ABDUL BAHA ABBAS, the Pontiff of the Bahais, says: "Some say Abdul Baha is Antichrist. They are not in- formed of Bahai principles. Baha Ullah 1 established Christ in the East. He has praised Christ, honored Christ, exalted Him, called Him the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and spread His m~ntion." 2 These words could be written with the name Mohammed substituted for Baha Ullah. But;n the case of both of them it is the kiss of betrayal. Judas also made known Jesus. Both Mohammed and Baha write " ex" before his title "King of Kings." Abdul Baha fur- ther says: "Baha Ullah will be assailed by those who are not informed of his principles." Having spent a generation in contact with Bahais in Persia, and having studied several . score volumes and pamphlets setting forth their doctrines and history, and read their journal the Star of the West for sev- eral years, I may claim not to be in the class referred to. I unhesitatingly affirm that Bahaism is an antichristian system. To accept Baha and Abdul Baha is to deny and forsake Christ. But I hear some Christian say: "Of course. What YOll YoJ. LXXII. No. 285. 1 2 Bahaism an Antichristian System. [Jan.

say is self-evident. Bahaism is a new religion whose aim IS' to sUPl?lant Christianity." This is tl;ue. Yet the claim is put forth by Bahais, and, more strangely, it is accepted by some Christians, that the two religions are not antagonistic, and may be held at one time by the same person. To an esteemed Christian lady I expressed my regret that a certain Doctor, forsaking Christ, had gone as a Bahai missionar-y to Persia. The reply startled me: "Doctor - - - is very much a Christian." Yet why was I startled? It was simply hearing an idea with which I was familiar in the writings of the Bahais. Sydney Sprague says: "The true Bahai is also the truest Christian." a Charles M. Remey says: "To be a real Christian in spirit is to be a Bahai, and to be a real Bahai is to be a Christian," for " Bahai teaching is only th<! perfection of Christianity.'" A report of an interview of Rev. R. J. Campbell, of City Temple, London, with Abdul Raha, states the claim of Bahaism as follows: "It does not seek to proS'elyte. One can be a Bahai without ceasing to be a Christian, a Jew, or a Mohammedan." 5 In accordance with this idea, Thornton Chase and some Bahais in America continued to worship and teach in Christian churches, and to have their dead buried by pastors. Some in London, in con- nection with the City Temple and St. John's Church (Canon Wilberforce's), profess both Christianity and Bahaism. Of southern India, Dr. A. L. Wylie said: " It is said that there are thirty-five Bahais in our city [Ratnagiri]. Some of . these are Christian converts. They continue to be Christians, saying that they can remain such and are instructed to do so." Such an erroneous idea, when not due to the misrepre- sentations of the leaders and Oriental tagiya (" dissimula- tion "), must arise from' ignorance of or dislike to true Christianity or ignorance of what Bahaism is. 1915. ] Bahaism an Antichristian System. 3

There are several classes who look with favor on Bahaism. 1. One class have little or no attachment to Christianity, or at least no vital relation to it. They ar&. bent on seeking !'ome novelty. They are well described by the Egyptian Ga- zette, of Alexandria, in speaking of the recepti~ of Abdul Baha in London: " About the London meetings there was a certain air of gush and self-advertisement on the part. of Baha's friends, which was quite patent to all who are famil- iar with that kind of religion which will listen to anything so long as it is unorthodox, new, and sensational." 6 2. Some are believers in the truth of all great religions, and, with a vague pantheistic notion, recognize all great men as God-inspired. They are willing to put Baha Ullah and Abdul Baha on the list of true religious leaders. Such is Rev. R. J. Campbell, who, in receiving Abdul Baha, spoke of the "diverse religious faiths that are all aspects of the one religion," and of the services as "a wonderful manifestation of the Spirit of God." He said to the congregation: "We as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is to us and always will be the Light of the W orId, give greeting to Abdul Baha." 7 Similarly Professor Cheyne, of Oxford, consorted with Abdul Baha, addressed him as "Guide," and said, "There was no need for me to be converted," because " I always lived by the truths you are insisting on." @ 3. Another class look on Bahaism as simply an ethical l"oystem. and Baha and Abdul Baha as world teachers. Their relation to Christ has been only that of a disciple to a teacher of morals. They recognize in Baha a new schoolmaster. Bahaism, to them, con~ists in admiration of certain princi- ples (eleven more or less) on which Abdul Baha is i~ the habit of dilating.' But these are not Bahaism any more than Romans xii.-xv. are Pauline Christianity. Paul's gospel i~ ·L Bahaism an Antichristian System. lJan.

Romans i.-viii. In its moral precepts and social principles, Bahaism is a borrower from Christ's unique teaching, and i;ometimes' from Mohammed. However, Bahaism is a re- ligion, as we shall see. 4. Some adherents regard Bahaism as Christianity con- tinued or renewed by the Second Coming of Christ, whom they recognize in Abdul Baha. Most American Bahais are of this class, with faith in Baha Ullah as the Father. The development of my theme is adapted to Western Ba- hais, but the facts are mostly the same with reference to Per- !'ian Bahais. Some differences in doctrines and rites come from the Christian or Moslem environment. It is my pur- pose to show five ways in which Bahaism is an anticllristian system.

