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“DESTROY YE THE FABRIC OF STRIPE AND WAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH!" Organize ye spiritual assemblies. Lay ye the foundation of union and concord in this world. Destroy ye the fabric of strife and war from the [ace of the earth. Construct ye the temple of 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 louncled in the Invisible World, and it will by degrees become manifest and apparent through the power of the Word of God. I supplicate God that ye may become the army of that Kingdom, in order that, by the power of the Most Great Name, the friends of God may conquer the world through love, friendship and the strength of the Kingdom of Peace, the human race may become compassionate, and bloodshed and camage be completely effaced from the universe.
Message from Abdul-Baha to the beloved in America, through Mr. Kinney When you enter a public meeting deliver this Message from Abdul-Baha: All the people of the world today are workmen of destruction or ruin. Everyone as though with an axe is striking at the root of the foundation of humanity. They hold in their hands great implements of warfare and destruction. Among the greatest is the axe of religious prejudices or sectarian bias, as well as that of racial bias; another implement of destruction is the axe of patriotic bias; another is the axe of political warfare; another implement of ruin is the persistent accumulation of commercial benefit or profit; another, the love of conquest of new domains, as is also the enmity. hatred and bigotry among the nations and tribes. These souls are entirely inadvertant to the relations of the Kingdom of God, deprived of the relations of Unity, and despaired of the Life Eternal. Although outwardly ihcy may be extremely civilized, ncverlhelcss they live in darkness. Now, God has chosen you from among mankind, and has guided you to the Kingdom, has enlightened your hearts with the love of God, so that you may be the cause of guidance to these people, in order that you may become a cause of guidance to the world of humanity. He has appointed you as the builders of (he edifice of true manhood. Consider with what a power of morals you must arise in order to withstand all vicissitudes. All these people, all these promoters as workers of warfare and ruin are spreading the deeds of hatred among nations. Now, consider milk what a peace and con card you must go forih in order ihat you may be capable of overcoming the antagonisiic forces. It is my hope that you may prove yourselves to bf.’ the first servants Of the realm of humanity, and the builders of the edifice of Divine Justice. That you may radiate the light of lhc Love of God 10 such an 610611! 38 IO [0 remove entirely the gloom and darkness of hatred, bigotry and enmity from among humanity. Know all mankind of all nations. sects and tribes as your kith and kin. Consider not their deeds, but only God. $eek your reward from Him and not from them. Know the aged of all nations as your fathers,_ the juveniles as your brothers and the children as your own. No matter what lack of courtesy or what severe persecution or stern expressions of hate and unfathomable enmity you receive, you must have no excuse like the following: and so has spoken unlzindly about me," "50 and so has not clone me ]'ustice,"—nay, rather you must have no excuse but live according to the Divine Teachings, whether humanity prove agreeable or disagreeable, whether humanity prove hateful or loving, whether it receives you or casts you out, so that perchance you may be assisted in hoisting the standard of peace and pitching the Tabernacle of Oneness and spliclarity of the world of humanityvso that this temporal life may ultimate in the Life Everlasting, and this darkness of ignorance which has pervaded the whole world may be converted into the illumination of guidance. So that material man may become celestial, and the earthly souls become the heavenly souls; that the blind may become perceptive. the deaf attentive, the ignorant Wise. the dead arise, so that, in fuel, the Kingdom of God in the wprlcl of humanity may pitch its Canopy and its Tabernacle in the utmost glory."
