THE TEACHINGS OF HIS HOLINESS BAHA’O’LLAH.[edit]
IN all the sacred books of all the religions there are prophecies about the one whom God would manifest and the followers of various different religions are anxiously awaiting the Coming of their promised one. The Jews await the Messiah, the Christians the Second Coming of Christ, the Buddhist the Coming of Lord Maitreya, the Hindoos the Coming of Kalanki Avtar, and the Mahomedans the Coming of Imam Mehdi, and Ruhallah. All these prophecies are fulfilled in the Coming of His Holiness Baha’O’llah and he has come and united men of various different creeds, sects and nationalities and through Him today Jews, Christians, Mahomedans, Zoroastrians, Hindoos and Buddhists, are all wonderfully united as brothers each accepting Baha’O’llah’s Coming as a realization of the expectations held out In his own religion and each considering the followers of all the other religions as his brothers. His Holiness Baha’O’llah was born in Persia and was exiled to Bagdad, Constantinople, Adrianople, and finally to Acre for the sake of His Cause where He departed from this world at the age of 75. The principal teachings of His Holiness Baha’O’llah which were revealed nearly half a century ago are that the oneness of the world of humanity should be recognized. He has said, “ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of one arbor.” He has commanded independent investigation of trust. He says, “no man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate truth in order that he may find the Truth.” The other teachings are equality between men and women, abandonment of all racial, patriotic, religious and political prejudices, compulsory male and female education, a universal language and an International Tribunal. About fifty years ago Baha’O’llah commanded the people to establish universal peace and summoned all the nations to the “divine banquet of international arbitration” so that questions of boundaries, of national honor and property and of vital interests between nations might be decided by an arbitral Court of Justice. In Bahaism, there are no ceremonies and no priests. No one has the power to receive the confession of sins or to give absolution. Marriage is enjoined upon all, whenever possible, asceticism is discouraged and monogamy is universally recommended. Begging is strictly forbidden and occupation is considered an act of worship. In all matters the Bahais are advised to observe moderation. All sorts of intoxicating drinks such as alcohols, liquors, etc., are forbidden. The taking of opium and similar drug habits are most emphatically denounced. Gambling is forbidden and the use of tobacco is discouraged. Loyalty towards the Government is enjoined upon all the Bahais. His Holiness Baha’O’llah says, “In every country or government where any of this community reside, they must behave toward that Government with faithfulness, trustfulness and truthfulness. So may the armaments of the world be changed into peace, and corruption and conflict vanish from among men.” The economic question is solved in the teachings Of Baha’O’llah and certain regulations are revealed which insure the welfare and well being of all humanity. Just as the rich man enjoys his rest and his pleasures surrounded by luxuries, the poor man must likewise have a home and be provided with sustenance and not be in want. Baha’O’llah has said, “O ye who are wealthy on earth, the poor among ye are My trust. Therefore guard My trust, and be not wholly occupied with your own ease.”
REPORT OF THE FIRST ALL-INDIA BAHAI CONVENTION HELD IN BOMBAY.[edit]
27th to 29th December, 1920.
THE MORNING SESSIONS.
THE Convention of the Bahais of India opened on the morning of the 27th of December 1920, in the Bahai Assembly Hall, Fort, Bombay, at 10 a.m., with Professor M. R. Shirazi of the Karachi College in the Chair. Among the delegates were the representatives of almost all the principal religions of the world and the Indian Bahais came from nearly all over India. Miss Elizabeth H. Stewart an American Bahai sister was also present.
The Session opened with a prayer which was followed by the address of Jenabe Mirza Mahmood Zarqani, the Chairman of the Reception Committee. He welcomed the delegates and described the history and the aims of the convention in eloquent Persian. He said that the idea originated with the Bahais of Poona, who were desirous of spreading the cause in India by holding a Convention of the Bahais in India. They wrote a small pamphlet about it and sent it to all the believers all over India and a supplication was also submitted to His Holiness Abdul Baha during the war and a tablet was received [which is reproduced here.]
