12.
THE LESSER AND THE MOST GREAT PEACE
BY GEORGE ORR LATIMER
AT a reception by the New York Peace Society on May 13, 1912, the guest of honor, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, made the following significant statement: "Today there is no greater glory for man than that of service in the cause of the ‘Most Great Peace.’ Peace is light whereas war is darkness. Peace is life; war is death. Peace is guidance; war is error. Peace is the foundation of God; war is satanic institution. Peace is the illumination of the world of humanity; war is the destroyer of human foundations.” During this memorable visit to America He further indicated that it would take only a spark to explode the mighty arsenals of Europe. Two years later the conflagration of war swept over the greater part of that continent, finally involving the United States in an effort to end all war. At the close of the so-called World War, certain institutions were established, including the League of Nations, for the express purpose of settling the disputes, rivalries and differences between nations by means of arbitration, rather than a resort to armed force. And now twenty-eight years after the utterance above quoted, the world is again hurled into a maelstrom of terror and bloodshed that is destined to eclipse all previous wars of recorded history in its destruction of life, property, liberty,—even civilization itself; for today the machinery of warfare is so perfected that entire nations can be obliterated in the span of a few days or weeks. Is it not the time to re-examine the factors that produce a civilization and to study the "science of peace” so that the energies and inventions of man will be devoted to the establishment of human brotherhood which is the basic creative law of God and His Prophets?
It is evident that some idea of World Order must be adopted if peace is to become a permanent reality. The material means that have been utilized in the past have proved futile in stemming the tides of war, aggression and exploitation, owing mainly to the fact that the sovereign nations after
Race Unity Banquet held at City Club of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 29, 1943.
signing some peace pact, still maintain their right to do as they will by recognizing no authority greater than their own. As long as this attitude remains, national security, which rests on armed strength, along with the control of markets and materials, becomes more important than collective security. Each nation will still claim the right to be judge and jury in every case involving its relationship with some other sovereign state. This attitude has greatly developed in recent years, to the extent that some writers have aptly termed it the "Religion of Nationalism.” It means that the interests of one country are greater than those of a group of nations united by some solemn agreement for the welfare of all. Certainly nationalism as a religion cannot be reconciled with any traditional religion for the obvious reason that it would have to vary according to one’s nationality rather than to one’s faith in God.
NEED FOR WORLD CONTROL
This need for some form of world control
has found serious consideration at the hands
of H. G. Wells and more recently by
Clarence K. Streit, who served as
correspondent for the New York Times at
Geneva for the past ten years, following the
destinies of the League of Nations. In his
book, Union Now, Mr. Streit discusses the
merits of the League system and that of a
federal system and declares that a League of
states inherently is bound to fail because
it is not a government of men. There are
three main points in his thesis: first that
International Government is necessary; second
that the only form of International
Government which is workable and compatible
with liberty and democracy is a
Federal Union; and third that this Federal
Union should begin with the existing democracies
instead of waiting until the entire
world is ready. His book points out that
the fifteen democracies, some of which have
since lost their autonomy, should pool their
economic and military strength under a
central and popularly elected government.
They would have to give up a certain
amount of sovereignty to this central
government, but would retain all their national
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characteristics that are found in the different
states in a Federal government. He has
proposed a constitution, based on an
adaptation of the constitution of the United
States, with the legislative power vested in
Deputies and Senators to be elected according
to population, an executive power vested
in a Board of five citizens at least 35 years
of age, three of whom are elected directly
by the citizens of the Union, one by the
House and one by the Senate, and a judicial
power vested in a High Court of not to
exceed eleven judges who are appointed for
life and such lower courts as may be
established from time to time by law. There are
other points of interest such as the
appointment of a premier by the Board, which office
is dependent upon the confidence of the
Congress; also that no religious test shall
be required as a qualification to any office
of public trust in the Union.
The principal objects of the Union would be to keep democracy intact as a form of government, to abolish high tariffs by the practice of free trade throughout the Union and to admit other nations as fast as they were willing to surrender part of their sovereignty. It is assumed that the control of the vast resources of the present democracies with their military establishments would be sufficient to maintain peace within its own government as well as to repel attacks against any of its members, and that it would not attempt to spread the ideals of democracy by force. However, the whole question of peace resolves itself upon the establishment of a form of world order that will include all the individuals, communities and nations of the world. It has become quite evident that ”no scheme which the calculations of the highest statesmanship may yet devise; no doctrine which the most distinguished exponents of economic theory may hope to advance; no principle which the most ardent of moralist may strive to inculcate, can provide, in the last resort, adequate foundations upon which the future of a distracted world can be built.” (Shoghi Effendi, The Goal of A New World Order.) The League of Nations with all its good intent was only a balance of Powers, whose representatives had no authority for decision but had to refer all important matters back to their respective governments. Thus any attempt to unify the world for permanent peace can succeed only to the extent to which such effort includes all the nations of the world.
