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The Bahai Magazine STAR OF THE WEST March, 1923 CONTENTS P43, Bahai Organization 323 Letters from Shoghi 328 One of God’s Her0es—The Story of Ebn Abhar.......... 333 EbnAbharinC-hains 334 An Early Tablet to Persia.............................. 339 The Spirit of the Century.............................. 340 Signs of theTimes 340 The Problem of Unemployment................... 340 The Coming Spiritual Renaissance................ 341 America’s Great Service 343 The Covenant of Peace.......................... 343 Bahai News and 344Index of Volume 346 Persian 350 The Bahai Magazine STAR OF THE WEST The Magazine, published monthly by the Bahai Temple Unity Room 450, 508 South Dcarborn St., Chicago Albert Vail, Editor, Edna Trpe, Business Manager, Persi_an Edilars, Dr. Zla M. Bagdadl, Mn-za Ahmad Subscr1ptions: $3.00 per year; 25 cents a copy. Two copies to same name and address $5.00 per year. Please eend change of address the middle af the month and 5e sure to Jend old 4.! well as new address. Kindly rend all communication: and make postorders an_deizeck.§ [Q BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, O. Eox 283, Chicago, Illlinois, U. S. A. Entered as second class matter April 9, 1911 at the postofiice at Chicago, Ill. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of ostage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, autiiiorized September 1, I922.
A PRAYER OF ABDUL BAHA Translated by Shoghi Effendi In the Name of God, the Most High
LAUDED and glorified art Thou, Lord God Omnipotent! Thou before Whose Wisdom the wise falleth short and falleth, before Whose knowledge the learned confesseth his ignorance, before Whose might the strong waxeth weak, before Whose wealth the rich testifieth to his poverty, before Whose light the enlightened is lost in darkness, toward the Shrine of Whose knowledge turneth the essence of all understanding and the Sanctuary of Whose Presence circle the souls of all mankind. How then can I sing and tell of Thine Essence, which the wisdom of the wise and the learning of the learned have failed to comprehend, inasmuch as no man can sing that which he understandeth not, nor recount that unto which he cannot attain, whilst Thou hast been from everlasting the Inaccessible, the Unsearchable. Powerless thou I be to rise to the Heavens of Thy Glory and soar in the Realms of Thy Knowledge, I can but recount Thy tokens that tell of Thy Glorious Handiwork.
By Thy Glory! O beloved of all hearts, Thou that alone canst still the pangs of yearning for Thee! Though all the dwellers of Heaven and earth unite to glorify the least of Thy Signs, wherein and whereby Thou hast revealed Thyself, yet would they fail, how much more to praise Thy Holy Word, the creator of all Thy Tokens.
All praise and glory be to Thee, Thou of whom all things have testified that Thou art One and there is none other God but Thee, who hast been from everlasting exalted above all peer or likeness and to everlasting shalt remain the same. All Kings are but Thy servants and all beings, visible and invisible, as naught before Thee. There is none other God but Thee, the Gracious, the Powerful, the Most High.
The Baha; Magazine STAR UP THE WEST BAHAI ORGANIZATION Its Basis in the Revealed Word RGANIZATION in the Bahai Movement rests upon the sure founda tion of the Word of God. In this day when many liberal minded people rebel against the restraint to which they sincerely think organization subjects thern—it is well to present some of the vital needs for organization which the Bahai Teachings make evident. Baha’U-llah touches the heights of Truth when he says: “Among the people are those who glory in a desire for liberty. Know that the animal is the symbol of liberty and the manifestation thereof; hence it behoovcth man to put himself under laws which will protect him against the ignorance of himself, and the injury of the deceitful. Liberty is confined to compliance with the Commandments of God. If ye adopt that which He hath revealed for you from the Heaven of Inspiration, ye will find yourselves in perfect and pure freedom”. “God has imposed on every town the erection of a House of Justice where men are to assemble according to the number of Baha (if they surpass that number it matters little). They should figure to themselves that they are in God’s Presence and see what is invisible. They should be divine agents in the casual world, the representatives of God for those who are on earth, and defend for love of God the interests of His servants as they would defend their own.” Abdul Baha in Some Answered Question: (page 74) says: the laws of the Nlost Holy Book are enbrccd, contentions and disputes will find a final sentence of absolute justice before a general tribunal of the nations and kingdoms, and the difficulties that appear will be solved. The five C0ntinents of tqe world will form one, the numerous nations will become one, the surface of the earth will become one land and mankind will be a single community.” Other quotations from the writings of Abdul Baha follow: “Absolute equality amongst men: this would be impossible. There is needed some organization which will bring about an order in this disorder. Absolute equality is a mere dream and impracticable. If absolute equality existed the whole order of the world would be destroyed. In mankind there is always a difierence in degree . . . There must be degrees in the organization.” “The Universal Principlcs which are the foundation of the Religion of God are laid down; but the making of specific laws which are the sub—divisi0ns and ramifications is apportioned to the House
of Justice. The wisdom of this is that this world never moves for a long period in one form. The House of Justice will make laws applicable to the exigencies and requirements of the time. Its members will not form institutions according to their own judgment and thought. The Most Great House of ]ustice enacts laws and statutes by the power of inspiration and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit and is under the protection of God.” “About fifty years ago in the Book of Akdas, Baha’U1lah commanded the people to establish the universal peace, and summoned all the nations to the ‘Divine Banquet of International Arbitration, so that the questions of boundaries, of national honor and property and of vital interests between nations might be decided by an Arbitral Court of Justice; and that n0'nati0n dare to refuse to abide by their decisions. If any quarrel arise between two nations, it must be adjudicated by this International Court and be arbitrated and decided upon like the judgment rendered by the judge between two individuals. If at any time any nation dares to break such a treat}-', all the other nations must arise to put down this rebellion.” consider organization and dccomposition, existence and non-existence. Every’ being is composed of many different constituents; the existence of everything is the expression of organization. That is to say, when by divine genesis, organization of certain clcments occurs, a being is produced. All existent beings are after this fashion. But when a defect appears in that compound, and decomposition sets in, the parts separate and that being disintegrates and becomes n0n-existent. Thus annihilation of things is an expression of their decomposition and disintegration. The and organization of the elements make possible the existence.”—Star of the West, V01. 6, page 68. “Many an assembly will be organized Whose members will be representatives of diflerent nations, tribes and peoples . . This is through the effect of the Word of God. If all the powers of the world should convene they could not organize an Assembly like unto these assemblies.” of the Wart, Vol. 6, page 71. BAHAI ORGANIZATION “The Universal Court of Arbitration is the only body that will resolve all the disagreements and contentions that arise between the nations of the world. Extraordinary exertion must be put; forward by the civilized governments to organize such an influential international organization, before which all their quarrels may be arbitrated. What better plan can be conceived by man? What harm is there in this?"’—Star of the West, Vol. 5, page 165. “All the Governments of the world must be united and organize an Assemof the H/Bil, Vol. 7 page 82. “O ye heavenly ones! Organize ye spiritual assemblies. Lay ye the foundation of union and accord in the world. Destroy ye the fabric of strife and war from the face of the earth. Construct the temple of oneness, harmony and agreement. Enkindle ye the light of the realm of the oneness of humanity. Open ye your eyes! Gaze and behold ye the other world. The kingdom of peace, salvation, uprightness and reconciliation is founded in the invisible world, and it will by degrees become manifest and apparent through the Power of the “Ford of God.” —Star of the West, Vol 5, page 129. “I Want you to be Organized like a flock of the doves of heaven, whose attitude and conduct toward each other is a symbol of- that unity which will take place among human beings, when human beings shall become willing to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”—-Star of the West, Vol. 3, N0. 4-, page 29. “One of the great teachings of Baha’ Ullah relates to international peace. He founded and taught this principle fifty years ago in the Orient. He proclaimed universal peace among the nations. He summoned the people to establish um . versal pcacc among various religions. He organized peace among many races, com— munities and sects. At that time he wrote epistlcs to all the rulers and kings of the world and summoned them to cooperate with him in spreading these principles, saying that humanity would not attain composure and rest save through universal peace. And he practiced the principle in Persia.”—Star of the West, Vol. 6, page 81.
