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STAR OF THE WEST
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
In the Interest of the BAHAI MOVEMENT
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Publishers: Albert R. Windust—Gertrude Buikema—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the postoffice at Chicago, Ill., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
TERMS: $3.00 per year; 20 cents per copy.
Two copies to same name and address, $5.00 per year.
Make Money Orders Payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
WORDS OF ABDUL-BAHA
"Great importance must be given to the development of the Star of the West. The circle of its discussion must be widened; in its columns must be published the essential problems pertaining to the Bahai life in all its phases. Its contents must be so universal that even the strangers may subscribe to it. Articles must be published, dealing with the universal principles of the Cause, the writers proving that this Cause takes a vital interest in all the social and religious movements of the age and is conducive to the progress of the world and its inhabitants. In short, the Star of the West must promote the aspirations and the ideals that will gather little by little around these general Tablets, bringing into the light of day all the historical, religious and racial knowledge which will be of the utmost value to the Bahai teachers all over the world."
| Vol. 13 | CONTENTS | No. 3 |
| PAGE | |
White and Colored Races in Convention | 50 |
| Photograph taken in the Auditorium of the Central High School Building, Springfield, Mass. | |
Convention for Amity Between the White and Colored Races | 51 |
| BY ROY WILLIAMS. | |
Editorial from The Times of India | 56 |
The Second All-India Bahai Convention | 57 |
| Letter from the Secretary. | |
| Article from The Times of India, Dec. 31, 1921. | |
| Article from The Times of India, Jan. 2, 1922. | |
| Article from Advocate of India, Jan. 3, 1922. | |
PERSIAN SECTION—Fac-simile of article in The Bugle, published in Haifa, Palestine, commemorating the meeting held 40 days after the ascension of Abdul-Baha | 64-62 |
--PHOTO--
CONVENTION FOR AMITY BETWEEN THE WHITE AND COLORED RACES IN AMERICA BASED ON HEAVENLY TEACHINGS
AUDITORIUM OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD MASS.
December 5th and 6th, 1921
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened; that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be. These fruitless strifes; these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."
Words of BAHA 'ULLAH.
| VOL. 13 | JAMAL 1, 78 (April 28, 1922) | NO. 3 |
and Colored Races
Springfield, Massachusetts, December 5 and 6, 1921
BY ROY WILLIAMSIN the early part of November the Bahais of Springfield, Massachusetts, decided to hold a Second Race Amity Congress. After due thought and consultation a cable was sent to His Holiness Abdul-Baha, asking his approval and confirmation. Three days later the answer arrived, "Approved; God confirms. ABBAS." This cable was, we believe, his last words affirming a public service by the Bahais of America.
It was then found that many spiritually advanced souls in Springfield desired to assist and be one with the Bahais in accomplishing this service. Notable among them were Rev. A. L. Bouldin, colored, of Loring St. Methodist Church, whose heart was ablaze with the fire of love and service; also Rev. G. R. Waller, Third Baptist Church, and Rev. H. D. Denson, colored, of another branch of Methodism. With these three clergymen were several citizens, among whom were Mrs. Ella Stewart, an ardent worker for humanity and also an attracted soul to the beauty of El Abha, and Mrs. H. S. Green, colored, both enlightened and advanced women of universal perception. With these souls the revered friends of God, Mrs. Olive E. Kretz and Mrs. Grace Decker, took the foremost part in organizing and bringing to a successful termination this great convention—all in perfect accord with the Bahais of Springfield.
The musical program was especially fine, being put in shape by the masterful hand of a real artist in the person of Mr. Troy P. Gordum, who is known throughout New England as the director of many great musical events. The negro spirituals and soloists were with one exception furnished by or through him.
The opening night, Monday, December 5, 1921, found the large auditorium of the Central High School, which seats 1,200, with nearly every seat filled and the audience composed almost of equal number of both races. The program began without formality by the singing of 125 voices from the balcony of a series of negro spirituals rendered without accompaniment. This was most effective in stilling the incoming audience and creating an atmosphere most heavenly.
After the spirituals, the formal opening was made by the chairman of the evening, Rev. A. L. Bouldin, who voiced the need of economic equality, and introduced the Rev. G. R. Waller, who led in the invocation, asking divine blessing upon the world and unification of the nations and peoples.