STAR OF THE WEST faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of afieclion and unit Kama] 1, 70 (August 20, 1914-) Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tarcs are the children the vtricked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the rcapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. T THIS hour the world stands appalled before the spectacle of millions of human beings in the throes of annihilation. It is called war. In reality. it is hell. Gunpowder is but another name for “fire and brimstone,” and the battlefield but another name for perdition, where there is “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Is it not the plague of “hailstoncs for rain, fire mingled with the hail ran along upon the ground” raging among mankind, foreshadowed in Egypt long ago? Is it not that event foreseen by Christ quoted above: “The harvest”; “the end of the age?” bundles of tares (0rganizations—military and others) burning; a world-consuming fire ren*.-oving “all things that P” Is it not the “judgment” of the Ada-mic cycle! All attempts at explanation and description of such a cataclysm arc futile and inadequate The parable of the tarcs covers the whole matter concisely and completely. “Who hath ears to hear, let him Tm; Enrrons. THE"MOST GREAT PEACE” "LET THIS STANDARD BE I-IOISTED IN THE VVEST, AND MANY SHALL RESPOND TO THE CALL" Address delivered by Abdul-Baha at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. New York City. Sunday. May 12. 1912 we glance at history, we find that from the beginning up to the present day strife and warfare have prevailed among men. It has either been religious warfare. a warfare of races, or a war among the nations. All these Wars have arisen from the ignorance of humanity, because of misunder standings, and through the lack of the education of human kind. Let us first touch upon religious warfare. It is self-evident that the Divine Prophets have appeared for no other purpose than to establish love and amity among humanity, for they were the shepherds and not the wolves.
The shepherd comes forth to gather together his flock. He has not come to scatter his flock and to create strife among them. Every Divine Shepherd has gathered together a certain flock which formerly had been scattered. Among the Shepherds was His Holiness Moses. He assembled the various tribes of Israel and united them; afterward he took them over to the Holy Land. At a time when the Tribes of Israel were scattered and dispersed He was able to unite them, to assemble them together, and cause their development along degrees of human progress. By Him their degradation was transformed into glory, their poverty changed into wealth. Their vices were replaced by virtues until they reached a zenith that the Solomonie ‘Sovereignty was made ‘possible, and the fame of their glory reached the East and the VVest. Hence it is evident that His Holiness was a Divine Shepherd for He united the scattered tribes of Israel and gathered them together. the Messianic Star dawned, He declared, “I shall gather together the scattered tribes or flocks of He not only united the Hock of Israel, nay rather, He was confirmed in bringing together the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Syrians, Ancient Assyrians and Phoenicians. These people were in a state of the utmost rancor; they were thirsty for the blood of each other; attacking one another with the ferocity of animals. But His Holiness Jesus Christ united them, assembled and cemented them together, established a bond of love among them so that strife, rancor and warfare were banished. Therefore it is evident that the Divine religions are meant to create a bond of love among humanity, and to bind the people together for no other purpose than amity. Divine religion is not a cause for discord and disagreement. If religion be the cause of discord and difierence, then no religion is preferable, for religion is meant to be life to the body politic. If it be the cause of death to humanity, then its non-existence is preferable. Therefore, in this day religion is to be sought, for religious teachings may well be likened to remedies. If a remedy be productive of worse symptoms, the lack or absence of the remedy is preferable. At a time when the Arabian tribes and nomadic people were in the utmost state of division, thirsty for the blood of each other, living in ‘the deserts under lawless conditions, strife rampant among them, not a single soul enjoying composure, no tribe at case such THE WEST a critical time Mohammed appeared. He gathered them together and reconciled them toward each other, united and caused them to agree, so that no strife and warfare remained. The Arabian nation immediately advanced until their sovereignty progressed and extended as far west as Spain and Andalusia. From these premises we may conclude that the foundation of the Divine religions is for peace and not for strife, warfare and shedding of biood. Inasmuch as the foundation of the religions