BAHAI ORGANIZATION In a Tablet addressed to the delegates to the first Bahai Temple Unity Convention in 1909 Abdul Baha wrote: “Now is the commencement of organization; hence every concerning the Kingdom of God is of paramount importance. Among the most important is the founding of the Mashreq’Ul-Azkar, although weak minds may not grasp its importance, nay perchance they imagine this to be a temple like other temples. They say to themse1ves—evcry nation has a hundred thousand gigantic temples, what result have they yiclc ed that now this one Mashreq’Ul—Azkar (is said) to cause the manifestation of signs and prove a source of Lights? But are ignorant of the fact that the founding of this Mashreq’Ul-Azkar is to be in the inception of the organization of tie Kingdom.” The Guardian of the Cause, Shoghi Effendi, the need 0' organization in his luminous epistle to the American friends, March 5, 1922, and quotes the following from the writings of Abdul Baha: “It is incumbent upon every one not to take any step without consulting the Spiritual Assembly, and they must assuredly obey with heart and soul its bidding and be submissive unto it that things may be properly ordered and well arranged. Otherwise every person will act independently and after his own judgment, will follow his own desire and do harm to the Cause.” “In this day Assemblies.0f Consultation are of the greatest importance and a vital necessity. Obedience unto them is essential and obligatory. The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should any one oppose, he must on no account feel hurt, for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be revealed. The shining spark of Truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions. If after discussion a decision be carried unanimously, well and good. But if, the Lord forbid, difference of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must prevail.” The foundation of organization in the Divine Cause is powerfully laid in the above extracts from the Holy and Creative Words, and many others that may be Hted. Deeply impressive is not only the frequent recurrence of the term organization, but also the greatness and scope of What Divine 'Wisdom now plans and confirms. Organization becomes a vital element in the new creation. As the Revelation of Baha’L'llah brings to light everything needed for the elevation and progress of humanity—the power of organization, through the Might that organizes, will reach maturity and perfection. It is known that some misapprehension exists as to the need of organization in the Cause. This has grown out of a widely circulated statement, attributed to Abdul Baha, that the Bahai Cause could never be organized. The true statement was, as corrected by Abdul Baha, that the Bahai Cause can never be rigidly organized; it can never be confined to an organization. The context of the statement tells why, namely: “It is the Spirit of the Age, the essence of all the highest ideals of the century.” At Haifa, Syria, in 1920, the following question was asked Abdul Baha by some American pilgrims: “It is misleading, is it not, to say that the Bahai Cause cannot be organized?” Abdul Baha replied: “How is it possible that there should be no organization? Even in a household if there is not organization there will be hopeless confusion. Then what about the World? is meant is that organization is not rigid! In ancient times it was rigid. In the Torah all the political affairs were rigidly but in this Cause they were not. In this Cause there is political freedom— i.e., in each time the House of Justice is free to decide in accordance with what is deemed expedient. This is a brief explanation of the matter.” As the spirit of oneness is in all the Divine Utterances, the perceiving mind can readily discern the harmony of this statement with the many other VVords of the Manifestation and the Center of the Covenant, creating organization. It must be evident that the mysterious dynamic of the Bahai Cause, its holy ideals, its supreme wisdom, its transcend
ent love, its heavenly teachings, are from a world beyond man and his power to organize. The descent of the Holy Spirit is Pure Bounty—abs0lutely removed from n1an’s power to direct or control. But that Divine Intelligence, that Luminous Sun now manifested, bestows upon man guidance and order. Organization in the Bahai Cause is not man’s feeble and futile as in centuries past, to organize and control the affairs of God thus multiplying veils of separation and clouding his own insight. It is rather, as is clearly revealed in the divine plan, the intervention of God to direct and control the of man. attainment to effective organization comes through obedience to the Ancient of Days and devotion to His Beauty. The appointment, by Abdul Baha, of Shoghi as Guardian of the Cause, the provision for the Universal House of Justice, and other vital Laws, give to organization a most eloquent and impressive majesty. The high goal of order and service to which Shoghi now invites sincere souls, adds a new impressiveness to Bahai organization. One of the greatest signs of Bahai organization is its fluidity, its universal adaptability to the present age, and to succeeding ages and cycles of the world. It is not exclusive. It inspires cooperation with the true, the beautiful and the good without as well as within its ranks. For there are today, as Abdul Baha has said, prepared souls in all religions. One thus finds everywhere forward-looking people who have rent the veils of religious bigotry and racial prejudice. The Divine Command today requires joy and fragrance in consorting with people of all religions. It invites fellowship with the strong, yet strengthens the poor, the weak and the oppressed. It welcomes every sincere soul who seeks advancement, yet becomes the mighty fortress of defence against the seditious and corrupt. Because, as says: “The companionship Of the wicked changes the light of life into the fire of remorse.” Thus organization under the Divine Instructions becomes the safeguard to the Divine Edifice. Yet it must never become crystalized with set forms and outworn BAHAI ORGANIZATION traditions, the impotencc of which today makes merely human organization inef fective for universal service. Organization, far from being impossible, becomes vital and essential in the growth of the Baliai Cause. The division and classification of service, coordinated by the divine plan of unity, will ever make for greater efficiency. Organization appears in everything that God has created. From the tiny atom that moves under molecular attractlon to the colossal suns that keep their balance with even and majestic tread,—ever)-'thing moves according to law and order. Even the body of man is organized. Pain, sufiering and dissolution are the penalty it pays for revolt. Shall the Intelligence that organized the universe leave the Kingdom of God in man disorganized? Through organization the great fundamental Principles revealed by Baha.’Ul~ lah—C0nsultation and Kindness—will illumine every Assembly. Through the organization of the people of Light, the pillars that support the order of the world, “reward and retribution” will receive just administration. Organization facilitates help of the strong to the weak, and of the more efficient to the less efiicient. It applies, day by day, the law of cooperation and interdependence. It enables an aggrieved but sincere person to have his wrongs righted through the collective wisdom of an illumined group. If this fails to satisfy, an appeal may be had to the Supreme Court of Guidance. Qrganization thus removes differences and upholds the oneness of the Cause. The exhortations to love and unity, which so often recur in the Bahai Teachings, point the sincere to both an inward and outward security. Esoterically it means turning to the Center of Light and Guidance. Exoterically, it is found by supporting with might and main, Whatever institution or organization is erected on earth through the Heavenly Power. The Divine civilization ever requires of man cooperative effort. Cooperation in its very nature implies organization. If organization is vital even in small affairs, how much more necessary does it become when human welfare is regulated by the laws of the Kingdom?
BAHAI ORGANIZATION Organization, too, will in the divine purpose preserve the Divine Teachings. If those who arise to serve, however sincere, construe the meaning of the Holy Words according to their own limitations, they may gather around themselves a following, and in this way a multitude of sects will divide the body of the Cause. According to the Revelation of this day, the Words of the teacher need only be taken if they agree with what is revealed on the part of God and is recorded in Tablets. The teacher may at any time be questioned as to his authority. Should difiercnccs arise, they can readily be corrected through the degrees of organization that the divine plan unfolds. The matter of the physical preservation of the Books and Tablets, their correct translation into tongues other than those in which they are revealed, their spread among the regions of the earth,—are mat— ters too weighty to be entrusted to individual direction. How soon would priceless treasures be scattered, lose their punty through alterations, and be lost to future generations! Here again organization proves its great value. Organization has grown among the friends in America over a period of years. This has occurred in the natural order of evolution. In the early days of the Cause in America the few Teachings that were then available would be read by a group of believers, and if a stranger appeared the Message would be historically given. As members increased, the efforts to reach people of diflerent environments grew, and meetings in public places, publications, etc., were natural steps. VVith further progress came the organization of Committees to direct local Assembly work. Also there came, with the plan to erect a (Universal House of Vl-"'0rship), the annual Convention. Its volume of business, small at first, increased from year to year. The service of the Convention, as a teaching body, as a temple-builder, as a means of unity, life and harmony among the various Assemblies, has been blessed and glorious! Yet its increasing responsibilities have entailed division of labor; and various Committees have been formed to carry forward the work. Within the past year, under the instructions of the Guardian of the Cause, Assemblies throughout America have elected from among themselves Spiritual Assemblics, with full control of local affairs. The National Spiritual Assembly with its Mashrcq’Ul-Azkar, Teaching, Publications, Reviewing and Educational Committees, has been entrusted with full service in all Bahai affairs pertaining to America. Bahai organization in the Orient, by all authoritative accounts, has reached a higher standard than has yet been pos— sible in the Occident. There, greater numbers and longer experience are seen; while fiery trials and intense persecutions from without have increased the power and penetration of the inward love that unifies. The happiness, peace and prosperity of the friends upon every plane are inseparably linked together. Sweet is the assurance that such a condition, in time, will be found throughout the world. Our Oriental brothers are ever mindful of the Most Great Guidance and the common weal. They successfully conduct, in a highly organized way, not only the affairs of the Cause, but cooperative enterprises of a private nature. Their organizations are so wise and mature as to prove a strong defense against the dcceitful and corrupt on the one hand, as well as just administration and loving stimulus to the activities of the friends on the other. The storehouses of the Spiritual Assemblies kept the friends supplied with food during the recent hardship and distress caused by war, so that not one Bahai perished for lack of food. This occurred at a time when thousands of peo— ple were starving. Such a blessing from organization is its own eulogy. In Persia the friends have not only a Teaching Committee, but clubs of teachers. These are organized for the purpose of sharing experiences, avoiding duplication of effort, discussing plans for the work and acquiring greater wisdom and clearer guidance in delivering the Message. It should be clear that organization, in the Bahai sense, is ever spiritual. Baha is the revelation of the Abha Light in this world for the guidance of the people. To this end God has revealed Himself in His Greatest Manifestation, illumined the earth with His Brightness in the Orb of His Covenant, and today exercises His tender, compassionate Guardianship over
all the creatures. Thus in the Bahai Cause organization has come into being through the direction and cooperation of the friends in both spiritual and material affairs. After vainly, through thousands of years, striving to attain peace through material organization of spiritual affairs, man now attains supreme happiness through the spiritual organization of material aifairs. Certainly no harm can result to any one from this. The pillar of Bahai organization is jusrice; its glory is service; its bright jewel is humility; its banner is trustworthiness; its light is Guidance; its armour is prayer; its treasury is Divine Love; its exalted purpose is unity. Its members should be free from prejudices against all men. They should be Godlike in their firmness, steadfasmess and universality. They should obey the Center of life and poweriand count themselves nothing in His Path. They should be able to discover their own faults, confess them before God and be able to see the virtues of other people. They should not choose themselves for positions of honor, but be chosen by others. Under the Instructions of Abdul Baha, a greater body should be first appointed, from which a smaller body will be elected. In this simple, quiet way, ex LETTERS FROM SHOGH1 EFFENDI citcment of elections is avoided and harmony advanced. The future of Bahai organization is bright and glorious. The Azkar, around which many institutions will center,-—such as the school for orphans, the hospital, the hospice, the abode for the aged and infirm and the college or applied sciences, will in its very nature as well as administration, require very efficient organization. The Universal House of Justice, headed by the revered Guardian of the Cause, the various National Spiritual Assemblies and the Spiritual Assemblies to be found in all Cities, the International Arbitral Court and the federation of the world, each and all bespeak the divine evolution of organization to an efficiency undreamed of, with the noblest and most exalted purpose. The world spiritually organized in the Light of Bahai Principles will be the reflection of the Supreme Concourse. (Signed) Louis G. Gregory, Agnes 5. Parsons, Mariam Haney:—wh0 constitute the Committee appointed by The National Spiritual Assembly in January, 1923, to prepare this document on Bahai Organization. LETTERS FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI TO THE FRIENDS IN ENGLAND TO my beloved brethren and sisters throughout Great Britain, care of the Members of the Bahai Council. Dearest Friends messages of my Western friends, sent to me since they learned of my return to the Holy Land. How great was the joy when dear Miss Rosenberg’s letter—the very first that reached me from the hzgnded :9 me lhisl evening, bearing the joyful news of the safety, unity, and the happiness of my British friends across the seas! I read it and re-read it with particular pleasure, and felt a thrill of delight at the welcome news of the harmonious and efficient functioning of your Spiritual Assembly. I very sincerely hope that now that I have fully re-entered upon my task, I may be enabled to offer my humble share of assistance and advice in the all-important work now before you. I fervently pray to God that the your may go on expanding,_that your zeal énil efforts may never dir_ninish, and that new souls, active, able and qincere may soon join with you in beanng aloft the glorious standard of the Cause m that land.
