Source Material on the Master

Source Material on the Master in England

By John Taylor; 2006 May 18

Those who viewed the new pilgrimage promo DVD will recall certain recommended books and other readings that they recommend in order to prepare the pilgrim for the experience of visiting the Holy Land. I was interested this morning to come across the following, which shows that the Master put Himself under fairly rigorous physical training in order to be in condition for the difficulties of this sacred act.

"Many years later during His Western visit, while crossing by ship from New York to Liverpool, He paced up and down the deck for a long time; when at last He sat down to rest, He told His attendants: 'I walked 4600 feet, the length of the road between 'Akka and the Shrine of Baha'u'llah. I want to practise walking, perchance I might be able to go on foot to the Shrine. In latter times, in the Holy Land, I was too weak to go on foot and was deprived of this bounty.' He was in His sixty-ninth year." (H.M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 43)

I notice too that, like the Persians who walked all the way from Persia to Akka, He did not ride or otherwise take the easy way out, because, apparently, a Hadith prohibits that when going to visit the Lord. He followed that rule strictly, He either walked the whole distance from Akka to Bahji or He did not go at all. Very interesting.

Here is another glimpse into the personality of the Master. He takes a cheeky little dig at the most famous feminist of the age, or as they were known then, suffragette, E. Pankhurst.

"The first public meeting which 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed on this second visit to London was held at the Westminster Hotel, in the evening of December 20th. Sir Thomas Barclay was in the chair. Mrs. Despard, the famous suffragette leader, was present, and after 'Abdu'l-Baha had given His address, both she and Alice Buckton spoke to express their gratitude and appreciation. When that most famous of all the suffragettes, Mrs Pankhurst, visited 'Abdu'l-Baha and referred to Him as a 'prophet', He said with a broad smile: 'Oh, no! I am a man, like you.' A number of suffragettes, who called on Him on another occasion, were strongly advised to desist from violence, and to observe moderation. That was His counsel at all times." (H.M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 347)

Balyuzi is no doubt correct in his dating here but Abdu'l-Baha did give at least two talks before He arrived in London from Liverpool on the second visit in December, 1912. He had arrived there on the 13th, eight days after leaving New York. These two speeches are difficult to find; they are uncollected in published compilations of His talks in print. They are new to me, anyway. Abdu'l-Baha in London, for example, covers only His first visit to England in 1911. They are not in Ocean either. For that reason I am extracting the text from "Sifter, Star of the West" of the two Liverpool addresses, proofing them and setting them out here in their entirety. Almost certainly these articles and addresses will be new to the readers of the Badi' Blog.

from Star of the West, January 19, 1913

Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 17, p. 2

`Abdu'l-Baha's Arrival in England

by Isabel Fraser

Abdu'l-Baha arrived in Liverpool from New York on the White Star liner Celtic, December 13th

The boat was late and it was about nine o'clock before it docked. Miss Elizabeth Herrick, formerly of Liverpool, now of London, had gone up to Liverpool a day ahead to arrange for the addresses. M. Hippolyte Dreyfus Barney had come from Paris to meet Abdu'l-Baha and a group from Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds, in all about a dozen, watched the great liner come slowly up the stream, literally out of the dark night. Suddenly we caught sight of Abdu'l-Baha in the ship's bow, and as she hove to he walked slowly down the long deck till he stood quite alone, in the very center of the center deck. All eyes on the landing stage were at once riveted upon him as he peered over the ship's side into the rain and gloom of Liverpool. The huge modern boat made a fitting frame for the Master-symbol, as it is of this outpouring of power, designed as it is to bring brothers into closer touch, and Abdul-Baha, the Center of this dispensation, appeared standing in command.

To the little group on the landing stage it seemed ages before the first, second and third class baggage was arranged in the customs, and the porters and reporters dashed aboard.

Finally we caught sight of the Well-Beloved's white turbaned head, and directly back of him, as they came slowly down the gang-plank, one of the Persians carried a tiny Japanese orange tree from California. Laden with fruit it looked like an offering from the tropics as it swayed in the gusts of the broad Mersey.

He stayed two days in Liverpool, stopping at the Adelphi hotel. During that time he made two addresses, one to the Theosophical Society on Saturday night, December 14th, and one at Pembroke Chapel, a Baptist church, Sunday evening, December 15th. He left for London the next morning.

