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August 20, 1911. CONTENTS Ode to the First Universal Races Congre-ss— By Miss Alice Mary Buckton....................... Brief Report of First Universal Races Congre-ss—B;.r 1'vIr. W. Tudor-Pole. . . . The Bahai M0vement—- Preface to and Letter of Abdul-Baha to First Universal Races C0ngress.. . . . . . . . . . . Editorials............................
ODE T() THE FIRST UNIVERSAL RACES CONGRESS. By Miss Alice Mary Buckton. What Voice is this‘? What gathering sound Upon the Great Highway‘! A Voice no living ear has heard-— A thousand toligues in a single word—A dream the poet heart has stirred Since dawn of day! They come! Who come? Listen! What thund’rous tread of view-less feet, From citied walls where waters meet, From isles of coral foam. From Western prairies red with corn, From sacred temples of the mom, They come! Not as strangers seeking pasture, Feeding flocks in lands unknown; But, as elder sons returning, Led with marvel and yearning-— One by Through the mystic maze returning As to some ancestral homethey come! For the city of ancient vision, IIer heavenly towers agleam, Upon the hills hath arisen The joy of those that dream! Wide-—wide her gate, And wide her thoroughfare; And the roofless dome is great As the open sky is fair; And the feet of those who enter No more shall rove! For the voice that cried, “Let there be Light!” Hath rent the cloud of 21 darker night— “Let there be Love! And the souls of the races rise abroad, Each from his pl.‘-Ice, To meet his Own! at last, to meet His brothers, face to face! They come! They come! With simple hands And eager hearts that burn! White and dark their treasures b.r:ingingHark to the voice of the children singing The Song of the Return! For the West hath seen, in dumb amaze, The Mirror of a Timeless Face Beneath his making hand: And the East, unveiling things that seem, Hath throned among the powers of dream The Voice of the Command! The spangled robe of heaven again Is hung upon the tree, To deck the Day of the Marriage Feast, The bridal hour of West and East, And the dawn of the race to be! Iloary-headecl, young and old, Royal-vested, crowned and stoled, Maker, King and Priest! Women bearing corn and wine L0, they come with songs divine To the mystic feast! Their path is the ancient path of pain, That once the heroes trod! Their songs are the songs that build the fane Unmcasured by human rod; And the night and the day are one in it For the world is the tent of God! And the arching sky this hour is blue As never sky was seen; And the living Earth is round today As never the earth has been. And the mouths of babes are lisping all A rune unrhymed till now; And tho world-rose breaks in crimson flower On every common bough! Raise the eye of wonder, Mortals, bow the head! See, the silent. watchers! L0, the mighty dead! Heirs of iainglc kingdom They crmvn you from their place. 0 harvest of the nations, 0 lnanhond Of the race! Before THE NABIELFISS Ye bow today; In pnniteuce and shame One prayer ye For long-deaf ears have heard the cal], And lips long dumb have answered all The holy yea, and yea! N0 afterdcml shall e’er undo This thing that ye have done. gathering cloud shall ever dim Tlie briglfcness of your sun! The age has travvlcd with this hour! Meteors, bend your starry shower, For, in the heavens of viewless power Another star is born! (mildren 01’ glory, hail! On every lifted face Read the tender light Of the twice-born race! Behold the Son of Man In power foretold! Behold the sons of God Made manifold! Swift Cherubim, unfurl Your flaming swords that burn, And hear the children sing The Song of the Return! America, and the Colon-ies.~|
Vol. II Chicago (Aug. 20, 1911) Kama] No. 9 THE FIRST UNIVERSAL RACES CONGRESS Held in London, England, July 26-29, 1911. By Mr. T1u'l0r-Pole. The first Universal Races Congress has passed into history. Nobody, beyond those associ:1tc--.'l with its promotion, can have any conception of the vast amount of labor involved in bringing such a congress about. It is all very well for $1 correspondent in the Po.s't to scoff at the ideals upon which the congress was based and to dismiss the whole as the soppy sentimentality of a few faddists. No great organizatioll working for the regeneration of mankind, that is not based upon the ideals for which this stood, will ever accomplish great or lasting results. Ten years ago the holding of such a gathering would have been impracticable, and it has created a foundation from which to work for future congresses. The immediate tangible of the discussions may not be very evident; the press reports have been inadequate; and many of the speakers could not be heard beyond the platform. Also it must be admitted that the‘ stifling heat of the hall did not conduce toward clear thinking or dchatv. Newertheless, this congress has triumphantly demonstrated the possibility of bringing together in friendly intercourse representatives of nearly