INDIA—POONA—MEMBERS OF THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.[edit]
DIVINE GLORY BE ON THEM. HE IS GOD.[edit]
O FIRM ones of the Covenant! Your letter of 25th April 1919, together with two pamphlets—one English and the other Persian—was perused. The publication of both is permitted. Send some of the English pamphlets to the Holy Land. As regards holding the annual meeting of the Bahais of India, like the American Convention is agreeable. But endeavor to have the concordance of the opinions of all the friends, that it may not lead to diversity and division in the future. What is of the utmost importance is the unity and concord of the whole body of the friends, and perfect friendliness among the friends. This is the most important of affairs. If a single soul is displeased, give it the utmost attention and bring him hack to the circle of friends by warming him (with love). If things are being such, the rays of the brightest light will capture the world. The holding of the Convention in the month of December is quite suitable, but at the time of holding it, correspond with the friends so as to fix the place for holding it with a majority of votes.
- Upon you be Baha’ol-Abha.
- ABDU’L–BAHA ABBAS,
- 5th May 1919.
- ABDU’L–BAHA ABBAS,
- Upon you be Baha’ol-Abha.
[Translated by M. R. Shirazi, Karachi.]
Owing to the war, the Convention could not come off in 1919. Some of the prominent Bahais were also absent from India and so the holding of the Convention was postponed till the December of the year 1920.
Jenabe Mirza Mahmood then read a telegram which was received from His Holiness Abdul Baha, saying, [Convention Blessed, hoping great results follow—Abbas]. The speech ended with a beautiful Persian poem composed by the speaker (reproduced elsewhere).
The President elect Prof. Shirazi of
Karachi, then delivered his Presidential
address in Persian and said that this
Convention was the Spiritual Parliament
of the Bahais of India and had been
organized with a view to spread the
Bahai Cause throughout the length and
breadth of India. He then dwelt
upon the importance of asking Abdul-Baha
to visit this country of establishing
a Mashrek-ul-Azkar in India and Of
starting schools for the education of the
Bahai children and of sending out teachers
to all parts of India for teaching the
Cause and said that the Convention
should take up these questions for discussion
and that a definite program
of work for the ensuing year should
be decided upon. The following resolutions[Page 3]
were then taken up for discussion
in the three morning sessions and were
unanimously passed by the First All India
Convention of the Bahais of India and
Burma.
MORNING SESSION
27th December, 1920.
- (1) That a supplication signed by all
the Bahais in India and Burma be submitted to Abdul-Baha praying for a visit to this country.
- (2) That a Mashrek-ul-Azkar Committee
be formed to collect funds to erect a Mashrek–ul–Azkar in India.
- (3) That a School be started in the
education of Bahai children in Bombay.
- (4) That teachers be sent out to the
different parts of India for spreading the Cause.
MORNING SESSION
28th December, 1920
- (5) That a Bahai Organ be started in
India (English & Persian).
- (6) That a Library, a Reading Room
and a Bookstall be established in Bombay.
- (7) That a Bahai Publishing Society
be established with a view to translate Bahai Literature in Indian languages.
MORNING SESSION
29th December, 1920.
- (8) Four Sub-Committees were elected
for carrying into effect the program contemplated by the Convention.
The Sessions closed with prayer.
The Indian Delegated present at the First Convention of the Bahais of India.
| Syed Mustafa Rumi | Burma | ||
| Syed Abdul Hussain | Do. | ||
| Mong-Ba-Tin | Do. | ||
| Mong-Ba-Kin | Do. | ||
| Abbas Ali Butt | Do. | ||
| Mazhar Ali Doctor | Do. | ||
| Mohammad Yunis, Khalifa | Do. | ||
| Mohammad Reza Shirazi | Karachi. | ||
| N. R. Vakil | Surat. | ||
| Pritamsing | Allahabad. | ||
| Hashmat Ullah | Agra. |
EVENING SESSIONS
OF THE
FIRST ALL-INDIA BAHAI CONVENTION
HELD IN BOMBAY,
27th to 29th December, 1920.
