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UNITY TRIUMPHANT

THE CALL OF THE KINGDOM

AN INTRODUCTION
TO THE BAHAI TEACHINGS
AND A TESTIMONY OF FAITH IN
THE REVELATION OF BAHA'U'LLAH.

BY
ELIZABETH HERRICK

THE UNITY PRESS,
21, WEST SIDE, CLAPHAM COMMON,
LONDON, S.W.4.
1925

[first published London: Kegan Paul, 1923]

All rights (including those of translation) reserved by 'the Author.

Printed in Great Britain by KING & JARRETr, LTn., Blackfriars. London. S.R.
CONTENTS.

T 31 s ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM
BAHA'U'LLAH'S MESSAGE TO CHRISTIANS
a LORD OF HOSTS AND THE GREATEST
BRANCH
PROCLAMATION OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA .
UNIVERS-AGL IBALL,0 TEMPLE .
-,WORDS OF BAHA'U'LLAH FROM THE KITABU L-

SATISFACTION-
DIVINE PRINCIPLES THE FOUNDATION AND
TRUTH OF ]BEING
RELimus FmDom
THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION

'ABDU'L-BAHA ON INDUSTRIAL UNREST . 43
TIM BEwARE TAnLF.T . 56
'rim UNIVERSALITY OF ETEuxAt TuuTH . 54
UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF 1BAIIA'U'LLAH . 57
A UNIVERSAL AuximARY LANGUAGE . 63
67
72
'AuDu'L-BARA IN PARIS
THE, HEALING
1A13DU'L-BAHA
TEMPLE
'ABDu'L-BAHA
MINSTER .
'ABDU'L-BAHA IN LIVERPOOL .
'ABDU'L-BAHA TO THE JEWS .

V.
OF THE NATIONS
IN LONDON, AT THE CITY

AT ST. JOHN'S, WEST-

16. RELIGION AND SCIENCE INAccoRD wiTH
REASON
17.' CHRISTMAS IN, LONDON WITH 'ABDu'L-
h EAHA
18. 'ABDU'L-BAHA, WITH THE SOCIETY OF
FRIENDS
19. THE RADIANCE OF- THE TWENTIETH
CENTURY

20, THE SPIRIT OF INVESTIGATION.
21. UNIVERSAL HARMONY
22. UNITY TRIUMPHANT
23. UNITY MEETINGS .
24. SPIRITUAL SPRiNGTiMES.

25. NEED OF PERSONALMANIFESTATION

2 6. THE SUN OF TRUTH

27. TnE FEAST OFRiDVAN
28. -CHILDHOOD OF BAHA'U'LLAH

29. OUTSTANDING EVENT IN THE WORLD'S
HISTORY
30. TABLET OFBAHVU'LLAH.,
31.
A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY AND IBAHk
MARTYRDOMS

32. BAiWl PRECEPTS
33. KINDNESS To ANIMALS

34. PURITY AND CLEANLINESS DIVINE LAWS

OF THE MOST MERCIFUL

35. WORDS OF 13AHA'U'LLAI-I AND 'ABDU'L-
13AHA ABOUT THE'MASHRIQU'L-ADHX"
36. HISTORic NOTE
87. CENTRE OF THE COVENANT AMONG THE
NATIONS
38. BAHA'U'LLAH, TnE NEW NAME

211
ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. -PICTURE OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
2. PICTURE OF MAS_muQU'L-AD_HKAR
ir
8. KIF FROM A CALENDAR IN CONSTANTI-

NOPLE
4. MASURIQU'L-ADHKAR-AT AsIKHABAD
FAGE

PRAYER OF JESUS.

"And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are
Mine, and I am glorified in them.
4' Holy Father keep through thine own Name
those whom Thou hast given Me, that they all
may be One, as we are
" Yf~ither pray I for these alone, but for them
also which shall believe on Me through their
word:
" That they all may be One; as Thou Father,
art in Me, and I in'Thee, that they also may
be One in us."

(John, Chap. xvii., vers. 10, 11, 20.)
FOREWORD.

testimony and introduction is vnitten
under the impelling power of the Spirit,
77 to bearmitness to the Truth of the Reve
Of BahA'U'I!Ah.
V~th the desire to spread a knowledge of His
h
jill-w0hin- i the world, it is published as a thank-
gs in
Verin i dance with the directions of
g, in ace-or
t,-*Abdu I-Bahá', and the kindly help and encourage-
Mftt -of confirmed believers in, the BahA'i Cause.
ch as it is an introduction, the Sacred
of the BahA'i Revelation are quoted with
iderence to those of previous Revelations,
in order that readers may search for themselves,
from those sources, and form their own conclu-
sions. Those who do not wish to refer to Prophecy
ire asked, for their own sake, and for the sake of
the -world, to consider the righteousness of the
BahA'i Teachings, and decide after just investiga-
tion, whether they do not meet the extreme need
of the present day, morally, intellectually, and
-spiritually.
-_.'--'--Whom say Ye that I am? " was the question
which the Spirit put to the individual, througgh
Jesus. And some were able to say: " Thou art
the Spirit of the living God."
Likewise, the Spirit puts that question to us,
to-day, through Bahá"u'llAh. It is the same ques-
I

tion, put by the same Spirit, and it is put to the in-
dividual. The Spirit cannot be ignored. It comes
with power to cast out evil spirits, which are not of
It. It knocks at the door of the heart of every in-
dividual,- and each one who is. wise will answer his
own door to the Spirit, and not leave that to -any
other. It is only the spirit within which can
-answer the Visitation of the Spirit. For only
Spirit can recognise Spirit; and only Reality re-
spond to Reality. " All the ways of man are right
in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the
spirits." Spirit sees all and knows all. It does
not depend on acquired g 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 'rime, 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-m~y be, those who drink
from it never thirst. It
has power to quench the
fires of animosity"; for the hatred and animosity
which crucified Jesus are to-day quenched. He is
to-day honoured in -every language, and in all
regions of the world. Enthroned in all hearts is
He. His Teachings are a Standard of Judgment.
'His Life inspires the resurrection of the individual.
He reigns in hearts the world over, and will ever
reign in His own Station, the Well-Beloved Son of
God. St. Paul says: The first-born among
many brethren. "

2
be- asked: " Then what more is there to
? " Well, there are the " other things " to
I which were not given to Him to say,
the 'nine had not come for them to be
God protects the-world against premature
revelation.

-Josus was only sufFered by the- elders to teach for
three years. But -could they, by crucifying His
body,~ and persecuting His Soul, extinguish the
Light of the Spirit?

-Apostles, Prophets, Saints and Martyrs answer:
66 NO! 19

Is it, then, to be believed that the elders in this
Day can stifle, or ignore, or cover up with their

own theories the knowledge of " those - other
things," which the same Spirit has uttered so
divinely through BahAu']]Ah?

Twenty thousand Martyrs, in our own day, for-
feiting their lives, have answered: " No!
And some are even yet, in 1923, joyfully making191-5
the same reply, because some elders think they can
extol themselves by putting God out of the Courts
of His own world. If they believe they can, why
are not all the history books burnt? Nay, they
cannot, for all that the Spirit saith is confirmed,
from everlasting to everlasting. And if history
books do not teach that , what is the use of them?
Spirit ever stands for ]Reality.
3

Many have testified, and are testifying, their
faith in the Revelation of Bahi'u'llhh. And it
' that no one person, whatever
will be readily seen
his or her qualifications or worldly station may be,
will ever be able to deal exhaustively, or ade
quately, with so great a subject. That is some~
thing for which the world may be grateful, and it
is mentioned in order to convey ihe understanding
that this present endeavour, inasmuch as it is a
testimony, is a testimony of faith, that the writer,
after examining the Teachings of PahAVIIAh, and
after investigating to some extent, by no means ex-
haustively, the Prophecies relating to it, and after
bringing the Teaching to bear upon the problems,
spititual, moral, intellectual, and social, which to-
day exercise her own mind and the mind of the,
world - generally, has come to the joyful conclusion
that Bahá"u'llAh has brought Divine Light to the
world, and in This Day is He Whom God hath
sent, a Personal Manifestation of His Spirit, even
as Jesus was. The pen fails to define the Signifi-
cance of His Appearance.In brief, then, this
testimony acknowledges Him to be what He
claimed to be; as Jesus to-day ishacknowledged to
hewhat He claimed to be. Whereas, in the begin-
ning, His claim was not openly acknowledged, save
by a few.

It is hoped that this contribution, made by one
without claim to any special ability, may, perhaps
for that reason, reach others, who believing, will

4
forego their own, lest 11 the very stoUe$ CrY

atio n to propagate the Teaebings Of
a on- His disciples, What, we may ask,
would be the state of the world, if instead Of spread-
a knowledge of them, they had carefully con-
hiddeng, and, idolised them? It is not the'
lack of knowledge concerning His Teachings, but
the failure to practise them, which has brought
calamities upon the world.
What its conditions would have been had they
never been known is unimaginable. Those who
ractised them have been the salt of the earth.,
have p
Thisis undeniable. Jesus revealed the Fatherhood
d; and throughout His life., which is from all
of Go

eternity, has prayed, and has taught men to pray,,
for the 0 g of the Father's )Cingdom on earth,
e c. min
as it is in heaven.

I The subject dealtwith, being of vital importance
to the happiness of the whole world, should in-
terest all people, whatever their Religion, - or Race,
or Nation. And as this becomes evident, readers
will know, that apology for not presenting it would
be more in place than any explanation for doing so.

A Revelation comprehending all
previous Reve
lations is given to the world by Bah u . The
quintessence of which is : that all Revelations of
the Truth, past and present, are in Harmony.
'9 lllhh

Although many persecutions were heaped upon
Him by worldly despots, Bahi'u'llih has, during 40
years of Exile and 'confinement, recorded the ut-
terance of the Holy Spirit in the rich and melodious
languages of Persia and Arabia. In face of all
opposition He 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-
out the* Churches, of every Religion, should know
what the Spirit saith unto them To-day.

The Divine Will for To-day is revealed in the
Sacred Iffritings of BahA'u'llih, 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 when the
world becomes fully aware of them, they will be
as eagerly read as the Holy Books preceding them;
for they prescribe the Divine Remedy for the Re-
ligious, Social, and Industrial troubles of our day.
There are many in the world to-day who, while
perceiving the need of Unity, are frankly confess-
ing the lack of spiritual power so essential to it.
To bring about Unity, even in any one Religion
or Nation, seems to them a stupendous and impos-
sible task. -Whereas, the reason for their depres-
sion and failure is that their aim is not great
enough. It is incomplete. For the Oneness of all
is the Truth of the matter, and knowledge of that
Truth, the only Key to Hannony: glimpses of

6
True
have been revealed by theProphets and
with the capa-
~~ations of God, in accordance
t , - f the world's
the Age, at different stages o

as
j~.w what Jesus thoughtof those wbo could
read the "Signs of their own times- .9 9 Of what
-tberefore, is it for us to read off ',~,,t rulers - and their kingdoms
and
o anci re to heed-the Prophets-
'11iriough their failu
~stations of the if we. heed not the
zr dayl
Wild

e I ssage of God in our own? To-day the test is

Religion has been giVe-n to the world to
te Unity; but ffirough the perpetuation of vain
rtml
i1twitions, superstitions, and blind dogmas, which
given
.-inthi course of time have obscured the Light
--luccessive Revelation I s, Religion, through mis
nding, has often been the cause of divi-
?.-iio
j ns, persecutions, and strife. Even in this Cause,
stands so clearly for the promotion of Unity
101d Brotherhood, some, as already mentioned, are
sa - crificing their lives, because opposers in their
blind desire to suppress it, instead of proving them-
- to be temples of the living God. have become
whited sepulchres," even as Jesus found in
av, when through lack of spiritual insight,
who should have welcomed, crucified Him.
The world is largely unconscious of the Divine
Drama which has been witnessed since the appear-
&nee of the BAb and is still being witnessed by

angels in heaven and on, earth, yet " He that
watcheth over Israel slumbereth not, nor sleeps',f~
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-
bammadans 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
theirn Names! Since each has given Light in
accordance with the capacity of the Age, and has
pointed to further Revelation in the fulness of time
to come; surely it is the disposition to idolatrV
which has blinded ihe 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 BahA'U'
llAh exhorts them to do.

8
75

U-- So, coming in the power of-the Spirit, BaWL
4 4-h.-lends, the veils of supemtition aumder, fidEds
Prophecy of Religion, -and revealing-- its Inner
ing banishes religious - pre4oses the Harmony of the Divine -Plan.
throw stones at each
11is is not a time for us to
j~4&9 for "God's Mercy is our need, and our aid in
wo
rld and in the Day of Judgment."' We
the Day of Judgment, -when
ve iving now in
J 41that which pertains to one I time cannot be extended
-* t
~ m o another. But it is also the Day of Resurrec-
4a

Vion and Reconciliation, and a " New heaven and
n ew earth " will appear to the understanding.
. th Stars of Certainty. For-the heavens of
~*a wi
99
W--the past are" rolled-up as a scroll,, andtheSpirit
-th Lo, I make all things New."

May the hearts and minds of the children of the
om be quickened, that they may know of the
'My
in which they live, and knowing it, be enabled
t~ set aside all that would hinder them from enter
-that for which they have now for a long time
prayed : so that they may not stand with those who
it. but be with those who lift up their voices
gd

drejoice in:

The Glad Tidings of the coming of the
Father's Kingdom on Earth."

9
B

CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO
JERUSALEM:

And when He was come nigh even now at the
Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the dis-
ciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the migghty works which they had seen,
saying:

h " Blessed is the King that cometh in the Name
of the Lord. Peace in heaven, and glory in the
highest. "
And some of the Pharisces from among the
multitude said unto Him: "Master, rebuke Thy
disciples.
And He answered, and said unto them:
If these should hold their peace, the stones
would immediately cry out."

Jesus to Jerusalem:
0 Jerusalem, JerusalemY which killest the
Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto
thee; how often would I have gathered thy children
together, as a hen doth gather her chickens, under
her wings, and Ye would not!
" Behold your house is left desolate: and verily
.I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time
come when Ye shall say,
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the
Lord. "
(The Gospel according to Luke.)

10
'BAHA'U'LLAH TO CHRISTIANS:
'~Proclaim: Surely the Father hath come and
ih fidfilled that whereunto you were promised in
Kingdom of God. - -This is the woTd which the
veiled when He said to those around Him that
could not bear it; but when the stated tiime
ended and the Hour arrived, the Word shone
from the Horizon of the Will-.
Beware, 0 Concourse of the Son, cast it not
Ye, but hold thereunto! . . . . This
-Light hath appeared from the Orient and hath
-journeyed toward the Occident until it came unto
.thee in these Latter Days." ,

Verily,He the Son beareth witness to~Me,-and
I bear witness to- Him
Then tell Me: Do the, children know the
Father and confess Him? Or do they contradict

Him as the people contradicted Him before?

"In this Day it behoveth you to proclaim in
this Greatest Name among the Nations. Do you
choose to be silent whilst trees and stones are call-
ing out in the loudest voice

Surely the Lord hath come, the Possessor of
Great Glory !
Veri7y,. We have opened unto you the Gates of
the Kingdom;
Are ye closing the door of your houses before
MY Face? "
Lawh-el-Aqdas,"
Bahd'u'lld,h's Message to Christians.)
11

THE LORD OF HOSTS.

". THUS, SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SAYING,
BEHOLD THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS THE BRANCH -.
AND HE SHALL GROW UP OUT OF HIS PLACE, AND HE
SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD:

EVEN HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE
LORD; AND HE SHALL BEAR THE GLORY, AND SHALL
SIT A." RULE UPON HIS THRONE: AND THE COUNSEL
Of PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH."

(Zechariah, Chap. 6, ver. 11)

THE GREATEST BRANCH.

" WHEN THE OCEAN OF MY PRESENCE BATH
EBBED AND THE BOOK OF MY ]REVELATION IS COM-
PLETED, TURN YOUR FACES TOWARDS HIM WHOM
(' OD HATH PURPOSED, WHO HATH BRANCHED FROM
THIS ANCIENT RoOT."

(Bahd'u'lldh, Kithbu'l-Aqdas.)
a
'ABDU'L-BAHA
THE GREATEST BRANCH
CENTRE OF THE COVENANT
AMONG THE NATIONS.

'ABDU'L-BAHA
PROCLAMATION
OF I ABDU'L.BAHA.

0 PEOPLE!
THE DOORS OF THE KINGDOM ARE OPENED!
THE WATERS OF LIFE HAVE GUSHED FORTH.

. TmsIS ANEW CYCLE OF IlumANPowER! ALL
THE HORIZONS OF THE WORLD ARE LUMINOUS: AND
THE WORLD WILL BECOME INDEED AS AGARDEN AND
A PARADISE.

IT IS THE HOUR OF THE'UNITY OF THE SONS OF
MEN, AND THE DRAWING TOGETHER OF ALL CLASSES.

THE GIFT OF GOD TO THIS ENLIGHTENED AGE, is
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONENESS -OF MANKIND,
AND OF THE FUNDAMENTAL ONENESS OF RELIGION.

THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE HATH APPEARED
BEFORE WHICH THE DARKNESS OF EVERY SUPERSTI-
TIOUS FANCY WILL BE ANNIHILATED.

THE WORLD WILL BE SEEN AS A NEw WORLD,
AND ALL MEN WILL LIVE AS BROTHERS.

WAR SHALL CEASE BETWEEN NATIONS, AND BY
THE WILL OF GOD

THE MOST GREAT PEACE
SHALL COME.

THE UNIVERSAL BAHA'l TEMPLE

THE FIRST MASFMQUgLADiiKkR WAS BUILT Al
Ism-ABAD (CALLED BY THERussiANs AsKuABAD),
IN RUSSIA. 0111 THE PAGE FOLLOWING IS A PICTURE
OF THE SECOND BAnAl TEMPLE, OR MASH~
RIQU'L-ADIIKAR, TO BE BUILT ON THE SHORES OF
LAKEMICHIGAN, CHICAGO, ILL.,U.S.A. DESIGN
By Louis J. BOURGEOIS.
" IN FORM THE 'fEMPLE IS NINE-SIDED. FROM
DOME TO FOUNDATION IT IS A UNIQUE CREATION. IT
IS SAID BY EXPERT ARCHITECTS TO REPRESENT THE
FIRST ORIGINAL IDEA IN ARCHITECTURE SINCE THE
13TH CENTURY. IN GEOMETRIC ORNAMENTATION IT
IS SAID TO CONTAIN ALL THE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS OF
THE WORLD. BUT MORE THAN ALL THIS, THE NOBLE
SYMBOL OF THE SPIRITUAL ORE, OR SUN BEHIND TIM
SAVIOUR OF MANKIND. THE WONDERFUL NINE-
POINTED STAR, FIGURING IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE
'rEMPLE ITSELF, AND APPEARING AGAIN AND AGAIN IN
ITS ORNAMENTATION, AS SIGNIFICANT OF THE SPIRI-
TuALGLORY IN THE WORLD TO-DAY.
THETEMPLE WILL BE A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR
ALL MANKIND. ITS DOORS WILL NEVER BE CLOSED.
NoPRIESTROOD WILL EVER OFFICIATE WITHIN ITS
WALLS. ABOUT IT WILL BE GARDENS AND FOUN-
TAINS. BEYOND THESE, A SERIES OF BUILDINGS
DEVOTED TO THE APPLICATION OFTRUE RELIGION
To LIFE. ONLY WORSHIP AND PRAISE CAN BE
VOICED IN THE TEmpix ITSELF."

(-T,iterary Digest, Aug. 1920.) 1

16
THE FIRST MASFlRIQU'L-ADHK,~R
TO BE BUILT IN AMERICA,
WILLM-ETTE, CHICAGO, ILL.
FOUNDATION STONE LAID
f
BY 'ABDU'L.BAHA, MAY Ist. 1912.

MASHRIQU'L-ADHK~R.
ttDS OF BAHA'U'LLAH FROM
KITABUT-AWAS.

AvONCOURSE OF CREATION! 0 PEOPLE 1
TSES) IN THE MOST
STRUCT HOMES (OR 110t
*-UFUL FASHION POSSIBLE IN EVERY CITY, IN
IAND, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF RELI-
,a.
ADORN THEM WITH THAT WHICH BE-
OTH THEM-NOT WITH PICTURES AND PAINTINGS.
4-HEN COMMEMORATE THE LORD, THE MERCIFUL,
CLEXIENT, IN SPIRIT AND FRAGRANCE. VERILY,
ENTION, BY THIS COMMEMORATION, THE
HALL BE DILATED, I'HE EYES GLADDENED,
SHALL YE PRAY THE ORIENT OF PRAJSES
A~HRIQU'L ADUKAR (I.E. THE SOURCE OF

ACH YOUR CHILDREN WHAT HATH BEEN
REVEALED BY THE SUPREME PEN. INSTRUCT
TUM IN WHAT RATH DESCENDED FROM THE HEAVEN
ok GREATNESS AND POWER. LET THEM MEMORIZE
-THETABLETS OF THE- MERCIFUL AND CHANT THEM
-WITH THE MOST MELODIOUS VOICES IN THE GAL-
LERIE S BUILT IN TIIETE-MPLF, OF THE MASHRIQU'L
: ':!JjW His M
STS S
&ND THUS
M
S E S)

AILHKAR. THE PRAYERS OF THE LORD SHALL BE
CHANTED IN A MANNER TO ATTRACT HEARTS AND
SOULS.

"BLESSED IS HE WHO LISTENS TO THE
RIVER OF LIFE! "

ALLAH'U'ABHA!

He who inviteth the people in My Name,
he is of Me." (BahiVIUh.)

YOU Shan put crowns on their heads: -crowns
set with brilliant jewels-which shine like stars:
crowns of everlasting gbrightness that will nat
fall off." ( 'Abdu'l-1BahA.)
THE
REVELATION OF BAHAIU'LLAH
IS UNITY TRIUMPHANT

SATISFACTION.

XYmay be assumed that in the different schools
of Religious thought through which we
have passed e hav in them all sought
spiritual, satisfaction: and in our travels we have
found at times that we have had to let some things
go in order to receive the satisfaction which belongs
to fuller pastures. Probably, in all fields of search
we have found something we could not let go,
because, being true, it belongs to them all.
Truth is indivisible: And though our journey
towards understanding necessitates separation
from that which is not true, in the end we shall
perceive it leads to Unity: for the things we have
to let go are merely our prejudices-or the preju-
dim of other people-against a further knowledge
Of it.
Truth is also satisfaction: And the utmost satis-
factibn is to be found in the Teachings of
w e

BahAVIIAh. They are a Lighthouse of Spiritual
Guidance to those of all Religions, who are crying
out for that promised Light, which is the special
need of this Age: for many know, and confess,
they have it n6t.. The Revelation' of BahA'u'llih
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,
Bahk'u'llAh saves Religion from drowning in the
Sea of Names : and elevates the Host by distin-
guishing the Light from the lamp which holds it,
calling upon all to worship God only.

" There is no God, but God," says Muhammad,
and all the Prophets with one accord have ex-
claimed: " Glory be-to God!" So the First Com-
mandment of Moses is confirmed in every New
Dispensation ofht-he Spirit, to keep mankind in the
straight Path of accomplishment, away from the
ruts of fruitless idolatry.

In this Day of the Lord, BahAVIIAh brings
essential Laws to establish the 'Kingdom of God,
on Earthl in order that the Glory of God may be-
come manifest before all eves. The Name of
BahAVIIAh stands for the Glory of God.

For this Jesus Fived, and He suffered crucifixion,
because religious men took offence at His claim to
be the Son of His Heavenly Father.

22
7Bahh'i Revelation is the Qiblih* of Salva-
j~
the whole world, did the world but know it:
~vho do know it, be they Christians,
~:-Muslims, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, or those
are
at last finding that their preju-
woi Re
1isap i the Light gof the Sun of Truth
rear n
has again arisen with great brilliance in the
st Horizon of intelligence, in our own Day,
bling all to meet in the Spiritual Heavens of
ding' as friends and lovers, " of one
nd in a house."'
We have no great& Scriptural proof than that
to be found in " Hidden Words " (Balift'u'llih),

that not merely satisfaction is intended, but that
Vur Creator bespeaks joy and gladness, for all who
CO - -operate in the natural and spiritual laws of the
universe. 's Laws are established in the
God
of things, have been expounded by His
phets, and are written in the Sacred Scriptures
all Religions, arid all the " free thought " in
world cannot cha nge those Laws. The Truth
cannot be 'Overt-hrowiil- and nobody is wise who
thinks contrary to- it. BahAVIIAh assures each
individual of God's Love, and of the ecstatic joy
of life, which enables those who keep His Laws to
A-1. rise triumphantly glorious, even over death itself.
For fulness of life in God's Kingdom, on earth,
and throughout eternity, is the prophecy of the
Religion of God.

.*"Qiblih," the Point to which devoted ones turn in
reverence, as Christians to the East.

In an elementary Persian text book, used in
schools, it is written, " Justice half Religion is."
The same little book states as a proof of God's
Love to individuals, that He gives to each " a
Mother." This proof none can misunderstand, for
it is not a mere matter of words. It is written 'in
many Scriptures that " God is Love," and by the
power of His Spirit, many have sacrificed their
lives to prove that Faith.

If then, Justice is half Religion, the other half
must be Mercy and Generosity: for it is God the
Merciful, the Generous, the Giver, Who through
BaWu'llkh addresses each one of His children with
the utmost Divine Love and Courtesy: -

0 SON OF SPMrr 1
Justice is loved above all. Neglect it not if thou
desirest Me- By 1t thou wilt be strengthened
to perceive things with thine own eyes and not
with the eyes of men, to know them by thine
own knowledge, and ~not by the knowledge of
any in the world. Meditate on this-how thou
oughtest to be. Justice is of My Bounty to
thee, and of My Proavidence over thee; therefore
keep it ever before thy si ht.
Stg

Seeing then, God's Love in the nature of things,
hearing of it through His Holy Prophets, and each
experiencing it through a Mother's love, should
we be irresponsive to the wonderful bounty of
God? Since Justice enables us to see things with

24
215
our own eyes, it should be clear to the fairminded
that the satisfaction which we seek in God and in
each other, is inh all things provided, and should
be'met -with recognition, responsive generosity,
and true thankfulness -on our part.
Satisfaction, joy, and gladness will become indi-
-vidual and universal experience, when all arise from
the bed of indifference, and by the power of the
Spirit of God, decide to take and to offer to
others the overflowing Cup of Generosity which
Bahi'u'llih offers toh Humanity, to-day.
The Day of Grace' inaugurated by Jesus, has
had a long spell of centuries and has suffered con-
siderable abuse. And it will be r,6membered that
He was aware it would be so ; for when it was

suggested by His disciples that the goodly disposed
should be separated from the evil doers, He re-
-Plied: " Let- both grow together until the
Harvest. "
This Day is the Harvest of the seed-sowing of
hMoSeS, Jesus, Muhammad, and of all the Mani-
festations and Prophets of God before them, when
the wheat will be gathered into the bam of reality,
~and the chaff scattered by the winds of circum-
stance, or discarded as stubble. All that is not of
reality will perish in the realms of forgetfulness,
or God willing, become purified in the fires of
remorse.

The Call of the Kingdom is Now! Now is the
accepted tignic 1

I
DIVINE PRINCIPLES THE FOUNDATION
-AND TRUTH OF BEING.
XT is now over fifteen years since the writer
of this grateful testimony was attracted by
the Holy Fragrances of Bahh'u'llih,
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 Bahk'i Teachings, and
many were the questions put by earnest students to
Miss Ethel J. Rosenberg, who had made the pil-
griniage to Acca, and having sojourned in the
home of the Master, had many beautiful stories to
tell of His constant kinaness to all around Him,
as - well as much important Teaching to impart,
which she herself had received direct from Him.
The beautiful and indefinable spirii peculiar to the
llahA'i Dispensation was always evident in those
gatherings, and through our persistent questioning
some of us sought, and found, intellectual satisfac-
tion, as well.
Most of the Teaching given at the -Higher
Thought Centre was of the nature of practical
modern metaphysics, pertaining to healing, and
individual 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.