Since leaving London a year ago, Abdu'l-Baha has traveled far. From here he went to Paris, and from thence traveled to Alexandria and Cairo. Last April he visited the States, going as far west as San Francisco. It was in this city that he made his famous address to the Jews, speaking on the relations between Judaism and Christianity, an address which is far-reaching not only from the Jewish but from the broad Christian standpoint.

On being asked what the Jewish attitude toward him was on that occasion, Abdu'l-Baha said: "Many of those present came up and shook me by the hand, and a certain Jew came to me as I was leaving the synagogue and said, `I am ashamed to be prejudiced any longer.' And, again, as I was walking one day in the Street another Jew came to me and said, `We were neglectful and heedless, and you enlivened us; we slept and you awoke us. It behooves us to remain steadfast now and look to true knowledge, and forget our 2,000 year old differences '"

The Search for Truth

(Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 17, pp. 3-4)

Address of Abdu'l-Baha before the Theosophical Society, Liverpool, England,

Saturday night, December 14, 1912.

By Isobel Fraser.

The President of the Theosophical Society, Mrs. Armour, introduced the speaker by saying that he needed no introduction and at once Abdu'l-Baha began speaking to the group of earnest listeners. He remained seated and spoke in Persian, M. Hippolyte Dreyfus Barney, of Paris, acting as interpreter.

WHEN I was in America, I had many opportunities of addressing the Theosophical Society there. In every city I spoke once to them, and in some cities many times. The Theosophists are very dear to me, for they have abandoned all prejudice. They do not abide in the confines of dogma, but are seeking truth in a spirit of freedom. All the religions of the world are submerged in prejudice. A Jew is a Jew because his father was before him. A Christian is such for the same reason, and it is the same with a Mussulman. All follow the precepts of their fathers, refusing to go forth and seek for themselves.

We both (Theosophists and Baha'is) have abandoned all dogmas in our earnest search for truth. But look at the tribes and nations of the world -- why are they seething with contention? Because they are not seeking truth. Truth is one. It admits of absolutely no division and accepts neither limitations nor boundaries. All dogmas differ, hence the nations are opposed. The different dogmas make wars and strifes. Behold the events of these days! If it were not for these differences in religions there would be no wars.

We would not see what is now taking place in the Balkans if both sides were sincere seekers after truth.

Regard Persia: in that land there were many tribes, governments and religions, but they cut down the barriers of dogmas, became followers of BAHA'U'LLAH, and are now as one. Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians, et al., meeting together as we are doing here to seek for truth. Truth is one, so they became united.

All the different religions of God that have risen on the face of the earth have one purpose: to educate man and to inform him of the spiritual, the luminous, the divine, so that he may partake of heavenly spirit and find eternal life, show forth the virtues of mankind, and from a world of darkness enter a world of light.

There is no other reality of meaning to the different religions. Their purpose is one, the teaching is One.

Man may be said to have three natures: The first is sunk in darkness and here he is a prisoner to his desires for here he is co-possessor of the same qualities as the animals. The second nature might be called his human nature and in this human nature is the home of the mind and the soul. The third is his likeness to God and this he possesses in proportion to the divine qualities he imparts, the breeze of the holy spirit, pure spiritually, luminosity.

All the religions, all the prophets, all the great teachers had no other purpose than to raise mankind from the animal to the divine nature. Their purpose was to free man and to make him an inhabiter of the realm of Reality. For although the body of man is material, his reality is spiritual; although his body is darkness, his soul is light; although his body may seem to imprison him, his soul is essentially free. To prove this freedom, the prophets of God have appeared and will continue to appear, for there is no end to divine teachings and no beginning.

The thoughtless say that the power of God is occasional; some will say that this material universe is hundreds of thousands of years old. But the power of God is eternal and the creation of God is likewise eternal. Divinity is dependent on creation. Can you imagine a king without a people? Can you imagine our sun without light and heat? The sun to us means light and heat. The king needs his kingdom and the qualities of God are eternal. As long as God exists his creation will exist and the manifestations of God in the divine teachers have always existed as an energy of God and will always continue to exist.