of God is one Reality which is love and amity, these warfarcs and dissensions aye caused by imitations which creep in afterwards. Religion is a Reality, and Reality is One. The fundamentals of the religions of God are one in Reality. There is no difierence in the fundamentals. The difference is caused by the imitations which arisc later, and ‘inasmuch as imitations differ, strife, discord and quarreling take place. If the religions of this time should forsake imitations and seek the fundamentals, all of them would agree and strife and discord would pass away—for Reality is One and not multiple. As to racial wars, these are caused by purely imaginary racial differences. For humanity is one in kind, it is one race, it is one progeny, inhabiting the same globe, and in the original genesis no difl'erence obtains. God has created all hunlanity. God has not originally created Frenchmen, Englishmen, Americans, Germans, Italians or Spaniards. There is no difference as regards creation and kind; all belong to one household; all are the leaves of one tree; all are the fruits of one tree; all are the flowers of the same garden; all are the waves of the same sea. Let us glance at the animal kingdom. find the animals do not observe any distinction. If you gather together the sheep of the East and those of the \/Vest, they would mix quite harmoniously. The Oriental sheep would not look surprised and strange saying, "You belong to the Occident; whereas I belong to the Orient.” They would live together in the utmost accord. They would gather together and enjoy the same pasture. There is no racial difference among them. If the birds of the East and the birds of the “Test were together, they would be found in a state of the utmost unity and amity. There would not be any distinctions observed. 'We find virtues in the animal. Is it becoming of man to be deprived of those virtues? The animal does not observe those imaginary distinctions. Is it becoming for man
to observe them? Man is reasonable, has the manifestation of the Divine bestowals, the perceptive faculty, adoration, memory; and with all these Divine bestowals, shall he allow these racial ideas to change him;—one saying, “I am 21 German”; another, “I am a Frenchman”; a third, “I am an Englishman”? Through these superstitions shall he wage war? Is this becoming? God forbid! It is not at all. If the animal does not condescend to observe such lowering thoughts, shall man be willing to stoop to this level? should he fetter himself with such groundless imaginations and superstitions. They are purely imaginary. As to war which has been caused by nativity;-the idea that this is an Eastern nativity, the other is a Westerri, this is Northern and that is Southern; this is likewise purely imaginary. The globe of this earth is one globe, and it is the nativity of all humanity; therefore, the human race should not observe any of these distinctions which are conducive to war. We have come from the East. Praise be to God! we find the American continent prosperous, its climate most delightful, its weather salubrious, the inhabitants possessed of courteous manners and the United States government a fair government. Is it becoming for us to entertain anything but love for them, saying, “This land does not belong to us, this is not our nativity and because it is not our nativity it shall not be acceptable.” This would be utter ignorance to which man must not condescend. Man must investigate realities and the reality is this: that all humanity is one in kind, that this earth is one globe and therefore one home. Hence it is proved that the factors and causes of warfare are entirely false. Grant this. Consider what is taking place in Tripoli. How many of the poor are being killed, how much blood of the oppressed is shed upon both sides! How many children become fatherlessg how many fathers lose their sons; how many mothers bemoan the loss of their dear ones! And what is the result after all?-nothing. Is it just, is it becoming for man‘ to he so bloodthirsty? Consider how domestic animals never cause animosity; that is an attribute of the ferocious animals. For example, if you gather together a flock of one thousand sheep they do not cause the shedding of blood. If you bring together many flocks of birds, no war takes place. But when wolves, dogs and lions meet, they fight. Even these ferocious animals are ferocious because of their necessary food; 133 they are in need of ferocity. Without ferocity they will be bereft of food. But man does not need to exercise that sort of ferocity; his livelihood is made possible otherwlse. Out of greed, enmity and self-glory, the blood of the oppressed is spilt. The great ones among the nations rest and enjoy luxuries in their palaces, but send the poor common people to the battlefield. They offer them as targets before the cannons. Every day they invent new instruments of destruction to destroy more fully the foundations of the human race. They are absolutely merciless toward their kind—toward