The first speaker, Mayor E. F. Leonard of Springfield, spoke most impressively and feelingly of the blot, on America's escutcheon, of lawlessness, dissension and riotous outbreaks. He called on true men to rally to the banner of the oneness of humanity and announced his denunciation of the ill treatment of the black man in America and pledged his aid to the remedy of the same. He said: "I think every man and woman, white or black, desires to bring about better relations between the white and black people. In Springfield I know that good feeling exists between them. From the remotest times there has been hatred and prejudice between races and the feeling is a relic of barbarism. We are all members of one great family, and there are no superior races. President Harding expressed the same sentiment when he said, 'The negro must be educated and have economic justice.' It is foolhardy to raise race prejudice when it was shown in the war that we needed every man of whatever sort. As mayor of a great city in which I know the hearts of the people are right, I protest against the murder and lynching of the negroes in the South, and it is revolting to me as a Christian and a citizen."
After the mayor's address, the state senator, Mr. Chamberlain, was to have spoken. The acquirement of a heavy cold, however, forced him to send his message by letter with a note of regret. His message was a forceful plea for economic justice for the negro and equal opportunity in economic affairs.
Mrs. Sarah Bronson, an accomplished singer, gave two musical numbers that were exquisite and appealing.
There was another element introduced in the person of Rabbi Price of the modern Jewish faith. This illumined soul most dramatically and convincingly demonstrated that prejudice of any kind should not exist in America by showing how prejudice is fostered in other countries. His comparisons were vivid and truthful and moved all to frequent applause. Rabbi Price wanted to know where he came in, for the Jew is generally considered neither white nor black, and he said that the colored people had a big task to bring about equality for the Jews. He declared, "No question more vital to the safety of America can be discussed. There is no justification for race prejudice. It arises from the traditional distrust of the stranger. In America there should not be religious prejudice, since there is not a union between the church and the state. There should be no distinction between man and man in America where all are subject to the law and to taxes. It is foolish that any political prejudice should exist in America where we have no reason to fear other nations. No reason exists for prejudice of any sort in America."
Rev. W. N. DeBerry—an illumined soul who for many years has known, studied and accepted the Great Message, received the light through Louis G. Gregory many years ago and has always been a staunch friend and supporter of the Cause—spoke powerfully on the need for a better understanding. He outlined the pathway through which it could be attained: sympathy for defects of others, patience in not expecting a hasty solution, faith in the Great Seer to see the problem as a whole—and that Abdul Baha was such an one. All that he said was warmly received and long applauded.
A delightful instrumental solo on the piano was rendered by Miss Hazel Farrar, a coming concert artist.
The chairman introduced Mr. W. H. Randall, who spoke with great power and attraction on the contributing elements
to peace as taught by BAHA 'ULLAH, and referred several times to the Center of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha, to show the assembled audience the connection between the Light and its Source. His utterances moved every heart and kindled a new fire of love in every breast. The atmosphere of unity and love present during the evening was as refreshing as a spring morning and without a doubt great results will come from those meetings. Truly the Beloved was present and radiant in the hearts of that gathering.
The meeting closed with songs rendered by the Choral Society, of another composition by a negro composer, calling every heart to sing praise to the Giver of all bounties.
The Tuesday evening session of the Amity Congress opened with a piano selection rendered by Miss Edith Taliaferro and a vocal solo by Mrs. Rose Bogardus. There was a larger crowd than on the previous night and the spirit was stronger and the people more radiant and expectant.
Mr. Alfred E. Lunt, of Boston, acted as chairman and introduced the speaker, Mr. Roy Williams, of Washington, D. C., who spoke on the subject of the "Oneness of Mankind." Rev. Neil McPherson, of the Congregational Church, spoke powerfully on the saving of America, saying: "America will never become what it should until it acknowledges that each nation or man has a different and superior quality that must be recognized by each. Brotherhood means a family of nations with good-will. America must be as the good Samaritan to the stricken nations of Europe." He waxed eloquent and warm in his appeal for good-will and love and moved the audience to ecstacy.