The very greatest blessings of God are represented by these divine beings who come and who will continue to come forth to humanity for hundreds of thousands of years. They represent the blessings of God and the blessings of God never cease.

Always hope that one day a Sun of Truth will rise and bring a Dawn whose light will destroy all the darkness of the human world, will unite hearts and make souls happy, do away with contention and establish universal Peace. Then there will be no divisions. All will be united and live as one family under the flag of unity and love. Then will mankind be inspired with a new progress and show forth diverse virtues. A new spirit will be given to him and the new world will be in vested with a divine beauty. I hope we will always be expecting the appearance of such an One, for he will have education marked with a divine power. Such an One will be superhuman in all conditions, able to subdue material limitations, able to free man from his bonds of country and unite east and west. Such an One will make the Kingdom to appear, for such an One is, in his essence, superior to the laws governing human education. In his essence he is a universal teacher and does not depend on human means for knowledge. He does not need the light from a human lamp nor yet from an astral body. His mission is to give light.

Such an One is a pure mirror in which the Light of Reality is reflected in the world of humanity. We must be looking for such an One to the end that we may be attracted when he comes to go on wings flying to such an One, born with a new spirit each day to do new works. Thus we will invite this greatest of divine blessings to appear.

Again let us look at Persia! More than 20,000 there have sacrificed their lives -- joyfully giving them in the path of God. They were supplemented by hosts of Heavenly spirits so that they never tired of any kind of trouble; they never complained; nay, as trouble increased, their efforts increased and day by day they were enlightened with the Light of the Eternal.

My hope for you is that you may do all in your power to invite to this earth Gods greatest blessing in your search for truth.

ABDU'L-BAHA ADDRESSES PEMBROKE CHAPEL.

Liverpool, England, Sunday, December 15, 1912.

By Isabel Fraser

(Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 17, pp. 4-5)

AFTER a few appreciative words of welcome by the Rev. Donald Fraser, Abdu'l-Baha addressed the congregation at Pembroke chapel, at the evening service, December 15th. Mr. Fraser welcomed this herald of peace and expressed his deep appreciation and honor at having Abdu'l-Baha in his church.

He made a remarkable picture as he stood in the pulpit, which at first he hesitated to ascend, saying that he did not like to be above the rest of the people. But when it was pointed out to him that he would not be above some of them the gallery and that they could hear better, he complied. He said in part:

"Tonight I am exceedingly happy to find myself in an assembly, the members of which are a recognized factor in philanthropy and well being. Therefore, I supplicate at the throne of God that He may bestow divine confirmations upon you that at all times you maybe the vehicle of divine mercy and the means of prosperity to the individual members of the world of humanity.

"Man should endeavor always to realize the Oneness of Humanity. We are all the children of God; all created by God; all provided for by God and all under the protection of God. God is kind to all His children. Why should they wage war between themselves? God is the Real Shepherd all are His sheep. There is no difference whatever among the members of the flock. He educates all of us, is compassionate to all of us; protects all of us. Ponder and you will understand that with the bounties of God there is no restraint. His grace encourages all mankind. All live under His bounty.

"What benefit do we ever draw from separating ourselves one from another? Why should we wrangle and battle to kill each other? God is kind. Why are we unkind?

"The first separating principle is religion. Every sect and community has gathered around itself certain imitations of Reality in ceremonies and forms, and as these imitations differ, contentions follow. Each division is encompassed with thick clouds through which the Sun of Reality cannot penetrate. If these divisions should forget the differences in imitations and seek for the underlying Reality, all would be united and agreed and fellowship would be established between the organizations of mankind.

"As His Holiness Mohammed states, 'God is Love upon Love, with Love.' Therefore it is evident that the foundation of Religion is Love and the fundamental purpose of religion is Unity. The Religion of God is honor to humanity; why make it the cause of degradation? Why make it the cause of darkness and gloom? Assuredly it is a thousand pities that the cause of such a glorious reality should become the cause of degradation and hatred.

"It was at a time of great darkness that His Holiness BAHA'U'LLAH appeared in Persia, summoning all to love and friendship. Now, in Persia, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and other contending religionists who heard the words of BAHA'U'LLAH are living in the utmost state of love and reciprocity.