A SERIES of lectures on different subjects were arranged for the people of Bombay in the interest of the Bahai movement and were very largely attended. Among the prominent men who attended was Professor Patrick Geddes of the Bombay University, who also addressed the Convention on the evening of the 29th of December and his speech is reproduced below from the Times of Bombay. Miss Eliabeth H. Stewart was another distinguished American Bahai Lady who had been present both in the morning and evening sessions of the Convention. Her short but interesting speech is also reproduced below. For want of space we cannot give the summaries of the speeches delivered by the various speakers. A copy of the Program is being enclosed. The subject ‘The Solution of the Economic and Industrial problem’ which stood in the name of Prof. Shirazi was given over to Prof. Pritamsingh of Allahabad University; and that was the only change in the program. The reports of speeches appeared in the Times of India bearing the dates 28th, 29th and 30th of December and can be examined and perused in that paper.
(Times of India, 30th December 1920.)
“Prof. Geddes referring to the cardinal doctrines of Bahaism, praised the characteristics of Abdul Baha when he came in contact with him during his visits to Haifa and Akka in connection with town-planning, and when they asked for a plot of land for a school, he gave it to them very generously, which was a gift to the children of the soil. He then referred to the Pro–Jerusalem society which, he said, would help the Bahai movement to a great degree. They had another society there called the Pro-Carmal society Which had representatives of every religion on it.”
(Times of India, 29th December, 1920.)
“Miss Stewart said she was a visitor from Palestine and the message she brought to them from Abdul Baha was that men and women were equal and both must be educated. There were no differences in the brains of women and men. Given an opportunity the woman would prove equal to a man and this they had found in the colleges which women also attended. Fifty years ago women could not go to colleges, but today they could do so, She emphasized the necessity of educating their girls.”
The morning of the 30th of December was devoted to a special gathering in which the delegates to the convention and the believers in Bombay (men, women and children) took part. They all sat down to a feast and the whole group was photographed. After the chanting of prayers the convention closed. The spirit that prevailed was remarkable and for the first time in the history of India a unique gathering of beautiful souls assembled to give thanks to God the Glorious and the Merciful for His wonderful gift of the Bahai Revelation. A cablegram was received from His Holiness Abdul Baha saying;
BAHA‘O’LLAH IS WITH YOU
LETTERS CIRCULATED AMONG THE BAHAIS OF INDIA BEFORE THE CONVENTION WAS HELD[edit]
BY MR. N. R. VAKIL.
DEAR FRIENDS,
YOU will be delighted to learn that efforts are being made to publish a Bahai monthly magazine, and the friends have approved of it.
Some friends having suggested that it should be placed on a secure footing before it is started, and that some friends should be always ready and willing to write articles for it, both the problems are considered, and efforts are made to place the paper on a firm footing before it is started, and we pray to God for assistance and confirmation.
We herewith enclose a translation of a Tablet revealed for the Spiritual Assembly of Poona, India, in which directions, as regards the Bahai Convention to be held in India are given. Our beloved Abdul Baha has said that “The holding of the Convention in the month of December is quite suitable, but at the time of holding it correspond with the friends so as to fix the place for holding it with a majority of votes.” We propose that the Convention be held this year in December, (the date to be settled later on), and we beg to propose that this year the Convention may be held in Bombay, and would like to know the wishes of all the friends as regards the place where it may be held, as the place will be settled according to the majority of votes. All the friends who wish to communicate in English, will be good enough to address their letters to me, as at present there is some difficulty in getting English letters translated, and all the friends who would like to correspond in Persian, will be good enough to write to the Society’s address in Bombay. After we hear from the friends the place where it should be held this year will be fixed and all the friends will be informed about it.
As regards the month in which it may be held this year we propose that it may be held in December, as during the Christmas there are about seven holidays and many people may find it convenient to attend it. Besides, some time will he require for necessary preparations and we may hold it in December, and we hope that the friends will find it suitable.