every race and religion under the sun, and the spiritual and moral elfeets of this fact alone can never be undone. The reception of delegates and writers of papers by Lord Weardale at the Fishrnongers’ Hall on Tuesday evening was a sight never to be forgotten. Has there ever before been brought together such a wonderful array of Workers and thinkers drawn from every country in the world, animated by one great ideal, the brotherhood of all mankind? tioable and visionary as the ideals that inspired the Races Congress may be, nevertheless if such gatherings could be held first in one capital, then in another, the risks of great world conflagrzitions would gradually be minimized, and ultimately war between race and race, nation and nation, man and man, would become impossible. Do not let the promoters of the congress feel discouraged, therefore, by the many criticisms and complaints that have poured in upon them. These will be useful when preparing for the next congress, and the value of their vast undertaking, as a fact in history, will become more and more apparent as time goes on. What struck one most forcibly, perhaps, whilst listening to the debates, was the fact that the majority of the speakers forgot that they were addressing an international and inter-racial gathering, and spoke as if to an entirely English audience. This spoilt the cfTect of many papers. I would strongly urge all who are interested in inter-racial problems to secure a copy of the printed congress papers, as they contain some expositions of international questions unobtainable elsewhere. The publishers are P. S. King & Son, Orchard House, Westminster. I should like to refer i11 detail to a few of these papers at a later date. Great interest was aroused on Thursday during the discussion on letter to the congress, the full text of which i'oll0ws: “Alexandria, May 29, 1911. “T0 the President, First Universal Races Congress. “My Dear Friend:—Your letter of invitation has been received, and I am much obliged for it. 1t is rny utmost desire to be present at such a gathering, for I am thoroughly confident that beneficial results shall surely follow these meetings, and that they
will become the means of establishing friendship and love among the world's difierent 1'ac-cs. Thus the basis of vumiiy may be and the tent of unity of the world of llumanity be raised throughout all regions. “I regret nluch that circumstances may prevent me from attending, but I will endeavor as much as lies in my power to attend. Failing to do so, pray excuse me. a sincere heart I supplicate at the Divine Threshold that this congress may he suc-(eossful in founding a. noble institution which shall be permanent and everlasting; that it may ignite vandle from which a. heavenly light shall beani, and plant a tree whose fruit may be friendship, love and unity between all the children of men, so that and warfare may be abolished, and patriotic, racial, religious and political pre_ju<lices I ,1 1 4 on 0. Q A become unknown. Peace should replace. strife, enmity be sufierseded by. love, annihilated, and unity established. Then what has been spoken of in the heavenly books will become well rcoted in the hearts of all, and the glad-tidings of the sacred writings be fulfilled. In conclusion I offer my utmost appreciation and respect to such a blessed congress. “(Sig.) Anus." The chairman, Mr. J'. M. Robertson, M. P., made synlpathetic refervnce to the spiritual language in which the letter was cmwhed, and his remarks were applauded. THE BAHAI 1\IOVEMENT [A congress designed to bring about a fuller understanding between the peoples of East and West would be incomplete without an account of the Bahai movement. In 1844 there appeared at Shiraz, in Persia, a youth, Sayyid Ali Muhammad by name. whopr0claimed himself the herald of a {great spiritual teacher to come. Sayyid Ali .\Inhammad, to his followers as the Bab (Gate), soon became renowned throughout Persia. for his eloquence and zeal. In 1850 he was shot at Tabriz by order of the Government, who regarded him as a dangerous disturber of the peace. The movement for religious and Social reform initiated by the Bab continued, however, to grow rapidly. In the early sixties a Persian nobleman, known hereafter as proclaimed himself to some of his adherents as the Teacher whose appearance had been prophesied by the Bab. His pr.-rsonalit-_v attracted multitudes tlxrouglnollt Persia, including the majority of those who had followed his fore1'unner. He wrote that God had made all men as the drops of one sea and the leaves of one tree, that all races of mankind were pure, and should Work in harmony Together. He foresaw a time unity would be establislmd between all races and creeds. “Have noble thoughts, healthy morals, and llygienic. habits,” he . .. » rc * says. “Be examples to guide all mankind towards its rcgemeration, and toward the peace of the whole world! . . . Let not a man glory so in this, that he loves his country. Let him rather glory in this, that he his kind! Tlwse ruinous wars, these fruitless 2-sfrifes nlnst cease; and the Most Great‘ shall come.” The followwcrs of this movement underwent bloody persecution at the hands of the orthodox the martyrs numbering above 20,000. In 1867 13111121 sent a letter to the Pope, to Queen Victoria, and to other crowned lwzuls of calling upon the nations to put down their armaments and to can.