"This Cause is great and it was at great cost that BAHA'U'LLAH strove to spread these principles in the world. During his life he was imprisoned, his property was pillaged. He was separated from his friends and 20,000 of his followers were martyred. They sacrificed their lives in the glorious cause of doing away with imitations and limitations, to this end that Unity might be established among the children of men.

"Nations sometimes say, 'We wish to extend our boundaries' Consider with me for a moment 'What is the earth?' We live for a few years on its surface and then it becomes our eternal cemetery. Millions of generations are buried there. It is the universal graveyard of humanity. Is it praiseworthy to engage in war for a cemetery -- to pillage the wealth of nations for an eternal graveyard?

"Praise God, this nation at this time is striving with all its energy for International Peace. Rest not from your endeavors until international peace become established. This is my request of you and my earnest hope for you is that you may always be protected."

After the hymn, "All People That on Earth Do Dwell," Abdu'l Baha pronounced the following benediction in Oriental fashion, with hands outstretched and upturned: "0 Thou most kind Lord, this reverent assembly is calling on Thy name. These souls are seeking Thy good pleasure. They are seeking the prosperity of the world of humanity. 0 Lord, confer upon their souls life evermore. 0 Lord, forgive their sins and keep them in Thy protecting shade in both worlds. 0 Lord, confer upon them Thy great pleasure. All are servants of international peace, all are servants of humanity. Thou art The Merciful, The Generous, The Forgiver, The Almighty, The Praiseworthy!"

Afterward, in the vestry, Abdu'l-Baha wrote the following beautiful blessing for the Rev. Donald Fraser. He inscribed it in Persian in the church book: "0 Thou Kind Almighty, confirm Thou this servant of Thine, Mr. Fraser, in the service of Thy Kingdom. Make him illumined; make him heavenly; make him spiritual; make him divine! Thou art the Generous, the King!"

ABDU'L-BAHA IN LONDON.

(Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 17, pp. 5-10)

By Isabel Fraser

A REMARKABLE cosmopolitan gathering filled the large ball at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Friday evening, December 20th, to listen to an address by Abdul-Baha. His topic was one that is agitating many of the thinking minds of today -- the vast subject of Peace.

Sir Thomas Barclay was in the chair, and among the audience were scientists, diplomats, leaders of the great movements of the day, including a number of Orientals. So great was the overflow that many were compelled to sit on the floor and a fringe standing at the outer edge extended out into the hall.

Abdu'l-Baha (Servant of God) as he calls himself, endured a forty years' martyrdom in the cause of peace, by virtue of which he has been called "the world's greatest peace advocate." The world has seldom given heed to its Divine messengers during their lives, but it is impossible not to feel that Abdu'l-Baha is carrying conviction to the eager thousands who listen to his inspired words -- words which convey a subtle but unmistakable promise for the future. He made us all feel the first stirring birth pang of a deeper peace than the world had ever known -- the peace which Abdul-Baha expounded and which he declares is the world's heritage today.

INTRODUCTION BY SIR THOMAS BARCLAY.

I am not here really to speak but to listen as a Western European deeply interested in Persia, in Persian thought and in Persian literature and glad of an opportunity to do honor to a venerated Persian. Abdu'l-Baha is known far beyond the immediate ranks of Baha'is, known not only for his own sake, but also as the accredited Messenger of the Baha'i teaching. Persia has been a fatherland of religions, but the Revelation of Baha'u'llah is a system of thought and conduct.

"All prejudices," said Baha'u'llah, "whether prejudices of religion, prejudices of race, prejudices of politics or prejudices of nationality must be cast off, for they are a cause of the sickness of the world."

Then again he says: "There is no contradiction between true Religion and Science. When a religion is opposed to Science, it is superstition. Prejudice and superstition are the enemies of human development.

"If a man would succeed in his quest for truth, let him first shut his mind to the traditional superstitions of the past." These traditional superstitions have grown over and disfigured true religion and the object of the Revelation of BAHA'U'LLAH is to get to the original truth and exclude no conscientious searches after undistorted truth.

I wonder if I have understood the Revelation of BAHA'U'LLAH. If I have, it has a singularly good Christian ring and I should interpret its meaning as "Be a real Christian and you will be a good Baha'i."

But I am merely presiding and not proselytizing. I am proud to have been asked to preside at a meeting of those who have come to gather to do honor to one who deserves it so richly.