these mothers who have so tenderly cared for their sons. How many nights have these mothers spent sleepless? how many days have they labored’ from morning until evening nurturing their children until they reach maturity! How many of their kith and kin do these warring ones allow to be torn asunder in one day! What savagery! What ignorance! What greed! VVhat enmity! VVhat degradation, which even the ferocious animals do not understand! For the ferocious animal may tear to pieces one in a. single day; the wolf, for instance, may carry away one sheep, but some unjust man kills one hundred thousand of his kind in a day, and glories in it, saying: “I am a great general; I am a great commander-inchief, for in one day I have done away with one hundred thousand of my kind!” Consider how ignorant the human race is. If a man kills another man,—one single matter what the cause may is at once pronounced a murderer, meets with capital punishment, or is put in prison for life. But the man who kills one hundred thousand of his kind is called a “Conqueror,” a 21 “Great General.” If a man should commit the theft of one dollar he is called a. thief and sent to the penitentiary; but if a. general should pillage :1 whole country, they call him a great “Conqueror” of the highest heroism. “This is 21 hero!” “This is a conqueror of the world!” How ignorant man is! How low! In Persia, among the various nations and peoples, religions and denominations there existed the greatest animosity, envy and hatred. At that time all the other nations of Asia were in the same condition. The religions were hostile toward one another; the sects were at enmity; the races were filled with hatred; the tribes were constantly at war; at all times strife, warfare and bloodshed prevailed. Men shunned each other and were thirsty for each others lives. They considered the greatest
glory for man was to be able to kill many of his kind. Each religionist considered the killing" of one belonging to another religion or denomination a great and praiseworthy deed. At such a time as this His Holiness appeared in Persia. He founded the oneness of the world of humanity. He declared that all humanity is the servant of God, and that God is kind to all; that He created all and provides for all; that He nurtures all; therefore why should we be unkind? Inasmuch as God is kind and merciful to all His creatures and manifests His care and goodwill to them i11 every way, why should we show forth that Wl'llCl1 is contrary? Inasmuch as God loves all, why should we entertain animosity or envy? For if God did not love all, He would not have provided for all; He would not have created man; He would not have trained him. Now that He has created, provided for and preserved man, it is therefore evident that God is kind to all. then should man be unkind to mim? This is the Divine policy. Shall we consider human policy to be better than the Divine policy? Is that conceivable? Is not that impossible? Therefore, we must emulate the policy of God. Just as God deals with all humanity—so kindly, so l0vingly—we must deal with each other. BAnA’0’LLAH cleclared the “Most Great Peace” and International Arbitration. He voiced His sentiments with regard to peace in numerous cpistles upon that subject, which were scattered broadcast throughout the East. He wrote to all the kings and crowned heads, encouraging all and monishing them in regard to peace. He made it evident with conclusive proofs that the happiness and glory of humanity can only be insured through peace. This took place about fifty years ago. Because He promulgated International Peace and gave numerous instructions about it, the kings of the Orient arose against Him, for they did not find their personal advanced thereby. They arose to pcrsccute and molest 1-lim; inflicted upon Him every torment, imprisoned Him, bastinadoed Him, banished Him, eventually confined Him to a. fortress. Then they arose against those who followed Him. For the establishment of International Peace the blood of twenty-thousand Bahais was spilt. How many homes wcrc destroyed! How many of the young were made captives! How many of the houses were pillaged! Yet none of them waxed cold. Even unto this day they still persecute them, for the Bahais put forth the great est efforts. They not only promulgate principle; they are people of action. Now you see the same people who were formerly at enmity and strife in far off Persia—pc0ple of various religions and denominations,—through the great teachings of BAHA’o’LLAH living in the utmost peace. Enmity has passed away and they exercise the utmost love toward all mankind. For they know that all are the servants of God. At most it is simply th-is: that some are slill ignorant, they must be educated; some are sick, they must be treated; some are as children, they must be helped to reach the age of maturity. e must not molest any one because he is an infant or chiid; we must not be inimical to any one because he is still ignorant; we must not reject anyone