Then Col. Charles L. Young, whose subject was "One God, One Law," broke into a great outburst of eloquence, showing the black man's fitness and equality, his advancement in economic holdings and in serving his country, and that one law and one God is necessary for both races.
Mrs. Hall sang two beautiful numbers and also Mr. Gordum, the director of music, gave a song, followed by three numbers from the Springfield Glee Club.
Mr. Lunt, the chairman, made remarks and the notable speaker, Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, addressed the people with "The Heavenly Teachings" of BAHA 'ULLAH, which are the cure for humanity. With eagerness the huge gathering drank in every word of the power of the great proclamation of the great BAHA 'ULLAH, and the speaker showered every soul with its mighty vibrations. Dr. Bagdadi emphasized the message of Abdul-Baha in regard to the danger of the devastation of America if the heavenly teachings of BAHA 'ULLAH are not heeded and enforced, and outlined in detail what Abdul-Baha said about the racial outbreaks and their real consequences.
SOME OF THE WORDS OF THE SPEAKERS:
Among other things, Mr. William H. Randall said: "The Kingdom of God is standing at the door. It is necessary that the household should be at peace. This problem of the races—and I want to make it larger than the white and black, for there are many races and all are the children of God and He smiles on all—is not a problem that we can solve in the usual way, because it is spiritual. . . .
"Peace results from a cause. We think sometimes we can legislate peace, but we cannot. It is the result of certain conditions that bring it into effect. . . . One of the conditions which I think constitute the foundation of peace is political unity. We cannot have peace when we have discord entering into the political harmony of a nation. The world has been prepared as though by the Word of God so that barriers holding nations apart should be torn down. . . .
"Second, the Unity of Nations. To think we can live alone is idle. No part of the world is strong enough to live alone. Nation after nation has tried it. All the great empires of the past have tried it and have fallen because they were self-centered. We cannot afford to be self-centered. We must have the unity of nations.
"Third, Religious Unity. The world is tired of religious struggles. We must come together, based on the religious aspect of the oneness of humanity, so we shall clearly understand each other in the world of religion.
"Unity of the Races. The most natural thing in the world is the thing we have made unnatural. That we should all live together in peace, leaving out the question of reaching to heaven and getting fire from there to do it with. Animals live in peace, flowers live in peace, everything lives in peace except mankind.
"One other means of perfect equality of man and woman. Women have been kept down and not educated. Who would have thought twenty years ago that we would have suffrage for women? It was almost an unknown idea at that time. But look! Today woman has taken her place in the arena of life on an equal standing with man. Motherhood is greatest of all. She is not going to let her children in the future be destroyed by war. She will demand arbitration.
"The fundamental fact is to establish greater peace in the world. Abdul-Baha is in reality the great Prophet of Peace. He is seventy-eight years old. From childhood, or from the age of eight, he was exiled from his country for forty years, and for twenty-five persecuted, but he was born a servant of God and lover of humanity and struggled through it all for the great principle of the greatest peace in the world, based on heavenly teachings—oneness of the human family, oneness of religion, oneness of men and women. All these great ideals came sixty to seventy years ago, and today are the great topic for the advancement of mankind. We are in a new age. A great light is burning in the world of humanity. This great light is bringing to us a message. It constitutes the great ideals we hear of today."
Mr. Roy Williams in his address said: "Nineteen hundred years ago there appeared upon the arena, of mankind a remarkable being, a unique personality, a spiritual genius, a Divine Emancipator, who spoke a word which meant really the absolute freedom of all mankind. Now it appears that many changes have come, many outward changes, but inwardly there has been no change. We are still the children of God. We are still the family of God. But outwardly there has come a distinct change. Why? There has crept upon the world an insanity that we are not brothers, that we are not the creation of God. The world of humanity is sick. Jesus Christ was a capable physician. He said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' Take this into your soul and heart. You will find you will be cured of this disease by the Divine Physician."
The Rev. Neil McPherson said in part: "Society is an organism. Humanity is an organism. If so, no part can be in conflict with any other part. It makes no difference whether a man is black, white or brown, if he is a human being he has a part to play in working out the distinctions of the human race. There must be co-operation between the different parts. They must function well. The hand is not the same as the eye. Each has a part to perform. And the ear must not find fault with the nose because it is different. God made them in order that the functions co-operating may reach a good end. The camel is not like the horse, and yet the hump on the camel's back shows that its difference is an asset. It is because of the hump that it has the power of endurance.