A LETTER T O THE FRIENDS IN GREAT BRITAIN 329 Ere long, an able and experienced teacher recently arrived from Persia will visit your shores, and will, I trust, by his thorough knowledge of the Cause, his wide experience, his fluency, his ardor, and his devotion, reanimate every drooping spirit, and inspire the active worker to make fresh and determined efforts for the deepening as well as the spreading of the Movement, in those regions. His forthcoming book, which he has laboriously written on the history of the ’Movement and which has been partly revised by the Pen of our Beloved Master, is beyond any doubt the most graphic, the most reliable and comprehensive of its kind in Bahai literature. I am sure he will considerably enrich the store of your knowledge of the various phases and stages of the Bahai 1\/Iovement. Our beloved Dr. Esslemont will, I trust, be particularly pleased to meet him, as he is eminently qualified to offer invaluable help in connection with vari0us_aspe_cts of his (Dr. Esslemont’s) book. I am enclosing various suggestions of Mr. Dreyfus-Barney, and of Mr. Roy Wilhelm, made by them at my request, during their last sojourn in the Holy Land. I submit them to Dr. Ess1emont’s consideration as well as to that of the Spiritual Assembly. I very deeply regret my inability to give the attention I desire to this admirable work of his, but will assuredly do all in my power to aid him in the final stages of his work. I am certain, however, that the book as it now stands gives the finest and most effective presentation of the various aspects of the Cause to the minds of the Oriental as well as that of the Westerner. May it arouse a genuine and widespread interest in the Cause throughout the World! I am now starting correspondence with every Bahai local center throughout the East and will not fail to instruct and urge the believers everywhere to send directly to their respective spiritual, local Assemblies the joyful tidings of the progress of the Cause, in the form of regular detailed reports, to the various Assemblies of their spiritual brethren and sisters in the \Vest. England, I am confident, will regularly and consistently receive directly and indirectly through the Star of the West and the Bahai News of India a large share of such tidings from Persia, Caucasus, Turkestan, India, Turkey and Mesopotamia, North Africa and Egypt. It would be most gratifying and encouraging to all earnest Workers for the Cause of Baha’Ullah if every now and then a report on the spiritual activities of the friends in Great Britain, as well as articles on spiritual matters could be submitted for publication to the above-mentioned periodicals. It would, I feel very strongly, react and very favorably on the Cause in England, and would serve to draw closer the ties that bind all spiritual centers together at the present time. I would be pleased and grateful if the members of the Spiritual Assembly would at any time inform me of their needs, wants and desires, their plans and activities, that I may through my prayers and brotherly assistance contribute, however meagerly, to the success of their glorious mission in this world. To my extreme regret, I feel unable in view of my manifold and pressing duties, and owing to the extraordinary extension of the movement in recent times, to correspond with the friends individually and express to them in writing what I always feel in the depths of my heart of brotherly affection and abiding gratitude for their love and sympathy for me. I shall, however, await with eager expectation their individual letters and assure them of my readiness and wish to be of any service to them in their work for the Cause. Remembering every one of you in these hallowed surroundings and fervently praying at the three sacred Thresholds that the blessings of the Lord may rest upon your individual and collective efforts, I am as ever your devoted brother, (Signed) Shoghi. Haifa, Palestine, December 23, 1922.
LETTERS FROM SI-IOGHI EFFENDI TO CHICAGO THE CITY OF THE MASHREQ’UL-AZKAR O the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the l\rIerciful in Chicago, 111., U. S. A. Care of the members of the Spiritual Assembly. Beloved brethren and sisters in the Cause of God: May I assure you in this short message of mine of my sincere admiration for and firm attachment to those old and tried. believers who have been engaged ever since the earliest days of the Cause in that land in the noble pursuit of spreading far and wide the Universal Teachings of Baha’Ullah. Your city so far-famed for its intimate association with the history of the rise of the Mashrcq’Ul-Azkar will, I trust. Witness in the not distant future while this majestic Structure is being raised a swift regeneration in the spiritual lives of its inhabitants, that it may become truly the throbbing centre of Bahai activities throughout the land. We all look forward with eager hearts to the time when this noble Edifice, with all its various accessories completed, will become the focal centre of spiritual, humanitarian and intellectual achievements to which the friends of that city, the pioneers of such a glorious work, will have a distinct share to contribute. May my prayers together with yours hasten the advent of such a crowning period in the history of the Cause in that land! Your brother and co-Worker, (Signed) Shoghi. Haifa, Palestine, December 29th, 1922. TO THE FRIENDS IN CLEVELAND HE beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful in Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. Care of the members of the Spiritual Assembly. Is/Iy beloved friends: I trust now that I have returned refreshed and strengthened from my needed retirement, I shall very soon hear from you such news as shall encourage and strengthen me in my labours for His Holy Cause. I look forward with eager anticipation to the Welcome news of increased unity among the loved ones of God, of renewed ardour in their ceaseless service to the Cause and of crowning achievements in their field of service throughout that country. True, in this day the Light of the Covenant is hidden from mortal eyes, yet the unfading Splendour of His Spirit, freed from earthy limitations, shines more brilliantly than ever before and is sure to guide our steps if we but seek His Guidance and walk steadfastly in His Way. May the radiance of His Inspiration illumine our hearts and the hope of Eternal Reunion be our stay and solace in these days of bereavement and service to His Cause. Supplicating the Divine Favours on your behalf, I am your brother in His Service, (Signed) Shoghi. Haifa, Palestine, Ianuary 5, 1923.
PRAYERS REVEALED BY BAHA'ULLAH Translated by Shoghi and sent to The National Spiritual Asxembly, February, 1923 God, my God! I have turned in repentance unto Thee, and verily Thou art the Pardoner, the Compassionate. O God, my God! I have returned to Thee, and verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, Gracious. O God, my God! I have clung to the Cord of Thy Bounty, and with Thee is the storehouse of all that is in Heaven and earth. 0 God, my God! I have hastened toward Thee, and verily Thou art the Forgiver, the Lord of Grace abounding. O God, my God! I thirst for the Celestial \Vine of Thy Grace, and verily Thou art the Giver, the Bountiful, the Gracious, the Almighty. O God, my God! I testify that "Thou hast revealed Thy Cause, fulfilled Thy Promise and sent down from the Heaven of “hy Grace that which hath drawn unto Thee the hearts of Thy favoured ones. l is it with him that hath held fast unto Thy Firm Cord and clung to the hem of Thy resplendent Robe! I ask Thee, O Lord of all being and King of the seen and unseen, by Thy Power, Thy Majesty and Thy Sovereignty, to grant that my name may be recorded by Thy Pen of Glory among Thy dcvoted ones, them whom the scrolls of the sinful hindered not from turning to the Light of Thy Countenance, O prayerhearing, prayer-answering God! Make firm our steps, O Lord! in Thy Path and strengthen Thou our hearts in Thy obedience. Turn our faces toward the Beauty of Thy Oneness and gladdcn our bosoms with the Signs of Thy Divine Unity. Adorn our bodies with the Robe of Thy Bounty and remove from our eyes the veil of sinfulness and give us the Chalice of Thy Grace; that the essence of all beings may sing Thy praise before the vision of Thy Grandeur. Reveal then Th_vself, O Lord! by Thy merciful Utterance and the mystery of Thy Divine Being, that the holy ecstasy of prayer may fill our souls—a prayer that shall rise above words and letters and transcend the murmur of syllables and sounds—that all things may be merged into nothingness before the revelation of Thy Splendour. Lord! These are servants that have remained fast and firm in Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, that have held fast unto the Cord of constancy‘ in Thy Cause and clung unto the hem 0' the Robe of Thy Grandeur. Assist them, 0 Lord! with Thy Grace, confirm with Thy Power and strengthen their loins in obedience to Thee. Thou art the Pardoner, the Gracious. “hou art the All-Remembering, the All-Praised. This, Thy servant, O Lord, my God, my Master and my Desire, seeketh slumber within the precincts of Thy and fain would rest ’neath the Canopy of Thy Grace, trusting in Thy Care and in Thy Protection. By Thine eye that sleepeth not, O Lord, I beseech Thee, to shield my sight from all but Thee and make it clear to behold Thy wonders and gaze upon the da}-"spring of Thy Revelation. Thou art in truth He, in the face of Whose tokens of Omniaotence, the essence of power ..ot11 wane; there is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Conquering, the Unconditioned.
