I hope you will spread this teaching of Baha'o'llah.

Baha'o'llah has said that if it were possible one should love one's enemy and act the same towards him as though he were a friend. If all followed this principle, the greatest Unity and understanding would be established in the hearts of men.

"Knowledge is like unto wings for the being of man, and is as a ladder for ascending. To acquire knowledge is incumbent on all, but of those sciences which may profit the people of the earth, and not such sciences as begin in mere words and end in mere words. The possessors of sciences and arts have a great right among the people of the world. Indeed, the real treasury of man is his knowledge. Knowledge is the means of honor, prosperity, joy, gladness, happiness and exultation."—Words of Paradise.

THE THIRD PRINCIPLE.

Unity of Religion and Science

YESTERDAY I spoke to you of the Second Principle of the Teaching of Baha'o'llah , the Unity of Mankind. The first, as I have said, is the Search after Truth. The third is the acceptance of the Relation between Religion and Science.

There is no contradiction existing between True Religion and Science. When a Religion is opposed to Science it becomes mere superstition. How can a man believe that which Science has proved impossible? If he believes in spite of his reason it is rather ignorant superstition than faith.

The origin of Science and Religion is identical. Religious principles have all been based on Science. The Unity of God is logical and can be understood through scientific study. All religions teach that we must do good. This is logical, the only way humanity can progress. We must be generous, sincere, faithful, law-abiding. All this is reasonable. All religious laws conform to reason and are logically suited to the people for whom they are made and for the time in which they are practiced.

Religion has two principal parts: (a) Practical and (b) Spiritual. The spiritual part never changes. All the manifestations of God and the Prophets have taught the same truths and have given the same spiritual law. The Sun of Truth has sent forth many rays to illumine the human intelligence, the light is always the same. They all teach the same code of morality. There is no division in the Truth.

The practical part of religion deals with outer forms and ceremonies. This is the material part of the law and guides the customs of the people.

In the time of Moses there were ten offences deserving capital punishment. When the Christ came the law was changed. The old law, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, was changed to one of mercy and forbearance. In the old days the punishment for theft was the cutting off of the right hand; in our days this law could not be applied. Nowadays he who curses his father is allowed to live; then he was put to death.

So we see that, whereas the spiritual law of religion never changes, the practical law treating with actions changes with the necessities of the time.

It is the spiritual and moral part of religious law that is the most important of the two. All questions of morality contained in the law of every religion are logically right. If religion is contrary to logic, then it is no longer a religion but merely a tradition. This is certain. Therefore, put all your beliefs in harmony with science. There must be no opposition. Religion and science are the two wings with which man's intelligence can soar into the heights. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone.

All religions of the present day have fallen into superstitious practices, which are out of harmony both with true principles of the teaching they represent and with the scientific discoveries of the time. This has the effect of making people think that science and religion must of necessity be opposed to one another.

If religion conformed to science, there would be a great unifying, cleansing force in the world which would sweep before it all wars and disagreement, all disunion and inharmony, and men would be united in the power of the love of God.

THE followers of Baha'o'llah, especially in America, are constantly confronted with the vital question : Is not Christianity complete in itself? And this query is quite worthy of consideration by all inquiring minds in the religious world. It is conceded by those who are alert to Truth, and interested in history; as well as the events of this present age, that through the influence of Christianity a large part of mankind has become more or less civilized, refined and educated; while its teachers and missionaries are still putting forth mighty efforts to spread its teaching far and wide.

Why then do we need another Revelation from God at this time?

Is Christianity complete in itself? The word Christianity covers much that Jesus the Christ would not recognize nor endorse. Under its head are man-made creeds upon creeds, with dogmas many, and philosophies untold. Very much is and has ever been taught about Christ, and what He intended to give humanity by His life, teaching and death, but His deep, vital, and far reaching work has not yet been fully grasped by so-called Christian world, so that in a measure His ministry has been a seeming failure after these two thousand years, as far as the salvation or unity of mankind is concerned.

It was believed by Christ's followers that He was a perfected Being, inspired by God himself as a world Saviour, and He certainly was all of this. In and of Himself, and His message, was all that man required to enable him to unfold to his highest possibilities as man "in the Image of God" for all Eternity. But the failure has come about on man's part, for he has not grasped the inner or spiritual meaning of the Word, which was from the beginning, and which "was God." It has rather been Jesus the divine man which has been worshiped more than the Word.