"The white man must acknowledge that the brown man is superior in some respects. The yellow man must acknowledge that the white man is superior in some ways. The white race must admit that every race upon which the sun shines has an asset that is its wealth. A day is coming that shall surprise the prejudiced man. Civilization has but moved westward; it is going into China and Japan. A man of color may be president of the League of Nations. I am not sure the white man has succeeded. I know his danger, and it may be that God is moving civilization by way of America eastward.
"The thing that is uppermost in the family is good-will. Good-will is love in action; good-will is the willing of good for other men. . . . Would that the brotherhood of humanity, the Kingdom of God, were upon the earth. Do whatever lies in your power to destroy forever the thought that one nation because of its color is better than another. We were made not for ourselves but to further God's purpose on the earth."
Hon. Colonel Young said: "We are backed by old glory. The flag that floats over us all and does not ask what color you are or what church you belong to. Whether in the mountains of Tennessee, or in the cotton fields of Alabama or Louisiana, or out on the prairies of Nebraska, on the Pacific Coast, wherever you are—the same God. Whether you are in the humblest home in Springfield or in the White House at Washington, the same God. Wherever you may be—one God, one law.
"Booker Washington left a record to be proud of. Has the negro made good? At the close of the Civil War he owned 12,000 homes, today they possess over 600,000 homes; then 20,000 farms, today 1,000,000; then they possessed wealth of $20,000,000, now $1,000,000,000; at the close of the war 90 per cent could not read or write, today only 20 per cent; then there were 100,000 colored pupils in the schools, now nearly 2,000,000; money for education $80,000, now over $1,700,000; then they had 700 churches, now 43,000; then 1,000 Sunday schools, now 46,000; then 50,000 schools, now 250,000,000.
"We are to increase the opportunity of the negro just as fast as his ability develops. Give him more privileges. One law, the law of God. Love thy God with all thy soul, with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself."
Dr. Bagdadi said: "The heavenly teachings are the only solution for the world's racial, political, religious and economical problems. Mankind has become inhuman—even worse than the beasts. Consider the carnivorous animals. They kill because that is the only way for them to get food. But they never kill their own species. For instance, the wolf kills the sheep, but man kills his own kind not for food but for greed. Thus it is evident that man has become more ferocious than the beast. The heavenly teachings are the only solution and remedy to change the brutal characteristics of man into merciful human beings.
"The great prophets are the teachers of the heavenly teachings whereby the ideal and spiritual civilization is established in the world. For example, it was through the divine teachings that Moses delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt and founded the Solomonic sovereignty in the Holy Land. It was through the heavenly teachings that Christ established the great western civilization. It was through the heavenly teachings that Mohammed stopped the wild Arabs from killing thousands of their children to please their idols and from burning their daughters alive to get rid of them. He abolished their vicious custom of marriage. One Arab was entitled to a thousand wives and after his death his son might choose one
(Continued on page 60)
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
O ye apostles of BAHA'ULLAH—May my life be a ransom to you!
. . . . Similarly, the Magazine, the Star of the West, must be edited in the utmost regularity, but its contents must be the promulgator of the Cause of God—so that both in the East and West, they may become informed with the most important events.
Star of the West Committee—Convention of 1921
| Chas. Mason Remey, Chairman | |
| Dr. Wm. F. Slater | Albert Vail |
| Carl Scheffler | Martha Root |
| Editorial Staff: Albert R. Windust—Gertrude Buikema—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi | |
| Honorary Member: Mirza Ahmad Sohrab | |
| VOL. 13 | JAMAL 1, 78 (April 28, 1922) | NO. 3 |
ABDUL-BAHA.