O my Lord, my Adored One and my Desire! Lowly and supp-liant, I implore Thee to shield me from the evil of the ungodly and to withhold me not from the shade of the Sacred Tree, nor from the Voice of Thy Pen of Glory. I testify that the Day is Thy Day and the Cause is Thy Cause. I beg of Thee by Thy Straight Path and Thy wondrous lflessage, graciously to aid me to glorify Thy Cause amidst Thy" servants. Thou art powerful to do as Thou willest, there is none other God but Thee, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. O God, my God! Thou beholdest Thy servants in the abyss of perdition and error; where is Thy Light of Divine Guidance, Thou the Desire of the world! Thou know.-‘est their helplessness and their feebleness; where is Thy Power, Thou in Whose grasp lay the power of Heaven and earth! I ask Thee, O Lord my God by the splendour of the Light of Thy IovIngkindness and the billows of the Ocean of Thy Knowledge and Wisdom and by Thy Word wherewith Thou hast swayed the peoples of Thy Dominion, to grant that I may be one of them that have observed Thy bidding in Thy Book. And do Thou ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy trusted ones, them that PRAYERS REVEALED BY BAHA’ULLAH have the Wine of Divine Inspiration from the Chalice of Thy Bounty and hastened to do Thy Pleasure and observe Thy Covenant and Testament. Thou art powerful to do as Thou willest, there is none other God but Thee, the All-Kn0w-» ing, the AH—Wise. Ordain for me by Thy Bounty, O Lord! that which shall prosper me in this world and hereafter and shall draw me nigh unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of all men, there is none other God but Thee, the Cine, the Mighty, the Glorified. Lord! Pitiful are we, grant us Thy Favour; poor, bestow upon us 3. share from the Ocean of Thy ‘Wealth; needy, do Thou satisfy us; abased, give us Thy Glory. The fowls of the air and the beasts of the field receive their meat each day from Thee and all beings partake of Thy Care and Lovingkindness. Deprive not this feeble one from Thy wondrous Grace and vouchsafe by Thy Might unto this helpless soul Thy Bounty. Give us our daily bread and grant Thy increase in the necessities of life; that we may be dependent on none other but Thee, may commune wholly with Thee, may walk in Thy ‘Ways and declare Thy Mysteries. Thou art Almighty and Loving and the Provider of all mankind. A PRAYER REVEALED BY ABDUL BAHA Remove not, Lord! the festal board that hath been spread in Thy Name and extinguish not the burning Flame that hath been cnkindled by Thy unquenchable Fire. Withheld not from flowing that Living Water of Thine that murmureth with the melody of Thy Glory and Thy Remembrance and'deprive not Thy servants from the fragrance of Thy sweet Savours breathing fdrth the perfume of Thy Love. Lord! Turn the distressing cares of Thy ones into ease, their hardship into comfort, their abasement into glory, their sorrow into blissful joy, 0 Thou that holdest in Thy grasp the reins of all mankind! Thou art verily the One, the Single, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-‘Wise. A Prayer by Abdul Baha, translated by Shoghi
ONE OF GOD'S HEROES ENABE Ayadi, Ebn Abhar, belonged J to a noble family in Zinjan, Persia. He was appointed by Baha’Ullah as one of the “Four Hands of the Cause,” in the days of persecution in the middle of the last century, and he “was the recipient of love and honor from all.” His life was full of service. Seven times imprisoned by the enemies of the Cause, “he was absolutely fearless,” Writes one of the friends from Persia, “and when persecution arose, as in the martyrdom of Yezd he individually would carry petitions to the Cabinet Ministers and persons in authority. One vivid recollection is of seeing him speeding across the public square on such an errand. Another recollection is that of seeing him, when totally blind, sitting up in his bed on the foot of which squatting in Oriental fashion was an aged Seyid who had come from far away seeking Ebn Abhar to teach him the Bahai truths. This man was a stranger to Teheran; he had heard of the Bahai school called Tarbiatj. he searched the city until he found the school and then was directed t0 the house of Abhar. “During the last months of Ebn Abhar’s life, in spite of his sufiering he was busy teaching and counseling the friends. When relating fragments of his experiences he seemed inspired, always referring to his successive irnprisonrnents and heavy chains with smiles and laughter.” He passed into the unseen World in Feb ruary, 1919. Ebn Abhar dictated the following autobiographical sketch to his nephew, Fakr ed Din. It was translated by his nephew, Zia ed Din Monadi, and Amat 01-a’Alla and was transcribed for the Star of the W est, in Teheran, Persia, September, 1922. THE STORY OF EBN ABHAR har and go to Zinjan to teach the is. My uncle, Abdul Azeem, and two other very prominent men, l\"Iirza ollaq went with me. VVe rented a house to live in and during the day visited the M11 lahs, the Governor, and well-known, educated people. proofs were given to convince the Ezelis. At night, whi e the others slept I would go to the house of a believer. When the meeting was over a servant would cautiously open the door and I would return home. During four months of strenuous work all but two of the Ezelis became well informed and many intelligent and honorable people turned their faces toward the Cause. The fire of the love of God flamed in the hearts of the friends and all received boundless favors from the Kingdom of Abha. A command came for me to leave Abhar and 20 to Zinian to teach the Ezc Upon returning to Abhar we learned that through the flaming of the the friends had been attracted to the Cause in an extraordinary degree; however, as a precaution, no one had dared to gather together the attracted ones. This was done and they became very happy. Shortly after this the enemies began to cry out: religion! 0 faith! The Holy Laws are passing suaded Prince Rokneh ed Dowleh, brother of Nassr ed Din Shah, who had been my friend, to arrest, imprison and put in chains some of the believers. It is written in the Koran, “Verily the devils incite one another.” Abol Taleb, son of Mirza Abol Gasem, who during the early days of the Cause instigated the first persecution and bloodshed in Zinjan nova-"began writing to my cousin, Abol Fatoo, entitled Imam Jomai, who was one of my bitterest enemies.
EBN ABHAR IN CHAINS
ONE OF GOD’S HEROES These two ridiculed me before the Governor, seeking to ruin me. stated, in a letter, that Ebn Abhar had been Fly: cause of much disturbance and trouble among the people in Zinjan. This letter was spread among the fanatical Mullahs. The Governor was a friend of mine, and he treated the letter of Abel Fate-0 lightly, saying: “It was written through jealousy and a misunderstanding. I have neither seen nor heard anything from Ebn Abhar which is hostile to religion.” This caused an uprising among the people who, suspicious of the Governor, were ready to murder some of the believers. The Governor now became very much disturbed and ordered that the Tablets be brought from the houses of _the believers: if among them there was found anything written by Ebn Abhar the people would be allowed to appeal to the Shah for his death sentence. I had written many letters to two confirmed believers, As-seyid Ismail and Aga Rassoul. These were found. The Governor, because of his fear, repented his friendship (with Abhar) and secured from the Shah a sentence of martyrdom. It/Iirza Jalil Khan, chief of the gunners, with ten soldiers was commanded to take me to Zinjan. Suddenly, at evening—time, several soldiers appeared at the door and demanded an interview. My brother, Mirza Abol Atoof, said: “It is now late. You had better wait until morning.” Then I came from an inner room and my nephew, Fakr ed Din, called the officers. About fifty soldiers had surrounded the house. Some students who were there studying with Abol Atoof were put out of the house by the soldiers; whereupon they spread the news through the bazaars and soon the crowds came rushing from all sides to see what was happening. The soldiers in order to scatter the crowd began firing and the noise of gunshots filled the air. As soon as the crowd was scattered Jenabe Khan produced from his pocket 21 letter addressed to Ebn Abhar who was commanded thus: “Your Excellency! For the purpose of investigating certain matters your presence is necessary in this city. Mirza Jalil Khan, with ten soldiers has been cornmanded to bring you. With Mirza Abdul Azeem and Kerbelaiy Mahdi Milani you must start for Zinjan, that the matter may be investigated in your very presence. Kindly see to it that you do not fail to start; otherwise the affair may become serious.” After reading the letter I handed it to my brother, whereupon Mirza Jaiil Khan said to him: “You had better go into the house. We have nothing to do with you." But when two of the soldiers produced a. large chain and prepared to put it upon me my brother could not endure it but tried to prevent them. Then the soldiers pushed him out of the room, saying: “You have no right to interfere.” My brother returned, gave the soldiers fifty tomans and obtained their promise not to chain me that night. I now went into the inner apartment, and they placed a guard at the door, allowing only one servant to pass in and out. In order to show their importance and to intimidate the family they made threats and frequently fired off their guns. I take God to witness that during that night our house was like a house of mourning. Nothing was heard but sighs and cries and most of the relatives, men and women, were excited, and crying all night for they were given no information as to the condition of the prisoners. The fourth hour after sunset my cousin, Hadji Mirza I-Iadiet, brother of Imam Jomai took Mirza Jalil Khan into a privatc room and told him that it would be to his earthly and spiritual advantage to torture this servant. Nlirza ]alil Khan, understanding my cousin’s hatred and jealousy said to me: “Why are these cousins so opposed to you, seeking to destroy you?” I answered: “The uncles of His Holiness Daiohammed were against him, and his cousins sought to martyr his descendants. The citizens of Galilee were opposed to Christ. In Moses’ time his relatives arose and drove him out. The family of Abraham caused his expulsion. And was not cast into the pit? By wicked brethren.” Thus, through scriptural citations I finally led Mirza Jalil Khan to the Rizwan of the knowledge of the Manifestation and, until midnight, told him and three others about the Great Cause.
In the morning Imam Iomai summoned Mirza Jahl Khan and made calumnious accusanons against me and against the Revealer of the Cause. He then tried to persuade him to torture (me) Abhar. “Tell him that you will bind his shoulders, chain him, put his feet in stocks and ride him on a bare-backed mule. Undoubtedly, to escape such ignominy he will pay you a large sum of money. After obtaining the money then act to the very limit of your power in order to secure your heavenly recompense, for these transgressors lead the people astray and the more scornfully they are treated the more the people will fear to follow them. Then, how great will be your station in the sight of the Great Father Moharnrned in the day of resurrection! Proceed at once to. Zinjan, and make this matter seem very important before the Governor. As soon as he arrives there let the Governor purify the province of Kamsare from his ignoble prese-nce—(le1: him be killedz”) When Mirza Jalii Khan compared the words of Ebn Abhar with those of Imam Iomai he said: “Aga, there is an immense difference between your statements and his. Ebn Abhar admonished us until midnight. He gave us the story of the prophets in detail exhorting us to live in peace with all the people of God. He led us to the straight path of love, virtue, holiness and the Oneness of the peerless God. He showed no sadness because of the calamities which had befallen him. Alas for me! that I must bring about the murder of such a prisoner!” He then arose, saying: “If God wills, the enemy himself will cause good to triumph.” With smiling face he came and report: ed to me the {whole interview, adding, “I thought all Bahais were the enemies of God and of His prophet and I intended to torture and kill you. But since last night, and especially, today, I have changed my mind and am anxious to gain a thorough knowledge of your purpose. I am resolved to do nothing which may cause me to be ashamed in the presence of God and of His prophet.” Ebn Abhar answered: “verily, the Koran says: ‘Those who obey God are THE STORY OF EBN ABHAR My family wished to send a sum of money to the Governor to obtain my release but he had evidently come under the influence of Imam Jomai for he sent a strict order to Imam Jomai and Jalil Khan that he (jalil Khan) must set out at once with the prisoner of the government. What a terrible scene 1'oI1owecl1 It was the fourth clay of Moharram, the month of beating. Shops were closed and groups of men had equipped themselves to torment the believers. The soldiers joined in-——some having taken bribes; others being followers of Imam jomai; and others joining through fanaticism. The women, hiding in the inner apartment were crying loudly. A rabble of worthless people had gathered about the gate, and friends, also, had secretly dra.wn near. In the evening Imam Jomai with his two brothers, Hadiet and Age Fatollah, brought a company of soldiers and instructed them to mount the prisoner in the most ignominious fashion or they would be reported to the Governor and would themselves be humiliated. They gave notice that if anyone rented him (the prisoner) a good horse the animal would be seized and that man and his faniiiy would be treated as scorpions. ]alil and the ten others did not dare to start with him. A lean pony was brought. Some of the onlookers were scornful; some were laughing; others amazed; and a few were Weeping. Many were cursing and reviling, while the sound of crying from the women and children in the inner room rent the heart. The oppressed believers had taken refuge in a corner and dared not utter a word. Imam Jomai, surrounded by Mullahs, theological students, merchants and princes was writing an accusation in an inner room. He ordered this oppressed one to enter, which he did with the chain about his neck and one foot in a stock. Immediately Imam said, with a. bitter smile: “Curse you, for an infidel!” I answered him with a proverb: “First prove the earth and then draw the map of it.” Upon hearing this quotation ‘Imam Jomai sand, angnlv: “Remove thls dog from the room. He accounts hunself a. prophet and reveals verses for us.”