ANTICHRISTIAN IN ASSIGNING CHRISTIANITY A PLACE AS BUT

ONE AMONG THE TRUE RELIGIONS.

Bahaism indorses and accepts in the same category with Judaism and Christi.anity, as true and divinely revealed re- ligions, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, Brahmanism, Buddh- ism, Mohammedanism,- Babism, and Bahaism. Abdul Baha says: "The reality of the religions is one, the difference is one of imitation." 10 Remey says: "Bahais consider all re- ligions to be, from a spiritual standpoint, one religion." H ., Every religion has had its birth in the advent of its divine founder." 12 "The founders of the world religions have been seers as well as channels of truth to the people." 18 It tries to build on all the other religions by professing to be the ful- fillment of each one. "The Bahai propaganda in India," says Sprague, "has not the difficulty that besets a Christian missionary, that of pulling down; his duty is only to build on what is already there. He sees the Hindu, Buddhist, and 1915.] Bahaism an Ant;chr;sliall Syst01!.

Mohammedah with the same eye, acknowledges their truth and shows that a further revelation has come throtlgh Baha UlIah." 14 It says to each one, Baha fulfills your traditiom and prophecies. 1G But this liberality is only apparent. Only original Buddh- ism, Christianity, etc., was God-given and true. Now all are corrupted. "The key-note of Bahai teaching is identical with the Christian, but in Christianity it was so forgotten, that i~ came almost as a fresh, new illumination from Baha." 16 Christianity refuses to be classed with the ethnic religions. In its nature it is exclusive. It admits that there is a me~ure of truth in all religions, but Christ's gospel is the trtlth " once for all " dclivered to men. ANTlCHRISTlAN IN CLAIMING TO ABROGATE AND SUPERSEDE CHRISTIANITll.

Bahaism in its origin is a Mohammedan sect. It declarc,> that Islam is from God. Christianity was a divine revelation, but Islam was :t better one. In the" Ikan," Baha maintains the validity of Islam, testifies to its truth, defends Mohammed's vrophetic mission as the fulfillment of the New Testament pro- phecies, and the Koran as the Book of God.17 Abdul Baha ex- alts Mohammed, and declares that he "gave more spiritual education than any of the others," 18 i.e., than Moses or Jesus. He justifies Mohammed's life and conduct, and defends his laws and doctrines.19 He declares that " whatever European and American historians have written regarding His Highness Mohammed, the Messenger of God, is mostly falsehood .... Tht.! narrators are either ignorant or antagonistic." 20 Christians have therefore been in the wrong for thirteen centuries. They have sinned against God, and were a stiff-necked and per- verse people in rejecting Mohammerl, as the Jews were in 6 Bahaism an Alltichristian System. lJan. o

rejecting Jesus the Christ. "If those who have acc~ptp.d a revelation, refuse to believe a subsequent revelation, their faith becomes null and void." Similarly Babism abrogated Islam. At the Badasht (Shah- rud) Conference (1858) the law of the Koran was formally cieclared to be annulled. Baha abrogated Babism in the Riz· wan at Bagdad in 1864. Bahaism is the New Covenant, "which confinns and completes all religious teaching which has gone before." 21 Christianity is, atcording to this, a system of the distant past.' It was effective in its day, for" the Christian teaching was illumined by the Sun of Truth: the Christian civilization 'was the best," 22 concedes Abdul Baha. But now, says Remey, .. Bahaism is not one of many phases of Universal Truth, but . the Truth, the only Living Truth to-;day, ... the only source of Divine Knowledge to mankind.... Abdul Baha's word i5 the Truth .... There are those who will say, 'Have we not Jesus? We want no other.' The Revelation of Jesus is no longer the Point of Guidance to the world. We are in total blindness if we refuse this new Revelation which is the end of the Revelations of the past. . . . All the teachings of the past are past. ... Only that which is revealed by the Supreme Pen, Baha Ullah, and that which issues from the Center of the Covenant, Abdul Baha, is spiritual food." 2S Bahaism in proclaiming thus the abrogation of Christianity is emphatical- ly antichristian.

ANTICHRISTIAN IN CASTING CHRIST FROM HIS THRONE AS THF. UNIQUE MANIFESTATION OF GO~.