In more normal times than the present the death of Abdul-Baha, which was sorrowfully referred to at the Bahai Conference in Bombay, would have stirred the feelings of many who, without belonging to the Bahai brotherhood, sympathize with its tenets and admire the life work of those who founded it. As it is, we have learned almost by chance of this great religious leader's death, but that fact need not prevent us from turning aside from politics and the turmoil of current events to consider what this man did and what he aimed at. Most of our readers have, we imagine, some knowledge of the Bahai Movement and of how it has grown from the teaching of Mirza Ali Mohammed, the Báb or "Door," who in the early part of the 19th century aroused the fury of orthodox Islam by proclaiming himself as a divine messenger sent to warn the world of the coming of the promised Mahdi foretold by the Prophet. He was shot at Tabriz in 1850 and later buried on Mt. Carmel. His followers went undaunted to a martyr's death, and a Persian nobleman, Mirza Hussein Ali Nuri—later known as BAHA 'ULLAH or the Glory of God—appeared to give fresh life and a new designation to the Movement which aimed at the union of the religions of the world and the abolition of all warfare and discord. As an exile in Acca this successor of the Báb compiled those spiritual treatises which were to guide his followers, and delivered teaching which spread his fame throughout the world. He died in 1892 after appointing his son Abdul-Baha to carry the Bahai teaching to the West and to America.
The behest was obeyed. Abdul-Baha visited England, gave the blessing in an English Church and preached in the City Temple, and on the Continent and in the United States proclaimed the message of universal peace and brotherhood, offering spiritual unity as the greatest human ideal to be attained by using economic and political factors merely as means to that end. Many travellers have written accounts of the patriarchal dignity of Abdul-Baha and of the manner in which inquirers flocked to him at Haifa or Acca, and the religion of which he was the recognized head and which claimed thousands of adherents in Persia
and other countries, has been the subject of learned works by many writers. At his funeral last month on Mt. Carmel, which was attended by the British governor of Jerusalem, many nations paid a last tribute to the man whom all had honored and respected. It is not for us now to judge whether the purity, the mysticism, and the exalted ideals of the Bahai Movement will continue unchanged after the loss of the great leader, or to speculate on whether the Bahai Movement will some day become a force in the world as great as or greater than Christianity or Islam. But we would pay a tribute to the memory of a man who was a great teacher and a great missionary, who wielded a vast influence for good, and who, if he was destined to see many of his ideals seemingly shattered in the world war, remained true to his convictions and to his belief in the possibility of a reign of peace and love and who far more effectively than Tolstoy showed the West that religion is a vital force that can never be disregarded.
--PHOTO--
Illustration from The Bombay Chronicle, January 1,1922
The Second All-India Bahai Convention
Held at Bombay, IndiaBombay, India,
January 13, 1922.
To the STAR OF THE WEST:
I have the pleasure to send you copies of dailies of Bombay which mention something about the Second All-India Bahai Convention and I request you to kindly publish them.
With love and greetings, I remain,
Yours in El-Baha,
Merwan Khosrove, Hon. Secretary.
From The Times of India, December 31, 1921.
MISSIONARIES FOR INDIA.
The sessions of the Second All-India Bahai Convention commenced its sittings on Thursday morning in the Bahai Hall, Forbes Street, when delegates from Rangoon, Madras, Surat and Persia attended. The President-elect, Mr. F. Banan of Shiraz, who had specially come to attend the Convention, occupied the chair.
The chairman of the reception committee in welcoming the delegates said that the sad news of the passing of the great Master
Abdul-Baha came just at the time they had been arranging for the Convention. He said that it was impossible for him to express the sorrow the Bahais of the whole world felt because of this sad event, but he was sure that all the Bahais were at the moment watching the Bahais of India in this convention. He felt the presence of the Master there and was sure that the Bahais would rise equal to the hour and serve the high teachings the Master taught.
The President said that as in Russia the Bahais did not enjoy such liberty of thought and expression as the Bahais of India enjoyed under the British government, therefore, he was not a public speaker and that it was the first time he had spoken in public. Their Convention of the last year had very great results. It greatly strengthened the hands of the Bahals of Persia. The Bahai News, which they started last year, was regularly read by the Bahais of Persia and infused a fresh life of service in them. They were probably aware of this and knew how the Bahais of Persia envied them and how they yearned to come and work in their midst. Some of them had already made up their minds to come and serve the Bahai Cause in India.
A resolution was passed in which it was stated that the Bahais of India should send a resolution, signed by all centres, to the bereaved family of the Master and publish a brief biography of him with his photograph to be sent to all the Bahais of the world in this the hour of sad affliction, as a token of condolence.