THE STORY OF EBN ABHAR Jalil Khan seized the chain and dragged me from the room while Imam jomai said: “Did you hear what he claimed?” One answered: “He wanted to make us Babis.” And they all began to curse. My mother had turned her face toward the point (of prayer) repeating this prayer, which had been revealed for a Tablet: “Praise: be upon Thee, 0 Thou, the Beloved, the Knower, and thanks be unto Thee, O Thou, the Aim of the world!” Her sisters, Taj Nassah and Hossney Jan, and her daughters, Fatima and Oma Habibeh, sent a sum of money petitioning that the Soldiers would permit me to visit my relatives, and her son Abol Gasem, gave surety with his life. At first they refused, but when the sum was increased they brought me bound hand and foot with chains into the inner apartment. This sight caused the women to cry so loudly that the men who were in the inner apartment burst into tears. When Imam Jomai heard this he said, angrily: “Did you not hear how he despised us and exalted his own station? Let him go at once so that we may be quit of his scorn.” All this time not a trace of emotion was to be seen in my mother’s face. She did not once look toward me nor did she cease to repeat the holy words. The friends led me to her that she might see my face. She said: “O my dear! You know how precious you are to me; but the most glorified One is the Blessed Perfection. I dedicate you to be a. sacrifice in his Cause. Go! Be steadfasti Sacrifice yourself in the Cause of God and fear no one. The Koran says: ‘Do they think that those who are killed in the path of God are dead? Nay, they are alive in the presence of their Lord and are supping with Him.’ She did not glance my way nor did she embrace me in farewell but continued to thank God and to pray. The relatives and the others cried 0111:: “O you cruel onel God does not accept your prayers. How hard-hearted you are to consent to the death of such a son!” My brother then came and took me out of the room, handing me over to the soldiers who put my other foot into the stock and, mounting me on the miserable pony, started off. Everyone was weeping, but Abhar, turning to them all, believers and non-believers said: “I bid farewell to you and ask you to forgive my failings and to beg for pardon for me at the Threshold of Oneness for it is most probable that I will not return from this journey.” One of his (Abhar’5) uncles, a bitter enemy, cried out: “Go to hell so that you can not come back, 0 you, the branded one among your kindred. I trust that you will be hanged 1” About two thousand people of all classes formed our escort. Imam Jomai ordered the guards to take the most public route—Which ran through the bazaars and passed by his house. Here his relatives stood on the roofs to ridicule, hurl abusive language and throw stones The prisoner asked the guards to stop the pony so the crowd might satisfy their curiosity. Then he cried aloud: ye people! This day upon which I am arrested upon the charge of being a Babi is the fourth of Moharram. You remember that it was upon this same day that in ancient times they beheaded the dcscendents of Mohammed and waved their heads on spears before the other captives, crying: ‘You are heathen; you have left the religion of your fathers and have abandoned the laws of God.’ ‘Know, verily, that God will curse the nation that martyred them?” During this speech the people wept and wailcd and continued so to do until we reached Mosallah, one mile out of the city. Mirza Khan was so overcome that he dismounted from his horse and ordered two of the guards to break the stocks and release my feet. Then he, himself, spoke to the people: “O ye inhabitants of Abharl You may rest assured that the cause of this man is just. He is being oppressed as was my furefather, Imam Hossein. Do not desert this family. Compare the family of Imam Iomai with the family of Yazid. They tried to turn me against this family but, thank God, I was not deceived and have not mistreated his honor.” We tarried until sunset, the believers gradually becoming more tranquil, saying: “He will have no more trouble along the way except for the heaviness of his chains.” And this was really the case
for, two miles out of Zinjan, when everyone sat down to rest Mirza Khan, retaining three of the guards who were friendly sent the other seven who cont_i_nually Opposed when religion was discussed, to their homes, telling them not to report to the government but to change their clothes, and in_ the morning to come to his house when they would all take the criminal to the of the government. After the departure of the seven, those who remained began to talk happily about the Cause, chanting meanwhile prayers and Tablets. The little party soon came to the house of Mirza ]alil Khan who then called in some of the believers connected with the court that they might discuss the best method of presenting the matter to the government. They now took the chains which were about the neck of Abhar. Two hours later, in the midst of an earnest discussion, there came a loud and peremptory knocking at the door--evidently :1 messenger from the government; whereupon Mirza Jalil Khan and the 2thers hastily concealed themselves. Two deputies and twenty farrashes entered and angrily demanded Mirza ]alil Khan and the prisoner, Abhar. It was apparent that the seven guards had turned in evidance. The government’s messengers with the utmost roughness and disrespect chained the prisoner and dragged him to the government Here the head servant was walking about in the hall, so intoxicated that he could scarcely speak. He came up to me and asked, furiously: “\lVhere have you sent Ialil Khan?” This oppressed one answered very slowly: “I accompanied him to his own house and after that I have no information about him.” The head servant called the warden of the prison and said, salfcasticallyz “Treat him‘ well, because he is the very essence of the Babis and has converted the servants of the government.” The warden took my abba (cloak) and emptied my pockets of a small sum of money. Then he put me into a dungeon called in Zinjan “Dashborgh”—-“stone tower,” a hole dug in the ground and closed over with a stone as large as a millstone which could not be moved at THE STORY OF EBN ABHAR all from below and only with great difficult): from above. The prisoner had only room enough to crouch within. On account of the carelessness of the guards the place was filled with fleas, white ants and lice. One of the prisoners described how sometimes all three would clump together and form a mass the size of a bean. Every day the great stone was taken from the opening for two hours to change the air. Here this unfortunate one was imprisoned for four months and a few days. The place was about ten yards square and there were other believers, also, confined there. When I arrived they began weeping, as though mourning for their own dead children. I smilingly asked: “Why do you weep? Be happy that you are suffering for the sake of God. You are bound and fettered for the spreading of His Cause. Soon your native citizens, your relatives and your grandchildren will boast'because of your very existence and in the sight of men you will reach to the heights of dignity.” They answered: “We are not weeping for ourselves. We are accustomed to chains and stocks. Our weeping is for your dear and precious life. Until now you have been cherished in salsa, and held in the highest respect and honor. How can you exist in such a. dark and maI0dorous hole?” I answered from the Koran: “I am submissive to His command, patient under the calamities of God and there is no one to be worshipped save Him.” “Consider how every prophet was a target for the enemies of his time, and no one of them failed to drink the poison-cup, draining it as though it were the sweet elixir of Paradise. In the fire of Nimrod Abraham reached to a high station. In like manner Jesus Christ took up his abode in the heaven of Ne-arness. hammed and his holy descendents tore the veil of superstition from the eyes of their followers and went, straight and swift as an arrow, to their high station.” These explanations which were in reality utterances from the invisible so affected the guards and farrashes that they ceased to trouble me. Like the others, they forgot me and listened to the teachmgs.
AN EARLY TABLET TO PERSIA In order to learn how the farrashes were treating me the warden sent in a new farrash. This one also in that dark cell became captive to the Mount of Gqd. He stood like a statue, listening eagerly. The warden, wondering why no sound reached him from the dungeon came, stealthily, near, and stood by the opening listening for the cruel treatment of the prisoners. Hearing nothing he rushed in angrily and found that all the prisoners had gathered around this prisoner and were listening to the words of life. He had a heavy club of almond wood in his hand and with it started beating the head jailer striking him and his assistants so severely that the club broke in two. Then, with the remaining piece, he came toward me and began striking me, saying, “O devil! Caniyou not keep silent even here? Do you want to lead astray the prison force?” After many blows he called for a very heavy chain, in addition to the ordinary one already worn. He handed this collar to me ordering me to put it around my neck. This poor oppressed one had been so badly beaten that his senses were benumbed and instead of placing the collar around his neck he tried to draw it over his head, like a cap. The intoxicated warden seeing this burst out laughing, and his anger passed away. He ordered the other prisoners to be confined in a separate cell lest all should become Bahais. I was then chained to the other believers and my feet were put into the same stock. I now began to chant from memory the whole of the following Tablet, called the Tablet of Praise: “He is the Glory of the Most Glorious! “His praise is purified above the knowledge of all beings. It is exalted above the comprehension of the creatures. These things are reserved for the King, the Precious, the Peerless, He who is forever purified above the remembrance of all others.” AN EARLY TABLET TO PERSIA Translated by Shoghi He Is The All-Glorious THOU that art aglow with the Fire that burneth in the Sacred Tree! At this morning hour, when the Light that shineth from the Abha King dom is shedding its splendour upon the regions of the world and the sweet savours of the Lord. waited from the Realms of Holiness are difiusing their fragrance amongst the holy ones on earth, this yearning one is so stirred with the sweet remembrance of the loved ones of God and so with the desire of their meeting that he finds no way to still his longings or to calm his restless soul. A Voice is calling him from the Realm on High: “O servant of the sacred Threshold of Baha! Bestir thyself and, with thy pen in thine hand, make mention of that loving friend of thine that seeketh restlessly the Way of his Beloved and who is so enamoured with Thee that a single drop from the Ocean of Thy lovingkindness is to him the Water of Everlasting Life.” By thy life, so precious to me, I swear that I can contain myself no more and this pen of mine can Write no further nor can I guide and restrain any more my writing. Ponder this in thy heart and peruse this letter by the power of thine heart and spirit. O friend! I know not what to say and write to thee. Behold! The Voice of God so resounds from the Kingdom of Baha that the ear is wellnigh overpowered with its sound, and the Universe is so shaken by the ringing call of Baha. that it may soon disrupt and burst asunder! I can write no more. (Signed) Abdu’l-Baha Abbas. Translation of one of the earliest Tablets of our Beloved revealed for one of the early pioneers of the Cause in Persia.