Bahaism recognizes two classes of prophets: (1) The in- dependent prophets, who were lawgivers and founders of new cycles. Of this class were Abraham, Moses, Christ, Mo- 191.5. ] Bahaism an Antichristian System. - 7

hammed, the Bab, and Baha. (2) The others are dependent propbets, who are as "branches." Such were Isaiah and Daniel. All the greater prophets, of the first class, were Mani- festations of God. 24 So Bahaism continues to honor Christ . as the Incarnate Word, the Spirit of God, God manifest in the flesh. At the same time it exalts Baha to supreme and unique dignity and glory above Christ and all prophets. In order to understand this essential, fundamental doctrine of Bahaism, we must know its doctrine concerning God and His Manifestation. The teaching of Bahaism regarding God is hard to grasp, because it oscillates between Theism and Pantheism. Myron Phelps's exposition of it is certainly pantheistic. 25 Baha Ullah in maQY places bears out his interpretation, as, for example, " God alone is the one Power which animates and dominates all things, which are but manifestations of its energy." 26 In subsequent expositions, as in "Answered Questions," Abdul Baha repudiates Pantheism, and so does M. Abul Fazl in "The Brilliant Proof." Kheiralla, while maintaining that Baha taught Theism, accused Abdul Baha of Pantheism. In to The Epistle to the Shah" Baha simulates a monotheism al-

most as rigid as Islam: "We bear witness that there is no God but Him. He is independent of the worlds. No one hath known him .... God singly and alone abideth in His own place which is holy, above space or time, mention and utter- anoe, sign, description, definition, height and depth .... The way is closed and seeking is forbidden." A favorite text is that of the Koran, in wbich God says: " I was a hid treasure, I desired to be known. therefore I created the world." In this process" the first thing which emanated from God [etern- ally) was that universal reality which the ancient philosophers turned the 'First Mind,' and which the people of Baha call Bahaism an A ntichristian System. IJan.

the ' Primal Will.' This is without beginning or end, essen- tially but not temporally contingent, and without power to become an associate with God." 27 The Primal Will, Holy Essence, ,"Vord, Spirit, is manifested in perfect men, who an~ the Great Prophets. They are supreme, holy, sinltss souls, godlike in their attribut'es. They show the perfections (If God. 28 This reality does not change, but the garment in which it is clothed' is different. One day it is the garment of Abraham, who is Zoroaster, then Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, Mohammed, the Bab, and Baha Ullah. 29 Abul Fazl says: " All the prophets are respectively the Manifestations of the single Reality and one Essence." 80 The" Ikan" says: " All are one, as the sun of yesterday and to-day are one. The sun is one, the dawning-points of the sun are numerous. One light, many lanterns." 81 "Baha is the same light in a new lamp." 32 Yet there are differences in degree. Of the Bab, Baha says: "His rank is greater than all the prophets, and His Mission loftier and higher." 33 But he is merely as a forerunner in comparison with Baha. Baha is superior to all, greater, more glorious. 34 He is infallible, absolute, uni- versal. "All the prophets were perfect mirrors of God, but in Bah-a, in some sense, the Divine Esse/Ice is manifested." 85 " Baha is the consummation of all degrees; the Revelation of all Truth and Light." ~'AII preceding ones are inferior to him; all subsequent ones are to be under his shadow." 38 But even the latter are not to come for a "thousand or thousands of years," and perhaps not then, for the Kitab-ul-Akdas says: " 0 Pen, write and inform mankind that the Manifestations art! ended by this luminous and effulgent Theophany." The Manifestation has two stations: "One is the station of oneness and the rank of absolute Deity, the second station is one of temporal conditions and servitude. If the manifesta- 1915.] Bahaism an Alltichristian System.

tion says, 'Verily I am only a man like you,' or 'Verily I am God,' each is true aqd without doubt." The Tajallayat quotes the Bah as saying concerning 'Him whom God shall ~anifest': "Verily he shall utter, 'I am God. There is nc God but Me, ·the Lord of all things, and all besides is created by Me! 0 ye, my creatures, ye are to worship me.''' 87 In Bahai literature such words as the following are not uncom- mon: " Baha Ullah is the Lord of Hosts, the Heavenly Father, the Prince of Peace, the Glory of God." 38 "He is the framer of the whole Universe, the Cause of the life of the world, and of the unity and harmony of the creatures." 80 "No one of the Manifestations had such great power of influence as was with EI-Baha." 40 In passing, it may be noticed how little ground for such boasting they have. How great in compari- son was the influence of Moses as leader of Israel, emancipa- tor, lawgiver, and prophet! How great even was Mohammed's success and influence, compared with what Baha has accom- plished! How evidently antichristian is Bahaism in denying that Christ's name and glory are above all, and that to him every knee should bow!

,'NTICHRISTIAN IN ITS FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT ITS LEADER IS CHRIST COME AGAIN.

There is confusion about this claim, for some Bahais repre- . sent Baha to be Christ, and others make Abdul Baha Abbas to be Christ come the second time. Confusion also arises from the fact that Baha is set forth as the Manifestation of all the IIpromised ones." He is set forth as the Messiah for the Jews, God the Father, the Word, and the Spirit for the Chris- tians, Aurora or Shah Bahram for the Zoroastrians, the fifth Buddha for Buddhists, reincarnated Krishna for Brahmans, the Mahdi or the twelfth Iman or Husain for the Moslems. 41 10 Baha4m an AI~tichristian S)'stem. [Jan.