As regards the work to be done at the time of the Convention, we request all the friends to send their suggestions. Wherever there are assemblies the friends would be good enough to send representatives and where there are a few friends, they will make it convenient to attend the Convention and assist in spreading the Holy Cause.
All the friends who wish to address
the Convention will let us know their
names and the subjects on which they
wish to speak, and the same will be
incorporated in the program. During
the days of the Convention as friends
will be coming from various different
places we could also like to arrange
that they may be able to address various[Page 5]
Societies in Bombay and separate lectures
on the Holy Cause may be
arranged for after the Sessions of the
Convention are over. Various subjects
as regards the publication of articles,
books and booklets in various languages
of India, treating about the history of
the Cause and the principles, as well
as the question of sending teachers in
India, and the publication of a magazine
and other subjects dealing with the
spread of the Holy Cause in India will
be considered at the Convention.
Suggestions are invited from all the
friends and we hope that all the friends
will do their utmost in this matter.
DEAR FRIENDS IN EL BAHA,
YOU will be delighted to learn that in reply to the cablegram forwarded to our Beloved Abdul-Baha, the following cablegram was received:—
- “KHAWARI, BOMBAY,
Convention blessed hoping great results follow. Abbas.”
These words are very significant and make us all feel very happy. All the friends in India, including Burma, are earnestly requested to try their best, to send their representatives and do all in their power to assist the Convention. All efforts can be successful through the grace of God, divine confirmations and the unity Of the friends.
Invitations regarding the Convention are already forwarded, and we hope that the friends and the assemblies have received the same. We propose to hold two sessions of the Convention every day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The morning sessions may be exclusively devoted to the matters relating to the spread of the Holy Cause in India and subjects relating to the same will be discussed and such Committees as are deemed advisable to be formed will be formed by election or in such other manners as is unanimously or by majority agreed upon. Friends will address the assembly on the importance of Teaching, the words of His Holiness Abdul Baha referring to India, and various other subjects, the messages from the different Bahai assemblies that may be received will be read, the subject-matter of starting a Bahai monthly magazine, of translating Bahai pamphlets into the vernacular languages of India or preparing short treatises about the history and the teachings of the Cause in the vernacular languages of India and getting the same published for sale or free distribution will be considered. We shall also consider what steps should be taken to send teachers to various different parts of India. These are a few suggestions which this servant wishes to place before the morning sessions of the Convention. All the friends will send their suggestions so that by the middle of December a program may be prepared both for the morning and the afternoon sessions and the same may be circulated for the information of friends. Some steps may also be taken to open a depot of Bahai books for sale and libraries containing all the available English, Persian and Arabic Bahai literature may be opened in places where there are assemblies. Besides in some public libraries of India one or two Bahai books may be sent as a present or the attention of the secretaries may be drawn towards Bahai literature and they may be requested to order out the same.
The afternoon sessions of the Convention may be devoted to public addresses on the history of the Cause and the Teachings of this Most Great Cause, on the proofs of the Manifestation of His Holiness Baha’O’llah (may the lives of all save Him be a sacrifice to His servants) from the Hindu, Mahomedan, Zoroastrian, Christian and Buddhist scriptures and other Bahai subjects of universal importance. All the friends who are going to attend the Convention will kindly let us know the subjects on which they will speak so that their names and the subjects may be inserted in the program. We also propose to invite the members of the Theosophical Society, Brahmo Samaj, and other religious movements to attend the Convention and in the afternoon sessions we may also allow them to address the Convention if they wish to do so.
In about the middle of December the program will be prepared and the same will be circulated for the information of friends. Those friends who can come a little earlier before the days fixed for the Convention, viz., 27th to 29th December, will kindly do so and assist the Cause.
With Bahai love and greetings,
- I remain,
- Yours faithfully in His Name,
- N. R: VAKIL.