From all time Infinite Mind has revealed Himself as the Living Word in the flesh, but it has been unheard or overlooked by the masses. The Word is One, and so simple that "A wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein." It is by the Word that man is regenerated, made whole wherever and whenever it is perceived by his Soul. And when he has been "born again" in reality, he comes into at-one-ment with the One Living God. Then this world becomes to him a veritable rose garden as it were, and mankind one great soul in many bodies.

This has been the plan of the Almighty for man from all Eternity. Should we then question His Love and Mercy in sending revelation upon revelation to this earth ? Has not His far reaching eye seen the utter failure on man's part to understand and appreciate the Christ teaching as It has appeared in the flesh again and again ? and could He fail in making every effort to fulfill His promises in man? Consequently the same Holy Spirit has again revealed the Truth which must resuscitate, and enkindle anew the fire of His Love in hearts. Why should the so-called Christian world question the action of the Spirit, while branches of its own organization have been proclaiming for two thousand years that this same Christ would come again to prepare the world for the reign of Peace promised in the Garden of Eden?

Had the Christian religion brought about the fulfillment of these prophecies before the coming of Baha'o'llah? What means this mighty tide working towards universal Peace and arbitration, of the world wide conferences and congresses to discuss the possibilities of disarmament? What has inspired the President of the United States to invite other great nations to unite in one common brotherhood, who shall have one purpose, that is to wipe out in due time all causes for war?

To those who have eyes to see or ears to hear the meanings of this movement are most clear and sure, for such souls have heard the voice of Him who has spoken all down the ages, and speaks today by His Word in Baha'o'llah. What is the difference you ask between the teachings of Christ Jesus and Baha'o'l'ah that such a change should come as is proclaimed by the followers of the later Prophet? All of the fundamental points set forth by the first of these great Manifestations is again presented by the latter. The difference is not in the teaching, but in man's conception of the Word whenever it may be proclaimed.

Baha'o'llah is the fulfillment of the Word as revealed in Jesus, in Moses, and in Abraham. Each Manifestation presents His message according to His own phraseology, perhaps best suited to the age of His advent, while each one was chosen to fill a certain station or office, through which He should minister to mankind.

Abraham, being absolutely obedient to the commands of God without question or hesitation, was proclaimed "the Father of all Nations." Moses was the great Law Giver, upon whose commands all common law has been based ever since. Jesus Christ came to sacrifice His life that the way for man back to God might be opened, or made clear; hence He was called the Saviour of man. While Baha'o'llah is to fulfill all prophecy, and bring the world into the promised "Day of Peace," by giving laws and commands which will eventually rule and unite all governments, and remove all vital differences among, and between nations. He has given searching admonitions which He said "descended from the Source of Majesty, through the tongue of Power and Strength upon the prophets of the past,"and that "He hath taken Its essences and clothed them with the garment of brevity, as a favor to the beloved, that they may fulfill the covenant of God; that they may perform in themselves that which He has entrusted to them, and attain the victory by virtue of devotion in the land of the Spirit."

The first of these Hidden Words is "O Son of Spirit! The first Counsel is: Possess a good, pure and enlightened heart, that thou mayest possess a Kingdom Eternal, immortal, ancient, and without end." And again: "O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, wherefore love Me, that I may acknowledge thee, and in the Spirit of life confirm thee."

In the "Book of Laws" written for all races and governments Baha'o'llah has settled all social, political, and economic questions of this day so clearly, justly and effectually that all men will wonder as they are given to the world. When He had revealed the message in full by writings many, He passed out of the body, leaving them to His Son Abdul-Baha, whom He proclaimed as the Center of God's Covenant with men, that he might interpret the meanings, and promote them as rapidly as possible.

Both Father and Son insist that progress shall be attained by natural growth, or unfolding of all great events, rather than by revolution, hence Abdul-Baha is giving his life to the Cause, and the thousands of all nations and religions who have come to acknowledge the Oneness of God, and the brotherhood of man through his wonderful personality and teaching is a proof of his power and God-given commission.

Baha'o'llah has proven the existence of the Lord of Glory, and made so plain His plans that the infidel and agnostic cannot fail of an understanding, if he sees fit to investigate its truths with a desire to know, and these facts cannot fail to break down all barriers between the so-called great religions of the world.

This revelation is not a new Religion but the very essence of God's Word as taught by the Christ, but not perceived by Christianity at large.

If there is no difference between the teaching of Christ and Baha'o'llah,why then need we turn from the one to follow the other?

