Bahá’í World/Volume 4/Appreciations of the Bahá’í Movement

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[Page 429]

APPRECIATIONS OF THE BAHÁ’Í MOVEMENT

BY MARTHA L. ROOT

DURING my last two years of travel through several great countries of the world, one of the most impressive features to me has been the way I have found distinguished men and women, great achievers in various lines, reacting to the Bahá’í Movement with the greatest appreciation and sympathy. It seems in this day with its pressing need for peace and world brotherhood that every individual of broad mind and a warm heart for humanity finds himself in deep accord with the great dynamic platform of Bahá’u’lláh for universal peace and brotherhood between all races and classes. The potency of the Bahá’í Cause is not measured merely by the number of its adherents, for many among the most influential thinkers and men of world affairs deeply admire its actual principles and revere Bahá’u’lláh.

It may be interesting to bring together here without further comment some of the appreciations of these great people. My accounts of audiences with rulers have already been published for the most part in the pages of the Bahá’í Magazine, the international Journal of the Bahá’ís. The appreciation from Her Majesty, the Dowager Queen Marie of Rumania, appears in another part of this BAHÁ’Í WORLD.

One thinks of Thomas G. Masaryk, founder and first President of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, as an humanitarian with some qualities like Tolstoi’s, as a psychologist of peace, as an analyzer of the motives of men not unlike Shakespeare. Americans always think of him as the “George Washington of Czechoslovakia,” and all countries think of him as one of the greatest living figures that have come out of the world war period. He is a constructive builder for a better civilization and he has based every effort of his life on a spiritual, liberal foundation.

President Masaryk was a professor, and how great a professor is proved by the youth who, fired by his inspiration, have become moulders of thought and action in Europe today. However, his being a professor is like a by-product of his life—if one may be permitted this expression—for he was born into this world to be a statesman!

President Masaryk graciously received me. Much was said in that talk in his home, but three points are here given. He asked the writer to sit down by one of the tables, and one of his first remarks was:

“Tell me about Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings for peace. I have read the two books you sent me and I have talked with Mr. Beneš about these peace principles.”

Then later when the conversation turned to Geneva and the peace work there, he said: “Geneva is very good, they are working hard at the League of Nations, but the League of Nations must be backed by the peoples of all countries. The diplomats alone cannot make the peace. It has been a great thing for diplomats of different countries to meet one another in Geneva, to talk together and to come to know one another. Each sees that the other is a man just like himself.”

The President next showed very closely how the “pockets of the world” are beginning to speak to make peace in these days!

The writer asked President Masaryk what he thought was the best way to promote universal peace and he replied: “Do what you are doing. Spread this teaching of humanity and not wait for the diplomats. It is a great thing that official people are beginning to talk about these universal peace principles. Take them to the diplomats, the peace societies, the universities, the schools, the churches, and also write about them. It is the people who will bring the universal peace.”

[Page 430] He spoke about the “Peace Society Chelicky” in Praha, saying that Peter Chelicky in the fifteenth century in Bohemia taught against violence and fighting. The whole Bohemian Brotherhood is the offspring of Chelicky’s doctrine.

Journalism was spoken of, for President Masaryk has also been a world known journalist and he continues to write. Speaking about writing for better world understanding and peace, I remember that he said: “I think that a journalist should endeavor to place on paper such words as will secure the respect of all who read them. Besides a writer does not write for the present only, ‘Litera, scripta manet!’ ”

As the writer is an enthusiastic Esperantist she asked President Masaryk what he thought of Esperanto, the universal auxiliary language, as a means to promote peace. He said: “We have a great many Esperantists in Czechoslovakia and they have their own paper. You must meet them. I have thought a good deal about Esperanto. I doubted whether an artificial language could be taken up by a nation. I often ask myself if Goethe’s ‘Faust’ could be translated into Esperanto; if Shakespeare and Byron could have written their masterpieces directly into Esperanto.”

The writer replied that Professor Charles Boudouin of Geneva, poet and well known man of letters, had said to her one day: “I find I can write my poems in Esperanto quite as easily as in French (his native tongue).” The President said he was glad to hear this. She also explained how hundreds of the world’s greatest classics are now translated into this universal auxiliary language, that this is possible because this new language has a spirit, the spirit of this new universal epoch.

President Masaryk said: “Probably if a person knows six or seven languages well, he could learn Esperanto grammar in six or seven hours.” The writer told him that Tolstoi learned Esperanto in three hours so that he could read and write it. (The guest knew that this President is one of those wonderful linguists who knows twenty languages and writes well in at least twelve, but he did not mention that he speaks anything except English!) He said very pleasantly that he would accept Esperanto if it can help bring better world understanding.