NEWS FROM THE BAHAI WORLD[edit]
INDIA
MR. N. R. VAKIL of Surat has undertaken a tour of North India with a view to give the message of Bahaism to the people of India. He left Bombay on the 1st of January 1921 just after the Convention was over and intends visiting Allahabad, Benares, Calcutta, Dacca, Lucknow, Patna, Cawnpore, Agra, Delhi, Amritsar, Lahore and Karachi. A short account of his tour will be published in the next issue of the Bahai News. Mr. Vakil’s visit to North India will be very fruitful indeed.
The program contemplated by the First All-India Convention in their morning sittings is being put into actualities in Bombay. A fair progress has already been made. Prof. Pritamsingh of Allahabad University is assisting Jenabe Mirza Mahmood on the English side of the work. The All-India Bahai Central Fund has been started with the object of collecting funds for carrying on the work of publication and translation of the Bahai literature and the work of teaching of the Cause among the peoples of India. All contributions, however small will be gratefully acknowledged by the Bombay office, 29, Forbes Street, Fort, Bombay.
Mirza Seavash, a Persian Zoroastrian Bahai teacher is also touring in India and doing good work in connection with the Cause.
Professor Shirazi of Karachi will be absent from India for some months to come and will go home. We will all miss him very much, but we wish him a happy voyage and a safe return. He is the chief editor of the Bahai News.
We reproduce below the copy of the letter of congratulations from the Chicago Bahai Assembly and express our grateful thanks for their words of hope and encouragement. A beautiful Photograph of the Chicago Mashrek-ul-Azkar was received by it for which the All India Bahai Convention is very thankful.
“It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and classes.”
Abha Greetings to the All-India Bahai Convention convening in Bombay, December 1920.
The Bahais of Chicago congratulate the Bahais of India that they have attained such Divine Unity us to assemble in one large gathering from all parts of that vast empire. Praise be to God that through the divinity of Baha Ullah, this has been made possible.
We received word from the Center of the Covenant after the First All American Bahai Convention, in March nineteen hundred and nine, that such gatherings are in the spiritual body of the world what the inrush of the spirit is to the physical body of man, quickening it to its utmost parts and infusing a new life and power.
With heartfelt prayers to the Divine Threshold, we beg that a Pentecostal Baptism may descend upon this All India Convention.
Your co-workers in the vineyard of God
- CHICAGO,
11th October 1920.
AMERICA.
We quote in this letter some news from the Star of the West for your information as some friends do not receive the Star of the West.
The 12th Annual Mashrakol-Azkar
Convention and Bahai Congress were
held in New York during 25th and 28th
April this year and the feast of ElRizwan[Page 7]
was celebrated on the 24th of
April.
Representatives from various different assemblies in America were present and it was a very spiritual gathering. Our Beloved Abdul Baha has sent Janabe Fazal Mazandarani, the Persian philosopher with Mr. Minochar Khan for a short tour in America at the request of Mirza Ahmad Sorab and they reached America during the Convention. During the Convention the Mashrakol-Azkar design of Louis Bourgeois was accepted. We quote a portion of the article published in the New York American, dated May 23rd, 1920.
“Mr. Bourgeois’ model was selected by a committee of forty nine. This committee was ready to approve the design, but because the structure differed from any other building that had ever been erected, they felt they needed guidance, before making the final acceptance, from an architect who could tell them whether it was practical. They called in Mr. H. Van Bureu Magonigle, president of the Architectural league. Without being apprized of the preference of the committee, Mr. Magonigle studied all the models submitted and quickly selected that of Mr. Bourgeois. His Verdict was: ‘It is the first new idea in architecture since the thirteenth century. I want to see it erected. The first storey breathes the spirit of welcome. It is in the form of a nine-pointed star. Nine circular exedras curve into the building, with a great door way in the center of each, so that from whatever side one approaches, the structure seems to extend its arms in welcome and embrace. The first storey in its simplicity suggests the Greek and Egyptian temples, while the treatment of the doors and windows is Romanesque in form, and the intricacy and beauty of the ornamentation suggest the Gothic and the Arabic. The second storey, beautiful in its windows elegance, is Renaissance in time, but purely Gothic in the interlaced arches of its openings. The third storey is Renaissance in feeling, restful and quiet. Above it rises the lovely dome, which suggests the Byzantine, while above the closed top is a unique feature—the beams of the dome arising like hands clasped in prayer, so as to give the feeling of ascension and aspiration found only in Gothic towers.”