Abdu'l-Baha commenced speaking at once, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab translating. Abdu'l-Baha remained seated, He spoke earnestly, gesticulating freely and one could almost follow his thoughts as the light and fire played over his countenance. He spoke on the subject of Unity and Peace and expounded some of the teachings BAHA'U'LLAH gives for the attainment of these two much desired conditions of the world today. He said:

ADDRESS BY ABDU'L BAHA.

Scientists tell us that the world of matter is made up of constellation of molecules, which hold it in its various forms; each molecule consists of a similar constellation of atoms which in turn recent discovery shows is made up of tiny worlds of electrons. Thus we see that this law of affinity is the very basis of existence.

As in the material, so in the spiritual world, love is the attracting force that welds together the constituent elements into a composite unity and holds them firm against disintegration.

Love is the cause of life, and hatred or animosity spell death or disintegration. Just as affinity is the fundamental principle of composition, the greater affinity, ov is the light of unity and the lack of love is the darkness of separateness. Love is conducive to existence, difference is conducive to disintegration. Love is the cause of the illumination of the whole of humanity, discord and dissension are the cause of the destruction of the human race.

All the divine messengers have come to this earth as specialists of the law of love. They came to teach a divine love to the children of men; they came to minister a divine healing between the nations; they came to cement in one the hearts of men and to bring humanity into a state of unity and concord. In this pathway, each one of these divine Manifestations of God's love has accepted innumerable calamities and hardships. For the sake of a realization of love and concord amongst men, they have sacrificed their lives. How many persecutions have they suffered; so that they might bring into a state of harmony those contending nations and religions; so that they might create peace and consolation between these various peoples of the earth!

Let us consider His Holiness Jesus Christ: how many trials be accepted along this pathway, how many difficulties and persecutions, even giving up his life. He chose for himself the cross, so that the light of love might shine in the hearts of men, and the various contending nations come into a state of affinity and love, so that love might encompass the hearts of humanity. This was the purpose. When a holy and divine man shows us the way and sacrifices himself like Jesus Christ for the sake of love and affinity amongst the children of men, our duty is plain; it is evident that we, likewise, must follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

We too must be ready to sacrifice our lives, so that this love may live. We must accept every hardship, so that this love may come to the hearts of the people.

Consider carefully that for the last six thousand years there has been constant strife and warfare amongst the people. All the wars which have occurred in past history have been the basis of the destruction of the human race; love, on the other hand, has been the cause of cementing the people together.

Consider how Jesus Christ, through the power of his love, brought a state of harmony between the Egyptian nation, the Assyrian nation and all the nations of ancient times. Such a unity and concord was realized amongst these various peoples that the pages of history are adorned with their accomplishments, although formerly these nations were in a state of constant strife and contention. Formerly their business was war, but, through the Breath of the Holy Spirit, unity became a creative factor. The great and wise men of the world have ever striven hard, so that the hearts of humanity might be cemented together by the heavenly teachers, whose mission it is to bring into the world this divine state of love.

The foundation of all religion as taught by all the divine messengers has been love and affinity. A hundred thousand pities alas that the divine message has become the means of warfare and strife!

In the Balkans blood is being freely and copiously shed, lives are being destroyed, houses are pillaged, cities are razed to the ground, and all this through religious prejudice; while in reality the foundation of the religion of God is love. All the divines and holy manifestations invite the exercise of love. In reality we are living in the midst of the greatest proof of divine love. For at a time when, in the Orient there existed the utmost state of strife and sedition, warfare raged be between the nations; warfare raged between the religions and between the various sects; darkness encompassed the horizon of the Orient, and each religion asserted its claim over the other -- at such a time, under such circumstances, His Holiness BAHA'U'LLAH shone from the horizon of the East. He declared that the reality of all religion is one, that all religions have the same foundation for their teaching. He taught men that the foundation of the religion of God is love. Alas, that they should have entirely forgotten this foundation! They have created blind dogmas, and as these blind dogmas develop, we observe constant bloodshed and strife. If all the religions and sects were to quit themselves from all past limitations and search diligently for the foundation (as the foundation of the divine religion is one) there would follow unity and concord, these terrible events would not happen, bloodshed would cease, and hatred between the hearts of men would be dispelled. Heavenly illumination would dawn, divine love would be created, the efforts of the divine teachers would be held and would yield results, hearts would be knit together, the basis of strife and quarrel would be forgotten, divine justice would be revealed and divine radiance diffused.