26
"Me Bahi'i Teachin
9, however, related to Pro
is recognized as coming through a Personal
.~Westation, a life-giving, -and unifying Spiritual
or Revealer- of the Divine Will. It was pre-
as coming through a Personal Revealer, as
0. ; Christian, Moammadan, and all the great
ions have come ;-'but with the important, and
G-Dine,, surprising claim, that'It comes to u~nite
all! It, therefore, is a manifest spiritual
ence, which can be known and experienced
,l qz- individual participation., So the bountiful
of its claim to promote Unity may be a
ience, a ,
of personal exper's well as'of intel
-pouring
tetual reeption; for it is a Divine out
pe
the. Spirit to meet the- needs of Humanity, and
rs its own sacrificial proof to demonstrate its

In. Coming io unite, it cannot proselytise.
briefest aim being to enable all to perceive the
eness of God, of Humanity, and of Religion,
and to ensure to the world the Most great Peace.
-This is not contrary to the clearest perception
of- both ancient and modern Seers.
It was natural that this magnanimous claim
should excite persistent questions, for some were
present who thought they had found Truth in a
Measure delightfully entrancing in one or other
-of' the differ gent presentations of Metaphysical
teaching. We thought we bad found the " Truth
of Being,"* and were happy in saying a joyful
good-bye to the "worm," and "miserable sinner"

* ("Truth of Being." Grace Western).

ideas which - had too long hampered our spirit in
the name of theology. So being set free from all
that, and believing the Truth had set us freep: w
rejoiced in a study of Divine Principles, with th:
understanding that they were for current expres-
sion-in all personalities.
There was no mere " divine immanence," or
44 spark " of divinity within us, not in our concep-
tion of ourselves, such as is now conceded by
theology, but potentially, the complete I I image
and likeness " as stated in Scripture, which is
natural and common between Father and Son, just
waiting to be discovered and demonstrated, as bit
by bit we unwrapped ourselves from the mental
(4 swaddling clothes " which bound us; so it was
with irth
right, that we claimed our kinship with the
Almighty."*
The study of Divine Principles had setus free
from the meshes of theology, and given us a deeper
insight into the Teachings of Jesus. We took Him
to be the Word, the Light, the Truth, and the
Way of Life, expressed Personally, to lighten the
Path of His followgers throughout the Christian
Era; sufficient, until the further Light which He
promised in the fulness of Time, should Come.
For the II Spirit within us " bore testimony to the
fact, that He had demonstrated His Divine quali-
ties to the utmost; and since we per-ceived, and
con-ceived ourselves to be the children of the
stefeld)
The Bailder and the Plan." Ursula N. Ge
28
a 46 reverent recognition of our Divine 1) -
Heavenly Father, we saw no reason why we also
should -not grow in grace, " to the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ," as Jesus did.
of course, in His StationP or-in such exalted
in history. That would be impossible! For
wi~ ~ each have our own place, as -He said: " In
Xy Father's House are many mansions: I go, to
9 prepare a place for you.
How lovable and tender this assurance concern-
ng the Heavenly Kingdom, into which, through
His own mind, Jesus,so graciously permitted His
disciples to peep! What sweet consideration, to
4ssure us of rich inheritance in the Father's Name!
Have we another Friend, who doing for us what
did., could leave us so tenderly, so nobly, and
ivith such selfless fortitude to prepare a place for
- - It would be sin -against the Holy Spirit, if

did not answer " Yes,," as well as " NO." For
s- Spirit has bome fruit in many lives. Others
willingly suffered cruel death and torture for
our sake, and for the sake of righteousness, because
-the tree of God's planting must bear fruit, and
the Manifestations of God in each Visitation are
the growth of centuries, watered and strengthened
by the Heavenly breezes of eternal Divine utter-
-alice, and sustained by food some " know not of."
always bear the fruits of reality, and they
,lever mock one by unacceptable propositions.
So the children of the Kingdom have now a
0ace 6 9 prepared for them," and may no more be
,deceived or kept in ignorance of their Divine birth-

29
C

right. ~ We find that in the heart of God there is
a place for every one, and Glory be to Him I The
His Kingdom, is Now!
Call to
The purpose of this endeavour is that Some
who may read will become interested in that Call.
For it is to those 'who know not of it these words
are written, in the hope that their keen interest
will be aroused in the Sacred Writings of their
own Day, and in the Divine Laws revealed through
the Supreme Pen Of Bahi'u'llhh-
His Call to the Kingdom, is Now! I-lave we
heard it? What is our reply? Do we pass it on,
or remain deaf and dumb? The Kingdom of
Heaven cannot be controlled by selfish seekers
after their own glory. The most honourable
places are filled-by those who can drink the Cup
of Sacrifice. Let -us take a -time of reverent
silence, alone, som / etimes, in remembrance of those
who have drunk that Cup for us, if we cannot do
so in the fellowship Remembrance, to which their
Sacred Hearts invited us.
. We may not abase ourselves before Them.
That is not what They came for. Such abase-
ment has been in the past one of the greatest
religious mistakes, and contrary to the spirit of
resurrection : for They have ever called us to
fellowship with the Highest. There has never
been any discourtesy from Them, to us. Quite
the contrary. They are blind imitators who feign-
ing obeisance, teach others to abase themselves;
but the holy, loving, and devoted reverence which

30
understanding, and real cannot be

sisters in-the Heavenly

tIlviort -walked this earth He was known as the
Son of God, and men gnashed their
a claim. It was accounted blas-
P otten
-at- such
.Amy in those dark days, but now, it is taken as
,!iwatter of course'. For the first word in the
~rd's Prayer changed all that, ' and now we know
to deny the Heavenly Father, is Teal blas-

ftat there should be children of the Spirit, was
r
:J hard for men to understand. Hence theologi

.gth~i abrications and the interminable discussions
who affirm, and those who deny,
ivinity of Christ!
immaculate conception takes place in the
Wh -en we are born of the Spirit, and is the
tion which we have of ourselves and each
er. There is a little clarifying verse which run.,;:

Though Christ in Bethlehem a thousand times
be born,
e
nd,
ncep

-If Ile's not born in you, your hope is all for-
lorn.

a The example of Jesus is naturally and essen-
tially the judgment, the resurrection, and the life

of us all. For by His life He brought us into con-
scious active communion with the Father, proved
the resurrection of His Spirit, and thus gave us.
everlasting Life.
Early acquaintance with- the Balia"i Teachings..
will naturally, in a Christian country, find many-so
entranced by the beatific vision of Jesus, which
makes clear such 'possibilities for the children of
men, that they may hesitate to examine their own
Scriptures concerning ihe present-day Revelation,
which in them, is promised, 'Bugt it is hoped, that
when they remember Jesus promised it, they can-
not refrain from examining the matter. For
surely, all must soon become aware that the Light
of Divine Intelligence illumines the path of
humanity with resplendent beauty, in our own
day.
To turn aside from it is to court disaster, and to
become lost in the labyrinths and cross-currents
of mental confusion; for it is the Be-appearance
of that Spiritual Light, which lighteth the whole
world. It awakens the individual consciousness to
a knowledge of divine origin, and so con-
firms the claim of Jesus, Plato, and Socrates;
and is the Divine response in the nature of things--
to the need of this bewildered world.

32
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

HROUGHOUT the 19th century " Free-
dom was the -parrot cry of the unthink-
ing majority, and the constant watchword
high-minded men : yet this common cry did
of itself bring about political freedom to
'women. Women had to claim it.
With many, freedom became little more than a
fetish, or a licence', a sort of beautiful doll which
grown-up people liked to play with, and which
often led them into chains; as idolatry of any kind
,always does. We know
actually gone so far as to say, they would rather
see England " free " than " sober " I Though
it -is clear there will not be much freedom worth
having for any country which does not get free
from the ravages of strong drink. And good
patriots of every land who have worked in the face
of ignominy to set humanity free from it, will re-
joice to know that it is a BahA'i -Precept that
" alcoholic liquor shall not be used as a beverage";
for it has blighted many a brilliant career, and

-wrecked the happiness of millions of homes.
Notwithstanding the many blessings of freedom,
which last century has bequeathed to this, the abuse
of it bas left us with such an undesirable crop of
conditions, that the special work of this 20th cen-
tury which is the work of establishing Unity and

33
some statesmen have

Harmony, is exceedingly difficult : so difficult,
that without clear Spiritual Guidance, such a task
could not be. accomplished.
There are many organisations on foot to-day,
which, representing only partial good, gather their
armies together to attain supremacy and prefer-
ence over organisations representing other partial
good. The natural result being that there is chaos
and unnecessary hardship for many good people in
their efforts for religious, political, social and in-
dustrial reform. Though as St. Paul told us, " all
things work together for good to those that love
God. " And Bahá"u'llkh looking out on such a
world of confusion, has declared in the Name of
God, that Religious, Political, Social, and Indus-
trial prejudices must be abolished. rhis will
mean the abolition of much futile slavery on the
part of those who wish to save the world from
destruction by inadequate means. For those who
advocate them have often in the past been known
to be cynical concerning the efforts of other people,
not knowino, that all good is One. Temperance
societies, for instance, have ignored Industrial
questions. Socialism has scorned Religion as
fraudulent, and Relilgion repudiated Socialism as
materialistic. And it cannot be denied that each
has had a measure of truth in its objections. This
only proves the impartiality of Truth, which can-
not be seen with a biassed mind. When belong-
ing to more than one organisation for reform,
many a time have the hearts of some been stabbed

34
cynicism of personal friends, who showing
ful prejudice have rendered conversation
le.
possib
are no child of mine," have fathers been
o say to their children, " if you do not be-
-ve 9~ this, or that. Or, " out of my house'you
90, if you refuse to fetch my beer." And children
o would have refused to go for beer, have had to
h 90 to the tap room for their father, because their
mother's heart was breaking. Such episodes do
not help children to keep the Fifth Commandment
4, of Moses.
Alas! the hopes of many fathers even to-day are
centred on the turf, and their minds concentrated
on the beer glass; because, as the late Venerable
Dean of Peterborough (one time Vicar of St.
'Matthews, Leicester,*) used then so clearly to ex-

plain with emphasis: "'Gambling is a desireJo
VLoAC_4y_a_nothces loss.
How can anybody keep the Commandments of
God who claims the right of freedom in un-
brotherly indulgences? Those who try can only
supply instances of the folly of making a god of
"Freedom," which like some other things, is
good for good purposes and bad for bad ones.
Many to-day regard the honour of the turf as in-
violate, and dismiss God as fictitious, and Tre there-
You
wn t

fore unaware of their duty to their own children
or to the mother of them. It is amazing that self-
respecting persons can turn away from that which

*The Rev. William Clavell ingtami.

a I

is really honourable, and belittle their own intelh-
gence by gextolling 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, h to their own chosen
partners in life. -I It is a pity there areboth men
and women who so delude themselves. May the
spirit of understanding open the eyes of any who
have not seen the truth in such matters.
66 A man's only -bondage is his word," says the
Prophet Jeremiah, and it is for each to decide to
whom he gives his word. He can give it to the
truest and best of Friends, or to the Tempter. His
Creator is benign, -and it is ordained in theg nature
of things that Man has, for a test, the freedom of
choice.

36
E SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

"HERE has been in times past, and very
properly, a great outcry against the fierce-
ness of industrial competition. * Often it
made many of us ask: " Are we on earth, or
hell? And Kingsley, who was not him-
tortured in the mills of industry, has wondered
ehalf of his fellows, " if there will be any com-
tition in hea
ven?
9. of course, that heaven is a condition of
mind, that it is essentially communal
dividualistic., the reality within should
nces without, and it would not then
competition could have any place.
The BahVi doctrine that work done faithfully in
.9 spirit of service is acceptable as an act of worship,
seems to dispose of the spirit of competition, -and
.by giving a benevolent incentive to heavenlier
graces, it suggests not only industrial harmony, but
industrial delight, and the -possibility of bringing
realisation the blessed benediction: Peace
ils
b
FL:~anntd
d not in
, 9k, ow evi e
m that
into
n earth, and Goodwill towards men. What-

vi
er one s religious, social, or political views may
e, no one would object to that most desirable state
_-of things. How much stronger, how much more
capable we are, when happy in our work! Surely
37

such practicable demonstration of Religion would
win the adherence of all men, and very soon make
atheism, anarchy and rebellion obsolete; for -we
are raised by our ideals, and such thoughts would
then have no place in the common mind; therefore
honest lovers of humanity should not scoff at
idealists, for " High aims overleap the- bounds of
low' successes." We are brothers and'sistersi and
if we have not attained perfection, we shall inci-
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.
Competition lets loose the wolf spirit, and
though " all the ways of man are right, in his own
eyes; the Lord weigheth the spirits." The spirit
of envy, jealousy, and selfishness is engendered by
competition; yet these are forbidden and despised,
and incompatible with peace. Spiritually, em0-
tionally and psychically, competition is unmerciful,
unjust, vainglorious and unsound : a satanic de-
vice to oppress the souls of men. It has resulted
in riches being heaped up superfluously upon the
few, and too often left many deprived of the bare
means of existence. Even the young, in some
countries, have been known to commit suicide, be-
cause failure to pass examinations in " the
clumsy dust of ancient knowledges " has doomed
them to military service and despair. They have
preferred not to live, rather than to live under such
cruel and insane conditions. To do one's utmost
in the way of service and attainment should satisfy

38
reasonable beings-but to be always wanting to
other people is to rob life of its:courtesies
~graces.
ndu
strial competition savours too much of coni-
Ision, takes the poetry out of life, and robs in-
-duals of the right to serve each other peacefully
their own free-will. It deprives them of their
in making the very universe ring with joy.
e joy of satisfaction-to be experienced by all :
en we shall have no more pins without points,
~no matches that will not light, no pencils which
break away refusing to be sharpened; and no
boots and shoes which cripple us. Pure food and
g.ino substitutes; beautiful fruit.' nuts, and other
foods, which will make everybody forget
''aleoholic beverages without iegret. For, in seek7
ina first the Kinadom of God and His righteous-

ness, we are told by Him in Whom we believe,
"I that " all things which we need, will be added unto
US, in measure pressed down and running over, be-
d anything which we can think, or speak."
-That, we g know, is the generous promise of ".
- But alas! The ravages of competition have not
only been evident in industry. In Science, Art,
Literature, and even in Religion itself, the desire
of the false to attain glory, and to dominate the
true, has also been known. It is unnecessary to
dwell upon it. But in this time of re-construction
ive should see to it that the true, in all lines of
activity, shall prevail.
God is one. Humanity is One. The Founda-

tion of the Religion of God is One. - Therefore all
efforht, whether it be religious, political, social, in-
dustrial, or humanitarian-should be directed with
due appreciation and regard to that , Divine
Economy which has made all things One. Other-
wise, heavenly zeal is consumed. Competitive
effort is selfish, separative, unsatisfactory, and is
not in accord with the Divine Policy which cares
for all, provides for all, and comprehends all.
For Truth being One and indivisible, spiritual
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
which governs them.
But it is not all, we gratefully remember, who
would trifle with the Oneness of natural and
spiritual Law. Some there are who agonise even
now in conflicting organizations which cry out
like locusts for sustenance: ~vhile many are broken
in the endeavour to support them. And this is
bound to happen when that which is partly true
does not relate itself with the whole. The wise
and the honest relate themselves with the whole
Truth. George Washington must have felt this,
when he exclaimed: " Let us raise a Standard to
which the wise and the honest can repair. The
Event is in the hands of God." If memory serves
correctly those words are inscribed on the Arch

40
which one passes from Washington
uare, into Fifth Avenue, New York. There
the -rich have repaired. And it is hoped that the
iieh -in this world's goods will hasten to become the
wisest and most honest of people, that they may
the feat which the Lord Christ said: " is
more difficult than the passing of a camel through
a needle's eye.", There are rich in all lands.. even
the poorest of lands. And when so many are in
-,extreme need, this requires explanation.
The Call of the Kingdorn is to all, rich and
poor, to " Put their hands into God's Treasury
Ahat He may lift His head radiantly above all
their treasures." (Ba hk'u'llih, in " Hidden
Words.
When the rich cease to oppress the poor because
all have inscribed George Washington's standard
on heart and mind, we shall see the endeavour for

one Financial standard throughout the world.
Then, neither the dollar, nor the pound, the
franc, the mark, or the rupee, will have advan-
tage or disadvantage. For Life is One, and in
their relation to each other they all represengt life
values. The unfortunate will not always be sub-
ject to further misfortune, by becoming the slaves
of the money market as they are to-day. - There
are different sorts of slave which need to be
abolished.
We know that many men, in other lands, have
shared Washington's aspirations for honest
standards in finance, morals, industry, religion,

and in all human relationships. But it is not
enough to aspire separately. It is necessary for
individuals- and nations to aspire together, in order
to secure the refreshing fairness in these matters,
which is their heart's desire.

Melodious individual voices have reverberated
through the centuries~, and are now blended into
One Voice, which is -calling all to Unity.

Jesus yearned in prayer for Unity. The Bahá"i
Teachings come in answer to that prayer, calling
all to gather in thatwhich is the ripe Harvest of
His seed-sowing.

The Principles of BahA'u'HAh are Pillars of
Strength, in establishing Unity. They enable us
to see that to be free, is not enough; because
Humanity is One Family, and an all-comprehend-
ifig glance should enlist the practical-help of every
one, in establishing Unity and Harmony the world
over.

The Human Ideal, should be Harmony and
Oneness. Then will all see with God's Sight, and
the effort for Unity, will incidentally set indi-
viduals free from the greatest of all bondage-the
bondage of self.

42
I
'ABDU'I,BAHA
INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

&J:JBDU'L_BAHA said: "You have ques-
tioned me about strikes. This question
is and will be the subject of great diffi-
culties. Strikes are due to two causes. One is
the extreme sharpness and rapacity of the capi-
talists and manufacturers : the,other, the excesses,
-the avidities, and ill-will of the workmen and arti-
san~. It is therefore necessary to remedy these
-two causes.
But the principal cause of these difficulties lies
in the Laws of the present civilization: for they
lead to a small number accumulating incomparable
-fortunes, beyond their needs, whilst the greater
number remains destitute, stripped, and in the
greatest misery. This. is contrary to justice, to
humanity, to equity; it is the height of iniquity,
the opposite to what causes divine satisfaction. g

" This contrast is peculiar to the world of man:
with 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, in- a troop of
deer in the country, among the birds of the prairie,
of the hill, 'or the orchard, almost every animal

receives a just share based on equality. With
them-such difference in the means of existence is
not to be found: so they live in the most complete
peace and joy." .
" It is quite othenvise with the human species,
which persists in the greatest effor, and in absolute
iniquity. Consider an individual who has amassed
treasures by colonising a country for his profit. He
has obtained an incomparable fortune, and has
secured profits and incomes which flow like a river,
whilst a hundred thousand unfortunate people,
weak and powerless, are in need of a mouthful of
bread. There is neither equality nor brotherhood.
So you see that general peace and joy are
destroyed, the welfare of humanity is partly anni-
hilated, and that collective life is fruitless. In-
deed, fortune, honours, commerce, industry, are
in the hands of some individuals, while other people
are subject to quite a series of difficuffies and to
limitless troubles; they have neithor advantages,
nor profits, nor comfort, nor peace."
" Then rules and laws should be established to
regulate the excessive fortunes of certain private
individuals and to limit the misery of millions of
the poor masses; thus a certain moderation would
be obtained. However, absolute equaliiy is just as
impossible, for absolute equality in fortunes,
honours, commerce, agriculture, industry, would
end in a want of comfort, in discouragement, in
disorganisation of the means of existence, and in
universal disappointment : the order of the com-

4-1
munity would be quite destroyed. Thus, there is
a i great wisdom in the fact that equality is not
by law; it is therefore preferable for
ion to-do the work. The main point is, by
f laws and regulations to hinder the con-
stitution of excessive fortunes of certain indi-
viduals, and to protect the essential needs of the
masses. For instance the manufacturers and the
industrials heap up a treasure each day, and the
poor artisans do not gain their daily sustenance;
that is the height o ' f iniquity, and no just man can
accept it.Therefore laws and regulations should
be established which would permit the workmen
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
work and labour from the body of the workmen.
In other words the workmen should receive wages

Which assure them adequate support, and when
they cease work, becoming feeble and helpless,
they should receive from the owner of the factory
a sufficient pension. The wages should be enough
to satisfy the workmen with the amount they
receive, so that they may be able to put a little
agside for days of want and helplessness."
" When matters are thus fixed, the owner of a
factory will no longer put aside daily a treasure
which he has absolutely no need of; and, the work-
men and artisans will no longer be in the greatest
misery and want, and will not be subjected to the
greatest privations at the end of their life."

46
D

Without taking into, consideration -that the
fortune is disproportionate, the capitalist succumbs
under formidable burdenst and gets - into the
greatest diffl6ulties and troubles; the administra-
tion of an excessive fortune is very difficult and
exhausts man's strength.")
" It is then clear and evident that the repartition
of excessive fortunes amongst a small number of
individuals, while the masses are in misery is an
iniquity and an injustice. In the same way abso-
lute equality would be an obstacle to life, to wel-
fare, to order, and to the peace of humanity. In
such a question a just medium is preferable. It
lies in the capitalists being moderate in the ac-
quisition of their profits, and in their having a
consideration for the poor and needy; that is to
say, the workmen and artisans -should receive ag
fixed and established daily -wage, and have a share
in the general profits of the factory."
" It would be well,with regard to the social
rights of manufacturers, workmen and artisans,
that laws be established, giving moderate profits to
manufacturers, and to workme n the necessary
means of existence and security for the future.
Thus, when they become feeble and cease working,
get old and helpless, and die leaving children under
age, these children will not be annihilated by excess
of poverty. And it is from the income of the
factory itself, to which they have a right to derive
the means of existence."
" In the same way, the workmen should no

46
longer rebel and revolt, nor demand beyond thei
rights r
they should no longe go out on strike, the
should be obedient and submissive, and not ask fo
impossible wages. But the mutual rights of bot]
associated parties will be fixed and establishe
according to custom by just and impartial laws. Ii
case one Of the two parties should transgress, thE
courts of justice would have to give judgment and
by an efficacious fine put an end to the transgres-

sion; thus order will be re-established, and the diffi-
culties settled. The interference of courts of justice
and of the Government in difficulties pending be-
tween manufacturers and workmen is legal, for the
reason that current affairs between workmen and

manufacturers cannot be compared with ' ordinary

affairs between private persons, which do not con-
cern the public, and with which the -Government
should not occupy itself. In reality, although they
appear to be matters between private persons,
these difficulties between e ' mployers and workmen
produce general detriment: for commerce, -in-
dustry, agriculture and general affairs of the
country are all intimately linked together. if
one of these suffers an abuse, the detriment affects
the mass. Thus the difficulties between workmen
and manufacturers become a cause of general
detriment. "
"The Court of Justice and the Government have
therefore the right of interference. When a diffi-
culty occurs between two individuals with refer-
ence to private rights, it is necessary for a third to

settle the question; this is the part of the Govern-
ment; then the question of strikes-which causes
trouble to. the country and is often connected
with the excessive vexations of -the workmen, as
well as with the rapacity of manufacturers-how
could it remain neglected? "

" Good God! Is it possible, that seeing one -of
his fellow creatures starving, destitute of every-
thing, a man can rest and Eve comfortably in his
luxurious mansion? He who meets another in
the greatest misery, can he enjoy his fortune?
Therefore, in the Religion of God, it is prescribed
and established 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 mirituality, 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 aboave discourse 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-Bahd, by

48
Laura Clifford Barney. - It is contained in t4
American edition of 1918.9 but since industrial
troubles are world-wide, it ts given here for the
benefit of those who might not otherwise know of'
the- Solution portrayed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá', the
Servant of God.

THE -BEWARE TABLET.

HE Friends of God and Handmaidens of
the Merciful must render service to the
Oneness of the Human world, and
show love and aTmity to all the children of men.
They must deal with the utmost devotion, good-
will, love, and kindness, towards all Humanity."
His Highness, BahAVIIAh, addressing the
World says:
" Ye are all the leaves of One Tree, the fruits of
One Branch." Therefore the law of relationship,
brotherhood, kinship, fatherhood and motherhood,
is established and proven amongst all the families
of the Human Race.
tndeavour Ye, with all your heart and soul, so
that you may live and act in accordance with the
Teachings of Bahh'u'llhh.'
To become a shelter and an asylum to every
oppressed one;
To assist and uplift every vanquished one;
To be a skilled physician to every sick one;
To bestow a swift healing antidote to every
wounded one;
To inspire with confidence every fearful one;
To grant tranquillity and composure to every
agitated one;
To gladden the heart of every depressed one;

50
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;
And to be charitable to all the poor.
Beware! Beware! Lest ye offend any heart!
Beware! Beware! Lest ye hurt any soul!
Beware! Beware! Lest ye deal unkindly to-
ward any person!
Beware! Beware! Lest ye be the cause of
hopelessness to any creature!
Should any soul become the cause of grief to any
one heart.3a or of despondency to any one soul, it
were better for him to hide himself in the lowest
strata of the Earth, than to walk upon the Earth.
Should any so ul desire the abasement of his Kind,
undoubtedly nonentity were better for him: his
nonexistence better than his existence, and his
death better than his life."
" Therefore my advice to you is: Endeavour as
much as you can to show kindness to all men, to

deal with perfect love, affection and devotion with
all the individuals of Humanity. Remove from
amongst yourselves, racial, patriotic, religious,
sectional, political, commercial, industrial, and
agricultural prejudices ; so that ye may become
the founders of the structures of the Oneness of
Humanity. All countries are One country; all
nations are the children of One Father. The
struggle for existence among the ferocious wolves
has become the cause of all these differences, and

strifes; otherwise the expanse of the 'World is
spacious, and the Table of the Bounties of the
Almighty is spread'in all regions."

Upon Ye, be Bahá El Abha!

(Signed) 'ABDU'L-BAuk ABB.As.

One can scarcely read this Tablet of BahA'u'-
RAh with concentrated attention without being
Conscious hthat the Voice of God is calling, or
without experiencing a baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Some Bahá'ís have called it 11 The
Beware Tablet," not only for obvious reasons to
be found in the Tablet itself, but perhaps also
with an inner knowledge of the necessity of
exercising constantly that divine kindness to
which we have ever been called-by the Messengers
of God, in every Age.

To-day, that Call is again made clear by
Bahh'u'llAh, the Nightingale of Significances.
Divine kindness has been manifested by Him, and
has been exemplified in the life of 'Abdu'l-BahA,
the Greatest Branch.

When that kindness which blends the human
with the divine is manifested the world over,
from each to all, in accordance with the Divine
Exhortation, all will become conscious of the
presence of the living God, for we shall in each
other, see glimpses of God-likeness, face to face,

* Translated by Mirza Ahmad Soltrab, Washington, D.C.
Noy. 11, 1910.

52
and be assured of it, by evidences in the lives of
each other.
Then, indeed, will the Glory of God cover
the earth." Have not the Prophets, of every
Age proclaimed that " these things shall be ? "
God 's Will is good-will to all mankind, and
this knowledge should incline all to attune their
hearts to the countless melodies of the Divine
Message for To-day, and to recognize that the
Spirit of

THE LORD OF HOSTS

-has been manifested in accordance with the ful-

filment of Prophecy, and is calling all men to
unite under the Banner of Universal Harmony.

Divine kindness has been made manifest to the
world through Bahá'u'lláh and I Abdu'l-Bahá,
the Greatest Branch, even as in former Time,
it has - -been manifested by Jesus, the- Christ,
Whose teaching and the teaching of the Prophets
anticipated the appearance of Bahh'u'llah and
'Abdu'l-BahA in the world.

It remains for each and all -of us to manifest
good-will to each other by the power of the
Spirit which gives life to us all, in order that the
Kingdom of God may be realized on Earth.

THE UNIVERSALITY
OF ETERNAL TRUTH.

C','%w* OWARDS the end of His time on Earthl
Jesus clearly said there were 6 'other
things " which He had to say unto His
disciples, which then, they could hnot bear: but
that at a time when no man knoweth, " Another
would come in the Spirit of Truth, and guide them
into all Truth. " He also said when offering the
Cup at the Feast of His own Passover, " I will
not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until
that dhay when I drink it new with you in My
Father's Kingdom." (Matt., Chap. 26, ver. 29.)
Nearly 2,000 years have passed since those- words
were spoken with a meaning which covered the
Passing of the Son on the cross- of rejection, and
the coming ofh the Father?s Kingdom to establish
the Glory of God on Rarth.
Yet, free as we have believed ourselves to be,
Christians, in common with those of other Reli-
gions, have confined themselves to the habit of not
looking beyond the Teaching of the Founder of
their own Religion-as that Teaching relates to
individual salvation. This tendency, together
with the disposition to idolatry and place-seeking
rather than to obedience, creates a difficulty in
accepting further Revelation now, when in accord-

V
ance with the necessities of the Time it has become
due, and the inclination to dismiss Prophecy with
its broader scope as something belonging to the
realms of uncertainty, has hidden the all-embrac-
in'g Purpose of Religion from view.
So we may not forget, that Truth is indivisible.
We must know that it is the Spirit of Truth which
moves the Prophets and Saviours of the world to
deliver the IT iversal Messages of God. They
_1 n
always invite individual co-operation: therefore
Prophecy cannot be dismissed, for it is laden with
just and righteous Purpose for the whole of
Humanity.
The recognition of Divine Universal Principles
is necessary to the happiness of individuals and
Nations. This knowledge will incidentally
bridge that painful difference of opinion between
Christians of some dienominations concerning

whether they should take an interest in the right-
eous government of the world; for application ot
the principles of Righteousness to national and
international affairs will naturally make it easier
for every one to live up to their Religion. Where-
as unjust social relationship between individuals
or nations deprives many of hope, either in this
life or the life to come. Righteous Principles are
all-comprehending and will put party politics out
of court.
To-Day, the commanding Voice of God speaks
through BahA'u'lla, and we know it to be the
same 'Voice of Righteousness which has spoken

through all the Manifestations of God Who have
appeared under different Names: from Moses,
Abraham, Jesus, or Muhammad, who all saw afore-
time that Divine Event which has come to pass
through the travail of their -Soul-the rising of the
Sun of Righteousness in the world of Humanity
to make all men One-the establishing of the
Kingdom of God, on Earth.
Bahh'u'llih comes in the Spirit of the Father,
therefore aR we hold dear for the individual in the
Name of Jesus, He gives in overwhelming
measure. but His Teachings, fulfilling Prophecy,
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 PrincipleShof Righteousness, they
are easy to understand, and should readily find a
home in every heart.

56
UNIVERSAL

PRINCIPLES OF BAHA'U'LLAH.

HICH are Rays from the Sun of Right-
eousness now penetrating the mind of
Mankind, for they represent important
Measures of Justice, now over-due, and are essen-
tial to the establishing on Earth, -of
THE MOSTGREAT PEACE.

1. THE ONENESS OF MANKIND.

2. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF TRUTH.

3. THE ONENESS OF THE FOUNDATION OF ALL
RELIGIONS.

4. RELIGION MUST BE THE CAUSE OF UNITY.
5. RELIGION MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SCIENCE AND REASON.

6. EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
7. PREJUDICES OF ALL KINDS MUST BE FOR

GOTTEN.

8. UNIVERSAL PEACE.

9. UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.

10. SOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.

11. AN INTERNATIONALAUXILIARY LANGUAGE.

12. AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.

A list of BahA'i publications will be appended
for those interested in, further study of the Bahi'i
Faith, and in the Sacred Writings of Bahi'u'l-
lih and 'Abdii'l-Balik, seekers after Truth may
find that which is more precious than rubies, be-
cause it pertains to eternal life.
This is to be found through the Holy Books of
God's Revelation which have been given in the
past, is found in the present Revelation of Bahi-
'u'llAh, and will be found in as many more Revela-
tions as may be necessary to bring Mankind into
complete rapport with the Laws of God, which
pertain to general resurrection from the deadness
of trespasses and error.
The mines of wealth contained in God's Revela-
tions to Mankind are now opened up to us afresh,
and more than- they have ever been, through the
penetrating Sight of Bahh'u'llhh, who, seeing
their Inner Meaning to be One Harmonious Whole,
courteously invites us to investigate and consider
it for ourselves, that we may participate in His
Vision of Eternal Truth which the all-compre-
hending Generosity of our God has provided for
US. Clearly, He shows, we are the inheritors
of the Kingdom of Heaven. In Unity, we are
rich indeed, but by separations and divisions we
have made ourselves poor.
The InnerMeaning of God's Revelation is the
Cup of Oneness which BahA'u'llAh offers. And
those who accept it with understanding are im-
pelled to offer it to others; for the Friends of God

58
and Handmaidens of the Merciful are moved by
the power of the Spirit coming through
Bahh'u'llih~, (the same Christ Spirit which filled
Jesus) to spread the knowledge of the Oneness of
God and the Oneness of Mankind.

