereunto He mas sent. The testi- pean and native friends, men, women and children, mony of the Leaders and Representatives of all both of high and low degree, all, about ten thou- the great Religions was clear evidence of this, as sand in number, mourning the loss of their beloved a e y assembled to nlourn with those who wept the Departure of their Beloved, for all were one in " This impressive, triumphal procession was their sorrow a d One in Faith, and Unity. headed by a guard of honour, consisting of the City Constabulary Force, followed by the Boy . There is growing evidence that the unifying Scouts of the Moslem and Christian communities Faith of the Religion of God is spreading in all holding aloft their banners, a company of Moslem parts of the world, through the activities of those choristers chanting their verses from the Quran, who, like the disciples of .Jesus have no worldly the chiefs of the Moslem community headed by q~ialificationor ambition, but, as the living fruits of the Mufti, a number of Christian priests, Latin, His example are busily engaged " about their Greek and Anglican, all preceding the sacred Father's business." coffin, upraised on the shoulders of his loved ones. May all in the world hecorne aware of the Great Immediately behind it came the members of his Day in which they live, and not remain un- family, next Io them walked the British High acquainted with this further Revelation of God's Commissioner, the Governor of Jerusalem, and Will, lest they wander in the " gross darkness " the Governor of Phoenicia. After them came the which obscures the Light of Jesus given in the Consuls and the notables: of the land, followed by Past, and failing t o see the Point of Guidance for the vast multitude of those who reverenced and To-Day, labour in vain for that Unity without loved him. " which,.they know, Religion does but reveal to the * (See ''~ 1 1 Passing e of ' ~ b d u ' l -~ a l d , "by Lady Blomfield world, its shame. and Shoghi Effendi.) If they had not forgotten, or failed to interpret \ J correctly, certain things which Jesus said, they BAH ~'U'LLAH would not be trying to put "New Wine, into Old Bottles." They would be looking for that One, THENew Name, BahA'u'lliLh, stands for the Who in these Latter Days, is due, as the troublous Glory of God. T h e Jews made s mistake in re- - state of the world proclaims-to come in the Spirit jecting Christ. Christians would make a greater of Truth, and "Guide us into all Truth." mistake in rejecting the One Whom R e Pro- They would not remain apart because of His mised should Come. The Psalmist sang : " The New Name. For they teo~lld remember that Glory of the Ilord shall he Revealed." And Jesus said : '6 Many will come in Bly N9me with Christians sharing Israel's hope until now, sing such power as to deceive the very elect : but believe glad Hallelujahs to welcome the Lord of Hosts : r - thern not." And also in His Revelation through '' Lift up your Meads, O Ye Gates, St. John the Divine : "To him that overcometh, And be Ye lift up, Ye Everlasting Doors ; And the King of Mary shall come in. I WILL WRITE UPON HIAM, D Who is the King of Glory 7 f MY NEW NAh/lE."* T h e Lord of Hosts ! H e is the King of Glory." Psalm 24th, 7-10. " The Root of- all Knowledge is the Knowledge of God. Glory be to Him! And this Knsw- ledge is impossible, save though His Manifesta- tions. 'Wherefore when H e (BahB'u'llAh) ap- peared, the Foundations of Nations trembled. 