Another great figure in Czechoslovakia today is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eduard Beneš. He too invited me to the Castle and we spoke about the Bahá’í Cause. He said he first heard of the Bahá’í Movement at the Races Congress in London in 1906, when he was a member of that Congress. He thought the principles of Bahá’u’lláh were wonderful, and during the years, he has followed this Movement with interest. He said he had been interested in other modern movements—the Peace Program for Pan Europa, International Parliamentary Union, Intellectual Cooperation and others. “All these different movements have something similar and identical,” said Mr. Beneš, “and while I do not say in absolute words that I belong to them, I am in favor of all these movements. We must collaborate.”

Turkey, the new Republic under the powerful courage of the Ghazi Kemal Pasha, has contributed a mighty forward impulse to world understanding, to the union of the East and the West. This great President, and he is the same man who as Commander of the Army blocked absolutely the Dardanelles to a warring world, has opened wide the mental Dardanelles so that the East and the West may come and go, so that there may be Arabic-Latinized script, so there may be co-education, great freedom and progress for women in this eastern-western republic, and so there may be genuine free thinking and freedom for all religions.

I was very interested in visiting the Turkish University in Constantinople called Istanboul University. I had the honor of meeting Professor Doctor Keupruluzade Mehmed Fuad, one of the greatest scholars of this New Republic. He is the Docent of the Faculty of Letters, President of the Institute of Turkish History, Professor of the History of Religions of the Turkish People.

When the writer asked Professor Fuad if modern spiritual movements are all admitted now in Turkey, such for example as the Bahá’í Religion, Quakerism, Theosophy, Christian Science, New Thought and others,[Page 431] he replied: “Our government is now entirely like the other governments of Europe and like the United States. Now everybody is entirely free as regards his doctrines of faith. Our Theological Faculty is not a propaganda faculty of official religions of Turkey, but it is a scientific study of all religions. In Comparative Religions we study all with scientific methods.

It was in Cairo, Egypt, on November 14, 1929, that one of the great Princes of the wonderful land of the Pharaohs and the Khedives, His Royal Highness Prince Muḥammad ‘Alí Pashá, spoke with me about his meeting with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, only this Prince called Him ‘Abbás Bábá, which in Arabic means ‘Abbás Father or Father ‘Abbás.

“Yes, I knew ‘Abbás Bábá. He was a great friend of my brother, ‘Abbás Ḥilmi II, the late Khedive. Also, ‘Uthmán Murtaḍá the Grand Master of Ceremonies of my brother had a great friendship with ‘Abbás Bábá. I met your loved Teacher first early in 1912 on my way to Paris. Then when I was in New York in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was living in a house near Central Park, a home which his friends had prepared for him. I was living in the Belmont Hotel on Fifth Avenue, and ‘Abbás Bábá was kind enough to come and visit me there. I deeply appreciated this kind visit.”

Then His Royal Highness the Prince explained how proud he was to see a great Oriental moulding the spiritual thought of America. My host continued: “Although we are sorry to see Orientals so backward in sciences, still we must not forget that some great generals, great leaders of thought and all religions have been born in the Orient. ‘Abbás Bábá has proved to Europeans and to the entire West that great generals of the Spirit are still born in the East! As I love the Orient and am an Oriental, I was very proud of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s high station and prestige in the United States. Yours is a country of such stupendous wonder, such marked inventions, such marvelous strides in progress, and you saw the greatness of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!”

This earnest Prince spoke with such sincerity, his words were: “I loved ‘Abbás Bábá and admired Him, and I felt He loved me and was a good friend to me.”

The Bahá’í Movement is beginning to bring a new orientation in China, this wonderful nation with five hundred million souls. What China does later may have its effect in every country of the globe. If she should become a military nation, who can say, how with more than one-fourth of the population of the globe involved, she might be the balance that would sink all civilizations. If China comes out strongly for Bahá’u’lláh’s universal principles she might lead the world, in a century or two, to a new undreamed of international cooperation. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the “George Washington of China,” the immortal father of the New Republic, listened with interest to the Bahá’í Teachings when I met him in Canton in 1924. He asked to have two Bahá’í books sent to him. He was a great idealist; his program was based on cooperation rather than on competition, and his ultimate aim was universal peace.

Visiting Canton again in September, 1930, five years after the passing of this great man, I had the honor to meet His Excellency Chen Ming-Shu, the Governor of Kwangtung Province. He is a man of vision and one who thinks deeply. He said: “I did not know much about this Bahá’í Movement until you sent me a book, but as I read it, I believe Bahá’u’lláh was a Prophet and China has need of a Prophet in these days. Such Teachings at their lowest estimate could not harm any nation, and at their highest they could do a great good in China and in every other country. No nation is more fitted to receive these Teachings than China, for the base of Chinese civilization is universal peace. Just now we are going through great disturbances, but when China is righted and we are on an equal footing with other nations, China will take her place in all international welfare.”