-'e a r-onferencc of the Governments to be held. The letters are matters of The Pelsizul (lowermncnt, fearing the effect of Baha’u’llah’s growing influence, exiled . 1.. .. . . him first to .A<h-ianoplo, and finally, 1868, by an arrangernent, With the? '1‘urkish tics, iucarcc-.1'atcd him in the fortress city of Acre on the Syrian coast. During his exile he Wrote many books, and his influence as a spiritual teacher continued to grow. His principal works are Hulden Worr1.\- and the Bal1a’u’lIah, before l'.i- in 1992, his eldest son, Abbas to cnntim1e his work and expound his writ.ings. He is widely known by the name of Bnha, ‘Abbas (i.e.. Abiias tiie"Sei'i':int of .Baha).* He reinainml in confinement at Acre until 1908, when he was under the Young C.‘ons1itut-ion. Since then "1 Bahn. has lived at Haifa, on .\"Iuunt Carmel. This mmienient is not to be regarded as a new religion. Rather is it a World-ivide revoguition of the underlying unity of religions and peoples, and oi’ the ideals of i11leru:atimml peace am’. good-will. It teaclmes the equality of‘ the sexes. the duty of every one to serve the comnmnity. an-..l tho duty of the colnmunity to give opportunity for such servil-.o— urging men of all religions to live out their faith. in unity with tlwir fellow-men and show that helmiml all express-:i0n:< of creed there is one religion and one God.
Balm, now sixty-seven years of age, has written many letters and tablets explaining the team-hing 1'efe1-1-ed to above. The present writer recently had the privilege of seeing him in Egypt. where he met at his table representatives of the great world faiths—Cllristians, Mosh:-ms, Buddhists, Zoroastrians. It is estimated that in Persia alone there are at least two million Bahais. The total number the world must be very considerable (in the United States alone there are, it is said, several thousaml). Probably about. of tllc Balmis are drawn from the Mahonleclau world, the remaining third belonging to other great world faiths. Balm sends the following letter, conveying his greetings to the Congress. It will be noted that llu- unification of racvs is not intended to mean the suppression of tlmir different in order ‘that may_be into one, but that tlwse very differences are necessary to constitute a harmonious whole, and 'duty of this fig?» is to the of development w1thm each race in order that, in a spirit of maukinrl, the work] over, llzay (:0-up0rR’re 1n worklng for Universal W. T. P. travelling about the world We observe an air of prosperity in any conntr_v, we find it to be due to the existence of love and friendship aniong the people. It", on the contrary, all seems depressed and poverty-stricken, we may feel assured that this is the effect of animosity, and of the absence of union among the inhabitants. Notwithstanding that such a state of things is obvious to the passing traveller, how often the people themselves continue in the sleep of negligence, or occupy themselves in disputes and differences, and are even ready to slaughter their fellow-men! Consider thoughtfully the continual integration and disintegration of the phenomenal universe. . . . Unification and constructive combination is the cause of Life. Disunion of particles brings about loss, weakness, dispersion, and (iecay. Consider the varieties of flowers in a garden. They seem but to enhance the loveliness of each other. \Vhen differences of color, ideas, and characte1' are found in the human Kingdom, and come under the control of the power of Unity, they too show their essential beauty and perfection. Rivalry between the races of mankind was first caused by the struggle for existence among the wild animals. This struggle is no longer nay, rather! interdependence and co-operation are seen to produce the highest Welfare in nations. The struggle that now continues is caused by prejudice and bigotry. To-day nothing but the power of the Divine Word, which embraces the Reality of all things, can draw together the minds, hearts, and spirits of the world under the shadow of the heavenly Tree. of Unity. The Light of the Word is now shining on all horizons. Races and nations, with their different creeds, are coming under the influence of the of Unity in love and in peace. The Blessed One, Baha’u’11ah, likens the existing world to a tree, and the people to its fruits, blossoms and leaves. All should be fresh and vigorous,