'The learned ones were bewildered, and wise men confounded, save those who came near unto Thee, - O Beloved of the hearts of yearning! " The Holy Spirit through RahA'~1'1lAh summons the IIosts of all Religions, and addresses Christians : " 0 Ye Concourse of the Son ! " *Rev., chap. iii. ver. 12; Rev,, chap. xiv. ver. 1 ; ARE YE HIDDEN FROM MY SELF, Isaiah, chap. Ixii. ver. 2. BECAUSE OF MY NAME ! \ \' As God was made manifest through the Christ member, the most learned doctors of His country, Spirit in Jesus, the Son ; so also, in this n a y of in His Age, condemned Him to be killed, whilst Visitation, by the power of the same Spirit, is God one who was a catcher of fishes believed in Him. the Father made manifest through BahA'u'llAh. Be astonished thereat and be of those who re- And in these Latter Days, H e summons the member !" peoples of all Religions to the Heavenly Banquet "Likewise, look at this time. How many monks of Divine Unity, to "consort with each other with were abiding in churches and calling for the Spirit, fragrance. " Addressing Christians, in the same and when H e came in Truth, they approached H i m spirit of love with which Jesus yearned over Jeru- not and were of those who are afar! Blessed is salem, H e says : whosoever abanaoned them, and approached the "What maketh you to doubt? Ye have called Ainl of all that is in the heavens and eal.th. n e y for your Lord the Self-Dependent, night and day, read the Gospel and confess not the Glorious Lord9 and when H e hath come from the Heaven of Pre- after H e has come in His Holy, Mighty, and G h i - Existence in His 'Greatest Glory, Ye have not ap- proached Him, and were of the heedless." 66 you suppose that H e hath desired His Life DO "Then consider those who turned away from after being at every instant under the S W O ~ ~ofS the Spirit (Christ) when H e came to them, in rnani- the enemy? Or that H e hath desired the world f a t power. HOWmany of the Pharisees were after being imprisoned in the most ruined of cities? abiding in the Temples of His Name, and were Open the doors of your minds ; for verily, entreating because of separation from Him ! But Spirit standeth behind them." when the Gate of Union was opened and the Light shone forth from the Day-spring of Beauty, they 'What maketh you to keep afar from Him who hath come from Heaven as H e came from it the disbelieved in God, the Exalted, the Great, and first time? Beware lest ye contradict that which did not attain to His Visitation, after having been He saith, as the nations before you contradicted promised thereto in the Book of Isaiah, as well that which Christ said. Thus do I make known to as in the Books of the Prophets and the Apostles. you the Truth, if you are of those that I know. . . No one of them approached tihe Dayspring of Favour except those who were of no account "Proclaim : Surely th.e Father hath come and among the people, but in wnose names all the lords hath fulfilled that whereunto you were promised in of evident honour boast to the present day. Re- the Kingdom of God. This is the Word the Son veiled when He said to those around Him that at is H e who approacheth Him, and woe to all de- that time they could not bear i t ; but when the niers and doubters !" stated time was ended and the hour arrived, the Word shone forth from the Horizon of the Will. "Say unto the Priest that the Chief hath surely Beware, 0 Concourse of the Son, cast it not behind come. Then emerge, from behind the veil, in the Name of thy Lord, and proclaim to the people this Greatest and Exalted Manifestation. Verily, the "Verily, He, the Son beareth witness to Me, Spirit of Truth hath come to guide you into all and I bear witness to R i m ; verily, H e desired Truth : Verily H e speaketh not unto you from naught but ,My Person, whereunto bear witness Himself, nay, but rather from the All-Knowing all those just ones who know. Verily, in the and Wise." midst of afflictions we are inviting you to God the Lord of the Names. Say : Continue in that "Proclaim : Me is the One Whom the Son hath which is promised unto