THE. SPIRIT OF THE CENTURY SIGNS OF THE TIMES HAT the business world is awake to the fact that this world is one home is shown by the formation, nearly three years ago of an International Chamber of Commerce. "Economic facts . . . are teaching that the World is one community,” is a. statement made in an article about this organization in Our World. We read with interest of a new organization whose object is to promote world friendship. This is the International Federation of University Women. We quote from an article in Our World by the president of this organization. “The Federation is a society formed of associations of educated and thoughtful people in various countries banded together in a determined effort to substitute mutual knowledge, sympathy and confidence for the ignorance, jealousy and suspicion that have hitherto characterized international relations.” Dr. John H. Finley, editor of the N ecu York Timex, has proposed that the international debt arising from the world war be converted into a. perpetual trust fund for the education of the children of the world. Dr. Finley points out that the children born during and shortly before the war are the greatest sufferers from the war. He says, “We should have a world plan for giving the children an elementary chance to enjoy the freeing of the soul, which is, with the of mankind, the ideal state. . . . Ten million children a year taught the best that has been delivered unto men or invented by mankind, and led, in that tuition, toward the conscious unity of the race, toward planetary consciousness! Has a more stirring opportunity been to any people than is ours, in the refunding of this great war debt in such a way as to make it a blessing, when it can be paid, to the next generation or generations, instead of a crushing burden to the tax-paying generation of the present.” Would not this be a great step in carrying out Baha’Ullah’s teaching of universal education, the promotion of the unity of mankind and the abolition of War. Bertha: C. Hyde. THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT ORNIAN Angeli begins 9. review, in the Liberal Daily Herald, of A. Hobsorfs latest book, The Economics of Unemployment, with the following imaginary quotation from a Martian account of Europe and America in 1922: “They had learned to make things in abundance, and then perished for want of things of which they had too many. People went in rags because there was too much wool and cotton and too many spinners and tailors to make it into clothes. They suifered, these underfed and underclothed and inadequately housed people, from what they humorously called ‘overproduction’ of things of which they were in crying need. And they were perpetually resorting to tricks to reduce production, or escape its dangers, by protectionist tariffs, restrictions by trusts and trades unions. “I-Iobs0n’s theory is that too small a proporuon of what the worker produces goes into immediate consumption, and too large a proportion into profits, reinvested in machinery for making more things which cannot be consumed. . . . It is the margin of the large incomes that are perpetually reinvested and thereby cause an overproduction of articles that the workers, who form the mass of consumers, are unable to obtain. . . . He proposes two general remedies: first, raising
SIGNS OF THE TIMES the consuming power of the community so that the effective demand for goods may keep pace with every increase of production that arises from improvements in art and industry; second, a wiser distribution of the products of industry.”—From The Living Age, Jan. 20, 1923. We are reminded of the saying of Baha “The best of people are they who gain by work and spend for themselves and their kindred in the love of God, the Lord of the creatures.” Abdul Baha also expressed as a moral law this principle which Mr. H0bson’s book shows to be an economic law. One “teaching of Baha’Ullah concerns the equality of humankind; the readjustment of or equalization of the economic standard of the time, of the livelihood of mankind. For the poor are in abject distress, in the greatest need, and in the greatest misfortune; and that is not right, some individuals should be enthroned in luxury, in the greatest wealth, more than necessary, and some in the lowest degree of want. This is not worthy of the world of humanity.” God speed the time when we shall all see that the moral and the economic law are one and that both have been fully revealed in the teachings of Baha.’Ullah and Abdul Baha. “It will not be possible in the future,” said Abdul Baha, “for men to amass great fortunes by the labor of others. The rich will willingly divide. They will come to this gradually, naturally, by their own volition. It will never be accomplished by war and bloodshed. The ruling power or government cannot treat the rich unjustly. To force them to divide their wealth would be unjust. In the future, proportionately, about three quarters of the profits will go to the workmen and one quarter to the owner. This condition will prevail in about one century. It will certainly come to pass.”—Fr0m Ten Day: in the Light of Acca, page For a fuller explanation of the Bahai economic plan see Star of the West for December, 1922, and the chapter on “Strikes” in Some Amwerrd Questiom, published also as a separate leaflet by the Bahai Publishing Society, Chicago. “The critical question facing European civilization is: How can we maintain in comfort a dense population, crowded in the narrow limits of our cold and sterile Northern continent, and assure it liberty and leisure to enjoy the higher blessings of life? “The answer is through the progress of ethics and technics. Ethics can be mastered by the European through education. . . . Technical progress, by multiplying production and substituting machine labor for muscle labor, can provide the European with leisure and resources for cultivating and developing his higher cultural interests. “Ethics solves the social question from within; technics solves it from without. . . “The ethical ideal is to make Europe a. community of saints; the technical ideal is to make Europe a community of the rich. . . . “Ethics and technics are sisters. Ethics rules the natural forces within us. Technics rules the natural forces without us. Both seek to subjugate nature by spirit.” “Ethics and Technics” by Richard Kalergi in The Liwiazg Age, Ian. 2U, 1923. THE COMING SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE LL over the world there is ringing the cry for a spiritual renaissance. We hear it [rom statesmen, journalists, economists, and scholars. Unless a new light, a new spiritual force, they tell us, enters our civilization we cannot survive. “All organizations,” writes Roger Babson, the well-known statistician, are facing “the same problem; viz., they are trying to change the activities of men and women without changing their hearts or, speaking statistically—-their desires. This is why we have an uphill fight and always will until the desires of people change. . . . “W hat does permanently change the desires of men and women? Only one thing—namely religion. This has always been true throughout the ages and is true today.” Hamilton Fyfe, the new editor of the London Herald, Eng1and’s Labor daily, believes that nothing can avert disaster
to modern but “a change of heart and mind, such a change as only some powerful religious experience can bring about. That experience awaits everyone who will go back to the teaching of Christ. . . . There is no people, I believe, that would not listen gladly. No tribe is too backward, no race too weary, no nation too self-centered to give heed. The great light which has been dimmed for . . . . centuries . . . . would shine clear and bright, illuminating the whole earth. The world faith which has been the dream of many eager and ardent imaginations would become a reality. Behind the League of Nations there would be a power which might very rapidly transform aspirations into actualities, vague hopes into glorious achievements. The greatest victory of man over the forces of evil would be accomplishcd.—Article in The Lizving Age on “Religion and Labor.” But where is the Christ-light, which Mr. Fyfc says has been dimmed for so many centuries? Theologians are struggling over new heresics. Division in all great religions is increasing. Christians try to return to Christ, but what is the Christ teaching? Fundamcntalists interpret it one way; liberal ministers in a way which is quite different. Some prominent men of science question all our faith. Historical scholars throw ancient documents into doubt. Great demonstrations are held in l\-Ioscow denying all religion, just as Baha’Ullah prophesied would happen, when he said that after the great war religion would for a time seem to disappear. In a word, We need a new statement of the teachings of the Divine Christ, applied to new conditions with a new outpouring of spiritual power. “The old teachings,” says Abdul Baha, “arc insufficient for today. They cannot cure every disease and are not an ointment for every wound. Those heavenly admonitions of old are greatly loved and profoundly acceptable but the intellectual aspirations of today have advanced and demand fullcr explanations of the divine plan. There is great need for universal enlightenment. This need is supplied in Baha’Ullah’s teachings which are the sum of all teachings. Today he who acquaints himself with the precepts and exhortations of THE COMING SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE Baha’Ullah and reads the Tablets of Kalimat, Takaliyat, Tarazat and Bisharat W111 know for a certainty that they are the essential food for humanity in this latter day as well as the means of joining this transitory life to the Eternal.” “There are seasons in the revelation from God, as in the natural year, and just as the Christ manifested the Spirit ot God in the flesh and helped the earth in his time, now the message of Baha’Ullah is the medicine of which the world has much need. Baha’U1lah has a larger message on a greater number of subjects than any other, just as this is an age more ready‘, because of the great spiritual advance made in the great kingdom of knowledge, to understand and benefit by his just c0mmands.”—Abdul Baha: From Notes of Thornburg-Cropper of London. to the significance of the Cause of Baha’Ullah, know that everything which belongs to the universal is divine and all that is divine is certainly for the universal good. Therefore, a divine cause, for universal good, cannot be limited to the Orient nor to the Oceident, because the flame of the sun of Truth illumines the East and the and its heat is felt in the south as well as in the north; there is no dificrcncc between the two poles. In the time of the manifestation of Christ the Romans and the Greeks thought that the Cause was especially for the Israelites; they thought thcy had no need for it because they saw that, according to appearances, they possessed a perfect civilization and they thought that they did not need the instructions of Christ. This false supposition caused many people to be deprived of its grace. “Also know that the principles of Christianity and the commandments of Baha’Ullah are identical and that the roads are the same. But every day there is progress. There was a time when this divine institution was in an embryonic condition. Then it became newly born, a child, an intelligent child. Today it has reached maturity: its capacities, its body are the same, but today, it is resplendent, with the greatest beauty and brilliancy.”-—From a Tablet to a friend in Paris.