In order that the darkness of strife and sedition might be entirely banished from the human world, His Holiness BAHA'U'LLAH established and taught certain declarations or principles. The first principle which He proclaimed was the principle of the Oneness of the human family. He said, "Humanity constitute the sheep of God's flock. The real shepherd is God." The real shepherd is compassionate and kind towards all the members of his flock. Humanity was created by God; He provides for all, protects all. He is kind to all. Why should we treat each other harshly? He has made a plea for love, not for difference, or hatred, or animosity.

God created humanity; none of us were created by Satan. All are edifices of God, therefore we must strive that these edifices be protected and not seek to destroy them.

The second principle of BAHA'U'LLAH concerns international peace and to this end He wrote all the nations and sent special epistles to the rulers and kings of the earth. Likewise he proclaimed peace amongst the religions. Was not peace the foundations of religion? It is time that these limitations and dogmas be done away with, that the foundation of the religion of God be made the means of union and good fellowship.

Again, He proclaimed inter-racial peace, for humanity is the progeny of one Adam -- all belong to one lineage. "This sphere is one globe," He said, and is not divided, the various continents on the face of the globe are in reality one native land, inhabited by one human family; therefore, there should not exist between the various countries this warfare and strife.

Another principle of BAHA'U'LLAH is that religion must ever be the means of love; that is, if so called religion be the cause of hatred and animosity, it is better to quit such religion. Every affair, every matter which in the world of humanity is the cause of love, that matter is good; but if it is creative of difference amongst the children of men, that matter is evil. If it be a cause of hatred amongst the people, it is absolute evil. Irreligion is better than that so-called religion. The people have made religion the cause of warfare and strife, while the reality of religion is the cause of unity and love.

The fourth teaching of BAHA'U'LLAH is relative to the conformity of science and reason with true universal religion. If it is contrary to science and reason, it is superstition. A theory which is not acceptable to the mind of man and which science rejects is devoid of reality. It is a vision of superstition.

The fifth teaching of BAHA'U'LLAH is relative to prejudice, which must be abandoned. National prejudice must be forgotten, racial prejudice must be obliterated, and patriotic prejudice must likewise be lifted from amongst the people.

Since the beginning of history all the wars which have occurred have been caused primarily through religious prejudice, or racial prejudice, or patriotic prejudice. As long as these prejudices are not broken, the world of humanity will not attain to perfect peace and tranquillity.

Another teaching of BAHA'O'LLAH is relative to the equality of men and women. In the human family of God there is no distinction. God is no respecter of gender. The religion of God is one. The human family share in common all the faculties; they share in common all the divine bounties. God has not accredited any difference between the male and the female. The same education must be given to women as to men, so that they may acquire science and arts, so that they may advance along the course of civilization, in order that they may become proficient and attain to the level of men.

In the Orient women have been very degraded in the past, men giving no importance to them, thinking that men were created superior, but through the teaching of BAHA'U'LLAH who declared that a great calling is destined for women, they promoted the facilities for the education and training of the girls. In a brief space of time the girls and the women alike have advanced along the pathway of education. Now, in the country of Persia alone, many schools have been organized for the girls, and girls are engaged in the study of the sciences and arts.

The seventh teaching of Baha'u'llah concerns itself and is in accord with this system of universal education; it is that all the children should study and acquire a profession, that there should not remain a single individual without a profession whereby he can earn his livelihood. Baha'u'llah further declares that through the equipment of science and art the misunderstandings which have prevailed between religion and science will become reconciled.

The nonconformity of science and religion has been the greatest factor in keeping the religions apart.

If this misunderstanding be taken away from amongst religions, perfect love will be established. For example, for nearly two thousand years there has been strife and contention between Jews and Christians and it is evident that if the cause thereof be understood with intelligence, it would wipe away from among them all discord; there would remain love and concord.