the at-taimnent of their beauty and proportion depending on the love and unity with which they sustain each other and seek the Life eternal. The friends of God should become the manifestors in this world of this mercy and love. They should not dwell on the shortcomings of others. Ceaselessly should they be thinking how they may benefit others and show service and co-operation. Thus should they regard every stranger, putting aside such prejudices and superstitions as might prevent friendly relations. To-day the noblest person is he who bestows upon his enemy the pearl of generosity, and is a beacon-light to the misguided and the oppressed. This is the command of Baha/u’lla11. O dear friends! the World is in :1 warlike condition, and its races are hostile one to the other. The darkness of difierence surrounds them, and the light of kindness grows dim. The foundations of society are destroyed and the banners of life and joy are overthrown. The leaders of the people seem to glory in the shedding of blood—Friendship, straightncss, and truthfulness are despised. . The call to arbitration, to peace, to love, and to loyalty is tie call of Baha’u’l1ah. His standard floats since fifty years, summoning all of whatever race and creed. 0 ye friends of God! acknowledge this pure light; direct the people who are in ignorance, chanting the melodies of the Kingdom of God, until the dead body of mankind quickens with a new life. Guide the people of God. Inspire them to emulate the lives of the holy ones who have gone before. Be ye kind in reality, not in appearance only. Be ye fathers to the orphans, a remedy to the sick, a. treasury of wealtll to the poor, a protector of the unfortunate. love dwells, there is light! here animosity dwells, there is darknessl 0 friends of God! strive to dissipate the darkness and reveal the. hidden meanings of things, until their Reality becomes clear and established in the sight of all. This Congress is one of the greatest of events. It will be forever to the glory of England that it was established at her capital. It is easy to aceept a truth; but it is di'icult to be steadfast in it; for the tests are many and lieavy. It is well seen that the British are firm, and are not lightly turned aside, being neither ready to begin a nmtter for a. little while, nor prone to abandon it for a little reason. Verily, in every undertaking they show firmness. 0 ye people! cause this thing to be not a thing of words, but of deeds. Some congresses are held only to increase differences. Let it not be so with you. Let your be to find harmony. Let Brotherhood be felt and seen among you; and carry ye its quickening power throughout the world. It is my prayer that the work of the Congress will bear great fruit.
[Continuin¢ the BAHAI NEWS] PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR Byl the V BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street., Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. Entered as second-class matter April 9. 1911, at the post office at Chicago. Illinois, under the March 3,1879. AI.BERT R. Wmousr — EDI T OR 8 — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA Persian Edilor.—-MtttzA AHMAD SOHRAB, 1800 Belmont Road, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Associate Edi1or.—DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI, Chicago. TERMS: $1.00 per year; 10 cents per copy. Note-— Until further notice, distribution in the Orient is through Agents. Make Money Orders payable to BAH/U NEWS SERVICE. P. 0. Box 283, Chicago. lll,, U, S. A, B9 thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long. thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper the Bnhnle which Is organized In the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited. my form is small and thy voice weak. yet shouldst thou stand unshakable. become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the (jovenanr, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto waves of the men; thy volume will increase, my arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper oi’ the world of humanity. Yet all these have received from London the advance publication (2. large book) of the papers p1'epare<1 for reading at the first Universal Races Congress, and among them is one from Abrlul-Baha. It is the briefest of them all, being very short, only two pages; and its clmracter is entirely difierent from all the others. Theirs are largely from the point of view of country and race; his is universal. Theirs spend much time and words to tell of their ancestral greatness and the abilities of their land and race; he uses few words and little time to teach the of all mankind, their individual and mutual duties, and the needs of the time. Theirs look to scientific progress, philosophical discussions, courts of arbitration, commercial interests, or socialistic ideas, to bring about the advance and better welfare of mankind. He goes at once to the root of the matter and says: “Today nothing but the power of the Divine Word, which embraces the Reality of all things, can draw together the minds, hearts and spirits of the world under the shadow of the heavenly Tree of Unity. The Light of the Word is now shining on all horizons. . . . Races and nations, with their various crceds, are coming under the influence of the Word of Unity in love and peace.” In brief, the thought of practically all of those who submitted papers to the Congress, was from the human point of view, while that.of Abdul-Baha was from the Divine Seeing. His was primary, theirs secondar_\-'. His presentation referred to the very seed and root of the matter; theirs to the branches and twigs, or results. They failed to perceive that all the advances of science, philosophy, ideal and action grow out of the spiritual enlightenment of mankind through the radiance of the Sun of Truth, which is now bathing the world