you in the Books of God, glorified, and whose Command He hath upraised. and walk not in the path of the ignorant. " Abandon that which is before you, 0 people of .the earth, and take that which is commanded you " Surely my body is imprisoned for the salvation by the Powerful, the Faithful: Purify your ears of your souls; then draw nigh to the Face, and and turn your minds to hear the sweet Call which follow not all the obstinate proud ones. Verily, hath arisen from the direction of Sinai, the abode H e bath accepted the greatest abasement for your of your Most Gracious (Abha) Lord. Verily, H e honour, and ye are diverting yourselves in the attracts you unto a station wherein yon will behold valley of heedlessness. Verily, R e is in the most the Lights of the Face, which hath shone forth ruined of houses for your sakes, and ye are sitting from this brilliant Seclusion." '' H e who inviteth the people in My Name, he is I "Say : Have ye not heard the sound of the voice of Me, and from him will appear that which will I of Him (the BAb) who is crying in the wilderness be beyond the power of all that is in the earth. of the Beyan, proclaiming to you your merciful Then follow the path of the Lord, and follow not Lord? Know that surely H e hath come in the the heedless. Blessed is the sleeper who is awak- Truth, in the shadow of I>emonstration, with ened by these Powers, and will stand up amongst Proof, and Argument, and the Unitarians are be- the dead, directing himself in the path of the holding the Icingdom before their faces. Blessed Lord; verily he is of the essence of the creatures Derore tne l r u e vne, verrly ne 1s or tnose who Blessed is the seeker who sought the tent of My have attained. " Majesty and My Greatness ! '"ay : Verily, H e hath shone from the direction Blessed is the affrighted one who took refuge of the Orient,' and His Signs have appeared in the under My Domes ! Occident. Think thereupon, 0 people, and be not Blessed is the thirsty one who hastened to the like unto those who neglected the Remembrancer TV-ell-Spring of My Favour ! when EIe came unto them from before the Mighty, Blessed is the hungry one who has forsaken his the Laudable. " desire because of My Passion, and was pre- "Be awakened by the Breezes of God ! Verily sent at the Table that descended from the they have blown in the world. Blessing to whom- Heaven of My grace for My elect ! soever hath found their fragrance and is of the, Blessed is the lowly who held to the Rope of assured. " My Might, and the poor who took shelter under the shadow ~f the Canopy of My "Say : The Body of the Beloved is yearning Wealth ! after the Cross, and His Head desireth the spear Blessed is the ignorant one who desired the in the Path of the Merciful. Verily, the assault Kawther of My Knowledge, and the heed- of the oppressors keepeth Him not from that which less ones who held to the Rope of My Re- H e desireth. Surely W e have abandoned all membrance ! things to the meeting of thy Lord, the Possessor of Names. Blessed are they who draw nigh to Blessed is the spirit who rvas stirred by My God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment." Breath and entered My Kingdom ! Blessed is the soul whom the fragrance of 'My The above is quoted from the "'Eawh-el-Akdas" IJnion attracted to the Day-Spring of My Bahb'u'll&h's Message to Christians, which con- Command ! ,. -- I I tinues as follows :- 1 Blessed is the ear which heard, and the eye which " Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My beheld and knew the Spirit of the Lord, the Breezes ! Possessor of Glory and dominion, and the Blessed is the dead who is quickened by My Lord of Maiestv " - ! " and Miabt Breaths ! Blessed are they who have attained ! Blessed is the eye that is enlightened