While in California, in a Jewish Synagogue, in San Francisco, I spoke on this subject. There were nearly two thousand Jews present I said to them, "This long misunderstanding which has been between you and the Christians is very pitiable. You think that His Holiness Christ destroyed all the foundation of the Mosaic law. You think that He degraded the law of Moses, you go further and think that His Holiness Christ was the enemy of Moses, while all these things are contrary to history. The first teaching that His Holiness Christ gave was in regard to the prophethood of Moses. The first mention He made was in praise of the law of Moses. His Holiness Christ spread the foundation of the law of Moses, but He abrogated and extended that law to accord with His times. Before the appearance of Christ the name of Moses was confined to Palestine only, but His Holiness Christ spread the name of Moses throughout the world, and promulgated the Old Testament throughout the nations. Were it not for Christ, who would have heard the name of Moses in America? Were it not for the existence of Christ, how would this Bible have been spread so broadcast for 1,500 years? You could not translate and spread this Bible throughout the nations were it not for the blessings of Christendom. The Old Testament has reached every corner of the globe, His Holiness Christ established the fact that you are the people of God. Let us be fair and see whether Christ was the friend of Moses or His enemy? Let us be just. Was there ever a greater love than this, and was there ever a greater assistance than this? His Holiness Christ spread the name of Moses everywhere. He proclaimed the teachings of the Old Testament.

Consider how this lack of understanding of the Jewish people has created enmity and strife. His Holiness Christ was the first to proclaim worldwide the name of Moses. Read the Gospel and you will find out how His Holiness Christ reverently mentions His name.

The paramount declaration of BAHA'U'LLAH is that peace must be realized between all the nations of the Earth. International tribunals will be established and certain representatives from amongst all the governments of the earth will be sent to that inter parliamentary gathering. The era of "the parliament of man" will be ushered in. This international tribunal will be the court appeals between the nations. Fifty years ago Baha'u'llah wrote to all the rulers of the world about this international tribunal of arbitral justice.

These are some of the teachings in the religion of BAHA'U'LLAH of which would take a great deal of time to expound. I will just add that it is my hope that during these days in which this Peace Conference' is discussing negotiations for terms of peace, you will strive to the utmost that peace measures and peaceful negotiations may be carried on among them. I am pleased that I am living in London during these days. I supplicate that the Conference may be crowned with success, so that peace may be established in the Balkans, so that this bloodshed may cease, so that this Conference (note: Held in London during the armistice of the Balkan-Turkish war.) may become a working basis for the future international peace. May all the nations and all the countries of the world strive with us, that in the future there may be no war and no bloodshed.

As the English government is a just government and as the British nation is a noble nation and accomplishes whatever it under takes, it is my hope that in this matter it will manifest the utmost wisdom and sagacity, so that the sun of peace may dawn on the horizon of the Balkans, so that eternal fellowship may be realized among them, and whenever in the future there is any difficult problem a conference may be called for its settlement, so that through these various conferences all the troubles of humanity may be solved.

May there remain no more war and strife; and tranquillity dawn on the world of humanity expressive of the world of light, so that this nether world may be transformed by love and concord and may become the foretaste of the other kingdom. Then all humanity will be sheltered under the shadow of the Almighty. This is my hope, this is the highest desire of my life day and night. I pray and I beg confirmation from God for this government that this nation may be assisted to hold aloft the banner of international peace.

 

After the deep silence which followed Abdu'l-Baha's stirring address, the chairman introduced Miss Alice Buckton, who has been closely associated with this great movement, both here and in America.

A word from Miss Alice Buxton

Miss Buckton read the Hidden Words, commencing: "0 Ye Discerning Ones of the People." She told how these "Hidden Words" had been written in prison and how they had come out of that prison and gone all over the world. She spoke of the significance of the Peace Conference being held in England and recalled Queen Victoria's answer to BAHA'U'LLAH message proclaiming that war should cease and that the day of peace was at hand. Queen Victoria's reply was that if this proclamation was of God, it would stand.

Miss Buckton emphasized the fact that this was no new religion, it sought the Unity of all Religions, shutting out none of them, but finding a common meeting place for all. She likened it to a garden of flowers where vast variety did away with monotony and made an interesting Unity.