AMERICA’S GREAT SERVICE AMERICNS GREAT SERVICE HEN Abdul Baha was in Arnerica he said that America will advance greatly. “It will lead other nations spiritually, for its illumination is far-reaching . . . but the greatness of every country depends upon its hearing and becoming obedient to the call of God.” “Praise be to God, the American government . . . is not founded upon warlike doctrines. Hence it becomes this democracy to uphold international peace and spread it throughout the world. . . . “His Holiness, Baha’Ullah, fifty years ago spread broadcast his great movement, proclaimed the benefits of international peace. This took place at a time when the thought was not in the minds of men nor the word upon the tongues of the people. At such a time be summoned people from all parts of the Orient. He addressed letters to the sovereigns of Europe, setting forth the results to accrue from the establishment of universal peace. He invited all to participate in a w0rld’s arbitral court of justice to be composed of representatives from every government of the world the delegates thereto to be chosen and ratified by the governments. Thereto would be referred disputes between nations for settlement. In case any government or nation should prove rebellious concerning any decision of the court the other nations should coalesce to force it into obedience.”From a message of Abdul Baha published in Francisco Clzronicle, October 4-, 1 . “Now this American nation is a revered nation and presents great and deserved worthiness. I hope this fair government will stand for peace so that Warfare may not reign in the world, that the banner of peace may be unfurled, and all nations may be united together which is the greatest attainment of the world of humanity. It is equipped to accomplish that which will surely adorn the pages of history, to become the envy of the world, and to be blest in the east and the west because of its address by Abdul Baha given in Cleveland, Ohio, May 6, 1912. 343 THE COVENANT OF PEACE From two Tablet: of Abdul Ba/za to German F rielnds, quoted in the Diary Letters of Shoghi October 7 and 8, 1919. “The underlying foundation upon which the Kingdom rests is love and this must be securely established among the friends and must be widely spread so that it may become the cause of the establish— ment of the oneness of mankind. This love must be so intensified among the friends as to make of them true servants of one another expending their Wealth and sacrificing their lives for one another and consecrating their being to the existence of other souls. Then ye shall observe how people will {lock and gather under the shade of the pavilion of the oneness of mankind.” “Praise be to God! Thou hast given up thy material comfort, . . . hast traveled to Lubeck and hast instituted an assembly. From the bounties of God I hope that assembly may become a heavenly gathering, may promulgate the oneness of mankind so that the various peo— plcs and difierent races may all associate‘: with utmost harmony under the shade of the pavilion of the oneness of mankind, the hostile peoples of Europe may be fused into one, the continent of Europe may become one home, this horrible war may lead to utmost union, harmony and love among the different communities of Europe, the monument of estrangement may quake and the standard of afiection and unity‘ be unfurled.” “You must rest assured,” said Abdul Baha to the Secretary of the New York Peace Society, concerning the work of its members, “and let there be no trace of doubt in your souls that God is your assister and helper. The Heavenly mations will descend upon you more and more. God will protect you and will give you new strength continually. Your world-motives will conquer the world of men; all obstacles will disappear before your advance; no earthly power can resist the onrushing power of peace. For
this power is assisted by the power of God and that which is divinely assisted must prevail. Consider how the Cause of Christ was confirmed. How many resisted it! What mountains of obstacles were raised against it! What hostile forces sought to destroy its foundations! Yet the kings and emperors of the world could not resist its spread and establishment. No power of earth can withstand the on BAI-IAI NEWS How of the spirit of truth. If earthly kings and kingdoms come in its way it will conquer, and they will be overthrown, always: for your cause is truth itself, and truth is omnipotent. If all nations arise to oppose they will be vanquished, and you will be victorious. You are a servant of God, not a servant of this world. A servant of God is he who gives some benefit; to the world of man.” BAHAI NEWS AND NOTES THE BAHAI CONVENTION IN INDIA From Convention Announcement and Program ANNOUNCEMENT THE Bahai Convention aims at placing before the world just those broad intrinsic basic principles of religions which may work for universal reconciliation of races and ereeds. It does not oppose any community or people. Its hope is to establish universal peace, universal language and universal brotherhood. Its object is humanity’s future progress on the lines of internationalism rather than nationalism. PROGRAM or THE EVENING SESSIONS THE 3111: ALL-INDIA BAHAI CONVENTION PUBLIC LECTURES 27th, 28th, 29th Detcember, 1922 At Khalikdimz Hall, Bunder Road, Karachi 27th, at 5-30 P. M. Prexidant: Pvionsieur Paul Richard. (1) Presidential address on: Fundamental Unity of Religions. (2) Bahai by Prof. Sardar Pritamsingh, M. A. (3) The Spirit of Holy Zoroaster, by Dr. P. S. G. Dubash, D. Sc. (4) My Two Years’ Stay in Europe, by Dr. K. K. Bhargava, M. Sc., Ph. D., F. C. S. Thurrday, 28th, at P. M. President: Jamshed N. R. Mehta, Esq. (1) Presidential address on: Move ments working for universal llnlty. (2) Reconciliation of Races and Religions, by Dr. K. K. Bhargava. (3) The Great Need of the Age. L. T. ('2) Capt. ]. Stevenson. (4) Universal Education. (1) Niiss Shirin M. Irani. (2) Prof. S. B. Butani, M. A., B. Sc. (5) Universal Language. (1) Dr. P. S. G. Dubash, D. Sc. (2) H. Prasad, Esq., B. Sc. Friday, 29th, at 5-30 P. M . Presrkiemt: Dr. G. '1‘. Wrench, M. D. (1) Equality of Men and Women. (1) B/Iiss Shirin Cursctjee. (2) Mrs. V. G. Pradhan. (3) Adrian L. Duarte, Esq., M. A. (2) Pilgrims on the Path, by Sohrab, K. H. Katrak, Esq. (3) Solution of Economic problems, by Prof. Sardar Pritamsingh, M. A. (4) When Nations are one. (I) Swami Vairagchandri, M.A. (2) M. R. Shirazi, Esq. B. A. Professor M. A. Shirazi of Karachi, President of the Executive Committee of this Convention writes of the great interest aroused in various parts of India by the Convention. Ten thousand letters of invitation were sent to prominent thinkers, savants, leaders, and to various societies in India, to which the response was very encouraging. Professor Shirazi writes that the Convention has awakened such interest that “we cannot cope
NEWS FROM BAGDAD with the demands from the newspapers and other bodies for Bahai articles and lectures.” The friends in India are working out plans to give the glorious Bahai solution of the world’s problem to the multitudes in India who are hungering for the message of unity and peace. Seyid Abb_as Ally Butt of Rangoon in a letter to the Star of the W err, writes: “The present Turkish war and the end of their year 1340A. H. which was the year of the Coming of the Promised One _a.cc0rcling to the computation of their Ulemas has created a stir among the Mohammedans and they crowd in numbers in our Assembly Hall and lively discussions are held every week. We trust the spirit oi Baha’Ullah is moving upon the face of the waters and ere long there will be light and no darkness.” Professor M. A. Shirazi, of Karachi, Editor of the Bahai N ews, which brings to us each month most welcome news from India sends us word that Abdul Baha a week before his ascension asked him to come to America, and that Shoghi has repeated the same request. Professor Shirazi has oeen delayed in undertaking this journey because of the invitation which he had sent out to the All India Convention to meet in his city, Karachi. Now that the Convention has been accomplished, he plans, he writes, “to leave for the Holy Land some day in March and then to come to America for a few months.” It will be a great joy to the friends in America to meet this gifted Bahai scholar and author who is well-known all over India and to hear from him of the onward march of the Cause of God in the East. A LETTER FROM BAGDAD To The Star of the West AGDAD, the capital of Irak, Mesopotamia, and now under the occu pation of the British Government has a population of nearly two hundred thousand souls, of difierent religions, chief of which are the Moslem-—Sunnites and Sheites, Jewish, Christian and Sabeite, named in order according to their numerical following. Amid them all there live many scores of Bahais whose only aim and purpose is the welfare of the whole world of humanity. To spread this great Cause there come from time to time teachers from Persia. The Spiritual Assembly of Bagdad meets regularly once a week, led by Haji Gahmood Ghassabchi, the firm friend who has already spent hundreds of thousands of rupees upon the repairing of the Baitollah, the house in which His Holiness Baha’U11ah lived during his residence in Bagdad, and who purposes so to give, as the need arises. This weekly meeting is held on Sunday nights in the house of Dr. Nourollah, a Persian friend. On Thursday nights, also, a public meeting is held at which scores of Bahais gather to listen to the chanting of the holy Tablets and to receive the news which has arrived from Haifa. As regards communication with the Holy Land the Bagdad friends have been more favored than many other countries for there is a regular air mail service between Haifa and Bagdad by means of which letters mailed one day will reach Haifa in two days, and scarcely a fortnight passes but we receive an answer. The Bagdacl friends rejoiced to hear the news of the unity of the American friends and all together offer their best Abba greetings to all the American friends. (Signed) Hedayatullah L. L., Secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Bagdad. JENABE AVAREI-I IN ENGLAND ENABE Avareh of Persia, the eminent scholar and teacher, of whom Shoghi Effendi speaks in his letter to the friends in Great Britain which is published in this issue, has now arrived in England. Dr. Lotfullah Hakim of Persia, who has spent many years in England and Haifa, met him at Marseilles and accompanied him to London. Jenabe Avarch was called last summer from Persia to Haifa, by Shoghi Effendi, and now will spend some time in England assisting in the spread of the glad tidings in that great land.