" All are realized in the coming of Baha UIlah." U In accord with this, Baha declared in his" Epistle to the Pope": " Con- sider those who turned away from the Spirit [Christ] when he came to them. Verily he hath come from heaven as he came the first time. Beware lest ye oppose him as the Phari": sees opposed Him. Verily the Spirit of Truth has come to guide you into all truth. He hath come from the Heaven of Preexistence." "Baha," says the editor of the Star of the West, "is the fulfilment of the promise of the 'second com- ing' 'With a new name (Rev. iii. 11-13)."·~ he It must remembered that Bahaism, chameleon like, takes on a different aspect according to the environment of its ad- herents. In Persia its creed is different from that of Ameri- ca in regard to the" return." For the most part American . Bahais regard Baha as God the Father, and Abdul Baha Abbas a'i the Son of God, Jesus Christ. After the quarrel and schism following the death of Baha (1892), Abbas became very wary of assuming titles and dignities, lest he give a handle to his opponents to accuse him of claiming to be a "Manifestation." So he assumed the title Abd-ul-Baha, the "servant of Baha," which his followers translate "Servant of God." He also calls himsel f the "Center of the Cove- nant." Baha had entitled him the" Greatest Branch of God" (Zech. vi. 12) and the "Mystery of God" (1 Tim. iii. 16). He was commonly called " Agha," an equivalent in Persia of Effendi or Mister, but his followers translate it "Master," and put into it the full New Testament significance. Un- ioubtedly Western Bahais worship Abdul Baha as Jesus Christ the Master come again. In spite of all disavowals and beclouding by words, their faith is plain. Getsinger, a leader and missionary, says: "Abbas is heir and Master of the Kingdom: he was on earth 1,900 years ago as the Nazaren~." 1915.] Bahaism an A1rtichristian S:yste117. 11

Mrs. Corinne True says: "If this is not the resurrection of the pure Spirit of the Nazarene of 1',900 years ago, then we need not look elsewhere." U Mr. Anton Hadad says: "The Master, Abbas Effendi, the Lord of the Kingdom, is the one who was to renew and drink the cup with his disciples in the Kingdom of the Father, the one who taught the world to pray, , Thy kingdom come,' " i.e. Jesus Christ.'~ Chase says: " He has come again in the Kingdom of his Father." '6 Mrs. Brittingham, on pilgrimage to Acca, writes: " I have seen the King in his beauty, the Master is here and we need not look for another. This is the return of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, of the Lamb that once was slain; - the Glory of God and the Glory of the Lamb." 47 Emphasizing, the side of his divinity, we have such declara- tions as these: M. Haydar Ali taught Mrs. Goodall, " God i,; not realized oexcept through his Manifestations. Now you have recognized Him and have come to see Him," '8 i.e. Abdul Baha (1908). M. Asad Ullah gave instructions (1914): .. This world has an owner, and Abdul Baha owns the world and all that is in it." ,D "He is the Son of God" 50 - the only Door, "the Lord of Mankind." H A supplication from Persia, given out for publication, says: "O! Abdul Baha! Forgiver of sins, merciful, bountiful, compassionate! How can a sinner like me reach Thee? Thou art through all the Forgiver of Sins." U But there is an interpretation to all this for" those of under- standing." Bahais reject metempsychosis, but they have a doctrine of "Return," which must be borne in mind. This principle is expressed by Phelps as follows: "When a charac- ter with which we are familiar as possessed by some individual of the past, reappears in another individual of the present, we 12 Bahaism an A Iltichristiml System. [Jan.

say that the former has returned." 53 Baha states it thus: "In every succeeding Manifestation those souls who exceed all in faith, assurance, and self-denial can be declared to be the return of the former persons who attained to these states in the preceding Manifestation. For that which appeareo from the former servants became manifest in the subsequent ones." 54 Their classic illustration of this is John the Baptist. Abdul Baha says: "Christ said that John the Baptist was Elijah. The same perfections which were in Elijah existed in John, and were exactly realized in him. Not the essence but the qualities are regarded. As the flower of last year has returned; so this person, John, was a manifestation of th:- bounty, perfections, the character, the qualities, and the virtues of Elias. John said, 'I am not Elias' - not his substance and individuality." 55 Remey clearly states the idea: "The return of a prophet does not refer to the return to this world of a personality. It refers to the return in another personality of the impersonal Spirit. the Word or Spirit of God, which spoke through the prophets in the past. . .. People are mistakenly looking for the personal individual return of their own special prophet." 56 In accordance with this theory of the" Return," Abdul Baha wrote to the Bahai Council of New York: "I am 110t Christ; I am not eternal." 57 To Mrs. Grundy he said: "Some call me Christ; it is imagination." 58 Yet the final word of his missionary, Mr. Remey, is: "The same Christ which was in Jesus is agai~ manifest in the Bahai Revela- tion. The real Christians are those who recognize the New Covenant to be the return of the same Christ, - the Word of God." 59 In like manner, this usurper of Christ's name is proclaimed to be "the expected one," the " desire of all na- tions," to the various religions! HI15.] Bahaism all Alllichristiall S.vstem.