because he is sick; but we must treat the sick, educate the children until they reach the age of maturity; and help those who are ignorant in order that they may reach knowledge. Therefore the essentials of the foundations of the religions of God are love and amity among all humanity. If a Divine religion should be productive of discord among society, it is a destroyer and not Divine; for religion means unity and binding together. Mere knowledge of anything is not sufiicient. We all know that justice is good, but there is need for volition and executive force to carry it out. For example, should we think it good to build a church, simply thinking of it as being a good thing will not help its erection. must will to build it. Then wealth is needed for its erection; simply thinking will not be Sufiicient. All of us know that International Peace is good; that it is conducive to the general welfare of humanity and the glory of man; but we are in need of will, volition and action. ‘We must act. Inasmuch as this century is a century of light, it has capacity for action. Necessarily these principles will spread among all men until they reach the degree of volition and attain to the status of action. Surely this is so, for the time is ripe for it. The human race knows, verily, that war is a destroyer of the human foundation, and in all the countries of the world there are those who favor this issue. ‘When I came to America, I found this to be an exceedingly progressive country, the people in a state of readiness, the government a just one, and equality established to an extraordinary degree. Now inasmuch as the standard of International Peace must needs be hoisted, I hope that it may be hoisted upon this continent, for the American continent is more de
serving, has greater capacity therefor, and is not like other countries. If other nations should take such a step, everybody will misinterpret the motive. For example, if Great Britain should take the step, it will be said that it is done in order to insure the safety of her colonies. If France should hoist the standard, they will say she has some interest therein. If Russia should raise the ensign, the whole Russian nation would say it is an to preserve the homogeneity of Russia. But the American government has no selfish interest in this. You have, strictly speaking, no colonies to preserve. You are not endeavoring to extend your domains; nor have you any need for territorial aggressiveness. Therefore if America takes the first step toward this direction, it is certain to be ascribed to altruism. It will be said by humanitv, “There was no other purpose than altruism and service to mankind.” Therefore it is my hope that you may be the cause, and that you may hoist this banner-—for this banner will be hoisted. Raise it aloft, for you are deserving above all other nations. In the other countries there are many who are waiting for this summons, anxiously anticipating this call from some nation bidding all to the “Most Great Pcacc,”' for the people are distressed because of the excessive and irreparable damage of war. Thousands of the farmers are taxed and expenses collected for war. Every year the tax increases and the people have come to their end. Just now you can say Europe is a battlefield; like ammunition ready for a spark, and one spark can set the whole world.* Befo-re these complications and colossal events happen, take mp and prevent it. The foundations of all the Divine religions are peace and amity; but misunderstandings have crept into them. If these misunderstandings disappear, you will see that all the religious agencies will work for peace, and promulgate the oneness of human kind. For the foundation of all is One Reality and Reality is not multiple or divisible. For ex— ample, His Holiness Moses founded this Reality; His Holiness Jesus hoisted the tent of Reality, and the light of this Reality shone forth in all the religions. His Holiness LLAH proclaimed this Reality and promulgated the “Most Great Peace.” In the prison He rested not until He lighted this lamp in the East. Praise be to God! all the people who have accepted the teachings of are peace lovers and are ready to sacrifice their lives and forfeit their fortunes for it. Now let this standard be hoisted in the West and many shall respond to the (all. Just as America has become renowned because of her discoveries, inventions and skill; famous for the equity of her government and colossal undertakings-may she also become noted for the “Most Great Peace." Let this be her undertaking, and let it spread from her to other countries. And I pray for all of you that you may render this service to the world of humanity. ANNOUNCEMENT THE BAH/“XI PROOFS ALSO A SHORT sxarcn THE. HISTORY AND LIVES OF THE LEADERS OF THIS RELIGION Second Edition of’ the best known Work in English by this eminent Disciple of Add 10 cents for Postage ages. $1.00 BOUND IN CLOTH. Order from MISS MARY LESCH, (new address) 4319 Lake Park Avenue CHICAGO. ILL., U. S. A.