As Jesus, an earnest student of the -Scriptures,
recognising Himself in them was undoubtedly the
best exponent of them, in His Day, so Bahi'u'IlAh
in accepting Him, makes clear that the same Spirit
is evident in all the Manifestations of God-that
being one and the same Spirit, It proceeds from
the only Source of 'Majesty. So He delivers tog
us His Message , containing the greatest of all
Knowledge, the Knowledge of God. It is obvious
therefore, to those who see with the eye of the
Spirit, that BahA'u'llAh is the very Sunrise of
exposition.

He expounds God's Laws for to-day, in clear
and pristine purity, in order that His Covenant
with God amongst the Nations may be fulfilled-,
and that Heavenly Kingdom, which Jesus yearned
for, be established on Earth.
BahA'u'llAh, manifesting the Spirit of the Father,
left, in accordance with Prophecy, His own Be-
loved Son, 'Abdu'l-BahA, to be the Centre of His
Covenant amongst the Nations, to establish the
Kingdom of God on Earth. And by His hard and
loving labour of delight, 'Abdu'l-]3ahh has be-
queathed to the world wisdom and guidance, neces-
sary to protect the Cause of God from error.

In the lives, and through the Sacred Tablets and
Holy Writings of BahAVIIAh and 'Abdu'l-Bahk
the Spirit earnestly'says to all: " Come!" And
unless the world heeds this Divine Invitation, it
is inevitable that great calamities will overtake it.
Jesus was the clear exponent of the Sacred
Writings before Him, and it will be seen that
Bahh'u'lhih and 'Abdu'l-Bahi are clear exponents
of the Divine Scriptures given before their appear-
ance. Their own Sacred Writings are therefore
as precious as the records concerning- Jesus; for
they make His sayings perfectly plain-and fulfil
the promise of further Divine Guidance. Jesus
gave us a New Commandment. We have not
kept it very well. He was the Corner Stone,
which the builders of His Day refused. He
prayed for the Kingdom of God to come.
BahAVIIAh brings Laws and Principles of Gu-id-
ance, of universal importance-which are essential
to it. He, therefore, coming to proclaim the Glory
of God, is the Desire of Nations to-day, and God's
own Answer to the prayer of Jesus-" Thy King-
dom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth, as it is
in Heaven."

Statesmen of many lands are assembling, and
not knowing that He Who is the " Desire of
Nations " has come to declare Universal Princi-
ples which are the Will of God, they are acting
on behalf of the Nations in a way which has not
yet brought Peace.
60
They have made sincere attempts, but-without
the Guidance which comes from God, Man can ' not
bring Peace to the world. Ile has been trying
ever since the world began, and has miserably
failed.
It will be seen by all who consider them thatll~
the Principles of BahA'u'llhh contain the very
essence of Peace,: individual and universal. They
are absolutely without prejudice. No selfish in-
terest can be conserved when they are established.
And with these Pillars of uprightness and guiding
lines of construction-with Christ Jesus the magni,
ficent Corner Stone, the rich giftof our Generous
God-we can with perfect confidence proceed to
establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Bahh'u'llAh has Covenanted with God, for this.
Gathering up the desires and aspirations of the
-Heavenly Messengers Who have appeared before
Him, He has made His Covenant with sacrifice,

in order to establish the Most Great Peace.
Therefore, in this Day, a New Dispensation of
the Spirit of God has come to us through
BahAVIIAh, and leaves from the Tree of Life are
given for the Healing of suffering Nations.

A brief historic note will be given on another
page, indicative of the outline of this most thrilling
Event of all Time-the Coming of the Kingdom
of God on Earth. It will be seen that the BAb,
blessed be His Name, the Door! through which
Light came, bears the same relation to Bahh'u'llAh

61
a

as John the Baptist bore to the Coming of Jesus.
John, suffered martyrdom for that reason, and like-
wise martyrdom happened to the BAb. But every
calamity which has occurred in the history of the
BahA'i Cause, has proved to be a great blessing
fraught with benign consequence.
What, for instance, could have seemed a greater
misfortune to the English people, the French, the
German, the Italian, or those of any country, than
to have a Divine Revelation coming to the world
in a t0*11gue unknown to them 1 How much trouble
has arisen to Christians, because they have been
unable to read exactly what Jesus said in the langu-
age in which He spoke, or in which His sayings
were first recorded! It is not impossible that some
meanings have crept in which were not exactly
His. So great is the power of His Spirit however,
that it would have been-impos-sible for any recorder
to conceal It. It is recognisable by the simple
min:ded, and is something we can each know and
be sure of, in spite of difficulties. Yet, neverthe-
less, it would have been joyous to have been able
to read His meanings in the tongue in which He
spoke to His disciples, or even forh all the Nations
to be able to read them in one and the same
language. And indeed, we have the means for
this at hand. I-low true it is, that " there is
nothing which we may think or speak, which the
Spirit has not power to accomplish!"

62
1,

A UNIVERSAL
AUXILIARY LANGUAGE

T is written of men and nations that a
little child shall lead them.-Yes; - and
whether they manifest the spirit of the wolf,
or the bear, or the leopard, or the cow, or the young
lion or the lamb; they shall lie down together.
They shall n ' ot hurt or destroy in all my Holy
Mountain:
Forthe Earth shall be filled with the knowledge
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

And we know it is the word which the Lord
hath spoken, for it is coming to pass. Even at the
time when men repudiate simplicity for leader-
ship it is significant that this is so, for "although
the leaders of the people cause them to err, 91-

" the zeal of the Lord of Hosts doth accomplish
it..99

When BahA'u'llAh in the zenith of His Man-
hood, was confined with His companions in prison,
by despotic governments, and religious fanaticism,,
with the heavy chains of persecution around their
necks-for teaching in God's Name that the
" bonds of afiFection and Unity between the sons
of men should be strengthened; that diversity of
7eligions should cease, and difiFerences of race be
annulled; and proclaiming that fruitless strife and

ruinous wars should pass away-that all men should
live as brothers," and that the " most Great Peace
shall come," God was preparing a little child (who
listened at his mother's knee, in another part of
the world)-to do a mighty work in furthering one
of the Principles which the Divine Mind through
Bahh'u'llkh was promulgating as essential to usher
in, and secure, Universal Peace; That child after-
wards became Dr. Zamenof, who is now ienowned
for presenting to the world the International Auxi-
liary language, known as Esperanto.
Dr. Zamenof was born in 1859, at -Bielestock,
in Poland. The inhabitants there consisted of
four different elements: Russians, Poles, Ger-
mans, and Jews: all speaking different languages,
and living at enmity with each other. The young
boy was strongly impressed with the fact that an
alien language is a primary cause of international
hatred, and at an early age he pondered over the
strange difference between the creed his mother
taught him, " the brotherhood of man," and the
actual opposite of this, which he saw on all sides.
Child as he then was, he acutely sorrowed for the
world, and gradually became filled with an un-
faltering ambition to change,all this. From this
determination he never swerved, although of
course, he found as he grew up, that the boy's
idea of unlimited power was exaggerated. Never-
theless, while at school and at college, he still.
persevered in his endeavour to unite all men in a
common tongue . . . .

64
ot "In 1879, when he
was 19 ye 9 ars of age, the language was more or less
ready, and Zanienof and his colleagues celebrated
its birth in a college festival; but the author was
still too young to publish his work, and decided to
wait five or six years. While attending the univer-
sity he gave all his spare time in those most precious
years of youth to the study and perfection of his
invention. - After many disappointments, he suc-
ceeded in publishing it at his own cost, in 1887. "

" Thus we see Esperanto is the outcome of years
Of patient perseverance on the part of a man of
genius. Now, it can be learned at the cost of a
few hours pleasant study ring a period
. per week, du i
of six months. Of what national language can
this be said?"

How good- it is to have, in the face of such
apparently overwhelming difficulties, this practical
assurance that there is, as Shakespeare wrote, " A
Divinity which shapes our ends." And without
doubt many could point to other events, events
which have contributed to " The One far-off
Divine Event," of which Tennyson sang, and to
which " the whole Creation," has now moved:
For, even in the darkness of the night which the
world has, known, it has approached us so nearly as
to have taken place in our own.Day!
Now He, Bahh'u'llhh, the Desire of Nations, has
Come, of necessity bringing with Him Divine

(Margaret L. Jones. Esperanto Manual.")

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-
BahA, being set free from the bonds of oppression,
laboured throughout the world to promulgate those
Principles of salvation, and- decide, when we
have read, what we are going to do, now He has left
us, toward spreading a knowledge of them, and
what part we shall take in getting them establishedia
and what support and encouragement we shall give
to those who are bent on.this great Purpose?
We know we can do nothing of ourselves. It is,
as Bahh'u'llAh has taught us, " the gexecutive
Power of God's Spirit, which enables His servants
to perform His orders."

66
'ABDU'L.BAH)k IN PARIS.

DDRESSING the Paris Esperanto Group,
February 12th, 1913J. at a banquet given
in his honour at the Hotel Modern in that
city, after a brief introduction by M. Bourlet, the
President of the Paris Esperanto Society,
'Abdu'l-BahA said:
" One Pf the revealed Principles of the Universal
Religion is the establishing of a Universal
Language.
"In the material world of 'existence, human
undertakings are divided into two kinds~universal
and specific. The result of every, universal effort
is infinite, and the outcome of every specific effort
is finite.
In this age, those human problems which
create a general interest are universal; their results
are likewise universal, for humanity has become
illiterdependerit. The international laws of to-day
are of vast importance since international politics
are bringing nations nearer to one another. It is
a general axiorn that in the world of human endea-
vour, every universal affair commands attention
and its results and benefits are limitless. There-
fore let wlis 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

this banquet hall through thhe invention of man.
In like manner the, activities which endeavour to
establish solidarity between nations and to infuse
the spirit of universalism in the hearts of the chil-
dren of menare like unto divine rays from the Sun
of Reality, and the brightest ray is the coming of
the Universal Language. Its achievement is the
greatest virtue of the age, for such an instrument
will remove misunderstandings from amongst the
peoples of the earth and unite their hearts. This
medium will enable each individual member of the
human family to be informed of the scientific
accomplishments of all his fellow men.
" The basis of knowledge and the excellencies of
endeavour in this world are to teach and to be
taught. To acquire sciences and to, teach them in
turn depends upon language, and when the inter-
national auxiliary language becomes universal, it
is easily conceivable that the acquirement of know-
ledge and instruction will likewise become
universal.
" No doubt you are aware that in the past ages
a common language shared by various nations
created a spirit of solidarity amongst them. For
instance 1300 years ago, there were many diver-
gent nationalities in the Orient. There were
Copts in Egypt, Syrians in Syria, Assyrians and
Babylonians in Baghdad and Mesopotamia.
There existed among these peoples rank
hatred but as they were gradually brought nearer
through common protection and common interests,

.68
the Arabic language grew to be the means of
inter-commumeation, and they became as one
nation. They all speak the Arabic language to
-this day. In Syria if you ask any one of them he
Will say., ' I am an Arab,' though in reality he-
is not. Some are Greeks, others Jews, etc. We
gsay., ' This man is a German, the other an Italian,
a Frenchman, an Englishman, etc. All. belong
to the great human family, yet language is a barrier
between them. The greatest working basis for
bringing about Unity and Harmony amongst the
nations is the teaching of a universal tongue.
Writing on this subject, 50 (now 60) years ago,
Ms Holiness Bahh'u'llAh said that complete union
between the various sections of the world would be
an unrealis-ed dream as long as an international
language was not established."
11 Misunderstandings keep people from mutual

association and these misunderstandings will not
be dispelled except through the medium of a
common ground of communication. Every intel-
ligent man will bear testimony to this."
" The people of the Orient are not fully in-
formed of the events in the West, and the West
cannot put itself into sympathetic touch with the
East. Their thoughts are enclosed in a casket.
The Universal language will be the key to open it.
Western books will be~ translated into that
language and the people of the East will be in-
formed of the contents : likewise Eastern lore will
become the property of the West. Thus also will

6 9

-1-e -

those misunderstandings which exist between the
different Religions be, dispersed. Religious preju-
dices. play havoc among the peoples and bring
about warfare and strife, and it is impossible to
remove.them. without a language in common."
"I am an Oriental and on this account I am shut
out from your thoughts and you likewise from
mine. A mutual language will become the
mightiest means of universal progress towards the
union of East and West. It %viH make the earth
one home, and become the divine impulse for
human advancement. It will upraise the Standard
of Oneness of the world of Humanity and make
the earth a universal commonwealth. It will be
the cause of love between the children of men and
create good fellowship between the various creeds."
Praise be to God that Dr. Zamenof has con-
structed the Esperanto language. It has all the
potential qualities of universal adoption. - All of
us must be grateful to him that in his noble efforts
in this matter he has served his fellow men well.
He has constructed a language which will confer
divine benefits on all peoples. With untiring
effort and self-sacrifice on the part of its devotees-
it gives promise of universal acceptance.
" Therefore every one of us should study this
language and make every effort to spread it, so,
that each day it may receive a wider recognition,
be accepted by all nations and Governments of the
world, and become a part of the curriculum in all
the public schools. I hope that the business of

70
the future conferences and congresses will be car-
ried on in Esperanto. In the future two languages
will be taught in the schools, one the native tongue,
and . the other the International Auxiliary
Language.
"Consider to-day how difficult is human commu.-
nication. One may study fifty languages and yet
travel through a country and be at a loss. I
myself know several of the Oriental languages
but know no Western tongue. Had this Univer-
sal language pervaded the globe, I should have
studied it, and you -would have been directly in-
formed of my thoughts,g and I of yours, and a
special friendship would have been established
between us.
" Please send some Teachers to Persia, if you

can, so that they may teach Esperanto to the young
people. I have written asking some of them to
come here to study it.
"I hope that it will be promulgated very rapidly,
then the world of humanity will find peace. All
the nations will associate with each other like
mothers and sisters, fathers and brothers, and
each member of the body politic will be fully in-
formed ofi the thoughts of all.
"I am extremely grateful to you, and thank you
for these lofty efforts, for you have gathered at
ithis banquet to further this language. Your hope
is to render a mighty service to Humanity and for
this great aim, I congratulate you from the bottom
of my heart."
I

THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS.

WORLD made up of contending factions
is a world diseased and suffering; because,
it a -house divided against itself cannot
stand." Physically, this round globe is " One
Rome " 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 BahA'
U'Uhh, which come as God's gift To-day for the
Healing of ihe Nations, and we are all aware of
the unrest in the world, and of the need for re-con-
struction, even in our own 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,
welcome with a "loud voice," and with "glad
hosannas," Him Who comes, in the Name of God,
to tell us that in this Day, "Prejudices of all kinds
must be forgotten."
When we hear that whole nations are from time
to time well nigh massacred, or occasionally some
150 villacres demolished," because of prejudices
in

72
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of one kind or another, we clearly see that nothing
short of the abolition of prejudices could remedy
such unhappy conditions; conditions which -were
more familiar to BahAVIIAh., and others who live
in the East, than they are to us, to whom they
only become known through those who have
travelled and sojourned in those regions. Let us
take note of some of the differences Which tend
to perpetuate them, bearing in mind while we do
so that " Order is Heaven's first law."
" A striking instance of the confusion arising
from conflicting chronologies and modes of reckon-
ing time appcars on the previous page. ltgis the
replica of a leaf taken in 1911 -from an ordinary
tear off " calendar in every-dayguse in business
houses at Constantinople."
" A glance will suffice to show that it is not the
simple affair to which we are accustomed at home;
but a closer examination reveals complexities to
which the six languages in ~vhich it is printed are
but the threshold. "
"At the top of the page we are living in the year
1329 ; half-way down in 1911 ; and at the foot in
5671. This bewildering anachronism is followed
by another. In the section printed in French it
is the 20th of April, and in the Greek section on
the left it is the 7th, for the Greeks adhere to the
Old Style. The narrow strip across the middle
of the leaf is Bulgarian. Turning to the Turkish
section at the top, the confusion increases, for
on the left hand we find that the month is Nisan.,

74
and the large figure below tells us it is the 7th.
The right section gives the name of the month as
Rebi-ul-Akir, and the date as the 21st. These
indicate respectively the official year and the
ordinary Moammadan year. We also learn that
the month of Nisan has 30 days, and Rebi-ul-Akir
29. The small characters beneath the large 21 tell
us that it is the 164th day of Kassim. This is the
reckoning of the Turkish peasant, who knows
nothing of months. The year for him has two
divisions, Kassim, which begins on the 8th of
November, and Hidrelis, on the 8th of May. The
Hebrew characters at the foot of the page inform
us that it is Thursday 22 Nisan 5671. Thus our
indicator has four- dates for the year, four names
for the month, and six numberings of the day for
this particular Thursday. But we have not pene-
trated all its mysteries. In the French section

we meet with the startling assertion that noon is
11 minutes past 5 to the Turks, and that 12 o'clock
Turkish time is 49 minutes past 6 with us. This
is accounted for by the fact that the Turkish day
begins at sunset, and is divided, like ours, into
two periods of 12 hours each. Hence on the 30th
of June, noon and midnight are 24 minutes past
4, whilst on the loth of December they are 29
minutes past 7."
" All this may look like an ingenious puzzle, but
it is a serious necessity to the man of business. In
transactions with the Government on this parti-
cular Thursday, 20th of Apffl, 1911, he has to be

careful that documents were dated 7th of Nisan-9--_
1327. In those with a Turkish merchant, a bill
of --exchange'or cheque had to be dated 21st Rebi-
ul-Akir, 1329. In buying produce from a farmer
his receipt or -order was 164th Kassim. In deal-
ings with-a Greek firm it was important to remem-
ber that it was the 7th, gnot the 21st, whilst in
making an appointment with a Turk for I o'clock
in the afternoon it was necessary to write I I
minutes past 6. As the time of sunset varies every
day, clocks and watches must be altered constantly.
Some people carry two watches, one marking
European, the other Turkish time; but many use
one watch with two dials.
" We have not exhausted the information con-
tained in the leaflet. For the Greeks the day is
Great Thursday (Megale' Pempte'), for the
Armeniansg it is the Annunciation of the Holy
Mother of Jesus (Avedis Soorp Asvadzazin), and
the Washing of the disciples' feet (Vadnaluvacen).
Therefore, the man of business must remember
that Greek and Armenian establishments are
closed. "
" There are newspapers at Constantinople in
Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Arabic, and Persian.
One constantly hears in the streets Skipetar and
Vlach, the former the speech of the Albanians, the
latter of the Wailachians. The babel is increased
by various European tongues, with an occasional
dash of Kurdish or Georgian. Among the news-
papers is one in Hebrew characters, not in Hebrew,

i -
bu
'-t' udveo-Spanish. This is, perhaps, the acme of
Ingu
al confusion."
if we who know and speak only one tongue do
not always understand each other, we may well
believe that the suspicions Pnd hatreds and mur-
derous outbreaks we read of from time to time
must, in a- great measure, be due to misunderstand-
ings consequent on such confusion; and not alto-
gether because the hearts of those who live in those
regions are less human than our own, as we have
been prone to believe.
What, then, is the Divine Remedy? We have
seen, from a perusal of the Principles of Bahi'u'-
IlAh, that a Universal Auxiliary Language is part

.of it. And a mere glance; at the leaf of this
calendar would make it impossible for anyone to
i nore such merciful remedy. How could- a
9
Universal Teacher be under-stood without it? Only
with great difficulty. Some would die before they
knew Him, for it takes devoted men of learning
and enthusiasm to translate a Message into every
tongue. The Message of Bahh'u'llAh inspires
many to undertake this difficult service. Other-
wise we should not be able to read of it in English.
The conditions of the world and the Time in
which we live undoubtedly require a Universal
Auxiliary Language. And, equally, the appli-
cation of a77 the Principles of BahA'u'llhh is essen-
tial for the Healing of the Nations.
As already remarked, there could be no

(See " Turkey and the Turks," by Z. Duckett Ferriman. 1911
Mills & Boon).

77
F

greater trial to those who are earnestly waiting for
a Divine Message whatever language they speak,.
or to whatever country they belong, than for it to
be given in a tongue unknown to them. Yet so it
is; for the Heavenly Fragrances from the Ridva'n
(Garden of Paradise) find Utterance in this Day,
in the rich and melodious languages of Persia and
Arabia.
This seems strange at first, yet the Wisdom
-of it clearly coincides with the Divine Purpose. It
will test the- sincerity of seekers after Truth, serve
to abolish prejudice, and incline all to a Universal
tongue more quickly and more easily learned, and
remain a Sacred Treasury for all time, which em-
brawees and is complementary to earlier Sacred
Utterances.
*The BahA'i Teachings advocate the adoption of
a -universal calendar- in which the--year is divided
into 19 months of 19 days each, with 4 or 5 " inter-
calary " days between the 18th and 19th months,
the New Year commencing at the Vernal Equinox,
and the years being numbered from the, date of the
Proclamation of the BAb in A.D. 1844.
'Abdu'l-BahA interpreted the 1,335 days
spoken of at the end of the Book of Daniel as
meaning 1,335 solar years after the Hegira, i.e.,
A.D. 1957. And said:
" By that time the BahA'i Teachings will be
Universally spread; a Universal Language
.-dopted
And the MOST GREAT PEACE inaugurated."
Given through Dr. Rsslernont on his visit to Acca,
Jan.-Feb., 1920.
78
_t

'ABDU'L.BAHA IN LONDON
AT THE CITY TEMPLE.

After enduring, in company with His Father
Bahá"u'llhh, persecution, confinement, and Exile,
under the Persian and Turkish Governments for a
period of forty years, when the Turkish Constitu-
tion was formed-'Abdu'l-Bahh,, being regarded as
a political prisoner-was set free.
In 1911 He visited England, coming first to
London, where He addressed large audiences of
different denominations through His interpreters.
He afterwards visited Paris, Stuttgart, Switzer-
land, and Buda-Pest.
" On September I ith, the first Sunday after His

arrival in - England, He spoke from the City
Temple pulpit to the evening congregation -at the
special desire of the Pastor, the Rev. R. J.
Campbell.
Though 'Abdu'l-BahA's coming had not been
advertised, the Church was filled ~to its utmost
capacity. Few who were there will ever forget
the sight of that venerable figure clad in His
Eastern garb, ascending the pulpit stairs to address
a public gathering for the first time in His life.
T'hat this should be a Christian place of worship
in the West has its deep significance.
I " Mr. Campbell introduced the visitor with a
few simple words, in the course of which he said:
" We as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Who is to us, and will always be, the Light of the
World, view with sympathy and respect every
movement of the Spirit of God in the experience
of mankind,- and therefore we give greeting to
'Abdu'l-BahA in the name of all who share the
Spirit of our Master and are trying to live their
lives in that Spirit.
" The Bahi'i Movement is very closely akin to,
I think I might say identical with, the spirituat
purpose of Christianity."
" 'Abdu'I'BahA said:
" 0 Noble Friends, seekers after God! Praise
be to God! To-day the Light of Truth is shining
upon the world in its abundance. The breezes of
the Heavenly Garden are blowing throughout all
regions. The Call of the Kingdom is heard in all
lands, and the breath of the Holy Spirit is felt in
all hearts that are faithful. The Spirit of God is
giving Eternal Life. In this wonderful Age, the
East is enlightened, the West is fragrant, and
everywhere the soul inhales the holy perfume.
" The Sea of the Unity of Mankind is lifting up
its waves with joy, for there is real communication
between the hearts and ininds of men. The
Banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men
see it, and are assured with the knowledge that
this is a New Day. . . .
" In the days of old an instinct for warfare was
developed in the struggle with wild animals. This
is no longer necessary. Nay, rather co-operation
and mutual understanding are seen to produce the
so
a

greatest welfare of Mankind. Enmity is nogw the
result of prejudice only.
" In the 'Hidden Words,' BahA'u'llhh --says:
Justice is- to be loved above all.' Praise be to
God, in this country the Standard of Justice 'has
been raised. A great effort is being made to give
all souls a true place. This is the desire of all
noble natures. This is to-day the Teaching for
the East and for the West. Therefore the East
and the West will understand and reverence each
other, and embrace like long parted friends who
have found each other.
There is One God. Mankind is One. Let us
worship Him, and give praise for all His great
Prophets and Messengers, who -have manifested
His brightness and glory."

" INSCRIPTION IN THE OLD BIBLE."

WRITTEN BY 'ABDU'L-BAHA IN PERSIAN.

This is the Holy -Book of God, of Celestial in-
spiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the noble
Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and
its Light. It is the Divine Bounty. The sign
of the Guidance of God."
'ABDU'L-B.A,HA ABBAS.
C' 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London," pp. 3-5.)

'ABDU'L.BAHA
AT ST. JOHN'S, WESTMINSTER.

" On September the 17th,, 'Abdu'l-Bahk at the
request of the Venerable Archdeacon of West-
minster addressed the congregation of . St. John
the Divine after the evening Service.
it With a few warm words characteristic of his
whole attitude Archdeacon Wilberforce intro-
duced the revered Messenger from the East, who
had crossed seas and,countries on His Mission of
Peaceg and Unity for which He had suffered forty
years of captivity and persecution.
" The Archdeacon had the Bishop's chair placed
for his Guest on the Chancel steps, and standing
beside Him read the translation of 'Abdu'l-BahA's
address himself.
" 'AbduTBahA said:
" 0 Noble Friends! -0 Seekers after the King-
dom of God! Man all over the world is seeking
for God. All that exists is God: bui the Reality
of Divinity is Holy above all understanding.
" The pictures of divinity which come to our
mind are the product of our fancy; they exist in
the realm of our imagination. 71ey are not ade-
quate to the Truth. Truth in its essence cannot
be put into words.
" Divinity cannot be comprehended because it is
comprehending.
" Man, who has also a real existence, is compre-
hended by God: therefore the Divinity which man

82
can understand is partial. It is -not complete.
Divinity is actual Truth and Real existence, and
not any representation of it. Divinity it-sOf con-
tains all, and is not contained.
Although the mineral, vegetable- animal and
man all have actual being, yet the mineral has no
knowledge of the vegetable. It cannot apprehend
it. It cannot imagine or understand it.
" It is the same with the vegetable. Any pro-
gress it may make, however highly it may become
developed,5 it will never apprehend the animal nor
understand it.
" It is the same with the animal. However
much it may progress in its own kingdom, how-
ever refined its feelings may become, it will have
no real notion of the world of man or of his special

intellectual faculties.
" The animal cannot understand the roundness
of the earth, nor its motion in space, nor the cen-
tral position of the sun, nor the power of electri-
city; nor can it imagine such a thing as the all-
pervading ether."
" Although the mineral, vegetable, animal, and
man himself are actual beings, the difference be-
tween -their Kingdoms prevents members of the
lower degree from comprehending the essence and
nature of those of superior degree. This being so,
how can the temporal and phenomenal compre-
hend the Lord of Hosts ?
" It is clear that this is impossible!
" But the essence of Divinity, the Sun of Truth-,

shines forth upon all horizons and is spreading its
rays upon all things. Each creature is the re-
cipient of some pokionof that power, and man,
who contains the perfection of the n-tineral, the
vegetable, and the animal, as well as his own dis-
tinctive qualities, has become the noblest of created
beings. It stands written that he is made in the
image of God. Mysteries that were hidden he
discovers. And secrets that-were concealed he
brings into the light. By Science and by Art he
brings hidden powers into the region of tiie visible
world. Man perceives the hidden law in created
things and co-operates 'With it.
1 4; 4; Lastly, the perfect man, the Prophet, is one
who is transflgured, one who has the purity and
clearness -of a perfect mirror-one who reflects the
Sun of Truth. Of such a one-of such a Prophet
and Messenger-we can say that the Light of
Divinity with the heavenly perfections dwells in
him.
" If we claim that the Sun is seen in the mirror,
we do not mean that the Sun itself has descended
from the holy heights of his heaven and entered
into the mirror! This is impossible.
" The Divine, Nature is seen in the -Manifesta-
tions and its Light and Splendour are visible in
extreme glory.
" Therefore men have always been taught by
the Prophets of God. The Prophets of God are
the Mediators of God. All the Holy Prophets
and Messengers have come from one Holy Spirit

84
and bear the Message of God, fitted to the Age in
which they appear. The One Light is in them
all, and they are One with each other. I But the
Eternal does not become phenomenal: neither can
the phenomenal become Eternal.
" Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said: 'We all
with open face, beholding as in a mirror the glory
of God, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, as by the spirit of the Lord.' "

PRAYER.

0 God the Forgiver! 0 Heavenly Educa-
tor! This assembly is adomed with the mention
of Thy Holy Name. Thy children turn their face
towards Thy Heavenly Kingdom, hearts are made
happy, and -souls are comforted.
Merciful God! Cause us to repent of our

shortcomings! Accept us in Thy Heavenly King-
dom and give unto us an abode where there shall
be no error. Give us Peace. Give us Know-
ledge. And open unto us the gates of Thy
Heaven.
" Thou art the Giver of all! Thou art the
Forgiver! Thou art the Merciful. Amen."
"'The congregation was profoundly moved, and
fbllowing the Archdeacon's example knelt to re-
ceive the Blessing of the Servant of God-Who
stood with extended arms-His wonderful voice
rising and falling in the silence with the power of
His invocation.

As the Archdeacon said: 'Truly the Bast
and the West have met in this sacred place to-
night., The li~mn '0 God our help in-Ages
past I was sung by the g entire, congregation stand-
ing, as 'Abdu'l-Bahh and the Archdeacon pa I ssed
down the aisle to the vestry hand in hand. - -
" Outside the Church, Salvationists were hold-
ing their Meeting and 'Abdu'l-Bahk was deeply
impressed and touched at the sight of the menia
women and children, gathered together in the
night, at the street comer praying and singing."

('Abdu'1-Bahd in London.)