The same question has been asked at the appearing of every one of God's Prophets, and each one has been rejected by the former religions. Jesus said that if the Jews had understood the message of Moses they would have accepted Him, for His coming had been proclaimed for thousands of years. The personality of each Messenger becomes the stumbling stone over which the creatures of all ages have fallen, and in the fall have lost sight of the Creator, so in time darkness and materiality have covered the face of the earth, selfishness and greed have destroyed the Garden of God, until the few souls who are ever listening for His Voice and crying out for light and knowledge have prevailed. Then in due time when the world has evolved to such a condition as is needful for His all wise purposes, another Prophet is sent with the Word of Life.

Had the priesthood of the former religions that exist today been listening only for the Word they would gladly receive the message of Baha'o'llah for every condition which Christ and all other prophets proclaimed would prevail in "that Day" is now being fulfilled. Why question the horizon from which the Light proceeds? Search the Scriptures of all religions and behold the Glorious Sun of Truth that has arisen once more to deliver man from sin and self. In this last triune* Manifestation is fulfilled every promise of the Infinite to man up to the date of the thousand year millennium, as termed in the Christian Bible. Beyond that period we know nothing, as far as man's advent on the earth is concerned. When we shall need further light to carry on the work of God's Kingdom here He will reveal His Spirit through the flesh, as He has continued to do all down the ages.

God Is Spirit, an Essence, unknowable, hence the creation of man through whom He may make known the knowledge of His Word.

• NOTE- (1) The Forerunner, The Bab The Door; (2) The Manifestation, Baha'o'llah, The Glory of God; (3) The Centre of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha, The Servant of Baha'.

LETTER FROM MONTREAL:

Dear Friends In El-Baha:—As the great work of preparation for the coming of Abdul-Baha is going forward everywhere, it may be of interest to know of the progress in Montreal and of the widespread change which is taking place in Canada. This change has covered a period of several years, in which old, dead systems are giving way to new social and political groups; old, crystallized forms are dissolving in the radiance of the broad, generous ideas of the new age, and personal power and authority are giving place to principles of justice and truth, to a higher conception of human brotherhood.

The little group of followers of Baha'o'llah in Montreal has witnessed many stirring changes in this city and their scope of influence has been extended by the affiliation of some of its members with other groups of active workers and thinkers. Early in January we received a visit from Mirza Ahmad Sohrab who announced the coming of Abdul-Baha to America and spoke of his visit to England and France. Among those who heard this address was the leader of the Socialist party of Montreal and other Socialists, the editor of the leading newspaper of Canada and several people connected with public work. Later this paper published a very good article on the Bahai Message and the coming visit of Abdul-Baha. A few weeks later another talk given by a Montreal Bahai, on the significance of Abdul-Baha's visit to the Occident, which was shortly followed by an address by Mr. Honore Jaxon, of Chicago, who presented the Bahai Message from the standpoint of the working class movement. Mr. Jaxon had just returned from England where he had been doing a work of seed-sowing and preparation among the organized labor people and socialists, and in his very broad and comprehensive talk in Montreal he showed the vital connection between these world-wide movements and the Teachings of Baha'o'llah. Mr. Jaxon spoke to several bodies and societies in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Quebec in such a spirit as to arouse interest and establish ties of good-will and fellowship, which will no doubt be the means of opening wide many doors for the reception of Abdul-Baha and the all-embracing Truth.

The friends in Montreal unite in sending sincere love and greetings to their fellow Bahais and to all those who are seeking the highest welfare of mankind and the enlightenment of the world.

I am your servant in the cause of El-Baha,

May Maxwell.

CONTENTS OF PERSIAN SECTION:

(i) Announcement of Abdul-Baha's departure for America; (2) a word of thanks from the editors of the Star of the West to the friends, as it enters upon its third year; (3) copy of Tablet for the Star of the West; (4) announcement of the Second Annual Conference of the Orient-Occident Unity to be held in Washington, D. C, April 18th-20th; (5) announcement of the Fourth Annual Convention of the Bahais in the interest of the Mashrak-el-Azkar, to be held in Chicago, April 27th-May 2d; (6) photograph of a group of Chicago Bahais; (7) establishment of an Oriental library in connection with the Orient-Occident Unity; (8) activities during the past year of the Persian-American Commercial Company, and Tablet from Abdul-Baha in regard to it; (9) Bahai martyrdoms in Sari Mazanderan; (10) editorial on Martyrdom; (n) Tablet from Abdul-Baha to Mrs. Louise R. Waite, in regard to music; (12) letters from Eshkabad concerning the teachings of the Bahai Revelation; (13) Abdul-Baha's Tablet to Mr. Tudor-Pole concerning the effect of teaching the Truth; (14) Tablet from Abdul-Baha to the Orient-Occident Unity.