Another resolution passed stated that at least four Bahai missionaries should be traveling in India for the whole of the year.
Mr. H. R. Vakil proposed the above resolution. Prof. M. R. Shirazi in seconding it said that Persia was full of learned and capable Bahais and they could come to teach the Cause in India where the Bahai Movement was badly needed. Over four million men in India, he said, had heard of the Cause and had studied it but they needed Bahai teachers to confirm them. Besides, in a continent like India, where all races and religions and languages abound, they must work for racial, linguistic and religious unity. He then proposed the following resolution which was carried:
"That every Bahai in India must educate his sons and daughters in higher arts and sciences and if unable to do so must inform the Executive Committee of the Convention which shall arrange for their education from voluntary subscriptions."
Mr. Syed Mustafa then delivered an address on the "Bahai Movement and its Past Achievements" in the course of which he said that the Bahai Movement stood for the unity of all races and that this unity was to come through the spiritual teachings of His Holiness BAHA 'ULLAH.
The proceedings terminated by a prayer recited by Mr. Nash, a Persian Zoroastrian Bahai.
THE LECTURES.
In the evening two lectures were delivered under the auspices of the Convention in the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall, Museum, amidst a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen. Principal A. L. Covernton presided. The first lecture was delivered by Prof. M. R. Shirazi on "The Bahai Movement" while the second was delivered by Mr. A. Rangaswami Ayer on "The Fundamental Unity of all Religions."
Principal Covernton said that he had great Pleasure to be present at the opening of the Convention and listen to the opening lecture of Prof. Shirazi. He had been personally acquainted with the Bahal Movement and was of the opinion that it could do nothing but good to every one. Mr. Shirazi was a pupil of his in former years and he found him a keen advocate of the Bahai Movement and he used to interview him on the subject and invite discussion on it. From the principles on which the Movement had been based and from what he had read, it seemed to him that it could do nothing but good throughout the world.
Prof. Shirazi in the course of his lecture said that the Movement was not a local one, nor was it sectarian, and aimed at the unity of mankind. At one time no two men were united and each and every man was against his own brother. But this Movement was to unite them all and it had already begun to do so. This was the civilization that the Movement taught. The people knew there was something wrong because of the distress in the world and that they should investigate the disease in order to cure it and remove the cause. That cause was the hatred in the different nationalities. The cure lay in the removal of this hatred. Mankind and the whole world should be one. He said there was no universal language. The removal of religious prejudices would enable the nations of the earth to have one common language and that one language should be taught in schools. He then dilated on the unity of religions, nations, and the unity of the whole work. He then explained the teachings of BAHA 'ULLAH at length.
Mr. A. Rangaswami Ayer then delivered his lecture on "The Fundamental Unity of all Religions" in the course of which he said that the followers of different religions tried to thrust their own particular system into the unwilling mouth of others by destroying their brothers' faith. And this created discord and disunion instead of concord and union. Thus one saw the followers of each religion arrayed in battle and ready to pounce upon brother at the slightest pretext. Therefore the world needed to have a religious faith which recognized the merits of all faiths, which would recognize the naturalness of all systems and which would have the grandeur, beauty and truth of all the world prophets. He then commented on the different religions at length and said that India was the fatherland of philosophies and had bred many systems but that the Bahai Movement was the crown of all systems. No superstitious beliefs, no unscientific theories, no fabulous accounts were to be found in the Bahai teachings.
After a vote of thanks to the President, the assemblage adjourned.
From The Times of India, January 2, 1922.
PRINCIPLES OF BAHAISM.
The series of lectures in connection with the Bahai convention were continued yesterday evening in the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall, Museum. Three lectures were delivered, the first by Mr. N. R. Vakil on "The Twelve Basic Principles of the Bahai Movement," the second on "The Oneness of Mankind" by Mr. Syed Mustata Roumi and the third on the "Unity of the East and West through the Bahai Teachings" by Mr. A. Rangswami Ayer. Mr. V. G. Bhandarkar presided.