86
ERPOOL.
_6ABDUT-BAHA IN LIV

the United States
In 1912 'Abdull-Bahi toured
of America, addressing assemblies Of every Reli-
gious denomination, Ethical Societies, Socialists,
and Agnostics. And after that most successful
tour, meeting with welcome everywhere, on amv-
ing in Liverpool, found also, in that city, assem-
blies awaiting Him, eager to give ear to the mes-
sage of Peace He had to deliver to the world.
Engagements in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, and
elsewhere, made it impossible for Him to stay long
in Liverpool. He addressed the Theosophists
there, and also the Baptists at Pembroke Chapel.
On Sunday evening,, December i5th, 1912, after
being introduced by the Minister, Rev.
Donald B. Fraser, he made courteous reply,
saying how delighted he was to meet such
a large congregation,, in a Church so re-
Downed for its high social endeavour, and faith
in God. Many had arrived from surrounding dis-
tricts and Manchester, long before the gates were
.opened. On that happy occasion, speaking in
Persian, Ahmad Sohrab interpreting,
'Abdu'l-Bahh said -
" The greatest prize this world holds is the con-
sumination of the Oneness of Humanity. All are
the children of God. God is the Creator, the Pro-

vider, the Protector of all. He educates all of us,
and is compassionate towards men. His grace en-
compasses all Mankinid. The Sun of God, shines
upon all Mankind. The rain of God falis for all.
The gentle breeze of God wafts for all. Hum anity
at large is- sitting around the Divine Table of the
Almighty. Why should we engage in strife?
Why should we ever engage on the battlefield to
kill each other? God is kind is He not? Why
should we be unkind? What is the reason? How
,are we benefited by being unkind? To-day, the
chief means of dissension amongst the Nations is
Religion; while in Reality, the Religion of God,
is One. Differences lie in 'blind imitations which
have crept into Religion after its foundation. Reli-
gion is Reality, and Reality is One. It does not
permit of multiplicity. His Holiness Abraham
was the Herald of Reality. His Holiness Moses
was the Spreader of Reality. His Holiness Jesus
was the Founder of Reality. His Holiness
Muhammad was the Spreader and Promulgator of
Reality. The Reality of Religion, is One. Funda-
mentally there is no difference. The Reality of
Religion consists in the Love of God, in the Faith
of God, in the virtue of Humanity, and in the
means of communication between the hearts of
men. The Reality of Religion is the Oneness of
the Whole of Humanity.
" What is the Wisdom of Religion may we ask?
There is no doubt whatever that the Wisdom of
Religion is love and amity amongst the people;
_4

that it establishes fellowship between the various
organizations of man. The Religion of God is for
Peace not for War. Why should we ever make it
a cause of separation and alienation?'It is a remedy
to bestow health and recovery. Why should we
nd sickness
ever make it a cause of disease a
We are all the children of God, all are His--ser-
vants. The glances of His Mercy, encircle us all.
He has bestowed Religion that it may be the
means of bringing together the various members
of His Family. Yet in the Orient such a means
of illumination has become the cause of rancour
between the people of various Religions. They
-shed the blood of one- another. They pillaged each

other's property, they sacrificed each other's chil-
dren. There was great commotion and constant

warfare going on. Darkness had encircled the
Radiance of Religion. The Horizon of- Reality was

bidden by clouds of imitations and dogmas, and no
rays of the Sun could penetrate these clouds."
" At such a time His Holiness BahA'u'llhh
appeared in Persia. He summoned the people of
various Religions to love and friendship. At this
time in Persia, the Jews, the Christians, the Mus-
lims, the Zoroastrians, the Buddhists, all of con-
tending Religions, were ever fighting each othei.
Having heard the words of Bahh'u'llhh, many are
now living in the utmost unitv. What harm can
accrue if such amity becomes permanent through-
out the eivilised and uncivilised world?
" Bahh'u'llAh declared International Peace. In

Persia, many years ago, He declared Internationa.
Peace, amongst Religions and Nations, and be-
tween the Races of every clime. With -the greatest
power and penetration did He arise to spread prin-
ciples of Peace. For this, He was thrown into
prison, and suffered great hardships. His proper-
ties were pillaged. His friends were martyred.
More than, 20,000 souls sacrificed their lives, so that
the Oneness -of the World of Humanity might be
realized.
All His life Bahh'u'llih endured great calami-
ties and hardships. Often He was in chains.
Sometimes He was living in Exile. Often He was
incarcerated in barracks. Notwithstanding these
stumbling blocks, ever He strove, ever He worked,
so that He became able to establish amity among
the people of contending Religions. Religion
must become the cause of Love. If it becomes
the cause of enmity, what use is there for it?
Religion must become the cause of prosperity.
Alas 1 A thousand times -alas! that it should have
become the cause of rancour! Consider, ignorance
has reached such a degree of folly, that it is the
duty of Humanity to investigate Reality. No one
must be satisfied -with mere traditions. Traditions
differ, and cause misunderstandings to~ remain.
These misunderstandings have created direful
eonditions. "

90
I
'ABDU'L.BAHA TO THE JEWS.

ONTINUING, at Pembroke Chapel,
'Abdu'l-Bahh said:
I I While in America I spoke in a Taber-
nacle of the Jews, 1. sai d in that Synagogue, that
the misunderstandings which exist between the.
Jews and Christians have been the cause of their
separation and their hatred of each other. If the
Israelite investigates Reality there is no doubt that
he will come to the conclusion that he must associ-
ate with, and love his brother Christian. Hatred
must not linger any longer because the Jews to-day
imagine, and in former times imagined, that Christ
was the opposer, or enemy of Moses, that His Holi-
ness Christ was against Moses. To the Jews,
I further said: You think Chhrist destroyed the
foundation of Moses; but let us be fair, let us be
just, and investigate Reality. The Cause of Moses,
the Religion of Moses, for 1,500 years was circum-

scribed within the boundary of Jerusalem. The
Bible was only found in that small locality. Other
parts of the world never heard the name of Moses.
Even the people of Persia never heard the name of
Moses. They had never seen the Book of Moses
until His Holiness Christ appeared. He raised
the Name of Moses. His Holiness Christ Pro-
mulgated the Old Testament throughout the
Orient and the Occident. During the Mosaic Dis-

-A

pensation, the Bible was only translated in to one
language. h'. But through'the blessing of Christian-
ity,- the Bible was trhnslated into many languages
-and 'spread throughout the world. Consider what
love - Christ had for Moses. His Holiness Christ
promulg a-ted the fundamental Principles of Moses.
The h, Ten Commandments He spread throughout
the -world. He made famous all the Israelitish-
Prophets. Were it not for the appearance of
Christ, -how -could the people of America ever have
heard the name of Moses? How could the Bible
have become a household Book? All these ser-
vices were rendered by Jesus Christ. Now let us
fin&out, after these statements, whether Christ
wa's the enemy of intoses,g or His best Friend? Be
just. His Holiness Christ was the spreader of the
Mosaic Movement. He spread the Old Testa-
ment. Notwithstanding this, you are thinking He
was the enemy of Moses. Why not abandon these
prejudices? The Christians believe that Moses
was the Prophet of God, that the Bible is the Book
of God, and that all the israelitish Prophets were
the mouthpieces of God. What harm would there
be, if you came out and said : ' Christ is the -Word
of God,' so that this dissension may cease? And
so that fellowship may be established eternally be-
tween the Jews and the Christians? If you just
say these words: ' Christ is the Word,' it will show
that you have investigated Reality, and dissension
will be left behind.
" When we are not investigating Reality there

92
is dissension between Religions. For instance, in
the Book of the Quran, His Holiness Mubammad
mentions the Name of His Holiness the Christ.
It is from the itext of the Quran, that Christ is
called the Word of God, the Spirit of God. It is
theg record of the Quran that Mary the mother of
Christ was living in the Holy of Holies, that she
had the fellowship of the Almighty, and that food
descended from Heaven for her. It is written in
the Quran that the Holy Spirit, addressing Mary,
said: ' Oh, Mary! be faithful to God, for He hath
created thee pure and sanctified, and hath made
thee superior over all the women of the world.
And again, it is written in the Quran that ' Christ
ascended into Heaven, and that He will again
return from Heaven.' Again, that ' Christ is

Pure, and Unique.' So most of the praises and
Commands of Christ are recorded in the Book
which is considered Sacred by 300 millions of
Muslims. Just think of the present misunder-
standing between these two Religions! The pre-
sence of misunderstanding has caused the warfare
of the last 1,300 years between Christians and Mus-
lims. Think of one Crusade which lasted 200
years! Yet Religious warfare continues!, There
are more than 260 million Muhammadans through-
out the world. You cannot destroy this colossal
number. Therefore if there is love and fellowship
among the Jews, the Christians, and the Muham-
madans, the Orient and the Occident will find the
greatest composure and Peace."
93
G

Referring to the Balkan War, 'Abdu'l-Bahi
said:
" God is- not pleased with.the horrible events
which have been transpiring in the Balkans. - They
are hated by Him. Every lover of Humanity is
dis pleased with them. g There, people are killing.
each other like so many wolves. They tear each
other to pieces. They shed each other's blood.
They kill each other's innocent children. Just
consider, the ferocious beasts do not treat their
kith- and kin like this. The wolf may tear to
pieces one animal, for food, which it does. But
wolves never tear each other in thousands! Are
men more ferocious than wolves? Are they not
more umjust than birds of prey? What are the
causes of all this strife? The Foundation of the
World of God, is Love. But Nations say, 'we
want to increase our dominions.'

" I will make one more statement, and close,
and I want your careful attention. What is this
land, this earth? Is 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. Is it praiseworthy that
we engage in warfare, shedding blood, destroying
houses, pillaging the wealth of Nations and killing
little children beneath the boofs of horses? Is it

94
worthy that we sacrifice eternal hfe, and the ever-
lasting soul of man, for the sake of a. little dust?
Justice. and Equity do n got permit it. g I hope that
you will strive with all Your might to ~ raise - the
Standard of the OnenE-~s of Humanity, and unfurl
the flag of International Peace, over all regions of
the earth.

Alas! since those words were spoken, we have
been engaged in the fiercest Warfare the world
has ever known-. Is Mankind to be subject to such,
folly for ever? Divine Wisdom has decreed
Ahrough BahA'u'llhh, that Religion must be -in
accord with Science and Reason. Therefore, since
individuals,, by Divine Wisdom, as we have seen,
can do great things, without Divine Guidanewe

they can go astray into actions of diabolical fool-
ishness and insanity.- It is necessary that merciful
guidance should protect humanity against insane
onslaughts. ' BahA'u'llAh brings to the World that
Merciful Guidance..

RELIGION IN ACCORD WITH

SCIENCE AND REASON.

0 %mPHERE is no opposition between Religion
and Science. They are the two wings
upon which man's Intelligence can soar
into the heights; with which 'the Human Soul can
progress. It is impossible to fly with one wing
alone."

If Religion were contraryg to logical h Reason
then it would cease to be a Religion and be merely
a tradition. "

. " There is no- contradiction between True Reli-
gion and Science. When Religion is opposed to
Science it becomes mere Superstition; that which
is contrargy to Knowledgeg is Ignorance." -

" How can a man believe to be a fact, that which
Science has proved to be impossible? If he be-
lieves in spite of his reason, it is rather superstition
than faith. The True Principles of all Religions
are in conformity with the teachings of Science."

" The Unity of God is logical, and this is not
antagonistic to the conclusions arrived at by scien-
tific study."

96
Religion has two main parts. The Spiritiz-a-1
and the Practical. The Spiritual - part never
changes. All the Manifestations of God and His
Prophets have taught the sdme Truth-andgiven
the same Spiritual Law. There is no division in
the Truth. The Sun of Truth-has sent forth many
rays to illumine Human Intelligence., The Light
is always the same."

We are familiar with the phrases - Light anl
Darkness', 'Religion and Science.' But the Reli-
gion which does not walk hand in hand with Science
is itself in the Darkness of Superstition and ignor-
ance. " ('Abdu'l-BahA in " Paris Talks.")

One of ihe charms of Creation is individuality.
Without it there could be no freedom, no unity,
and no life. Whatever theories, from time to-

time have been prevalent, concerning the origin.-
nature, shape, size, duration, or position of thii
planet, both -Religion- and Science have been
responsible for error concerning it: error due to
partial knowledge, sometimes, and sometimes to
an unkindly and dominating disposition.
It is, however, obvious to all of us, that the
World of Humanity is- made up of individuals.
Therefore individuals must have been in the Mind
of the Creator before they became visible to each
other. The fact that we are visible to each other,
should incline us to revere the Intelligence
of our Creator; the All-Wise, Bountiful, and
Supreme Intelligence.

it 'we do I not think A beautiful picture an acci-
dent, or -a consequence of blind nature, why
slid uld anyone presume to slippose, we ourselves,
are created without any special purpose or design?
Ile highest - ambition of artists, is to portray
truthfully what is visible'already-with such power,
that not only the outer view is portrayed-but the
inner meaning revealed. To whom the Glory?
From whence do they derive their capacity? - They
inherit it htruly, but do they, inherit it from flesh,
or from Spirit? Suppose we say both. It is even
then Spirit which gives the capacity to perse-
vere. The capacity for what the world calls genius
is inherited from the One Supreme Spiritual Power
we name God because the Manifestations of that
Power are Good.
We are assured by the Founder of Christianity,
Who is supported in that assurance by all the
Prophets and Messengers of God who heralded
Him, that the care of Our Heavenly Father is such,
that not one sparrow falls to the ground without
11is knowledge, and that His care for us is such,
that even the hairs of our head are numbered."
If He, Whom we all love and honour, could give
such assurance, we may reasonably question by
what authority, and at what point in the 'History
of Religion, did Christianity get so into the hands
of a dominating power, that in the past, indi-
viduals have been put to death and cruelly tor-
tured fWr exercising their reasoning faculties? Or,
because their exploring nature prompted them to

~9s
face the greatest dangers, and endure unspeakable
sufferings (even rejoicing in them when they have
been testimony to the Truth)-in order to dis-
cover more about this fascinating planet'- which a
bountiful Creator -has designed to. -be g a
Paradise for Mankind! Even atheists want
Paradise. Science and Reason bespeak -it.
Humanitarianism demands it. And we may be
sure the Creator likes to hear that demand. It is
in harmony with the assurance, and the Loving
Kindness of Jesus. And, before any branch of
human knbh%vledge bad become sufficiently mature
to echo the Truth of such possibility-the opening
Chapters of Genesis stated it. Truth is echoed
to-day, from all branches and fields of knowledge
to be One, to be reasonable, to be scientific, and
satisfaetory. Abraham called Mankind to recog-
nise, and worship the One True God. The first

point of view is the last. For the last was first.
It is the Eternal; the Divine; the Revealed Truth,

MX
Y Eternity is My Creation. I have created
It for thee. illy Oneness is illy Design, I have
Designed It for thee" says our Creator, through
His Messenger, BahA'u'llAh. (" Hidden Words.")

h One does not point to past errors and limitations
for the purpose of condemnation. We have all
erred; yet the Spirit of God beckons, and gives
us wings, beyond our human limitations. 46 1
came not into the world to condemn the world,

but that ye might have life, and have it more
a.bundantly; and to the end that he that believeth
on Me, (the Christ Spirit in Jesus) might have
life everlasting."

The Primal Word of the Almighty is some-
times called the water of Life, for it quickens the
dea h d souls in the desert of -ignorance with the
spring of intelligence." . . . " The seen and
the unseen fail to attam the measure of His Under-
standing. The world of being and whatever has
issued from it bears witness to this utterance. 9'

To-day, the best fruit of Science and Know-
ledge is that which benefits mankind and improveg
his condition."

" The pulse of the universe is in the hands of the
skilful Physician. He diagnoses the illness and
wisely prescribes the remedy. Every day has its
own secret and every tongue a melody. The ill-
ness of to-day has one cure and that of to-morrow
another. Look ye, upon This Day. Consider,
and discuss its needs. One sees that existence is
afflicted with innumerable diseases compelling it to
lie upon the bed of suffering. Men who are in-
toxicated -with the wine of self-contemplation pre
vent the wise Physician from reaching it. Thus
have they made the world and themselves to suffer.
They know not the ailment nor recognise the cure.
They take the wrong for the right, the crooked for
the straight, the enemy for the Friend."

100
I
",The Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth:
"A harsh word is like a sword, but gentle speech
is like unto 'Milk. - The children'of the world attain-
to betterment through this."
The Tongue of Wisdom says:
Whosoever possesses Me not, has nothing.h
Pass by whatever exists in this world and find Me.
I -am the Sun of Perception and the Ocean of
Science. I revive the withered ones and quicken
the dead. I am that Light which illumines the
Path of In-sight. I am the Falcon of the Al-
mighty. I bear healing in My wings and teach
the Knowledge of soaring to the Heaven of
Truth.
How often has proven the weakness of
human strength -and the -feebleness and impotence

,Df the material' and phenomenal against the
Heavenly power of His Prophets, a manifest sign
of His Chosen Ones, a clear standing light of His
Road and Pathway and an accurate standard
for recognising the proof and argument of His
Truth. The people of the world long resisted
it; but were finally dismayed; nations both of the
East and West wrestled with it, but were
overthrown.
This power was opposed, at the appearance of
Moses, by the Pharaohs; at the manifestation of
Christ, by the Jews and emperors; at the rise of
Muhammad by the Persian kings and Arabs. It
has also been opposed by false prophets, who have

* See "Tablet of BahA'VUah.- p. 161

101

attempted to found a religion without the permis-
sion of God; falsely and presumptuously, laying
claim to prophethood, as is'testified and recorded
in history. The histories of Mazdak, in the days
of King Ko'bad; of the Jew, 'Sad Dawlah; of Ar-
goon-Khan, the Mongol, in Persia; 'Ala'adin El
Khaledge, in India; and the French Philosophers
during the revolution of 1792, are all warnings and
admonitions to the prudent. These'philosophers,
-wise men, kings and g statesmen attempted,
through their great ingenuity and the abundance
of their science and learning, to institute a religion
-of simpler laws, regulations, doctrines and princi-
ples - within the range of average capacities and
minds, suitable to all tastes and conformable to
the time and circumstances. Conditions proved
favourable to their desires, and the g civil and mili-
tarv leaders submitted to their opinions and plans.
" But God frustrated their ideas, disappointed
their hopes, dispersed their congregations, and
showed the foHy of their imaginations, until their
,histories remain as warnings to men of honour and
as admonitions to people of discernment and
perception.
" For what reason have the doctors of Darwin-
ism taken the resemblance of some human bones
to those of ourang-outangs as a decisive proof of
the fact that mankind has descended from
apes? Why have they considered this evidence,
notwithstanding its shallowness and invalidity, as
being a final certificate that man has gained his

102
0- ,

ce of
growth, existence and heredity from the ra
ourang-outangs? They have regarded apes as their
ancestors-, but have not considered the Power,
which alone has conquered the world -and subdued
nations3a as being a proof of the fact that the Mani-
festations and Dawning-places of this Power have
been - Divine and heavenly personages. Could
the,habit of smoking, evinced by a single ourang-
outang, and its likeness in body to - some of the
African savages, prove its homogeneity with man-
kind? Apes differ widely from savages in numer-
ous thing , such as intelligencel comprehension Of
general subjects., capacity of attaining perfection.
etc. Shall all this be admitted as -proof. while
the subjugation of Pharaohs, domination of kings_

and tyrants by the rise of a single individuala With-
out assistance or encouragement of angy ruler, is
not considered evidence -that a man is assisted by
an Invisible, Divine Power?
-" Indeed, this is strange philosophy-amaz-
ing wisdom and discernment 1 I-low true is the
warning of the great Apostle Paul - ' B--ware,
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit.' ' The stability of the Word and con--
tinuance of a religion is the strongest end firmest
evidence as to the truth of a mission and the
founder of a Faith. . . .' This proof is named the
proof of continuance or stability; because the con-
tinuance of a religion and the stlability of the Word
establishes the truth of God, and is a testimony to
its reality. It is absurd to think of God as being

103

incapable -of annulling falsehood. He has not for-
gotten His promises to suppress false claimants.
. . . This is 'confirmed by Sacred Writings,
and preserved in the utterances of the Prophets."
In the light of history we may Judge,'though
it is not ours to condemn, because all are judged
by their deeds. So inasmuch as time has thrown
light upon past error-we may judge any matter,
with profit.
There is not the danger to-day, as in the past,
of inventive power, or the spirit of exploration,
being suppressed by Religion, or Science. Pre-
sent-day dangers are of a different kind. For-
such is the result of making a god of Freedom, that
what Mankind to-day requires at the hand of
Science and Religion is: that -all branches
of knowledge, and manifestations of inventiveh
power-shall be arrested from destructive, and
turned to. constructive uses. Humanity, whatever
its colour, whatever its theories concerning the
Government of the World,'should agree in this.
And not only agree passively, and record its vote
for it, but, since wrong direction ' is initiated by
individuals, so all individuals should accept the
-Divine invitation issued through Bahá"u'llAh to
become " stars of God's Omnipresence," and
watch, and pray, and act unitedly, with all their
might, in accordance with Divine Guidance-to
capture the scientific and inventive power on foot

* (See " Bahá"i Proofs." Abul Faz]. pp. 188, 189.)

104
to-day, to destroy Humanity-and demand I its ser-
vice : not in the interest of a few individuals who
claim large portions of this earth, and the natural,
wealth it contains, for their own special benefit-
and who try to silence complaint by doles of
charity; for that which God gave and designed for
all,-must be for the benefit of all. And Lo !
The means of obtaining it for all, God has also
provided in This,, Our Day! It is to be obtained
in an orderly way, through the friendliness ot
Nations, by means of an International Tribunal,
and the Parliament of Man. This was a Divine
Decree, issued through Bahá"u'llAh on behalf of
Humanity, before some of us were born. And
if the- Nations would turn to God for His Clear
Guidance given through His Messenger, instead
of arguing about which should have the biggest
Navy, or the chief right to heap a,.ip destructive

armaments (which competitive spirit itself in-
clines them to doubt the possibility of an effective
" League of Nations ")-they would find all argu-
ments silenced,, and come face to face with the
Divine Command, given to the World of
Humanity through BahAVIIAh over 60 years ago!
Why will the people turn aside from such protec-
tive care, and turn to mortal leaders, the blind
leaders of the blind!
In past days, when disputes concerning the
shape of the Earth were silenced, the whole world
was thrilled with wonder. It is good to
recount the fact that the matter was set-

105

I
k

tled beyond the realms of dispute, " by
the - circumnavigatipg spirit of three sailors,
Columbus, -Da Gama, and finally Magellan,
the latter being aided by an Expedition sent out
in -the commercial interests of Spain. After a
voyage of over a year, Magellan arrived at the
strait now bearing his name, and, it is related by
Pigafetti, an Italian who was with him, Magellan
wept for joy., when he found -it had pleased God
to bring him where he might grapple with the un-
known-dangeriof the South Sea, " The Great and
Pacific Ocean. "
44 Magellan was murdered, either by savages, or
by his own men, but, taking command of his ship,
his lieutenant, Sebastian d'Elanco, brought it, the
~gan Vittoria, after a voyage of over three years, to
anchor in the port of St. Lucar, near Seville, on
September 7th, 1522."* -
Since those days, and in our own lifetime, we
have had wonder upon wonder to thrill us. We
can now fly across the Atlantic. By touching a
switch we can light up a room, or a large hall, or
a city. We can speak, and recognise each other's
voice, at long distances; make- our meanings
clear through Telegraphy, and the Marconi
System, without speaking. From a small coastal
town we can pick up a wireless message sent from
a vessel a hundred miles out at sea; listen to a dis-

History of the Conflict between Religion and Science."
J W. Draper, M.D., LL.D.

108
course proceeding in Manchester at a distance of
200 miles; or sit at home in London and enjoy a
concert beingg given in America! We can travel
under or over the earth or the ocean quite comfort-
ably, while eating a meal, reading a book, or writ-
ing a letter, or settling matters concerning the
League of Nations! Are these a few of the
6 6 greater things " referred to by Jesus, which He
said we should do? Even so, a still greater thing
than all these, is to put into operation through an
International Tribunal and Parliament of Man,
the International and Divine Law-that all
things, and all Powers, and the means of exercising
them-shall be for pacific and bountiful purposes;
not for the special benefit of those who want to

ride over, rule, and deprive others of their heri--
tage, and this, in order that they themselves may
be glorified!- Glorifled for robbing their fellows,
they would also rob God of the Glory which be-
longs to Him alone! Great honour is due to all
who exercise their capacity to enrich, and serve
Mankind. None are deprived by God of the joy
of service. Nay, He gives to all-the capacity to
serve. All honour to those who serve faithfully.
But Glory is to God, the Divine Protector,: the
Generous Giver of all things.
When the French occupied Offenburg re-
cently they cannot fail to have been attracted by
a monument-the only one in the town-s-tanding
conspicuously in the market place. It is a statue,
a gallant figure of the 16th century, with peaked

107
I

beard, and doublet and hose of that. period. The
anchor and coil of ca ' ble on which the figure leans'
the globe at his feet, and the unrolled chart in his
left hand, bespeak a mariner; and the stranger
wonders what connection he can have with a town
so far away from the sea. His astonishment in-
creases when, on closer inspection, he perceives
the very singular trophy in the right hand-an up-
rooted potato plant! Round the pedestal runs a
border, in high relief, consisting of the flowers,
foliage and tubers of the potato, worked into a
graceful design. Seeking in the inscription for
an explanation of the mystery, the stranger, if he
is an Englishman, learns to his amazement, that
the statue is that of his great countryman Sir
Francis Drake. He learns moreover that it was
erected in 1853, thirty years before Drake was
similarly honoured at Tavistock and Plymouth, in
his native land.
" But what can this population of farmers and
vine-growers have had in common with the
Admiral whose exploits on the other side of the
globe brought him-fame? What can have induced
them to commemorate'this foreign sailor?
. " The reason is carved in deep letters in the red
stone out of which the monument is hewn: 'The
bringer of the potato to Europe.' .
" It is not the navigator, not the warrior, which
appealed to the inhabitants of the old Black Forest
town. It is the act by which he provided a ' re-
fuge for the poor from bitter want,' and ' whose

108
fame rests in the -blessings of millions of men who
till the- earth.'

" For seventy years the children of Offenburg
who play round the monument have known the
name of Drake, not as the bold sea rover,. the
destroyer of Spanish might, but as ' the man who-
brought-us the potato! '
" Production, gnot destruction, is honoured by
the statue of this EDglishman. What a lesson to
militants of later days, comes from these humble
folk, to their own, and to all nations! It is, we
see, in accordance with True Religion, and,there.-
fore in accord with Science and Reason." (By
the courtesy of Mr. Z. Duckett Ferriman, those
of us who have not seen this interesting statue,

enjoy the benefit of his visit to Offenburg, July,_
1922'.)

Surely, it is reasonable that Science
should become the Hand-Maid of Religion; in
order that Humanity may be saved from the fears
which oppress it To-Day: that Peace and Plenty,
praise and thanksgiving, may take the place of
lamentation the world over, and all Creation burst -
into a " New Song," Psahn xcviii., as found in the
Book of Common Prayer. It calls upon all
Creation to join in a Chorus of Praise, in a true
and reasonable spirit of thanksgiving: For a " new
heaven, and a new earth," appear.
0 sing unto the Lord a New Song: for He hath
done marvellous things.

109
H

With His own right hand, and with His Holy
arm - hath He gotten Himself the victory.

The Lord h ath declared His Salvation: His
righgteousness hath He openly shewed in --the
sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered His Mercy and Truth
toward the house of Israel: and all the ends of
the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shew yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye
lands : sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp : sing to the
harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

With trumpets also and psalms: 0 shew your-
selves joyful before the Lord the King.

Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein
is: the round world and thev that dwell therein.

Let gthe floods clap their hands, and let the
hills rejoice together before the Lord - for He
cometh to judge the earth.

With righteous ness shall Ile judge the world:
and the people with equity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son., and to
the Holy Spirit. As it was in the Beginning, is
.1\Tow, and ever shall be: World without end.
Amen.

For God has not only shown Mer - cy and Truth
towards the House of Isracl-but to the whole
World of Humanity.

110
CHRISTMAS IN LONDON WITH
'ABDU'L-BAHA.

64; 6Abdu'l-Bahá', in 1912, spent Christmas amid
the holly and chimes of old England-the Christ-
mas of cheer, gift-giving, and mutual well-wishing.
"To have seen the world's greatest prisoner amid
these surroundings was a never-to-be-forgotten
picture, but one hard to reproduce in words. Many
beautiful and touching incidents could be related
of that Christmas had we the records of the hun-

Areds- that thronged to see him. Some he met in
little groups in the dining room of his flat in
Chelsea,, and on request he would, at intervals,
address a larger gathering in the drawing room,
as people kept coming and going all day. Anon,
some distressed soul wished for a conference alone,
or a peace advocate sought his advice,on an im--
portant issue.

" Many came bearing gifts-the mighty and the
lowly, the rich and the poor in this world's goods.
A detailed account of the mere happenings of the
day -would mean nothing. The trivial details of
life, even on a Christmas day, are seldom regarded
in the light of a spiritual unfoldment, but it is
through these seemingly small incidents that this
Master spirit brings out into the court of objec-
tivity those principles which he teaches. Thus the
ill

very essence of his existence is vested with the
penetration of the spirit-so much so, that, save as
his fife manifests gthose principles for which he
stands, he wishesg to be forgotten as a personality.
" To each who came to him on that Christmas
Day, he gave a spiritual present-compatible with
the capacity of each; for 'Abdu'l-Bahh's method
of teaching the people so that they become moved
with conviction, is through the heart.
Cc Someone brought him an expensive gift. He
accepted it graciously. Holding it lovingly for a
moment, he told the wealthy giver of his own
simple life. " And now," he said, smilingly,
you see I have accepted your beautiful present,
and it has made me very happy. I thank you for
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.
poor.21
" The man was at first astonished, but when,
after further conversation, he arose and took his de7
parture, one felt from his attitude toward the great
master, that a new impulse or seed had been
planted.
"'Often 'Abdu'l-BahA would laugh outright at
some little gift that showed ingenuity, and many a
compliment he wafted back to America, -the land
of his then recent sojourns.
'6 One American girl was much amused at his re-
hearsal of American experience. He concluded

112
by saying, " I learned much from my travels and
hardships. Among other things, I learned to
wash my handkerchiefs when occasion demanded,
and to sew."
On an impulse, she ran out to a shop near by
and bought the tiniest leather sewing box, and on
her return, laughingly presented it, saying that it
was impossible for her to imagine a prophet sewing
on his buttons.
I will accept the sewing case with gratitude,
and will keep it," he said, as he put it among his
things, and then added, " I am not a prophet. I
am a man-like yourself.", He laughed, and we
all laughed, for she was a well-known suffragette.
" He accepted it!" she exclaimed at the door,
and so extremely overjoyed was she, that one felt
that some deeper message or awakening beyond
that which we had witnessed had been accom-
plished through the simple transaction.

"From laughter,_ 'Abdu'l-BahA's face Would
become stern or expressive of a great weight of
impersonal sorrow, the suffering induced by the
realisation of the hunger of humanity for spiritual
rest.

The Real Meaning of the Advent of Christ on
This Earth.

I I Christ's birthday is a glorious day," He said.
It is necessary that these anniversary celebra-
tions be observed, else man in his negligence would

113

forget all about his Creator; but we should seek to
penetrate the g dark veils of custom and imitation
of ancestors, perchance we may discover the reality
of the meaning.

The advent of Christ on this -earth was a
blessed day, for it was the day on which the Sun
of Reality dawned; the day on which all beings
were revivified. In the world's calendar, it was
the beginning of a Heavenly Spring.