The vision of world peace is not an illusion but its appearance in the realm of reality depends upon an impartial insight into human values, with a stout resolution needed for its realization, for, according to Mr. H. G. Wells, (The Common Sense of World Peace): "We are facing a task vast and difficult enough to tax all the gifts and resources of mankind, a task whose magnitude the majority of us—even among the most devoted—are only beginning to comprehend, and the very prevalent persuasion that a few amiable declarations, a few amiable conferences, a Pact or so and a picnic or so, will suffice to lay the foundations of a permanent world peace is a pure delusion. A permanent world peace implies a profound revolution in the nature of every existing government upon earth, and in the fundamental ideas upon which that government is based.”
MORE THAN HUMAN POWER REQUIRED
Something more than human power is
necessary for the establishment of peace on
earth and its counterpart, good will toward
men. Great was the desire for peace after
the world war. All the governments tired
of war—with its huge expenditures and
great loss of life, the countless orphans and
the destitute widows—all yearned for peace.
The representatives of the various nations
assembled in Paris to lay the foundations of
Universal Peace, yet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá foresaw
at that time, that in the atmosphere of
self-interest and misunderstanding
that still prevailed, no permanent peace
could be established because the
spiritual factor had been
left out of the discussions. In a letter to
the late Dr. David Buchanan, a classmate
of President Wilson, written in January,
1919, He wrote as follows: “In such an
atmosphere Universal Peace will not be
practicable, nay rather fresh difficulties will
arise. This is because interests are
conflicting and aims are at variance. We pray and
beseech at the Divine Kingdom and beg for
the world of humanity rest and composure.
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For Universal Peace will not be brought
about through human power and shall not
shine in full splendor unless this weighty
and important matter be realized through
the Word of God and be made to shine
forth through the influence of the Kingdom
of God. Eventually it shall be thoroughly
established through the power of Bahá’u’lláh.
Verily, his honor, President Wilson,
is self-sacrificing in this path and is striving
with heart and soul with perfect good-will
in the world of humanity. Similarly, the
equitable government of Great Britain is
expending a great deal of effort. Undoubtedly
the general condition of the people and
the state of small oppressed nationalities
will not remain as before. Justice and Right
shall be fortified but the establishment of
Universal Peace will be realized fully
through the power of the Word of God.”
A copy of this Tablet was sent to the President’s headquarters in France and its receipt acknowledged by his secretary. History has already recorded the rejection of a spiritual basis and the ultimate shattering of most of the noble ideals brought to the council chamber at Versailles, with its culmination in the present world catastrophe. Yet the great service for peace is still ahead of us, in spite of the surrounding gloom, for it is God’s Will that Peace and the Unification of mankind be established in this world. In 1915, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote to Andrew Carnegie: “Therefore, ere long, a vast and unlimited field will be opened before your view for the display of your powers and energies. You must promote this glorious intention with the heavenly power and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit. I am praying in your behalf that you may pitch a pavilion and unfurl a flag in the world of peace, love and eternal life.”
The concept of world federation was envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh over seventy years ago. Shortly after His declaration that He was the Promised One of past cycles who was to establish a spiritual civilization on earth He proclaimed: “These fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come!” He sent Tablets to the Rulers and Kings of the world, announcing His Mission and calling them to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, thus sowing the germinating seeds of a real and lasting federation. He warned that "the signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing Order appeareth to be lamentably defective.” He prophesied that: “soon will the present day Order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.” His appeals were rejected and the rulers continued to increase their expenditures for military preparedness and soon Europe and Asia were once more plunged into war. His final call to the sovereigns of the earth was in the following admonishment: “Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold fast unto this Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents.”
THE NATURE OF THE LESSER PEACE
It is evident from the above quotations
that the establishment of world peace will
come in two stages: The Lesser and the
Most Great Peace. The Lesser Peace will be
achieved when war is abolished as the
method of settling quarrels and disputes between
nations. To this end, Bahá’u’lláh, in the
Tablet to Queen Victoria, admonishes the
heads of governments to “be reconciled
among yourselves, that ye may need no
more armaments save in a measure to
safeguard your territories and dominions. . . .
Be united, O kings of the earth, for thereby
the tempest of discord will be stilled
amongst you, and your peoples find rest,
if ye be of them that comprehend. Should
any one among you take up arms against
another, rise ye all against him, for this is
naught but manifest justice.” This
statement indicates that “some form of a world
Super-State must be evolved that will
establish a single code of international law” with
a Supreme Tribunal whose decisions in
carrying the law into effect will have a binding
result upon any and all disputant parties.
It calls for a World Parliament or Congress
composed of elected representatives
of the people with an International
Executive strong enough to enforce the solemn
compact entered into by the nations. Each
nation will necessarily surrender its claims
to make war, as well as the right to impose
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certain taxes, to this supreme commonwealth.