ANTICHRISTlAN IN ITS DEALINGS WITH THE PROPHECIES OF THE BIBLE.

Derogating from the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Kingdom, Bahaism asserts that " the promises and prophecies given in the Holy Scriptures have been fulfilled by the appear- ance of the Prince of the Universe, the great Baha Ullah and of Abdul Baha." 80 A volume would be necessary to re- view their treatment of the prophecies. They quote a multi- tude of verses without proof that their applications are valid. . The" messenger" and" Elijah" of the Book of Malachi arc declared to be the Bab.6l He is also the Angel with the sound of the trumpet (Rev. iv. 1) and his cycle is the" First Resurrection." Baha is declared to be the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies. Of chapter ix. 1-6, " unto us a child is born, . . . the Prince of Peace," Dealy says: "Many mis- guided people have referred this to Jesus Christ." 62 In verse 1, " Galilee of the nations," land of Zebulun and Naphtali, is made to mean Acca (Acre in Syria) where Baha lived in ex- ile, and not the region of Christ's ministry, contradicting Matthew iv. 13-16. By a great stretch of imagination Acca 6J becomes Jerus.t!em, "the city of the great king" (Ps. xlviii. 12), and Mount Carmel becomes Mount Zion, and Isaiah ii. 3 refers to them, " for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Even" the root out of Jesse" U and the millennial peace are only partially reo ferred to Christ. They find the real fulfillment in Baha Ullah, whom they imagine to be descended from Abraham, through an imaginary descendant of his named Jesse. 85 The new covenant and the law written on the heart is again the Bahai dispensation, contrary to Hebrews viii. 8, 10, 16. When Baha as a prisoner in chains rode into Acca seated on an ass, he fulfilled Zechariah ix. 9. 80 14: Bahaism an Antichristian System. [Jan.

I attended a Bahai meeting in the Masonic Temple in Chi- cago. The leader read the following verses as all fulfilled in Bahaism.oT The" son of man" (Dan. vii.) was Abdul Baha, and the "Ancient of Days," Baha. The question of Pro- verbs xxx. 3, "What is his name and what his son's name?" was answered, Baha and Abdul Baha; similarly in Psalms lxxii. and ii., "The King" and the "King's Son." The " Branch" (Zech. vi. 12-13) who shall build the temple was again Abdul Baha, and the latter is specially urgent that the Bahai Temple in Chicago should be built in his day, so that the prophecy may appear to be fulfilled. The dates in Daniel are juggled with. For example, Abdul Baha explains Daniel viii. by taking the solar year. He calculates 08 that the 2,300 days were completed at the Bab's manifestation in 1844. In Daniel xii. 6 the lunar 00 year is resorted 10, and the forty-two months (1,260 years) are dated from the hegira of Mo- hammed, but Daniel xii. 11 does not come exactly right, so the terminus a quo is made to be the proclamation of the pro- pheth~d of Mohammed, three years after his mission, which was ten years before the hegira. By this means the date of Baha's manifestation (1863) is reached. In connection with Daniel xii. and Revelation xi. we have the startling informa- tion, so contradictory to history, that "in the beginning of the seventh century after Christ, when Jerusalem was con- quered, the Holy of Holies was outwardly preserved, that is to say, the house which Solomon built. The Holy of Holies was preserved, guarded, and respected." TO On this alleged fact Abdul Baha founds an argument. T1 Prophecies referring to the glory of God or of the Father are applied to Baha, be- cause his title means" glory of God." The Bab, according to the custom in Persia, gave many high-sounding titles. Baha's rival was called" The Dawn of the Eternal." Voliva, the suc- 1915. ] Bahaism an Antichristian System. 15

cessor of Dowie, might assume some fitting title and claim to fulfill the prophecies. He has a good foundation for inter- pretation, he does really live in Zion City (Illinois). Our Bahais further tell us that the "New Jerusalem," the new heaven and the new earth, mean the new dispensation, the new laws of Baha. This is now " the day of God," " the day of judgment," "the kingdom of God," "the second resur- rection." 72 The parable of the vineyard is a favorite proof text. It says I that the Lord of the vineyard will come himself and will utterly destroy the wicked husbandmen. This, they say, is a real coming of the Father, even as the Son ~ame. In that case the destroying must be real, and we should expect that Baha would have destroyed the religious leaders of Mec- ca or Kerbela, Jerusalem or Rome. "No," says the Bahai, " the destroying is figurative, and means simply the abrogation of their authority." Well, if he escapes to a figurative inter- pretation, we too can interpret the coming of the Lord of the Vineyard as his visitation on Jerusalem in the time of Titus. Baha Ullah's method of interpretation and adaptation of pro- phecies is best seen in his "Ikan." In it he interprets at I

length Matthew xxiv. 78 In brief it is as follows: " After the tribulation of those days" means times of difficulty in under- standing God's word and attaining Divine knowledge; "the sun shall be darkened and the moon cease to give light," that is the teachings and the ordinances of the preceding dispensa- tion shall lose their influence and efficiency. "The stars shall fall," etc., means the divines shall fall from the knowledge of religion, and the powers of science and religion shall be shak- en. Because of the absence of the Son of Divine Beauty, the moon of knowledge, and the stars of intuitive wisdom, "all the tribes of the earth shall mourn." "They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven," that, is Baha ]6 Bahaism an Antichristian System. [Jan.