To-day the mention of Christ is on a thousand
tongues, but when He was on earth, He was not
thought much of, - notwithstanding they . were
awaiting his coming with great impatience. They
thought that they would be his intimate friends.
Some there were who used to cry day and, night,
saying, ' 0 God, hasten the day when the Promised
One will manifest himself on this earth.' When
He came,- they knew Him not; they persecuted
Him and finally killed Him, h for they said : ' This is
not the true Messiah whose coming is to be under
special conditions. How is it that He claims to be
from Nazareth, the son of Mary? He was to come
with a sword; this man does not possess even a
staff. He was to sit on the throne of David; this
man does not possess a mat to sit on. He must
conquer the East and the West;, this man does
not possess a shelter. He was to teach the law of
Moses; this man is abolishing it. In His day,
justice was to encircle the world, the wolf and the
-Rheep drink from one fotintain; the lion and the

114
deer to graze in one pasture; the vulture and part-
ridge live in one nest.'
The people could not see that these things
were -taking place. The Reality of Christ was
from heaven-- though His physical body was from
Mary. The.sword was the tongue of Christ,
which cut right from wrong,, Many had swords,
but his sword conquered the world. .
"'The Kingdom of Christ ' was Heavenly and
not like the kingdom of Bonaparte; it was the
reality of the ancient law Christ spread, not the
words. He conquered East and West by the
Holy Spirit, not by force. Sects which were in
the utmost animosity drank from the one fountain
-that is, the Fountain of Love." -

'A bdu'l-Ba'hd Visits the Poor on Christmas Night.

On Christmas nigl it 'Abdu'l-Bahh visited the
poor of the Salvation Ahrmy Shelter, Westminster;
where each year a Christmas dinner is provided for
those who have no homes and no friends, and, but
for the shelter, would have no lodgings. There
were about 1,000 present on this occasion.
A supreme test of attention transpired when
many of the hungry men forgot to eat and listened
intently. In conformity with the wonderful tact
'Abdu"l'-BahA displayed on all occasions, his mes-
sage to the homeless was simple, direct and short.
" I feel to-night," Ile said., C4 great joy and hap-
piness to be in this place, because hitherto my
meetings and visits have been mostly -with the

115

-------------

poor, and I think as one of them. My lot has
ever been with those who have not the goods of
this world. The world consists of brothers. The
poor have ever been the cause of the freedom of
the world of humanity; have ever been the cause
of the up-building of the country, and have ever
laboured for the world's production. The morals
of the poor have ever been above those of thhe rich;
the poor are ever nearer to the threshold of God;
the humanitarianism of the poor has ever been
more acceptable to God.
" Consider His Holiness Christ. He appeared
in the world as one of the poor. He was born of
a lowly family; all the apostles of Christ were of
humble origin and his followers were of the very
,poorest of the community. This is what Christ
states in the gospels, ' It is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God.' This testimony of
Christ to. the exalted state of the poor ones is suffi-
cient. It is easy, very easy, for the poor to enter
into -the kingdom of the Almighty.
" The poor have capacity, and are favoured at
the threshold of God. If wealth was a necessity,
Christ would have wished it for Himself. He lived
a simple life, and one of the titles of BahAVIIA,
was ' the poor one.' In Persian His title was
' darvish,' and that means one who has not a slave.
All the prophets of God were poor. His Holiness
Moses was a mere shepherd. This will show you
that in the estimation of God poverty is greater

116
'1~
than the accumulation of wealth-that the poor
am more acceptable than the lazy rich. A rich,
man who spends his wealth,for the poor is praise-
worthy. Consider that the poor are not born in
a state of solvency; they are not naturally tyran-
nous. All the tyranny and injustice inthis world
comes f=om accumulation. The poor have ever
been humble and lowly. Their hearts are tender.
The rich are not so! Sorrow not ' grieve not! Be
not unhappy! You are brothers of Jesus Christ.
Christ was one of you. Bahi'u'llAh was poor.
For forty years he was imprisoned and in dire
poverty. The great ones of the world have come
from a lowly station. Be ever happy on account
of your kinglyg associates, and if in this world you

undergo dire vicissitudes, I hope that in the king-
dom of God you will have the utmost happiness,"

" In generous conformity with BahAlu'IlAh's
teachings that " our words should not exceed our
deedW' 'Abdu'l-BahA left twenty sovereigns and
many handfuls of silver with Colonel Spencer, of
the Salvation Army Shelter, so that the poor
might enjoy a similar dinner on New Year's night.

" Rapping for silence, Colonel Spencer mounted
the rostrum and informed the men that they were
to have this New Year's dinner in 'Abdu'l-BahA's
honour. He was just leavin ig the hall when this
announcement was made. With one accord the
men jumped up and, waving their knives and forks,
gave a rousing farewell cheer, after which there

117
I

was a moment of deep silence, before 'Abdu'l-
Bahá', in answer to Colonel Spencer, said: " May
God prosper you!" and then to the men: " May
you -all be under the protection of the Almighty!" -
(Isabel Fraser, in Everywoman,
Dec.-Jan., 1915-16.)

118
I
'ABDUL BAHA
- WITH THE SOCIETY OF-FRIENDS.

T the Westminster Meeting of the Society of
Friends, January 12th, igis, 'Abdul-
BahA said:
About 6L.000 years ago a Society was formed
in Persia called the ' Society of Friends,' who
gathered together for Silent Communion with the
Almighty.
~ " They divided Divine Philosophy into two
parts. That which can be acquired through lec-
tures and study in schools 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 turning
to the Source of Light. From that Cen-
tral Light the mysteries of the Kingdom were re-
flected in their hearts. All the Divine problems
were solved by this power of illuminatiom
Among the great questions unfolding through
the rays of Divine Reality upon the mind of manl-
is the question of the reality of the g 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 Spinit; 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 also are solved.

119

' Followers of the Inner Light,' they attain to a
superlative degree of power, and are entirely freed
from blind dogmas and imitations. Men rely on
their statements., By themselves, within them-
selves, they solve all mysteries.
" If they find a solution by the assistance of
the Inner Light, they accept it, and afterwards de-
clare it; otherwise they would consider it a matter
of blind imitation.
" They go so far as to reflect upon the essential
nature of Divinity, Divine Revelation, and the
Manifestation of God in this world. All
philosophical, divine, and scientific questions are
solved by them through the power of the Spirit.
" BahAVIIAh says there is a sign from God in
ever The sign f the intellect is
y phenomenon. The
contemplation, and the sign of contemplation is
silence -;because it is iml2ossible for man to -do -two
!h:ings at the same U e. He cannot
im -both Meak
and medFt_at_e._-'
" It is a7a-xiomatic fact that while you medi
tate -you a7e sDeakiynpr own Spirit. _In
that state ot mind you put certain questions to
-answers, the Light breaks
forth and Realitv is revealed.
"You cannot apply the name of 'man' to
any being devoid of the faculty of meditation.
Without it, he would be a mere animal.
"'Through the faculty of USQLawo , man at-
ft,Rl
tains to eternal life; througT7 it he receives the
Breath of the Holy Spirit. The bestowal of the

120
Spirit is given , in . reflection and meditation.
Through it, the Spirit of man is informed and
sIxengthened. Through it, affairs of which man
knows nothing are unfolded before his view.
Through it, one receives Divine inspiration;
through it, one partakes of Heavenly Food.
Meditation is the key for opening the doors of
mysten7es. ~n that subjective mood, withdrawing
himself from all outside objects, man can unfold
the secrets of things within himself ; because he is
immersed in the ocean of spiritual life.
" Through the power of meditation man frees
himself from the animal nature, discerns the real-
ity of things, and is put in touch with God. This

faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the
sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty
inventions are made possible, and colossal under-
takings ~ -are carried out. -Through it governments
can be run smoothly- Through this faculty man
enters into the very Kingdom of God.
" Nevertheless, some thoughts are useless to
man. They are like waves ebbing to and fro in the
sea without result.
" But if the faculty of meditation is bathed in
the Inner Light, and ch'aracterised with Divine
attributes, then the results will be wonderful.
" The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror.
If you put before it earthly objects it will reflect
them. Therefore, if the spirit of man is contempla-
ting earthly subjects, he will be informed of these.
But if the mirror of the Spirit be turned heaven-

121

4al-ds, 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.
"'Let us,, therefore, keep this faculty rightly
directed, turning it to the Heavenly Sun and not to
-earthly objects, so -that we may discover the secrets
of the Kingdom, comprehend the allegories of
the Bible, and the mysteries of the Spirit. May we
indeed become mirrors reflecting Heavenly Reali-
ties, and may we become so pure as to reflect the
Constellations of Heaven."

122
THE RADIANCE
OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

PEAKING in London, at the Studio of
Mr. Felix Moschelesihon Sunday afterw-
-noonl Jan. igth,, 1913, 'Abdu'l-Bahk was
asked by him t o make allusion to the 1-1ague -Con-
fere-nce and to the beneficence of a Universal
Language. He said:
For every Age there is destined a great Move-
ment, which is the sum total or Expression of that
Age.
in 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 Light we declare is:
The Oneness of Humanity:
That the Foundation of the Religions of God is
One:
And - the Fellowship of all Races.
In this Century Human progress and perfections
will ever be advanced from the Table of the One-
ness of Humanity.
i All the Prophets of God have been sent for this:
That they may usher in the Era of Peace.
His Holiness Christ embraced the Cross.
His Holiness John gave up his head.
BahAVIIA endured the pillory.

123

" He suffered 50 years' exile and imprisonment.
All through His Life He was exiled, imprisoned in
dark dungeons, or incarcerated in a barrack-. All
these renunciations and sacrifices were for the sake
of Humanity and the fundamental Unity of all
Religions.

"At a time when the Orient was wrapped in con-
tention, and encompassed in foul cloudsi and dark-
ness: Lo, and behold! The Sun of Reality shone
hforth and flooded these regions with its rays. The
first effulgent ray from this illumined sun emanat-
ing from the fact that God is the One Shepherd,
Who ever provides for, cares for, and proteets all
Humanity, and is ever kind to all.

" The, second ray appears through the investiga-
tion of Reality. We have to abandon all hearsays,
and investigate realities. Everything must be
seen with our own eyes,'heard with our own ears,
and demonstrated with our own minds-so that
we may free ourselves from blind dogmas and
superstitions.

These decayed and superannuated dogmas and
tales of the past, not being based upon Reality,
have ever been the cause of contention. They
have been causative of the laying waste of Man-
kind.

"These blind dogmas have made sons inimical to,
their fathers, and caused them to shun their
mothers.

124
Reconciliation is at hand. But, as long as the
nations will not abstain from these blind dogmas
it is impossible.
It is very difficult for the Sun, to penetrate the
cloatids of superstition and dogma. Therefore, if
we dispel these clouds, we shall have the'efficient
rays of the Sun of Reality.
" One of the Teachings of BahAVIIAh 1-S that a
Universal Language should be established-so that
everyone may study two languages: One his
native, and one auxiliary. Then, all people will
be enabled to associate amicably and do away with
misunderstandings.
'All enmity between Religions comes from lack
of understanding. The Auxiliary language will
serve to sweep away misunderstanding. This was

proclaimed 50 years ago by BabAVIJAh. He laid
down this law in the Holy Books.
"Another Teaching of BahA'u'llih is: There
must be a Universal Court of Justice, so that all
International disputes may be arbitrated by the
Parliament of Man.
BahAVIIAh 50 years ago, in the Book of Aq-
das, commanded the people to establish a Universal
Court of Arbitration-, and surnmoned all nations
to the Divine Banquet of International Peace.
" For this the whole Human Race must be con-
sulted through their representatives, whose con-
clusions when ratified by the people of every

(Now rriore than 60 years - ago).

125
I

country, will latterly be signed by their King, or
President if the Country is Republic.
" These representatives will gather together in a
place accepted by all the people. That place will
be under the protection of Humanity, and no
doubt of God.
Then, all the disputes between nations Will be
referred to that Court for Arbitration.
" But, if one rise in rebellion not desiring to
follow this Council, then all the individuals of the
World will rise up against that nation.
" There ' is no doubt when this Council is brought
into -being the Peace of the World of Humanity
will be established." -
Referring, as requested, to the Hague Confer-
en'Ce 'Abdu'l-Bahft said: "The Hague Conference
is good but insufhricient. Its sphere of discussion
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 from their instructions. Had they
been free and untrammelled you would have real-
ized What could have been accomplished."
"'The Council outlined by BahA'u'lla'h will be
the last resort. It is confirmed by God : And under
the protection of God. Rest assured this Inter-
national Court of Arbitration will come into
existence--for it is the demand of the time. Wie

126
can positively say the nature of the time demands
it. 31
cc in the -closed Century the demand -was for
Freedom. Whoever tried to quell it failed."-. ;
Likewise,-- the International Court of Arbitra-
tion- is requisite to this Age. It is impossible for
any to postpone it, and the - World of
Humanity will assuredly rest in the cradle of
Peace. This is one of the bounties of this Cycle.
Its miracles are multitudinous. Its discoveries are
wonderful. " .
"'Therefore, let us all arise to serve Mankind,
and bring International Peace into being-spend-
ing all our endeavours to that end. Let us go to the
-utmost sacrifice: 20,000 Bahá'ís have given up life
itself for this end : That the Divine commands
may be realized throughout the Globe. So that
all the children of men may live in the utmost
prosperity.

" it is my hope that ere long we may enjoy these
blessings. "

127

THE SPIRIT OF INVESTIGATION.

RILE inviting consideration and investi-
gation for the Bahh'i Revelation which
calls confficting armies to marshal them-
selves into lines with the main purpose of Religion,
namely, to create Harmony in the world, and to
establish on earth the Most Great Peace; one
would always repeat the assurance of the exalted
place ascribed to Christ, by the Bahh'i community.
For the Aim, and the Voice, and the gpen of
Bahk'u'Uh and 'Abdu'l"BahA have been clear in
showing that Christ is enthroned in every heart.
In the Light of Oneness, Bahá'ís accept all the
Prophets and Manifestations of God. 'Therefore,
no JeW9 no Muslim, or Buddhist, or those of -other
Religions, can become a Bahh'i without accepting
Christ. It would be well if Missionaries would
assure themselves of this, for their own comfort.
And may God bless them with this understanding.
For it is high time that the peoples of different
Religions left off proselytising each other, merely
in the partial interest of Truth : when by a different
outlook all can see it together, more fully grevealcd,
in the Teachings of Bahh'u'llAh. ForTruth 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.
-Gabriel de Sassy, made the following statement in

128
I

eech he delivered before an assembly of learned
a~ -SP,
men-in-P-arii, during the Exposition of--1-901
When the Balihis wish to make a convert to
their-Religion, they endeavour from the very first
to confirm him in his own Religion, thus egnabling
him to become cognizant g of the principal proofs
whereby the Divine Religions are demonstrated,
and to distinguish a Prophet from an impostor.g
Consequently, the Old Testament of the Bahá'ís
consists of all the Heavenly Books revealed through
the former Prophets, while their New Testament
comprises the Tablets of Bahh'u'llih, which in fact
reconcile these books and contain the interpreta-
tion and explanation of them 1 9 g? *
The Fifth Principle-of Bahh'u'llkh points out:
Religion must be in accord with Science and

Reason. And Solomon says: " Above all thy
getting, get understanding."
Bahi'u'llAh invites the peoples of all Religions
to be fair, to investigate, and to recognise from
their own Scriptures, that the Founders of Reli-
gionY honour each other. Why, then, dare their
followers slay each other? Let them give their
answer to the God Who created them, and to the
Prophets who come to the world, in His Name.-

* " BaháU Proofs." Abul Fazl. pp. 7 0, 71.

129

UNIVERSAL HARMONY.

xT was necessary, as we have seen, to have free-
dom from religious superstition, in order
to attain individual resurrection. This has
come to countless millions through the Teachings
~of Jesus, as a necessary, precedent to the realisation
of Universal Harmony, and the conscious Unity
of Mankind, w ch, comes to us through Bahh'-
u'llAh. It was this Universal consciousness which
Jesus yearned for, when He prayed: " That they
all may be One, as Thou Father art in Me,
and I in Thee, that they also may be One in US. 9 2
He also taught His disciples to pray for Unity,
when He taught them, " Our Father."
The Lord's Prayer was the Key-note to Unity,
which Jesus gave.
BahA'u'.IlAh re-echoes, re-iterates, and gives
Volume to the Harmonv it contains: " Consort
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 from the
calamities which threaten it To-Day. ,
The Principles of BahA'u'lla'h are Divine Guid-
anee meeting the peculiar needs of this Age. And
there will be no unity between individuals, or
Nations; no social, political, industrial, or reli-
gious Unity, however much we talk about it,
unless these Principles of Unity are put into prac-

130
tice; because they are the Principles of Righteous-
noss, of 'Truth, of Justice and Generosity. The
('spirit within" every. individual who studies them,
will testify to this.

Unify is the natural sequence of gall preceding
Revelation and attainment. Its Principles will
triumph, over all opposition. It is evident there
has been great attainment, in all spheres. Great
Manifestation of Human Power. Man ought
therefore now, to brace himself up with Faith, to
match all this Power, which has been manifested,
and garner in all the blessings, which may accrue
to Humanity, through a wise directionof it.
Unity holds out the fruitful Basket - of
~ kind, which can soothe And heal
Fragrances to Man
a suffering world. Its riches are unfathomable:

Even as the riches of Man's inheritance on Earth,
and in the Heavens of Understanding, are count-
less.

In this Day, Unity is the test of Righteousness.
Because only practice of the Principles of Right-
eousness make it possible. Otherwise, it is im-
possible.

The Aim of all the Prophets throughout the
Mosaic and Christian Dispensations of the Spirit,
points to Unity. And it should be the greatest
joy in life, for the Friends of God and Humanity

131

to assist these H eavenly Hosts, in spreading a
knowledge of the Principles whichm'ake it possible

The Teachings of BahA'u'llkh Who was known
as "The Father of the Poor," are fraught with
such Blessing, that they offer interest upon inter-
est, and Glory upon Glory, for all. They summon
all, to that for which they are created~to become
the conscious children of the Most Glorious.
Therefore a knowledge of them is of the utmost
importance. For they give that very Guidance
for To-Day, which many, in religious, political,
social, and - industrial circles, are seeking, and
which, in its fullness, they cannot find elsewhere.

132
UNITY TRIUMPHANT.
cc 006%kNE Day telleth another," ~andh " a thou-
sand years in Thy sight are but as yes-
terday. " 91

I
To-day is the Day of all Days.
It gatherg up the Meaning of Days.
Each Day fuller than the Last must be.
And this Last overflows with the effulgence
Of all the Days of God which have been.

For BahA'u'llfth opens the sealed Books of
Prophecy in all Religions, revealing the Harmony
of the Divine Plan in them all, and declares to 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
cars"-for another fulfillment has taken place.
Should one not be eager to'understand, when
coming in touch with some beautiful spiritual
power and on hearing that the Sun of Truth hagq
again arisen with great brilliance to enlighten the
world, be willingly open to conviction concerning
a New Spiritual Dispensation?
Did not Jesus Himself foretell it, when He
spoke of One who should come " in the Spirit of
133
I

Truth, to guide us into all Truth " ? Then surely,
all who are interested in what He said should ask
themselves after full investigation, whether
Bahi'u'llAh is not that One. This is His claim.
And the Scriptures of Religion known by-differ-ent
Names, testify to the truth of it. The least anyone
c~n do is to investigate in the light of the Scripture
they believe in, and consider well its meanmig,
hbefore dismissing the matter. And if it be found
that BahA'u'll-a'h fulfils other Scriptures as well :
surely that should increase and universalize interest
iD the Revelation of Truth which He brings? It
is eminently satisfactory, in that it is all-compre-
hending. That of course is the secret of its power
to unite.
When first told that the BahA'i Faith has power
to unite the people of all Religions, many say :
" Impossible!" And their amazement at such a
proposition shows how far they are astray from the
true meaning of -Religion. For it always has been
difficult to accept the idea that some nations should
be left out of the Divine Plan; we should not
think this right. Some have repudiated Religion
altogether because of the superstition of those who
would. be satisfied if their own race and nation
could be saved, whatever might happen to the
others. But BahA'u'HAh tells us that " Justice
enables us to see things with our own eyes, and
not by the eyes of any in the world. " It is also
recorded that the Faith of Abraham impelled Him
to exclaim: " Surely the God of all the Earth,

134
I must do right 1 " Here we have the
Spirit which
God had placed within Abrahamvoicing itself -
And such faith and such voicing of it, would
gladden the heart of any earthly father. Why
should we not have confidence that it delights the
Heavenly Father?
Bahá"u'llAh, by declaring the Oneness of Man-
kind and the Oneness of Religion, does not con-
tradict the Faith of Abraham, but substantiates
it. 'The "Signs of -the Times," which should
accompany His appearance have been all around us
on every side. We have already noticed, that in
His Day, Jesus rebuked as hypocrites those who
did not understand the "Si ns of their own times,"
19

and therefore denied Him.
BahAVIIAh has certainly made the Teachings of
Jesus, in this, and in other respects, especially
clear, and surely there is to-day universal need for
the Guidance of the Sun of Truth. It is difficult
to imagine the state of mind of those who have not
found the Teachings of BahA'u'Uhh in this time
of calamities; for are they not just what Jesus said
would take place at the time when another should
come in the same Spirit, to give further Guidance
than He could give at the time He left this earth?
It is clear that the BahAi Revelation is the
natural and spiritual sequence, due at this time, in
furtherance of the Teachings which Jesus gave; fgor
it makes sayings of His intelligible, which have
hiffierto seemed obscure; and it is certainly in
accord with the Divine utterances of Jesus.

135

There are those to-day who are asking constantly,
Where does all the modern Teaching place
Jesus? Much of it does not take Him into
account, but it will be found that -the Ba'hi'i Teach-
ing does. For it takes of that which He gave,
",shows It, to us," and confirms us in it. And
not only does it confirm our Faith in Jesus : but
the Bahh'i Revelation introduces us to all God's
Messengers, even to those of other Names, not
acknowledged in the Hebrew, or Christian Reli-
gion, and thus brings to our remembrance the
saying of Jesus, when His disciples complained
that others were casting out devils who were not
with them: " Rebuke them not, for those who
are not against us, are on our side." Surely that
answer holds good to-day!
Christians cannot deny that Muhammad has on
His own ground, dealt more ably with the liquor
traffic than they in some countries have yet done.
For there are many members of different Churches
-who hold shares in brewery companies, and think
it quite right to do so. There is not unanimity in
this matter amongst Christians, but amongst
Muslims there is. Drunkenness is allied with
other vices, and we cannot have heaven on earth,
unless all agree to banish them all. The day is
fast vanishing, in which it was considered by some
manly to conserve practices contrary to the highest
good of the Human Family.
Universal Religion which stands for Reality,
must be allied to Science and Reason, and when

*See John, Chap. xvi., Vers. 13-15.
136
No al,

this becomes generally known-there will be no
atheists. Muhammad (though it is the last thing
on earth which many Christians suppose) honoured
Christ, and Abraham, and Moses. This fact is
made known to the world through the Teachings
of Bahh'u'116h.
Those who are enveloped in prejudice must in-
evitably spendtheir lives in trying to escape the
truth about many things. It is however a little
tragic when large numbers take their friends to
be enemies, and slay each other. To eliminate
the pain of'such misunderstanding, it is much
better to have a mind ready to'investigate Reality.
Nobody can discover anything while locked up in
boxes of mental prejudice.

It has never been the Messengers of God, but
their disciples, who in their inistaken zeal, are
ready to " eat God up " by engendering prejudice
and enmity.
BahA'u'llAh comes to put an end to religious
strife, proving from the Sacred Scriptures of all
Religions that God's Messengers have, in every
instance, been bent upon the same Purpose of
creating Unity in the world. So we see that the
very essence of that which they all give is in accord
with the all-embracing Unity, revealed in ~ these
Latter Days through the BahA'i Teachings. They
afford abundant satisfaction in awakening a true
knowledge of the Divine origin of every individual
(a mattcr which theology has largely left to the
perception of Mystics)-and this should silence

137

the question-" Divine,, or not divine?"-which
has been the bolle-i Of contention between
Unitarians and Trinitarians, for centuries. One

party Practically denying their own divinity, and
the other denying the Divinity of Christ! What-
ever have imagined divinity to beP
Mrs. Eddy, thanks be to herl settled that matter
for C-hristian Scientists, by claiming Divinity for
all God's children, dismissing ' all arguments to' the
contrary-as emanations of " mortal mind."
All mean conceptions of the nature of Man have
arisen through clinging to remnants of Truth, and
trying to make them cover erroneous ideas; each
adhering to that which takes his fancy most, and
with it veiling the Divine beneficent Whole.
BabAVIIAh gives,rich assurance of divine birth-
right, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
.for every individual - and so delivers us from
mere self-satisfaction, by enlightening all concern-
ing the Oneness -of the Human Family. Such
unaniniitv of the universal consciousness, must, it
is suggested, be the At-Onement of those Great
Ones, who have laboured with such divine passion,
even pouring out their precious life blood on
crosses, that perchance by such unquestionable
sincerity some might believe in their -Mission to
establish universal Love and Harmony; and if it
were possible, to convince the world of their Love,
which is one with God's Love for Mankind. Mgan-
kind has indeed been lost to reason and common
sense, in supposing that God- wanted His own

138
beloved Son crucified-in order, that He might, be
enabled to forgive sinners! From such error and
gross superstition, 0 our Heavenly Father deliver
us 1 No simple child could or would have invented
such an idea. It is enough to alienate the whole
world from Religion; and it is quite enough to
account for the lovable straightforwardness of some
truthful children, who, have been known to say
they " loved Jesus Christ, but hated God!
To love a lovable personality is perfectly natural
and reasonable, but to ignore example and fall
flat on one's face in worship, is not desired. Jesus
did not want to be enthroned as a God, or to be
called ` Lord, Lord," though the manifestation
of His Divine qualities proved Him to be Lord
of Mankind, or,, in other words, made God, in
Man., Manifest. To worship Him, He clearly

said, did not qualify anyone for the Kingdom of
Heaven-but to do the Will of the Father, did.
This is in accordance with His own Words, and
with the Words of all Divine Messengers. They
come, always, to seek Man's understanding.
And, coming divinely, to speak to that which
is divine, though dormant, in Alan; usually Man
has slain them. This time however, though-
Martyrs have testified their Faith by joyfully giv-
ing up their lives to prove it, God's Manifestation
has not been slain. Many sufferings were heaped
upon Him; but Ile overcame all difficulties; -doing
the great work committed to Him, radiantly.
Through the clouds of moral, mental, and

139

spiritual darkness, BahAVIIAh came with bril-
liance, sufficient to illumine the Path of Mankind.,
for centuries and to' such a degree, that finally,
" Every eye shall see Him," by seeing the pur-
pose of His appearance, its relation to Prophecy,
and to the happiness of Mankind-although His
Ascension has taken place. For the Divine Wis-
dom contained in His Sacred Writings is sufficient
to rejuvenate and transfom-i the world.
It is indeed pathetic to find, as we do to-day,
large numbers of earnest souls assembled to con-
firm themselves in the supposition that Jesus will
appear in the phenomenal "clouds " and gather
His own to Himself that way. Great patience
is needed to dispel such error, for so intense is
their belief, that they are horrified at the sug-
gestion that they have mistaken the meaning of
the prophetic writings . In the Light of the
Sun of Truth however, such superstition cannot
long prevail. -That the Kingdom of God should
come, on Earth, is a Divine decree, and it is
reasonable that the children of God should welcome
it.
The following extracts from the Supreme Pen
of Bahá"u'llAh bear witness to the Oneness of
Human and Divine relationship.

0 SON OF THE HIGHEST SIGHT!
I haave placed within thee, a spirit from Me,
that thou mightest be My Lover: Why hast
thou forsaken Me, and sought to love
another?"

140
0 SON OF SPMT!
I have created thee rich : Why hast thou
made thyself Poor? Noble have I made thee
'Why hast thou degraded thyself? g ~' Of the
Essence of Knowledge have I manifested,
thee :_ Why seaTchest thou for another than
Me? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou
mayest find Me, standing within thee Power-
full Mighty, Supreme!"
0 SON OF MAN!
My Eternity is My Creation. I have created
It for thee: Therefore make It the Garment
of thy temple. My Oneness is My Design.
I have designed it forlthee : Therefore clothe'
thyself with it. Thus mayest thou be a star,
of My Omnipresence for ever.
0 SON OF MAN!

Thou art My Possession! And My Posses-
sion shall never be destroyed. Why dost thou
fear destruction? Thou art My Light, and
My Light shall never become extinct? Why
dost thou dread extinction? Thou art Mgy
Glory
. (Bahá) and My Glory shall not be
veiled : Thou art My Garment, and My
Garment shall never be outworn. Therefore
abide in thy love to Me, that thou mayest find
Me in the Highest Horizon!"
0 SON OF SPIRIT!
I have created thee sublime! But thou hast
degraded thyself : therefore ascend to that for
which thou wast created."
Hidden Words." BahAVIIAh.)
141
K

1111,11111111 011

What generous love in a Creator! How refresh-
ing after the mere " Thou God see-est me," which
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
with. the Heavenly Father.
We read, " God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him, might have life. " And always One with
the Father, Jesus Himself said - " I came not into
the world to condemn the world, but that ye might
have life, and have it more abundantly; and to the
end that he that believeth on Me, might have Life
Everlasting. "
How beautifully these words of Jesus accord
with those of Bahh'u'llhh when He speaks to the
individual for God:
" I have placed within thee, -a spirit from Me,
that thou mightest be My Lover!"

And how much more satisfying it is to know
that our Creator is seeking our individual under-
standing, in order that we may be both lovers and
helpers !
This opens out a new vista, and suggests bound-
less possibilities for the children of men. No
wonder that with His penetrating Sight
BahPuIlAh has made Courtesy the Cardinal Virtue
for this New Age. And how the world needs it!
There could, of course, be no Kingdom of Heaven,
without it.

142
I mmll,ullIfili

UNITY MEETINGS.

N the Generosity of the Bahh'! Dispensation
Bahk'u'llAh has made sure provision for the
social life of the Bahi'i Community. For,

This is the Hour of the Unity of the sons of men,
And the drawing together of all classes.

-BahA was in London,
in ign, when 'Abdu'l
He gave the following discourse at a Unity Meet-

held at the home of Miss Marion Jack and
-the writer. Tihe International Races Congress,
in which BahAis had taken special interest, many
coming from other lands to take part in it in 1910,
made that Unity Meeting specially interesting and
representative, since a number had remained in
the hope that 'Abdu'l-BahA would come to
London, and on September 22nd, 1911,- the hope
and expectation was rewarded by the following
discourse :
Friends and-11andmaidens of the Merciful!
God is all Glorious!