Another piece of good news is the marriage of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab with Miss Juanita Storch of Okland, California, which was celebrated during the Convention on 28th April 1920.
We have recently received a letter from Mariam Haney, secretary of the teaching Committee, about the seven day trip from Boston to Chantanqua of Janabe Fazel Mazandarani, Harry Janabe Minochar Khan, and Mirza–Ahmad Sohrab. They visited Buffalo and attracted some souls there. A member of the Rotary Club of Buffalo invited them to come again and speak before his organization; a clergyman offered his pulpit. People present from other cities extended similar invitations. In every city people pressed forward to shake their hands or stopped them in the streets. They were loved! Loved by all!
Saturday morning they spoke in Roycroft chapel at East Aurora, N. Y. There they outlined the new economic system given by Baha’o’llah and explained by Abdul Baha. They were invited to come again and speak at a Sunday service. “The Roycroft” (magazine) circulation 50,000, will publish an article about the Visit.
Next day, Sunday, was spent at Lily Dale, N. Y. The spiritualists had given to them the morning service in the auditorium. About three thousand were present. Fazel’s address was on the Bahai Vision of Immortality.
Directors changed their afternoon service and invited Fazel and Harry to speak at 4-30 o’clock in the Forest Temple, where nearly three thousand came again to hear about “New Evidences of life after death.” Janabe Fazel closed the session by chanting a prayer in Persian.
Monday, they journeyed on to Chantanqua. In the great Chantanqua amphitheatre they addressed an audience of over 4 thousand souls on. “The Political and Spiritual Regeneration of Persia and Its Cause.” Since Abdul Baha was in America in 1912, perhaps no American event has been more significant in Bahai history.
Two opening paragraphs in the “Chantanqua Daily” give the key to the address: “A most extraordinary address was given yesterday morning in the amphitheatre by Mirza Fazel Mazandarani, Professor of Philosophy at the Imperial University of Persia, Translated into excellent English by one of his interpreters, Mirza Ahmad Sorab. It was an eloquent account of the message of universal love and brotherhood given to the world by the Oriental mystic, Abdul Baha. Some leaders of several religious movements, Unitarian, New Thought, Christian, Indian lore, directors of reading courses called upon the Bahais on the broad verandahs of the Hotel Athenaonan. Each one went away happy, taking the love of the Bahai Cause home with him. New friends from Roycroft shops and Lily Dale camp came on to Chantanqua to hear more.
Jameston, a city of 40,000, is one hour’s ride by trolley from Chantanqua. Its lawyers and newspaper men, some one hundred of them who compose the Saturday Night Club opened their club house Wednesday evening, to the Bahai speakers. It was a men’s meeting. At first the atmosphere of the place indicated they wanted a political evening not a religious one. Abdul Baha used Harry to answer those lawyers like the Charge of the Light Brigade, intellect against intellect, for about ten minutes he proved that the solution of world problems is through Spiritual Teachings. When he finished a lawyer sprang up and said: “you have brought it home! This the greatest Truth I have ever heard in my life!”
INDIA.
We quote a portion of the Tablet received from a Hindu Brahmin brother of Kulitalai, Madras:—
HE IS GOD
“O thou who art attracted to Truth and devoted to the Beloved of the horizons (universe);”
Thy detailed letter has been received. It was not a letter, nay, rather, it was a garden full of verdure and flowers, from which the fragrance of the love of God was perceived. It imparted great joy, for praise be to God, the light of heavenly Guidance has been kindled in the lamp of the heart and the fire of the love of God set aflame.