Ullah shall appear from the heaven of the Supreme Will, out· wardly from his mother's womb. "In the clouds" means in doubts. which are caused by the human limitations of the Manifestation, eating, drinking, marrying, etc. " And he shall send his angels," the spiritual believers sent as preachers of Baha. The separation of the sheep from the goats, as we learn subsequently, means the schism at the death of Baha, when the violators, the brothers of Abdul Baha and their ad- herents, were exscinded. H Even granting an allegorical in- terpretation of Christ's words, only a stretch of imagination can find any reference to ·Baha. It should be borne in mind that Oriental Bahai writers have (ead Keith on Prophecy in Persian and the publications of the Mission Press at Beirut. Abdul Baha said to Dr. H. H. Jessup, " I am familiar with the books of your press." 70 M. Abul Fazl refers to and quotes them. Writers in English (as Kheiralla, Remey, Dealy, and Brittingham) refer to Mil- ler, Cummings, Seiss, Guinness, and others. Yet with all their familiarity with apocalyptic literature, they make an ex- ceedingly weak presentation. Their claims are so baseless as to require no refutation. They are a mass of unfounded assertions and assumptions, - vain, bold, and brazen. We may admit the declarations of Baha and Abul Fazl, which are but trite principles of hermeneutics, that figurative and allegorical language abounds in the Scriptures, that many meanings are "sealed" till after their fulfillment, that the prophecies of the Old Testament were only partially fulfilled at Christ's first coming. But their inference does not follow. There is nothing to prove the assertions that the prophecies were fulfilled in the Bab and Baha. They furnish no scintilla of evidence. For example, "the government shall be upon his shoulders." Was this fulfilled in Baha? He came and 1915.] Bahaism an Antichristian System. 17

went; the nations and their rulers from 1817 to 1892 were neither literally nor. figuratively under his sway. He did not nor does he rule over the nations. He did not reign in Mount Zion nor in Jerusalem. Jerusalem did not cease to be trodden down of the Gentiles. Abundance of peace did not attend him, but great wars. The signs of Christ's Second Advent have not been fulfilled in Baha, either actually or metaphori- cally.a As well may Ahmad Quadiani or Dowie assert their pretensions. Baha's claim is antichristian. The day of Christ's power through the Holy Spirit has not passed. It ~ still his day. The knowledge of Christ is yet more cover- ing the earth. Men of diverse races and religions in Asia, Africa, and the isles of the seas are being joined in the com- mon faith and fellowship of Jesus Christ as Saviour of Men. There are more Christians in Korea than Bahais in Persia. More Jews have become Christian since Baha was born than have become Bahais from all races and religions outside of Persia. Christ still goes forth conquering and to conquer.

ANTICHRISTIAN IN ITS TREATMENT OF JESUS CHRIST AS A MAN IN HIS EARTHLY LIFE.

Bahais belittle Christ by both their denials and their affirma- tions. In his temptation "the devil signifies the human na- ture of Christ, through which he was tempted." His miracles of healing are denied.7T Baha and Abul Fazl admit the possi- bility of miracles, but deny their evidential value,a but Abdul Baha denies their reality. He says: "The miracles of Christ were spiritual teachings, not literal" deeds.TO The raising of the dead means that the dead (in sin) are blessed with spiri- tual life. so By blindness (John ix.) is meant ignorance and error; by sight, knowledge and guidance. 81 The spittle com- ing from Christ was the meaning of his words, the clay wa~ Vol. LXXII. No. 285. 2 18 Bahaism an Antichristian System. [Jan.

the expression he used in accordance with their understand- ing. 81 At the crucifixion darkness did not prevail, nor the earthquake, nor was the vail of the temple rent in twain. 81 The. crucifixion was not an atoning sacrifice; Christ quaffed the cup of martyrdom" to cultivate and educate us." 8' "The washing away of s!ns by Christ was not by his blood, but was by the practice of his teachings." 8~ Christ did not rise from the dead. "Resurrection of the body is an unintel1igible mat- te'r contrary to natural laws." 86 The body, which signifies his word, arose when faith in his cause revived in the minds of the disciples after three days.n Christ's real resurrection wa3 the coming of Mohammed. "Christ by saying that he would be three days in the heart of the earth meant that he would appear in the third cycle. The Christian' was one, the Mo- hammedan the second, and that of Baha the third." "The ascension of Christ with an elemental body is contrary to sci- ence." He ascended in the same sense as Baha ascended, viz. departed to the other world. Thus Bahaism denies the miracles,88 atonement, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Bahaism shows an antichristian spirit in belittling the life and work of Jestls, in instituting comparisons between Christ and Baha derogatory to the former. Baha says: "It is not meet .... to repeat the error of seeking help of . . . . the Son Jesus. Let thy satisfaction be in my self." Abdul Baha says: "The difference between Baha and Christ is that be- tween the sun and moon. The light of the sun [Baha] sub- sists in itself while the moon gets light from the Sun." "All the teachings of Christ will not exceed ten pages.Be Those of the Blessed Perfection exceed sixty or seventy volumes. Christ's instructions refer to individuals. Those of the Blessed Perfection are for all nations, although they apply as well to all individuals. The instructions of Christ were heard .1 915 .] Bahaism an Antichristian System . 19