I It is a cold and miserable day but as I was
anxious to see you I came here. For a man who
has love, effort is rest. He will travel any distance
to visit his friends.
I Thank God I see you spiritually at rest. I give
you this message from God: that ye may ever turn
toward Him.
Praise God that you are near Him! The un-
worthy things of this world have not deterred you

143

from, seeking the world of the Spirigt. While in
harmony with the world you care not for, the
things which _perish. Your desire is for thatwhich
never dies, and the Kingdom lies before.you. I
hope that the Teaching of God will spread through-
out the world, and will cause all to be united.,
In the time of Jesus Christ there was an out-
pouring of Light'from East to West which
brought the people under a Heavenly Banner, and
illumined them with Divine insight.
I Western lands, have been kindled by the Light
of Christ., I pray earnestly that the Light in this
advanced Age will so illumine the world that all
may rally under the Banner of Unity and receive
Spiritual education.
Then those problems which cause aifference
among the peoples of the earth will be seen no
more, for verily they are not. You are all waves
of one sea,, mirrors of one reflection.
To-day the countries of Europe are at rest;
Education is widespread. The light of liberty is
the light of the West, and the intention of govern-
ment is to work for truth and justice in Western
countries. But ever the Light of spirituality
shines out from the East. In this Age that Light
has become dimmed; Religion has become a matter
of form and ceremony and the desire for God's
Love has been lost.
In every Age of great spiritual darkness, a Light
is kindled in the East. So once again the Light
of the Teachings of God has come to you. Even

144
as education and progress travel -from West to
East, so does the Spiritual fire travel from East to
West.
I hope that the people of the West may be
illumined by the Light of God, that the Kingdom
may come to them, that they May find eternal,
Life, that the Spirit of God may spread like a fire
among- them, that they may be baptised with the
water of Life and may find a new birth.
This is my desire. I hope byAhe will of God
11-le will cause vou to receive it, and will make you
happy.
In the same way that you have education and
material progress, so may the Light of God be
your portion.
God keep all 'of you in safety.
( I" 'Abdu'l-Bahd in London," P. 39.)

145

SPIRITUAL SPRING TIMES.

N examindtion of the records will show,
that those 'IvVho have been fitted and ap-
pointed by God to inaugurate the
Spiritual Spring Times of the world, have always
been fully conscious of their Mission. They can
say, as Jesus said: " My Father worketh until
now, and I work.7 Because of necessity., they
are conscious that the Father worketh through
them, and that the work is His.
It would be difficult to imagine the beauty of the
physical Spring Times, without the physical sun.
And it would be more difficult to imagine the state
of the world, if the Spiritual Sun of Truth, had
never, in times of " gross darkness," burst forth
from the Heavens of Enlightenment on the mind
and spirit of Mankind: with re-creative ener-
gies, and with such Power, that fulfilling Pro-
phecy, It has " Made all things New," and in Its
own mysterious way, set the seal of its Power on
Chronological calculations.
There is no mystery in the fact that such epoch-
making Events, have been marked by the appear-
ance of Di-vrine Manifestations; it is history.
Only the future is enveloped in mystery-the
present is as clear as noon-day, for those who will
see with the eye of the Spirit. And it would be~
foolish to deny the re-creative power of the Spirit.
to mark the present epoch even more convinc-
ingly, because of its gathered volumes: and verv
difficult to imagine it, unrelated to Prophecy!

146
NEED OF PERSONAL
MANIFESTATION.

xN both ancient and modern metaphysics,
Divine Principle is recognised to be the
origin, foundation, and truth of individual
being. And this immaculate conception renders
valuable service to Humanity. For it sets each
one up with a noble outlook in life, in contradis-
tinction to the "born in sin, " and "miserable
worm,31P notio]aS, which have been a ridiculous
travesty of 'Truth, and have oppressed- Mankind,
through long and weary centuries; and we are
grateful for this charter of freedom from ideas
which have hindered individual- resurrection.
However, though freedom has its merits, we
need, and the world needs, whether the world will

have them or no (and it is not in the -nature of
things that They could come, if we did noth need
Them)-those great Personal Manifestations, NV-ho
come rcvealging, and declaring from the Dawning
Place of Coryiniand-Gods Will for the Era de-
noted by their appearance. So, because we need
them, they have always appeared, as History and
Chronology show, at the inauguration of a New
Era. And, as in the Past., some accepted, and
some rejected their Guidance, so it is To-day.

147

But, nevertheless' 3a the Guidance so greatly needed,
is evident to usin the Revelation of Bahh'u'llhh.
'Without some unifying, and revivifying
Spiritual Power, mere individual freedom is apt to
breed chaos. In looking around, what do we see?
Shameless,, supercilious egotism, at war with itself
and its offspring-abounding chaos.
Contrary winds in the mefital atmosphere create
whirlwinds, and a Guiding Spirit is necessary, to
lead all into the channels of blessing which Unity
affords. And what the world needs in this respect,
is precisely what is always sent for its illumination.
If Humanity fails to see this, it must be lookingi
in the wrong direction, or is afraid to acknowledge
It, because of a tendency to cling to Guidance
given in the Past.
We know it -would have been far far better for
the world, if it had listened to God's Prophets in
their own Day and Time, instead of waiting for
centuries after it has stoned them before affording
recogn(ition; for such procrastination engenders
a disposition to stone the New Ones.
We know that Light is always Light, in what-
ever Age it appears: and individuals are so con-
stituted, that " the Spirit which God has placed
within them," enables them to see it. If this were
not so, life would be a very unfair thing to them.

148
THE SUN OF TRUTH.

HE Sun of Truth is the Word of God. It
illumines the Path to the Most Great
Peace.
The Reality of the, Divine Religions is One.
All the Prophets are united in their Message, and
unshaken. They are like the Sun; in different
seasons they ascend from different points on the
horizon. Therefore, every ancient Prophet gave
the glad tidings of the future, and everv future has
accepted the past.

" Religions are like the branches of one Tree.
One branch is high, one is low, and one in the
centre ; yet all draw their life from one stem. -One
branch bears fruit and others are not laden 8o
abundantly. All the Prophets are Lights, they
only differ in degree; they shine like heavenly
bodies, each having their appointed place and time
of ascension. Some are like lamps, some are like
the moon, some like distant stars, and a few are

like the Sun, shining from one end of the earth
to the other. All have the same Light to give,
yet they are different in degree. If we accept the
Light in one, we must accept it in all."
(" 'Abdu'l-Bahá' in London," pp. 1.7, 57.)

" If men followed the Holy Counsels and Teach-
ings of the Prophets; if Divine Light shone in the

149

hearts and men were really religious,, we should
soon see Peace on earth and the Kingdom of God
among men. The Laws 'of God may be likened
unto the soul and material progress unto the body.
If the body was not animated by the soul, it would
cease to exist." Talks of 'Abdu'l-BahA, given
in Paris," p. 98.)
" The Word of God is the storehouse of all good,
all power, and all wisdom-. The illiterate fishers
a -nd savage Arabs were thereby enabled to solve
such problems as were puzzles to eminent sages.
It awakens within us. that brilliant intuition which
makes us independent of all tuition, and endows
us with an all-embracing power of understanding-
Mgany a soul in the ark of philosophy, after fruit-
less struggles has been - drowned in the sea of con-
flicting theories of cause and effect, while those on
board the craft of simplicity have reached the shoren
of the Universal Cause by the help of favourable
winds blowing from the point of Divine Know-
ledge.
" When man is associated with that transcend-
ent Power emanating from the Word of God, the
tree of his existence becomes so well rooted in the
soil of assurance that it remains firm amid the
violent hurricanes of scepticism and doubt which
attempt his destruction.
" For this association of the part with the whole
endows him with the Whole, and this unison
of the particular with the Universal makes him all
in all." ('Abdu'l-BahA Ahbbas.)

150
THE FEAST OF RIDVAN.

-b Bahá'ís all over g the
HIS Feast,is kept ly
world, to celebrate that most auspicious
Event in the world's History: BahA'u'-
11hh's Declaration of Himself as the Expected One,
Whom the BAb had Proclaimed'
It was in the Garden of Ri4vhn, outside Bagdad,
towards the end of April, 1863, that BabA'ull]Ah
Declared Himself to be that One for Whom the
people of all Ages, in accordance with the Prophe-
cies of the Hebrew, Christian, Moammadan, and
other great Religions, have waited-the Hope of
Israel- and the Desire of all Nations.
Therefore, this Feast is kept during the last
twelve days of April by BahAls in commemoration
of the time when, being Exiled and driven from

place to place under despotic Governments, be-
cause HisTeaching was gaming such hold on the
people wherever He went, Bahá"u'llAh was about
to be taken from Bagdad to Adrianople.
This Holy Feast was kept in London, at the
home of the writer, on April 24th, 1920, on which
occasion the following Tablet was received from
'Abdu'l-Bahá' to be read to the Friends assembled:

" 0 Friends and Handmaidens of God!
" To-day is the Day in which the Sun of Reality
has dawned from the Horizon of existence. Its
Daybreak is clear, and its Sunshine is bright with
such Power that obscuring clouds are dissipated.

151

" With the utmost brilliance It is luminous, and
shining from the horizon of the world. This is that
which causes created beings new exaltation.
" Consider y6, how much in this Cycle, Science
and Art are extended.
How strange Arts, and New things have
appeared 1
How the power of Thought has increased 1
And strange inventions have become ap-
parent.
" This Cycle contains in itself, the Wisdom of a
hundred Cycles: and if you gather the Wisdom
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
epistles which are compiled in -this: Those of this
Cycle are more than double those of past Ages.
Consider Ye the brilliance of the Sun. And re-
flect upon the effect which the brilliance of the
Sun of Truth has made upon the Human Creation.
" But a thousand times alas ! That eyes are
blind, and ears deaf, and the minds and hearts are
neglectful of this great Bounty!
"Then strive Ye -with heart and soul, that sleepy
ones may become awake! The blind have sight,
and the dead ones become alive I "
Upon Ye, be BahA el Abha!
(Signed) 'ABDU'L-BAiA ABBAS.

* Translated by Lotfullah S. Hakim-

152
CHILDHOOD OF BAHA'U'LLAH.

T was the custom of 'Abdu'l-BahA to give out
to the guests who met . around His hospit-
able Table both spiritual and material food,
serving the latter to His guests with His own hands.
From all parts of the world, from all religions
and races, and for many years they met around
His Table of Oneness in the utmost joy and har-
mony. Now, through the countless Tablets and
Talks which were given by Him, for them to give
again to the world, all may receive of the Spiritual
Bounty which makes the whole world One.

Speaking one day at Table on the childhood of
BahAVIIAh, He said :

" In the childhood of the blessed Beauty*

his father realised the remarkable powers
latent inhis boy, and used to treat him with the
utmost consideration and respect. - For his other
children he had but little regard, all his attention
being devoted to the Blessed Perfection. The signs
of majesty and greatness were apparent in him
from childhood. One day when he was quite a little
child he happened to walk near his father and
mother who were sitting together. His father re-
marked :
" ' This son of ours is peerless and unequalled,

*Bih~Vllah.

153

ao i kj

and is not to be compared with any other children,
not in- any way.'
" The mother said 'He is just a little lacking
in height--a trifle short.' I
" The father replied: 'What does that matter?
He is perfect in every way. If his height is not
great it is only that his brain is nearer his heart.'
"From childhood he had an extraordinary power
of attraction which was felt by all. Everybody
loved Him, and people were -so fond of Him that
they always crowded around Him. He was ex-
ceedingly generous, and a lover of outdoor
life. Most of His time was spent in the garden
or the fields. He was very fond- of talking with
people.
"Another incident occurred when he was seven
years old--just entering His eighth year. It was
customary in those days of autocratic government,
just as in the Middle Ages, for the Shah to make a
demand on any person, when he wanted money,
for a sum (it might be 256,000). He would tor-
ment the person until it'was paid. Ile Shah
several times cut 'Pieces of the ear off those un-
fortunate victims. Every time the Shah became
angry he would cut a piece off. Even one of the-
Viziers of Persia had pieces of his ear cut off.
"One day the Shah said again, 'Cut his ear!'
The Vizier cried: ' Wait; this is not grass that
grows again when it is cut. Nothing will be left
of my ear.'
"Once the Shah made such a demand on the

154

in
father of Bahh'uUh. He said after that a second
demand was made and also paid. Then a third
demand was made, this time much larger than he
could possibly pay. On such occasions the Shah
sent collectors to the house who took possession and
sold the furniture, etc. ~1 by auction. A thing worth
ten pounds would often be sold for one pound.
The collectors came and pressed Mirza Abbas
(Bahá"u'llAh's father) for payment. The Blessed
Beauty, then a boy of seven years, said I will
see this matter through.'
"The Shah was away at the time at a place ten

days journey on horseback from Tihrhn. The
weather was cold and there had been a heavy snow-
fall. The father did not wish him to go, but
BahAVIIAh said, ' I will go,' and the boy of seven
went. He saw the Prime Minister and talked with
him. The Prime Minister took him to the Shah.
ITe talked to the Shah as though he were a man of
thirty or forty and did not leave him tmtil the Shah
had written a-firman (decree) granting His request.
The ground was covered with snow. A man called
Assodullah Bagi, a private servant, rode with the
Blessed Beauty to Tihrhn, keeping the child in
front of him on a special saddle used for children,
and they rode the ten-days' trip in two-and-a-half
(lays, for His faffier was in distress. And at that
time there was no telegraph.
" On arrival he turned the collectors out of the
bouse.
"All the Ministers and people of the court would

155

III i~w ..................Not

surround the Blessed Beauty. The childre were
very fond of Him. When he was only thirteen. or
fourteen Ile became known for His learhing. He
conversed on many subjects, 'and solved many
problems. In large gatherings He would di&-
cuss matters with the Ulama (leading Mullahs),
and would explain intricate religious questions.
Some questions pertaining to the Muhammadan-
Religion had never been clearly explained which
were expounded by Bahá"u'lla.
When He was twenty-two ycar~ old g his father
died, and the Government wished Him to succeed
to His father's office, as was customary in Persia.
BahAVIIAh did not accept -the offer. Then the
Prime Minister said: 'Leave him to himself. He
ivill not descend to such a position. It is impos-
sible that He demean Himself thus. I cannot
understand Him; he has some greater purpose in
view. Ile has other thoughts; leave Him I
*Table talk at Haifa, Dec. 16th, 1919, translated by Lotfullah
S. Hakim,

156
THE OUTSTANDING .-EVENT IN
I THE WORLD'S HISTORY. .

0 the three wise men of the East who came
to worship Him, to Mary His mother,
and a few others, the birth of Jesus was
the greatest event in history up to that time. To
the majority it was a matter of insignificance.
Now, we all know that it had the greatest spiritual
significance.
Every age has its Prophets and Seers, and every
New Era has been denoted by the appearance of a
Divine Teacher who utters prophetic warnings
to the rulers of the earth. And though not de-
sired by them, He is in reality the " Desire of
Nations," and brings Divine Laws to lift oppres-
sion from the heart of Mankind. To-day, the
Bounty given through Bahá"u'llAh is great, because
the need which calls for it never was greater. And
we are better equipped to make it known to the
world than ever before.
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,"
without knowing that He has come and gone

157
.L

22 aa%~- 11111 ming a g 1- 11,1111

"like a thief in the night," as was prophesied of
Him. But it is not too late for ' every eye to see
Him," in spirit and in truth. For we, now, see
Jesus, - though His chosen friends slept around
Him in His darkest hour.
"The Root of all Knowledge is the Knowledge
of God: Glory be to Him! And this Knowledge
is impossible, save through His Manifestations."
" Above, the -din of many voices Bahi'u'llkh re-
veals the Will of God for this Age. Wherefore
when He appeared, the foundations of the world
trembled. The learned ones were bewildered, and
wise men confounded, save those who came near
unto Thee, and took from the Vine of Favour,
The pure Wine of Thy Inspiration, and drank in
Thy Name, saying:

Praise be unto Thee, 0 Desire of Nations!
Praise be unto Thee, 0 Beloved of the hearts
of yearning!

Had the Message of Bahh'u'llAh been heeded by
the rulers of the earth, the world would have been
spared the agonies it has since experienced. And
prosperity would have reached a greater height
the world over than it has yet dreamed of, or than
it can now hope for, for a long time to come. .
In the Name of God, BahA'u'llAh sent Tablets
to the Czar, to the Pope, to the Emperor of Ger-
many, to Napoleon the Third, to the Shah of Per-
sia, to. Queen Victoria, and others, urging all
monarchs to prepare for Peace.

158
" Upon reading the Tablef sent to her, Queen
Victoria said: ' If this is of God, it will stand.' "
"The Czar sent one of his nobility to investigate
the source of the Tablet received by him, and this
messenger returned with such impressive accounts
of his mission that the Czar became stirred with
visions o g f the 'Most Great Peace.' "
" BahA'u'llAh revealed in a Tablet to the King
in Berlin the following concerning his rule: '0
banks of the river Rhine! We have seen ye
drenched in gore, because the swords of retribu-
tion were drawn against ye: and ye shall have
another trouble. And we hear the lamentations
of Berlin, though it be io-day in manifest glory."
~ " He revealed to a prominent Turk (named

Rais) the following Tablet: ' The Land of Mystery
(Adrianople) and what is beside it will be changed,
and shall pass out of the hands of Turkey, and com-
motions shall appear, and lamentations arise, and
trouble become manifest on all sides."
"He also uttered the following judgment upon
Turkey (personified in Constantinople): '0 Point!
wh,ich liest between two seas; the throne of in-
justice hath been fixed in thee. . . . Thou shalt
perish-and -those people that are within thee shall
lament. "
" The messengers who conveyed the Tablet to
Egypt were made prisoners and sent into exile and
the Tablet i '(Ynored. "
" BahA'u'lla'b predicted the downfall of the Khe-
dive (Ismail Pasha), and that these messengers, in

159

a short while, would be released,. and would stand
in the presence of their beloved Master."
General Gordon soon after, in his political
campaign in Egypt, released those men and gave
them permission to return home, and the events
connected with the downfall of the Khedive at that
time are the property of history."
Napoleon received the Tablet addressed to him
with scorn and threw it away, saying: ' If he is
God$ I am two gods.' Bahh'u'llAh addressed a
second Tablet to him containing the following:
Because of what thou hast done, affairs shall be
changed in thy kingdom, and thy Empire shall
depart from thine hands as a punishment for thy
actions. Then shalt thou find thyself in manifest
loss, and commotion shall seize the people there,
unless thou arisest to assist in this matter, and-,
followest 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 thou
takest hold of this firm Rope. We 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 Ill., of his exile,
and his death."
" Bahi'u'lla'h sent a Tablet to the Shah of Per-
sia at a later period (from Acre). A youth bore it,

160
travelling on foot to Tibrin, and gave it to the
Shah as the latter rode through the streets. He
gave it, not as a petition, but as a command s ent
to him, saying: 'A Command-from one-whose
authority is higher than yours.' The. Shah learned
the contents and authorship of the letter. but the
young messenger Badi (the Wonderful) was
branded to death with red-hot bricks! When the
executioners were lifting these with iron tongues to
p ut them on his body, he declared that he wel-
seized them with his own
to- his bosom. This youth,
knowing that his life would be sacrificed, had
sought the privilege of being the bearer of this
Tablet from his Beloved."
11 Tihra'n, BahA'u'llhh blessed, and promised
that justice should reign therein."
comed. this martyrdom,

hands, and applied them

*"The Revelation of Bahá'V11a'h-" Isabeila D. Brithingham
Bahá''IPulblishingSociet__ JfC 9.A~

161

TABLET OF BAHAVU'LLA-H.

TABLET by Bahh'u'llAb to the Persian
Zoroastrian - Bahá'ís. Revealed in
the purest old Persian language,
without an Arabic word in it.
IN Tim NAmE OF GOD THE PEERLESS!

" Glory is due unto God ' the Discoverer., Who,
through'one shower of the ocean of His Generosity,
expanded the firmament of existence, begemmed
it with the stars of knowledge, and summoned the
people to the most high court of perception and
understanding!
This shower, which is the Primal Word of the
Almighty', is sometimes called ' the Water of Life,
for it quickens the dead souls in the desert of ignor-
ance with the spring of intelligence. Sometimes
it is called the First Emanation which appears from
the Sun of Wisdom, and when it began to shine,
the first movement became manifest and known,
then phenomena stepped into the arena of exist-
ence and these appearances were through the
generosity of the Incomparable, the Wise One.
" He is the Knower, the Giver! He is sancti-
fied and holy above every statement and attribute!
'The seen and the unseen fail to attain the measure
of His understanding. The world of being and

162
whatever has issued from it bears witness to this
utterance.
" Therefore it has bee b-me known that the first
bestowal of the Almighty, is the Word. The re-
ceiver and the acceptor of it is the understanding.
It is the First Instructor in the University of Ex-
istence and it is the Primal Emanation -of God.
Whatever has happened is through the reflection
of its Light and whatever is manifested is the ap-
pearance of its Wisdom. All the names originate
in His Name, and the beginnings and endings of
all affairs are in His Hand.
" Your letter came to this Captive of the world
in this prison. It brought happiness and increased
friendship; it renewed the remembrance of former
times. Thanks belong'to the Possessor of the
universe, 'Who permitted us to meet in the land
of Persia. - We met, we conversed, and we
listened. It is hoped that no forgetfulness shall
follow that meeting, that the revolving of the
wheel of time shall not take away'its remembrance

from the heart, and that the plants ofh love shall
grow out of that which is sown and become green,
verdant, and imperishable."
"h You have asked regarding the heavenly Books.
The pulse of the universe is in the hand of the skil-
ful Physician. He diagnoses the illness and wisely
prescribes the remedy. Every day has its own
secret and every tongue a melody. The illness of
to-day has one cure, and that of to-morrow
another. Look ye upon this day; consider and

163

discuss its needs. One -sees that existence is
afflicted with innuh-iefable diseases compelling it
to lie on the bed of suffering. Men who are in-.
toxicated with the wine of self-contemplation pre-
vent the wise Physician from reaching it. Thus
have they made the world and themselves to suffer.
They know not the ailment nor recognise the cure '
They take the wrong for the right, the crooked for
the straight, the enemy for the friend."

Hearken ye to the melody of this Prisoner!,
Stand up and proclaim. Perchance those who are
asleep may awaken g! Say, 0 ye dead ones! The
generous Hand of the Almighty is passing round
the Water of Eternal Life. h Hasten ye, and
drink! Whosoever shall become alive in this day,
shall never die, and whosoever dies in this day can
never find Life. 9.9

" Ye have written regarding the language:
Both Persian and Arabic are good, for that which
one desires to gain from language is to attain to
the meaning of the speaker and this can be accom-
plished in both. As in this day the Sun of Wis-
dom has appeared and shone from the horizon of
Persia, the more you respect that language the
better it is."

" 0 Friend! When the Primal Word ap-
peared in these latter days a number of the
heavenly souls heard the Melody of the Beloved
and hastened toward it, while others, finding tha,+
the deeds of some did not correspond Nvith their

164
words, were prevented from the Splendours of the
Sun of Knowledge."

" Say, 0 ye sons of earth! The Pure God pro-
claims that which in this glorious day shall purify
ye from the stains of desire and enable ye to attain
to tranquillity in My straight path, and My mami-
fest road. To be severed from attachment means
to be separated from those things which occasion
loss and lessen the grandeur of man. If the people
of the world should attain to the Heavenly Utter-
ances they would never be prevented from the
ocean of Divine Generosity."
" The Heaven of Righteousness has no star,
and never shall have one, brighter than this. The
first Utterance of the-Wise One is this: 0 ye sons

of earth! Turn from the night of foreignness and
turn to the Sun of Unity. This is that which shall
benefit the people more than aught else."

" 0 Friend! The tree of the Word has no
better Blossom and the Ocean of Wisdom shall
-never have a brighter Pearl than this: 0 ye sons of
intelligence! . The thin eyelid prevents the eye
from seeing the world and what isg cogntained there-
in. Then think of the result when the curtain of
greed covers the heart."
" Say, 0 People! The darkness of greed and
envy obscures the light of the soul as the cloud pre-
vents the penetration of the sun's rays.

" Should one listen with the ear of intelligence to
this Utterance, he shall spread the wings of free-

165

dom and soar with great joy towards the Heaven of
Understanding. " ,
" When the world was environed with darkness,
the Sea of Generosity was set in motion and Divine
Illumination appeared so that the deeds were dis-
closed. This is the same Illumination which ' is
promised in the heavenly books. Should the Al-
mighty desire the hearts of the people in the world,
He will purify and sanctify them with the power
of the Word, and will pour forth the Light of the
Sun of Unity upon the souls to regenerate the
world. "
." 0 People! The word must be demonstrated
by the deed, for the righteous witness of the word
is action. The formerwithout the latter shall not
allay the thirst of the needy nor open the doors of
sight to the blind."
" The Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth: A
harsh word is like a sword, but gentle speech is like
unto milk. The children of the world agttain to
knowledge and better themselves through this.
The tongue of Wisdom says: Whosoever possesses
gMe not has nothing. Pass by whatever exists in
this world and find Me. I am the Sun of Percep-
tion and the Ocean of Science. I revive the
withered ones and quicken the dead. I am that
Light which illumines the path of Insight. I am
the Falcon of the Hand of the Almighty; I bear
healing in my wings and teach the knowledge of
soaring to the Heaven of Truth."
" The Peerless Beloved says; The way of free-

166
dom is opened! Hasten ye! The fountain of
knowledge is gushing! Drink ye! Say, 0
Friends! The Tabernacle of Oneness is raised;
look not upon each other with the eye of strange-
ness. Ye are all the fruits of One Tree, and the
leaves of one Branch. Truly, I say, whatever
lessens ignorance and increases knowledge, that
has been, is, and shall be accepted by the Creator."
Say, 0 people! Walk ye 'Lmder the shade of
the Tree of Righteousness; enter ye under the pro-
tection of the Tent of Unity. Say, 0 thou Posses-
sorofSight! The past is the mirror of the future;
look and perceive. Perchance, after the acquire-
ment of knowledge, ye may know the friend and
attain to his good pleasure. To-day the best fruit
of the tree of Science and Knowledge is that which
benefits mankind and improves his condition." -
" Say the tongue is the witness of My Truth;

do not pollute it with untruthfulness. The spirit
is I the treasury of My mystery do not deliver it
into the hand of greed. It is hoped that in this
D b awn the universe shall become illumined with the
rays of the Sun of Understanding and Knowledge,
so that we may attain to the good pleasure of the
Beloved and drink from the Ocean of Divine
Recognition.
0 Friend! As there were few ears to hear,
so for some time the Pen hath been silent in its own
chamber and to such a degree that silence has pre-
ceded utterance. Say, 0 People! Words are
revealed according to capacity, so that the begin-

167

ners may make progress. The milk must be given
according to the measure, so. that the childhood of
the world may enter into the realm of grandeur
and be established in the Court of Unity."
" 0 Friend! We have seen the pure ground
and cast the seed of knowledge. Now it depends
upon the rays of the Sun whether it is burned up
or is caused to grow. Say to-day through the
greatness of the Peerless Wise One, The Sun of
Knowledge has appeared from behind the veil of
the Spirit and all the birds of the meadow of one-
ness are intoxicated with the wine of Understand-
ing and are commemorating the Name of the Be-
loved. Happy is the one who finds this and
becomes immortal."

(Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Chicago,
Ill., Sept. 8th, 1909, and taken from " BahA'i
News," 1910-1911.-" Star of the West," Vol. I.)

There are few persons - now living who saw
BahA'u'llhh. Professor Edward G. Browne,
famous for his knowledge of the Orient, describing
his visit (Wednesday, April 15th, 1890) as the
culminating event of his journey, says:
No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as
I bowed myself before One who is the object of a
devotion and love which kings might envy and
emperors sigh for in vain. A mild dignified voice
bade me be seated, and then continued: ' Praise
be to God that thou hast attained! . . . . Thou

168
bast come to see a prisoner and an exile. . .
We desire the good of the world and the happiness
of the nations: yet they deem -Us a stirrer-up of
strife 'and sedition worthy of banishment. . . .
That all nations should become one in faith and
all mgen brothers; that the bonds -of affection and
unity between the sons of men should be strength-
ened: that diversity of,Religion should cease, and
difference of race be annulled-what harm is there
in this? . . . . Yet so it shall be : these fruitless
strifes, these ruinous wars 'h shall pass away, and the
1;4 MOST GREAT PEACE " shall come. . . .
Do you not in Europe need this also? Is not this
that which Christ foretold? . . . . Yet do we -see.
your kingsand rulers lavishing their treasures more
freely on means for the destruction of the human
race than on that which would conduce to the
happiness of mankind. . - These strifes and

this bloodshed and discord must cease and all men
be as one kindred and family. . . . Let no man
glory in this, that he loves his country; let him
rathef glory in this, that he loves his kind.

Two years after this visit of Professor Browne
which he describes in the Introduction to " A
Traveller's Narrative ~9 (Cambridge: 1891),
BahAVIIAh passed to a higher plane, and many
years before His ascension He appointed His eldest
son, " The Greatest Branch "-'Abdu'l-BahA
Abbas, as " the Centre of the Covenant " and the
only Commentator of His Divine Teachings.

169

A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY
AND BAHki MARTYRDOMS.