by My Beauty ! Blessed is; whosoever is illumined by the Sun of Mv- J 'Word ! , Blessed is whosoever adorned his head with the Blessed is he who heard My grief and rose up for My assistance among My people ! Blessed is he who was assured in My Word and stood up among the dead for My Remem- Blessed is he who performed My Covenant and was not prevented by the world from enter- ing the Court of My Holiness ! This Thank-offering is acknowledged in the in- terests of the Baha'i Cause, and unanimously ap- Blessed is he who cut himself off from all other proved by the London Bahk'i Spiritual Assembly. than Me, soared in the ether of My Love, 1928. entered My Kingdom, perceived the dominions of My Might, drank the Kawther of My Favour and the Salsabil of My Grace, and was informed of My Command and of whatsoever mas hidden in the Treasuries of My Words, and shone forth from the Hori- zon of Inner Significance in My Corn- memoration and My Praise ! Verily, he is of Mine. May My Mercy, Grace, Favour and Glory be unto him !" ALLAH'U' ABHA ! I BAHA'I PUBLLCATIONS. " BAW'U'LLAH " AND THE NEW ERA. Dr. E. J. (EPGLAND). Esslemont. (London : George Allen & " SOMEANSWERED QUESTIONS. " Table Talks of Unwin, Ltd.) 816. 'Abdu'l-Baha in answer to questions put by " THELIFEAND TEACHINC~S OF ABBASEFFENDI." the Compiler and Others. Translated by Myron H. Phelps. (London: Putnam & Laura Clifford Barney. (Kegan, Paul.) Son.) (Temp. O.P.) " HIDDEN WORDS. '' Translations from the Per- " A TRAVELLER'S NARRATIVE." Professor E. G. sian and Arabic of Bahs'u'llah. 1/6. Browne, M.A., F.B.A., M.R.A.S., etc. " 'ABDu'I,-BAEAIN LONDON."Addresses given (Cambridge University Press.) by 'Abdu'l-Baha. 116. "THERECONCILIATION O F RACES RELIGIONS." " TALKS BY 'ABDU'L-BAHA GIVEN IN PARIS." Thos. Kelly .Cheyne, Dr. Litt., D.B. (London : G. Bell & Son). a/-. " WHAT IS A BAHAI?" Dr. E. J. Esslernont. " THE MYSTERIOUS FORCES OW CIVILIZATION. " (Burnside, Ltd.) 7d. "bdu'l-Baha. Translated by Johanna " '.THEBAHAIFAITH. ' G . Palgrave Simpson. 6d. . Dawud. " THEPASSING OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA." " THE BAHAIDAWN ; By Lady BloIllfleld and Shoghi Effendi. (Sec. : E. T. Hall, 1, Norton Street, Higher (Apply 21, West Side, London, S.W.4.) Broughton, Manchester). " GOD'S HEROES. " Laura Clifford Barney. (London : Kegan Paul.) 12/6. BOOKS ABOUT THE BAMA'I MOVEMENT. " BMAI : THF,SPIRITOF THE AGE." Horace Holly. " BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BAHAL MOVEMENT." (London : Kegan Paul.) 7/6. Ethel J. Rosenberg. (Burnside, Ltd.) 2d. ' UNITY TRIUMPITAXT. " Elizabeth Herrick. '' TEE SPLENDOUR OF GOD." Eric Mamn~ond. Illustrated. (London : Kegan, Paul.) (London : John Murray.) 3/6. 7/6. Second Edition 316. " THEUNIVERSAL RELIGION: REIAISM." Hippo- lyte Dreyfus. fl TEEMODERN SOCIAL RELIGION."Horace Holly. (IAondonand Toronto : Sidgwick & Jackson.) BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS. " TABLETS I., II., and OF 'ABL)u'L-BA~." VOI[S. 1016 each Vol. (AMERICA) 111. " DIVEYE PHILOSOPHY." Talks of 'Abdu'l-Baha =: TRANSLATIONS OF BAHA'U'LLAH. OF WORKS delivered in Europe. Compiled by Isobel Fraser-Cham berlain. 4/6. 'WIVINE COMMON SENSE." The World's Greatest Prisoner to His Prison Friends. Compiled by Isobel Fraser-Chamberlain. " TABLETS OF BAHA'U'LLAB." Comprising Tablet '' TEEPROMULGATION OF UNIVERSAL PEACE. " 'The of Tarazat, Tablet of the World, Words of First TTolume of American Addresses of Paradise, Tajallayat, The Glad Tidings, 'Abdu'l-Baha, with Introduction by Howard Tablet of Ishrakat. 9/3. b9cNutt. 1316. " THREE TABLETS OF BAHA'U'LLAN." Comprising '' BEFOREA B R . ~ AWAS - M I AM." Thornton Chase. 'Tablet of the Branch. Kitab-el-Ahd (The 9d. ?Vill and Testament of Bahb'u'llbh), and Lawh-el-Aqdas (A Message to Christians). 