A world community will gradually
be developed, thus transmuting the
"Religion of Nationalism” into a
lasting consciousness of world citizenship. By general
agreement the governments of the world
will disarm, retaining only sufficient arms
to preserve internal order; however, these
governments will contribute a proportionate
share of their army and navy to establish
an international police force for the
preservation of the union of all the states
and the enforcement of the great treaty
that will create the foundation for
universal peace. This is a very brief outline of
the World Federation found in the
Teachings of Baha’u’llah. There are one or two
points of vital import which are further
developed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in a letter sent
to the Central Organization for a Durable
Peace, at The Hague in 1919. One is that
the national assemblies of each country
should elect the choicest men of its country
who are well informed concerning
international laws and the relationships between
governments and who are likewise aware of
the essential needs of humanity. The
number of the representatives are in proportion to
the number of inhabitants of each country.
The election of these representatives must
be confirmed by the congress or parliament
of each nation, by the cabinet and by the
national executive so that they truly
represent the government. The members of
the Supreme Tribunal will be chosen from
these delegates, thus the will of the people
will be fully expressed at the council
chamber, and when a decision is arrived at, either
unanimously or by majority-rule, there
will no longer be any pretext for objection,
as both the plaintiff and defendant are
properly represented by their duly accredited
representatives.
The Bahá’í plan seeks to broaden the basis of the existing foundations of society in a changing and evolving world. “Its purpose,” writes Shoghi Effendi (The Goal of a New World Order) “is neither to stifle the flame of a sane and intelligent patriotism in men’s hearts, nor to abolish the system of national autonomy so essential if the evils of excessive centralization are to be avoided. It does not ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race. It insists upon the subordination of national impulses and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. It repudiates excessive centralization on one hand, and disclaims all attempts at uniformity on the other.” When the members or organs of the human body lack coordination, disease, dissolution and finally death result. The body-politic can well be likened to the human organism. If the various members are cooperating in harmony, life will find expression in the fullest degree, but dissention and rivalry will inevitably lead to discord and warfare, disintegration will follow and ultimate extinction will be the result.
It is increasingly apparent that to achieve this “Lesser Peace,” humanity will have to pass through the fire of a severe ordeal before the warring elements of present-day civilization can be welded and fused into a new alloy of international concord. The maimed from the battlefields, the bombed civilian population, the bereaved widow, the homeless orphans and the purged refugees, one and all will demand from their chastened leaders, a new world order. The institutions that will safeguard the peoples and nations of the world will arise as a phoenix from the ashes of the present conflict.
THE MOST GREAT PEACE
But from the Bahá’í viewpoint, there is
yet another step to be taken, that of the
establishment of the ”Most Great Peace.”
"This can in no wise be achieved except
through the power of a skilled, an
all-powerful and inspired Physician,” declares
Bahá’u’lláh. It is the union of all the people
of the world in one common Faith. The
social laws and institutions established by
Bahá’u’lláh cannot be separated from His
moral precepts and spiritual principles. He
not only called upon the Rulers of the world
to establish the institutions that
would prevent warfare, but He likewise exhorted
them to accept His Revelation, destined to
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Bahá’í Temple Model and Book Exhibit, Yonkers Public Library, December 18, 1939-January 20, 1940.
spiritualize the world and to fuse the races, creeds, classes and nations into a divinely conceived World Order. To the people who accept His Mission, He declares (Tablet to Napoleon): “The sword of wisdom is sharper than the sword of steel—if ye are of those who know. Draw forth the sword in My name and power, then invade the cities of the hearts of those who are fortifying themselves in the fortification of desire.” Humanity is entering the stage of maturity both individually and collectively. As the individual assumes his responsibility as an apostle of the Cause of God in this day, so likewise the nations of the world must accept their collective obligation to establish a World Order based on the Word of God.
Universal Peace will ultimately be achieved and it will signify the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon earth. The "Lesser Peace” may come in the near future, while the “Most Great Peace” will eventually be realized and remain eternally effective and secure, through the potency of Divine decree. There will be a merging of the two elements—the organization of a world commonwealth and the institution of a world religion, and then Universal Peace will be fully realized, by this achievement of organic and spiritual unity. In its fullness, the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is not alone another stage in the progressive prophetic cycles that have come to this earth, nor is it yet another spiritual revival, but it represents the founding of a world civilization, and culture with its leaders and representatives responsible to a world citizenry for the maintenance of new moral standards, new virtues, higher ideals and greater service to the common weal. It represents the growth of mankind from adolescence to maturity through a process of spiritual integration culminating in that Golden Age proclaimed by all the prophets of the past as the ultimate destiny for man on this planet.
"This is a new cycle of human power,” declares ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. "All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men. . . .”