HE hordes of darkness have always imag-
ined they could extinguish the Light of
the World, by killing the Lamp Bearers,
but even a slight glance at History should make
plain the futility of such a course. Yet, alas! it
is not plain, to many, who should be pointing it
out.
We know that although the body of Jesus was
crucified, He-has proved the Resurrection of His
Spirit which no man can kill. And so it is again,
in the Present-Day Visitation of the Spirit. The
evidences given later are sufficient to show this,
though they deal only with the Martyrdoms
which occurred during a few years; but if given in
full, from the time of the Declaration of the BAb,
until now, they would fill volumes.
It is, however, suggested by a Persian friend,
that it would be in place to corroborate BahA'i
statistics by the recorded impressions of one who
was not a BahA'i, but a Christian Missionary.
Five Years in a Persian Town,
Yezd," the Rev. Napier Malcolm, C.M.S., al-
though he found BahA'i Martyrdoms too revolting
re - co , rd, iye~ e-taft- -too horrible for
-gi d Is of one

170
repetition here, and in his endeavour to analyse
the difficulties in which he found himself, -could not
help recording his general impression of others;
and he acknowledges there were signs that Persia
might become wholly Bahh'i, and that such an idea
is h not confined to Missionary circles.
In the Western Hemisphere, we had flattered
ourselves that the world had -seen the last of re-
ligious martyrdoms, but if one only glances afthe
index to Mr. Malcolm's book., it will be readily
seen that although he tried hard- to restrain it,
his mind reverted again and again to the BahA'i
Faith, because he was puzzled by the Power which
strengthened weak mortals to testify of It in Mar-
tyrdom.
The index to " Five YeaA in a Persian Town
shows t hat -the pages on which the BahA'1 Faith
and -its martyrs are mentioned, far outnumber the
indexed particulars on other matters.
The reality of Mr. Malcolm's Christian Spirit
is evident throughout in his endeavours and per-

severance in the town of Yezd; for he seems to
have,lcft no stone untumed in his heroic efforts to
make Christian converts. And looking on (through
his own story) from the outside, what with the
racial, religious, political, industrial and social
difficulties which surrounded him, these, increased
by language difficulties, made it well nigh impos-
sible for him to cope with his situation.
Without the key, how can one unlock the doors
which mystify the mind! Does not prejudice

171

(even though unconscious, when born of preferen-
tial habit) bolt the doorsof understanding? There-
fore, BahAVIIA'h has decreed " the abolition of
racial, religious, political, indusitrial, and social
prejudices.
Mr. Malcolgm records onlv one instance of con-
verting a BahA'i -to eiiig-istianity . a 9 nd'ibuswoves
thai"a though be tried so hard to find it, he no;
Che the
Yr-uth~ of -the mat-ter w~uld have revealed the fact,
that no BahA'l can be converted to accept Christ.
For all BahAis accept Christ! The difference be-
tween himself and his supposed convert would be
that Bahá'ís recognise the Christ Spirit inaill God's
Messengers. It is the Spirit of the Eternal Crea-
tive " I ANT." Therefore IT must, as declared
ky the Prophets, Manifest Itself when necessary
and natural, in the Order of Time.
Unlike those of less Catholic Faith, Bahá'ís are
forbidden to proselytise. We recognise that
Truth is One, for God does not speak once ognly
to the world! And speaking more than once,
does not congtradiet Himself.

172
1010 1110 IN Al I I I

BAH,k'i PRECEPTS.

Tghe great purpose of the Revelation- of BaUV
HAh is to unite all the races-:.,and religlons~of the
world in perfect harmony.
Warfare must be Abolished,- and inUrnaiional
-,difficulties are to be settled by a Council of Arbi-
tration.
It iss commanded that everyone. should practise
some trade, art, or profession. , Work done in a
faithful spirit of service 'is accepted- as an act -of
worship.
and begging are strictly forbidden,
a nd work must be provided for all.
There is to be no priesthood -apart from the
laity.
Ile, practice of Asceticism, living the hermit,
life or-in secluded communities is discouraged.
Monogamy is enjoined.
Education for all, boys and girls equally, is com-
manded as a religious duty-the childless should
educate a child.

The equality of men and women is asserted.
A universal language as a means of international
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. The administration of charitable
funds, the provision for widows and for the sick
and disabled, the education and care. of orphans,
will be arranged and managed by elected
Councils.*(Compiled by F. J. Rosenberg.)
173

I I 'Aa - &K~

KINDNESS Toh ANIMALS.

QUES'TIONED on kindness to animals,
'Abdu'l-BahA said: -
0 Ye Friends of God!
The foundation of the Kingdom of God is laid
on justice, fairness, mercy, sympathy and kind-
ness to every ~oul. Then strive Ye, with heart
and soul to practise love and kindness to the world
of humanity at large, except to those souls who
are selfish and insincere. It is not advisable to
show sympathy to a person who is a tyrant, a
traitor or a thief, because kindness encourages him
to become worse and does not awaken him. The
more kindness you show to a liar the more he is
apt to lie, for he thinks that you know not while
you do know and extreme kindness keeps you from
revealing your knowledge.

Then 0 Ye Friends of God! Ye must not only
have kind and merciful feelings for mankind, but
you should also exercise the utmost kindness to
every living creature. The physical sensibilities
and instincts are common to animal and man.
Man is, however, negligent of this reality and
imagines that sensibilify is peculiar to mankind;
therefore he practises cruelty to animals. In
reality, what difference is there in physical sensa-
tions? Sensibility is the same whether you harm
man or animal : : there is no difference. Nay
rather, cruelty to the animal is more painful
because man has a tongue and he sighs, complains

174
and groans when he receives an injury, and com-
plains to the Government, and is protected from
cruelty. But the'poor am*mal cannot speak, it
can neither show its suffering, nor is it able to
appeal to the Government. If it is harmed a -thou-
sand times by man, it is not able to defend itself
in words, nor can it seek justice, or retaliate.
Therefore one must be very considerate towards
animals, and show greater kindness to them than
to man.

Educatethe ehildren in their infancy in such a
way that they may become exceedingly kind and
merciful to the animals. If an animal is sick,
they should endeavour to cure it. If it is hungry,

they should feed it. If it is thirsty, they should
satisfy its thirst. If it is tired, they should give
it rest. Man is generally sinful and the animal is
innocent: Unquestionably one must be more kind
-and merciful to the innocent. The harmful
animals, such as the bloodthirsty wolf, the poison-
ous snake and other injurious animals are excepted,
because mercy towards these is cruelty to man and
other animals. For instance, if you show kind-
ness to a wolf, this becomes a tyranny to the sheep,
for it may destroy a whole flock of sheep. If you
give an opportunity to a mad dog it may be the
cause of the destruction of a thousand animals and
man. Therefore sympathy to the ferocious animal
is cruelty to the peaceful animal, so ferocious
animals should be done away with.

To the blessed animals, however, the utmost

175

kindness should be exercised: the more, th~ 11 better
it will ~, be. gthis sympathy and kindn~sgs is one
of the ftmdarnental principles of the Divine King_
dom.
You should pay great attention to this question.
Upon Ye be the Glory of Abha 1.

(Signed) 'ABDU'L-BAHA ABBAS.

Translated by Azizullah S. Bah~dur, No-vember
12th, 1920. Haifa, Palestine.

176
PURITY AND CLEANLINESDIVINE LAWS- OF THE MOST
MERCIFUL.

9,4%,pHE forcible way in which Bahi'u'llih
has stated the necessity of cleanly
virtues and the eloquent manner in
which he has derrionstrated. their properties and
benefits, has never before been equalled in the
heavenly books of other Religions. - . . h . 19
In regard to cleanliness, notwithstanding the
manifest advancement of some refined nations, it
is evident that this praiseworthy quality is still im-
perfect among the masses."
" In books of the Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians
and Hindoos, although the laws of cleanliness and
ordinances concerning clean and unclean things
are minutely recorded, yet 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 acquired insanity which is amazing to people of
intelligence. "

177

" Although the American and European
Christians, more- particularly the inhabitants of
Holland, France, England and Germany, are far
more advanced than other nations in the cleanliness
of their persons, clothing, residences, roads and
streets,, yet they do not deem it necessary to
cleanse the soil of impurities, unless they cause
visible dirt. In the New Testament no -command
is definitely given to avoid that which is filthy and
impure. Consequently, one who has a concep-
tion of real cleanliness would not hesitate to con-
clude that perfect cleanliness as a practice is in its
infancy, even amongst the most refined nations
of the world, awaiting the time when God the
Exalted, sball bring it to the highest pitch of per-
fection. "

" Now, in order to show forth the abundant and
perfect benefits of God in this Dispensation, to
protect people from the melancholic imaginations
current among some nations and deliver more than
one half of the population of the earth from an
acquired insanity, the Blessed Perfection has pro-
nounced all things clean. At the same time He
has emphatically commanded all to avoid every-
thing filthy and to cleanse dresses, bodies, and
household furniture., etc., from every pollution.
He has revealed these ordinances in the book of
Aqdas and numerous Tablets, so that real cleanli-
ness and perfect purity, which are high attributes
of heavenly souls, may shine forth throughout all

178
regions , and reach the highest zenith of perfection
among all nations."
~~ " Thus it is revealed in the book of Aqdas:

" Cleanse every impure thing with a water
which will not change by the ' three ' (colour,
taste, smell,)-beware not to use a water which is
infected by stagnant air or by any other thing.
Be the essence of cleanliness among Mankind."
" This is that which your Master, the Mighty,
the Wise, has desired for you. Thus, God hath
removed the , decree of uncleanliness, from all
things, and from other nations, as a gift from God.
Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Beneficent.
~ All things are being submerged in the
Sea of pureness. . . . This is through My
Favour, which surrounds all the creatures., so that
they may consort with all religions, and deliver the

Cause of your Lord the Clement. Verily, this is
the Crown of all deeds, were ye of those who
know! Likewise forsake foul tanks in the houses
and be of those whog are pure. Verily, we have
desired. to see you the manifestations of Paradise
on earth, so that there may emanate from you
that whereat the hearts of near ones may rejoice."

11 It is necessary to explai n these points, so that
the inhabitants of America,, and Europe, who
owing to the universal spread of civilization during
the last century, eRjoy all the benefits of cleanli-
ness, neatness, and protection from fatal epidemic
diseases resulting from uncleanliness may become

179

cognisant of the disasters of the Orient, and be in-
.formed of the reason why these ordinances have
been revealed. For except one is informed of the
foulness of the baths of Persia, the putrid tanks
of their houses and mosques, the impurity of the
drinking water of Bokara andTartary : and under-
stands how cleanliness and neatness are neglected
by those two great nations, it is impossible to
realise the Bounty of God the Exalted, Who has
revealed such ordinances; or to thoroughly under-
stand the necessity of these laws. For it is cus-
tomary with the Persian people to have but one
public bath for every district which contains from
one thousand to fifteen hundred houses, and their
means of bathing and cleanliness is confined to this
one bath. It consists of two houses, built of stone,
brick and cement: one for disrobing, the other'
containing the hot bath, for bathing and cleansing
their bodies. They are frequently shaved and dye
their hair in the same place. Then washing them-
selves with soap, they take a final plunge into the
same reservoir, the water of which is the foulest
and most impure thing imaginable; and then leave
the bath. Stich are the baths used by fiftymillions
of Shi'ites who inhabit Persia, Turkestan, and
India. The reservoirs of Bokara and Tartary
which contain the drinking water of the inbabi-
tants, are also used for bathing and cleansing, like
the Persian baths.
In these countries a pond is
built at different places in every town and village
and surrounded with mulberry trees, etc. In

180
-these ponds the inhabitants perform their ablu
tions-9 while at tgbe same time they wash their feet,
and handkerchiefs therein.The decaying leaves
of the surrounding trees fall into the g m, (this same
water is used by the inhabitants for drinking and
cooking.) It is called ' pure water' by the law
so the inhabitants believe it allowable to use.
Therefore many of the inhabitants of Bokara are
afflicted with ' Filiaria medinensis,' and the
people of Kookand with goitre.When men of
discernment ponder over the facts here briefly indi
cated, they will be able to realise the Mercy of God
in instituting ordinances, for the preservation of a
community numbering over three hundred mil
lions.For it is impossible to change by the com
pulsion of kings or advice of *wise men, certain
rooted practices of a people who believe these prac

tices to be commanded by their religion. These
customs and habits can only be removed by new
laws instituted by manifestations of the Command
of God.For instance the traditional customs of
the Jews, extracted from the book of Meshna, and
which are not enacted in the original Bible, could
not be changed by the power of any mighty king
or philosopher. This is the case with the corrupt
s and Magians. 'To sum
practices of the Hindoo
up; a number of moral ordinances which secure
the perfecting of human virtues have been revealed
from the Supreme Pen, but to explain their bene-
fits i,-, not possible in the limits of a short treatise."
" As human minds are discordant, and as it is
191

usually impossible for men of sound minds to agree
upon that which. will secure the protection and
development of peoples, therefore God the
Exalted, has assigned the enactment of such laws
to the Manifestations of His Own Command.
These Holy Souls, through their divine perception,
enact rules and regulations by which the support
and progress of society is accomplished and ad-
vanced for about one thousand years. Then, in
accordance with the law of progression and decline,
which is one of the essential decrees of the world of
Nature, the same Divine Spirit will be manifested
in another Manifestation Who renews these laws
and regulations.
-The life and sustained vitality of nations can
only be assured by appreciating this great gift.
Mere faith in religion, without observing its laws
and ordinances, can by no means secure our salva-
tion and emancipation. Even love for God with-
out compliance with His laws and Commandments,
which form the corner -stone of all religious ordin-
ances, will be considered as mere imagination and
sheer pride. From it is also understood that any
nation which ignores and disobeys these holy laws,
refusing to acknowledge the Dawning-place there-
of, is a dead nation and will be finally extinguished
and destroyed; even though it may have prevailed
over the dominions of East and West, and be
honoured by brilliant learning, glorious influence
and powerful armies. This in~ made clear by re-
flecting upon the rise and fall of the Pharaohs of

182
Egypt, the Pagan Coesars of Rome -and Keyanian
kings of Persia, the Yemen Princes of Ancient
Arabia, and the kings and descendants of Gengiz-
Khan the 'Mongol-

'But whatever nation acknowledg . es the Holy
Manifestation and obeys the Holy Law, will be-

come a living nation, and enjoy victory, Perman-
ence, influence, and fanie; even though it may
seem at the beginning., weak, oppressed, and few
in number. This point was vividly illustrated in
the Israelites at the appearance of Moses; in the
Christians at the Advent of Christ; and in the
Arabs at theRise of M4ammad."
The passages above quoted are taken from
BahA'i Proofs," written by Abul Fazl, an able
exponent of the BahA'! Teachings, honoured for his

learning and his saintly devotion io the Religion of
God, and are given here in order that the reader

may benefit by his able instruction and seek fur-
tber confirmation in the reasons he gives for accept-
ing the Manifestation of God, in our own Day.

Abul Fazl submits for the consideration of his
readers that " greater laws concerning every point
or subject referring to the preservation of society
and the perfecting of human virtues could not be
found, than the Divine Commands from the
Supreme Pen of the Blessed Perfection,
BahAVIIA,h.

(*,See " Bahá"I Proofs." Abul Fazl. Cliapter on His Holiness
BahhVll-Ali)

183

h'g

T& -L
u d be recognised that Christians wil
naturally feel anxious about some social solutions.
And particularly that concerning marriage. In
that matter Christians have been ahead of Muslims.
In the matter of strong drink they are behind;
and the problems relating to family life are not
merely concerned with marriage. Therefore,
Divine Wisdom solves difficulties from more than
one point of view, as we shall find in the laws and
regulations given through Bahh'u'llhh in the
KitAbu'l-Aqdas (Book of Laws).

It is not at all certain that the great multitudes
who pray for the Kingdom of God to come on
earth, are really expecting it to come through the
perfecting of human virtues. In other Religions,
besides the Christian, what the individual believes.,
or confesses verbally, has too often been taken to
certify salvation.
But in this day, BahAVIIAh says:
Decorate vourselves with the garment of'
deeds; whosoever attains God's good pleasure by
deeds is of the people of BahA, and he will be
spoken of before the Throne. Assist ye the King
of Creation, first by deeds, then by Wisdom and
utterances. Thus ye have been commanded in
most of the Holy Tablets from the Presence of
the Clement One.
" Decorate your heads with the crown of trust-
worthiness and faithfulness; your hearts with the

robe of piety, your tongues with pure truthfulness,
and your temples with the mantles of courtesy."

184
WORDS OF BAHAU'LLAHO-11
God shall hoist the Standard of His, sove-
reignty over every city, and the traces of those who
have denied thie Day of His Coming shall be
destroyed. Be thou straightforward before God
at every instant, then praise Him by the morn and
eventide."

WORDS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA.

" The Bahh'i Temple at I-shq-hbhd has nine
avenues, nine gardens, and nine fountains. SO it
is nine on nine,, all nines. It is like a beautiful

bouquet. Imagine an edifice of this beauty in the
centre of the city, very lofty, surrounded by gar-
dens with variegated flowers, and nine avenue - s in-
terlacing nine gardens, nine pools -and nine foiin----
tains, and think how delightful it must be! That is
the way it shgould be. It is maichless, most beauti-
ful! Such is the design."
" TheTemple of Ishq-AbAd is unique in that it is
the first Temple of the kind that has been erected.
Many such temples shall be constructed in the
future, but this one will ever enjoy this unique
privilege. When its accessories are completed and
its full machinery starts running, when the melody
of instrumental and vocal music arises and bursts
upon the air with its joyous trends, when the
prayers and supplications addressed at dawn and at
sunrise ascend to the Throne of the Almighty, then
will the effect of the Ma-sbriqu'l-Adbkhr be evident
and manifest."

185

ng
Temples are symbols of the reality and divinity
of God, the Collective Centre. Consider how,
within a Temple, every race and people- are seen
and represented-all in the presence of the Lord,
covenantina toaether in a covenant of love and
fellowship, aH offering the same melody, prayer
and supplications to God. It is evident that the
church is A collective centre for Mankind. For
this reason there have been churches and temples
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
Centre, of which the church is but a symbol."
It is proved that the Manifestationsh of God-
the great Mouth-pieces of God-are the Collective
Centres of God. - The gprophets of God are these
Collective Centres; for they are the real shepherds.
Tghe real shepherd unites the scattered sheep, as
they have done in the past.; The Collective Centre
has ever appeared from the Orient. His Holiness
Abraham was a Collective Centre and He appeared
in the East. His Holiness Moses was a Collective
Centre and He appeared in the East. His Holi-
ness Jesus Christ was a Collective Centre and He
appeared in the East. His Holiness Muhammad
was a Collective Centre appearing among the
nomadic tribes of the Arabian peninsula."
- " To-day, His Holiness BahA'u'llAh is the Col-
,lective Centre for all Humanity, and He has come
from the East."

186
THE MASHRIQU~L-ADHKAR
ASKHABAD, RUSSIA.
FOUNDATION STONE LAID
NOVEMBER 12th, 1902.

THE NIAS-ffRIQU'I--AI)HK~R AT ASKHABAD
HISTORIC NOTE.

AM Alpha! and Omega! "' The Begin-
ning, and the Ending, saith. the- Lord.
Therefore in His Sight all things which
appear are seen from the Beginning. The Ije-
sign is His. That Eternal " I " which to Phari-
sees, Sadducees, and Greeks, was but " foolish-
ness when the Christ, said: " Before Abraham
was, I AM," is the Cause of all appearances in theh
visible world,' and of 'the Manifestation, and
Return, of the Spirit incarnate.*
When 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 all
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 to 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 BahA'i Cause will make it quite
clear: For in this Latter Day Movement to pro-
mote Harmony in the worldh-Martvrs have taken
a prominent part, in furtherance of it.

* "By 'Return,' is Yneant the Return of the Manifestation
of the Sacred Reality." See " BahA'i Proofs." Abul Fazl. P. 155.

189

. Only a note can here be given indicative of the
connection This Day has with those other Days
of God, without which., This Day could not be.
A " Thousand years," in God's Sight, are but as
yesterday. " One Day telleth another, and the
firmament showeth His handiwork." So sang
David,, and so we sing. But if everybody who
sings it understood it, there would be no need of
martyrs to prove it.
In This Day, the BAb, or Gate, was born in
Shirhz, Persia, 1819, A.D. He prepared the way
for, and Announced "Him Whom God would
Manifest." As John the Baptist prepared the
way for Jesus: So the BAb prepared the way for
BahAVIIA'h. Six years after the BAb had declared
His Mission, He was shot for His Faith, at Tabriz;
1850. His earthly father was a merchant of wool-
len goods.
" Bahh'u'IlAh was born in TihrAn,, Nov. 1817,
A.D. As a child He was distinguished for re-
markable sagacity and -spiritual discernment, al-
though He was not taught by anybody-. Appar-
ently, He had acquired the elements of Persian
reading and writing from His father and other near
kinsmen. In His youth, His father, who was one
of the ministers of State, died, and the -charge of
his brothers and sisters, who were all younger than
Himself, fell upon Him. He did not care to enter
any of the Government services, but provided sus-
tenance for the whole family through the manage-
ment of His inherited lands and pronerties. When

190
the BAb appeared in Shigraz, Bahi'u'llhh, Who was
about twenty-seven years of age, publicly accepted
His Claim, and endeavoured to the utmost, to. pro-
mote the word of the BAb, both in TihrAn and
Mazanderan, especially among the religious doctors
at Noori, so that thegrenown I of His knowledge and
the power of His reasoning raised an excitement
among the leading men of those districts. By this,
many were led to embrace the Religion, and others
were stirred to jealousy and insolence."
After He had resided and travelled in the dif-
ferent districts of Mazanderan, He returned to
TihrAn, where He continued to spread the prin-
ciples of the religion and spiritual teachings,
supporting and encouraging the BAbis, until the
attempt against the life of Nasiri'd-din ShAh
happened. The substance of this great event is as
follows

A young man of Tabriz, Muhammed Sadek by
name, who was a servant of one of the prominent
BAbis, g and devotedly attached to his master, be-
came oppressed and bereft of reason on account of
the martyrdom of the latter. Having made up his
mind to blood revenge, he divulged his secret to
one of his confidential friends whom he knew to be
one of the staunch believers of the BAb. These
two went to Tihrhn, concealing their intention
from all their friends, and even from the BAbis.
As the ShAh went out of the city, sojourning
among his country resorts at -Shamiran, they
directed their steps toward the village of Niavaran.

191
N

On Sunday, 15th August, 1852 (12~O A.H.)?
they were in the vicinity qf the village, near thg
Royal Palace, with the intention of carrying out
their plot. When th Shih went out to ride,
Muhanime4 Sadek adv4nced, and fired a pistol sh ot
at him. The shot missed itis mark, as the horw
bolted, and the ShAh being much agitated, fell off
his horse and fainted. The attendants rushe4
forth, picked up the Shib, and slew Muhammed
Sadek on the Spot. As he was killed instantly, he
could pot be questioned as to what led him to com-
mit this abominable act, a d as to -who had been
his associate. But as he had been a servant of one
of the prominent Bibis, that community was un-
justly accused of the deed, and notwithstanding
they knew nothing whatever of this plot, they were
arrested and fell victims to the wrath of tho
revengeful _ShAh. Eighty of them were seized in
Tihra'n, and given up separately to a different
class of people to be executed. The adirninistra-
tors deemed it advisable to have each one of these
victims murdered by one sect4on of the citizens,
and thus show hatred and eninit between the dif-
_YJ -
ferent classes of Shi'ites and the BAbis. By this
m,eans: they sought to prevent the spread of the
13Ab'.s Religion. Consequently they distributed
the helpless B4bi ' s to various parties of people; one
to the book-keepers, one to the soldiers, one to thq
learned doctors, one to the merchants., carpenters,
Wacksmit si drapc~s; the shoe-makers, cob-
bliprs i ce merchants, ~tc.Each one of thew
, ri

M
classes slew its victim as they chose o e w re
In
cut lengthwise alive; some were blown from
mortars, and some chopped ~R pieces, The JK4djar
youths of Astrabad, in order t . try the strength of
0
their arms, cut their unfortunate ca iives i tQ
P I T1
halves with their swords. Among them, one who
died in an incredibly horrible manne, , was S*yn
Mgxi-~Chan, the son of Yava-Khan of Tabriz, Who
was a most devoted follower of the BAb. Wh n
the order was issued for execution, they first
stripped him, and made holes in his body with
knives. In these holes they placed lighted wax
candles, put a halter through his nose and paraded

him around the markets Of Tilirin. Whep 4
candle burned down to his flesh and was consumed
they would put another in its place. Bystanders
were watching the scene and following in great
crowds; while he was silent and patient, not evincT
ing the least trace of agitphttion; nor did he *oan
gi
or plead for mercy, which is the natural tendency
of man under such circumstances, Way, he exr
pressed great joy and cheerfulness, with a shinin
.9
face, while singing and chanting verses of yearrL~
ing, so that the hard hearts of the bystanders werle
4ected with emotion, and all the inhabitants of
TihrAn, both old and yolin nished.
g, were asto
Finally, after this torture, they cut him in half
lengthwise, and hung the two parts on either side
of the old city gate of Abdul-Azim.
It is sai,
h d that when the matter waxed so friszht-
fpl, the Iman Joma (chief leader of prayer) of
193

Tihrin, conferred with the ShAh and blamed him
for these outrages., Some'state -that one- of the
foreign Ambassadors warned the ShAh that should
afi ther BAbi, victim show forth such st adfastness
no e
at the time of his execution, half the people would
embrace BAbism, after Which checking the matter
would be extremely difficult. The ShAh therefore
prohibited the taking of any action against the
BAbis without investigation; but since that time,
the justice awarded to these devoted people has
been similar to that given by the Council of the
Inquisition to the heretics of Rome. In fact a
man's acknowledgement of Ba'bism before the
Government was considered as confessing the
greatest crime, which should be punished with
death, no matter how high a character., or what
qualifications of virtue and sanctity he possessed.
Very often the finding of a BAbi Book in a person'~j
possession, his conversing or dealing with the
Ba'bis, or pleading for one, accused of BAbism,
would be considered as a'crime -by the clergy.
Many a time if they fougnd in the pocket of an
accused one a torn piece of 'paper bearing the
words: ' Allah'u'Abha! ' C God is Glorious'),
or the name of Beha or BAb , they needed no fur-
ther witness to prove his infidelity..

" One of the men arrested and imprisoned was
the blessed person of BabAVIIAh. He was in the
village of Afelia, one of the surrounding districts
of TihrAn. When the report.of the attempt
upon the ShWs life came to Him, He, knowing
w
194
that the prominent Ba'bis had, no connection with
the matterY roac-forth:with perfect comp - osu re to
Nivavaran, where he Was imprisoned, and chained
for about four months in the gaol of TihrAn'.
After strict examination and enquiry, it wasg finally
proven that He had no connection whatever with
the criminals, and that He knew nothing of the
matter. 'The -ShAh therefore- ordered that He
should depart to. Irak Arabi, and abide in the holy
sanctuaries of the Shi'ite Imams (Kerbela, Nejef,
and Bagdad), which are places of exile for the men
of distinction of Persia. Accordingly in the year
1269 A.H. (1852 A.D.) he departed to Irak,
escorted by some of the' delegates of the Persian
Government, and took up his residence at Bag-
dad. Bahd'i Proofs." Abul Fazl. Trans-

lated by Ali Kuli Khan.)
Among the earlier Martyrs was Qurratu'l-'Ayn,
named by Bahá"u'llhh, Tahira, the Pure One.
Her spirit had for some time sought the Coming
One with such longing, that being well acquainted
with Digvine Prophecy she at once recognised the
Ba'b, through His Teachings, and set out to meet
Him. But religious hatred and persecution Was
at that time rife in Persia, and having been driven
from place to place, He was then in prison, only
to be released in Martyrdom. So she never saw
Him. But, with the swiftness of her keen
spiritual perception, she soon came to recogruse
Bahá"ullilh as the One, Whom, according to the
Declaration of the Bllb9 " God would Manifest." ,

195

in the story of her search, her Ue, devotion,
pei~seciltiong, and cruel Martyrdom, have some
rilli
the most brilliant and th 'ng episodes of any
ardent soul in'Sacred History. For she at all
-times rose -with rapture above every trial which
beset her, astonishing and charming friends and
strangers alike by her eloquence and -spiritual
grandeur, And by the grace and beauty of her
personality. Though she knew, by her- clear
vision, aforetime, what would -befall her., and pre-
paring herself in prayer and meditation, after
bathing and robing in white, she went with
wonderful fortitude to the end which awaited her.
After being taken to a garden, she was strangled
with a silken handkerchief, and while still uncon-
sciou, thrown into a well by a hired murderer,
who was first made drunken, lest he -should refuse
to carry out this evil deed; as the first one ap-
pointed lo do it, on seeing and speakling-with her
had i6fused, at all costs to himself, for it became
clear that death was certain for him, in any case,
and he preferred not to befoul his soul with murder
at the time of its nearness; for in the few minutes'
speech he had with Qurratu'I'Ayn, he became
convinced of the truth and sincerity of the Cause
for which she was then giving up her life. Such
was the power of her eloquence, that she could
c I onvert a hired murderer, who was not under the
influence of strong drink. Oh! look to her, and
read of her faith and devotion, all ye who may
be in danger of becoming that which ye would not

I %~
De, under the paftlysil6j, itiffietice 6f stroift drilik.
Readers will do well lb *ad the JtdUer 2Wddftb
of her life and love for the cause 6f Godi which
are being written, and those which already are
written niore fully than her6.*
From an abbreviated account of the sortow-~
fulevents concernib:g .. the Maftvrdoms in Yetd iknd
IsfAhAn, in 1903," it is difficult to qti6te., g forwe
have not known such fierce religious persecution
in the Occident; especially in our own lifetiriae we
have been free from persecution, though not from
blindness, superstition, or oppression. The follow-
ing passages show that religious hatred was so fierce
in Persia at that time that the Government in that
country could not cope with it.
t " There were two pure women, who , while
mourning for their martyred deadi were attacked

by cruel men, who first beat and tortured them,
and then dragged then!, still alive, out of their'
houses, afterwhich they stabbed them and chopped
them to pieces in the presence of the bloodthirsty
t-rowd. When the audacity of the rabble reached
this point, the Governor, findi - ng himself powerless
f . 6 stand against the rioters, fled from the city- and
retired to the citadel for self-preset Vation."
It is reported that a balker was captured, and
that his body was chopped to pieces with meat axeso
and that during the time of his torture, he prayed

0 (Ste "Go&s Heroes," LautA Clifford BArfiey, Kegan Paul.)
t (" Bahál 1 Maittyrdoins gin Ptrsia, 1903." Baba"i Publishing
Society, Chicago.)
i07

that God would forgive his -murderers, joyfully,
giving gilp his life in the Path of God,- rather than
deny his Faith."
" It is reported that the number of those killed,
up to that day, is more than one hundred and fifty
persons within the walled city of Yezd. In the
surrounding small villages many people were mar-
tyred in each place. A telegram. was received in
Tihr~n to the effect that the Governor, being
pressed by the rioters, was compelled to blow one
of the friends of God from the mouth of a cannon,
and to behead another in the circle of the city'
The mob put a woman in a sugar sack, over which
they poured petroleum, and burned her alive.
They tied and nailed another believer to a tree,
poured naphtha and oil over him and burned the
tree and the man together."
" In a village near the city there lived Jenabe
Sadre, Jenabe Nutamed-u-Shariah, Jenabe Nezam-
u-Shariah, Jenabe Ziali-u-Shariah, with all their
faiiglilies and kinsmen. They were venerable Ulla-
mas and Seyids, and had all received titles from
the ShAh; yet the Mullahs sanctioned the massacre
of all these honourable and revered souls. The
mob, excited by the clergy, attacked them with
guns, swords, etc. Though these noble souls were
sufficient in number to stand against them, and
were provided with ample means of defence, yet
in accordance with the command of the Blessed
Perfection, Bahh'u'llhh, "Let yourselves be killed
rather than to kill," they yielded their lives witho h ut
resistance to the bloodthirsty, Wolves, w-ho.9 stretch-
ing- out their claws of tyranny, killed seventeen per-
sons with such cruelty that the pen cannot describe
it. Among- the victims was a little child, who fell
into a well, and being rescued, was the only sfur-
viving soul left of those noble people.'.' 9
The number of martyrs in that place was nine-
teen. In thehvillage of Taft the number was
twenty-eight. In Alanshad there were ten.' Iir
Delbala they threw a believer, alive, into a baker's
oven, and roasted him to death. Up to that date,
six women have been martyred and many have
been captured and wounded."
"In a letter from the, BahA'i Assembly at
Mashed, Persia, dated October 19, 1909, news was
r'eceived that ' in two villages called Hasser and
Namag, in the Province of Khorassan, five sancti-
fied souls were martyred, and four of our spiritual

sisters assaulted and wounded, and the-ears of one
of the believers cut off,. while other BahAis were
the subjects of persecution and pillage.' "
" His Holiness Jesus Christ (may the souls of
all creatures be his ransom!) has clearly pointed out
the pathway to the Kingdom of God, showing
plainly the shortest road to be that of sacriAce.
Therefore these sanctified souls have but followed
Christ, Who was the Dawnof Sacrificial Lights,
and through this path have they proceeded to.the
Kinrydom of Mvsteries. For the sake of such as
these I-Te said

* (" Bahá"i News," March 21st, 1910, Chicago.)