116. BOOKSABOUT THE B ~ m MOVEMENT, l " TWESEVENVALLEYS." 1/6. BAHAIMOVEMENT."C h . Mason Remey. 'THE 3/ 6. '' OBS~XVATIONS OF A BAHAITRAVELLER." Chas. I 3f ason Rerney . 41 6. " THEBAI~AI PROOFS. Mirza Abul Fazl. 7/ 6. " SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS."Table Talks of " THEBRILLIANT PROOF." Mirza Abul Fazl. 1/6. 'Abdu'l-Baba in answer to questions put by " MARTYRDOMS IN PERSIA.1903." Wsdji Mirza the Compiler and Others. 'Translated by Hayder Ali. 9d Laura. Clifford Barney. 11 13. " THEBAHAIREVELATION.'? Thornton Chase. 416, " THELIFEAND TEACNIWGS O F A.BBASEFFENDI." '' MY VISI'I'S TO ABBASEFFEVDI ('XBDU'L-BAHA) Myron Phelps. 9/3. IN 1899. " Margaret B. Peeke. I/-. " GOD'SHEROES." Laura Clifford Barney. (Lip- " TABLETALKSLV THE PRISON IN ACCA." Arthur pincott . Philadelphia.) S. Agnew. 316. '' BAHAI:THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE." Horace " A N EARLY Mary Maxwell. - 116. PILGRIMAGE-" Holly. (Brentano's.) " UNITYTHROUGH LOVE."Howard McNutt. 116. " THE ORIENTAL ROSE." Mary Hanford Ford. (New York : Broadway Publishing Society.) Where the Publisher's name is not mentioned , the above books are obtainable from the Bahai " LECTURES OF JENABE FAZL. Five Addresses Publishing Society, 508, South Dearborn Street, given by Jenabe Fazl, of Mazandaran, in Chicago, U.S.A.; or from Burnside, Ltd., 9, Seattle, U.S.A., in 1921. Beaconsfield Terrace Road, Blythe Road, London, " CONSTRUCTIVE PR~CIPL OFETHE S BAHAIMOVE- w.14. l ~" Chas. ~ Mason ~ Remey . . 216. " THEDREAM OF GOD." Albert Durrant Watson. A Poem. BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS. ACCOUNTS OF VISWS TO ACCA. (FRANCE) " INGALILEE." Thornton Chase. , 1/9. , " LES LECONS DE ST. JEAN-D'ACRE." French Ver- ".FLOWERS FROM THE ROSEGARDEN OF ACCA." Alma Knobloch. ' 116. sion of " Some Answered Questions." Hip- polyte Dreyfus. " DAILY LESSONS RECEIVED AT ACCA." Helen S. Goodall. 119. " LE LIVREDE LA CERTITUDE."Kihb'l-Iqan. Trad. Francaise par Hippolyte Dreyfus. '' TENDAYSIN TIIE LIGHT OF AccA.'? Julia M. (Paris : Ernest Leroux. 1909.) Grundy ., 1/9. " LE EPITRE AU FILSDU LOUP."Trad. Francaise '' GLLMPSES OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA." Roy and par Hippolyte Dreyfus. (Paris : Libraire M. J. M. Honore Champion. 1913.) " TABLE TALKSWITH 'ABDU'L-BAHA.",Mr. and " L'OUVREDE BAHAOU'LI,AH. " Tome Premier. Mrs. George 'I'. Winterburn. 116. Traduction francaise par Hippolyte Dreyfus. '% BRIEFACCOUNT OF MYVISITTO Acc.~."Mrs. (Paris : Ernest Leroux. 1923.) Finch and Misses Knobloch. Prix 8 francs. r. .* , , ?G, - . " $ - 8 - 1 . I * * 1: ,* b $:?& $ ill * * 1. d A H A Y I PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. " STAR OF TBE WEST." I n English and Persian. Now in the 13th year. The back numbers of - this Magazine, which can be had bound in annual volumes, conhin a wealth of informa- tion about the History and Teachings of the Movement. Published 12 times a year by the Publications Committee of the Bahai Temple Unity. Address : Bahai News Service, P.O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. " MAGAZINE OF TKE KINGDOM." OF TI& CHILDREN Issued Quarterly. Editor and Publisher : Ella M. Robarts, 75, Revere Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. " BAIIAI NEWS." I n English and Persian. Edited and Published every month in the interests of the Bahai Movement from India, by Mr. Shirazi, 1059, Elphinstone Street, Camp Hamehi. " SQXNE DEE WARREIT." Organ of the German Bahai Bund. Published monthly. Verlag des Deutchen, Bshai Bundes, Stuttgart, ~Iolderlinstrasse,85. " THE DAW-N."In English, Burmese, and Per- sian. Syed Mustapha Roumie, No. 2-13, 41st Street, Rangoon, (Burma). — Unity Triumphant: The Call of the Kingdom (Used by permission of the curator)