THE ANNUAL CONVENTION IN AMERICA MOST significant Convention in the history of the Bahai Cause in America will be held this spring, in Chicago, at the Auditorium Hotel, beginning April 28th. The Feast of the Rizwan will occur Saturday evening, April 28th; the public sessions of the Congress will be held on the following Sunday afternoon and on Nlunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The Convention sessions, held in the mornings and afternoons, will be attended by delegates and friends from Assemblies all over America and, We hope, by many friends from across the seas. The I\'Iashreq"Ul-Azkar Committee is planning to hold, if possible, some of the sessions of the Convention in the great foundation room of the Mashreq’UlAzkar at "Wilmette, Illinois. There, already, the spiritual atmosphere of the Kingdom is radiantiy manifest, a foretaste of the coming glory, when all sects and religions and peoples shall come together in unity and peace and worship in this great universal Temple. The day of spiritual organization, re TI-IE COMING ANNUAL CONVENTION many Tablets, is new gloriously ushered into world-wide activity by the Guardian and Center of the Bahai Cause, Shoghi Effendi in whom, today, the spirit of Abdul Baha is shining in splendor and who, Abdul Baha. tells us in his last Will and Testament is under the uncrring guidance of God. The coming Convention will rejoice to meet under the banner and guidance of our beloved Guardian who will lead the Cause of Unity “to glorious victory”. anticipate as a crowning event of the Congress and Convention the presence of Jenabe F azel, the distinguished Bahai philosopher and scholar of Persia who comes direct from the Holy Land and from the presence of Shoghi Effendi. A cabiegram from the Guardian of the Cause reads as follows: “Haifa. Alum: Boston. Fazel and family arriving New York February nineteen Adriatic. Shoghi.” Jenabe Fazel comes to America this time with his wife and son, Hoshang, for a visit of a number of years. His many, many friends in America are waiting eagerly to hear again his eloquent message and meet once more this apostle of the universal love of Abdul Baha. INDEX T 0 VOLUME I3 ARTICLES, FROM THE. WORDS OF ABDUL BAHA Page AFortunethat Bestows Eternal Happiness............................. 102 Bahai Principles—The Light of the New 277 Early Tablet Ec0nomicHappiness forthe Human 227 Exiled from Bagdad—A Story from the Words of Abdul Baha............ Z77 Extract fr0mLastWil1and.Testament 233 Progress in 99 Proof of God’s Existence—Abdul Baha’s Tablet I0 Prof. F0re1........ . 195 Star oftheWest—Tablets from Abdul 16 TheBahaiCauseandtheChinesePeop1e............................... 184 The Callto Universal Pcacc 291 The Days of Divine 18 The MornofUnity.........‘..................‘..................... 186 The Need ofalfniversal 131 The()rigin ofRacc-Color 307 The Priyer now recited at the Shrine of Abdul Baha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
INDEX TO VOLUME 13 347 The Tree of Life Is Just Beginning to Grow This Tree of Life is the Book of the Covenant. Last Tablet of Abdul Baha to the Bahais ofAmerica............ 19 The\Visd0rnoftheApostles.......................................... 180 To1NIr.Pallinger Z81 “UntoThisICall 79 When the Sun of Reality Becomes Truly NIanifest— Tablettol/Iirza Abul 107 ARTICLES—OTHER ARTICLES A Glimpse of Abdul Baha as the Gardcner,—By Nellie S. French. . . . . . . . . . 26 A Pioneer at the Golden Gate——Mrs. Helen S. Goodall. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 A Visit to Bahje by Way of the Sea—By Nellie 5. French. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 116 An American Teacher Goes to Persia———By Albert Vail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I21 Bahai Qrganizatl0n—~By Louis G. Gregory, Agnes S. Parsons, l\/Iariam Haney 323 Bahai Revelation, The Need of the Time—By Charles Mason Rerney. . . . . . 9, 36 Capacity and Spiritual Rcvelation—By Nellie S. French. . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Change ofI\/Ianagementofthe Staroflhe 80 From the Unpublished Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. . . . . . . . . . . .150, 171, 269 Green Acre—By \VilIiam H. Randall..............,................... 110 Happiness from a Bahai Standp0int—Compi1ed by Martha Root. . . . . . . . .. 101 Meditation and Its Effect on Conduct——By Mary Hanford Ford. . . . . . . . .. 109 Our Trip to Haifa in the Summer of l922—By Stanwood Cobb. . . . . . . . . . . 294Peace for James Howard Kehler. .. 174Segments of the Circle-—-By Marjory Morten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 153 Seven Cities in the Spiritual Journey to God“ Compiled from an Address of Jenabe Fazel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Some Striking Connections between the Shrine of the Bab and the Mashreq’U]-Azkar of America—By Corinne True. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Some Questions Asked—Let Us Consider Them— By Dr. Frederick W. D’Evelyn............................... 211 Some Questions About Science and Religion—By Anna Kunz. . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 The Coming of the Promised One—By Albert Vail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 The Growth of the Bahai Cause in the East FrornaNews Letter by Ienabe I*‘azel.._....................... 310 The Need for the Education of Women in the Near East— By Genevieve L. 177 The Plain of 207 The Religion of the Sikhs-—By Kate 272 The Spirit of Abdul Baha—By Horace Holley.......................133, 165 The Victory Horace 265 The “Writings of Abdul Baha—By Horace Holley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s H14ASCENSION OF ABDUL BAHA Ascension of Abdul Baha—Extracts from Last Will and Testament. . . . . . . 233 Memorial Service on the 40th Day after Abdul Baha’s Ascension. . . . . . . . . 293 BIOGRAPHICAL AND AUTO-BIOGRAPHICAL A Bahai Conversion 113 One of God’s Heroes: The Story of Ebn Abhar........................ 334 Two Shining Lights of Ishfahan—By ]ena.be Fazel..................... 242 CONVENTIONS Bahai Congress in 279 Convention for Amity between the White and Colored Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . S4 The Bahai Congress for Teaching and the Fourteenth Annual Convention By Louis G. Gregory 67 The Second All-India Bahai Convention, Bombay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 57 The Third All-India Convention, Karachi ..... .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .220, 223 White and Colored Races in Convention............................... 50
INDEX TO VOLUME 13 EDITORIALS Resurrection 16 Change of the Management of the Star of the 80 Join the Army of 112 Can We Change Human 113 Editorial on Abdul Baha from The Time‘: of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 ILLUSTRATIONS Abdul Baha at about 24 Years of 98 Abdul Baha in the Garden Surrounding the Shrine of Baha’Ullah at Bahje. . 8 Abdul Baha 226 AMOsquconthe Bosphorus 238 Annual Convention in the Temple Grounds............................ 71 A Street in I-IaIfa—The House Baha’Ullah Occupied for a Time........... 295 Bahai Temp11.;Designed by Louis Bourgeois........................162, 258 Bahai Temple in the Process of Construction 130 Camel Train at Rest in the Hospital Yard at Kaisereyeh_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Delegates and Friends at Western States’ Teaching Convention... . . . . . . . . 280 Detail of Window of Ma.shreq’Ul-Azkar................................ 34Dr. Auguste 196 Facsimile of Carl Schefller............i.................... 1 Facsimile of Letter from Shoghi 81 Mrs. Helen S. Go0ciall—Abdu1 Baha’s Home in the Background. . . . . . . . . . 194Photograph Taken in the Auditorium of the Central High School BuildingSpringfield, Massachusetts 50 Portrait of Genevieve .L. Coy 121 The Knighting of Abdul 290 The Plain of Acca—-The Bahje. a Group of Buildings Which Includes the Last Home of Baha’L'llah Is Seen in the Distance...... . 297 TheT0mb or Shrineof Baha’Ullah..........,......................... 298 LETTERS AND CABLEGRAMS A Beautiful Message from the Holy Land—By Rouha Khanum. . . . . . . . . . . 118 A Cablegram from Shoghi 265 A Letter to the American Friends from Shoghi . . . . Z99 ALetterfromTeheran 313 An Important Letter from Shoghi Effendi Written before his Departure for his Retirement 31 Excerpts from a Letter from Dr. 282 Excerpts from a Letter from Genevieve L. Coy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 First Letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Bahais of America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Letter from Shoghi Effcndi-—General Letter on Bahai Organization. . . . . . . . 83 Letters from Shoghi Effendi to Great Britain, Chicago, Cleveland. . . . . . . . . . 323 The Message from Shoghi 234 Letters from Bahaeyeh Khanum 83, 314MISCELLANEOUS Bahai Calendar 15 Bahaildeals 0fEducation 189 Bahai Prophecies 252 Directory 0fBahai Assemblies..................................‘.28, 46, 9410s, The Shepherd Some Parables Concerning the Laws of Spiritual Life... . . . . . . . .. 182 On Mount Carmel, The Garden of Genevieve L. Coy. . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Report ofthe Bahai Library Committee................................ 78 The Eye of Reality—B_v Corinne True 284The Sacred Valley of Promisc—-By Victoria Beclikian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 309
INDEX TO VOLUME 13 349 NEW BOOKS Bahai, the Spirit of the Age—By Horace Holley........................ 124 Lecturei offmabe Fazel 124The Dream of God—By Dr. Albert Durrant \Vatson............. 4-5 The Passing of Abdul Baha—By Lady Bloomfield and Shoghi Effendi. . . . 298 The Pmmulgation of Universal Peace—Addresses of Abdul Baha. . . . . . . . . 189 NEWS AND NOTES, BAHA1 NEWS Bahai News and 122 Miss Agnes Alexander in 187 Nlessages fromthel-Ioly 219 The Conventionin 220 The FutureofMountCarmel...‘................................. Z20 Bahai Convention in Stuttgart Z78 Bahai Convention in Western 281 Building the Bahai Temple—The Universal .. 313 ALetter fromTeheran 313 LetterfromBahaeyeh Khanurn 314the HolyLand.................................. 315 The Coming of Jenabe 315 Bahai Ideals of Education 189 First Letter from Shoghi to the Bahais of America.......... 17 FirstMeetingin the Bahai 132 News from the Philippine Islancls—Letter from Hossein T0uty.. . .. 27 TheGreatC0nvention0f 1922 14 PERSIAN SECTION Pages 30, 32, 47, 48, 62, 64-, 95, 96, 127, 128, 159, 160, 191, 192, 223, 224, 254-, 255, 256, 257, 287, 288, 317, 318, 319, 320, 350, 352. POEMS Ac Rest—-Selection from “The Dream of By Dr. Albert Durrant 35 Star of the West—By Willard P. 66 The Temple Beautiful——By Dr. Albert Durrant ‘Watson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Z64 Bahai Garreta. Helen 138 Visi0n—By Garreta Helen 181 SPIRIT OF THE CENTURY AND SIGNS OF‘ THE TIMES Bahai Prophecics 252 The Chinese Renaissance 215 Esperanto and Travel 249 Hopeful Signs 217 Inter-Racial Amity—-By Louis G. Gregory............................. 304 Physical Healing 252 Signs of the Times-—-In Current Literature...........................1l4-, 155 SignsoftheTimcs 307 Spiritual Healing—Dr. 251 The Chinese Renaissance—~By KaiTai 215 The Cryf0rPeace——The Spirit oftl1eH0ur 216 'TheNewSpirizofY0ungChina 157 World Peace through the Discovery of One 306 TABLETS OF BAHNIILLAH An Epistle 300 From the Book ofAkdas 276 Physical Healing Z52 Prayers of Baha’Ulla.h—Trans1ated by Shoghi Efiendi.................. 331 Song of the Holy '75
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