The chairman then introduced Mrs. Despard, President of the Women's Freedom League, who spoke as follows:

Talk by Mrs. Despard

I am perfectly convinced that every one who has heard him, who so many today are calling the Master, one of the great Masters who has come to enlighten the world, are feeling how deeply privileged we are to have had the presence here in our western isle, of this eastern Master among us. I had the joy of seeing him when he was last over in this country. I have heard of the wonderful journeys that he has made. I know how he never falters. He believes that he is bringing a message to the world and we believe it too.

I sometimes think that when in the future the story of the present generation comes to be summed up, we shall be shown it under two aspects. One aspect is that which is troubling us so much at the present moment unrest. There is unrest everywhere, unrest in industry, unrest among the women of the country, unrest intellectually and unrest religiously, and some are frightened as they look out, and wonder if these days mean the disintegration of which we have been hearing, which is the very fruit of this. But some of us think that this unrest at the present moment is actually a healthy symptom. That it is on account of the unreality of things that people generally are troubled and anxious and longing for some settled thing.

We have the mighty movements the women's movement, the religious movement, the spiritual movement. At the basis of all the great religions that have moved the world there are the same great truths. This unrest at the moment, and of ancient times though in different words and different form are still the same. God is one. There is nothing but God anywhere. He is the one eternal life; because we are in Him therefore we are eternal; death is but the dropping of a garment.

This is the principle of unity and we are thankful beyond measure that it has been brought to us today.

Closing remarks by M. Hippolyte Dreyfus Barney of Paris

Ladies and Gentlemen: After the beautiful and interesting addresses you have heard, I have to make you a promise, it is, not to take up too much of your time, but I wish to say what a joy it is to me to see the wonderful interest that the movement has now awakened in London.

Is it a religion, this movement? Some say no, looking only at the philosophical aspect of the teachings, looking only to its code of ethics; but I say yes, and you certainly will say so, too, after having heard what you have from this platform. It is a religion because it is founded upon the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is the first thing we should try to acquire. It has, in former times, I think, been very difficult for, in the past the esoteric part of religion was hidden from the people and the truth was only given in symbols. But in this day BAHA'O'LLAH appeals to our reason.

Reason is the greatest gift of God to man, and it is through reason we can know God. How? BAHA'U'LLAH teaches us that we can know Him best through His Manifestations. What does that mean? I think we should say, in order to make ourselves understood, through the greatest manifestation of God, because everything in the world manifests God to a greater or less degree. We can find the divine in the beautiful melodies that are sung by the birds in the forests, the divine in nature, but we find it specially in man, who is at the summit of creation, and especially in those supreme beings who are called the prophets. It is in understanding their teaching that we can reach the knowledge of God. But I said in the beginning I did not want to take up too much of your time. I think we can move in a high spirit in thanking the Chair for this wonderful gathering, which I hope will be the beginning of many similar ones in this city.

"The Blessing," by Abdu'l-Baha

Again a deep and reverent hush fell on the people as Abdul-Baha gave the blessing in Oriental fashion with hands outstretched and palms upturned: --

"Thou Kind Almighty, we supplicate at the Throne of Grace for mercy for the blood that has been shed in the Balkans; the children that are being made orphans; the mothers losing their dear sons; the sons who have become fatherless; the cities that have been destroyed; the many hearts that have been filled with sorrow; the many tears that are being shed and the many spirits that are in a state of agitation.

"Lord, be merciful, extinguish this spirit of war, this consuming fire, this peril, this gloomy darkness! Cement together these hearts, let the sun of Thy Truth dawn upon all.

"Lord! this world is dark, guide us toward a brilliant light. The horizons are glooming with the clouds of war; disperse these impenetrable clouds. Grant us holiness and calm! Dispose of these quarrels, illuminate the horizon of life, so that the sun of real loyalty may shine with its rays. May these dark hearts become illuminated, may these blind eyes become open, may these deaf ears become gifted with hearing.

"Lord! cause Thy divine justice to appear in this world. Summon these people to the Banquet of International Peace, so that they may live together in the utmost state of love. May all the religions and all nations embrace each other with this spirit of universal kindliness, and may hatred be forgotten.

"Lord! confirm this just government in the establishment of peace, so that it may hold aloft the banner of reconciliation in the Balkans. May the light of love shine and flame forth undefiled. 0 Lord! Thou art Almighty; Thou art Merciful; Thou art Clement; Thou art Kind!"

--
John Taylor

badijet@gmail.com