199

13lessed are they whith Ate persecutCid for
righteousness sak6,. for their's is the kingdom of
h6avet." " Blessed are the pure I gn heart, for
they shall gee, God." " Blessed ate ye when men
gliall r~e'vile yoitij and gpersectite you, and speak all
manner of evil against you falsely for My sake,
Aejoice g! and be exceeding glad, for great is your
reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the Pro-
p4ets- before you."
"in the Tablet of-Aqdas, Bahi'u'llAh says:
Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My
Breezes!
Blessed are the dead who are vivified, by my
Breaths!
Blessed is the eye which is enlightened by My
Beauty!
Blessed is the ear which heareth My Melodies!
Blessed is the affrighted one who hastens to the
shelter of My Name!
Blessed is he who hath heard of My afflictionsi
and has arisen to assist Me among My
Nations I
Blessed is he who is convinced by My Word!
Blessed is he who entereth My Kingdom!
Verily he is from Me, and upon him be My
Mercy, My Bounty, My Favour, and My
Benediction! "
11is is the ransom for the blood of the Mar-
tyrs! This is the utmost desire of the chosen ones!
This is the eternal life of the spiritual ones-! This . is
the pithway, of Jesus Christ! 9Mis is the way of

~00
Di MAhiftstatio'God iii All t1i1itg btjth
the vine ns of
ificient, and moidern."
Many- more before these, and sihn't~6,- hAve 9filerk
iip I their lives in this Cagu s-e' to eg stabligh Univefs-Al
Peace.

Evety Day, God has tried I to get A courtL'Oug
hearing from the World of Humanity. slid has
therefore expressed Him"self, at tie - Beginning, of
each Day of Generosity, or Cycle, through
human form. in order to be known and understood
by Mankind. I God-ekpresed Himself through the
personality of Jesus Christ, but the world wag
offended. It objected to natural means.
It sought after some lesg familiar way which
would create a' great sensation, and which
would controvert all that is known of the

natural and spiritual Laws of the Universe. So
Humanity Crucified Jesus and beheaded John the
Baptist, because it disapproved of the Way God
spoke to it. It could not, however, kill the Sphit,
which ascended to the Heavenly Father.
Jesus was known as the son of a carpenter,
and in the World's view it was presump-
tion for Him to teach the Elders. Nevertheless,
He opened the Book, and expounded it in the-
Synagogue, as "One having authority." As a
child it beld his attention so coinpletely, that He
became lost to His earthly parents. And what
wonder, when he saw Himself in the Book, that
He could speak " with authority, and not as the

(Lawh-el-Aqdas," Bahá'Vilal h's Message to Christians-)
201

Scribes? He was born in the wrong place to
plewe the people of His Day. He was not im--'
portant. enough to meet their views. He spoke'
in the vernacular, and not in the Greek! To them
His claim was unbearable presumption. Besides,
how dare He announce Himself to be the Son of
God! It was Blasphemy! Such a thing had
never been heard of. Away with Him! And so
has the world received God's Messengers at the
Dawn of every New Day; His Spiritual Manifesta-
tions come to " make all things New," but the
world to its own hurt has rejected Them. It
prefers to manage its own affairs without God's aid.
Yet thousands of years after they, His enemies,
are forgotten, throughout Eternity Christ will be
enthroned in every heart. That is God's doing,
for His Word accomplishes that whereunto He
bath sent It, in every Time of His Visitation.
The History of the Balia"i Dispensation is the
History of the Present Day Visitation of the Word
of God,- to Mankind. As He said something
through Jesus inspiring John the Baptist to an-
nounce Him at the Beginning of the Christian
Era: so, to-day, He speaks through another
Manifestation of His Power and Glory: BahA'u'-
IlAh, Who comes by the Power of the -same Spirit
under another Name (to protect the world from
mere imitators-against whom Jesus warned His
disciples before His Ascension, see Matt. ch. 24,
vers. 5-24)-and He comes to demonstrate the
Glory of God. The world is just as worldly and

202

I
indifferen . t now, as'it was then; and, has not yet
found God's Lawgiver I of the Present Day. It is
busy quarrelling over who shall make -its laws - but
as we have seen, they are made and given, in-
accordance with the necessity of the Times, by
a
God, and are Declared by Bah"u'llAh. And
though the world heeds them not, they are being
written in receptive hearts. ~ So the History -of
This Cause is bound to be written, as Christian
History is written, in those hearts which enthrone
Christ.
BahA'u'llhh, and the BAb, Who announced Him,
and 'Abdu'l-BahA, the Centre of His Covenant,
like Jesus, all had earthly'birth places, just as
Moses, Abraham, Moammad, Buddha,

Zoroaster, ConfuciusY and we all have.
Some nineteen years elapsed, between the BAb's
Announcement, in 1844, and the time when, with
His followers in Exile, in the Garden of Ridva'n,
outside Bagdad,.1863, Bahá'lu'llAh to a few of His
disciples, declared Himself to be the Expected
One, Whom the BAb Declared - "God would
Manifest." 'And so great was the power of the
Spirit in Him, that during long Exile and confine-
ment under the Persian and Turkish Governments
at the instigation of the Mullahs, his influence car-
ried to distant parts of the earth, and drew many on
long pilgrimage in search of the Divine Know-
ledge He had to impart.
In many Sacred and. -Holy Writings, by His
Supreme Pen, Bahh'u'llAh has made plain the Will
103

of for this Age. And an e4mi* ;4udy of
theip will give assurance of t validitv 4 -His
he - gi 9 119 1 ,I - T
Claim, jt will be ~een that the Will of God,- m
qxprpssp4 in His Principles and Preeppts, meet
,p need of these disastrous t-mes.
Before ascending from the 1vorld -of visibility,
in 1892, Bah"U'Uh a nted 'Abdu'l i. His
a ppoi-I -Bah
*loved Son and companion in Exile. to be the
Cvutre Of His Covenant, to establish on Earth by
the Will of God,

TuE MOST GREAT PEACE.

204
THE CENTRE OF THE CQVFNAPiT
AMONGST THE NATIONS.

In a Tablet establishing the Centre,of the Co I vL.
enant, 'Abdu'l-Bahá' Abbas, Bahi'u.'Uh reveals
the following:~
In His Name, Who Shines from the Horizon
of Might

"Verily the Tongue of the Ancient gives Glad
Tidings to those who in the world concerning
f the Greatest Name who takqs
the appearance o.
His Covenant amongst the Nations.
Verjly He is Myself: the Shining-Place of My
Identity, the East- of My Cause, the Heaven of
My Bounty, the Sea of Xfy Will, the Lamp of My
G,uidance, the Path of My Justice, the Standard
of My Law."
The one who hath turned to Him hath tumed
to My Face, and is illumined by the Lights of My
Beauty, hath acknowledged My Oneness and cDn,
~med M Singleness.
y
"The one who hath denied I-Timhath been d*.
prived of the Salsabil of My Love, the Kawther
of My Favour, the Cup of My Mercy and of the
Win Te
h e- through which the since . have beep
tracted. ' f

900

* "This is the Branch that hath extended from
the Power of Thy Qneness,, and from the Tree of
Thy Unity. Thou beholdest Him, My God, gazing
unto Thee, and holding fast to Thy Mercy.
"Thou knowest 0 My God, that I have chosen
Him only because Thou hast chosen Him; I have
elected Him only because Thou hast elected Him.
Therefore assist Him by the hosts of Thy Heaven
and Thy earth."
"Help Thou 0 God whosoever may help Him,
strengthen whosoever may advance iowards Him,
and re . ect whosoever may reject Him and desire
Him not."
"0 My Lord, Thou beholdest My pen m oving
and my limbs trembling in this moment of Revela-
tion, I beg of Thee by My craving in Thy Love,-
and My yearning for Declaration in Thy Com-
mand, to ordain for Him, and His Lovers, that
which Thou hast ordained for Thy Messengers, and
the Trusted ones of Thy Salvation."
t Verily., Thou art 'the Powerful and -the
Mighty.
'Abdu'l-Bahh, born on'the 23rd of May, 1844
(the day the BAb made His Proclamation), has now'
by His most arduous and self-sacrificing Labour'-of
Love, accomplished the great work to which He
was Divinely appointed.
- Not only after 40 ye'ars9 exile with His father
on account of their firm' faith to eg stablish the Most
*(Translated by Mirza Valiolah Khan Vargba of, Tihran,
Dec. 11th, 1918) a ~ .
t(Compare with Zee. Ch. 6. ver.. 12. Isaiah Cb. ll.vers. 1-10.)

206

I
Gat Peace amongst the Nations and enduring a
re
lifetime of persecution, did He then travel through-,
out the world in His advanced age. For many
years He has also radiated Divine Counsel from
His own Table in the Holy Land, through count-
less Tablets, Epistles, and Talks given personally to
Pilgrims who have journeyed from distant parts of
the earth, in order that they might give again to
the world, thatwhich they bad received; also, Ile
has ever been a living example to all around Himl,
of the kindly Wisdom, Grace, and Love which it
was His work to impart.

After appointing His grandson, Shoghi Effendi,

to be the Guardian of the Bahh'i Cause, on Novem-
ber the 29th, 1921, His Spirit ascended to the
Heavenly Father. There is,no doubt to hear the
gl -ad Welcome :

" Well done! Thou Good and Faithful Ser-
vant! Enter into the Rest prepared for Thee, be-'
fore the foundations of the world."

On Tuesday, November the 29th, 1921, the
.temple of His Holy Spirit was laid aside.
From 9.15 to I I a.m., great multitudes of many
tongues and faiths and nations walked in the long
funeral Procession which wended its way up
Carmel, the Sacred Mountain, where His earthly
garment was reverently laid to Rest, in the Tomb
of the ffib. Eastern papers said that "All Haifa
was present. "

207
0

"The High Commissioner of Palestine, Sir
Herbert Samuel, the Governor of Jerusalem, the
Governor of Phoenicia, the Chief O-fficials of the
Government-, the Consuls of the various countries,
resident in Haifa, the heads of the various religious
communities, the notables of Palestine, Jews,
Christians, Moslems, Druses, Egyptians, Greeks,
Turks, Kurds, and a host of his American, Euro-
pean and native friends, men, women and children,
both of high and low degree, all, about ten thou-
sand in number, mourning the 'Loss of their beloved
One.

11 This impressive, triumphal procession was
headed by a guard of honour, consisting of the
City Constabulary Force, followed by the Boy
Scouts of the Moslem and Christian communities
holding aloft their banners, a company of Moslem
choristers chanting their verses from the Quran,
the chiefs of the Moslem community headed by
the Mufti, a number of Christian priests, Latin,
Greek and Anglican, all preceding the sacred
coffin, upraised on the shoulders of his loved ones.
Immediately behind -it came the members of his
family, next io them walked the British High
Commissioner, the Governor of Jerusalem, and
the Governor of Phoenicia. After them came the
Consuls and the notables of the land, followed by
the vast multitude of those who reverenced. and
loved him."

(See " The Passing of by Lady Blomfield
and Shoghi Effendi.)

208
And so we see the fulfilling of the Prophecy :
They shall not hurt or destroy in all My Holy
Mountain, for the earth shall be full of the know-
ledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
ION
(Isaiah, Chap. 11, vers. 9-L.".j

'Abdu'l-Bahk, the Servant of God, had accom-
plished that wbereunto He was sent. The testi-
mony of the Leaders and Representatives of all
the great Religions was clear evidence of this, as
they assembled to mourn with those who wept the
Departure of'their Beloved, for all were one in
their sorrow and One in Faith, and Unity.

There is growing evidence that the unifying

Faith of the Religion of God is spreading in all
parts of the world, through the activities of those
Nvho, like the disciples of Jesus have no worldly
qualification or ambition, buth, as the living fruits of
His example are busily engaged " about their
Father's business."

May all in the world become aware of the Great
Day in which they live, and not remain un-
acquainted with this further Revelation of God's
Will, lest they wander in the " gross darkness "
which obscures the Light of Jesus given in the
Past, and failing to see the Point of Guidance for
To-Day, labour in vain for that Unity without
which,.they know, Religion does but reveal to the
world, its shame.
If they had not forgotten, or failed to interpret

209

correctly, certain things which Jesus said, they
would not be trying to put "New Wine, into Old
Bottles.", They would be looking for that One,
Who in these Latter Days, is due, as the troublous
state of the world proclaims-to come in the Spirit
of Truth, and "Guide us into all Truth."
They would not remain apart because of His
New Name. For they would remember thaht
Jesus said: " Many will come in My Name with
such power as to deceive the very elect : but believe
them not." And also in His Revelation through
St. John the Divine: "To him that overcometh,

4 WILL WRITE- UPON HIM,
MY NEW NAME."

Rev., chap. iii. ver. 12; Rev., chap. xiv. ver. I
Isaiah, chap. 1xii. ver. 2.

210
I a
BAHA'U'LLAH

- Tim New Name, BahA'u'llhh, standhs for the
Glory of God. The Jews made a mistake in re-
jecting Christ- Christians would make a greater
mistake in rejecting the One Whom He Pro-
imsed should Come. The Psalmist sang: " The
Glory of the Lord shall - he Revealed. And
Christians sharing Israel's hope until now, sing
glad Hallelujahs to welcome the Lord of,Hosts:

Lift up your Heads, 0 Ye Gates,
be Ye lift up, Ye Everlasting Doors;
And the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is the King of Glory?
The Lord of Hosts 1
He is the King of Glory."
Psahn 24th, 7-10.

The Root of all Knowledge is the Knowledge
of God. Glory be to Him! And this Know-
ledge is impossible, save through His Manifesta-
tions. Wherefore when He (BahAu'llAh) ap-
peared, the Foundations of Nations trembled.
'The learned ones were bewildered, and wise men
confounded, save tlioise who came near unto Thee,
0 Beloved of the hearts of yearning!

The Holy Spirit through Bahh'u'llhh summons

the Hosts of all Religions, and addresses
Christians: " 0 Ye Concourse of the Son! "

ARE YE HIDDEN FROM MY SELF,
BECAUSE OF MY NAME!

As God was made manifest through the Christ
Spirit in Jesus, the Son; so also, in this Day of
Visitation, by the power of the same Spirit, is God
the Father made manifest through Bahi'u'IlAh.
And in these Latter Days, He summons the
peoples of all Religions to the Heavenly Banquet
of Divine. Unity, to "consort with each other with
fragrance." Addressing Christians, in the same
spirit of love with which Jesus yearned over Jeru-
salem, He says:

"What maketh you to doubt? Ye have called
for your Lord the Self-Dependent, night and day,
and when He hath come from the Heaven'of Pre-
Existence in His Greatest Glory, Ye have not ap-
proached Him, and were of the heedless."

"Then consider those who turned away from
the -Spirit (Christ) when He came to them, in mani-
fest power. How- many of the Pharisees were
abiding in the Temples of His Name, and were
entreating because of separation from Blim! But
when the Gate of Union was opened and the Light
shone forth from the Day-spring of Beauty, they
disbelieved in God, the Exalted, the Great, and
did not attain to His Visitation, after having been
promised thereto in the Book of Isaiah, as well
as in the Books of the Prophets and the Apostles.
No one of them approached the Dayspring of
Favour except those who were of no account
among the people, but in wnose names all the lords
of evident bonour boast to the present day. Re-

212
MEW-

inemberia the most learned doctors of His country,
in His Age, condemned Him to be killed, whilst
one who was a catcher of fishes believed- in Him.
Be astonished thereat and be of those who re-
member!

"Likewise, look at this time. How many monks
were abiding in churches and calling for the Spirit,
and when He came in Truth, they approached Him
not and were of those who are afar! Blessed is
whosoever abandoned them, and approached the
Aim of all that is in the heavens and earth. They
read the Gospel and confess not the Glorious Lord,
after He has come in His. Holy, Mighty and GlGri-
ous Kingdom."

" Do you suppose that He hath desired His Life
after being at every instant under the swords of
the enemy? Or that He hath desired the world
After being imprisoned in the most ruined of cities?
Open the doors of your minds; for, verilyY the
Spirit standeth behind them."

om Him who
"What maketh you to keep afar fr
hath come from Heaven as He came from it the
first time? Beware lest ye contradict that which
He saith, as the nations before you contradicted
that which Christ said. Thus do I make known to
you the Truth,- if you are of those that I know. . .

"Proclaim: Surely the Father hath come and
hath fulfilled that whereunto you were promised in
the Kingdom of God. This is the Word the Son
213

veiled when He said to those around Him that at
that -time they could not bear it; but when the
stated time was ended and the hour arrived, the
Word shone forth from the Horizon of the Will.
Beware, 0 Concourse of the Son, cast it not behind
ye.

"Verily,g He, the Son beareth witness to Me,
,and I bear witness to Him; verily, He desired
naught but My Person, whereunto bear witness
all those just ones who -know. Verily
in the
midst of afflictions we are inviting you to God the
Lord of the Names. Say: Continue in that
which is promised unto you in the Books of God,
and walk not in the path of the ignorant. "

" Surely my body is imprisoned for the salvation
of your souls; then draw nigh to the Face, and
follow not all the obstinate proud ones. Verily,
He hath accepted the greatest abasement for your
honour, and ye are diverting yourselves in the
valley of heedlessness. Verily, He is in the most
ruined of houses for your sakes, and ye are sitting
in palaces."

"Say: Have ye not heard the sound of the hvoice
of Him (the BAb) who is crying in the wilderness
of the Beyan, proclaiming to you your merciful
Lord? Know that surely He hath come in the
Truth, in the shadow of Demonstration, with
Proof, and Argumerit, and the Unitarians are be-
holding the Kingdom before their faces. Blessed

214
is He who approacheth Him, and woe to all de-
niers and doubters! "

"Say-unto the Priest that the Chief hath surely
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
-Spirit of Truth hath come to guide you into all
Truth: Verily He speaketh not unto you from
Himself, nay, but rather from the All-Knowing
and Wise.

"Proclaim: He is the One Whom the Son hath
glorified, and whose Command He hath upraised.
Aban on that which is before you, 0 people of
-the earth, and take that which is commanded you

by the Powerful, the Faithful: Purify your ears
and turn your minds to hear the sweet Call which
ha-th arisen from the direction of Sinai, the abode
of your Most Gracious - (Abha) Lord. Verily, He
attracts you unto a station wherein you will behold
the Lights of the Face, which hath shone forth
from this brilliant Seclusion."

He who inviteth the people in My Name, he is
of Me, and from him will appear that which will
be beyond the power of all that is in the earth.
Then follow the path of the Lord, and follow not
the heedless. Blessed is the sleeper who is awak-
ened by these Powers, and will stand up amongst
the dead, directing himself in the path of the
Lord; verily he is of the essence of the creatures

215

WIN all
- 77W

before the True One, verily he is of those who
have attained."

"Say: Verily, He hath shone from the direction
of the Orient,'and His -Signs have appeared in the
Occident. Think thereupon, 0 people, and be not
like unto those who neglected the Remembrancer
when Ile came unto them from before the Mighty,
the Laudable."

- "Be awakened by the Breezes of God! Verily
they have blown in the world. Blessing to whom-
soever hath found their fragrance and is of the
assured. "

"Say: The Body of the Beloved is yearning
after the Cross, and His Head desireth the spear
in the Path of the Merciful. Verily, the assault
of the oppressors keepeth Him not from that which
He desireth. Surely We have abandoned all
things to the meeting of thy Lord, the Possessor
of Names. Blessed are they who draw nigh to
God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

The above is quoted from the "Lawh-el-Akdas"
BahA'u'llAh's Message to Christians, which con-
tinues as follows:-

Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My
Breezes!
Blessed is the dead who is quickened by My
Breaths!
Blessed is the eye that is enlightened by My
Beauty!

216
Blessed.is the seeker who sought the tent of My
Majesty and My Greatness!
Blessed is the affrightedone who took refuge
under My Domes!
Blessed is the thirsty one who hastened to'the
Well-Spring of My Favour!
Blessed is the hungry one who has forsaken his
desire because of My Passion, and was pre-
sent at the Table that descended from the
Heaven of My grace for My elect!
Blessed is the lowly who held to h the Rope of
My Might, and the poor who took shelter

under the shadow of the Canopy of My
Wealth!
Blessed is the ignorant one who desired- the
Kawther of My Knowledge, and the heed-
less ones who held to the Rope of My Re-
membrance!
Blessed is the spirit who was stirred by My
Breath and entered My Kingdom!

Blessed is the soul whom the fragrance of My
Union attracted to the Day-Spring of My
Command!

Blessed is the ear which beard, and the eye which
beheld and knew the Spirit of the Lord, the
Possessor of Glory and dominion, and the
Lord of Majesty and Might!
Blessed are they who have attained!

Blessed is whosoever is illurnined by the Sun of
My Word!
217

Blessed is whoso6er adorned his head with the
wreatb:.of My Love!_

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-
brance!

Blessed is he who performed My Covenant and
was not prevented by the world from' enter-
ing the Court of My Holiness!

Blessed is he who cut himself off from all other
than Me, soared - in the -ether of My Love,
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 was hidden in the Treasuries of
My Words, and shone forth from the I-Tori-
zon of Inner Significance -in My Com-
memoration and My Praise! Verily, he is
of Mine. May My Mercy, Grace, Favour
and Glory be unto him! "

ALLAH'U'ABHA!

218
This Thank-offering is acknowledged in the in-
terests of the BahA'i Cause, and unanimously ap-
proved by the London Bahh'i Spiritual Assembly.
. 1928.

BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS.
(ENGLAND).
SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS." Table Talks of
'Abdu'l-Bahá in answer to questions put by
the Compiler and Others. Translated by
Laura Clifford Barney. (Kegan, Paul.)

HIDDEN WORDS." Translations from the Per-
sian and Arabic of Bahá'u'lláh.1/6.
'ABDU'L-BAHA IN LONDON." Addresses given
by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. 1/6.
TALKS By 'ABDU'L-13AHA GIVEN IN PARIS."
(London: G. Bell & Son). - 1 3/-.
THE MYSTERIOUS FORCES OF CIVILIZATION."
'Abdu'l-BahA. Translated by Johanna
Dawud.

"THE BAHAr DAWN; MAINCHESTER."
(See. - E. T. Hall, 1, Norton Street, Higher
Broughton, Manchester).

BOOKS ABOUT THE BAHAI MOVEMENT.

"BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BAHAI MOVEMENT."
Ethel J. Rosenberg. (Burnside, Ltd.) 2d.
" THE SPLENDOUR OF GOD." Eric' Hamniond.
(London: John Murray.) 3/6.
" THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION: BAIIAIS34." Hippo-
lyte Dreyfus.
THE MODERN SOCIAL RELIGION." Horace Hol(London and Toronto: Sidgwick & Jackson.)
220
BAHAVLLAH AND THE NEW BRA." Dr. E. J.
Esslemont. (London: George Allen &
Unwinj Ltd.) 8/6.
" THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF ABBAS EFFENDI."
Myron H. Phelps. (London: Putnam &
Son.) (Temp. O.P.)

" A TRAVELLER'S NARRATIVE." Professor E. G.
Browne, M.A., F.B.A., M.R.A.S., etc.
(Cambridge University Press.)

"THE RECONCILIATION OF RACES AND RELIGIONS.
Thos. Kelly-Cheyne, Dr. Litt., D.D.
WHAT IS A BAHAI? Dr. E. J. Esslemont.
(Burnside, Ltd.) 7d.

"THE BAHAI FAITH." G. Palgrave Simpson. 6d.

THE PASSING OF 'ABDU'L-BAI-IA. " g
By Lady Blomfield and Shoghi Effendi.
(Apply 21, West Side, London, S.W.4.)

GOD's HEROES."Laura Clifford Barney.
i (London: Kegan Paul.) 12/6.
BAHAI : THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE. " Horace Holly.
(London: Kegan Paul.) 71/6.
UNITY TRiumPHANT." Elizabeth Herrick.
Illustrated.(Londo n: Kegan, Paul.)
7/6. Second Edition 3/6.

221

BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS.

(AMERICA)

TRA NSLATIONS OF WORKS OF BAHA'U'LLAII.

".111IDDEN WORDS."
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" THE BOOK OF IGHAN." (Kitabu'l-Iqan.) 9/3.

"TABLETSOFBAHA'U'LLAM." Comprising Tablet
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Tablet of Isbrakat.
1/6.

I
9/3.
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'Tablet of the Branch. Kitab-el-Ahd (The
Will and Testament of BahAg'u'llAh), and
Lawh-el-Aqdas (A Message to Chiistians).

" THE SEVEN VALLEYS." 1/6.
" SURAT-UL-HYKL." 2/6.

TRANSLATIONTS OF WRITINGS AND TALKS OF
'ABDU'L-BAHA.

46 SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS." TableTalks of
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" THE BRILLIANT PROOF." Mirza Abul Fazl.gi/6.
MARTYRDOMS IN PERSIA. 1903."Hadji Mirza
Hayder Ali. 9d

THE 13AgUlAl REVELATION." Thornton Chase. 4/6.

MY VISITS To ABBAS EFFENDI ('ABDU'L-BAHA)
IN 1899. " Margaret B. Peeke. 1/-.

223
P
%
777V
h'. ~7

9 3P A
GOD'S HEROES." Laura Clifford Barney. (Lip-
pmeott. Philadelphia.)

BAmu: THE SPIRIT -OF THE AGE." Horace
Holly. (Brentano's.)
THE ORIENTAL ROSE." Mary Hanford Ford.
(New York: Broadway Publishing Society.)

LECTURES OF JENABE FAZL. Five Addresses
given by Jenabe FAzl, of Mazandaran, in
Seattle, U.S.A., in 1921.
CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE BAHAI MOVE
MENT. ' g9 Chas. Mason Remey. 2/6.

THE DREAM OF GOD." Albert Durrant Watson.
A Poem.

ACCOUNTS OF VISITS To - ACCA.

IN GALILEE." Thornton Chase., 1/9.
FLOWERS FROM THE ROSE GARDEN OF ACCA."
Alma Knobloch. 1/6.

DAILY LESSONS RECEIVED AT ACCA. " Helen S.
Goodall. 1/9.
"TEN DAYS IN THE LIGHT OF ACCA." Julia M.g
Grundy'h 1/9.

GLIMPSES OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA."' Roy and
M. J. M.
TABLE TALKS WITH 'ABDU'L-BAHA." 'Mr. and
Mrs. George T. Winterburn. 1/6.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MY VISIT To AcCA. " Mrs.
Finch and Misses Knoblocli.

224
TABLE TALKS IN THE RISON IN ACCA. ithur
S. Agnew.
AN EARLY PILGRIMAGE." Mary Maxwell.

UNITY THROUGH LOVE." Howard McNutt. 1/6.

Where the Publisher's name is not mentioned
the above books are obtainable from the Bahá'í
Publishing Sociiety, .508, South Dearborn Street,
Chicago, U.S.A.; or from- Burnside, Ltd., '9,
BeaconsfieldhTerrace Road, Blythe Road, London,
W.14.

BAHA'I PUBLICATIONS.

(FRANCE)

LES LECONS DE ST. JEAN-DIACRE. " French Ver-
sion of " Some Answered Questions." Hip-
polyte Dreyfus.

LE LiVRE DE LA CERTITUDE." Kitab'I-Iqan.h
Trad. Francaise par Hippolyte Dreyfus.
(Paris: Ernest Leroux. 1909 .)
LE EPITRE Au FILS Du Loup." Trad. Francaise
par Hippolyte Dreyfus. (Paris : Libraire
Honore Champion. 1913.)
L'OUVRE DE BAHAOU'LLAH. ~ ' Tome Premier.
Traduction francaise par Hippolyte Dreyfus.
(Paris: Ernest Leroux. 1923.)
Prix 8 francs.

226

BAHA'I PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS.

STAR OF THE WEST. In English and Persian.
Now in-the 13th year. The back numbers of
this Magazine, which can be had bound in
annual volumes, contain a wealth of informa-
tion about the History and Teachings of the
Movement. Published 12 times a year by the
Publications Committee of the Bahá'í Temple
Unity-. Address: Bahá'í News Service, P.O.
Box 283, Chicago, Ill.., U.-S.A.

MAGAZINE OF ME CHILDREN OF THEI, KINGDONT.
Issued Quarterly. Editor and -Publisher:
Ella H. Robarts, 75, Revere Street, Boston,
Mass., U.S.A.
BMw NEWS." In English and Persian. Edited
and Published every month in the interests of
the Bahá'í Movement from India, by Mr.
Shirazi, 1059, Elphinstone Street, Camp
Karuchi.
SONNE DER WAHREIT." Organ of the German
Bahá'í Btind. Published monthly. Verlag
des Deutchen, Bahá'í Bundes, Stuttgart,
11olderlinstrasse, 85.

TnE DAINN." In English, Burmese, and Per-
sian. Syed Mustapha Roumie, No. 2-13,
41st Street, Rangoon, (Burma).

226