by but few persons: there were eleven who believed, although Christians say there were one hundred and twenty. Tht! teachings of the Blessed Perfecti!?n were spread throughout the world during his lifetime. The reputation of Christ did not extend from Nazareth to Acca [22 miles] ; the reputation of the Blessed Perfection extended throughout the world. Jesus Christ did not send a letter even to a village chief; the Blessed Perfection sent letters to alI the kings of the earth." DO Notice how he repeats ad nauseam the title for Baha, but uses no title for the Lord Jesus Christ, though the Moslems in- variably do use a title in speaking of the latter. There is an evident effort on.the part of Kheiralla and Abul Fazl to minimize the proofs regarding Christ from prophecy, miracles, and history, with the idea thereby of magnifying the proof for Baha in contrast. For example, "The Gospels contain only a few pages of the true Words of God. Christ's teachings were not written in the original language nor writ- ttn in his day, his power was slow in proving effective, and many even denied his existence." D1 "Even Peter denied him, but Baha Ullah has educated thousands of souls, faithful un- c.er the menace of the sword." D2 In explaining the progress of Bahaism among the Jews and Zoroastrians, Abul Fazl says: " Christians could not convert even one Jew or Zoroastrian ex- cept by force or compulsion." He ignores the fact that mil- lions of Persians had been converted to Christ from Zoroaster before the sword of Islam smote Persia. This belittling of Christ - his life and work· and influence - shows that a spirit antagonistic to Christ really animates the Bahai leaders, in spite of their professions to the contrary. This review of Bahaism shows that it is antichristian ill its spirit and its doctrines, in its treatment of Christ as a man and as the Son of God, and in its relation to Christianity as 20 Bahaism an Antichristian System. [Jan.

a religion. It may be shown, too, that it is antagonistic to Christianity in its institutions and organization, in its rites and ceremonies, its sacred seasons, its way of salvation. Enough has been said to emphasize the fact that Christian ministers and churches should not give it countenance and assistance as has been done and is still being done. The church in Europe, America, , and India should be alert to protect its members from their insidious propaganda, lest, like the Mor- mon delusion, it " deceive many."

NOTES.

1 In an Interview with Rev. J. T. Bixby, who wrote on Bahaism

In the North American Review, June, 1912, Abdul Baha says: "Baha Ullah has upraised the standard of Christ In the East in countries and among peoples where there was formerly no mention of Christ's name." Not true. Christ was known In Moslem lands, In Indln. and Burmah. • Star of the West, Sept. 8, 1913, p. 176. 'Sprague, Story of the Bahai Movement, p. 21. • Remey, The Bahal Movement, p. 45. 'The Christian Commonwealth (London), Sept. 13, 1911, p. 850. • Nov. 16, 1911; quoted, in Star of the West, Dec. 11, 1911. • Mr. Campbell gives opportunity to the Bahal propaganda in the Christian Commonwealth, and has enllsted Abdul Baha as a con- tributor. • Star of the West, Jan. 19, 1914, p. 287. Professor Cheyne Is claimed as a Bahal. 'Talks In Paris, pp. 132-174; Star of the West, March 21, 1913, pp.4-5. 11 Wisdom Talks, p. 21.

U Remey, The Bahal Movement, p. M. .. Ibfd.., p. 39. ,. IbM., p. 2. "The Story of the Bahai Movement, p. 17. II So of Persia, Star of the West, April 28, 1914, p. 42.

,. C. E. Maud. Fortnightly Review, April, 1912. If Pages 68-158. ,. Table Talks with Abdul Baha, Dec. 2, 1900. 11 Answered Questions, pp. 22-29.

.. Star of the West, Dec. 12, 1911, p. 7. .. Remey, Tract on the Bahai Movement, p. 8. .. Talks In PariS, p. 20• .. Remey, Star of the West, Dec. 31, 1913, pp. 267-271. 1915.] Bahaism an Antichristian System. 21

.. In thus regarding the prophets as divine, Bahals are not set- ters fortb of strange doctrine In Persia, for the AU' AlJabls (Nu- saireyeh), who number, possibly, twice as many as the Babals in Persia, have tbe same doctrine, and, In addition, regard the Imam All and others as divine Incarnations. • Phelps, Life of Abbas Effendi. .. Baba's Words of Wisdom, p. 61 . .. Answered Questions, p. 23. .. Abdul Baha In Mrs. Grundy's Ten Days In Acca . .. Ibid., p. 61: .. The Blessed Perfection said In His Tablets that once He was Abraham, once Moses, once Jesus, once Mohammed and once tbe Bab. Baba UJlah is all the propbets, no matter by what name he chooses to call himself." .. Bahal Proofs, p. 209. at Pages 14-15.