While in Shanghai last year, 1930, I had the joy of meeting Dr. Y. S. Tsao again. I had given him the Bahá’í Message and spoken in his university in 1923 when he was President of Tsing Hua University. He is[Page 432] one of the keenest educationists in China and a distinguished writer of Chinese affairs. Speaking with him about the relation of Chinese culture to the Bahá’í Movement, he stated among other points: “An analysis of Chinese culture shows that the Eastern philosophers when in trouble dig deep down into their souls. This Bahá’í Movement is a new way of ‘digging down’ and the Teachings supply the help they are seeking. China is calling, in fact the whole world is calling for Light. That is why people are taking such an interest in these Bahá’í Principles and the books explaining them. There is a need, there is an approach, and there is a fulfillment. This is a new Message of great value; it is liberalizing, quickening. It makes religion more dynamic to solve world problems. For all this there is a need, and the deep-thinking men of China all realize this great necessity; for we cannot go back to the old stereotyped, half-dead creeds. This Bahá’í Message supplies a new ideal and the world cannot win against it. The older religions may struggle on till they are dead; they may never attain to the goal of accepting this. The world may sink farther and farther down until it drinks the last dregs and then it will come up again. Chinese history has been like that. After a number of years of suffering some ruler or teacher appears and for several hundred years there is progress. Then a relapse comes, but in these modern times China cannot afford a relapse. Confucius himself taught that about every five hundred years or so a great teacher or reformer will come.

“These Bahá’í Teachings carry universality and supply the educational, the economic and the social solutions for this new epoch,” said Dr. Tsao. “Not alone China, but the whole world needs these Teachings. China needs them specially because her leaders are groping for Light.”

Dr. Paul Linebarger, legal adviser to the National Government of China, said to me in Nanking last year: “You Bahá’ís are most welcome in China. We like to see you introducing the Bahá’í Teachings here.”

Four times I have been to China and have spoken on Bahá’u’lláh’s principles in nearly one hundred universities, colleges and other schools. When I spoke in Hong Kong University the second time last year, a beautiful girl in the university called upon me the next day and said: “What can I do to promote the Bahá’í Movement in Singapore, my home city?” A professor’s wife who was calling at the same time, told me afterwards that if that girl takes up the Bahá’í Movement, she will certainly be a great teacher for she is one of the brightest and most capable girls in the entire university.

I thought so often of the Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about China: “China, China, China, China-ward the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh must march! Where is that holy sanctified Bahá’í to become the teacher of China? China has most great capability. The Chinese people are most simple-hearted and truth-seeking. The Bahá’í teacher of the Chinese people must first be imbued with their spirit; know their sacred literature, study their national customs and speak to them from their own standpoint, and their own terminologies. He must entertain no thought of his own, but ever think of their spiritual welfare. In China one can teach many souls and train and educate such divine personages, each one of whom may be-. come the bright candle of the world of humanity. Truly, I say they are free from any deceit and hypocrisies and are prompted with ideal motives.

“Had I been feeling well, I would have taken a journey to China myself! China is the country of the future. I hope the right kind of teacher will be inspired to go to that vast empire to lay the foundation of the Kingdom of God, to promote the principles of divine civilization, to unfurl the banner of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and to invite the people to the Banquet of the Lord!”

Many appreciations of the Cause were heard in India. Sir Amin Jung, Minister of the Court of the great Nizam in Hyderabad, Deccan, I found, had read several books about the Bahá’í Movement and said that he places Bahá’u’lláh in the same station as Jesus Christ. He is a Muslim, and this distinguished scholar told me that what had[Page 433] attracted him most to the Bahá’í Teachings was the life of Qurratu’l-‘Ayn.

Mr. James N. R. Mehta, Mayor of Karachi, India, was a friend of the late Mr. Shírází, a devoted Bahá’í in Karachi. This gracious Mayor helped the Bahá’ís in arranging my lectures. He himself presided at the first talk. He arranged a second informal lecture asking me to speak on “The Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” Mr. Mehta publishes each week a little one page journal called “Bluebird.” I was astonished and pleased to see the “Bluebirds” of Saturday, June 21, 1930, bearing the glad-tidings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The entire paper gave ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s own Words about Feasts, Fast, Search After Truth, and the Economic Solution. When I spoke with Mr. Mehta about the Bahá’í Cause, he said to me: “ Bahá’u’lláh is as great as Zoroaster, Jesus Christ, Muḥammad.” This charming Mayor with his keen piercing mind levelled like a searchlight on all thought, lectures in the beautiful Theosophical Hall in that city and this hall itself was his gift.

One question asked me by the Maharaja of Patiala, Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes of India was: “How is the Bahá’í Temple which is being built in Chicago progressing?” He is a Sikh, a brilliant man still in the thirties, very fond of reading and he is a student of comparative religions.