in splendor. He points mankind to the “Ford, the Spirit, and its workings in the hea1't.'s of men; they point to the 1'(.-sults, as though they originated with man alone. Several of them speak at more or less length of Religion as the ideas of men and nations, but they limit religions to racial conceptions rather than to the Spirit. of God as an active, actual Power among all men. But it is a \\'0nderful and glorious sign of the times and a proof of the working ac-tivity of the Spirit, that men from many nations, grown under different trainings, colored with different mental and spiritual ideas, should gather in such a congress, without political intentions, and only with the purpose of promoting the mutual acquaintance, respect, friendship, peace and prosperity of the races of mankind. It is another of the fast multiplying proofs the Divine Mission of BATTA '0 ’LLAH. any apparent instigation or influence from Bahai sources, it proceeds to forward greatly the very principles which value to promulgate and i.o inipress on mankind in this time of the ending of the old and the establishment of the new. This fact alone is sufficient to prove that the Word of Baha’ was the declaration of that Divine Spirit which is working in the consciences and hearts of men all over the world to bring to pass that which He proclaimed as the duty of men in this new age. Those writers and speakers from many nations were busily calling attention to the appearance of the “new earth;” while Abdul-Baha proclaimed to them the advent of the “New Heaven." The new earth Ifllll-1'6 indeed be prepared for the establishment upon it of a new heaven. This is true of the physical world, the conditions and environments of mankind, as it is of the individual man, who contains within himself the earth and heaven of his dual nature. But there can be 110 re-creation of the earth itself except it be from the power of the Spirit, its Creator. Men of perception note the wonderful changes going on in the material realms of‘ earth and mind, the revealing of hidden laws and power, the discoveries of actions and conditions cunduce greatly to the improvement of man’s abilties. but they do not yet perceive that all this advancement comes from the presence and action of the Mighty Spirit of God, that Universal, Invisible, Creating Light of Divine Intelligence, which surrounds, penetrates and permeates every atom of existence, throughout all spat-e and the “Space-loss.” All 'rhings——“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17.) () that men would recognize the bounty of God and turn to Him in praise and thankfulness for all that they have and are! fhornton Chase. Our Persian section this issue contains: (1) Tablet of Abdul-Baha regarciing the STAR. OF THE (2) Tablet of Abdul-Baha pertaining to his trip to the West. revealed to a Persian Bahai. (3) Tablet of Abdul-Balm concerning the progress of the Cause throughout the world. (4) Letter from Tabriz regarding the organization of a Persian-American (.‘ommcrciu1 Company, with a capital of $19,000.00, to do business with America. (5) Editorial: The wealth and prosperity of a nation depends upon the imrroase of its commerce. (6) Portrait of Mr. Louis Gregory, of Washington, D. C. (7) Short account of his services in the Csurse; his recent visit to Abdul-Baha in the East, and a Tablet concerning his visit. (8) Tablets in regard to Abdul-Baha’s anticipated trip to America. (9) Progress of the Cause in Calif0rnia—by Dr. Alneen U. Fareed. (10) Progress of the STAR or THE WEST in the East, together with statistics showing volume of correspondenwe, subscriptions and other information. Magazines of all kinds are greatly appreciated by the friends in Persia, who pass them on and on. Even the advertisements draw new pictures in their minds-—create new ambitions. Postage rate is 2 oz. for 10, with limit of 4 lbs. Send direct to: ‘Dr. Susan I. Moody, 10 Ave. Aladaulelr, Te/zeran, Persia. Via Russian Post. Mark package: Old magazine.s—no romnurcial value. Also state name and address of sender.
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Persian Editorial Office: Najme Bakhtar,
1800 Belmont Road, Washington, D. C., U. S. A.
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