II Answered Questions, pp. 199-201. Mr. Sprague says: .. The Babal Faith teaches that the Universal Spirit, which Is God, has manifested Itself to every race at some time or other, and that It comes again and again, llke tbe spring, to make all tblngs new" (A Year In India, p. viii). II Ikan, p. 175. .. Babai Proofs, pp. 156-100. ·~nswered Questions, pp. 129-131, 199-201. "I/)id., p. 184. Of Ikan. pp. 123-127.

II Asad UJIah, Tbe Scbool of the Propbets, p. 109.

.. Mrs. Brittlngbam, Tbe Revelation of Baba mlah, p. 32. • Star of tbe West, Jan. 19, 1914, p. 283. .. The Revelation of Baha UJIah, p. 24. .. C. M. Remey's tract, Tbe Covenant, pp. 14:;15; KhelraJla's Baba mlah, p. 533; and Lawb-ul-Akdas, translated In Star of tbe West. vol. iv. p. 15. .. Star of tbe West, Marcb 21, 1913, p. 13. .. Notes at Acea, p. 24. • A Mes~age from Acca . .... Before Abraham was, I am," p. 46. 41 The Revelation, etc., p. 25 .

.. Dally LeBBons, p. 61. • Flowers from Rose Garden, p. 5; also, Dealy, Dawn of KnOWl- edge, cbap. Iv. 10 Asad mlab, Sacred Mysteries, pp. 74, 85.

11 Bahal Proofs, p. 121; Star of the West, Jan. 19, 1914, p. 288 .

.. A Heavenly Vista, p~ 12. II Life of Abbas EffendI, p. 197.

.. Ikan. p. 113. .. Answered Questions, p. 152. .. The Babai Movement, p. 39. IT Pbelps, p. 99.

.. Ten Days in tbe Light of Acca, .. Stsr of tbe West, Dec. 31, 1913, p. 269. .. M. A888d UJlab In M. H. Dreyfus's Universal Religion. p. 63. 22 Bahaism an Antich,.istian System. [Jan.

11 Mal. Ill. 1; Iv. 5-6. See Dealy, The Dawn of Knowledge, pp. 13-15. • Ibid., pp. 2'5, 30. • Dealy says: .. To quote all the paBBages of Scripture referring to Acca would necessitate reading a great' portion of the Bible. They Identity Accho with Acca (Acre). Even If thls were tro, Accho was not In the land of Nllphtal1 and Zebulun, but In Asher. Na- poleon's siege of Acre Is called' the abomination of desolation, stand· ing In the holy place'" (p. 40) . .. Isa. xl. 1-10. • Answered Questions, pp. 72-75. .. KhelralIa, p. 419. IT Dealy, pp. 31-32, 44.

• Answered Questions, pp. 50--52. • Khelralla (pp. 412, .f8O-488) also skips from lunar- to solar year and back, to make the dates ~ tally. to Answered Questions, pp. 54-55. See Milman's Gibbon, "'01. II. ) p. 433. "The Emperor Hadrian's plowshare leveled the temple area." n Answered Questions. pp. 54-{)5 • .. Bahal Proofs, p. 140. "All In their graves arose spiritually at his call, for service In his cause." II Pages 17~7.

"The mlllennium began at the death of Baha (1892), and the .. Most-Great Peace" will he at the end of the 1,335 days, which equal!!' 1917 A.D. (Dealy, p. 44; Khelrnlla, p. 483). "The Outlook (New York), 1901, June, p. 451. ,. In one particular, no doubt, Balla has fulfilled prophecy. At least the Azalls say that he ('a me "as a thief" and stole the sue- <'eSslon from Azal. "New History, p. 321. 11 Bahal Proofs, pp. 190, 204-207.

"Mrs. Grundy, p. ]3. .. Answered Questions, pp. 115-118. OJ Ballal Prooflil, p. 2312. II M. L. Lucas, My Visit to Acca, p. 20.

II Answered Question.'!, p. 45 •

.. Star of the West, April 9,' 1913, p. 40. • Ibn Abhar. Thoruton Chase says: "Christianity stands con- demned because It refmlp.!I to reje('t miracles and the blood atone- ment and will not confine Itself to the precepts of Jesus" (Bahal Revelation, p. 158) . .. Bahal Proofs, p. 155. "Tablets ot Abdul Raha, vol. I. p. 192; Answered QUestlODl", pp. 120-121. • Yet Baha Informs us that" copper In seventy years becomes gold In Its mine It It be protected from Il superabundance of moisture" (ltan, p. 111). • Wlnterburn's Table Talks, pp. ]9-20. .. Bahal Proofs, p. 231. II Answered Questions, p. 42. • Bahal Proofs, p. 265.