A great Sufi Muslim scholar Khaja Hassan Nizami of Delhi, who had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Egypt has translated the ‘Seven Valleys” into Urdu.

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, the world-known woman poet of India and leader in several of the great movements of that country said that she saw ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London. She has read several of Bahá’u’lláh’s Works, and was eager to have the poems of Qurratu’l-‘Ayn in the Persian language.

Audiences were had with several Maharajas, interviews were arranged with university professors, with the daughters of Keshub Chundra Sen, founder of the Brahmo Somaj and lectures were given before many of these societies. The school of Rabindranath Tagore in Bolpur was visited and two lectures on the Bahá’í Teachings were given.

Dr. Tagore hopes that a Chair of Bahá’ísm will be established in this school.

Many interesting events took place in Japan during this last visit in November and December, 1930. I had the honor to be received by Dr. K. Ichiki, Minister of the Imperial Household, and he accepted and presented the following cablegram message to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan sent by the Guardian of the Bahá’í Cause, Shoghi Effendi: “November 9, 2.45 p.m. Martha Root, care American Embassy, Tokyo. Kindly transmit his Imperial Majesty, Tokyo, Japan, on behalf of myself and Bahá’ís world over, expression of our deepest love as well as assurance of our heartfelt prayers for his well-being, and prosperity of his ancient realm.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said of Japan: “Japan will turn ablaze! Japan with one other country will take the lead in the spiritual reawakening of peoples and nations that the world shall soon witness.” The Head of the Bureau of Religions, Mr. Nishiyama, said to me in an interview that Japan more than sixty years ago had found out how very much behind Europe and the West she was in material civilization and then she began her great Restoration. She was so eager to realize material progress in civilization that perhaps she neglected the spiritual.

He added: “Therefore, recently, our people have become aware of the defects of the past sixty years and they are becoming more conscious of the need of the religious part. There are as many denominations in Japan as in the West. There are fifty-six denominations in Buddhism, thirteen in Shintoism, and twenty-five denominations in Christianity. I am sick of denominations, and I consider it very desirable to have all these religions united. The National Federal Christian churches have my sympathy for they have a Christian Union Movement. If Bahá’ísm can succeed in uniting all religions, the Bahá’í Movement will be the ideal of the world.”

The greatest philosopher in Japan is Professor Tetrujiro Inouye, Professor Emeritus of the Imperial University of Tokyo. He has twice been decorated by the Japanese [Page 434] Government with the O. M. which means the “First Order.” This Professor’s books are among the most famous in Nippon. He has always been a student of religions and has often lectured on these subjects in Imperial University in addition to his profound lectures on Philosophy. He said, after reading Dr. Esslemont’s book and the other Bahá’í booklets, that he finds coincidences between his own ideals and opinions and the Bahá’í Teachings. This Professor says that he finds the Bahá’í Teachings more modern, more fitted to this new universal age, than some of the older religions. He thinks Bahá’ísm is on the way to make great progress because it is more vital, more vigorous. “The Teachings as such,” he said, “are very progressive, very modern, they meet the needs of modern men. Generally speaking, I find these Bahá’í Teachings very good. The teaching to harmonize science and religion is excellent.”

Baron Yoshiro Sakatani, Member of the House of Peers and one of the Honorary Presidents of the World Conference for International Peace Through Religion, which is scheduled for November 12, 1932, in Washington, D. C., said to me: “Our people are very much interested in this whole question of religion. The history of religion in Japan has always had the same idea that is expressed in the Conference to be held in 1932; our people have always been tolerant in religion. They have developed Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity and these have been harmonious since ancient times. When the Buddhists came to Japan there may have been a little difficulty but we have never burned missionaries, we have never been so fierce in persecution, nor so drastic as the religionists of Europe.

He also said and wrote to me, “I wish you every success in your great mission in China.”

Mr. Seiji Noma, the “Magazine King of Japan,” owner of nine great magazines and of the ‘‘Hochi Shimbun,” one of the famous daily newspapers of Tokyo, arranged a Conference in the Hochi Hall where several hundred people heard of the Bahá’í Teachings as a solution for world problems. The Vice-President of the Hochi spoke, also the legal adviser to the Japanese Government, Professor Tetrujiro Inouye, Dr. R. Masujima a celebrated lawyer of Tokyo and others. I spoke on “Progress of the Bahá’í Movement in Five Continents” and presented sixty-five stereopticon views of historic Bahá’í scenes. All these events show that many thinkers of Japan, though they may not call themselves Bahá’ís and are adherents to their own faiths, they are liberalists in religion and are looking into the Bahá’í Movement which had its rise in Persia, Central Asia.

A lecture on “Progress of the Bahá’í Movement in Five Continents” was broadcast by me in Tokyo and went over the air to the remotest parts of all Japan.