STAR OF THE WEST PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A. Entered as ICCOIId-Clill matter April 9, 1911, at the post at Chicago. Illinois. under the Act of March 3.1879. Honoram Member: M11124 AHMAD Sonmmn Terms: $1.50 per year; 15 cents per copy Nau—Until funhe: notice, distribution in the Orient in through Agents. Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI Nzwa P, 0. Box 283. Chicago, Ill" U, S. A. To personal check: please add to cover the bank exchanze. Address all communications to BAHAI News Slmvxcz, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. TABLET I-‘ROM ABDUL-BAI-IA. O thou Star of the West! as is con! Be Shoul_ds_-t thou continue to eterna_I, er_e 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 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 time denend upon firmness! (Signed) ABDKLL~BABA Anus. Vol. V Kamal 1, 70 (August 20, 1914) N0. 9 “FIRMNESS IN THE COVENANT” WILL ABOLISH WAR AND ESTABLISH THE “MOST GREAT PEACE” . . . According to the clear text of the Book of Akdas and the explicit contents of the Book of The Covenant, Abdul-Baha is the Interpreter of all the \Vorks the Blessed Perfection and not only of the Book of Akdas. This question is clear and evident to those who are informed of the W'ritings and Tablets (of BAHA’0’LLAH). Were this not the case every one would have given an interpretation according to his own inclination, and considering his own interpretati0n__ preferable to the interpretation of others which naturally lead to great differences.” [See opposite pagc.] “Consider that in former days there were only religious wa-rs; but now there are Extract from Tablet to the Editor of The Clzr-istian Commonwealth. Translated July, 1913. THOU who art firm in The Covenant" —see opening line of Tablet quoted a phrase familiar to all read ers of the STAR OF THE as it is employed repeatedly by Abdul-Baha in the Tablets revealed by him. It is not a stock phrase, nor a pretty combination of words; but a stern reality, a fundamental necessity, an acid test sooner or later to be applied and successfull_v met by those who enter Kingdom of Anmx. As Christ said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot [not, shall not] enter into the Kingdom of Heaven so likewise, except a soul awakens to an understanding, recognition, acceptance of and obedience to “The Covenant,” it cannot enter the portals of the “Most Great Peacc"’—which is the Kingdom of God on earth. To explain: The Bahai Dispensation is unique in that it is the era of the "Most Great Peacc”—an attribute not specialized to former ep0chs;—and as for every there is a cause, there is, then, in the Bahai Cause that which will produce this "Most Great Peace.” This we know is embodied in the principles of as expounded by Abdul-Baha in his addresses delivered in the Occident, namely: (1) The Oneness of the \Vorld of Humanity; (2) The Independent Investigation of Truth; (3) The Foundation of All Religions is One; (4) Religion must be the cause of Unity; (5) Religion must be in accord with Science and Reason; (6) Equality between
Men and Women; (7) Prejudice of all kinds must be forgotten; (8) Universal Peace: (9) All humankind must partake of Knowledge and Education; (10) Solution of the Economic Problem; (11) Organization of the House of ]usticc;—-and last, but in reality the most importam‘-—the “Most Great Cha‘racterist£c”: The unique Covenant entered into with all the people of the world regarding the Interpreter of His Teachings, known as (12) “The Center of the Covenant,” whereby He made against all kinds of diferences, so that no one should be able to create a new ferred, they said: “There is no strife between us; the trouble is between our herdsmen." So it has been with the Religionists of the world who quarreled and fought, notwithstanding their Leaders were at peace, were men of peace, and strictly forbade strife, sedition and killing. The critics of Religion have asserted that those who professed to teach love and peace were the stirrers up of war; also that the most terrible of all strife was that of religious strife. They were right. The beginning of strife among humankind has been among the follow “THIS IS THE TIME OF TEACHING” To the .\-laid-servant of God, Mrs. Isabella D. Brittingham, New York. Upon her be BAHA’0’LLAH-EL-ALHA! HE IS con! O than who art firm in the Covenant! Thy letter was received. According to the clear text of the Book of Alzdas and the explicit contents of the Book of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha is the Interpreter of all the Works and Books of the Blessed Perfection, and not only of the Book of Akdas. This question is clear andfievident to those who are informed of the VVritin‘gs and Tablets (of BA1-1A’0’1.1.AH). Were this not the case, every one would have given an interpretation according to his own inclination and considered his interpretation preferable to the interpretation of others—this would naturally lead to great differences. If some one interprets one verse of the Verses of God, and his interpretation is not approved by Abdul-Baha, it is not authoritative. But if a soul on reading one of the blessed verses utters an which does not harm the Cause, do not oppose lnm; for his talk is based upon ex/Jlanation (elucidation) and not on interpretation-. Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrad, July 12, 1914, home of Abdul-Baha, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Syria. sect, thus closing the greatest door to war and hell, for war is literally hell. The Mouthpieces of the Will and “Ford of God—His Manifestations——have spoken clearly and unmistakably regarding quarreling and fighting. Moses declared: “Thou shalt not kill Jesus said, “If a man smite thee on one check turn to him the other al-so." There is no misunderstanding between these two Manifestations regarding this point. The quarreling and fighting has always been between the followers, the hirelings, the underlings. You will recall the story of the strife between the herdsmen of Abraham’s cattle and the herdsmen of L0t’s cattle. ‘When Abraham and Lot con ers of a Prophet. If one will sift the matter to its source, it will be seen that it has been so. The first picture to blot the page of history in the Adamic cycle is that of Cain slaying his brother Abel. All strife and war began at a certain time after the departure of the Prophet, due to a difierence of interpretation and a split among the followers resulting therefrom; the dissenters set themselves up in opposition, and a strife of words led to a struggle at arms and the employing of implements of destruction—first crude and finally complex. In a word: Peace gave way to war; hell was set up in place of heaven. Consider then, that the ‘very cause of a rape
tition of such conditions which existed in the past has been nipped in the bud through the unique pro:-'isi0n at the dawn of this Miliennial Day -in the establishing of “The Center of The the appointing of the Interpreter of file Word of God as revealed in and this Interpreter is none THE WEST other than Abdul-Baha. He then is the unique Instrument which shall produce the “Most Great Peace.” To sum up: “Firmness in The Covenant” will abolish war and establish the “Most Great Peace.” Tm; Ennons. “IVE HAVE TURNED OUR FACES TO THE CENTER OF ‘THE COVENANT" To his honor Joseph H. Hannen, D. C. Upon him be BAHA’o’u.AII-EL-ABHAI 111-: 1s con! O thou propagator of the Religion of God! A few days ago an cpistle was written thee. Although I have not much time, yet I immediately give an answer to thy letter (written to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab) so that thou mayst know how my heart is attached to thee. Truly I say in the Cause of God thou art sincere. hast no other object save the good-pleasure of the LORD, and hast consecrated all thy time to the service of the Kingdom of God. On this account I have the utmost love for thee. Praise be to God, that the problem of meetings is solved, and there is no more any cause for dispute. Now the believers must engage their time in teaching the Cause of God, and in the meeting no discussion should be carried on save the Cause of God: The members of the Bahai Assemblies must be infinitely kind towards each other and all their deliberations must be concerning the Kingdom ABHA. Promiscuous discussion must be discountenanced, {or these things will become the means of the lukewarmness and apathy of those who are present. The Candles of all the meetings must be the Mention of God, the propagation of the Cause of God, the exposition of Divine Proofs and the elucidation of the Principles of His Holiness BAuA'o’1.1..ui. this condition is obtained, the meeting will become heavenly, celestial, godlike, illumined and the means of the guidance of the erring ones. It will yield most great results. O thou servant of His Holiness Inform all the beliezvers that perhaps a number of calum-inous articles will be sent to those parts by the people of dmlbls. The aim of such articles is to cause the wawring of the friends in The C011enant and The Testament. Therefore, they should not take notice of these articles, nay, rather, return them to the senders, accompanied with and sweeping answers-that we are firm in The Covenant and the servants of the Blessed Perfection. do not give ear to such hearsays and incoherent statements. We Imr,-e turned our faces to the Center of the Covenant in accord with the incontrovertible Commands of the Text of the Book of Akdas and the Text of the Tablet of the Covenant. have nothing to do with the people of doubts. (Signed) ABDUL-BAHA-ABBAS. Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, August 6, 1914; Home of Abdul-Baha, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Syria. CHANGE OF ADDRESSES. All correspondence with the Bahai Publishing Society, formerly sent to 5205 Harper should now be addressed to Miss Mary Lesclz, 4319 Lake Park Az'e., C Izicago, I II. (Telephone Kenwood 6227.) Incident to the opening of the new city post office in Washington, adjoining the Union Station, the address of the Bahai Assembly of VVashington, the Persian-American Educational Society, the Orient-Occident Unity, and all persons-heretofore addressed to P. O. Box 192, will be Post Box 1319, I'Vash1'ngt0n, D. C. OUR PERSIAN SECTION. This issue contains: (1) God is Love; (2) The good ending of onc’s life; (3) The “Most Great Peace”; (4) The war of the world.
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