I beseech God that that light of Guidance may, from this lamp, stream out in all directions and illumine all the surroundings. That is to say, that the city of Madras may turn into the horizon of Truth, from which the Rays of the Heavenly Grace may radiate.
Do thou surrender thyself unto God and have an absolute dependence in the days on His infinite Bestowal! Because the Sun of Reality, His Most High, Baha’o’llah hath with greatest intensity projected His Effulgence upon the horizons, which shall before long, illumine all the universe. The cause of Baha’o’llah hath already stirred the whole world. Today in all the continents of the world, the Call of Baha’o’llah hath been raised. In every city of the West an assembly has been established, which calls the people to the Kingdom of God and spreads the Teachings of Baha’o’llah.
In America the call of “ya Baha-ol-Abha.” hath arisen and in Africa the Proclamation of “ya Aliy-ol-Aala” (O Supreme of the Most Supreme) hath reached the ear of every intelligent. The Turks and Tajips have become attracted to the breezes of the Paradise of Abba. In Asia the birds of the Heavenly Garden are singing in the most charming tunes.
In brief, in India too. God willing, ye will raise the Call of the Kingdom of Abha, exhilarate the people through the Teachings of Baha’o’llah, progress day by day in the Bahai Virtues and accomplishments, and (thus) prove to be the cause of guidance unto multitudes of the people. Do not ye look at your own power and ability, nay, rather, look at the Might of the Kingdom of Abha. This Might turns the piece of straw into a mountain, releases the souls from the bottom of the well and raises them to the height of the moon and is produced from a feeble seed a fruitful tree. The heavenly farmer throws one grain and produces harvest therefrom. This is through the power of the Grace of God.
I am earnestly praying for the Kingdom of Abha, imploring, every moment, a new Confirmation for thee and a fresh Bestowal upon thee. As to the question of (kindness) to animals, in this Cause great emphasis has been put on practicing benevolence to animals.
SOUTH AMERICA— We have received a very splendid report of the work done by our dear sister Miss Martha Root in South America. The report consists of 34 typed pages and is very interesting and instructive and makes the heart throb with joy at the work achieved by her through love of God and steadfastness. May souls like her arise in this Country to give the Glad Tidings to a large portion of humanity which dwells in this Country. She started on July 22nd, 1919 and visited Para, Peruambuco, Bahia, Maceio, Riodejaneiro, Sao Paulo, Santos, Brazil, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Panama, Havana, Washington D. C., and a few other places and returned home on 15th of November 1919.
During her tour, she spoke to numerous persons individually on the Holy Cause and gave the Glad-Tidings in numerous newspapers published in South America in Portuguese and Spanish, although she did not know then either of these languages. She addressed various assemblies and distributed the holy literature among sincere seekers to such an extent that all the literature she had was given away, and not to deny it to those who demanded it, she purchased newspapers worth about 50 dollars containing articles on the Bahai Movement. Besides noting the customs and manners of the countries visited by her, she has also noted the places where friends may go and live permanently and do the work for the Cause and earn means of livelihood. She suggests that the study of French is useful to those who travel in South America or the Continent. May God raise many such souls.
COPY OF THE SUPPLICATION SUBMITTED TO HIS HOLINESS ABDUL BAHA BY THE BAHAIS OF INDIA AND BURMA.[edit]
To
THE HOLY PRESENCE OF HIS HOLINESS ABDUL BAHA THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT OF GOD.[edit]
WE the Bahais of India and the Delegates present at the First All India Bahai Convention held in Bombay, resolved in the morning session on the 27th of December, 1920 A. D. that a supplication signed by the Bahais of India and Burma be submitted to Your Holiness requesting for a visit to this ancient land of many religious and many peoples. The resolution was unanimously passed and was received most enthusiastically, all standing up. May we not, therefore, the Bahais of India supplicates Your Holiness to vouchsafe us a visit and be pleased to tread this land and thus sanctify this old soil and bless millions of souls who desire but to see the holy Beauty of the Face of their Beloved. Praying again and again.
- We remain,
BOMBAY, INDIA,
- March, 1921.