Entered as second-class matter April 9. 1911, at the post office at Chicago. Illinois, under the Act of March 3,1879.

Albert R. Windust — E D I T O R S— Gertrude Buikema

Persian Editor— Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, 509 McLachlen Bide., Washington, D. C., U. S. A.

Associate Editor— 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 Bahai News Service, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, 111,, U, S. A.

To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.

Address all communications to Bahai News Service,P. O. Box 283, Chicago, III..U.S.A.

O thou Star of the West!

Be 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 of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy 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 Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy 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 of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!

(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

On Wednesday evening, March 13th, the various committees from the Chicago Assembly met with the committee from the Executive Board of Bahai Temple Unity to perfect arrangements for the season of the Mashrak-el-Azkar convention. The committee in charge of the Rizwan Feast (April 27th) reported having secured a very desirable location in the down-town loop district, at 20 East Randolph Street, in the building east of the Masonic Temple, where the feast room is large and rest rooms are in connection with it.

The Reception Committee is prepared to meet the incoming friends at the depots and place them in charge of the Entertainment Committee which is thoroughly posted on hotel and room accommodations. Both committees will consider it a favor to thus serve the friends. To add to the comfort of the visiting friends, Mr. Carl Scheffler has offered his studio as a down-town headquarters where friends may come for information, receive their mail and meet friends by appointment, etc. Mr. Scheffler's studio is Room 806, Athenaeum Building, 59 East Van Buren Street. Telephone, Harrison 5941.

The Music Committee is actively at work; a chorus is rehearsing every Friday evening under the direction of Mr. Albert R. Windust. The music for this year's convention will be an inspiring feature and will aid in uplifting the hearts and making them more receptive to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which we trust will be as a Pentecostal Baptism with Abdul-Baha in our midst.

Corinne True

The Bahai year begins on March 21st. an' is divided into 19 months of 19 days each, plus 4 (or 5 every fourth year) intercalary days—February 26th to March 1st, inclusive.

The first day of each Bahai month falls as follows:

MONTH NAME FIRST DAYS

1st Baha' (Splendor) Mar. 21

2nd Jalal (Glory) Apr. 9

3rd Jamal (Beauty) Apr. 28

4th Azamat (Grandeur) May 17

5th Nur (Light) June 5

6th Rahmat (Mercy) June 24

7th Kalamat (Words) July 13

8th Asma (Names) Aug. 1

9th Kamal (Perfection) Aug. 20

10th Eizzat (Might) Sept. 8

11th Masheyat (Will) Sept. 27

12th Elm (Knowledge) Oct. 16

I3th Kudrat (Power) Nov. 4

14th Kowl (Speech) Nov. 23

I5th Massa'ulk (Questions) Dec. 12

16th Sharaf (Honor) Dec. 31

17th Sultan (Sovereignty) Jan. 19

18th Mulk (Dominion).". Feb. 7

19th Ola (Loftiness) Mar. 2 (Mofth of fasting.)

The following days and seasons are observed by the Bahais:

The Feast of Naurooz—the Bahai New Year—March 21st.

The Feast of Rizwan—(Paradise)—commemorating the Declaration of Baha'o'llah in the Garden of El Rizwan in Bagdad, April 21st, 1863. This season of feasting lasts twelve days—April 21st to May 2nd. inclusive. The first, ninth and twelfth days (April 21st, April 28th and May 2nd) are especially celebrated.

The Anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab— May 23rd. (1844).

The Anniversary of the Departure of Baha'o'llah— May 28th. (1892).

The Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab— July 9th. (1850).

The Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'o'llah—November 12th. (Born in Nur, Persia, 1817.)

The Feast of the Appointment of the Center of the Covenant—Abdul-Baha—Nov. 26th.

Intercalary Days—During which hospitalities are extended to friends, the poor and the needy—February 26th to March 1st. inclusive.

The Month of the Fast—March 2nd to 20th, inclusive— during which no manner of food or drink is to be taken between sunrise and sunset. The nights are to be passed awake and in prayer. Fasting is enjoined upon every one. Children, travelers, sick and infirm people, pregnant women and nursing mothers are free from this obligation.

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