The president in introducing the lecturer to the audience said that they were living at a time when the air was thick with differences and that it required some courage in organizing the hearts of men to study the problem. To the real solution they must know how Providence had sent down His agency to unite them in one religion. They must know that all differences were accidental and that the ideas and sufferings that troubled them would be remedied through a thorough understanding. He had therefore no doubt that they would listen to the lectures with patience.
Mr. Vakil in his lecture then said that he desired to discuss the possibilities and necessity of a universal religion. They were living in an era when all the five continents of the world had become one. Different parts of the world were naturally united and the whole world had become as one home. At such a time what but a universal religion could appease the hunger of the soul. Of the fundamental principles of the Bahai Movement the foremost, His Holiness BAHA 'ULLAH declared, was the Oneness of Humanity. He then explained the principles of the Bahai Movement at length, emphasizing that they were the fruits of one tree, that all the nations of the world were united, that in the event of any part of the world being affected, the rest of the world would be affected. They could not be happy unless they were all united and looked not upon the good of themselves but of the whole world. The principles of the Bahai Movement were given out sixty years ago. Referring to the world parliament he said it could not be established unless there is a compact between all the nations of the world and unless there is unity of religions which he hoped would be in the near future.
Mr. Syed Mustafa in his lecture in Urdu on the "Oneness of Mankind" said the theory underlying it was an old one and could be found in every religion. He said God had ordained no difference in the people of the world and nature recognized no caste system. God knew of no differences in religion but it was man's selfishness, hatred and obstinacy that led them to such different systems. He then commented on the views the people held amongst those who tried to overthrow others of their own race. But, he said, all were a single nation. God had created man with love and this could be achieved by following the principles of BAHA' ULLAH.
Mr. Rangswami then spoke on the "Unity of the East and West through the Bahai Teachings" and dwelt on the history of mankind and emphasized that until all religions were united, disease that corroded humanity would never be cured and the unity of the East and West could be achieved only by co-operating with other countries and not by saying, "India for Indians."
From Advocate of India, January 3, 1922.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
The Second All-India Bahai Convention passed the following resolutions unanimously:
To start a Bahai Sunday School to teach Bahai lessons to children with a view to prepare them to work for the cause of international and inter-racial amity and concord.
To propose to all the Bahais in the world to hold a world convention, wherein every great religion of the present day might be united, so as to create a parliament of religions to work for religions' reconciliation, without which international peace seems impossible.
The Bahai News, which is being published in Bombay, is to be further improved, and the annual subscription raised from Rs. 3 to Rs. 5.
An executive committee was appointed to carry out the resolutions of the Convention aided by the Central Bahai Fund.
A constitution was framed for convening the Convention and its objects were clearly defined.
The next Bahai Convention will be held in Karachi.
A LECTURE
At the third day's meeting of the Second All-India Bahai Convention, presided over by Diwan Bahadur, G. S. Rao, M.A., LL.B., the president, said the mission of Abdul-Baha had been to remove prejudice and to respect light from whatsoever lamp it was burning.
Professor Shirazi then delivered an interesting lecture. He said, "Abdul-Baha is the product of all the philosophies, teachings and spirits of all the ages past." Born in the year 1844, Abdul-Baha from the age of nine had been an exile, and finally a prisoner in the Turkish fortress of Acca in Palestine. For full forty years he had been a servant of humanity, though a prisoner. His teachings went out of the prison walls and established circles of Bahais throughout every country of the world, in Berlin, Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Teheran, Calcutta, Rangoon, Tokyo, Bagdad and Shanghai. Bahai spiritual centres were established even in small towns. In the year 1908, by the change of the Turkish Government, Sultan Abdul Hamid, who had imprisoned him, entered prison and Abdul-Baha was released. When asked by press representatives of his experience in prison, he declared, "Freedom is a condition. I was in prison, yet real freedom is in being free from the fetters of the self." In the year 1911, he made a trip to England and France, and for the first time in his life he stood before public audiences and lectured in Christian churches and modern societies and offered solutions of philosophic and economic problems of the day. The next year he made a very extensive trip throughout the United States and Canada, where his followers most abound and like a bird accustomed to his old nest returned to Haifa, and lived there till November 28, 1921, when at the advanced age of 77, he passed away.
During all these years Abdul-Baha's life had been one of the busiest. Bahais visited him from all parts of the world, and various other people sought his advice on other matters. Abdul-Baha was married and has left behind four daughters, all of whom are married.
of the thousand and kill the rest if he so desired. He illumined the dark Arabian peninsula with the light of science and art.
"About seventy-eight years ago Persia was in utter darkness. At such a time the herald of the Bahai religion, the Bab, appeared in the city of Shiraz and with an irresistible power he faced the Oriental countries and made a challenge to the corrupted civilization of the whole world. He was persecuted by the clergy and suffered six years in exile and prison and finally was martyred by order of the Persian government.
"After his martyrdom some forty or fifty thousand people accepted his message. But all Persia turned against them and about thirty thousand were martyred. The horrors they suffered are unspeakable. Enough to say that at the hands of mobs many babies met death by having their little mouths forced open and boiling water poured into them in the presence of their mothers and hundreds of women were burned to death with oil. All gave their lives and property for the cause of the Bab and the Prince of Peace, BAHA 'ULLAH, whom they were expecting to appear as promised by the Bab. Nineteen years afterward the horizon of the East became illumined by the appearance of BAHA 'ULLAH. But the Persian government and clergy arose against him and banished him to Bagdad.
There BAHA 'ULLAH and his family remained prisoners for twelve years until they were banished by the Turkish government to Constantinople, Adrianople, and finally they were sent to the prison of Acca in the Holy Land.
BAHA 'ULLAH sent his message to all the rulers of the world and showed them the way that leads to the peace and happiness of the world. The substance of His message is as follows: The oneness of the world of humanity and the independent investigation of reality; the abandonment of racial, religious and patriotic prejudices; the world's religious unity; harmony between science and religion; equal rights and justice between men and women; universal peace and the establishment of an international tribunal; universal compulsory education and the adoption of an international auxiliary language; solution of the economic problem and voluntary sharing and distribution of wealth.
"In short, with such heavenly teachings BAHA 'ULLAH laid the foundation of universal peace and established the Kingdom of God on earth, attracted the hearts of the sincere and opened the minds of the wise throughout the world. In 1892, when he completed his work, he left this world, entrusting the affairs of the Cause to his beloved son, the greatest Branch, Abdul-Baha. From 1892 until this year Abdul-Baha himself carried the banner of the teachings of BAHA 'ULLAH to the great capitals of the nations of the world—to Egypt, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, England, America and Canada. His writings and tablets were spread by his faithful friends throughout the world, and today in every country, state and city there are Bahais living up to these heavenly teachings and ideals; their problems solved, their hearts rejoicing with the glad tidings of the Kingdom, their necks become free from the chains of prejudices, blind imitations and superstitions.
"The Bahais in the East adore those in the West. Those of the North embrace those of the South. The German, French, English, Arabian, Persian, Turk and others who are Bahais love and associate with one another with the utmost joy and fragrance. Such is the power of the heavenly teachings.
"Before closing, I beg of this illumined audience to listen carefully to a most important and thrilling message from my Master, Abdul-Baha. I was favored by being in his sacred presence just a year ago in the Holy Land. He said: 'If the white and colored races do not come to an agreement, there can be no question or doubt of bloodshed. When I was in America I told the white and colored people that it was incumbent upon them to be united or else there would be the shedding of blood. I did not say more than this, so that they might not be saddened. But, indeed, there is a greater danger than only the shedding of blood, it is the destruction of America. Because, aside from the racial prejudice, there is another agitating factor. It is the hostility of America's enemies. These enemies are agitating both sides; that is, they are stirring up the white race against the colored race and the colored race against the white race. But of this the Americans are submerged in the sea of ignorance. They shall regret it. But of what use will their regret be after the destruction of America? Will it be any use then? I mention things before they happen and I write about them before they occur. The bombing of two or three houses is of no importance, but the importance lies in what is coming, which is the destruction of America. The Arabs have many proverbs. For instance, 'Heavy rain begins with drops before the downpour,' and 'The dancer starts with shaking the shoulder, then the whole body.' Now is the time for Americans to take up this matter and unite both the white and the colored races. Otherwise, hasten ye towards destruction! Hasten ye towards devastation!'"
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